Aaron Lin's expression was grim. Even though it wasn't his fault, the stronghold was the gathering place of his own clan, and now it had been wiped out. His mood was heavy and dejected. On the way here, he heard Joseph Qiao discuss the next tactical arrangements, which made him even more uneasy.
The stronghold before them was only a third the size of their clan's outpost, but it served as a crucial gateway to the western Grant City. It was, in effect, the Grant Family's lifeline. Yet now, such an important place was to be destroyed by fire.
Most of the generals wore troubled expressions; many opposed this plan.
Several clan chiefs waited inside the stronghold. Although the southern war was won, the loss of the forward outpost meant complete failure.
Inside a long wooden cabin, bonfires were already burning. Yuna Ji entered with her nine followers and the generals. At the head table sat only a few clan chiefs. Yuna Ji glanced at them—they remained seated, not rising to greet her. She stopped in her tracks.
"Why do you all look so gloomy?"
Yuna Ji spoke leisurely, but no one showed any sign of a pleasant expression.
"Yuna, though you won a great victory, it’s only a drop in the bucket."
Elder Yu sighed helplessly, and soon several group leaders echoed his sentiment.
"Enough. Silence."
Yuna Ji suddenly roared, and all surrounding voices abruptly ceased. Everyone looked at her in alarm.
'I'm not here to listen to your complaints. If anyone still wants to complain, please leave. The battle is imminent, and I'm here only to inform you of the next steps.'
Yuna Ji spoke as she walked directly to the head of the cabin, glanced at the seated clan chiefs. They obediently made way, and Yuna Ji sat down.
'Tomorrow, have the soldiers begin moving everything that can be moved out of this stronghold, and return to Grant City.'
As soon as Yuna Ji finished speaking, all the clan chiefs looked at her in astonishment.
'Let me explain.'
Joseph Qiao stepped out from behind Yuna Ji and began to speak. After evacuating the stronghold, thirty thousand soldiers would go directly to the northern outpost, while the rest would withdraw to Grant City.
After a while, Joseph Qiao explained the subsequent strategy in detail. Many people looked at Yuna Ji with gloomy expressions.
'Yuna, how could you do this? This is my...,'
A clan chief stood up, just about to speak when Yuna Ji glared at him, causing him to swallow his words.
'Pass down the order—if anyone tries to disrupt morale again, they will be executed without mercy.'
'You... you know nothing about war, Yuna Ji, you...'
Suddenly, Yuna Ji turned around. The clan chief fell silent. She laughed coldly.
'Yes, I don't understand war. I only know how to kill. But I know I will win. Pass down the order—prepare to evacuate this pass, take everything we can, then burn the stronghold.'
The soldiers began to move. In just half a day, the entire army knew what had happened on the southern battlefield. It was indeed a great victory. The soldiers were not discouraged by the loss of the stronghold; instead, many were filled with hope.
'That was too harsh, Yuna.'
Joseph Qiao muttered in a cabin, with nine others and several generals present.
'Yes, Yuna. No matter what, he’s still your uncle’s generation and was a close friend of your father.'
Zhao Peng spoke up, but Yuna Ji looked at everyone with an unchanged expression.
'Joseph, hurry up and share your plan.'
Joseph Qiao nodded.
'Right now, we probably have fewer than 100,000 soldiers. The 50,000 stationed at the border between Jiang Territory and Grant Territory cannot be moved. If anything happens in Jiang Territory, at least we’ll have time to respond and devise a strategy. Even after winter, if we return to Grant City and begin training, in three months we’ll have no more than 50,000 soldiers, and their combat ability won’t match that of battle-hardened veterans. So I think we need to create special mixed units.'
As Joseph Qiao spoke, he pulled out a map, marking several red dots in the western mountains.
Returning to Grant City, the first task is to have the veterans get familiar with these locations and terrain. Many people must learn them. Once familiar, these people will be assigned to nine different types of units.
'Nine different units?'
Yu Huang looked thoughtfully at Joseph Qiao, completely unable to figure out what he was planning.
'Let me explain briefly. For example, Long Nu, you’ll personally select soldiers skilled in riding and archery, assign them under your command, and form a fast-moving cavalry unit. The group may be small, but its striking power will surpass ordinary infantry, especially if you mix in skilled archers. Each general will need time to cultivate these troops, so your job is to focus on these people’s combat abilities.'
As Joseph Qiao spoke, he looked at Zhao Peng and continued.
'Zhao Peng, as for you, select some infantry with good stamina and a few cavalry to form a mixed unit. They’ll be able to move quickly and scout in the forests, and also fight head-on. If you integrate them well, even against large enemy forces, using the forest as cover, you’ll be able to hold your own.'
'Yusheng, let's discuss these matters slowly when we return to Grant City. I think we’d better go out and keep watch; otherwise, what if more chaos breaks out like before?'
Lu Xing reminded him. Joseph Qiao nodded helplessly, while a glimmer appeared in Yuna Ji's eyes.
The generals gradually dispersed, leaving only Joseph Qiao, Long Nu, and Mao Tian. Joseph Qiao quietly sat down.
'I have a suggestion: lure Jiang Territory to send troops to aid us.'
Yuna Ji spoke, and Long Nu immediately looked at her in astonishment.
'Yuna, didn’t you refuse to marry into Jiang Territory?'
Yuna Ji nodded, but then quickly shook her head.
'Jiang Territory is already coveting us, planning to wait until we’re nearly destroyed before helping divide our lands with Ying and Shi. If we get them to send troops now, and I offer to marry the Jiang King’s son—with the condition that they show sincerity and send troops first—then, in the future, if I have children with Grant blood, it will be legitimate. As long as they send a large army, Grant Territory can be reclaimed and naturally become theirs. Isn’t this a great deal for Jiang Territory?'
'The King of Jiang is very cautious. It's almost impossible for him to send troops to aid us; he’s convinced we’re on our last legs. News of the stronghold’s fall will soon reach him.'
Yuna Ji stood up, looked at Mao Tian, and then smiled.
'I hope you can go personally. Set out early tomorrow morning. As for your brother and sister, they’ll stay here. Is that okay?'
'Alright, Yuna, I’ll go myself. I’ll also look for Jiang Tianci—maybe he’ll side with us.'
Joseph Qiao immediately smiled and said.
'Yuna, whether Jiang Territory sends troops depends on the outcome of the first battle after spring. If we win, there’s hope. If we lose, they won’t send troops.'
Meanwhile, inside the stronghold, soldiers were spreading rumors about the southern war. Many listened eagerly to the veterans’ stories, deeply admiring Yuna Ji and the generals’ heroism on the battlefield.
Soldiers and clanspeople seemed to see hope—the gloom from the defeat at the stronghold was gradually disappearing.
Night fell, the snow stopped, and the freezing winter arrived early. With a creak, Tang Lan kept breathing heavily, almost collapsing, but his eyes remained resolutely fixed on the ghost leading the way.
At that moment, the ghost turned around, and Tang Lan immediately sensed something.
'Are we there? The place where the Wraith Casket is buried.'
Yuna Ji stood up, looked at Mao Tian, and then smiled.
'I hope you can go personally. Set out early tomorrow morning. As for your brother and sister, they’ll stay here. Is that okay?'
'Alright, Yuna, I’ll go myself. I’ll also look for Jiang Tianci—maybe he’ll side with us.'
Joseph Qiao immediately smiled and said.
'Yuna, whether Jiang Territory sends troops depends on the outcome of the first battle after spring. If we win, there’s hope. If we lose, they won’t send troops.'
Meanwhile, inside the stronghold, soldiers were spreading rumors about the southern war. Many listened eagerly to the veterans’ stories, deeply admiring Yuna Ji and the generals’ heroism on the battlefield.
Soldiers and clanspeople seemed to see hope—the gloom from the defeat at the stronghold was gradually disappearing.
Night fell, the snow stopped, and the freezing winter arrived early. With a creak, Tang Lan kept breathing heavily, almost collapsing, but his eyes remained resolutely fixed on the ghost leading the way.
At that moment, the ghost turned around, and Tang Lan immediately sensed something.
'Are we there? The place where the Wraith Casket is buried.'