Plans for Plans

"They're getting bolder with their attacks now. We need to make a move." Lu Qinyi commented, his head resting with his cheek in his hand.

Zhao Mei hummed in vague agreement, pressing a curled finger over her lips as she thought, her gaze slowly moving over the map infront of her. "Since we can't pinpoint their location, we should spread our forces across the mountain and press in from all sides. We need a way to suppress the Northern army while we do so however…"

Lu Qinyi seemed to understand her train of thought, fiddling with his earring with his other hand, tilting his head slightly. "How about fire? That seemed to work fairly well last time."

Zhao Mei paused for a moment, running the logistics in her head before she gave a nod. "That would work." She then glanced over at Yang Xun.

He sat back as he also gazed at the map before them. "Division Five would be suited to this kind of attack. Round it out with soldiers from Division Four and a few messengers for coordination and emergencies."

Lu Qinyi nodded his head. "Alright. Locations?"

Zhao Mei lifted a finger, tapping one spot. "Here." She then moved to another, and another, and another. "Here, here and here." She then paused before pointing to one last location. "And here."

Lu Qinyi's brows rose slightly while Yang Xun's knitted. "If you're going to have soldiers there, I'd recommend Cao Su as the messenger."

Lu Qinyi's brows rose even further. "Oh? I thought you'd choose Wang Xi. The distance is greater and needs a fast rider."

Yang Xun clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "The terrain. Wang Xi is only considered one of our fastest on flat ground. With terrain like that, Cao Su is the better choice."

Lu Qinyi peered at the map again before letting out a quiet "ahh" in understanding. He stood up, walking to Zhao Mei's side in front of the map. He moved pins into each of the locations Zhao Mei had pointed to. "It's decided then. This is the move we'll make."

Zhao Mei's lips curled slightly as she observed the newly marked map with a gleam in her eyes.

---

"General, Squad Eight is being surrounded by the Southern soldiers."

Fei Li glanced up at the reporting soldier but before he could even open his mouth to reply, another soldier ran up to report.

"General! Squad Three and Five are being attacked by the enemy!"

Fei Li was silent for a moment as he thought. "Send Squad Four to support Squad Three and Five. Have Squad Eight retreat back through the path to the west and regroup with-"

"G-general!" Another soldier shouted in alarm Fei Li turned to follow his line of sight, spotting a fire flickering to life in the distance, about where he predicted Squad Eight to be located currently. His brows furrowed slightly. Another flame could be seen flickering in the distance, no, a line of flames.

"They're cutting off our routes," Fei Li muttered to himself.

"General! The South, they're attacking us!" Someone yelled from further up the mountain but just as he did, there was the roaring sound of flames igniting. Fei Li drew his blade, rushing up to get a better look. He had to dodge backwards and behind the cover of a tree to avoid the incoming arrows. Soldiers fought with blades at the front while those who were further back were pinned down by the rain of arrows. Paths to each side of the fights were lined with growing flames that were too strategic to have simply been lit from the surrounding foliage.

Just as Fei Li was pondering this, he noticed a few Southern soldiers moving between the trees out of the corner of his eye. He watched as they swung a metal barrel through the air, liquid pouring from it. It rolled before wedging against a tree and the soldiers swiftly retreated. A moment later a few flaming arrows flew through the air, igniting what must have been some highly flammable liquid for the flames rippled to life with a resounding whoosh. Fei Li could already feel its oppressing heat, smoke choking the air. 'That's another route cut off' Fei Li thought as his gaze ran along that barrier of fire, a slight frown on his face.

He raised his hand in the signal to retreat. The soldiers who had their eyes on him quickly passed on the message and drew back. Fei Li could only remain a moment longer to ensure his soldiers were receiving the message before he had to withdraw himself, dashing between the trees for cover from the arrows. At some point Xi Ming rejoined at his side. Fei Li pulled him behind the next tree just in time to avoid an arrow that whizzed past. Before Xi Ming even had the chance to say thanks, Fei Li interrupted. "There's a valley further down from the mountain. The best choice we have is to withdraw." Xi Ming nodded before separating from Fei Li once more, dashing off in another direction to provide instruction to the Squad captains. Fei Li continued toward the valley.

After his men had poured into the valley, attending to the wounded and taking a moment's rest, Fei Li felt something was wrong. Escaping into the valley should provide enough time for him to collect his forces before moving again to a more strategic location for a counter attack. Or so he had thought but he hadn't thought the South were one step ahead once more. It was eerily quiet. Fei Li couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right so he sent some of his soldiers to scout the two best exits from the valley and the way they had entered. Sure enough, the soldiers returned with panic stricken faces.

"Sir, the Southern army are occupying the exit."

"General Fei, the path, it's been sealed."

"General, the South have archers set up from where we entered. We can't even get close."

Fei Li cursed under his breath. That damn Lieutenant Zhao, he could easily imagine the victorious glint in her eyes. They had already predicted he would retreat into the valley and set up to trap him and his men. With no way out, they only had to wait for the Northern army to come to them. With the better ground, their chances of winning were greatly increased. And the longer Fei Li waited to attack them, the more resources he drained without hope of resupply.

Unless… Fei Li's brows furrowed as he turned away. He walked past the rows of wounded men and the attending medical soldiers who rushed between them, past the soldiers who were busily preparing their temporary camp, their gazes lingering on their general for just a moment before returning to their tasks. He found a quiet corner to crouch down in, pulling the smaller spare map he had tucked away in his robes, spreading it out on the ground before him. He stared down at it, lost in thought, gnawing at finger in a nervous habit. But the longer he thought, the more obvious it became that his best option… was this one.

As he heard footsteps approaching, he hastily lowered his hand, hiding the only sign of his unease, instead leaving his arm draped over his knee. "Lieutenant Xi," he greeted without looking up. Xi Ming crouched down across from him, looking over the map spread on the ground.

"I've already heard that the South have sealed our exits. What's our plan, General?"

"We still have our supplies of explosive powder, yes?"

"Yes sir. But where would we…" He trailed off as Fei Li pointed to a location on the map, his eyes widening slightly. "But General Fei, that would… Isn't there…"

"Yes," Fei Li confirmed with a steady voice and a coldness to his expression. "I know what it would mean."

Xi Ming's brows knit tightly together and he pressed his lips together but he didn't object. "Understood General," he acknowledged quietly. "I'll start the preparations."

But before Xi Ming could walk away, Fei Li's voice rang out to give him one more instruction. "Make sure the soldiers are only informed of the required details."

"...Yes sir."