Dense smoke billowed from all corners of the forest, and the stench of feet permeated the entire mountain. Joseph Qiao held his nose, standing before the Mountain Pass as corpses were thrown into the cremation pit to burn, then buried under earth.
Thick logs were carried out from inside the Mountain Pass by soldiers. The craftsmen sharpened the wood, preparing to set up spiked barriers before the Mountain Pass.
"Are you serious? Joseph Qiao, if we abandon this Mountain Pass, it’s the same as giving up the passes on both flanks. That would let the enemy march straight in—the Zou Clan’s army would pour through and target our southern granaries."
Terry Mao spoke urgently from the side, hardly believing Joseph Qiao would say such a thing. Sebastian Zhao also looked baffled.
"Half of a half."
Joseph Qiao gazed at the slope ahead and continued speaking.
"The enemy still has at least five hundred thousand. And us? Not even two hundred thousand. If I were their commander, I’d wait until the autumn harvest was done, stock up on supplies, and launch a full assault. Attack all three passes at once, and in less than a week, it would be decided. Even if we managed to hold the Mountain Pass, we’d be left with nothing in our hands."
"What did you mean by half of a half just now?"
Sebastian Zhao asked in confusion. Joseph Qiao turned around and pointed to the southern sky.
"The central grasslands are lush now—it’s grazing season, and the land is flat. There’s the Lin Clan and three other tribal strongholds there, forming a triangle. If the enemy wants to break into Grant City, they can’t bypass those Triangle Outposts."
As Joseph Qiao spoke, he pulled a map from his coat. Three red dots marked its surface, and he gestured as he continued.
"If we can fortify these Triangle Outposts and fight a mobile war with the enemy, we can gradually wear down their forces by relying on our cavalry’s mobility. Even if they split their troops, we have the Benny Bull cavalry, which can effectively smash their infantry. Look at how long the battlefront would stretch if we move it to the central plains."
Terry Mao looked for a moment, then broke into a smile.
"That’s true, Joseph Qiao. With such a long front, the enemy’s supplies will be a problem. But what about the south? What if the enemy bypasses the Triangle Outposts and heads straight for the south?"
"We’ve stockpiled grain for years—food isn’t a worry now. When the autumn harvest comes, we’ll send a large number of soldiers south to gather the crops, then quickly move them to the central plains. Even if the enemy makes the long march to the south, they’ll find nothing left for them. That’s when we cut them down for good."
As Joseph Qiao spoke, he traced the route from the central plains to the south on the map.
"If we do this, the enemy won’t be able to cover both ends. When their supplies run out, they’ll collapse without a fight."
Sebastian Zhao spoke, and Joseph Qiao nodded.
"But the enemy isn’t foolish. So this plan is half success, half failure—a gamble. To transport so much grain from the southern fields to the central plains, we’ll need a massive workforce. If we send over a hundred thousand troops from the three passes, our defenses will be dangerously thin. If the enemy seizes the chance to break through and heads straight south, we lose everything."
Terry Mao let out a sigh.