Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

On the other side, Deputy General Xu Shengzhan led the infantry towards the South Gate Desert.

Xu Shengzhan is calm and collected, and skilled at ambushes. Zhao Lingfeng has assigned him to be in charge of the defense of the desert area, and he is determined to make sure there is no gaps.

He quietly instructed each soldier to set up sentry posts and plant flags at the edge of the desert as clear markers.

Meanwhile, soldiers were gradually deployed to lie in ambush behind the sand dunes.

Xu Shengzhan waved for the soldiers to approach and whispered:

"If the enemy launches a surprise attack from the south gate, do not act hastily. Wait until they reveal their true intentions, then have the crossbowmen fire first. Do not let them know that we are prepared!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately deployed their defenses. Some lay in ambush on the sand dunes, crouching low, gripping their crossbows tightly, their eyes sharp as eagles, gazing intently into the depths of the desert ahead.

The night wind swept by, and dust billowed, making their figures appear and disappear.

Everyone knows that beneath this seemingly tranquil sea of ​​sand may lie a deadly crisis.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the grassland outside Hesha City, the soldiers responsible for the ambush carefully set up traps.

Deputy General Wu Qi directed the soldiers to dig horse traps, bury wooden stakes and iron caltrops in the pits, and then cover them with sand.

He whispered an order: "Be careful to disguise yourself, and don't let the enemy find out."

Once the enemy charges, the horse traps will leave them trapped, unable to advance or retreat.

The soldiers, shovels in hand, dug silently, creating deep pits in the sand.

Each pit was filled with sharp iron caltrops; once enemy cavalrymen fell in, they would either be killed or wounded.

They covered up the pits one by one, making sure not a trace was left.

As dusk fell, the soldiers hurriedly completed their burial, each lying in ambush in the shadows of the grassland, awaiting the arrival of the enemy.

Wu Qi accepted the order and withdrew, but did not leave. He stood on the grassland with a cold gaze, took a deep breath, and gripped the knife in his hand tightly.

Perhaps only these soldiers hidden in the shadows knew that beneath this tranquil grassland lay a glimmer of hope for the city of Hesha.

As night deepened, the patrolmen outside Hesha City split into three teams and set off to patrol along the edge of the grassland.

The light cavalry appeared and disappeared in the darkness, moving silently like ghosts from afar.

The military academy officer in charge of the patrol quietly directed the soldiers to disperse and move forward. Their task was difficult and dangerous; they had to find traces of the enemy while also preventing them from being ambushed.

A patrolling soldier suddenly spotted a slight movement in the distance, immediately stopped, and raised his hand to signal for alertness behind him.

The military academy officer gently pressed the sword at his waist, his gaze turning cold as he looked toward the source of the disturbance.

Everyone held their breath and silently nocked their crossbows. Just as they were about to take a closer look, they realized that it was just the night wind blowing and stirring up the sand, creating an illusion.

"No problem, keep going," the military academy officer ordered in a low voice, putting everyone at ease.

But they dared not slacken their pace and continued forward, like cheetahs lurking silently in the night.

Zhao Lingfeng stood atop the city wall, overlooking the city.

He had already made all the arrangements, but the calm before the battle left him with an indescribable sense of heaviness.

In the distant depths of the desert, shadows seemed to be quietly surging, like the iron cavalry of the Black Rock Alliance, poised to strike.

Zhao Lingfeng's eyes were cold as he gently stroked the long sword at his waist and muttered to himself, "Hesha City will surely be safe and sound."

As night fell, the walls of Hersha were shrouded in a deep twilight.

Wen Jiang Lü Qian quietly entered a secluded courtyard, a place where the village heads usually gathered.

Today was different from usual; the atmosphere inside the house was particularly somber.

Several village officials had been waiting for a long time. They were all representatives of the southern ward of Hesha City, mostly around forty or fifty years old, and usually held considerable prestige.

Upon seeing Lü Qian enter, everyone stood up and bowed.

Lu Qian looked solemn, cupped his hands to gesture for them to sit down, then looked around with a determined gaze.

He said in a low voice, "Everyone, today's matter is extremely important, as it concerns the safety of the people in the southern ward of Hesha City. We must not take it lightly."

The village heads exchanged glances, and the mature and prudent Village Head Zhang was the first to speak, asking:

"Lord Lü, is this matter related to the enemy's movements last night?"

Rumors were circulating in the city that the Black Rock Alliance might attack again at any moment, causing unease among the people. They feared that relocation at this time would trigger even greater unrest.

Lu Qian nodded slightly, his gaze becoming even more somber: "The Black Rock Allied Forces are coming with great force, and General Zhao has already made meticulous arrangements."

The southern part of the town is located in a remote area. If the enemy forces launch a strong attack on the northern part of the town, the people of the southern part may be in dire straits.

Today's discussion is about how to secretly relocate women, children, and the elderly to the city center without causing panic.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions gradually became serious.

Zhang Cunzheng slowly stroked his white beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Lord Lü, most of the people in Nanfang are native to this place, and their ancestors have lived here for generations."

"If we move now, some people might not be willing to leave easily."

Another younger man, Li Cunzheng, echoed this sentiment:

"Not only that, but some young people are hot-blooded and impetuous, and they are even more unwilling to leave, and may even fight the enemy to the death."

Lu Qian sighed inwardly; this was what he was most worried about.

He paused, then said in a deep voice, "That is precisely why this matter requires utmost caution."

I have determined the steps for the relocation, and we must start with the households that are most receptive to the relocation and proceed gradually.

We don't need to rush. We can select a few families each night and quietly relocate them.

It is imperative to remain calm and composed, and absolutely no disturbance must be caused.

As he spoke, he took out a roll of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it on the table, and listed the names of each household in the South Ward.

Lu Qian pointed to several rows of names and said, "These are the households with the most elderly and weak in the southern ward, and they have a deep trust in the general. It is safest to start the relocation from them."

Once the first group has safely moved into the city, the others will be less likely to object.

Zhang Cunzheng carefully examined the name on the paper, nodded, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Lü is absolutely right."

If this matter can get off to a good start, the people will gradually feel at ease.

Lü Qian continued, "In addition, the relocation must be done discreetly and not with great fanfare."

"After you return, quietly inform each household that this is the general's order, and that they must remain calm and not cause any disturbance."

An older village headman frowned and said, "Lord Lü, although this is a safe approach, the people are talkative and there's a risk that someone might leak the news, which could cause unnecessary panic."

Lu Qian looked at the village head and said in a deep voice, "I will arrange for trusted men to accompany and escort him to prevent any accidents."

Furthermore, respected elders in the village, like Village Chief Zhang, should reassure the people beforehand, assuring them that the relocation is only temporary and that they will surely return home safely once the war subsides.