Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Three days after the Hu scouts withdrew, Xinghuo Fortress was like a taut bowstring.

The sentries spread out like a spider web to the northwest, with the furthest reaching ten miles ahead, lying in ambush on mountain ridges, forest edges, and near water sources, working in shifts day and night. Chen Wei personally adjusted the deployment, with half of the elite soldiers sleeping at night with their weapons at their sides, and the other half sleeping in their armor; the garrison increased the frequency of patrols and doubled the number of sentry posts; and the auxiliary soldiers worked day and night to make arrows, reinforce the weak points of the stockade walls, and transport more logs and stones to the top of the walls.

The atmosphere inside the fortress was solemn but not chaotic. The dual effects of the "Meritorious Service Order" and the "Military Regulations" began to show. Extra patrols and preparation work were all recorded as merit points. Soldiers and fortress residents all knew that this was to protect their homes and fortress, and no one complained. On the contrary, they were secretly excited about the possible "merits in battle." Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Dashan repeatedly emphasized the commands, positions, and coordination when encountering the enemy to the garrison soldiers. They also compiled a few simple city defense tips dictated by Chen Xing and compiled by Wu Xuejiu into a catchy rhyme for the soldiers to memorize.

On the evening of the third day, the furthest sentry returned with an urgent report: a large cavalry force had been spotted about fifteen li to the northwest! The force numbered about thirty riders, slowly advancing along the mountain path towards Xinghuo Fortress. Their formation was loose, suggesting they were searching along the way. According to the scouts' observations from a distance, their equipment was slightly better than that of the scouts from the previous day; they wore leather armor, carried bows and arrows, and scimitars. Their horses were also stronger, clearly indicating a formidable cavalry force.

Inside the council chamber, the lights flickered. Chen Xing, Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Wang Jian, Wu Xuejiu, and Li Shu gathered again, the atmosphere more somber than at any previous meeting. A simple map on the wall was marked with charcoal to indicate the approximate location and direction of the Hu cavalry.

"More than thirty riders... It seems that the Hu people don't take us seriously." Chen Wei pointed to the map, his voice cold and stern. "Perhaps they felt that the scouts were frightened the other day and needed a large force to come and show off; or perhaps they were planning to 'raid' here anyway, and the scouts were just a routine task. Whatever the reason, their intentions are clear: they are not here with good intentions."

Zhao Tiezhu clenched his fist and said, "Our stockade walls are fortified, we have rolling stones and logs ready, and dozens of crossbows. We should be able to hold out for a few days without any problem! Once they've suffered heavy losses, they'll naturally retreat!"

Zhou Dashan frowned and said, "Commander Zhao, defending the city is certainly a safe option. However, the barbarian cavalry are swift as the wind. If they only surround us from a distance and cut off our access to firewood and water, the morale of the people in the fortress may change over time. Moreover, our laborers and livestock who are clearing land outside may also be harassed and plundered by them."

Wang Jian also said, "If those people in the forced labor camp and the newly attached camp see that the Hu people are powerful and have been besieging us for so long, they will inevitably have some disloyal thoughts..."

Chen Xing listened quietly to the discussion, his gaze fixed on an area about ten miles northwest of Starfire Fortress on the map. There, an abandoned trade route cut through a narrow valley between two mountains. One side of the valley had a gentle slope covered with dense forest, while the other side was a steep cliff. The trade route, passing through the valley, was one of the essential routes to Starfire Fortress.

"Chen Wei," Chen Xing suddenly spoke, "if you were the leader of the Hu people, leading thirty-odd horsemen, confident in your swift horses and skilled archery and horsemanship, how would you act when facing a newly established fortress whose strength and details are unknown?"

After a moment's thought, Chen Wei said, "I will first approach and observe, and then conduct probing archery attacks. If the defenders panic or are unable to retaliate, I may try to find weak points in their defenses, or launch a coordinated attack to lure the enemy, or look for an opportunity to scale the walls. If the defenders are well-prepared and launch a sharp counterattack, I may patrol around the fortress, cut off external reinforcements, plunder surrounding supplies, and hold out for any eventuality."

"That's right." Chen Xing nodded. "An arrogant army is bound to become restless. They came with cavalry, so they are neither good at nor willing to besiege a fortified city. Their advantage lies in mobile field warfare, and their intention is to intimidate and plunder. If our army simply defends to the death, we will play right into their hands. They can come and go as they please, while we will be exhausted from dealing with them. Moreover, we will appear cowardly to the enemy, which will eventually lead to a decline in morale and internal strife."

He pointed to the canyon on the map: "Therefore, our army cannot simply defend. We must take the initiative, choose a strategic location, and deliver a crushing blow! We must crush their arrogance in one fell swoop, capture their men, and intimidate the surrounding areas! This 'One Line Sky' canyon is a godsend!"

All eyes focused on the canyon marker. Chen Wei's eyes lit up: "My lord, you mean... an ambush?"

"Exactly!" Chen Xing stood up, his eyes gleaming. "The barbarian cavalry came from the northwest, intending to reach our fortress. 'A Narrow Gorge' is their shortest route. This place is narrow, with high ground on both sides, dense forests, and scattered rocks, making it unsuitable for cavalry to maneuver and deploy, but extremely advantageous for infantry to set up ambushes. Since their scouts saw our fortress walls the other day, they must have thought our main force was holed up inside, never expecting that our army would dare to venture out and set up an ambush! This is a surprise attack!"

Zhao Tiezhu felt his blood boil with excitement, but he was also worried: "My lord, fighting the Hu cavalry in the open field... our garrison brothers have only practiced formations for about ten days, can they handle it?"

Chen Xing looked at Chen Wei: "Chen Wei, what do you think?"

Chen Wei pondered, "If we were to engage in a direct confrontation in open terrain, the defending troops would be no match for thirty-odd Hu cavalry. However, in terrain like this 'narrow pass,' the cavalry's advantage is completely negated. Our army can preemptively occupy the high ground on both sides, unleashing a barrage of crossbow bolts and bombarding them with rolling logs and stones. Once their formation is thrown into disarray and their morale collapses, our elite troops can launch a frontal assault, while the defending troops can flank and intercept them from both sides. Our auxiliary troops can set up obstacles at the valley entrance to cut off their retreat... We certainly have a great chance of victory! The key lies in concealment, surprise, and the resolute execution of each unit after engaging the enemy!"

"Zhou Dashan," Chen Xing asked, "you used to be a stonemason, are you familiar with the terrain around 'A Line of Sky'?"

Zhou Dashan hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the Fortress Master, I passed through that valley when I was fleeing. The valley is about a mile long, and at its narrowest point, it can only accommodate two horses side by side. The slopes on both sides are gentle on the east and steep on the west. The eastern slope is particularly densely wooded, making it easy to hide. The valley floor has many loose stones, which is not conducive to horses galloping at high speed. It is indeed an excellent place to set up an ambush!"

"Alright!" Chen Xing said decisively without further hesitation, "We must win this battle! Not only must we win, but we must win cleanly and decisively, capturing as many men as possible and extracting intelligence through interrogation!"

He immediately gave orders: "Chen Wei, you will lead the entire elite force, along with sixty of the strongest and best-trained men selected from the garrison, plus twenty quick-witted auxiliary soldiers from Wang Jian's unit, for a total of one hundred and eighty men. Carry three days' worth of dry rations, bows and crossbows, short weapons, ropes, and caltrops, and set off overnight to secretly ambush in the forest on the eastern slope of 'One Line Sky'! Bring plenty of flags and drums as a diversion."

"Yes, sir!" Chen Wei solemnly accepted the order.

"Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Dashan, you two will lead the remaining garrison troops and auxiliary soldiers to defend the fortress. During the day, raise many flags and send men to frequently patrol the walls to create the illusion that the main force is still inside the fortress. At night, strengthen vigilance, paying particular attention to other directions."

"Understood!" Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Dashan replied in unison.

"Wang Jian, keep a close watch on the labor camp and the newly attached camp. In this critical period, any unusual activity is to be dealt with immediately and reported later!"

"Yes!" Wang Jian replied sternly.

"Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu are responsible for maintaining order within the fortress, recording merits, and calming the troops. If we win this battle, all participants will be rewarded according to the merits listed in the 'Merit Order'!"

"This old man (this humble servant) obeys!"

With the plan settled, everyone accepted their orders and went off to prepare separately.

At midnight, when neither star nor moon shone, the side gate of the fortress quietly opened, and 180 elite warriors filed out. All were mute, their horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, and their armor plates wrapped with strips of cloth to reduce glare and noise. Chen Xing personally escorted them to the gate and whispered to Chen Wei, "Be careful and adapt to the situation. Our priority is to inflict casualties on their forces, then capture them, paying particular attention to their leaders. If things don't go well, preserving our strength is paramount. We can retreat to our second pre-arranged position, a stone forest near another exit of the canyon, to block the enemy."

"Rest assured, my lord, I understand." Chen Wei clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and disappeared into the night.

The group, like a silent giant python, slithered silently northwest along the familiar path. Chen Xing watched them disappear, standing there for a long time. This battle was the first proactive attack since the founding of Starfire Fortress, and its significance was immense. Victory would establish prestige and intimidate the surrounding areas; defeat would cripple its strength and make it difficult to maintain its foothold.

Silent all night.