"Block them this time, and we shall win!"
Mongolian Army Camp.
As the scout brought back news of the Song Army’s movements, Temujin gathered his generals, eyes ablaze as he spoke to them.
"Gu Yan, this young wolf leader, he can’t hold back any longer."
Under the gaze of the generals, Temujin stood and walked to the hanging crude map, "Look, what does he intend to do?"
"Making a grand show of preparing provisions, is he trying to tell me that he wants to march north, to entangle with me for the long term?"
"Dividing forces towards Swallow Valley and Hei Fengkou, is he attempting a flank attack, trying to cut off my retreat?"
"All are distractions!"
He suddenly turned around, eyes like lightning: "The internal affairs of the Great Song are already rotten!"
"Natural disasters, man-made calamities, refugees everywhere. His court, his Emperor, and those officials caring only for their own pockets are all about to collapse!"
"Although the Gu Clan is still holding on."
"But how can he withstand this overwhelming tide?"
"For centuries, the Gu Clan has been using the great tide to strike us down, and only Gu Chen of old could defy the tide."
"Do you think this Gu Yan can surpass Gu Chen?"
"Let me tell you—"
"Gu Yan is more anxious than we are now!"
"He can’t afford this winter! He must force us out, to engage in a decisive battle he thinks he can win before our legs are completely frozen stiff and before we are exhausted ourselves!"
Borchu mused: "Khan means, all these actions are to force us to move, or... create an opportunity he believes he can ambush us?"
"Exactly!" Temujin nodded heavily, "Eternal Heaven is on our side! This cold wind, this heavy snow, topples the houses of the Southern Dynasty, freezes their seedlings, and collapses their thousand-mile transport supply line! But it hardens our men’s bones and sharpens their eyes! Gu Yan wants a quick resolution? Fine, we won’t let him have his way!"
He rapidly issued orders, with clear thinking, entirely targeted at the movements of the Song Army.
"Borchu," he looked at his trusted vanguard general, "send out the men with the sharpest eyes and fastest legs underneath you."
"Keep a close watch on that small Song Army team sneaking in the northwest mountains."
"Find out which valley they’re hiding in, how many there are, and what they plan to do."
"But remember, only observe, do not act, don’t startle our ’guest’."
Borchu nodded heavily: "Understood, I’ll pick the men personally."
Temujin nodded, shifting his gaze to Mukhali: "Mukhali, over at Swallow Valley and Hei Fengkou, the Song Army’s flags are fluttering busily."
"Take your troops and set off immediately. Do not enter the valley, position yourselves on the highlands and crossroads on either side of the valley entrance."
"Prepare more bows and arrows, move stones and logs."
"If the Song Army really comes from there, don’t engage directly, just shoot from afar, roll stones from high ground, hit them and then change positions."
"Wear them down, exhaust them, drag them until they’re impatient and fatigued."
In Mukhali’s eyes, a gleam flashed: "Rest assured, Khan, I will make sure they can’t move an inch."
"As for you, Subutai." Temujin finally looked towards the most composed and fierce general, "Leave some men at the camp, plant the flags well, and keep the campfires burning at night as usual."
"You take our finest thirty thousand cavalry, move quietly to the woods behind the east."
"Hide well, horses with muzzles on, men silent."
"Without my command, even if the Song Army’s arrows land right under your eyelids, bear with it."
Subutai replied in a deep voice: "Khan intends to use the camp as bait, seeking a chance for a counter-strike?"
"Correct." Temujin’s lips curled into a cold, hard line, "Gu Yan wants to find my main force for a decisive battle, I will make him think my main force is still tucked inside this hard shell."
"When he’s exhausted his efforts to break through, or when he thinks he’s found an opportunity..." He clenched his fist, joints cracking lightly, "Those thirty thousand rested and ready cavalry of yours will be the hammer to shatter all his schemes."
"I will control the timing."
"What you need to do is hide well, await my order."
He surveyed all the generals in the tent, his voice suddenly rising, carrying an indisputable authority and motivational power: "Order the entire army, fortify the camp barricades, dig more traps."
"Tell every warrior of Eternal Heaven, the hardest time is also the closest to victory!"
"The Southern Dynasty is a spent force, Gu Yan’s final lunge appears ferocious, but it’s just the struggle of a cornered beast!"
"Make good use of the wind and cold granted by Eternal Heaven, let their blades and morale freeze dull!"
"No matter how the Song Army taunts and provokes, without my Golden Arrow Order, no one is to engage without permission!"
After saying this, he waved his hand.
The generals obeyed and left.
However, Temujin left one person behind.
This was his most trusted confidant, though not publicly acknowledged.
Once everyone’s figures vanished, he then looked at the person and asked, "How is the situation?"
"Reporting to the Khan."
The person, without any hesitation, bowed and said: "Although the Imperial Censorate of the Great Song has strict defenses, as the Khan said, there is no such thing as an impervious wall in this world."
"—After losing quite a few people, our men have reached the target."
Hearing this, Temujin finally laughed heartily and liberally.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He uttered the word "good" three times, and the ruthlessness in his eyes flashed once more: "I’ve long said, the land of Kyushu is vast, despite having the Gu Clan, it’s impossible for everyone to stay united."
"They do not have the will of our prairie warriors!"
"Nor will they have a ruler like myself, the Khan!"
"And this, is the greatest flaw of Kyushu!"