Great Wilderness Demon Lord

The whole process took only a few dozen breaths.

It wasn't until the changing of the guard that the "guards" in the sentry post emerged, still half asleep, and routinely shook the place, but did not immediately notice anything amiss.

A moment later, an officer who "accidentally" passed by was "shocked" to discover the hole and the missing prisoner, and the sirens pierced the night sky with a mournful cry.

The city of Harbin was once again engulfed in a tense manhunt and severe accountability measures, which ended with the punishment of derelict guards and the strengthening of patrols.

On the bastion, Xiao Yunlan gazed silently at the snowstorm to the northeast.

Those "chess pieces," like arrows shot from a bow toward an unknown fate, carried away the desire to survive, hatred, and the invisible guidance he had cleverly implanted, pointing to the weaknesses in the wolf-enemy's supply lines.

The real contest, now unfolding with the footsteps of these desperate men, has quietly spread to the snowy wasteland beyond the ice wall.

Of course, the pursuers lost their way in the snowstorm and soon had no choice but to return.

Everything was done flawlessly.

On the bastion, Xiao Yunlan, Zhao Meng, and Tieshan silently gazed at the dark snowstorm to the northeast that had swallowed thirty figures.

"Will they go to that 'passage transfer point'?" Tieshan asked in a low voice.

"If they understand the markings on those scraps of skin, if they are hungry enough, hateful enough, and bold enough... they will go there." Xiao Yunlan's voice was devoid of emotion. "That's the closest and most likely place for them to find food and a target for revenge."

"Can they... succeed?" Zhao Meng asked.

"I don't know," Xiao Yunlan answered readily. "Whether we succeed or not, it will benefit us both. If we succeed, the Langrong's supplies will be damaged, and Wugu will definitely be shaken. If we fail, it will also serve as a reminder to the Langrong, letting them know that this wasteland is not peaceful and that they need to divert their attention."

He paused. "Most importantly, no matter the outcome, we haven't been exposed. In Wugu's view, this is just a group of prisoners who couldn't bear it any longer escaping in the chaos. They might become bandits, but they would never associate it with our intentions, much less imagine that we have already figured out the details of his supply lines."

The wind picked up, and snowflakes pelted my face, icy cold.

"Let's go back." Xiao Yunlan took one last look at the darkness. "Next, we need to observe Wugu's reaction more carefully. Meanwhile, inside Ice City, everything remains the same, relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside. The real test may be coming soon."

The three turned and walked down from the fortress. The ice city still stood silently in the wind and snow, but an invisible undercurrent had already surged out of the city walls and rushed towards the enemy in the distance.

For the next few days, the city of Harbin maintained a semblance of calm.

The prisoner "escape" incident was classified as dereliction of duty by the guards. Zhao Meng publicly punished the guards who were "negligent" and strengthened camp management, and the matter gradually subsided.

Most of the garrison troops regarded it as a minor incident and did not think much of it.

But the atmosphere at the Wolf Rong camp on the north bank was quietly changing.

First, the patrol activities have become more frequent and vigilant, and their patrol range seems to be expanding outwards, especially strengthening reconnaissance in the northeast and northwest directions of Ice City.

Secondly, the jackal servant camps were placed under stricter control, seemingly to prevent similar "escapes" from occurring among them.

The most important signal appeared on the fourth day after the "escape" incident.

Around noon, a group of about fifty wolf-riding cavalrymen hurriedly emerged from the camp on the north bank and galloped straight northeast, their ranks exuding a distinctly menacing aura.

This is quite different from the usual careful concealment of the transport team.

"It's Wugu's main force; he's leading the team himself." The sentry, lurking at a great distance, confirmed the leader's figure.

Wugu left his main camp, taking a considerable number of elite troops with him, heading northeast—towards the Luanshi Gorge and the Aokou transit point!

"It seems that the 'hyenas' we released have actually caught something." Upon receiving the report, a sharp glint finally flashed in Xiao Yunlan's eyes.

Wugu has been transferred! Although it's only a temporary departure, it's undoubtedly an opportunity and a strong signal—the attack by those jackal prisoners, even if not completely successful, must have caused considerable chaos and losses, forcing Wugu to deal with it personally!

"Captain, should we...?" Zhao Meng's eyes flashed with fighting spirit.

"No rush." ​​Xiao Yunlan waved his hand. "With Wugu gone, there will definitely be generals left in the camp, and the defenses will not be relaxed. Now is not the best time to attack."

We must wait, wait for definitive news from Wugu's side, and we must also wait...

Let's see if this incident uncovers more secrets about the grain supply routes, or if it leads Wugu to make an even bigger mistake.

He walked to the map and pointed to the main camp of the Wolf Rong: "Send word to the sentries to pay extra attention to the movements of those remaining in the camp, especially their methods and frequency of communication with Wugu after he left the group."

Additionally, pay attention to the direction of Zhenhuang Pass in the south, for any new signs of war or unusual activity.

The main supply lines of the Wolf Rong have been disrupted; the Hechi forces cannot be unaware of this.

"yes!"

Two more days passed in tense anticipation. Wugu and his troops had not returned.

The North Shore camp seemed somewhat restless. Patrols continued, but the previous calm and composed atmosphere of the siege seemed to have weakened somewhat.

It wasn't until the evening of the seventh day that Wugu returned with his troops.

Fifty riders went there, but less than forty returned. Many were injured, and their mounts and giant wolves were exhausted.

They brought back several damaged trucks and a small amount of supplies, but the atmosphere was somber, clearly indicating that the trip had not gone smoothly.

More importantly, the sentries discovered that after Wugu returned, he immediately strengthened the defenses of the North Bank camp itself, even setting up barricades and traps around the camp overnight, as if facing a formidable enemy.

At the same time, the number of scouts dispatched to the northeast increased significantly, almost doubling the previous number, and their reconnaissance range was extended further.

"He's afraid." After listening to the report, Xiao Yunlan slowly uttered three words, "He's afraid that those 'bandits' will return, afraid that his supply lines will be attacked again, and also afraid... that we'll take this opportunity to do something."

"Captain, what do we do next?" Tieshan asked.

Xiao Yunlan pondered for a long time before his gaze fell on the map again.

Wugu's panic and heightened vigilance indicate that the supply line harassment strategy was effective, and also reveal his extreme anxiety about the security of this supply line. This may be an opportunity for further action, but it requires more meticulous planning.

"First, continue to closely monitor all movements of the Wugu tribe, especially any signs of their communication with the rear. Second, begin secretly preparing a truly elite squad within the city; the number of personnel should not be large, but rather comprised of the best and brightest, ready to be deployed at any time."

Third…” He paused, “I need to have Steward Wu recalculate the grain reserves. I need to know how long we can hold out if we reduce the rations to the bare minimum starting now.”

Zhao Meng and Tie Shan felt a chill run down their spines.

The captain's third question meant that he was already considering the most radical and dangerous plan—perhaps no longer to harass the supply lines, but to look for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow, or... to try to forcefully break the siege while Wugu was distracted!

"Understood!" the two men replied solemnly.