You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Outside Dading Prefecture, Song army camps stretched out.

It was late at night, the coldest time of the autumn night, when people were most tired.

Inside the central command tent, candlelight still shone brightly. Lu Zuo had not yet slept. Dressed only in a black casual robe, he stood before the huge sand table, his gaze calmly sweeping over the stone blocks representing the city walls of Dading Prefecture, as well as the surrounding mountains and rivers marked.

He was waiting, waiting for news that Liang Hongyu and the special troops had successfully arrived at their designated positions, and also waiting for an opportunity that might break the deadlock. The night wind slipped in through the gaps in the tent flaps, bringing with it the monotonous sound of the night clappers of the patrolling soldiers in the distant camps, making the night seem even deeper.

Suddenly, a series of slightly hurried footsteps approached from afar, sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.

Immediately following were the low, demanding questions and urgent reports from the guards. Lu Zuo's eyebrows twitched slightly as he turned to look at the tent entrance.

The thick felt curtains were suddenly flung open, bringing in a blast of cold air.

The gatekeeper led a messenger, who was covered in dust and dew, into the gate quickly.

The messenger's face showed the weariness of a long journey, but even more so, a mixture of excitement and unease.

"Your Majesty!" The gatekeeper knelt on one knee and said urgently, "Urgent military intelligence has arrived from the direction of Black Stone Valley!"

"It's a messenger sent by Liu, the foreman in charge of escorting the grain and supplies!"

Lu Zuo's gaze fell on the messenger: "Speak."

The messenger knelt down with a thud, and before he could catch his breath, he quickly reported, "Your Majesty!"

"Two days ago, Madam Liang led us to Yixian Gorge, where we were ambushed by masters of the Jin Kingdom's esoteric sect!"

The air inside the tent suddenly froze.

The messenger continued, "Fortunately, the two seniors, Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi, happened to pass by and came to our aid, defeating the ambush and capturing several people alive."

"The lady immediately interrogated the prisoners and learned some shocking news."

"The Jin dynasty's subsequent large quantities of grain supplies, which had not yet been transported to Dading Prefecture, are currently stored in a small city called 'Xincheng,' about 300 li to the northwest, with only a little over 2,000 troops stationed there!"

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zuo's eyes, and he leaned forward slightly.

"Madam Liang made a decisive decision and, after discussing with the two seniors, Hong and Huang, decided to split the troops into two groups."

"Order Liu, the foreman, Wang, and others to lead the wounded and the grain carts to Heishiyu to meet General Geng Jing as originally planned."

"Madam Liang, along with the two elders Hong and Huang, selected 1,500 elite troops and set off with minimal entourage straight for Xincheng, intending to burn its provisions!"

"Your subordinate has been ordered to come and report ahead!"

"Madam Liang and her men... have likely already launched a surprise attack on the new city!"

"Great!" Lu Zuo exclaimed, his tone low but firm.

Liang Hongyu's move was incredibly audacious, yet it struck at the heart of the matter!

This is no longer just a surprise attack to harass the enemy, but a direct strike at the enemy's most vulnerable and fatal weakness!

If successful, the more than 200,000 Jin troops in Dading Prefecture will be trapped like turtles in a jar or fish swimming at the bottom of a pot in an instant!

"Beat the drums! Raise the tent!" Lu Zuo gave the order without hesitation.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, echoing throughout the spacious tent.

"Thump—thump—thump—thump—!"

The deep, rapid beat of war drums suddenly shattered the silence of the camp, like the heartbeat of a sleeping beast awakening, each beat striking the heart of every listener.

This is the highest-level rallying drum, which is not sounded except in cases of major military emergencies.

The central command tent was instantly illuminated by torches, and the guards silently and swiftly took their positions, creating a tense atmosphere.

Before long, heavy footsteps began to sound.

Han Shizhong, fully armored, was the first to stride into the tent. His face still showed signs of sleepiness, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, clearly indicating that he had risen from his sleep at the sound of the drum.

Immediately afterwards, Yue Fei, Guo Xiaotian, Yang Tiexin and other major generals also arrived one after another. Everyone was fully armed and looked solemn. They did not know what the purpose of the drum that suddenly sounded in the middle of the night was.

"Your Majesty!" The generals clasped their hands in salute, their eyes all focused on the imposing, dark figure behind the commander's desk.

Lu Zuo didn't say anything more, and gestured for the messenger to briefly summarize the intelligence again.

"...Madam Liang has led Hong Qigong, Huang Yaoshi, and 1,500 elite troops on a surprise attack on the grain storage area in Xincheng!"

As the messenger finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the tent, broken only by the crackling of the torches and the slightly heavy breathing of the people inside.

Guo Xiaotian slapped his thigh, both excited and worried: "Madam Han has such courage!"

"Straight to the heart of the enemy!"

"But...this is too risky!"

"More than a thousand people, marching three hundred miles, to attack a walled city..." He looked at Han Shizhong, his eyes full of concern.

Yang Tiexin also clenched his fists, his brows furrowed.

Upon hearing the news, Han Shizhong's pupils contracted sharply, and his hands behind his back clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

That was his wife, currently in grave danger, carrying out a near-suicidal raid. Worry clung to his heart like cold vines, but quickly, his rationality as a commander and his understanding of his wife's abilities overwhelmed his personal feelings.

He knew Hongyu too well; she was by no means a reckless person. To dare to take such a risky move, she must have carefully considered the situation, and with the help of those two peerless masters, Hong and Huang, she was quite confident.

More importantly, if this succeeds, its value will be immeasurable!

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to analyze the situation calmly, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Hongyu's move, though risky, strikes precisely at the heart of the Jin invaders!"

"The city of Dading is high and the moat is deep. If our army launches a strong attack, the casualties will be huge and the attack will be protracted."

"If we can cut off their supply lines and burn their stockpiles, the more than 200,000 Jin troops inside the city will fall into chaos without a fight!"

"This is the chance for a swift victory!"

A sharp glint flashed in Yue Fei's eyes as he replied, "Marshal Han is absolutely right."

"Supplies are the lifeblood of an army."

"The garrison in Xincheng is weak and outnumbered. If Madam Liang, along with Hong and Huang, launch a surprise attack, the chances of success are extremely high."

"However, we must also consider several variables: First, the Jin army in Xincheng may be prepared, and the surprise attack may turn into a full-scale assault, making it difficult to achieve complete success."

"Secondly, the news may have been delayed, or the Jin army may have had other secret supply routes."

"Thirdly, once the fire breaks out, the Jin army in Dading Prefecture may be driven to desperation and come out in full force to fight our army to the death. They may also divide their forces to rescue Xincheng, or simply abandon the city and flee north."

He walked to the sand table, pointed to the area between Xincheng and Dadingfu, and spoke faster: "The best course of action now is for our army to take a two-pronged approach."

"On the one hand, we immediately dispatched elite light cavalry to search and provide support in the direction of Xincheng, both to help Madam Liang's troops return and to verify the news that the grain supplies had been burned."

"On the other hand, the entire army immediately entered the highest state of combat readiness, with scouts deployed to closely monitor the movements of the four gates of Dading Prefecture and all Jin troop movements within a radius of fifty li."

"Once the fire in the new town is confirmed, or the support troops send back definite news..."

Yue Fei looked intently at Lu Zuo and Han Shizhong: "Our army should immediately adjust its deployment and adopt a tough stance of attacking the city with all its might. We can even launch a probing feint attack to further pressure and restrain the garrison of Dading Prefecture, making it impossible for them to send troops to rescue the new city or organize a retreat."

"At the same time, we must guard against the Jin army fighting like cornered beasts and concentrate our elite forces to break through the encirclement."

"Our army can give them a wide berth and lay an ambush along their escape route to the north..."

Han Shizhong nodded repeatedly, adding, "Pengju has thought things through thoroughly."

"The support force can be led by Generals Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin, each with 500 light cavalry, carrying many flags, to split up and make a show of force. If they encounter small groups of Jin soldiers, they should be annihilated; if they encounter large groups, they should be avoided. Their main tasks are reconnaissance and support."

"At the main camp, all troops shall immediately inspect their equipment, eat their fill of battle rations, and stand by at any time."

"Siege engines, especially the 'swarm' rocket vehicles mentioned by His Majesty, need to be deployed in advance..."

The two of them quickly and clearly analyzed the various chain reactions that Liang Hongyu's surprise attack on Xincheng might trigger and the Song army's response strategies.

From support deployment, battlefield concealment, and main force response to preventing the Jin army's rout, each step is progressive, demonstrating the foresight and meticulousness of a top commander.

Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin were also deeply moved and agreed repeatedly, their previous worries turning into a strong desire to fight.

Lu Zuo listened quietly, silently nodding in his heart.

This is the advantage of having a famous general. He only needs to point out the direction and give him trust. Han and Yue can handle the specific tactical arrangements and risk management perfectly.

Although he came from another era and possesses knowledge and martial prowess beyond his time, he is not skilled in the specifics of commanding large-scale classical warfare and managing details. It is best to leave this to professionals.

"We will proceed as the two generals have proposed."

Lu Zuo made the final decision: "Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin, immediately gather the most elite light cavalry of your unit, each carrying five days' worth of dry rations and plenty of arrows, and set off in different directions towards the new city to search for and support Liang Hongyu's troops, using smoke and signal arrows as signals."

"If you encounter any small groups of Jin troops or messengers along the way, kill them all and keep all news out of them."

"Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, take command of the entire army and proceed with the deployment as discussed earlier."

"All battalions are on high alert and ready to strike at any time."

"Your Majesty, we obey!" The four men responded with a resounding roar, their eyes burning with intense passion.

They all knew that the balance of power that would determine the fate of the two countries might begin to tilt because of a fire in that small town 300 miles away.

However, just as Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin turned to leave the tent to muster their troops, and Han Shizhong and Yue Fei were preparing to make detailed plans—

"Report!!!"

A long, drawn-out, and frantic roar came from outside the tent!