Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

On a sweltering summer afternoon, the air was thick with heat. In the fields outside Xinghuobao, the potato vines were a vibrant, dark green, their thick leaves glistening in the sunlight, while underground, tubers, crucial to the life of the entire fort, were quietly developing. Millet ears were heavy with grain, and bean pods were beginning to swell. In the fields, people toiled under the blazing sun, carrying out their final weeding and irrigation work. Sweat beaded on their faces, but their eyes were filled with a sense of peace and anticipation—if they could just hold on for another month or so, it would be harvest season, and the shadow of hunger would truly be gone.

Inside the fortress, the clanging of hammers and the deep whistling of the blast furnaces still echoed from the direction of the artisan camp, but the pace was no longer as frantic as it had been day and night in recent days. Small-batch production of the new equipment was gradually getting on track; although daily output was still limited, at least there was a stable output. The soldiers, equipped with some of the new weapons and iron-trimmed leather armor, appeared increasingly spirited and imposing during drills.

Everything was proceeding smoothly according to Chen Xing's plan, even more so than expected. However, beneath this calm, a subtle shadow was quietly drifting in from the east.

The first to sense something was amiss was Li Shu, who was in charge of liaising with the outside world.

According to the preliminary trade agreements reached with Lijiaji and Panshiwu, every ten days to half a month, Xinghuobao would send a small caravan carrying a small amount of refined salt, ironware, and cloth to these two places to exchange for grain, furs, medicinal herbs, and other supplies, while also gathering information about the surrounding area. The trade with Lijiaji had been relatively smooth. Although the amount was small each time, Sun Laoguan and his group were generally trustworthy, and the grain and mountain products they provided were basically in accordance with the agreement.

However, trade with Rockwood has become delicate since last month.

Initially, the delivery was delayed for various reasons: roads were damaged by rain, there were incidents at the dock, Master Han was unwell, and so on. Xinghuo Fort did not complain and simply waited as agreed. When the goods arrived, the quantity and quality began to decline; the promised top-quality hides were replaced with inferior goods, and the medicinal herbs were mixed with many withered branches and rotten leaves. Zhou Dashan, who was in charge of the negotiations, raised objections, but the manager from Panshi Dock smiled obsequiously and apologized repeatedly, saying that his subordinates had been incompetent and that he would make up for it next time, but the next time was no different.

This month, the situation worsened. Three days had passed since the agreed-upon transaction date, and there was still no word from Panshiwu; no one came, and no message was delivered. The scouts sent to investigate reported that the gates of Panshiwu were tightly shut, the drawbridge was high in the air, and the checkpoints were extremely strict, with staff unusually wary of strangers, making it impossible to approach, let alone enter the village for the transaction. Observing from a distance, they noticed that the village seemed more noisy than usual, with vague signs of large-scale troop movements and the construction of fortifications.

"Something's not right." Li Shu frowned as he presented Chen Xing with the trade records and scout reports he had compiled. "The change in Pan Shi Wu's attitude is too obvious. If it were due to problems with the goods or temporary difficulties, they wouldn't have cut off all communication, much less be so heavily guarded. As for Han Wu Wu, Mr. Wu noticed his cautious and suspicious nature when he last met him, and he was used to sitting on the fence and observing. But this behavior now..."

Chen Xing looked calmly at the timeline and details recorded on the bamboo slips: "Something unusual must be going on. Panshiwu is located northeast of our fortress, blocking one of the vital passages to the territory of the Black Mountain Commander. Their sudden change in attitude can only mean a few things: First, internal strife has occurred, with Han Wuzhu losing power or suffering misfortune; second, they have been coerced by a powerful external force and have no choice but to change their stance; third, they feel that their power is growing, or they have found a stronger backer, and they intend to sever ties with our fortress, or even... become enemies."

He paused, then looked at Wu Xuejiu and Chen Wei beside him: "Mr. Wu, Commander Chen, what do you think?"

Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard, deep in thought: "I've met Han Li once before. Judging from his words and actions, he's not the kind of person who's content to be obedient and subservient. He holds sway over Panshi Fortress, protecting himself with his troops. In this chaotic world, such indecisiveness is commonplace. His previous feigned compliance with our fortress was mostly due to his fear of our alliance with the Murong tribe, and also his greed for the profits from salt and iron. This sudden change suggests less likely internal strife—if it were internal conflict, the fortress would have already shown signs of fighting. External coercion… or finding a powerful backer is more probable. And what could force him to change his attitude, and make him feel capable of resisting or even suppressing our fortress…?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood the name—Black Mountain General.

Chen Wei said coldly, "If Panshiwu really falls to the Black Mountain Commander, then the northeastern gateway of our fortress will be wide open. Its location is strategically important. If the Black Mountain Army occupies it, it will be like a nail driven into our flank. In the future, whether the Black Mountain Commander's army attacks, harasses our supply lines, or intercepts our caravans, they can all come out from here, posing a great threat."

Murong Mingyue also rushed to the council hall upon hearing the news. After hearing the situation, she frowned slightly: "When Elder Helan and I were on our last mission, we also felt that Lord Han's eyes were shifty and his words were insincere. There is an old saying on the grasslands: when a pack of wolves begins to bare its teeth at its former allies, it is either because it has found a new alpha wolf, or because it thinks it is strong enough. I'm afraid that Pan Shi Wu is both."

"Strengthen reconnaissance in the northeast direction," Chen Xing immediately ordered. "General Murong, please have your cavalry archery battalion send out elite squads disguised as merchants or hunters to try to bypass the front of Panshiwu and observe its movements from the mountains behind it, especially whether there are any Black Mountain Army flags or people dressed in their uniforms entering or leaving, and any changes to the fortifications of the fortified walls. Chen Wei, raise the alert level of the infantry battalion and the garrison, paying particular attention to the northeast direction. Li Shu, suspend all open trade with Panshiwu, but continue to gather information through other covert channels."

The others accepted the order and left. Only Chen Xing and Wu Xuejiu remained in the council hall.

"Lord of the fortress, if Rocky Dock has truly surrendered to Black Mountain Commander..." Wu Xuejiu said in a heavy tone.

"That is the prelude to war," Chen Xing interjected, his gaze sharp. "The Black Mountain Commander will not tolerate a disobedient and increasingly powerful thorn in his side. The reason he has not yet launched a full-scale attack is threefold: first, he is unsure of the strength of our fortress; second, he may be preoccupied with other matters; and third, he wants to see if he can force us to surrender or subdue us at a relatively low cost. Now that Rockwood has submitted, it is as if he has gained a knife and a pair of eyes in his hands. He can use Rockwood to test, wear down, and even lock us down."

He walked to the map on the wall, pointing to the mark representing Rockhold: "We must find out the true situation of Rockhold as soon as possible. If they are merely wavering, we can try to persuade them, at least to make them neutral. If they are determined to surrender..." His finger lightly traced the area between Rockhold and Starfire Fortress, "This thorn must be removed before our decisive battle with Black Mountain Commander!"

In the following days, Xinghuo Fortress appeared relaxed on the outside but was on high alert inside. Field work continued as usual, and the workshops echoed with the sounds of daily activity, but the core leadership was on edge. Murong Mingyue dispatched three elite cavalry squads, each taking different routes to infiltrate the surrounding mountains and forests of Panshiwu. They moved by night and hid by day, utilizing their superior horsemanship and wilderness survival skills to avoid main roads and sentry posts, observing the fortress from extremely cunning angles.

Late on the third day, the first squad brought back crucial intelligence.

The leader was a seasoned scout squad leader from the Murong tribe named Urhan, who had spent many years traversing the border between the grasslands and Han territories and was highly experienced. He was covered in dust from his journey, but his eyes gleamed with excitement and seriousness.

"Lord, General, we've found out!" Urhan gulped down a large bowl of water and reported in a hoarse voice, "Pan Shi Wu has indeed surrendered to the Black Mountain Commander! I led my men to the cliff behind the fortress, lowered ourselves down with ropes, and peered into the training ground inside. There are no fewer than two hundred infantrymen dressed in Black Mountain Army uniforms, fully equipped, and dozens of cavalry patrolling. The fortress walls have been raised by more than ten feet, four new arrow towers have been built, and the moat has been widened and deepened. That scoundrel Han Li personally accompanied a man dressed in the uniform of a low-ranking Black Mountain Army officer on the inspection, bowing and scraping, extremely respectful!"

"Did you see the banner of the Black Mountain Commander? Or an officer of a higher rank?" Chen Xing pressed.

"We didn't see the Black Mountain Commander's own banner, but the officer's flag was the Black Mountain Army's standard. Near the granary inside the fortress, there were a large number of newly delivered grain sacks, printed with the words 'Black Mountain.' Also," Urhan added, "when the men were retreating, on a mountain road twenty miles to the northeast, they encountered a convoy transporting supplies to Panshiwu. The escorts were also Black Mountain Army soldiers, about fifty men, and the vehicles were heavy, undoubtedly carrying military equipment and provisions."

The intelligence is conclusive! Not only has Panshiwu surrendered to the Black Mountain Commander, but the Black Mountain Army has also actually moved in and begun to arm it as an outpost!

Almost simultaneously, two other reconnaissance teams also brought back similar information, adding more details: Panshiwu has recently been frequently conscripting nearby refugees to build fortifications, and their attitude is fierce; they are extremely strict in checking passersby, and detain anyone who is slightly suspicious; a small caravan once tried to pass through, but was only allowed to pass after being extorted for a large sum of money, and some merchants have already begun to take detours.

"His wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious!" Chen Wei roared. "This Han Li is determined to be the Black Mountain Commander's watchdog!"

Murong Mingyue sneered: "He thought that by clinging to a powerful backer, he could rest easy and even get a share of the spoils. Little did he know that those who sit on the fence between two strong forces are often the first to be crushed in the end."

Wu Xuejiu sighed, "Nothing could be more blinding than greed. He must have seen that the Black Mountain Commander was powerful, and that although our fortress was strong, it was still newly established. He thought that it would be safer to join forces with the Black Mountain Commander, and perhaps he could even use him to kill someone and seize our fortress's foundation."

Chen Xing listened silently to the discussions, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. The betrayal of Rockwood was both unexpected and understandable. In chaotic times, loyalty was a luxury; it was more about weighing interests and assessing strength. Han Li's choice was simply because he believed Black Mountain Commander could offer more, or… Starfire Fortress didn't seem strong enough to deter him from betraying them.

"Notify Zhao Tiezhu to expedite the final management of the fields and prepare for the autumn harvest, in case of unforeseen circumstances during the war." Chen Xing's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness. "Chen Wei, put the infantry battalion and crossbow unit on standby, inspect the equipment, and distribute arrows. General Murong, expand the reconnaissance area of ​​the cavalry archers, closely monitor all unusual movements in Panshiwu and the northeast direction, especially any signs of troop movements by the Black Mountain Army. Zhou Dashan and Wang Jian, take inventory of all grain, fodder, and military supplies in the fortress to ensure adequate supplies."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Now that Panshiwu has become an enemy, it is a thorn in my side. How can I allow others to snore beside my bed? However, the autumn harvest is imminent, and it is not advisable to launch a major attack. Moreover, with the Black Mountain Army stationed there, a direct assault would inevitably result in casualties. We should focus on deterrence and blockade, and wait until after the harvest to find a good opportunity to wipe it out in one fell swoop! In the meantime, any spies, messengers, or small units of the Black Mountain Army sent by Panshiwu that dare to approach within thirty li of my fortress... shall be killed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd responded in unison, their killing intent palpable.

The neighbors' unusual activity, like dark clouds suddenly gathering in a clear summer sky, foreshadowed an impending storm. Starfire Fortress, a ship that had just entered calm waters, had to readjust its sails again, preparing to face even more turbulent undercurrents and raging waves ahead.

The window of opportunity for peaceful development is slowly closing. The atmosphere of impending conflict is already permeating the air.