Chapter 628

Guard North Pass.

On the pass wall, lights were bright.

The artisans repairing the city wall had just finished their shift and gone down.

A new batch of patrol soldiers stepped in unison, taking over guard duty.

The clanking of armor plates rang especially clear in the cold night.

Chen Wen did not return to the watchtower.

He remained standing in his daytime spot.

Only the spyglass in his hand had been replaced by a bowl of steaming ginger tea.

Steam rose, blurring part of his vision.

But his gaze toward the north remained as sharp as ever.

The firelight of the Northern Yuan main camp, thirty li out in the darkness, merged into a dim red glow.

It was eerily quiet.

There was no clamor of large-scale mobilization.

No restless urge for revenge.

Only a heavy stillness, as if something were being accumulated.

"Your Majesty."

Zhang Cheng's voice came from behind.

He wore a thick fur cloak, held a document, and his face showed the fatigue of having handled government affairs through the night.

"The latest report from Xijing."

"Speak."

Chen Wen did not turn back, taking a sip of the ginger tea.

The scalding liquid slid down his throat, dispelling some of the chill.

"The workshops are running at full capacity, with three shifts rotating—people rest, but the furnaces do not."

"A new batch of eight hundred Hedgehog Bombs and three hundred cans of Netherfire Glue were sent out today at shi hour; they are expected to reach the pass by tomorrow morning."

"Special heavy bolts for the crossbow cannon, bed crossbows, and stone shot for the catapult—stocks have been replenished to eighty percent of prewar levels, and production continues."

"The Armory Supervisor reports: seven hundred sets of damaged iron armor have been repaired, two hundred sets of newly made infantry armor have been sent out with the supply convoy."

"Medicinal herbs, grain, fodder, and clothing—all warehouses have been topped up to wartime quotas, enough for three months."

Zhang Cheng reported steadily, item by item.

The data was thorough, conveying the solid feel of the Chen Dynasty's war machine running efficiently.

"How about the troops?"

Chen Wen asked.

This is the crux.

Although we won at Fox Wild Ridge, the border army's elite also suffered losses.

The Northern Yuan's main force remains intact; their next attack will only be fiercer.

"The first batch of five thousand conscripted troops drawn from the prefectures has arrived at Bei Jing main camp, where the veteran soldiers arranged by Wang Ru are handling their training."

"The second batch of eight thousand is en route and will arrive within five days."

"All three hundred twenty-seven graduates of this year's class from the Xijing Martial Academy have been dispatched to the various Bei Jing armies to serve as company commanders and squad leaders."

"Furthermore..."

Zhang Cheng paused.

"The Privy Council has issued orders to the southern garrisons, demanding they conscript one-tenth of their troops for northern rotation."

"Oh?"

Chen Wen finally turned around.

"How have the southern garrisons responded?"

The Chen Dynasty's territory is vast; the north faces pressure from the Northern Yuan, while the south has enjoyed relative peace for a long time.

Although border troops heed the call, long absent from battle, even the generals have their own calculations.

"The Xiangfan, Jianghuai, and Jinghu garrisons have replied in compliance; the first wave totals about six thousand troops and has set out."

"The Southern Mountains and Southern Pass garrisons have replied that they will comply, but note that handing over defense and allocating supplies takes time, so they may dispatch troops later."

Zhang Cheng reported calmly, stating the facts.

"What do you think?"

"The Feng clan of the Southern Mountains and the Cui clan of the Southern Pass are both long-established military families."

"Given the urgency of the northern border war, the Imperial Court has ordered troop movements; they dare not openly defy."

But using excuses to slightly delay the march, watching the winds, the desire to preserve strength is likely present.

Zhang Cheng analyzed, saying it without much emotion, merely stating the facts.

Chen Wen fell silent for a moment.

He drank the remaining ginger soup in the bowl in one gulp.

Issue a second document from the Privy Council urging.

State clearly that the Bei Jing war concerns the state's foundation, ordering that troops must be dispatched on schedule, without delay.

At the same time, let the Jing'an Bureau monitor the troop movements of these two prefectures and their correspondence with local authorities.

Yes.

Zhang Cheng received the order.

He understood that the lord was applying pressure and seeking to grasp the situation.

If there really is something amiss, Qian Gui's side will naturally take action.

"Regarding the 'Nest‑Slaying Operation,' before setting out, Minister Zhao had run a simulation with several master craftsmen of the Heavenly Works Institute."

"They believe that the 'mother nest' deep in the steppes is likely not just one."

"And there may be some kind of energy link between them."

"If only one is destroyed, it might temporarily weaken the front‑line troops' replenishment and amplification of the Northern Yuan army, but it would be hard to eradicate completely."

"It might even startle the snake, prompting the Iron Crow Army to accelerate its catalysis or relocate the 'mother nest'."

Chen Wen frowned slightly.

That is indeed a problem.

"Does Lao Nian know about this speculation?"

"He does. Minister Zhao said he will act according to circumstances. If the link can be confirmed, he may try to trace the energy flow… but… the risk would increase greatly."

Chen Wen gazed toward the darkness in the northwest.

The faint unease in his heart seemed a bit clearer.

From Zhao Lao Nian's side, there has been no signal.

Has he not yet found the target?

Or has he found it but cannot act?

Or… has he already run into trouble?

"What is the focus of our new army's training?"

He changed the subject, bringing his thoughts back to the present.

"Targeting the traits of the Northern Yuan's 'Inlaid‑Crystal Cavalry,' we have intensified training for heavy infantry to form arrays and resist, especially the coordination of spear‑phalanx formations and shield walls against massed charges."

"The archers and crossbowmen have strengthened drills for rapid shooting and shooting while on the move."

"Moreover, the Heavenly Works Institute has supplied several sets of newly designed 'hoof‑trap lasso' and 'horse‑tripping nail' molds; they are being rushed into production, issued to troops, to hinder enemy cavalry charges."

Zhang Cheng replied.

"And the cavalry?"

"Our cavalry's numbers and quality still lag behind the Northern Yuan's," Zhang Cheng said frankly. "For now we mainly train coordination with infantry, and use terrain and equipment for flank harassment and counter‑pursuit. Frontal charges against the 'Inlaid‑Crystal Cavalry' mass should not be undertaken unless absolutely necessary."

Chen Wen nodded.

Zhang Cheng's arrangements are very pragmatic.

Using our strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.

Fully exploiting Chen dynasty's advantages in organization, discipline, and equipment technology.

Avoiding a head‑on clash where the enemy excels in field horse archery.

This is the correct strategy.

"Tell Shi Dun to prioritize replenishing his side with the newly arrived troops and equipment. The framework of the Iron Anvil Camp must be rebuilt as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Zhang Cheng noted it down.

After finishing the report, he did not leave immediately.

Instead, he gazed at Chen Wen's side profile, which looked somewhat pale in the lamplight.

"My lord, you have not rested properly for several days. The Northern Yuan has temporarily withdrawn, the defenses are stable, you…"

"I'm fine."

Chen Wen interrupted him.

"The system's growth bar is almost full."

His tone was flat, yet it gave Zhang Cheng a jolt.

Sixty‑four times.

That would be a qualitative leap.

It is also the key to facing greater crises to come.

"Opportunity… in the next major battle?"

Zhang Cheng asked tentatively.

"Perhaps."

Chen Wen gazed northward.

"Or perhaps it will come when news arrives from Lao Nian's side."

"I can feel that 'point'…"

He pointed toward the core of the Northern Yuan's main camp.

"It's getting tighter and tighter."

"Like a bow drawn to its fullest."

"The arrow is on the string."

"Just waiting for an order."

"Or an opportunity."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhang Cheng.

"So we must prepare even more thoroughly."

"Arrows, blades, spears, armor, provisions…"

"And also, the soldiers' courage and resolve."

We will let Northern Yuan know.

The Chen Dynasty's pass walls cannot be breached by brute force and sorcery alone.

Zhang Cheng grew solemn.

He bowed deeply.

Subject, I will devote my full strength.

Chen Wen waved his hand.

Go. Make the most of time.

Zhang Cheng left.

On the city walls, only Chen Wen and the howling north wind remained.

He inwardly examined the System Interface.

The growth bar's golden light had filled it completely, nearly spilling over the markings.

Only the final line remained.

It seemed like a thin sheet of ice.

Below lay a surging, boiling power.

He closed his eyes.

He carefully felt the sensation of overflow and criticality.

Meanwhile.

"Shi Yong" unfolded silently.

It was not a large-scale scan consuming resources.

But rather like the gentlest tendril.

It sensed the region centered on Zhenbei Pass.

Inside the pass: the soldiers' sleeping breaths, the artisans' nighttime hammering, the warhorses' uneasy whinnies.

Outside the pass: the frozen ground's hardness in the cold night, and the distant Northern Yuan camp's deep, eerie 'momentum'.

And…

Further to the northwest.

Deep within that dark grassland.

A trace extremely faint, intermittent…

A feeling of anxiety.

That was neither sight nor sound.

But rather a state belonging to Zhao Lao Nian, transmitted via the 'Star Pattern Command' and his own imprint.

He was not yet dead.

But his situation…

Seemed not good.

Chen Wen slowly opened his eyes.

He gazed toward that direction.

He silently calculated the time.

"Lao Nian…"

"Hold on a little longer."

"This side…"

"It's almost here."

He clenched his fists.

His knuckles whitened slightly.

The system's growth bar trembled lightly.

Beneath the ice surface.

Dark currents surged.