The War

The terrain lay devastated, an expanse of ashen desolation extending for hundreds of li. Once teeming with a rich tapestry of wild flora and fauna, the land was now reduced to scorched remnants of its past, devoid of any life. Night descended, shrouding the world in darkness so profound that the faint glow of embers, tucked within the ashes, became visible.

This land, which once housed a verdant forest and vibrant villages scattered throughout, had become the principal battlefield in the war between the formidable Nine Dragon Dynasty and the Xiongfeng Dynasty.

Beyond the westward periphery of this ravaged landscape rose an imposing mountain range. Nestled in the heart of these towering mountains was a large valley, serving as a gateway through the colossal Longyun Range.

Within the confines of this valley, hundreds of thousands of soldiers amassed, dwarfed by an imposing fortress that clung to the mountain's edge. Its formidable structure, constructed of sturdy wood and stone, scaled the mountain flank, resting atop the high ground.

Great stone walls, adorned with lethal spikes and archer's loopholes, encircled the valley, transforming it into a formidable stronghold. The fortress boasted an intricate, multi-tiered design with soaring flying eaves, a testament to its architectural grandeur. Crowning the structure was an expansive top floor featuring a broad opening, a vantage point offering an unobstructed view of the valley in its entirety.

"It has been a fortnight since our last engagement, and our soldiers remain poised for action," intoned a man amidst the group of four. His armor gleamed with a well-kept shine, and his face was a tapestry of hardened and weathered lines.

"Nonetheless, initiating an assault now risks exposing our flank to a northern infiltration," he added, his words hanging heavily in the ensuing silence.

Another among them, a man with a mature yet youthful countenance, suggested, "Perhaps it would be prudent to dispatch a squadron to establish an outpost across the river."

The dissenting voice came from a figure garbed not in armor, but in grandiose purple robes, stitched intricately with patterns of clouds and serpents. His frail form and elder mien were unmistakable - he was Elder Ling. "That course is fraught with danger. The river is a capricious newborn, and the clouds have merely shifted, not dispersed," he countered, his silver mane quivering slightly as he spoke.

The final member of the quartet was a colossus, his muscled form easily discernible beneath the confines of his armor. He fixed his gaze on Elder Ling and declared, "We shall deploy a thousand soldiers to follow the river's course and find a suitable crossing."

"Undoubtedly, the enemy has already seized control of the far shore," Elder Ling retorted, his tone carrying an air of irrefutable authority.

The young man's eyes rested upon the map unfurled across the table, his mind lost in thought. The valley they currently occupied was the most expansive and navigable passage through the mountain range, previously held by the Xiongfeng Dynasty. Up north, a fortnight of relentless rain had birthed a new river that roared down from the mountains, meandering through part of the battlefield before veering abruptly upward. It spanned a width of about two li, or approximately 0.6 miles.

The towering figure of muscular build turned his gaze towards the younger man, his attention drawn to the evident contemplation. "Bojing, what are your thoughts?" he queried.

Awakened from his deep rumination, Bojing lifted his gaze and proposed, "If what Elder Ling suggests holds true - and I am inclined to believe it does - then we could manipulate this situation to our advantage."

"Indeed?" The muscular man probed, nudging Bojing to elaborate. Bojing took a moment, hand at his chin in thought, before tracing a path on the map with his fingertips.

"We could deploy a small unit to a point where the riverbanks are in close proximity," Bojing pointed to a location on the map, a place where the riverbanks nearly met. "This spot offers ample concealment from the surrounding rugged mountains, sufficiently obscuring our troops and concealing our true strength."

The middle-aged man, his features etched with the hard lines of experience, nodded in agreement, "A diversionary tactic, then."

Bojing nodded in affirmation, "Precisely." He then directed their attention further westward into the mountain range on the map. "Simultaneously, we could funnel the majority of our forces through the mountains, burrowing through."

"Such an endeavor would require no less than a month's time," Elder Ling immediately countered, his tone unyielding.

The muscular man cast an irritated glance at Elder Ling, retorting, "Then, pray tell, what is your suggestion?"

"We ought to circumnavigate the river. I find it unlikely that they would dare to traverse it while its currents still rage with such ferocity," Elder Ling asserted, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.

Silence filled the room, the four men each engrossed in their own calculations of possible outcomes, advantages, and disadvantages. In this quiet moment, a figure entered the room through the grand wooden doors, clad in a light armor uniform. The sound of his boots echoed as he ascended the winding staircase to reach the top floor, where the four men waited in anticipation.

Upon reaching the uppermost floor, he knelt before them, the impact of his knee upon the wooden flooring reverberating in the room. The tall and muscular man gestured for him to proceed, "Report."

"Commander Hu, the refugees are prepared for departure," he said respectfully, still in a kneeling position.

Commander Hu, a man of high stature and burly frame, nodded in acknowledgement, "Very well, instruct them that the fee is three hu of grain per family for transport."

"As you command, sir." The soldier rose to his feet, performing a respectful salute before descending the staircase.

As the soldier's footfalls faded away, an idea took root in Bojing's mind. He turned to the middle-aged man with sharp, worn features and asked, "General Shirong, how much gunpowder remains in our stock?"

General Shirong folded his arms, his brows furrowed in thought for a moment, "Approximately 20 to 40 thousand jin," he estimated, drawing from the memory of the last few engagements.

"We could utilize the gunpowder to excavate a path through the mountains. This would significantly reduce the time required for passage," Bojing proposed, his gaze shifting towards Commander Hu.

Commander Hu contemplated Bojing's proposal, his eyes narrowing in consideration as he observed the map. He followed the suggested route with a finger, then shifted his gaze to General Shirong. "Is such a venture an effective allocation of our resources?"

Shirong leaned closer, his experienced gaze tracing the same path that Hu's finger had just traversed. "It's an unconventional approach, indeed. However, it would necessitate the expertise of engineers and miners. Furthermore, the extensive use of gunpowder might alert the enemy to our plans."

Elder Ling turned towards them, his eyes squinted as he readied himself to interject. But Bojing beat him to it, "If we synchronize it with the diversion at the river, the enemy might be too preoccupied to discern our actions."

"Indeed."

"True."

Both Shirong and Commander Hu conceded, affirming their concurrence. Encouraged by their reactions, Bojing pressed on, "Additionally, with the departing refugees, we may have additional manpower at our disposal."

Seeing his chance to interject, Elder Ling seized the opportunity, his gaze fixed on Bojing, "And what about the miners and engineers?"

Commander Hu was tempted to chide Elder Ling for his persistent skepticism, but he couldn't deny that Ling had raised a valid point. This time, it was General Shirong who proffered a solution, "Some among the refugees may possess the requisite skills. We could offer them sustenance, sanctuary, and guaranteed safe passage for their families in exchange for their services."

Commander Hu pondered the proposed strategy. Before anyone else could respond, he decided, "We shall proceed with this plan."