Hot flashes

After Huo Yijun moved in, the abandoned military camp in Cangyun Ridge is being rebuilt into a defensive system at an astonishing speed.

Despite the harsh conditions, frostbite, and insufficient supplies plaguing the army, Huo Yi, with his profound prestige and rigorous military management, managed to barely maintain the backbone and basic combat effectiveness of the troops.

He dispatched several elite squads, on the one hand, to try to establish a more reliable connection with Ningwu Pass, and on the other hand, to set up hidden outposts and early warning points in strategic locations around the area to guard against Xiao Juejun's surprise attack or infiltration.

Wang Hui rubbed the frostbite on his hands with snow, applied the last remaining herbs, and continued to lead his men on patrols and reinforce fortifications every day.

Huo Yi knew very well that Xiao Jue wouldn't give him much breathing room.

That kid is ruthless in his military tactics and adept at seizing opportunities.

He must take advantage of this period of heaviest snowstorm to restore the soldiers' strength as much as possible, improve defenses, and await substantial support from the imperial court or Ningwu Pass.

At the Eagle's Beak Cliff camp, Xiao Jue was also busy. The minor setback at Wild Wolf Valley made him even more composed.

Huo Yi proved with facts that this veteran still possesses a deadly ability to counterattack even when at a disadvantage. Underestimating such an opponent is a path to death.

"The defenses at the Black Wind Valley and Luoma Ravine passes need to be strengthened, especially the plan to deal with small groups of elite troops climbing and launching surprise attacks."

Xiao Jue pointed to the sand table and instructed his generals, "Huo Yi is skilled at using surprise attacks. We've learned our lesson once, and we can't afford to repeat it. Set up more sentries, alarms, and traps, and have patrols cover every nook and cranny."

"The grain transport route must be absolutely secure. Everyone must remember Zhao Ting's lesson. The escort team must be equipped with sufficient guards, the route must be changed at any time, and additional troops must be stationed at key points."

Zhou Heng assisted in organizing documents and maps, occasionally offering suggestions for improvement on camp hygiene and wounded care. Most of these suggestions focused on process optimization and preventative measures, without addressing solutions that required large amounts of scarce resources.

Xiao Jue listened attentively, adopting what was useful and setting aside what was inappropriate.

That afternoon, Xiao Jue was inspecting the newly trained crossbowmen's drills at the training ground.

Zhou Heng, wrapped in a thick fur coat, watched from the side, his nose turning red from the cold wind.

Xiao Jue glanced at him, said nothing, but whispered an order to the guard beside him.

Before long, the guards brought in a brand-new, thickly sewn leather hat and a fur glove.

Xiao Jue took the hat, walked naturally to Zhou Heng, put the leather hat on his head, and then put the hand warmer in his hands. "Wear it. Aren't you cold standing in the wind?" His tone was flat, even a little stiff.

Zhou Heng froze, the leather hat still warm from Xiao Jue's hand, the cup of his hand soft and warm. "...Thanks," he whispered, pulling the hat down to cover his reddened ears.

The surrounding generals and soldiers all kept their eyes down, pretending not to see anything.

Xiao Jue remained calm and turned to continue inspecting the training.

After returning from the drill ground and entering the relatively warm central command tent, Zhou Heng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Jue took off his outer armor, walked to the charcoal brazier, and gestured for Zhou Heng to come over and warm up as well.

"Huo Yi is probably having a hard time in Cangyun Ridge too," Zhou Heng said casually, rubbing his hands together. "In this freezing weather, their supplies definitely can't keep up."

Xiao Jue poked at the embers with tongs, the firelight illuminating his cold, handsome profile. "Even a cornered beast will fight, let alone Huo Yi. He's waiting, waiting for the imperial reinforcements, waiting for Ningwu Pass to come to his aid."

He paused. "He won't sit idly by. Recently, our outposts and patrols have been encountering more frequent harassment from small groups of enemy troops. He's probing us, searching for our weaknesses."

"Do you think the imperial court... will really send reinforcements?" Zhou Heng asked.

Although he didn't understand the specific workings of the imperial court in this era, seeing Huo Yi's unwavering conviction and the bits and pieces he had heard before, he felt that the situation was not optimistic.

Xiao Jue paused for a moment, not directly answering the question about the court, but instead said, "Huo Yi believes in his monarch and the court he represents. This is the source of his power, and also his greatest weakness. As for reinforcements..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "The garrison commander of Ningwu Pass may be willing, but the area inside the pass is not a monolithic entity."

Provisions, manpower—both require time. Moreover, in this icy, snowy landscape, how easy is it for a large army to march?

"So we'll just stay here like this?" Zhou Heng asked.

"Surrounding without attacking is a poor strategy. Giving him time to recover is too risky." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jue's eyes. "But if we're going to attack, we can't just storm the natural defenses of Cangyun Ridge. We have to force him to come out on his own, or... force him to divide his forces and expose a weakness."

He walked to the sand table and pointed to an area on the flank of Cangyun Ridge: "This is the location of several small military forts and grain depots between Cangyun Ridge and Ningwu Pass. Although it is not a strategic location, it is a potential source of supplies for Huo Yi, or a possible foothold for his retreat."

If he feels there is no hope of reinforcements, he might try to move towards these points to obtain supplies, or even use them as a springboard to retreat back to Ningwu Pass.

"Are we going to take over these places?" Zhou Heng asked.

"Not entirely." Xiao Jue traced a few points with his finger. "Take down a few, making it appear as if we're cutting off his retreat and clearing out the outer perimeter. Leave one or two... surround them without taking them, or deliberately expose weaknesses."

Zhou Heng understood: "You want to set an ambush? Lure him out to rescue you? Or ambush him while he retreats?"

"Let's see what he chooses," Xiao Jue said. "If he remains inactive, we will gradually erode his outer perimeter and completely isolate Cangyun Ridge."

If he moves... whether to come to our rescue or to retreat, we must leave our advantageous terrain. Field combat is our opportunity.

This is a game of patience. Xiao Jue is weaving a net, calmly and steadily tightening it step by step.

Huo Yi, on the other hand, seeks a way to survive within the net, or waits for possible help from outside the net.

In the days that followed, Xiao Juejun began to frequently mobilize his forces, launching a series of swift and fierce attacks on the small strongholds around Cangyun Ridge.

Some strongholds were quickly captured, and the defending troops were annihilated or scattered. Other strongholds were besieged, but the offensive "seemed" not to be resolute, giving the defending troops the illusion that they were "fighting hard and waiting for reinforcements" or "may be able to break out."

The news inevitably reached Cangyunling. The atmosphere in the camp became even more tense.

Every time news of an attack on an outer outpost came, it was like a heavy hammer blow to Huo Yi and all his soldiers.

That was not just a military loss, but also a psychological blow, meaning that their connection with the rear was being cut off little by little and their living space was being constantly compressed.

Huo Yi stood before the rudimentary map, his brow furrowed. Xiao Jue's intentions were clear: a calculated scheme.

Force him to make a choice: continue to hold the isolated position, watch as the surrounding area is gradually cleared out, and become a completely isolated force?

Should we risk sending troops to rescue those strongholds that may have already fallen or are about to fall, or try to break through towards Ningwu Pass?

Either option carries extremely high risks.

"General, we can't stand by and watch any longer!" A general couldn't help but volunteer for battle. "Let me lead a force to rescue our brothers at Blackrock Fortress! They've been besieged for three days, and their messengers are risking their lives to send messages; they're still holding out!"

"Yes, General, if Xiao Ni seizes the grain supplies from 'Qingmu Village,' we'll have an even harder time holding out!"

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was tense yet also filled with anxiety. The constant pressure and harsh environment were wearing down the army's patience and morale.

Huo Yi raised his hand, silencing the crowd. His gaze swept over the faces, some indignant, some worried, some weary. "Xiao Jue is hoping we split our forces to rescue him, or that we'll hastily break out. He's waiting for us outside, well-rested."

His voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring power: "Order all strongholds to hold their ground as much as possible and wear down the enemy. At the same time, send out more scouts, at any cost, to find out accurate information about the Ningwu Pass area and the details of Xiao's main force's activities in the surrounding area!"

He had to make the most accurate judgment. Whether to defend or attack, to wait or retreat, all required clearer intelligence. He couldn't gamble with the lives of his two thousand loyal soldiers.

Just as Huo Yijun was under immense pressure and making difficult decisions, the imperial decree from the Southern Capital and the first batch of decent supplies, after countless official correspondence and bargaining among bureaucrats, finally embarked on their arduous journey to the northern border.

However, this journey is destined to be long and full of uncertainties.

Inside Xiao Jue's central command tent.

Zhou Heng was facing a simple sand table model, fiddling with the small flags representing different troops, trying to understand Xiao Jue's strategy.

"Here... did you deliberately leave an opening?" Zhou Heng pointed to a stronghold on the sand table that was "besieged" but "not yet fallen".

Xiao Jue stood behind him, leaned slightly forward, and pointed to another spot on the sand table, his finger passing over Huo Yi's shoulder: "It's not an opening, it's a passage. If Huo Yi chooses to move towards Ningwu Pass, this is one of the most likely routes he will take."

"I'm here..." His finger moved to a complex mountainous area beside the passage, "where three light cavalry units are lying in ambush."

His breath brushed past Zhou Heng's ear, carrying a faint chill. Zhou Heng's body stiffened slightly, his attention struggling to concentrate on the sand table. "What if... he doesn't go this way?"

"Then let's continue the siege, continue the dragging." Xiao Jue straightened up, his tone returning to its usual coldness. "He can't afford to drag this out. Even if the imperial reinforcements arrive, they'll be a long way off. And this winter is still very long."

He walked to the desk, picked up a document, and suddenly said, "You said last time that saltpeter could be used to make ice to help preserve meat?"

Zhou Heng came to his senses: "Ah, right, theoretically it's possible, but it would require a suitable container and a lot of saltpeter..." He was a little surprised that Xiao Jue remembered this.

"Saltpeter isn't hard to find. I'll leave this to you to try. If successful, it will benefit the military supplies." Xiao Jue said, handing him a briefing on possible saltpeter-producing locations nearby. "If you need anything, contact the supply battalion."

Zhou Heng took the briefing. "Okay, I'll do my best."