Chapter 698

Before the morning bell rang, the drill ground of the Lecture Martial Hall was already filled with low roars and the clashing of metal.

This is no ordinary drill.

On the east side of the drill field stood several dozen oddly shaped wooden frames with straw targets.

Some of the straw targets were painted a dull gray‑green, their surfaces covered with ugly lumps made from fish‑bladder glue mixed with coal ash, simulating the traces of yin energy corrosion.

Others had pouches filled with specially made irritant powder sewn into their vital points; when struck they burst out a cloud of pungent smoke.

Yue Fei stood on the commander's platform, looking down at the officers divided into several squads below.

"Today's drill: a surprise attack by the 'Land of Filth.'"

His voice was not loud, yet it rose above the clamor in the field.

"Your units, go forward on reconnaissance; you will encounter small groups of corrupted beasts and enemy outposts."

"Mission: eliminate the threat, retrieve any identification items the enemy outpost may be carrying, and withdraw safely to the starting position."

"Restriction: do not become bogged down in combat; throughout the operation two people must be assigned specifically to observe and record environmental anomalies and abnormal enemy conditions."

"Begin."

The command flag was lowered.

Several squads of officers shot out like arrows from a bow, swift in motion, but no longer merely a reckless charge as before.

Someone held a specially made short tube with multiple lenses, constantly scanning the ground and brush—this was the Ministry of Works' latest trial‑produced 'Impurity Trace Observation Mirror,' said to aid in detecting faint glimmers of residual yin energy.

Someone, while advancing, deliberately avoided several deliberately placed patches of murky, dark‑colored mire.

As they approached those twisted straw targets, Guan Sheng, leading the charge, suddenly raised his hand; the men behind him immediately spread to either side, aiming their bows and crossbows not at the targets' bodies but at the gray‑green‑painted 'vital points' that looked unpleasant.

With a few soft 'hiss' sounds, the crossbow bolts struck the pouches squarely.

The irritating smoke burst forth.

Those who had rushed forward had already covered their mouths and noses with damp cloths; their steps did not falter, blades flashed, and the straw targets were quickly dismantled.

Inside the straw dummy simulating the enemy outpost lay a wooden plaque, which was swiftly retrieved.

"Three simulated wolf howls to the northeast!" the observer suddenly shouted low.

Without hesitation, everyone turned, moving to the rear flank in an interlocking covering formation, while passing the seized wooden plaque to the swiftest member of the team.

The whole process took only a few dozen breaths.

Clean, efficient, and imbued with a clear tactical vigilance against an 'extraordinary foe.'

On the commander's platform, Yue Fei gave a slight nod.

Lin Chong whispered beside him: "Faster than expected. This bunch of killers is adapting well."

"Not adaptation." Yue Fei watched the officers below already beginning to sum up gains and losses, arguing where they could be faster.

"It's that they've been holding back a burst of energy, they just didn't know where to direct it before."

At that moment, a clerk from the Lecture Martial Hall trotted up to the commander's platform and handed over a freshly received pigeon‑carried secret document.

Yue Fei unfolded it, his eyes swept over it, and his brow suddenly tightened.

"Urgent report from Bei Jing."

Lin Chong's expression turned grim.

"In the direction of the Jurchen Hetu Ala, there will be a large‑scale movement within three days. At least three thousand cavalry have left camp, destination unknown, but accompanied by large numbers of livestock and convoys, as if migrating."

"At the same time, the nearby Barlas tribe of the grasslands has packed up its tents and is moving eastward, apparently to join forces with the Jurchens."

"General Yue Yun judges that their consolidation speed far exceeds expectations; they may launch probing border raids or large‑scale pillaging before the autumn harvest."

Yue Fei passed the document to Lin Chong, his gaze turning westward.

"The ripened fruit cannot wait to fall naturally."

"We must strike it down ahead of time."

He fell silent for a moment.

"Order Bei Jing: push the scout cavalry out another thirty li, focusing on roving patrols to avoid engagement. All forts, effective immediately, are to enforce curfew and material controls."

"Command the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household to dispatch the first batch of reinforcements ahead of schedule."

"Furthermore," he said, looking at the clerk, "send a summary of this intelligence to the Relay Station, asking Minister Zhang to find a way to warn the person in the west as quickly as possible."

"Emphasize: the sword is already drawn, its edge pointing not only at the false Yuan."

The clerk finished recording and hurried away.

Yue Fei turned his gaze back to the drill field.

The drill had halted; the officers seemed to sense something amiss and all looked over.

He stepped down from the commander's platform and came before the crowd.

No lengthy speech.

He merely conveyed the gist of the Bei Jing urgent report.

The drill field fell into dead silence.

Only the sound of heavy breathing and the faint crack of clenched knuckles could be heard.

"You all heard it."

Yue Fei's voice was cold and hard as iron.

"The whetstone has come to us of its own accord."

"But this blade is faster and deadlier than we anticipated."

"The lessons at the Lecture Martial Hall are not yet finished."

"But the examination from outside may come first."

His gaze swept over each solemn, sharp‑featured face.

"Return to your camps, rally the troops, prepare for war."

Take today's drill insights and turn them into concrete plans at once.

What I want is not troops capable of winning battles.

What I want are tiger-wolf warriors who can, amidst filth and strangeness, still tear open a bloody path and fulfill military orders.

Dismissed!

The generals responded with a roar, quickly dispersed, their steps more hurried than when they came, and the air filled with the scent of impending rust and gunpowder.

Yue Fei stood in place until the drill field was empty of anyone.

The spring breeze brushed past, bringing the freshness of new leaves.

What he smelled, however, was the cold wind beyond the light curtain, growing thicker, mixed with the stench of blood and yin energy.

He turned and said to Lin Chong:

Report to the sovereign: the resolve to request battle in Bei Jing is ready.

Only awaiting the east wind.

Lin Chong nodded heavily, hesitated a moment, and asked: 'Then the west...'

Yue Fei gazed toward the western horizon, silent for a moment.

If the east wind does not come, the sparks may be extinguished...

Even if we burn up our bodies, we must leave the last beam of night‑shining light for Huaxia.

Having said that, he strode toward the records room.

There, behind the piled documents, lay the already unfolded, vaster and more perilous curtain of war.