Chapter 263: A Lone Force Penetrates Deep to Slay the King

"Satisfied!" Luo Feng carefully compared; they hadn't drawn a map while traveling north, yet Su Lei's map matched his recollection.

This also shows that Su Lei didn't tamper with it; the map's reliability is high.

"Then, General..." Su Lei, aged, lying in the snow for a while, was shivering from the cold.

Luo Feng waved to the group: "Let them go!"

Seeing this, Su Lei finally relaxed, and cautiously said to Luo Feng: "May I have a token, General? I'm afraid I'll encounter your soldiers..."

"A token?" Luo Feng folded the map away. "I have nothing like that; just tell anyone you meet my name!"

"May I ask the General's name?"

"Luo Feng!"

After the Lan Clan members left, the veteran stepped forward: "Captain, is this person trustworthy?"

"Highly trustworthy!" Luo Feng read much from Su Lei's eyes; when she mentioned Hun Xie, a flash of hatred crossed her gaze, and Luo Feng seized that moment.

Combined with Su Lei's appearance, Luo Feng could easily infer certain things.

Thirty years ago, Su Lei and Hun Xie were likely chiefs of their respective tribes, and Hun Xie's quest to unify the steppe inevitably involved war.

The scar on Su Lei's face and the half ear that was cut off were probably from that time.

Given the recent events, Su Lei's hatred toward him is understandable.

A person bearing hatred would first think, if I'm suffering, then you shouldn't expect to thrive either.

Moreover, Luo Feng is not defenseless; if Su Lei continues south, she'll certainly meet Ming Army scouts, and Jiang Jinshi won't let her go unpunished.

Especially after Su Lei shouts her name, Jiang Jinshi will imprison her; if Luo Feng can't return, none of the Lan Clan will survive.

Luo Feng spread the map on the ground, summoned a few veterans to discuss: "According to Su Lei's map, fifty li to the northeast lie three side‑by‑side Black Mountains. Beyond them is a river, and the largest camp on its banks is where Hun Xie is."

Su Lei even thoughtfully marked that the camp tent with a flagpole bearing a nine‑tailed white yak tail is Hun Xie's golden tent!

This spot is also Wang Ting's outpost; thirty li further inward lies Wang Ting's true center.

"Captain, are we really going after this Hun Xie, instead of going to Wang Ting?"

"Not for now!" Luo Feng shook his head. "Su Lei's words aren't wrong; the tribes around Wang Ting are dense, and our eight hundred men going there would be tantamount to suicide."

Luo Feng feared that he would be caught in a Xiongnu encirclement without even seeing the Chanyu's face, and then the intel and map couldn't be brought back.

But if it's merely killing Hun Xie, the Xiongnu, then it could be attempted.

The veterans' expressions varied; some were excited, others fearful.

"Captain Luo, attacking Wang Ting's outpost with eight hundred men, even if we win, will alert the main camp. Then Xiongnu cavalry will surround us from all sides, and we..."

Luo Feng also knew the mission was risky; per the original plan they were scouting, hoping to bring back Wang Ting's exact location.

Now the task is essentially complete; returning this way no one will say anything.

But since they know Hun Xie's position, Luo Feng really doesn't want the trip to be in vain.

"We won't attack the camp," Luo Feng said, "we'll only kill Hun Xie."

The others were stunned.

"How to kill? Fly in?"

One must know Hun Xie's tent is at the very center of the camp; if we don't breach it, are we waiting for Hun Xie to emerge for us to kill?

Luo Feng pointed to the river beside the main camp: "Slip in from upstream, go downstream, and approach the camp!"

"It's winter now; the river water is bone‑chilling. Even if we reach the camp's edge, our knife‑holding hands will be frozen. How to fight the Xiongnu? And after fighting, how to get out?"

Facing the veteran's question, Luo Feng's expression didn't change: "Exactly! So you wait outside; I'll slip in alone."

"What? Captain Luo, that's impossible, too risky! We'd be better off attacking the camp directly!"

"No! More people make it easier to be exposed. You assist me from outside; this makes success more likely!" Luo Feng, already having a plan, said solemnly to the group.

"You set fire upstream to draw the Xiongnu's attention; I'll slip in from the river, slay Hun Xie, then crawl out amid the chaos, and we rendezvous here!" Luo Feng pointed to a spot.

"You may wait for me up to half a day; if I don't return, bring the news and map back to Lin City, retrace the route, and the commander will receive you!"

"Captain Luo, how can we let him go in alone?"

"Indeed! This is improper!"

"If we go, we go together!"

"Brothers!" Luo Feng paused, scanning each face: "If you haven't seen me after half a day, consider me dead in battle."

No one answered; Luo Feng's resolute expression showed he had already decided.

This rare chance, Luo Feng didn't want to miss; Hun Xie's status among the Xiongnu is so crucial that his death would greatly affect their morale.

In the ideal scenario, perhaps some dissenters would emerge, plunging the steppe into civil strife, granting the Ming Army a victory without fighting.

Even if these tribes are crushed by the Chanyu's force, it would still deplete their numbers, a hundred benefits and no harm to the Ming Army!

The matter settled, the cavalry began silently packing their gear.

The expedition was too perilous; Luo Feng ordered all unnecessary gear removed, taking only weapons, bows, and three days' rations.

The horses' hooves were wrapped in cloth, and the armor's inner side padded with soft fabric to muffle clanking.

Luo Feng gave the final orders: "Remember my words; an hour after I enter the river, you start fires to create chaos. Once the Xiongnu react, withdraw immediately, cross the riverbank here upstream, bypass the three Black Mountains, and wait for me here!"

"Understood!"

The group wanted to say something, but ultimately just clasped fists.

As dusk fell, they crossed the Black Mountains and indeed saw a river; Luo Feng carefully compared it with the map and quietly led the group to the upstream.

Using a telescope, Luo Feng spotted his target en route.

Wang Ting's outpost was larger than imagined, with hundreds of tents scattered along the riverbank, dozens of large tents in the center, the biggest a striking golden one.

On the flagpole before the tents, a nine‑tailed white yak tail swayed gently in the night wind.

Everything matched Su Lei's description to the last detail!

But now is not the time to act; they must wait a bit longer.

The Eight Hundred Riders and Luo Feng concealed themselves in a gorge; neither side could see the other.

The group made no sound at all, even their breathing was instinctively hushed, waiting for Luo Feng to act as night grew deep.