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

"Black Wind Village Post".

Xu Qingshan read out the top four characters and continued looking down.

The writing on the paper was thick and heavy, and in many places there was still blood that hadn't dried.

Tomorrow at noon, the leader of Heifengkou will be replaced.

The Zhenbei Army must bring Ma Rong, One-Eyed Wolf, and the seventeen Black Wind Village brothers who were captured last night.

Eight grain carts were returned together.

Before the exchange was completed, the garrison at Duanhebao withdrew from the side gate and shallows, while the Zhenbei cavalry retreated to Tiemenbao.

In the future, when caravans pass through the Broken River, they will still pay for the goods according to the old regulations.

As for the caravans, military supplies, and border troops that have disappeared in recent years, the two sides let the matter drop.

Hou San almost burst out laughing when he saw the last sentence.

"They stole our grain, killed our people, and now they want us to send eight cartloads of food as an apology?"

"This invitation was easy to write; they get all the benefits, and all we have to do is accept the invitation."

Bai Zhi took the black cloth and twirled the corner of it a few times with her fingers.

"The arrow had just been shot, and the blood was freshly spilled."

At the end of the paper were three bloody handprints, each with a name written next to it.

Xu Cheng.

Ding Wang.

Luo Qi.

Su Jinniang's expression changed slightly when she saw the second name.

"Ding Wang was the protector of the Shuntong caravan in Bailangji. Half a month ago, the Shuntong caravan passed through Tiemenbao with six carts of salt and cloth, and then disappeared without a trace."

Liang Shun said, "Sun Kui's secret tent contains six truckloads of counterfeit goods."

"It must be them."

Su Jinniang nodded.

"Xu Cheng was a worker in another caravan."

"I don't know Luo Qi, but since he's being held with them, he's probably someone who was kidnapped by Black Wind Stronghold."

Upon hearing that Black Wind Stronghold still had prisoners alive, the soldiers on the city wall all looked towards the invitation.

Xu Qingshan folded the paper.

"Take everyone away, and don't let this news get into the military quarters yet."

Liang Shun immediately ordered his soldiers to evacuate the crowd.

Feng Baozhang was also carried back to his residence.

Once only the Zhenbei Army and a few veterans from Duanhe Fort remained on the city wall, Xu Qingshan asked, "Where are the bandits we captured last night held?"

"The empty courtyard behind the granary."

Liang Shun said, "The seventeen survivors were divided into three groups, and the seriously injured were placed in other locations."

"Bring three over first."

…………

The first one brought in was a young bandit in his early twenties.

He had taken an arrow to the left arm, and the wound had been bandaged. He knelt on the ground after entering the room.

Hou San recognized him.

"Weren't you the first one to throw a knife last night?"

The young bandit nodded.

"My name is He Liu."

"Last year, my hometown suffered a disaster. I followed the refugees to Bailangji and was captured by the people of Heifengzhai to carry goods."

Xu Qingshan placed the invitation in front of him.

How many people are there in Black Wind Stronghold now?

He Liu glanced at the bloody handprint.

"There are over two hundred people in the village who can ride horses and fight."

"Qi Biao brought out more than seventy people last night, and most of them were killed. The third leader, One-Eyed Wolf, was also captured by you. The first leader will definitely gather the nearby villages."

How many people are still around?

"There are two small villages to the east of Black Wind Pass, which usually rob caravans together with Black Wind Village."

He Liu said, "Call them all over, and we can gather another seventy or eighty people."

Zhou Laoqi asked, "How will Black Wind Stronghold be defended?"

"The village was built halfway up the mountain."

"There is only one road in front, and the road is flanked by stone slopes with watchtowers on top."

"There is a crevice in the back mountain, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Passing through it leads to the Hidden Horse Valley."

"The village's horses, fodder, and some grain are all stored there."

Xu Qingshan asked, "Where are the hostages being held?"

"Inner Village Wooden Prison".

"The caravan members were imprisoned on the west side, while the women and children captured from nearby villages and towns were imprisoned on the east side."

He Liu looked up at the crowd as he finished speaking.

There are at least a hundred people.

Liang Shun gripped the knife handle.

"So many?"

"Black Wind Stronghold rarely kills women and children."

He Liu's voice grew softer and softer.

"If they're alive, they can be sold for money, or they can stay in the village and work."

Hou San patted his shoulder with the scabbard.

"You've put it quite clearly."

Have you ever participated in arrests?

He Liu hurriedly shook his head.

"I've only been involved in two shipments."

"Last night was also the first time I took a knife into the border fortress."

"Whether it's the first time or not, we'll check later."

Xu Qingshan pointed to the invitation.

"Does Black Wind Stronghold really want to exchange prisoners?"

He Liu hesitated for a moment.

"The chief never agreed to exchange grain for people."

"When the brothers in the village were captured by the government troops, he would usually send someone to negotiate terms first to stall the government troops, and then look for an opportunity to break out of the prison or capture more people."

"If there's really no way to save him..."

"You're just not going to save him?"

He Liu lowered his head.

"There's no shortage of people in the village who want to join."

Xu Qingshan had Liang Shun take the man away and replaced him with two more prisoners.

The three people gave largely the same account.

Black Wind Stronghold was easy to defend and difficult to attack from the front, and it stored a large amount of grain, fodder, and stolen goods. After Qi Biao escaped back, the chief had already sealed off the mountain road and sent fast horses to summon nearby small strongholds.

That invitation seemed more like a way to buy time for Black Wind Stronghold.

…………

As evening fell, Xiao Hongluan arrived at Duanhe Fort.

After receiving the beacon fire message from Sibao, she brought twenty infantrymen from Tiemenbao, along with the trade route map compiled by Guo Shan.

Two maps were placed in the council chamber.

One of them shows the valley from Duanhebao to Heifengkou.

The other map shows Bailangji, Zangma Valley, and several abandoned trade routes.

Zhou Laoqi placed the Black Wind Village invitation on the table.

"They still have hostages in their hands."

"If the bandits attack the stronghold head-on, they will likely use hostages as shields first."

"In my opinion, we should defend Broken River Fortress first."

"No matter how many Black Wind Strongholds come, we'll eat them all in the shallows."

Liang Shun also favored defending the city.

Duanhebao had just stabilized, and the garrison had not yet completed its reorganization. Of the forty-odd men, less than half were veterans who had actually experienced battle.

Withdrawing too many troops could easily lead to further chaos within the fortress.

After reading the invitation, Xiao Hongluan's finger landed on the Black Wind Pass.

"The fact that Black Wind Stronghold dared to send an invitation means that they are not prepared to launch a strong attack on Broken River Fortress in the short term."

"They also know that if seventy riders couldn't get through the side gate last night, a hundred more wouldn't gain any advantage."

Zhou Laoqi asked, "Then what are they after?"

"Grain and account books."

Xiao Hongluan looked at Xu Qingshan.

"Black Wind Stronghold has been doing business with Sun Kui and Ma Rong for many years. Now that two border forts have fallen one after another, the secret accounts and official documents have also fallen into our hands."

"They'll either take it back or destroy what's left in the village."

Su Jinniang continued, "It's impossible for all the goods that Black Wind Stronghold has robbed over the years to remain in the stronghold."

"They have a place to sell stolen goods in Bailangji."

"If the invitations are just a delaying tactic, they will begin moving valuable goods and ledgers tonight."

Xu Qingshan asked, "Where's the grain?"

"Grain carts are too slow on mountain roads."

"They can only leave it in the grain shed, or burn it down."

Su Jinniang pointed to Zangma Valley.

"They are more likely to move the warhorses, silver, and documents first, and then leave the outer guards to guard the stronghold."

Zhou Laoqi frowned.

"If we defend the city, Black Wind Stronghold can be gradually emptied out."

"When we attacked the stronghold, they used hostages to block our way."

Hou San sat by the door, with a new linen cloth wrapped around his waist.

"Then let's go keep the appointment."

How far is Heifengkou from the village?

He Liu was brought back and pointed to the map, saying, "About fifteen li."

"Black Wind Pass is a narrow valley."

"Both sides are steep slopes, and there are three hidden sentry posts outside the valley."

"The chief will most likely not come in person when the exchange takes place tomorrow."

Xiao Hongluan asked, "Is there another route from Black Wind Pass to the back mountain?"

He Liu looked towards the west side of the map.

"There is a hunter's trail to the north."

"Few people travel this route in winter; the snow is too thick for horses to pass."

"Walking?"

"Can."

"However, the road is narrow, and we still have to climb over a rocky slope."

Ah Man picked up a charcoal pencil and added a line to the map.

"This animal trail should be able to go around to the top of Zangma Valley."

"I once chased an injured deer along a nearby ridge."

Xu Qingshan looked at her.

"Can you find the entrance?"

Give me half a day.

"I can figure out the first half before dark."

Hou San said, "I'll go with you."

Qin Yuenu was changing the bandages of the prisoners when she heard this and looked up.

Hou San changed his mind and said, "I'll send someone with you."

Xu Qingshan reached out and tapped on the map.

"Black Wind Stronghold wants us to arrive at Black Wind Pass by noon tomorrow."

"Then let's go."

Liang Shun asked anxiously, "Sir, are you really going to take those eight grain carts away?"

"Bring an empty car."

"Ma Rong and One-Eyed Wolf only need to show their faces."

Xu Qingshan said, "Uncle Zhou will lead his men to the meeting openly to stall the Black Wind Stronghold people."

"Xiao Hongluan dispatched twenty infantrymen to Iron Gate Fortress, pretending to prepare to retreat to Black Stone Fortress."

"Xiao Qi's crossbowmen continue to guard the opposite bank of the river, and the number of flags is reduced by half, so that the scouts outside will think that the forces of Duanhe Fort are retreating."

"Ah Man, let's investigate the beast path tonight."

"I will lead the Zhenbei cavalry to approach Black Wind Village from the other side."

Zhou Laoqi asked, "Should we attack the stronghold directly tomorrow?"

"Let's see where they're moving their things."

Xu Qingshan said, "Black Wind Stronghold wants to use hostages to hold us back, but we can use Ma Rong and One-Eyed Wolf to hold them back as well."

"Once the village starts moving goods, the back mountain, the grain cave, and the Tibetan horse valley will naturally be revealed."

Liu Ruyan picked up the invitation.

"Do you need a reply?"

"Return."

Xu Qingshan said, "Tell them to meet at Black Wind Pass at noon tomorrow."

"I will take Ma Rong, One-Eyed Wolf, prisoners, and eight cartloads of grain with me."

Hou San laughed and said, "They'll believe that?"

"Qi Biao has an arrow in his shoulder and a bolt in his leg."

Xu Qingshan looked towards the door.

"He knew that Duanhebao only had a few dozen Zhenbei Army soldiers, and he also knew that we were short of food."

"Black Wind Stronghold will think that I am reluctant to abandon the hostages and dare not leave the Fourth Fortress for too long."

Liu Ruyan finished writing her reply.

Xu Qingshan stamped the seal of the Fourth Fortress Garrison Commander and had Liang Shun tie the letter back to the arrow and shoot it at the old wooden stake outside the valley.

After doing all that, he picked up the blood-stained invitation.

The charcoal in the brazier was burning brightly.

The paper fell into the fire, and its edges quickly curled up.

The three bloody handprints were gradually swallowed up by the flames.

Xu Qingshan watched as the invitation gradually turned to ashes.

"They invited me to Black Wind Pass, so I'll take over Black Wind Village as well, as a return gift."