Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The fighting spirit that ignited at the mobilization meeting that night, like steel tempered in fire, did not cool or dissipate in the days that followed. Instead, it settled into a more restrained and focused tenacity. All activities within the fortress revolved around the word "combat readiness," proceeding efficiently and silently. The harvest in the fields was nearing completion, with the first ripe beans and some vegetables carefully stored in reinforced cellars. The furnaces in the workshops burned day and night, and newly forged weapons and armor plates, along with repaired equipment, filled the temporarily expanded storerooms. Besides necessary guard duty and drills, the soldiers spent most of their time familiarizing themselves with the fortress's defensive points, practicing street fighting, and emergency evacuation procedures. Even children and the elderly were organized to learn to recognize simple alarm signals and basic self-rescue methods.

The anxiety hasn't completely disappeared, but it's been replaced by a pragmatic attitude of "what's coming will come, just prepare as best you can." The increasingly withered and grotesque head hanging on the flagpole silently reminds everyone every day—the retreat is cut off, only one battle remains.

In this tense atmosphere, scouts dispatched to the northwest and northeast, like swifts returning to their nests, began to bring back increasingly dense and clearer pieces of intelligence. These fragments were quickly pieced together, organized, and analyzed on Li Shu's desk, gradually outlining the vague contours of the enemy's actions.

On this day, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, the council hall was already packed with people. Chen Xing, Chen Wei, Murong Mingyue, Wu Xuejiu, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Wang Jian, and Li Shu—all the core members were present, their faces solemn. On the long, rough wooden table in the hall, the latest maps and several scrolls of bamboo slips with fresh ink were spread out.

Li Shu, as the chief officer in charge of intelligence gathering and analysis, spoke first. His voice was hoarse from staying up all night, but unusually clear: "Lord, gentlemen, according to recent reports from scouts, the Black Mountain Army's unusual movements have been confirmed. Their army is gathering at Woniugang and several strongholds to the north, and its scale... far exceeds expectations."

He picked up a thin wooden stick and pointed to the location of Woniugang on the map: "Woniugang originally had a garrison of about two hundred troops, but recently the number has increased sharply. My scouts risked their lives to get close and observe, and estimated that their current strength is no less than eight hundred, mostly infantrymen with a high rate of armor, and equipped with rudimentary siege weapons, such as simple ladders and battering rams. The grain and supplies inside the hill are piled up like mountains, which is obviously for a long-term war or to supply the front line."

The wooden stick was moved to a place marked "Eagle Beak Rock" about forty li north of Woniugang: "This is an important military post under the command of the Black Mountain Commander, with about three hundred soldiers stationed here on weekdays. Three days ago, a large cavalry force of about five hundred riders came from the north and entered the post. The horses were of good quality and they were carrying the banner of the Black Mountain Commander's central army. Judging from the description of the woodcutter who escaped and the banner, the leader of the troops seemed to be the elite vanguard under the command of Shi Biao, the adopted son of the Black Mountain Commander, known as 'Iron Falcon'."

"Shi Biao?" Chen Wei frowned. "This man is fierce and brutal. He is the number one henchman under the Black Mountain Commander. His 'Iron Falcon' battalion is his core cavalry. It is said that every soldier wears double armor, is skilled in archery and horsemanship, and is extremely fierce in battle."

Murong Mingyue said coldly, "Iron Falcons... their name sounds impressive. My men have fought against a few scattered cavalrymen from the Black Mountain Army, and their horsemanship and tactics are nothing special. But Shi Biao has come in person, bringing five hundred elite cavalrymen. It seems that the Black Mountain commander is truly enraged this time and has gone all out."

Li Shu continued, "That's not all. Thirty li east of Eagle Beak Rock, there used to be an abandoned fortified village called 'Earth Enclosure.' Five days ago, about a thousand infantrymen suddenly arrived, carrying the banner of the 'Trap Camp.' The commander's surname was Han, but his details are unknown. After arriving, this force immediately used a large number of captured refugees to reinforce the walls and dig trenches, seemingly to establish an advance base. It forms a triangle with Woniugang and Eagle Beak Rock, supporting each other."

"The Trapped Camp..." Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This is another elite force under the Black Mountain Commander, specializing in attacking fortified positions and capturing strongholds. It is said that most of the soldiers are desperate men, fearless and wielding heavy axes and large shields, skilled at breaching fortified cities. Their commander's surname is Han... Could he be another adopted son of the Black Mountain Commander, 'Han Pojun' Han Meng?"

"Possibly." Chen Wei nodded. "Han Meng and Shi Biao have always been at odds, but they are both trusted henchmen of the Black Mountain Commander. The fact that the two of them came together this time means that the Black Mountain Commander is determined to crush us in one fell swoop."

Li Shu's wooden stick finally struck the rocky fortress: "As for the rocky fortress, since its defection to the enemy was confirmed, the number of Black Mountain troops inside has increased to about three hundred, commanded by a Black Mountain Army captain. Han Li seems to have been sidelined, but the fortification of the fortress has not stopped, and the stockpiling of food and weapons is obviously to support the main force in the north, and may also be responsible for flanking attacks or cutting off our retreat."

He put down his wooden stick and summarized, "Based on intelligence from all sides, the known forces mobilized by Commander Heishan this time are: 800 infantrymen from Woniugang, 500 'Iron Falcons' cavalrymen from Yingzuiyan, 1,000 'Trap Camp' infantrymen from Tuweizi, and 300 infantrymen from Panshiwu. In total, there are about 2,100 infantrymen and 500 cavalrymen. And this is only the vanguard and flanks! Commander Heishan's main force in the center has not yet been fully revealed. His total strength is probably over 5,000, and may even be... close to 10,000."

Nearly 10,000!

This number caused the atmosphere in the hall to become tense. At its peak, Starfire Fortress had only about five hundred combat-ready soldiers, and even with the garrison and able-bodied men that could be mobilized if necessary, the maximum number was no more than eight hundred. The troop strength was nearly ten times greater!

Zhao Tiezhu gasped, "Damn... so many? This old thief from Black Mountain, has he brought out all his hidden trump cards?"

Zhou Dashan's face turned pale, and he muttered, "Five thousand... nearly ten thousand... The grain in our fortress, at most, is only enough to feed everyone for three or four months. If we are besieged for a long time..."

Wang Jian was also worried: "The loss of arrows and armor may not be enough to sustain a long-term, high-intensity siege."

Only Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, though their expressions were solemn, showed no fear. Chen Wei said in a deep voice, "The strength of an army lies not in its quantity, but in its quality; the strength of a general lies not in his bravery, but in his strategy. Although the Black Mountain Army is numerous, they are stationed in several locations, which will inevitably hinder command and coordination. Moreover, most of them are cowards and rabble, which cannot be compared with our well-trained and united soldiers. Shi Biao and Han Meng are both reckless and arrogant, which is their weakness."

Murong Mingyue interjected: "Their cavalry number five hundred, though they are called 'Iron Falcons,' are familiar with the terrain and are highly mobile. They can harass their supply lines, delay their march, and keep them from having a peaceful time. Although their infantry are numerous, their only weapons for attacking fortifications are ladders and ramming logs. Our fortress walls are newly fortified, our trenches are deeper, and our crossbows are sharp. They may not be able to succeed easily."

Wu Xuejiu looked at Chen Xing, who had been listening silently: "Fortress Master, the enemy's situation is clear, and their momentum is overwhelming. However, our fortress also has its strengths: high walls and deep moats, initial supplies of food and weapons, the support of the people, and capable generals like Commander Chen and General Murong. How to deal with them is up to you, Fortress Master."

All eyes were on Chen Xing.

Chen Xing's finger moved slowly across the marked Black Mountain Army outposts on the map. His gaze was calm, as if he were not staring at an imminent, overwhelming thunderbolt, but at a chess game where pieces had already been placed and were waiting to be solved.

"Li Shu's analysis is quite good." Chen Xing finally spoke, his voice steady. "The Black Mountain Commander has indeed made up his mind this time, intending to take advantage of our newly established fortress and destroy it in one fell swoop with overwhelming force. His troop deployment is also clearly well-planned: Shi Biao's cavalry is the vanguard, Han Meng's infantry is the main attack force, Woniugang is the forward pivot, and Panshiwu is to lock down our flanks. He is advancing step by step, steadily and surely, taking advantage of our small numbers and trying to crush us with overwhelming force."

He paused, then lightly tapped his fingertip on the small circle representing Starfire Fortress: "They miscalculated two points."

"First, they misjudged our resolve." Chen Xing raised his head, his gaze sharp. "They thought that killing the envoy would cause us to panic, cause internal strife, and cause some to consider surrendering to save their lives. But they were wrong. The head on the flagpole and the oath sworn on the drill ground that night have told everyone that Xinghuo Fortress has no way out but to fight to the death! A desperate army will surely win, and only by being placed in a do-or-die situation can one survive. This spirit is something that no amount of troops can buy."

"Secondly," he drew a circle around Starfire Fortress on the map with his finger, "they miscalculated this land. This isn't the plains and open fields they're familiar with, where cavalry can gallop freely and armies can deploy at will. Here lie the remnants of Blackwind Ridge, hills, woodlands, the irrigation canals and trenches we've been building for half a year, and the fortress walls we've personally reinforced inch by inch! Every step they take will come at a bloody price!"

He withdrew his fingers, stood with his hands behind his back: "So, how do we fight this battle?"

"Hold your ground and wait for reinforcements? We have no reinforcements. To launch an attack would be like throwing an egg against a rock?" Chen Xing shook his head. "Neither."

His gaze swept over Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue: "What we're going to do is a 'defensive counterattack'! Relying on the fortress walls and the familiar terrain, we'll first wear down their morale and blunt their edge! Chen Wei, the infantry battalion, the crossbowmen, and the garrison commander, you all have only one task: hold the fortress walls! Use every advantage of the terrain—crossbow bolts, rolling logs, stones, kerosene, even boiling water—to give them a good beating! I want the corpses of the Black Mountain Army to fill the trenches in front of the fortress!"

"General Murong," he looked at Murong Mingyue, "the Cavalry Archery Battalion has the heaviest and most dangerous mission. You cannot remain confined within the fortress. I want you to be like wolves on the grasslands, constantly harassing and attacking their supply convoys, scouts, and isolated small groups, and raiding their camps! Not to annihilate them completely, but to keep them restless day and night, demoralized, and slowing their march! Pay special attention to Shi Biao's cavalry; if they stray from the main force and attempt to outflank or launch a surprise attack, find an opportunity to ambush them and strike hard! Remember, fight if you can win, retreat if you can't, and never linger in battle! Your battlefield is outside the fortress walls!"

He then looked at Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Wang Jian, and others: "Tiezhu, the harvest must be completed; grain is our lifeline! Zhou Dashan, the allocation of supplies must be orderly to ensure the supply to the front lines! Wang Jian, the medical ward must be prepared; casualties in this battle will be heavy! Li Shu, intelligence cannot be cut off; I need to know the exact departure time and route of the main force of the Black Mountain Army!"

Each instruction was clear and specific, distributing immense pressure to each and every individual.

"Finally," Chen Xing's gaze deepened, "the key to this battle lies in 'time' and 'a single strike.' We must use the fortress walls and General Murong's cavalry to hold them off, wear them down, make them agitated, and induce them to make mistakes. Then..."

His finger pressed heavily on the map between "Wo Niu Gang" and "Tu Wei Zi," a relatively open area with several undulating hills.

"...Here, we are going to prepare a 'gift' for the main force of the Black Mountain Army. A 'gift' they would never expect."

He didn't explicitly say what the "gift" was, but Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue exchanged a glance, seemingly guessing what it was, and a sharp killing intent flashed in their eyes.

"Gentlemen," Chen Xing said, his voice deep and resolute as he surveyed the crowd, "Though the enemy outnumbers us, our hearts are more united; though the city is small, our will is stronger. This battle concerns the survival of Starfire Fortress, and the life, death, honor, and disgrace of each and every one of us! I urge you all to fulfill your duties and work together with one heart and one mind!"

"We will obey the Lord's command!" The crowd responded in unison, their voices filled with unwavering resolve and a sense of do-or-die determination.

The enemy situation was clear, and the strategy was initially determined. The small boat from Starfire Fortress had already adjusted all its sails, aiming at the raging, towering waves.

A storm is coming.