Record of Mortals Slaying Heaven

Inside the main hall of the general's mansion, an atmosphere thick with rust, sweat, and a silence born of despair filled the air. As Shen Moqi entered, seven or eight gazes, like cold arrows, were fixed upon him. General Zhang Cheng, seated at the head of the table, merely nodded slightly, his eyes dark and swollen.

"Boy, speak," Zhang Cheng's voice was hoarse. "You say you have a plan to repel the enemy, and I'm giving you that chance. If you continue to spout nonsense, the guillotine outside won't be short of your head."

Shen Moqi walked to the central sand table, took a deep breath, and pointed to the wooden blocks representing the Black Stone Kingdom's camp on the west side outside the city. "General, sirs, the enemy's strength lies in their cavalry, while we are trapped in an isolated city. However, their camp is bordered by the Canglan River to the west, open land to the east and south, and our city wall to the north, in a low-lying area—this is a dead end. The strategy to defeat them lies in fire."

"Fire attack?"

Before the words were finished, a gruff voice scoffed. It was Li Hu, a lieutenant general, arms crossed, his face full of mockery: "Fire attack? Kid, do you think we're useless? Didn't you think we could even think of that? Arrows can't reach! Send men to set the fire? They'd be riddled with arrows before they even got close! Oil? The little bit in the storeroom, enough for a few torches?"

The doubts were reasonable, and although the generals did not agree, their eyes all showed the same disapproval.

Shen Moqi remained calm and met Li Hu's gaze: "General Li is absolutely right. Therefore, we will not use bows and arrows, nor will we send out assassins, nor will we use the oil from the military depot."

He paused, drawing everyone's attention: "Use catapults to launch huge bolts of cloth soaked in 'plaster water'."

"Catapults?" This time, it was the military advisor in charge of the equipment who spoke up. He frowned. "The enemy camp is indeed at the edge of the catapults' maximum range, but would it be useful? Our army is already short of stone. Even if we could throw some stones over there, how many soldiers would be killed in the open field? It would be a drop in the ocean! Besides, where would we find any 'stone grease water'?"

The pressure was immense. Shen Moqi knew he had to complete the logical chain of each link at this moment.

"Military Advisor Wang is wise." Shen Moqi first acknowledged the other party's expertise, then said, "Therefore, we will not throw stones. We will throw linen soaked in 'stone grease water,' which will explode upon contact with fire and produce thick smoke and poisonous miasma that neither men nor horses can withstand."

He gestured on the sand table with his hand: "Make a huge piece of linen cloth that is two zhang long and one zhang wide. After soaking it in 'stone grease water,' it will be black in color. Tie ten-jin heavy stones to the two corners at the front. Launch it simultaneously with two catapults. The heavy stones will help it fly far. The cloth will spread out in the air like a rolling dark cloud, covering everything below."

Li Hu couldn't help but interrupt: "Cover? Easier said than done! How far can that rag fly? How useful can it be?"

"General Li has asked the right question." Shen Moqi calmly replied, calculating the estimated data provided by the AI. "After the counterweight is improved, the heavy catapult can launch an object weighing nearly 100 kilograms to about 800 paces. And according to the latest scout report, the Black Stone Kingdom's vanguard has advanced to an area about 700 paces from the city in order to exert pressure. This is a golden opportunity."

He looked at Zhang Cheng: "As for its effectiveness—a single piece of cloth can cover an area of ​​nearly two zhang in circumference. If five hundred of these 'fire cloud banners' were launched simultaneously in the dead of night, it would not be difficult to cover half of the forward camp. The enemy camp must have braziers and torches for lighting at night, and the cloth will ignite as soon as it touches the fire, and it can spread like wildfire in an instant."

Sun, the military advisor in charge of provisions and supplies, interjected, getting straight to the heart of the matter: "Although we currently only have a handful of heavy catapults, our army still has over twenty medium catapults. With expedited modifications, they can reach the range of heavy catapults within two days. However, we lack the necessary grease, and we need a considerable quantity. Soaking hundreds of large pieces of cloth... how many laborers will we need? How much time will it take? How will we conceal the activity? The enemy scouts aren't blind!"

"Military Advisor Sun's considerations are thorough." Shen Moqi had already planned this out. "I know where the petroleum grease is. The location here is secluded, so there's no need to worry about being exposed. Dyeing the cloth doesn't need to be done in a fixed workshop. It can be done in various abandoned courtyards throughout the city, using the wood from dismantled sheds as frames to hang the cloth for soaking. Although a lot of manpower is needed, they are all readily available starving people, women, and children in the city. Give them rations, and they will surely work enthusiastically. As for the timeline..."

He glanced at his generals and said decisively, "With all our strength, we can accomplish it in three days."

"Three days?" Zhang Cheng finally spoke again, his fingers tapping on the armrest. "How confident are you? What's the wind direction? If we encounter a headwind, wouldn't we be shooting ourselves in the foot?"

Shen Moqi pondered for a moment, then cautiously replied, "General, this strategy has a chance as long as there isn't a strong headwind. But if the weather cooperates and the fire can be thrown during a sustained southeasterly tailwind, the fire will spread extremely quickly with the help of the wind, and then victory will be assured!"

He then gave a wry smile, his voice lowering, carrying a hint of helplessness befitting his age: "But... I am not a god, I cannot use magic to summon the east wind, I can only do my best and observe the timing of heaven."

This casual remark caused a glint to flash in Zhang Cheng's eyes. As if struck by a sudden realization, he immediately turned to a guard beside him, his tone resolute: "Quickly take my token to the palace and present it to the Imperial Preceptor. Make sure you ascertain the wind direction and force for the next three nights! This matter concerns the survival of the entire city; there is no room for error!"

The guards received the order and strode out. The generals in the hall tensed, clearly feeling a sense of awe at the title of Imperial Advisor. Shen Moqi was taken aback: "Imperial Advisor?" This title was completely out of step with the history he knew, yet it seemed so natural in this world, as if it had opened a door to a more unknown realm for him.

Zhang Cheng's gaze returned to Shen Moqi, a deeper probing intent lurking within: "What if the enemy moves their camp within these three days?"

"This is the biggest variable," Shen Moqi said truthfully. "But I deduce that the enemy is arrogant, having besieged the city for two months without encountering any setbacks, while our army has consistently feigned weakness. They would never have expected our army to suddenly launch a counterattack in this way. Just in case, I request that the general dispatch three times the number of scouts to monitor the enemy camp's movements around the clock. If they show any signs of retreating, our plan will be immediately terminated, and we will switch to a defensive posture, without incurring any additional losses."

He paused, his voice low yet clear: "The core of this strategy lies in surprise, harnessing the power of heaven and earth. Risks are inherent, but compared to waiting for death, this is a path with a clear direction and a possibility of success. I am willing to pledge my life to oversee the preparation of the 'Fire Cloud Banner' and the collection of 'Stone Oil Water.' If, after three days, the supplies are insufficient, the enemy camp has moved, or the fire attack ultimately proves ineffective, I am willing to die to uphold military law!"

The hall was completely silent. The only sound was the occasional crackling of the charcoal in the brazier.

The generals' disdain and impatience gradually faded, replaced by deep contemplation and weighing of options. Shen Moqi's plan brought every question to the level of concrete implementation, offering a bold yet feasible solution. Resources, manpower, time, risks, contingencies… he had considered them all.

Zhang Cheng's gaze shifted from the sand table to Shen Moqi's young yet remarkably composed face, then slowly swept over his weary generals. In this desperate situation, this suddenly appearing young man pointed out a perilous path no one had ever considered, yet it was also the only path of hope tinged with bloodshed and fire.

"I've made the bet."

Zhang Cheng's voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone like a heavy hammer. He stood up, and a long-lost, decisive aura belonging to a commander emanated from him.

"Let's proceed with this plan. Li, the military advisor, fully cooperate with Shen Moqi and allocate all necessary manpower and supplies. Wang, the military advisor, gather all the craftsmen and immediately begin inspecting, modifying, and testing the catapults to ensure they meet the required range! Sun, the military advisor, open the reserve granaries and ensure that all those who participate in the labor receive their full daily rations! Li Hu, send out more scouts; I need to know the enemy's every move!"

A series of commands resounded. The generals stood solemnly, then roared in response: "As you command!"

The plan was thus set.

As Shen Moqi stepped out of the General's Mansion, the setting sun was like blood. Shi Tou was waiting outside the door, anxiously approaching. Shen Moqi simply patted his shoulder, her gaze fixed on the western horizon.

Three days later, will he perish in the flames or find a way out? All the answers will be revealed by the "dark cloud" he himself created.

Meanwhile, the imperial guards dispatched to the palace stood respectfully outside the observatory. Deep within the pavilion, the imperial advisor in his green robe, after hearing the report, did not directly answer the question about the wind direction. Instead, he slowly walked to the railing, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of rooftops and city walls, landing on the thin boy in front of the general's mansion in the distance. He murmured a soft "Eh," as if lost in thought, "Borrowing earth fire to observe celestial timing... a beggar boy, possessing such insight? Could it be..."

A gentle breeze swept across the eaves, carrying the scent of an impending mountain rain.