If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

On the north wall of Blackstone Fortress, the wind and snow continued unabated.

Xu Qingshan withdrew his gaze from the northern snowfield and turned to walk down the dilapidated city wall.

His steps were steady and powerful, each step making a solid sound on the snow.

Since slaying the centurion and crossing the threshold of martial arts, the biting cold wind could no longer penetrate his leather armor. The surging blood and qi within his body, transformed from the military merits of the system, was continuously radiating heat, dispelling the severe cold.

"Beat the drums, raise the tent."

Xu Qingshan walked into the inner fortress hall, took off his snow-covered straw hat, and threw it on the table with a deep, steady voice.

The thunderous sound of war drums echoed across the inner fortress training ground.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, 108 soldiers had already assembled amidst the swirling snow.

Thanks to the ample provisions in the inner fortress and the hearty meal of the previous night, the men's faces were no longer pale. They were wrapped tightly in brand-new, thick cotton-padded coats, and their neat formation exuded a chilling, menacing aura.

Xu Qingshan strode onto the command platform and surveyed the area below.

"The scouts report that the Black Wolf tribe has set up a forward supply camp in the Black Pine Forest, twenty miles to the north." Xu Qingshan's voice cut through the wind and reached everyone's ears. "The barbarians are gathering their forces. Once the snow stops, they will launch a massive attack and raze Black Stone Fortress to the ground."

The audience was completely silent, with only the torches crackling in the wind.

No one's legs went weak upon hearing news of the barbarian army. Having experienced several bloody battles, they had come to understand one thing:

Here, retreat won't save your life; only a knife can.

"Sitting idly by and waiting to die is not my rule." Xu Qingshan pointed north. "Since they have placed their supplies right under our noses, tonight we will burn their camp to ashes."

"Tie Niu, Zhou Laoqi, Hou San, Xiao Qi!"

"Here!" the four squad leaders shouted in unison, stepping forward.

"Select fifty of your best footwork and most physically fit elites," Xu Qingshan said coldly. "Bring plenty of tinder and three days' worth of dry rations."

The crowd quickly dispersed and regrouped, and soon, fifty of the strongest men were selected and formed into five neat square formations of ten men each.

Xu Qingshan nodded to Bai Zhi, who was standing to the side.

Bai Zhi understood, turned around and beckoned two servants to carry several heavy wooden boxes to the front of the formation.

The lid of the box was lifted, and the dark blue light of the blade gleamed in the torchlight.

"Change clothes," Xu Qingshan ordered.

Fifty soldiers stepped forward one by one and received the fine steel battle swords that Bai Zhi had just forged using the hundred-fold forging method.

When they drew their swords and felt the weight and sharpness of those weapons, which far exceeded that of standard-issue weapons, their eyes burst with uncontrollable joy.

Subsequently, ten repeating crossbows were distributed to Hou San and ten other soldiers who were the most agile and had the best eyesight, with each soldier being issued three crossbow magazines filled with fine steel short arrows.

After the equipment was distributed, the entire team's killing intent increased dramatically.

This is a heavily armed commando unit, capable of tearing apart any defense line in a small-scale night raid.

Xu Qingshan looked at the team in front of him with satisfaction, then turned around and looked at Xiao Hongluan beside him.

"After I leave, you will be in full charge of the defense of Blackstone Fortress." Xu Qingshan handed over the bronze talisman representing the highest command authority within the fortress. "The remaining personnel are under your command. Make sure to guard the inner gate of the fortress."

Xiao Hongluan took the bronze talisman, a hint of solemnity in her clear, cold eyes: "Don't worry, as long as I don't die, the inner fortress will not be lost."

"There's one more thing," Xu Qingshan lowered his voice slightly, his gaze fixed on the side courtyard, "Keep a close eye on Commander Chen. If he makes any unusual moves, or attempts to contact his old subordinates to instigate a mutiny..."

"Slay." Xiao Hongluan followed up without hesitation, the white ash wood spear in her hand striking the floor tiles with a muffled thud.

With his rear arrangements in place, Xu Qingshan had no more worries.

He mounted a tall, captured horse, drew his long sword from his waist, and pointed it diagonally at the dark night sky.

"Set off."

There were no deafening shouts, nor farewell horns.

The inner gate of the fortress slowly opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and fifty fierce soldiers covered in snow, like a group of silent ghosts, followed behind Xu Qingshan's horse, filed out, and plunged into the vast and boundless snowy night.

A strong wind howled, and the heavy snow covered their footprints and completely erased their tracks.

Twenty miles of snowy road, which might only take half an hour on a normal day, becomes a cruel test of physical strength and willpower in such harsh snowy weather.

The snow was knee-deep, and each step out required tremendous effort.

Aman rode a pony at the very front of the procession.

She knew the terrain of this wasteland like the back of her hand and could always find the least strenuous, sheltered route through the vast expanse of white snow.

The group trudged on in silence.

Xu Qingshan sat on his horse, his eyes slightly closed.

The system panel flashed at the edge of his field of vision, displaying his current physical condition.

His martial arts-level physique allowed him to maintain vigorous energy even in the bitter cold, and his breathing was steady and long.

He kept an eye on the soldiers behind him. Although these veterans had a difficult time walking, thanks to the rest they had taken during the day and their thick winter clothes, no one had fallen behind, and the formation had always maintained a close tactical distance.

After traveling about ten miles, Aman suddenly pulled on the reins and raised his right fist.

The entire team moved as if guided by an extension of their own limbs, immediately stopping and crouching down in the thick snowdrifts, covering their heads with white cloaks and blending into the snow.

Xu Qingshan dismounted, crouched down, and walked to Aman's side, looking in the direction she pointed.

Several hundred paces to the right, behind a snow-covered hill, a few faint lights were slowly moving.

Those were roving sentries dispatched by the Black Wolf tribe, about five riders, patrolling in the wind and snow.

If it were the old-fashioned exterior wall construction team, they would have panicked long ago in this situation.

But now, the fifty soldiers were even holding their breath low. Hou San and several other crossbowmen had silently leveled their crossbows, loaded them, and were ready to fire at any moment.

"Ignore them and avoid them."

Xu Qingshan waved his hand, signaling everyone not to alert the enemy.

Their objective was to reach the enemy's supply camp, and engaging with the roving sentries here would only expose their location.

Led by Aman, the team took advantage of the snow-covered hills to make a large detour, perfectly avoiding the barbarian patrol routes.

As night deepened, the wind and snow not only did not subside, but instead grew even stronger.

The cold wind lashed at their faces like knives, but the blood in the chests of every person in the team was boiling.

After another hour of arduous trekking, Aman, who was leading the way, finally stopped.

She dismounted and lay prone on the edge of a high cliff, looking down.

Xu Qingshan stepped forward and lay down beside him in the snow.

Beyond this cliff lies a vast valley surrounded by a black pine forest.

In the center of the valley, hundreds of cowhide tents were pitched in sheltered spots, and countless bonfires illuminated the snowy night. Occasionally, the sounds of warhorses snorting and the rough shouts of barbarian soldiers could be heard.

This is the frontline supply camp established by the Black Wolf tribe in retaliation against Blackstone Fortress.

Xu Qingshan's gaze was like that of a hawk, quickly scanning the enemy camp, searching for weaknesses.

The entire camp was defended in a way that was tight on the outside and loose on the inside. The outer perimeter was fortified with barbarian chevaux-de-frise made of rough wood, and every few dozen steps there was a simple watchtower with barbarian soldiers on guard.

Inside the camp, however, due to the wind and snow, most of the barbarian soldiers stayed in their tents to warm themselves by the fire and avoid the cold, and very few people went outside.

His gaze finally settled on a large clearing in the southeast corner of the camp, near the edge of the black pine forest.

There were piles of sacks and hay piled up like small mountains, and dozens of large wagons carrying supplies were parked around them, covered only by a few huge tarpaulins.

Those were the supplies and provisions for the Black Wolf army.

"The wind is blowing from the northwest." Xu Qingshan felt the cold wind blowing on his face, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

The supplies and provisions were located downwind of the entire camp.

If a fire is lit there, with the help of the raging northwest wind, the fire will spread like an out-of-control fire dragon, engulfing half of the enemy camp.

"Centurion, how do we fight?" Tie Niu crawled over, his fingers gripping the battle axe turning white with excitement.

Xu Qingshan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the fifty elite soldiers behind him.

"Hou San, Xiao Qi," Xu Qingshan called out.

"Here." The two men immediately stepped forward with their repeating crossbows.

"Take four of your lightest men and sneak down from the east side to take out the hidden sentries on those three watchtowers near the grain pile. Remember, be quick and don't make a sound."

"Leave it to us." Hou San patted the crossbow case on his chest, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"The rest of you, prepare the oil canisters you brought and tie them to the arrows and torches." Xu Qingshan drew his fine steel longsword, the blade gleaming coldly in the night.

"Once the barbarians on the watchtower fall, everyone follow me and charge into battle. No need for close combat; the objective is singular: set all the supplies downwind ablaze!"

"Retreat after burning, no lingering fighting."

The fifty soldiers nodded in unison, gripping their flints and steels, their eyes like those of a pack of hungry wolves lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce on their prey.

The time for the hunt has come.