The second point detailed the importance of knowing oneself and one’s enemy—how to predict an opponent’s behavior based on their past experiences and habits, preparing defenses in advance, and turning defense into offense.

Xiao Rongyan was somewhat entranced as he read…

Speaking of Daming Prefecture, Yang Wuce couldn’t help but break into a smile, his voice rising a degree: “Who would have thought… just now, someone from Daming Prefecture’s direction sent over food specialties unique to Great Liang and Liang wine, saying it was to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The small team from Daming Prefecture that delivered the food also brought a letter, saying they were willing to surrender to Princess Zhenguo, only hoping that Princess Zhenguo could bestow medicine to treat the common people.”

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes in careful thought. This didn’t match what her people had investigated about Cao Renyi’s behavior in several battles against the Rongdi, where he had disregarded civilian lives and would rather die than surrender.

The reason she hadn’t led troops to attack Daming Prefecture was firstly because taking Yong’an City had brought them close to the New Year, and she wanted the soldiers to have a good New Year. Secondly, she wanted the soldiers to rest well before tackling the hard nut that was Daming Prefecture. But Cao Renyi… had sent people claiming surrender.

She squinted slightly, her hand resting on the edge of the desk, lightly rubbing. The Liang wine and food specialties, unique to Great Liang, that Cao Renyi had sent…

Liang wine, specialty foods…

A gust of wind swept into the tent, causing the oil lamp on the desk to dim before brightening again.

She chuckled softly and looked up at Zhao Sheng: “What does General Zhao think?”

Zhao Sheng’s brow furrowed tightly: “I’ve never had much interaction with General Cao, but based on my understanding of General Cao Renyi’s fighting methods, General Cao is not a commander who cherishes civilian lives. During the previous Rongdi wars… to defend the city to the death, General Cao once forcibly seized civilian food, forbade civilians from leaving the city to seek refuge, and forced civilians to take farming tools to resist the Rongdi.”

“What does General Yang think?” she asked Yang Wuce again.

With Zhao Sheng putting it this way, Yang Wuce also became somewhat hesitant. He had a good relationship with Cao Renyi and naturally hoped to avoid military conflict, so when Cao Renyi sent people to seek peace, having them convey that he didn’t want to clash with Yang Wuce militarily, Yang Wuce was overjoyed and nearly… blinded by old sentiments.

Just as Zhao Sheng said, Cao Renyi was not a general who prioritized civilians, yet this time he said… he requested Princess Zhenguo to bestow medicine to treat the common people. This… could be considered the biggest flaw in his story.

Yang Wuce dared not answer Bai Qingyan’s question immediately. After pondering for a moment, he said: “Although I don’t want to clash militarily with an old friend, what General Zhao said… indeed makes sense.”

After speaking, Yang Wuce clasped his fists and said solemnly to Bai Qingyan: “If Princess Zhenguo trusts this subordinate, why not let me lead a small force to Daming Prefecture to investigate? If Cao Renyi truly wishes to surrender, Princess Zhenguo can then lead the troops into the city. If not… this subordinate will capture Cao Renyi alive and bring him before Princess Zhenguo.”

“There’s no need for General Yang to lead troops to Daming Prefecture. Tonight, General Cao will likely bring troops to visit us.” She smiled and withdrew her hand from the desk, speaking slowly: “Tonight is New Year’s Eve. Whether our army or the Liang army, all will be less vigilant. And on New Year’s Eve, this day of family reunion… General Cao sending Great Liang’s specialty foods and Liang wine—might this evoke homesickness and longing for home among these Great Liang soldiers? Might it have… the effect of being surrounded by the songs of Chu?”

Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce exchanged glances, alarm bells ringing in their hearts.

“Have the scouts we sent to watch Daming Prefecture returned?” she asked.

Zhao Sheng suddenly understood: “They have not.”

In that case, the scouts sent to watch Daming Prefecture had likely been killed by Cao Renyi.

Otherwise, before Cao Renyi sent people with Liang wine and delicacies, the scouts should have returned to report.

She stood up with her hands supporting the desk and walked to the sand table hanging in the main tent. Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce quickly rose and followed.

After roughly scanning the detailed terrain, she pointed on the sand table to their current camp position between Yong’an City and Daming Prefecture, speaking steadily: “From our camp to Daming Prefecture and back takes only an hour and a half. Please have General Zhao send more scouts to Daming Prefecture to investigate—scouts in groups of two, departing every half stick of incense, sending out four groups total! Tell them that whether on the road or at Daming Prefecture, if there’s any unusual movement, return immediately to report. If not one group returns… there’s a problem.”

Zhao Sheng and Yang Wuce nodded. If Cao Renyi planned a night raid, for safety’s sake… he would set ambushes on the road to intercept Jin army scouts.

Her mind raced as she thought and spoke: “At the same time, please have General Zhao and General Yang assemble the soldiers, inform them that Cao Renyi is expected to launch a night raid on the military camp, and be sure to boost the soldiers’ morale!”

As she spoke, she took two small flags marked with Zhao and Yang, gazing at Zhao Sheng with composure: “If all four scout groups fail to return, General Zhao will lead fifty thousand troops to the right side of our army camp and await orders!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Qingyan planted the flag marked “Zhao” on the right side of the camp, then quickly planted Yang’s flag on the left side, looking at Yang Wuce: “General Yang will lead fifty thousand troops to the left side of our army camp for support. I’ll lead the remaining soldiers to wait quietly in camp. Once General Cao’s army enters the encirclement, we’ll capture them!”

In such a short time, Bai Qingyan had arranged everything methodically, both quickly and steadily, stirring feelings of excitement in Yang Wuce and Zhao Sheng’s hearts.

“Yes!”

Yang Wuce and Zhao Sheng clasped their fists in acknowledgment.

Bai Qingyan’s arrangement was essentially creating a gourd trap… If Cao Renyi brought troops tonight, once the soldiers entered the gourd’s mouth, Yang Wuce and Zhao Sheng would tighten the opening, like catching a turtle in a jar, ensuring Cao Renyi would not return.

Her gaze fixed intently on the sand table, looking at the fastest and flattest route between Daming Prefecture and the Jin army camp, which was also the most commonly traveled path between Daming Prefecture and Yong’an City. She selected two points and planted four small flags on both sides.

“These two points are on the fastest route between Daming Prefecture and Yong’an City, the two easiest places to hide troops. Have General Zhao send four teams to investigate whether there are Liang army ambushes at these four points on this road! If there are… don’t alert them, just send someone back to report.”

Her gaze fell again on the undulating mountains surrounding the Jin army camp in the sand table. She took a handful of red flags and planted several at the highest points best for observing the Jin army camp: “Around our army camp, there must be General Cao’s scouts! I trouble General Yang to send word later—have the soldiers extinguish lights, don armor and carry swords, and await orders.”

“After our army extinguishes the lights, Daming Prefecture’s Liang army scouts will return to the city to report! General Zhao, take advantage of the lights being extinguished to first send a team to set up an ambush at this position in the dark.” Bai Qingyan’s finger pointed to a spot on the road from the Jin army camp to Daming Prefecture. She lowered her eyes to gaze at that point, her profound eyes filled with killing intent. “After letting the first batch of scouts return to Daming Prefecture to report…”