Chapter 183: with translation of chapter title

The study in the Luo River Defense Commissioner's mansion had become the sole calm yet most tense area in the eye of the storm.

Chen Wen sat upright before a huge map, his gaze as precise as a ruler.

He paced back and forth along the two invisible lines representing inner and outer fronts.

One line ran inward, winding and twisting, pointing to the core areas of Luo River, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, and Linhe.

Especially the artisan camp and the Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping granary.

Along this line lingered an almost tangible chill of killing intent brought by the Iron Crow Army's Nether Shade squad.

The other line ran outward, extending to Chan Prefecture City and further pointing to the distant Bian Liang.

This line was shrouded in the political gloom and economic shackles brought by Imperial Court edicts.

And the sudden exacerbation of the power vacuum and various covetousness due to Chai Rong's grave illness.

Both lines must be pursued together; neither can afford any loss.

"Shi Dun." Chen Wen's voice broke the study's silence, metallic in tone.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Shi Dun stepped forward, his armor plates clanking.

Days of continuous high alert had not only failed to tire him.

But instead it made the eyes of this tiger‑like general blaze with even fiercer fighting spirit.

"The Nether Shade have not arrived—not because they won't come, but because they are gathering strength to strike, or have already slipped into the vicinity."

Chen Wen's finger hammered down on the map marks for the artisan camp and the Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping granary.

"Strengthen both open and hidden posts, but keep the exterior loose and the interior tight—do not let them notice our preparations."

"Moreover, at each crucial point on the necessary routes, set up ambush zones, stocking plenty of bows, crossbows, pits, and iron caltrops."

"I will make this Luo River territory the burial ground of that so‑called elite force!"

"Rest assured, my lord!"

Shi Dun grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth.

"I've already sent out three batches of able men, disguised as woodcutters and hunters, watching those rat‑paths day and night."

"As long as they dare show their heads, I guarantee they won't return!"

"In the artisan camp and the granary, I've also planted veterans—blood‑seasoned old soldiers—not so easily overwhelmed."

Good.

Chen Wen nodded, turning his gaze to Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru.

"How should we respond to the Imperial Court?"

Zhang Cheng immediately presented several documents.

"My lord, the first batch of the increased levies has been readied and loaded onto wagons as you ordered."

"But citing the difficulty of conscripting laborers and the danger of bandits along the route, they requested the prefecture send troops to escort the wagons, thus buying time."

"The accounts are also being cleared; the key data have been properly… handled."

He chose his words carefully.

Wang Ru added.

"The new trade route is already taking shape; several major firms in Xiang Prefecture and Ci Prefecture are very interested in our refined iron and cloth, willing to bypass the official customs and come directly to Luo River to trade."

"However, protecting the convoys along the way is no small pressure; General Shi's merchant escort must be formed quickly."

"The first two hundred of the merchant escort will be ready to move out in three days!"

Shi Dun immediately guaranteed.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment, then said.

"As for the taxes, delay them if possible, but the outward show must be thorough—do not give others a handle."

"The new trade route is a long‑term plan; it must be steady and sound, even if profits are thin, we must preserve reputation and safety."

He looked toward Wang Ru.

"Tell those firms that for the first batch of trade I can offer a ten percent discount to show sincerity."

"Understood, sir." Wang Ru nodded.

"Qian Gui!"

Chen Wen finally looked toward the intelligence chief.

"Both lines must be watched closely. I want definite clues about the Nether Shade's whereabouts."

"The movements of the Bian Liang envoy are especially important—I need to know exactly who they meet after arrival and their words and deeds."

Qian Gui's gaunt face showed a gleam of shrewdness.

"The Nether Shade's movements are mysterious, but as living beings they must eat, drink, and relieve themselves; my subordinates have reinforced surveillance of water sources, hunters' huts, and abandoned kilns in the black pine forest to the border hills."

"As for the Bian Liang envoy…"

He paused.

"According to intelligence, the envoy's chief envoy and director of the Northern Bureau of Proclamations, Dong Zunhui, loves luxury and especially treasures ancient jade."

"The deputy envoy, Minister of Revenue Zhou Ting, is a strict Confucianist who observes propriety and allows no oil or salt."

"They expect to reach Chan Prefecture in five days, their first stop necessarily the prefectural office."

A flicker of understanding crossed Chen Wen's eyes.

Only by catering to their preferences can we find a gap to slip in.

To deal with Dong Zunhui, we can start from his likes;

To deal with Zhou Ting, we must be flawless in observing propriety.

In the coming days, inside and outside Luo River functioned like two precision instruments running at high speed simultaneously.

Externally, Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and the Bian Liang and Chan Prefecture sides exchanged documents frequently.

Their words were respectful, their reasons ample, and they exerted the idea of 'delay' to the fullest.

Meanwhile, the development of the new trade route proceeded covertly; the first batch of refined iron and cloth, under elite escort, was secretly transported to Xiang Prefecture.

Internally, Shi Dun's net of heaven and earth grew even tighter.

Patrol teams crossed back and forth, hidden posts like lurking venomous snakes, and the three counties were shrouded beneath an invisible net of vigilance.

The dispersal and transfer of the workshop's core processes were also secretly completed at night, leaving only necessary cover and bait.

Chen Wen himself held the center, continually receiving information from both lines and making fine adjustments.

He at times discussed ambush details with Shi Dun, at times calculated grain and supply accounts with Zhang Cheng.

He at times listened to Qian Gui's reports on suspicious signs. His mind was highly focused, and both his stamina and spirit were continually drained.

That night, Qian Gui again rushed to see him, bringing a crucial piece of news.

"Prefect, the observers of Zhao Kuangyin discovered that the unit under his command, trained by the 'Quenching Fire' method, consisted of three hundred elite troops."

"Today at dusk, a squad of about fifty silently left the Chan Prefecture military camp, destination unknown!"

Qian Gui's tone was urgent.

"At the same time, near an abandoned mountain god temple west of the Black Pine Forest, we discovered a special mark apparently left by the 'Dark Shade' squad."

"It is a crow-shaped symbol drawn with navy-blue mineral powder, its scent matching that of the previously found cloth."

The two lines seemed to have reached a dangerous crossroads at this moment.

Chen Wen's eyes turned sharp.

Zhao Kuangyin's elite troops showed unusual movement, and the Iron Crow Army's markings reappeared……Are they planning to join forces?

Or are they each fighting independently, merely happening to collide?

"Continue to closely monitor Zhao Kuangyin's main force and that missing squad; report immediately if any trace is found!"

Chen Wen said in a low voice.

"As for the markings in the Black Pine Forest, increase personnel and expand the search area; I need to know exactly where they are hiding and how many there are!"

"Yes!"

After Qian Gui left, Chen Wen stood alone before the map, silent for a long time.

The pressure from both fronts suddenly tightened, like two invisible hands gripping Luo River's throat.

The Imperial Court's restraints could still be maneuvered around, but this deadly blow from the shadows must be utterly crushed!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions. The more perilous the situation, the greater the need for calm.

"Give the order to Shi Dun: recheck the ambush positions, string the bows and crossbows, and camouflage the pits."

"Tell the brothers, the fish……might soon be entering the net."

"Give the order to Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru: the Bian Liang envoy is about to arrive, prepare all response plans."

"Run through it once more, allowing no oversight."

After the orders were issued, Chen Wen slowly sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

Fighting on two fronts tests not only strength, but also will and resolve.

He must be like the most composed chess player, placing pieces both on and off the board, needing to block overt spears as well as hidden arrows.

The night grew deep; Luo River lay in a strange atmosphere where stillness and turmoil intertwined, awaiting an unknown storm.

The Growth Progress Bar, under these extreme conditions of internal and external distress with pressure from both fronts,

persisted stubbornly, and quietly accumulated strength for the next stage's outbreak.