NOVPUBZhu Tong burst into laughter, seemingly having completely forgotten what he had done just moments earlier, and approached the old scholar with an arm ready to hook around his shoulder.
"You silly man!"
Xu Wencai, pointing at him with his feather fan, scolded him with frustration but didn't dwell on it further. Without wasting more words, he walked in front of the man in the white robe and knelt down:
"Your servant Xu Wencai greets the superior!"
"Why are you kneeling if you're not busy?"
Chen Sansi pulled him up and then said, "You've come just in time. You'll explain the details to them later."
"Alright!"
"— Whoosh —"
In the presence of everyone, Xu Wencai unfolded a map detailed with strategic markings:
"Gentlemen!"
"Tomorrow is the day on which our fate will be determined!"
"Let me explain the detailed plan. The superior has already communicated with me secretly. Listen carefully to the strategy."
"At present in Liangzhou, we have Hongze Camp, my two camps, General Lü's three camps, and General Pan Luo's Great Halberd Camp—a total of seven camps. The forces are divided four against three."
"Moreover, General Lü's three camps are all stationed within the city."
"Whereas my troops are currently stationed outside the city. Should we fail to capture Liangzhou City in a short time after we initiate the attack, we will be besieged by the rest of the Beiliang army from You and Yan states."
"Unfortunately, Liangzhou City's walls are both high and strong. Even with coordinated efforts from inside and out, capturing it rapidly is clearly impossible."
"Therefore, the superior and I have decided."
"First to clear external threats, then to stabilize internally."
"Apart from the three camps in Liangzhou we can immediately take control of,"
"at the border of You and Liang states, there are also Azure Dragon Camp and Vermilion Bird Camp, which are actually held back by the Heavenly Strategy Camp and Sky Wolf Camp under 'surveillance.'"
"The superior has already dispatched the husband and wife duo 'Wei Xuan' and 'Song Guizhi' to travel overnight and infiltrate these two camps. Once the uprising begins tomorrow, my garrison and the North Prefecture's two camps will sandwich them from both sides and encircle them."
"Then, Generals Ye Fengxiu, Rong Yanqiu, and Deng Feng will coordinate with Wei Xuan to directly behead the current main generals of Heavenly Strategy Camp and Sky Wolf Camp!"
"Remember."
"Unless absolutely necessary, only the main generals are to be killed, not the soldiers. By eliminating a batch of high-ranking military officers and recruiting a batch of middle-ranking ones, the Beiliang army will swiftly come under our control."
"Once this step is completed."
"Our two camps' forces will directly triple, effectively becoming six camps stationed outside."
"At that time, these six camps will march southward to cut off the supply routes to Liangzhou City, block all supportive paths, and together with the superior's Hongze Camp surround Liangzhou, then we can plan our next move gradually."
The plan was laid bare.
Everyone present etched it firmly in their minds.
As they saw it, the most troublesome issue was how to handle Ji Lü and the 45,000 troops under his three camps.
"This beast!"
Meng Guangxin was so angry his neck bulged: "If he had acted with us, where would we have all these troubles?!"
"Perhaps..."
Cheng Wei tentatively spoke, "Should I go to him again, try to persuade him? After all, he is our eldest senior brother. Surely he wouldn't entirely disregard our fraternity and really pose against us with swords drawn, life and death?"
"No way!"
Wang Zhi hurried to intervene: "Once words are out, they can't be retracted. The boss is already suspicious of our plotting. If you go today, he'll definitely sense something amiss. Who knows, you might even mess things up!"
"Ah..."
Cheng Wei sighed, "My skills in Pile Work were taught by the boss after all."
At the mention of this.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
The title 'eldest senior brother' is not bestowed lightly.
There's a common saying, 'An eldest brother is like a father.' Although he isn't quite there yet, he is definitely akin to half a master."
"Bang!"
Meng Guangxin smashed his fist against a stone, crushing it: "Why all the hesitation? He first became a 'subservient to three surnames,' then cultivated an Evil Technique, and has long ceased to be our senior brother. If he knows his place and does not interfere, so be it; but if he insists on creating trouble..."
"Even Buddha speaks of 'Vajra's Anger.' Moreover, it is he who first showed filial impiety and unrighteousness; by then, we would simply be 'cleaning the house' on behalf of our master!"
"Alright."
Chen Sansi stood up: "Tonight, let no one rest. Everyone take your positions, and be ready at all times. After daybreak tomorrow, at the signal of the beacon fires, Liangzhou will rise!"
All was arranged.
Everyone withdrew from the rear mountain, preparing overnight for the significant event tomorrow.
Chen Sansi then left the rear mountain and returned to Fufeng Pavilion.
Chen Duhe hadn't gone to bed yet.
The boy was only three years old but had boundless energy and spoke more fluently than other children his age. His character was mischievous and bossy toward others. Once Liangzhou stabilized, he would definitely need some strict discipline.
Perhaps aware that a major event was to unfold the next day.
Gu Xinlan and Sun Li also didn't rest. They sat under the light of candles, sewing, but they didn't ask much—one as usual helped him change into a new white robe, and the other sewed an amulet, although poorly made. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Around 3 a.m, when the sky was still dark.
Chen Sansi went to Housekeeper Wu: "Let's depart."
"This early?"
Housekeeper Wu looked up at the sky: "Wasn't the set time at 5 a.m?"
"No, don't bring things."
Chen Sansi paused: "Just people."
"Alright!"
Housekeeper Wu, thoughtful, nodded and quickly arranged everything.
Soon.
Carriages lightly packed moved out, stealthily leaving Liangzhou while it was still dark.
Meanwhile, Chen Sansi alone, arrived in front of a mansion within the city.
Yu Mansion!
The sky was not yet bright, but roosters were already crowing.
