She kept her head down, pretending not to hear, bustling about with the soldiers of the Firehead Camp, serving everyone more food and filling their bowls. Yet, in the glow of the bonfire, her exquisite little face was flushed red, looking exceedingly adorable!
She catered to their most immediate needs, earning their gratitude towards her, and by extension, towards her man. This was far more effective than hundreds of uplifting speeches. Although this meal cost her several thousand taels of silver and all the cabbages stored in her dimensional space, her goal of boosting morale was achieved. The soldiers were more spirited than ever...
Dinner lasted a long time. The meat of over three hundred pigs was devoured, leaving not a single piece behind. Even the broth in the large pot was scooped out to soak rice. The bones were smashed open by the soldiers with large stones, and the bone marrow inside consumed entirely. Not a single stalk of cabbage remained.
When they were full, Nangong Yi, satisfied, ordered the soldiers back to their tents to rest. First thing tomorrow morning, the army would cross Tianlun Mountain to attack the Meng slaves in the north of the mountain range. Tonight, they needed a good night’s sleep.
After the soldiers returned to their tents, only the soldiers from the Firehead Camp were left in the vast campsite. They quietly cleaned up, putting out the fires, washing the pots, plates, and chopsticks, a stark contrast to the bustling noise from earlier...
"Let’s go, sit in my tent for a bit," he said.
Nangong Yi reached out and held Cai Wei’s hand in his palm.
Cai Wei didn’t resist. She let him guide her, and the two of them strolled under the moonlight towards Nangong Yi’s tent.
Both of them broke into laughter as they spoke at the same time.
"No, you go first..."
"Never mind, I’ll just say it first."
Cai Wei was simply speechless at the level of understanding between them.
"Fine, you go first, I’m listening."
Nangong Yi moved to her right side, blocking her from the slightly cold night breeze. Under the moonlight, he was clad in a crimson coarse battle robe adorned with glittering silver armor. He carried an air of calmness and strength, exuding an air of peace as he walked at her side.
He was no longer the enchanting evildoer dressed in luxurious brocade silks, but a hardened and upright general. His enunciations were firm and powerful, a stark contrast to the lazy and rascal-like man he used to be.
Cai Wei pursed her lips, then said, "As they say, knowing oneself and one’s enemy is the key to every single victory. We are to go to war tomorrow, how much do you know about the Meng Slaves? How large is their force? What kind of men are their leaders? What strategies do they usually deploy when going to war? How confident are you of winning in this battle, and how do you plan on fighting them? War is a costly business and with your current situation, you’re not really equipped for a protracted war. So, do you have a quick and decisive strategy?"
Nangong Yi laughed, "The culture of the Meng Slaves is valiant. They’d always been all-in when it comes to war, whether they are men, women, or children—once a battle breaks out, all will join the battlefield. At present, the Meng Slaves are about three hundred thousand in number, which means, except for those infants who are just beginning to babble and the elders who are bed-ridden, everyone else will be joining the battlefield."
The khan of the Meng Slaves is Tuoba Kui, who is twenty-six years old and fearless. He is the son of Liaodan’s Eldest Princess and the former old Khan of the Meng Slaves, Tuoba Zhuo. Unlike his fellow Meng Slaves, he isn’t rude and ignorant, but loves reading military books and practicing formations. It is said that since childhood, every time he passed a mountain or a forest, he would study which spot is suitable for an ambush or a formation. It can be said that Tuoba Kui is a formidable enemy of mine."