"Beijia claims to be the greatest power in the world, and no other nation disputes it. As for the Heavenly Palace, it is renowned as the earthly abode of the celestial gods, considered a sacred ground even within Lingxu City itself." He Chunhua let out a soft sigh. "If Zhang Lianhai were to visit the Yuan capital and see the sovereign, even His Majesty would treat him with the warmest hospitality."
Zhang Lianhai the man was not important, but the power behind him was immense.
Qiu Hu suddenly chimed in, "Weren't Lingxu City and the Heavenly Palace turned upside down not even half a year ago? Word has it that casualties started at a hundred thousand, and to this day they haven't caught the true culprit."
"I've heard the rumors as well." He Chunhua nodded. "We have no way of knowing the secrets behind it, but the Heavenly Palace's might remains beyond question."
He knew little of whatever mysterious turns had taken place in Lingxu City, but Beijia's formidable strength was undeniable.
He had always been a pragmatic man, and the strong deserved proper respect.
Next, he and He Lingchuan paid separate visits to the contingents dispatched by the Baling Kingdom and the Jianyang Sect.
Within the modest confines of Blackwater City, there were currently four outside factions: the Heavenly Palace, Baling, the Jianyang Sect, and Mount Rong. Counting He Chunhua's forces, that made five.
Outside the walls, the Andongese also had their eyes on the Dafang Pot.
Not to mention, other forces were likely already trekking through the sands toward the Panlong Ruins.
By that count, the Panlong Desert was bustling with extraordinary activity.
Because of this, father and son did not have to expend much effort to persuade the delegations from Baling and the Jianyang Sect to join the fray.
The trick to winning over these outside forces lay in projecting complete control over the battlefield.
Everyone only wanted to stand on the winning side.
If He Chunhua had shown the slightest lack of confidence, those fellows might well have turned cloak on the spot and sided with the Andongese.
After all, they only needed to back whoever came out on top; who actually won made no difference to them.
Father and son took time to return to the inn for a brief council to deliberate on their tactics against the Andongese.
"The best approach is to have these groups sally out from the east gate to draw the attention of the Andongese, while we seize the chance to break out from the north gate." He Chunhua carried a sand table with him, which he set upon the table. "I brought a hunting falcon that has already flown out several times to scout the enemy's positions. The Andongese have pitched their main camp at the foot of Hulu Mountain—"
"Hulu Mountain?" He Lingchuan paused, the name striking a familiar chord.
"Yes, the very Hulu Mountain where you fell off the cliff." He Chunhua traced his finger across the sand table. "The terrain there is favorable—easy to defend and hard to attack. What do you think?"
He Lingchuan spoke up immediately: "To my mind, the combat strength of the Andongese army can't be all that impressive."
"What makes you say that?"
"If they were truly strong, why wait twenty years before coming to seize Blackwater City?" He Lingchuan said with a smile. "Great Yuan's exhaustion didn't just begin showing in the last year or two. The Andongese must have been watching closely for a long time, only making up their minds to attack after the strange upheaval in the Panlong Desert."
To him, the Andongese attacking a Yuan city was nothing more than two weaklings pecking at each other.
"..." He Chunhua found no flaw in the reasoning and had nothing to refute.
"That the Andongese aren't strong is good news for us. With the Blackwater City troops supplemented by this motley assortment of helpers, breaking through the enemy's flanking forces will likely throw them into panic," He Lingchuan continued. "Still, we can't count on ragtag groups like the Heavenly Palace or Baling to exert themselves on our behalf."
He Chunhua was well aware of this. "Indeed. The moment they see an opening to leave the city, they won't hesitate to take it."
Their sole goal was simply getting out of the city, not living and dying alongside Blackwater City.
"Then entrusting the eastern line directly to them is unwise," He Lingchuan said after a moment's reflection. "Better to place them with the forces on the southern line."
"Best of all would be to hit their rear." He Chunhua pointed at Hulu Mountain on the sand table. "The Andongese traveled light over a long distance, bringing little in the way of heavy baggage. It isn't harvest season yet, so most of their provisions must be hauled down from the north."
"As long as we burn their grain, they won't be able to stay long and will have to withdraw northward," He Lingchuan caught his drift at once. "If they can't take Blackwater City and have only vast desert ahead of them, they'll be forced to retreat the moment their foraging fails."
"Precisely." He Chunhua looked at his eldest son, masking the complex emotions stirring in his heart.
How could his Chuan'er be this perceptive, his mind so nimble and full of insight?
Alas.
His eldest son offered him a faint smile, appearing wholly oblivious to his father's inner turmoil.
Would there ever be another time like this, father and son united with one heart to repel a foreign foe?
***
At dusk, inside the Hongyan Restaurant.
The various factions invited by the He father and son had all arrived. He Chunhua laid out the situation both inside and outside the walls face-to-face, while assigning roles to everyone present.
In truth, it was quite simple: the three factions—the Heavenly Palace, Baling, and the Jianyang Sect—numbering over seventy people in all, were placed within the southern gate force.
"The main force of the Blackwater City troops will engage the enemy from the east gate, while another unit sallies from the north gate to feign an outflanking maneuver. Once the Andongese forces are lured away, you will emerge from the south gate and slip toward Hulu Mountain to raid their main camp!"
He Chunhua gestured on the sand table. "From the south gate to Hulu Mountain is roughly seven li. With your abilities, it will take no time at all."
He smiled. "Once fire breaks out in their rear camp, the vanguard is bound to fall into chaos. We can then strike them from front and rear, routing the Andongese in a single blow."
The assembled factions raised no real objections upon hearing this. The brunt of the pressure under this plan fell entirely on the Blackwater City troops, who would have to withstand the Andongese onslaught to buy time for the southern force.
Zhang Lianhai spoke up, however: "You placed all of us in a single force? You aren't using us as bait, are you?"
"What is Master Zhang saying? The mission of the southern force is of paramount importance. Whether this battle ends in victory hinges entirely on whether you can successfully sack their camp. Otherwise, the fighting will drag on indefinitely." He Chunhua waved a hand. "If you do not wish to remain with the southern force, you are welcome to switch to the north or east gates. But there, I fear you will have to face the direct brunt of the Andongese assault."
The groups considered it, and none asked for a transfer.
Just as He Chunhua had said, the task of the southern force was lighter, yet far more critical.
So it was settled.
He Chunhua agreed on a signal to attack with everyone, and the meeting concluded.
Just then, Zhang Lianhai's attendant chimed in, "By the way, where is your son? Which route is he assigned to?"
He Lingchuan had not shown himself; only He Chunhua had appeared at the Hongyan Restaurant.
The Governor-General's expression remained steady. "He has gone to make preparations on the northern route."
The pressure of striking from the north was not light in the least.
***
Where was He Lingchuan at that moment?
Since He Chunhua had publicly declared at the Hongyan Restaurant that his son was at the north gate, He Lingchuan naturally was nowhere near it.
In the midst of battle, Blackwater City possessed one tranquil corner: the west gate.
The city's western gate was the tallest and sturdiest of all. Seeking easy targets, the Andongese had focused their main attacks on the north and east gates, posting only screening details at the remaining two to prevent Blackwater City from secretly deploying troops.
As a result, the west gate remained peaceful. The opposing sides above and below the walls simply stared at one another, neither having any appetite for combat.
Both were just guarding their respective posts, fulfilling their duties.
He Lingchuan did not fling the west gate open to charge out, either. Instead, he led Qiu Hu and over seventy men toward the most secluded spot along the inner side of the west gate.
The Li Clan Mortuary.
Chapter 816