Bright Sword: Conquer the monk at the beginning and take down Zhou Weiguo

Chapter 543 I thought you would fight again

Qin Cang nodded, his finger slowly moving along the route on the map, and whispered, "We can't hold the front battlefield for long. The enemy outnumbers us and has superior firepower. We will only suffer if we attack head-on. But if we can bypass the dense forest and suddenly attack from the flank when the enemy attacks the front, their entire tactical deployment will be disrupted. At that time, even if they want to retreat, it will become difficult."

Liu San didn't immediately object. Instead, he stared at the map in silence, seemingly weighing the feasibility of this route. He wasn't stupid; he certainly understood the significance of this tactic, but his concerns couldn't be ignored. After a moment, he whispered, "We've been through this dense forest before. Not only is the terrain complex, but some paths are completely impassable. And how can you be sure the enemy isn't ambushing us? If we were to enter and run into an ambush, we'd be in trouble."

Qin Cang looked at Liu San and said in a steady voice, "Of course I've considered this issue. I'll have scouts explore the route ahead to ensure our advance isn't discovered. As for the ambush you're worried about...the enemy isn't a god. Their main force is out in front, and there's no reason for them to place a large force in this dense forest. Besides, even if they do leave some men behind, as long as they're not their main force, we have ways to deal with them."

Liu San stared into Qin Cang's eyes, his expression still hesitant. He could tell that Qin Cang was confident in this plan, but he still felt it was unreliable. He was used to direct combat, straightforward and hard-fought. But Qin Cang's style of fighting always had a hint of calculation, which made him feel a little unhappy.

After a moment's silence, Liu San suddenly sneered and shook his head: "Qin Cang, I find that you always like to do these roundabout things." He paused and said, "But okay, you are the commander, you say how to fight, and we will fight accordingly."

Qin Cang stared at Liu San and suddenly revealed a faint smile: "I thought you would fight again."

Liu San snorted, his tone somewhat impatient. "Argument? What's the use of arguing? You never change your decision just because of an argument. I just don't want to see my brothers die. If you can really guarantee that this method can reduce casualties, then I have nothing to say."

Qin Cang nodded slightly, his voice low but firm: "I will not let my brothers die in vain."

Liu San said nothing more, only giving Qin Cang a deep look before turning and walking towards the door. His figure disappeared into the night, and the barracks fell silent again. Qin Cang withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to look at the map, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his mind still racing with thoughts.

The night was as dark as ink, and the camp was silent, with only the occasional chirping of insects and the rustling of the night wind through the treetops. Qin Cang sat before the oil lamp, his gaze still fixed on the creased layout map, his thoughts darker than the night.

Fighting was inevitable. Since they had decided to launch a flanking assault through the dense forest, they had to be fully prepared. Qin Cang's fingertips moved lightly across the map, simulating the team's route, mentally replaying various possible scenarios. What if the enemy noticed the movement? What if they completed the encirclement earlier than expected? What if the assault failed to disrupt the enemy's position, or even led to being surrounded? How would they escape?

"We have to prepare for the worst," he thought to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly. His finger paused, then he drew a small circle near a canyon on the map. It was a low-lying area at the end of the dense forest, with complex terrain. If the assault failed, it might serve as a temporary retreat. Further away, a winding stream ran along. In an emergency, perhaps the waterway could be used to conceal their movements and temporarily evade enemy pursuit.

"But we can't rely solely on retreat plans," he thought calmly. "We have to make a decisive strike."

With this thought, he raised his head and scanned the room. Aside from a table, a map, and a few chairs, the room was empty, as spacious as a lonely fortress. The oil lamp on the table burned quietly, its flame occasionally flickering, casting a swaying shadow, as if it too was contemplating the impending battle.

"Liu San's fire group needs to stay as far back as possible..." Qin Cang's gaze returned to the map, muttering to himself. "The main force on the front should act as if they are determined to defend their position...to draw the enemy's attention completely there."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a vision of tomorrow's battle already emerging in his mind. He seemed to see the enemy troops slowly approaching in the morning light, while his own soldiers crouched behind their respective hiding spots, weapons quietly loaded, their eyes sharp and focused.

"Tomorrow... is crucial."

Just then, a steady sound of footsteps was heard outside.

"Brother Qin." The voice was low and a little tired. It was Xiaohu's voice.

"Come in." Qin Cang didn't even raise his head, still staring at the map.

The door was pushed open, and a gust of night wind swept in. Xiao Hu walked into the room and saw the map spread out on the table. He knew that Qin Cang was still planning tomorrow's battle. He didn't waste any words and said directly: "The brothers have settled in, the sentries have been arranged, and everyone is waiting for your orders."

Qin Cang nodded, still without looking up, and just said softly: "Where is Liu San?"

Xiaohu shrugged and smiled. "He just checked his weapons, took a few brothers to drink some water, and then went to rest. He didn't say it, but he must still be thinking about this battle in his heart."

Qin Cang chuckled, finally raised his head and glanced at Xiaohu: "You seem to know him quite well."

Xiao Hu blinked, casually pulled a chair and sat down, leaning back and sighing, "Liu San is as stubborn as a bull, but he knows what he's doing. When you two argued before, he said he wouldn't give in, but when the moment came, he would still listen to your arrangements."

Qin Cang didn't answer. He just tapped the map with his fingers, thought for a moment, and said slowly: "I will tell you about tomorrow's plan in detail. Please listen carefully."

Xiaohu immediately sat up straight and stared at Qin Cang seriously.

"At first light, we'll create the illusion of a frontal defense to draw the enemy's attention. They'll think we'll hold our position like before, so their firepower will be concentrated there." Qin Cang's finger slid across the front battlefield on the map. "Liu San's team will pretend to hold the front to the death, giving the enemy the illusion that we're prepared for a long-term confrontation."

Xiaohu nodded and interrupted, "What if the enemy really comes at us with all their might?"