The Demon Lords

Chapter 567 66: Black Dragon Banner_5

Zheng Fan seized the opportunity and went to find Liang Cheng in the vanguard. After obtaining the standard answers from him, he went back and met with Tian Wujing the next morning.

"I contemplated deeply all night and finally seem to have understood something. Please see if I'm correct..."

After every response, Zheng Fan could feel the satisfaction in Tian Wujing's eyes. Sometimes, some of Zheng Fan's answers even triggered deep thoughts and reflections in Tian Wujing.

Therefore, no one is omniscient, including Tian Wujing.

Perhaps, in Tian Wujing's eyes, Zheng Fan was a rising 'military star.' Unbeknownst to him, he was 'communicating' with another military expert every day.

It was indeed hard for Zheng Fan. He sometimes had to deliberately ignore parts of his copied standard answers so they wouldn't seem *too* standard. He tried to make his responses seem brilliant but not perfect. This way, after Lord Jingnan heard the answer, he would still have room to offer 'guidance.'

This way, both parties won: Zheng Fan did his job, and Lord Jingnan gained satisfaction.

"My lord, the strategy is quite clear," Liang Cheng said. "Tian Wujing will personally lead the central army, with the two armies on his flanks providing support and reinforcement. Considering the conditions on the snowy plains, he likely intends to use a 'pack of wolves chasing sheep' tactic. This means first targeting and eliminating the 'shepherd dogs'—the most powerful tribes. Once they are dealt with, the remaining tribes will likely panic and collapse. We must seize the right moment. Either we don't fight, or if we do, we must commit fully and press the attack relentlessly. We cannot allow the various wild people tribes on this snowy plain an opportunity to unite and form a coalition army."

As Liang Cheng was speaking, Xue Three, covered in filth, walked over. Xue Three had been missing for a long time. He had probably infiltrated the snowy plains much earlier, while the main army was still marching through the Skybreak Mountains, to gather intelligence.

"San'er, you've been gone for so many days! I was worried sick," Zheng Fan said, then quickly turned to Liang Cheng. "Please continue if you have anything else to add."

Just as he was preparing to launch into a dramatic, emotional excuse...

Xue Three was speechless.

Then, Xue Three approached and said, "My lord, I have some new military intelligence. You can submit it to claim credit, saying you scouted it yourself."

Liang Cheng chuckled. "San'er, you've been away for some days. You don't know that our lord has basically been attending lessons in Tian Wujing's central army tent every day."

"Er..." Xue Three was stunned.

Zheng Fan said nonchalantly, "That's alright. I'll take you to report to Tian Wujing later, San'er."

「...」

"'Your humble servant, Xue Three, pays his respects to Lord Jingnan.'" Xue Three proactively saluted and presented a piece of paper he took from his bosom.

Zheng Fan walked over, took the paper, exchanged a glance with Xue Three, then promptly turned and handed the paper to Lord Jingnan.

Lord Jingnan spread the paper out and found it was a rough charcoal sketch showing the distribution of several forces in the current region.

Xue Three had initially wanted to add contour lines and other details, but then thought better of it, deciding not to overcomplicate things.

Tian Wujing quickly noticed a discrepancy on the map and asked, "Is there an extra tribe here?"

"Replying to Your Lordship," Xue Three said, "this tribe appears to have migrated here recently. It's less of a tribe and more like a military unit, stationed on Green Beach to the northeast."

"Their numbers?"

"Replying to Your Lordship, about five thousand, half of them armored."

"Are you certain?"

"I am certain, Your Lordship. There is no mistake."

"Good."

Tian Wujing turned his head to look at Zheng Fan, who was standing beside him, and said, "If I recall correctly, he is one of your men, isn't he?"

Xue Three's appearance was so memorable that it was hard to forget him.

"Indeed, Your Lordship," Zheng Fan replied.

"You certainly know how to recruit talent."

"This subordinate merely strives to recruit talent for Your Lordship."

Tian Wujing directly ignored this piece of flattery. "It seems this additional military unit was recently transferred from the Snow Sea front in the northeast. That wild people king truly respects Yan."

No one could have predicted Yan State would dispatch troops; even Zheng Fan hadn't anticipated it before receiving the order. Yet, the wild people king had specifically detached five thousand soldiers to monitor this area during the most critical phase of the war. Such vigilance was truly commendable.

Tian Wujing looked at Zheng Fan and said, "Chief Zheng."

"This subordinate is here."

"What do you think we should do next? Which one should we attack first?"

He had guessed the test question correctly.

"Let's attack this very military unit sent by the wild people king," Zheng Fan declared. "We will crush this military unit right before the eyes of all the nearby tribes. We'll make them feel the terror of Yan's iron cavalry from the very first moment. We will instill fear in them, drive them to despair, and ultimately turn them into a stampeding flock of sheep. We will be the wolves on this snowy plain, tearing them apart, letting their blood soak this land!"

Zheng Fan had taken Liang Cheng's answer, condensed it slightly, and then added his own exaggerated rhetorical flourish at the end for dramatic effect.

It was clear that Tian Wujing was very satisfied with Zheng Fan's response.

"That wild people king apprenticed under the Earl of North Border's command for several years and actually managed to make something of himself. Now, it's time for the master to discipline the disciple."

With Lord Jingnan's command, tens of thousands of cavalry began to move. They no longer concealed themselves, no longer hid, but boldly trampled the land beneath their warhorses' iron hooves.

As the iron cavalry thundered forward, the Black Dragon flag unfurled and billowed in the wind!