Chapter 615: with translation of chapter title

Western Capital.

=> Xijing.

Huangcheng Privy Council White Tiger Hall.

=> Huangcheng Privy Council White Tiger Hall.

Huangcheng Privy Council White Tiger Hall.

This is the location of the Chen dynasty's highest military decision-making.

=> This is the highest military decision-making body of the Chen dynasty.

But we need to keep meaning: "This is the Chen dynasty's supreme military decision-making organ." Let's translate: "This is the Chen dynasty's supreme military decision-making organ."

Usually the defenses are strict, but today they are even stricter.

=> Normally the defenses are strict; today they are even stricter.

Better: "Usually the defenses are stringent; today they are even more so."

Inside the hall.

=> Inside the hall.

A huge sand table map of the northern frontier almost fills the center.

=> A huge sand table map of Bei Jing almost fills the center.

Mountains, passes, cities, and rivers are all reduced to scale, with numerous small flags of various colors inserted to represent enemy and friendly dispositions.

=> Mountains, passes, cities, and rivers are all scaled down proportionally, with various colored small flags inserted to represent enemy and friendly dispositions.

A sea of red enemy flags has nearly reached the model of the walls of Zhenbei Pass.

=> A sea of red enemy flags has nearly reached the model of Zhenbei Pass's city walls.

Shocking to behold.

=> Shocking to behold.

Chen Wen changed into a dark-colored ordinary robe, without wearing the imperial crown and robes, nor any armor.

=> Chen Wen changed into a set of dark-colored everyday robes, wearing neither imperial crown and robes nor armor.

Yet when seated in the chief position, the aura of one long accustomed to high office and commanding heaven and earth naturally emanates.

=> But when seated in the chief position, the aura of one long accustomed to high office and commanding heaven and earth naturally emanates.

Zhang Cheng, Zhao Lao Nian, and Qian Gui sit on either side.

=> Zhang Cheng, Zhao Lao Nian, and Qian Gui sat respectively on the two sides.

In addition, there are two senior deputy envoys of the Privy Council, the Minister of War, and a senior commander from Zhenbei Pass who hurried back on horseback from the northern frontier to report in obedience to orders.

=> In addition, there were two senior deputy envoys of the Privy Council, the Minister of War, and a senior battalion commander from Zhenbei Pass who had ridden back at speed from Bei Jing to report in obedience to orders.

All are the core of the Chen dynasty's military and state affairs.

=> All are the core of the Chen dynasty's military and state affairs.

"Begin."

=> "Let's begin."

Chen Wen's voice was calm, his gaze falling on the sand table.

=> Chen Wen's voice was calm, his eyes on the sand table.

"Speak freely of what you know, judge, and consider; hide nothing, need no embellishment."

=> "Tell me everything you know, have judged, and have considered—no concealment, no embellishment."

"What I want is the most truthful and complete picture of the northern frontier."

=> "What I want is the truest, most complete picture of Bei Jing."

The first to speak was a dust-covered Zhenbei Pass staff officer surnamed Li, a trusted confidant and beloved general of Shi Dun.

=> The first to speak was a dust-covered battalion commander from Zhenbei Pass, surnamed Li, a trusted favorite of Shi Dun.

His face bore the fatigue and gunpowder stains of days of bloody battle, yet his eyes remained sharp.

=> His face bore the fatigue and gunpowder stains of days of bloody fighting, but his eyes remained sharp.

"Subordinate Li Chong, acting on the orders of Commander Shi, reports in detail on the northern frontier situation."

=> "I am Lieutenant Li Chong, acting on the orders of Commander Shi Du, to report in detail on the Bei Jing situation."

He walked up to the sand table and picked up a slender command baton.

=> He walked up to the sand table and picked up a slender command baton.

"The enemy forces, for now called the 'Northern Yuan'."

=> "The enemy forces, for now, shall be called the Bei Yuan."

"Its tactics differ from those of any previous steppe tribe."

=> "Their method of warfare differs from that of any previous steppe tribe."

"First, it does not emphasize plundering, but focuses on attacking key points."

=> "First, they do not emphasize plundering; they focus on vital points."

"Since the outbreak of hostilities, it has mainly driven away or burned villages and towns along the way, with looting of goods and people as a secondary aim; its main force has consistently clung to our border strongholds, especially Zhenbei Pass, pressing hard with the clear intention of breaking through and moving south."

=> "Since the war began, they have mainly driven off or burned villages and towns along the way, with looting of goods and people as secondary; their main force has consistently clung to our border strongholds, especially Zhenbei Pass, pressing hard with the clear aim of breaching the pass and marching south."

"Second, its troop replenishment is strange."

=> "Second, their troop replenishment is strange."

"Its vanguard, after suffering setbacks, often rests only one or two days, sometimes even half a day, before returning to combat; the replenishment of troops, horses, and even damaged equipment is astonishingly swift."

=> "Their vanguard, after suffering setbacks, often needs only a day or two, sometimes even half a day, to rest before returning to combat. The replenishment of troops, horses, and even damaged equipment is astonishingly swift."

"We once sent death squads to sneak into its rear encampment for reconnaissance and discovered that deep within its camp there are often large black‑clothed tents that emit strong yū energy; wounded soldiers carried in soon emerge seemingly unharmed, suggesting a rapid 'healing' or even 'catalyzing' ability for new troops."

=> "We once sent death warriors to sneak into their rear camp for scouting and found that deep within their encampment there are often huge tents covered in black cloth, with strong dark-energy reactions. Wounded soldiers carried in soon emerge seemingly unharmed. It appears… they possess a rapid 'healing' or even 'catalyzing' ability for new troops."

Li Chong's command baton points to several areas on the sand table representing the deep steppe.

=> Li Chong's baton pointed to several areas on the sand table representing the deep steppe.

"Third, its command system is rigid yet efficient."

=> "Third, their command system is rigid yet efficient."

"Its various units seem to communicate not through traditional signal flags and drums, but by some means we cannot comprehend, reacting extremely quickly and coordinating uniformly."

=> "Their units seem to communicate not via traditional signal flags and drums, but by some means we cannot comprehend, reacting extremely quickly and coordinating uniformly."

"Nevertheless, its tactical changes are relatively inflexible, favoring frontal assaults, flank envelopments, and attrition of weary troops, with few clever variations; however, the vigor of its execution and the bravery of its soldiers make up for the lack of flexibility."

=> "However, their tactical variation is relatively inflexible, favoring frontal assaults, flank encirclements, and attrition of weary troops—basic methods, with few clever tricks. Yet their execution strength and the soldiers' bravery make up for the lack of variation."

"Finally, there is the 'Yū Shadow'."

=> "Finally, there is the 'Dark Shadow'."

Li Chong's voice sank.

=> Li Chong's voice sank.

"To date we have confirmed seven attacks by Yū Shadow squads."

=> "To date, we have confirmed seven attacks by Dark Shadow squads."

"Their targets are always our senior officers, key facility nodes, or logistics supply convoys."

=> "Their targets are always our senior officers, key facility nodes, or logistics supply convoys."

"Their combat power is well known to you all; a single Yū Shadow requires at least a small unit (fifty men) of our elite troops to form a formation and suffer heavy casualties in order to kill it."

=> "Their combat power, you have all heard of: a single Dark Shadow requires at least a small unit (fifty men) of our elite troops to form a battle array and suffer heavy casualties to kill it."

Commander Shi has issued strict orders that no officer may lightly leave his unit, and key points are to be reinforced with extra troops and the 'Yu Sha Crossbow' for protection; yet… defense is impossible to maintain completely.

=> "Commander Shi Du has issued strict orders that no officer may lightly leave his unit, and key points are to be reinforced with extra troops and 'Suppress Evil Crossbows' for protection. Yet… defense is impossible to guarantee."

"Our troops' morale has been greatly affected by this."

=> "Our troops' morale has been greatly affected by this."

Having finished speaking, Li Chong lowered his command baton and stood at attention to one side.

=> Having spoken, Li Chong lowered the baton and stood at attention to one side.

The hall fell silent.

=> The hall fell silent.

Only the occasional crackle of the charcoal fire could be heard.

=> Only the occasional crackle of the charcoal fire could be heard.

"Rapidly replenish troops… heal the wounded… unify deployment…" Zhang Cheng slowly repeated these key words, his brow furrowed, "This is no ordinary army; it is almost… an endless war machine."

=> "Rapidly replenishing troops… healing the wounded… unified dispatch…" Zhang Cheng slowly repeated these key words, his brow furrowed tightly: "This is no ordinary army; it is almost… an endless war machine."

Zhao Lao Nian's demeanor, his tone carrying the calm and gravity of a technician.

=> Zhao Lao Nian spoke, his tone carrying the calm and gravity of a technician.

"Combining yū energy monitoring data with battlefield sample analysis."

=> "Combining dark-energy monitoring data with battlefield sample analysis."

"It can basically be concluded that the 'Northern Yuan' army is a semi‑finished war‑tool mass‑produced by the Iron Crow army, using the steppe tribal population as a base and subjecting it to intense yū‑energy catalysis."

=> "It can basically be determined that the Bei Yuan army, using the steppe tribal population as a base, through high-intensity dark-energy 'catalysis', mass-produces 'semi-finished' war instruments."

"Its troop replenishment likely involves sending wounded or reserve personnel into the 'catalysis tent', where their potential is forcibly aroused, injuries healed, and even… part of their pain and fear erased, combat instincts implanted."

=> "Their troop replenishment likely involves sending wounded soldiers or reserve populations into the 'Catalysis Tent', forcibly stimulating potential, repairing injuries, and even… erasing some pain and fear, implanting combat instincts."

"Its unified command may rely on yū‑energy crystals implanted in officers, or some as‑yet‑unknown yū‑energy resonance network."

=> "Their unified command may rely on dark-energy crystals implanted in officers' bodies, or some as-yet-unknown dark-energy resonance network."

"As for the Yū Shadow, it is an even higher‑grade, purer 'catalysis product', and may even be a combat unit directly deployed by the Iron Crow army."

=> "As for the Dark Shadow, it is an even higher-grade, purer 'catalysis product', and possibly a combat unit directly deployed by the Iron Crow Army."

He pointed to the several red dots marked prominently on the sand table.

=> He pointed to the several red dots marked prominently on the sand table.

"The source of all this lies in these several 'catalysis sources' deep in the steppe."

=> "The source of all this is these several 'catalysis sources' deep in the steppe."

"They are like gigantic 'hives' or 'furnaces', continually drawing in the steppe's 'nutrients'—possibly life energy, mineral resources, or even earth‑vein yū energy—and mass‑producing these war tools."

=> "They are like huge 'hives' or 'furnaces', constantly absorbing the steppe's 'nutrients'—possibly including life energy, mineral resources, and even earth-vein dark energy—and mass-producing these war instruments."

"Without destroying or seriously disrupting these 'catalysis sources', defeating however many enemy troops on the front line is futile; the enemy can keep producing more without end."

=> "Without destroying or seriously disrupting these 'catalysis sources', defeating however many enemy troops on the front lines is futile; the enemy can endlessly produce more."

Qian Gui added from an intelligence perspective.

=> Qian Gui added from an intelligence perspective.

"The Jing'an Office sacrificed three senior agents just to barely relay some fragmentary information about the 'catalysis sources'."

=> "The Jing'an Office sacrificed three senior agents to barely transmit some fragmentary information about the 'catalysis sources'."

"Its outer perimeter is heavily guarded, not only by substantial Northern Yuan forces but also by large numbers of Yū Shadow patrols."

=> "Its outer defenses are strict, not only with heavy Bei Yuan troops, but also numerous Dark Shadow patrols."

"The interior situation is unclear, but the yū‑energy radiation intensity is terrifying; ordinary people cannot approach it."

=> "The internal situation is unclear, but the dark-energy radiation intensity is horrifying; ordinary people cannot approach it at all."

"There are signs that the Iron Crow army's agent in this realm is likely stationed near the largest of these 'catalysis sources'."

=> "There are signs that the Iron Crow Army's agent in this realm is likely stationed near the largest of these 'catalysis sources'."

Chen Wen kept listening quietly.

His fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the chair.

The rhythm was steady.

"That is to say."

He spoke slowly.

"We are facing a "hive‑style" enemy."

"The front line consists of worker bees—fierce, but expendable."

"The rear holds the queen and the hive, constantly producing new worker bees and providing command and "healing.""

"Yin‑shadows are special soldier bees, assigned specific tasks."

"The Iron Crow Army's agent is the beekeeper."

His analogy was simple, yet it hit the essence.

Everyone nodded.

"A conventional siege of attrition plays right into its hands," Chen Wen continued.

"We are consuming real lives, supplies, and the fate of the nation."

"What they consume are catalyzed tools and the yin‑energy license behind them."

"To hold out long is to lose."

"What does the sovereign mean…?" the Minister of War could not help but ask.

Chen Wen stood up.

He walked to the sand table.

His gaze shifted from Beibei Pass to the several red dots deep in the grasslands.

"Passive defense can only delay defeat."

"To break the stalemate, we must take the initiative."

"The target is not the worker bees on the front line."

"But rather the rear's——"

His finger slammed down on the largest red dot.

"The hive!"

Everyone in the hall held their breath.

Strike straight at the yellow dragon?

Go deep into the grasslands, attack the enemy core?

This idea is too bold, too risky!

"Sovereign, the grasslands are vast, enemy conditions unknown, our main forces are tied to the pass; how can we detach troops to strike deep into the enemy rear and attack its heavily guarded core?" a deputy grand councilor questioned.

"Moreover, even if we could reach it, how could we destroy such a strange "catalyst source"? Conventional means would likely be ineffective," another deputy added, worried.

Chen Wen looked at Zhao Lao Nian.

"Minister Zhao, with the current technology of the Bureau of Works, can we devise an instrument capable of disrupting or destroying the "catalyst source"?"

Zhao Lao Nian pondered for a moment.

"If we assault it from outside, we would need an extremely powerful yin‑energy annihilation device and have to get close to the core; under present conditions, it is hard to manufacture, let alone transport and deploy."

"But…"

A flash of sharp light crossed his eyes.

"If we sabotage it from within, or exploit its operating rhythm for "resonant interference," perhaps it could work."

"We need targeted research into the exact structure and energy flow pattern of the "catalyst source." This requires more detailed internal intelligence, and possibly… infiltrators carrying special devices to enter its critical nodes."

"The risk is extremely high," Zhang Cheng said in a low voice.

"But the potential gain is also enormous," Chen Wen said.

He surveyed the crowd.

"Therefore, my strategy is——"

"Open defense, covert strike, combining false and true."

"On the surface."

"Shi Dun will continue to hold Beibei Pass, even showing weakness if appropriate to lure the enemy to focus more attention and forces on the frontal assault."

"Using the pass's terrain and new devices, we will heavily consume their "worker bees.""

"At the same time, spreading the news that I will personally go to the front line will further draw the Iron Crow Army's attention."

"In secret."

"I will personally lead a select, highly mobile "Hive‑Cutting" squad."

"The team must include top‑notch martial artists, guides familiar with the grasslands, and technical experts from the Bureau of Works."

"They will carry Zhao Lao Nian's latest yin‑energy counter‑measure, stealth, and destruction devices."

"With the most precise intelligence provided by the Jing'an Bureau."

"Bypassing the front battlefield, we will infiltrate deep into the grasslands."

"Straight for the largest "catalyst source.""

"Objective: penetrate deep inside, install a disruption or destruction device, and cripple its function."

"If possible…"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Wen's eyes.

"By the way, let's kill that "beekeeper.""

The plan was laid out.

Everyone in the hall fell into deep thought.

This plan is undoubtedly extremely risky.

Penetrate deep behind enemy lines and strike at the core.

If it fails, not only will the elite squad not return, but Chen Wen himself may even perish.

The blow to morale will be devastating.

But……

If successful.

"The Catalyst Source" destroyed, the frontline enemy forces will lose supplies and command, and their offensive will inevitably collapse.

It could even trigger a chain reaction collapse.

Moreover, it could deal a heavy blow to the Iron Crow Army's arrogance in this realm.

"Risk and opportunity coexist," Zhang Cheng said slowly.

He looked toward Chen Wen.

"My lord, how confident are you?"

Chen Wen replied candidly: "If it's a frontal assault on the Catalyst Source, there's not even a ten percent chance."

"But if it's about infiltration and sabotage…"

He felt the steady rhythm of the system within his body, and the subtle causal link between the mother token in his bosom and distant figures like Yue Fei and others.

"Fifty percent."

"Worth a gamble," Zhao Lao Nian suddenly said, his tone firm, "If you personally lead the team, the Heavenly Works Institute will spare no effort and provide all technical support."

Qian Gui also gritted his teeth and said: "The Office of Peace and Stability will spare no expense to pave the way for you, providing the most detailed intelligence cover."

Li Chong even dropped to one knee: "I, the lowly officer, volunteer as the vanguard! Under Governor Shi's command, there are also those willing to die!"

Chen Wen helped Li Chong up.

His gaze swept over everyone.

"Since it is thus…"

"The strategy is set."

"Zhang Cheng, you will oversee the overall situation, coordinate all parties, secure the front line, and create opportunities for the 'Decapitate the Nest' operation."

"Zhao Lao Nian, immediately begin, based on current intelligence, to develop a specialized destruction device and select technical personnel."

"Qian Gui, mobilize all resources; before departure, I want to obtain as detailed as possible internal structural diagrams and defensive deployments of the Catalyst Source."

"Officer Li, return immediately to the Northern Frontier Pass, inform Shi Dun of the full plan, have him act accordingly, be sure to hold the position, and cooperate in creating a deception."

"All other units, adjust deployments according to this strategy and give full support."

"Everyone…"

Chen Wen's voice was low yet full of strength.

"This battle concerns the fate of the nation."

"To defend is to buy time."

"To attack is to sever the root of disaster."

"I hope you all unite and work together."

"For my Great Chen…"

"Carve out a path of survival!"

Everyone rose solemnly.

They responded in unison:

"We will obey your lordship's orders!"

"We are willing to die for the state!"

A chilling killing intent and resolute will.

In the White Tiger Hall.

Silence permeated.