Setting the Battle Strategy

War was on the verge of erupting. The Northern troops advanced with overwhelming momentum, as if they had made thorough preparations for a grueling battle.

The sky was filled with flying snow, a blinding white and hazy gray that blurred the boundaries between heaven and earth.

Duan Nanyu poured all his energy into the military campaign. This war was proving much harder to fight than he had anticipated; he could not afford the slightest carelessness, or his entire army could be wiped out.

Most importantly... she was here, and he could not let a single thing happen to her!

He could die, but she could not!

A faint candlelight illuminated the entire tent. A cowhide map was spread across the table, with several crucial strategic locations circled simply upon it.

Several men sat around the table, gazing at the map in deep thought, trying to find a breakthrough to strike straight at the Northern army. However, the deployment of the Northern forces was airtight, clearly showing they were fighting this war with all their might!

The flame in the oil lamp flickered a few times, casting faint shadows across the cowhide map. Yun Xueyan's eyes suddenly lit up, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Noticing the change on Yun Xueyan's face, Feng Xilou chuckled softly, "Has Yan'er found a solution?"

Slightly surprised, Feng Xilou was too observant; he had caught even the fleeting expression that flashed across her face. Or rather, his mind had never truly been on the map, but on her.

Feeling a sense of helplessness, Yun Xueyan turned her gaze to Duan Nanyu, who sat beside her, and spoke softly, "Your Highness, retreating in order to advance—you should understand this tactic, right?"

"Of course," Duan Nanyu replied, immediately shifting his gaze to Yun Xueyan. "What do you mean by this?"

Pondering for a moment, Yun Xueyan tapped the map a few times and then looked up. "Does Your Highness understand now? We move our camp back, letting the enemy think we are cowering and intend to surrender, so as to make them lower their guard."

"And then during the battle, we use the retreat to lure them to these locations on the map?" Duan Nanyu took over, frowning as he looked at the terrain features indicated on the map—one being a ravine, the other a flatland.

"And then?"

"We split our forces into two paths. Lure them into the ravine; there is only one exit here. We station archers in ambush there. Once they arrive, we loose our arrows, forcing the enemy troops down into the ravine. Our army will guard the outside, cutting off the enemy's food supply and drinking water. Sooner or later, they will have to surrender." Tapping her finger on the map, Yun Xueyan looked up at Duan Nanyu.

Feng Xilou sat to one side without a word, merely listening to their discussion and casting a gentle, approving gaze at Yun Xueyan's analysis.

"As for the other detachment, they will be lured to the flatland. Since the enemy relies on cavalry, we will attack their mounts," Yun Xueyan continued.

Listening to Yun Xueyan's words, Duan Nanyu pondered for a moment, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "I understand. Targeting the horses' legs—good! Everyone, go and make your preparations. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Feng and I will personally lead the troops. That's fine with you, Prime Minister Feng?"

"Of course. I will certainly give my all to execute Yan'er's plan." Feng Xilou curved his thin lips into a faint smile, his warm eyes fixed on Yun Xueyan. "Well then, let us go out and make preparations."

With that, completely ignoring Duan Nanyu's murderous glare, he stepped out of the tent first.

Duan Nanyu rose, casually pulled Yun Xueyan up, and right before stepping out of the tent, he gave her a brief instruction: "Stay right here and take care of yourself!"