Chapter 1215

First Volume, Chapter 1215: Mountain Warfare

Afterwards, Qin Feng spent three full days mapping the entire terrain of En Mountain and recording it in detail before leading his troops deeper.

During this time, the Anwu Guard had been continuously surveilling Wu Heli's movements.

For safety's sake, though they dared not approach for reconnaissance, they could determine whether Wu Heli had entered Qilian Mountain merely by observing external signs of activity.

After all, hundreds of men could not possibly erase all traces.

Almost as soon as Qin Feng advanced, the Anwu Guard came to report.

"Your Highness, Wu Heli has led his men toward Qilian Mountain."

As Qin Feng had predicted, Wu Heli's mind was extremely clear—he avoided battle whenever possible, since the Powerful Clans of Nan Jing had only given him a few hundred men; once they were wiped out, replenishing them would be nearly impossible.

Moreover, every region between Qilian Mountain and Gusu City had been tightly monitored by the Brocade Clothing Guard.

Whether Wu Heli exited the mountains or the Powerful Clans of Nan Jing sent reinforcements, they would all have to take long detours, or risk total annihilation by Qin Feng's army.

In contrast, Qin Feng, backed by the Front Line fortified positions, had extremely convenient access to reinforcements.

When the force reached the boundary between En Mountain and Qilian Mountain, they indeed found traces of Wu Heli's brief military garrison.

After careful observation, Zhao Yuxiong said grimly, "Wu Heli left not long ago."

"When we first entered the mountains, we arrived too late by just one Envoy."

"This time, Wu Heli, relying on his knowledge of the terrain, has again made us arrive one step behind—clearly he's deliberately mocking us."

"Why not send Tianji Camp Guards ahead to pursue and delay Wu Heli, while the main force follows behind to strike in one-strike victory, then methodically survey Qilian Mountain's terrain?"

Zhao Yuxiong's suggestion was a sound tactic, but the cost would rise.

"Qilian Mountain's terrain is complex, and the Tianji Camp Guards are relatively unfamiliar with it; rash pursuit risks ambush."

"Let Wu Heli keep provoking ahead—ignore him."

"Just have the Anwu Guard keep constant surveillance on his movements. His confidence stems from having pre-stocked materials at a reserve point."

"Once he reaches the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian, he won't be able to retreat so effortlessly."

Hearing Qin Feng's words, Zhao Yuxiong calmed down.

Whether at Mountain Foot earlier or now at Qilian Mountain's border, Wu Heli had been deliberately provoking—his aim was nothing but to disrupt Qin Feng's thoughts and force him to abandon pursuit, achieving subjugate the enemy without fighting.

But as long as Qin Feng continued his methodical pursuit, when Wu Heli reached the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian, he could no longer abandon his camp and retreat so easily.

After all, War Horses cannot enter the mountains, and Wu Heli had no donkeys or civilian laborers, making material transport a major problem.

Zhao Yuxiong finally understood: the more Wu Heli provoked, the more it proved he was running out of escape routes.

Zhao Yuxiong's gaze toward Qin Feng now carried a trace of admiration.

"Brother Qin, you saw through Wu Heli's scheme from the start?"

Qin Feng shrugged indifferently. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Wu Heli's encampment on En Mountain was merely temporary—he had no psychological burden abandoning those crude shelters."

"But as long as we follow him at a steady pace, once his supplies run out, he'll have no choice but to head for the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian."

"Once the Anwu Guard confirms the location of the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian, we can strike directly."

"Wu Heli has only two choices: either stay and fight to the death to defend the supplies, or carry only a few supplies, abandon the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian, and flee deeper into the mountains."

"The first option suits Brother Yuxiong's desire for a swift decisive battle. The second is slow suicide—without supplies, surviving in Qilian Mountain is nearly impossible."

Hearing Qin Feng's explanation, Zhao Yuxiong was even more impressed.

This son of a Military Clan, compared to Qin Feng, seemed so immature.

Especially Qin Feng's ever-changing tactics and his ability to adapt his combat philosophy to battlefield conditions—Zhao Yuxiong was deeply awed; following Qin Feng felt like growing every single day.

At that moment, Zhao Zhenhai suddenly chimed in.

"What if Wu Heli has more than one Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian inside Qilian Mountain?"

Qin Feng walked forward with hands behind his back, calmly replying, "Zhao Zhenhai, you must learn to adapt. Rigor is good, but if you're too rigid, you'll easily become the target of your opponent."

"The Anwu Guard are top-tier scouts; once they fixate on Wu Heli, how could he possibly shake them off?"

"Wu Heli must have prepared several Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian—we simply repeat the same tactic, eliminating them one by one."

Nearby, Zhao Yuxiong applied what he'd just learned and began analyzing aloud.

"As we advance deeper, Wu Heli's situation grows increasingly dire."

"After all, the distance from the outside is too great—exiting the mountains has become extremely difficult."

Qin Feng generously praised Zhao Yuxiong—this observation hit the mark. Wu Heli wanted to hide in the mountains? Then Qin Feng would oblige him—whether to fight or negotiate, he would drive the man as far as possible into Qilian Mountain's depths.

During this time, Qin Feng could both study Qilian Mountain's terrain and pursue Wu Heli—killing two birds with one stone.

Qin Feng wasn't in a hurry; their carried materials were sufficient to last a month inside Qilian Mountain.

Moreover, they could wage war to sustain themselves—using Wu Heli's Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian to resupply.

Qin Feng's group followed their plan, pursuing Wu Heli slowly and steadily, advancing step by step.

As expected, just two days later, the Anwu Guard reported they had confirmed one of Wu Heli's Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian.

The location was a mountain hollow, flanked on both sides by steep cliffs, with a narrow path running through the center, wider in the middle.

Wu Heli's Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian lay at the center of the narrow gorge.

"Your Highness, inside Wu Heli's Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian, besides various materials and supplies… there are also many corpses."

"Preliminary estimates suggest they were the original civilian laborers who transported the supplies."

"After the materials entered the mountains, Wu Heli had them killed on the spot to prevent leaks of the Wu Zi Chu Bei Dian."

Not surprising!

Based on Qin Feng's understanding of Wu Heli, though this man still retained a shred of humanity and refused to target women and children, he showed zero mercy toward men.

Should men die? In Qin Feng's view, killing is killing—no distinction between male, female, young, or old.

Wu Heli's so-called "compassion" was utterly hypocritical—merely meaningless self-consolation.