Chapter 621: Chen Dynasty Lures the Enemy

Outside Zhenbei Pass, fifty li.

A narrow valley called Wild Fox Ridge runs east–west; though the slopes on either side are not particularly high, they are quite steep, with dead trees growing thickly.

This was one of the passages commonly chosen by nomadic tribes when moving south.

It is wide enough for a large body of cavalry to pass, and offers more cover than the completely open grassland, making it easy to conceal a march.

And now it has become the first coffin carefully selected by Shi Dun for the Bei Yuan Grand Army.

Outside the northern exit of the valley lies a relatively gentle slope.

Black tents stretch out in a mass, almost endless to the eye.

The Bei Yuan wolf banner and various tribal flags snap in the cold wind.

Shouts and horse neighs rise, dust swells.

The air reeks of animal dung, leather, and a faint, cloying sweet‑sour odor that irritates the mind—the distinctive scent of low‑level diffusion of You Energy Crystal.

Behind a low hill about three li from the camp.

Chen Wen lowered the handheld 'Thousand Li Mirror' he was holding.

The mirror's barrel was crafted by the Heavenly Craft Institute, its lens purity far exceeding what this age should be capable of.

"Its scale is larger than what the scouts reported."

His voice was calm, giving no hint of emotion.

"At that spot in the main command camp, the energy response is chaotic, but one point stands out glaringly."

Standing to his rear‑side, Zhao Lao Nian held a palm‑sized bronze compass whose face was covered in fine inscriptions.

At the compass's center there is no needle, but a small amount of dark‑red crystal sand soaked in clear grease, constantly trembling minutely.

At this moment the crystal sand is clearly skewed toward the core of the Bei Yuan Grand Camp, its tremors somewhat irregular.

"Hmm, that's unmistakable."

Zhao Lao Nian nodded, his eyes focused as if polishing the most precise component.

"There is at least a 'Secondary Catalytic Node' there, or some kind of ongoing ritual is being performed."

"Although the You Energy Fluctuation has been deliberately dispersed to hide it, the source's 'taint' cannot fool the Scent Dust Plate."

"Can you tell what specific type it is? \" Chen Wen asked.

"The distance is still a bit far, and there's plenty of interference."

Zhao Lao Nian fell into a brief ponder.

"It's not as huge and pure as the several 'Mother Nest' sources we detected deep in the plains before; it's more like……

"a moving 'Supply Station', or an 'Amplifier'."

"It might be used to sustain the combat vitality of those front‑line Inlaid Crystal Cavalry, or to give the You Shadow a quick recovery."

"In other words, destroying it would greatly reduce the front‑line enemy's sustained fighting capacity and recovery speed."

Chen Wen understood.

"In theory that's right. But there are surely heavy guards, and perhaps a You Shadow lurking inside."

Zhao Lao Nian warned.

"As expected."

Chen Wen passed the Thousand Li Mirror to the guard beside him, then turned to look at the figure crouched on the ground.

Shi Dun, who was scratching a rough sketch in the loose soil with a stick, asked, "Everything ready?"

Shi Dun didn't lift his head, continuing to draw a simple schematic:

"The three defensive lines before the pass have lost two and a half."

"The brothers who fell back have put on a good show, casualties are within expectations, morale……

"well, they're holding back their anger, just waiting for orders."

His schematic is simple: Zhenbei Pass looks like an upturned bowl, and the ground before it gradually opens up.

Wild Fox Ridge resembles a twisted worm, extending from the northeast at a slant, its head nearly touching the flank of the slope before the pass.

"The enemy's vanguard, together with the Inlaid Crystal Monsters mixed in among them, is pressing hard on our heels."

"Our fleeing troops run all the way into the pass, and they follow behind, gnawing at us."

"At this pace, their main force should be fully inside the valley by no later than tomorrow noon."

"The vanguard can already reach the foot of the pass wall."

Shi Dun tapped the 'head of the worm' spot with his stick.

"The ambush troops on both sides of the gorge?"

"Li Lao Gun's three battalions and Wang Scarface's five battalions are already in place.

"They've got enough food and drink for five days, won't freeze. It's just lying in snow holes—taste isn't great."

Shi Dun grinned.

"Bows, crossbows, fire‑oil cans, and the special batch of 'Hedgehog Bombs' you approved are all hidden"

"guaranteed to give those Bei Yuan brats who enter the valley a nasty surprise from top to bottom."

"Inside the pass?"

"Zhang Cheng has brought two newly formed crossbow‑artillery battalions from Xijing and placed them on the walls."

"The Artificer Battalion has worked through the night to produce 'Horse‑repelling Thunder', laying seven layers of it in the area three hundred to five hundred paces before the pass."

"enough for them to drink several jugs of."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

The core of the whole plan is 'lure'.

Show weakness to the enemy, surrendering some insignificant outer positions.

Even if it means accepting some necessary but controllable casualties, it will nurture the Northern Yuan army's sense of overconfidence.

Step by step, lure their seemingly invincible "Inlaid Crystal Cavalry" and main infantry into this gorge stretching ten-odd li.

Then, seal the gorge mouth and cut off the rear.

Ambush troops on both mountain ridges rush out, using terrain advantage and prearranged weapons to launch the first devastating strike.

Finally, the main force of the Zhenbei Pass garrison sorties, joining the ambush in a front-and-rear pincer to completely devour the enemy lured into the urn.

A classic tactic.

But in execution, the margin for error is extremely low.

Especially against the Northern Yuan, which possesses abnormal regenerative abilities and special troop types.

Any mistake in any link could turn the prey into the hunter, turning the ambush into a war of attrition, or even backfire.

"The most crucial step is to seal the gorge mouth and cut off the rear." Chen Wen looked at Shi Dun, "Who are you preparing to send?"

Shi Dun threw away the branch, brushed dirt off his hands, and stood up.

This burly man revealed a near-ferocious excitement on his face: "I'll go myself. Bring the Iron Anvil Battalion."

The Iron Anvil Battalion is one of the most elite heavy infantry units in the Bei Jing border army, all wearing double heavy armor, wielding giant shields and spears, specializing in tough and desperate battles.

The name "Iron Anvil" signifies that no matter how many times you hammer it, I remain unmoved, and can smash the enemy until their heads bleed.

"The Shade may prioritize attacking the troops sealing the mouth."

Zhao Lao Nian interjected, his tone solemn.

"They excel at assassinating commanders and creating chaos."

"Come on." Shi Dun twisted his neck, producing a light ka-ba sound, "I've been worried I didn't get enough killing last time. Besides..."

He glanced at Chen Wen, gave a hehe smile: "My lord, you're still watching from behind, aren't you? When the time comes, give our Iron Anvil Battalion a bit of 'that,' to make the brothers hot-handed and quick-footed, and make cutting people easier."

What he referred to as "that" naturally meant Ability Granting.

Chen Wen currently has a base effectiveness 32 times his level 5; using Ability Granting in his home field (the Chen Dynasty world) consumes a relatively normal amount.

Facing such a crucial blocking battle, he naturally won't be stingy.

"Sixteen times, lasting one shichen, enough?" Chen Wen asked.

Shi Dun's eyes lit up, he calculated the expected time for the blocking mission, then nodded firmly: "Enough! One shichen is enough for me to pound the Northern Yuan brats' front teeth into their stomachs!"

"Don't underestimate the enemy."

Chen Wen cautioned.

"Your task is to firmly pin the gorge mouth, not to pursue and annihilate the enemy."

"Let the small fish and shrimp that slip through go; other units will take care of them."

"But large enemy forces, especially the rear troops trying to reinforce, must not let a single soldier pass."

"Understood! Pin it down!"

Shi Dun pounded his thick chest armor.

"Lao Nian."

Chen Wen then looked at Zhao Lao Nian: "How are the 'Nest-Slaying' squad preparations?"

All equipment has been debugged, and personnel have been infiltrating the designated assembly area in batches.

Zhao Lao Nian put away the scent-dust plate, his tone becoming brisk.

Just wait for the frontline battle to erupt, drawing most of the enemy's and the Shade's attention, then we will sneak out via the secret passage at the 'Old Wind Mouth' to the northwest and strike straight at the preset coordinates of the first suspected 'mother nest' deep in the grasslands.

"Communications?"

"The directional signal bugs have been paired, but they can only send a single extremely brief preset signal and cannot receive."

According to the plan, after we successfully destroy the first target, we will release the 'Green Smoke Bugs'.

My lord, you should be able to see it from a high point at Zhenbei Pass.

That means the first phase of the Nest-Slaying operation is successful, and also means Zhao Lao Nian's team will be completely cut off from rear communications, entering dangerous enemy rear depth.

Chen Wen fell silent for a moment, then reached out and firmly patted Zhao Lao Nian and Shi Dun on the shoulders.

He said nothing more.

Everything was understood without words.

"Go." He finally said.

"Follow the plan. Here, I'll take charge."

Shi Dun and Zhao Lao Nian simultaneously clasped their fists solemnly: "Received orders!"

The two quickly turned and left, each rushing to their respective critical positions.

Chen Wen picked up the long-range scope again and looked northward.

The clamor in the Northern Yuan camp grew louder, as if conducting final pre-battle mobilization and distribution.

That momentum, mixed with barbarism, restlessness, and eerie nether energy, surged like turbid tide toward Zhenbei Pass and toward Ye Hu Ridge.

Behind him, the captain of the guard whispered: "My lord, shall we return to the gate tower?"

Chen Wen shook his head.

"No."

"Go to Eagle Watch Rock."

That is the highest stone cliff at the southern end of Ye Hu Ridge, with excellent visibility, able to overlook most of the gorge and the battlefield before the pass.

It is also the command and observation post he has selected for today.

He wants to personally watch how the grand play of "luring the enemy," which he spearheaded, will unfold its opening.

He also wants to personally feel whether, under the immense pressure of the frontline battlefield, his system growth bar, already near overflow, will undergo the anticipated qualitative change.

The cold wind swept over the hills, lifting his dark-colored cloak.

In the distance, within the Northern Origin Camp, a low, mournful ox-horn sound rose.

Like the ragged breath of a giant beast awakening.

Chen Wen's lips curled into a sliver of icy arc.

He whispered to himself, as if responding to the horn:

"Come."

"Let me see, this monster that was forced into being……"

"Just how hard is it."