Chapter 772: Vermillion Bird’s First War Council

The geography of this world was not an exact replica of the world Zhao Changhe came from. Nevertheless, while locations like Beimang and Ancient Sword Lake differed, most of the places were largely the same.

Variations in oceans, monsoons, mountains, rivers, plateaus, and valleys can lead to entirely different climatic distributions, significantly impacting both flora and culture. However, given the world’s strong resemblance to ancient China, it made sense that its geography was also strikingly similar.

The terrain beyond the northern frontier followed this pattern. While unique locations existed here but not on Earth, such as the Black Tortoise Secret Realm, Rocky Mountain, and the Black Tortoise Lake of Huangsha Market, the broader landscape was more or less the same.

Once one exits the frontier via Yanmen and crosses the Yin Mountains, the first sight to greet them is a vast grassland. This was Monan, and in this world, it was home to Batu’s forces. In modern geography, it corresponds to Inner Mongolia, a region rich in arable land and mineral resources. Of course, neither Batu nor his predecessors had ever cultivated the land.

Further north lies the Gobi Desert. This desert stretches from west to east, marking the boundary between Monan and Mobei. Beyond it lay the Golden Horde of Mobei, covering much of what is present-day Outer Mongolia.

If Huangfu Yongxian’s forces were to cross the desert northward, they would strike directly at the royal court, reminiscent of Wei Qing’s historical campaigns[1].

Such a grand offensive could not be carried out solely by the troops of Yanmen as there were simply too few of them. In reality, when the capital declared war, only half of the forces marched alongside Vermillion Bird and Zhao Changhe. The rest, upon departing the capital, went directly to Yanmen to reinforce the frontline. Among them were the troops of Hebei under Cui Yuanyong, whom Vermillion Bird found irksome and thus assigned to her father’s command. The high-level expert stationed with that force was none other than Lady Three.

The Gobi Desert does not sever the Mongolian Plateau entirely, breaking off in the east. This creates a natural corridor of grasslands running north to south, connecting Monan and Mobei. And this corridor existed here as well.

It was through this corridor that Huangfu Qing and Zhao Changhe advanced northward after crossing the Yanshan. From there, they could circle northeast, crushing countless small tribes along the way before reaching a renowned mountain east of the royal court.

That mountain is called Langjuxu, and in this world, it was the site of Tngri’s Temple.

Further north lies an equally famous lake, known in modern geography as Lake Baikal, but in this world, it was called the Vast Sea or Hanhai.

In conducting a military campaign across such terrain and with the resources available in this world, several major challenges would have normally arisen.

First, the lack of distinct mountain passes or roads makes navigation difficult. Without GPS, traveling through this land is akin to sailing the open sea, where armies could easily lose their way. Using the sun, moon, and stars as guides can allow one to confirm a general northward direction, but even the slightest deviation could lead to reaching a completely unintended destination.

Second, water supply is a critical concern. While provisions could be transported even in ancient times, carrying sufficient water was nearly impossible. A few days without a water source could result in disaster.

Fortunately, with Batu’s complete submission, the Han armies had brought along veteran warriors from his retinue who knew the terrain intimately. These guides, accustomed to annual pilgrimages to the Sacred Mountain and the royal court, were well-versed in every route, water source, and tribal settlement. Even without storage boxes, these two major concerns were no longer

that

major; the storage boxes were just a contingency, ensuring they would not experience difficulties even if they strayed off course.

Third, in this particular case, the enemy forces were highly mobile, unlike Central Plains armies that anchored themselves to cities and fortresses. Here, it was common for an advancing army to find that their target had maneuvered behind them instead. Sudden, unplanned skirmishes were frequent, and battles often broke out in complete chaos. Standard scouting methods alone were insufficient to prevent this. However, Sisi’s birdmasters[2] provided a perfect solution to this problem.

Lastly, the very concept of a royal court in the Grasslands was fluid. Barbarian tribes rarely had fixed capitals. Timur’s presence determined where the Golden Horde’s seat of power resided. It was not uncommon for invading armies to charge toward a supposed royal court only to find it abandoned, wasting military resources in the process. The same applied to Tngri’s Temple. The so-called Sacred Mountain was in fact an entire mountain range, where individuals could easily disappear into its expanse. A building being destroyed was nothing but a trivial setback; Tngri’s true dwelling was likely a secret realm, hidden from even the most determined seekers.

But this time, Timur also sought a decisive battle.

That night, as Vermillion Bird’s army set up camp, Zhao Changhe strode into the command tent, holding a roasted goshawk leg with a grin. “Come, have a bite. This goshawk should belong to Timur. It tastes amazing.”

Inside the tent, a group of officers and generals were gathered around a sand table map. Upon seeing Zhao Changhe enter so casually, brandishing roasted meat, they instinctively turned their heads away as if trying to maintain some semblance of decorum.

Seated behind the command table, clad in soft armor and a large cloak, Vermillion Bird shot her man an exasperated glare. “We’re in the middle of a military discussion. What the hell are you doing?”

“I don’t know strategy, so I figured I’d at least bring some food.”

“That doesn’t mean you can just walk in here waving around a roasted bird leg! What kind of impression does that give? Does anyone even want to eat this?”

“What are you saying? Everyone just ate, didn’t they? This is just a snack.” Without giving her a chance to refuse, Zhao Changhe shoved the eagle leg into her hand and leaned in to glance at the sand table. “So, what are you discussing?”

Vermillion Bird found herself holding a roasted bird leg, feeling that the image was entirely unbecoming. Yet when she glanced at the expressions of the gathered officers, she noticed they were all smiling in an oddly indulgent manner. Since when did military men start acting so soft?

Irritated, she took a bite out of the leg and said, “What we were discussing is one thing, but just now, Weiyang came to file a complaint. Want to hear it?”

Zhao Changhe turned in surprise to Wu Weiyang, the Demon Suppression Bureau general present in the tent. He had been sent to assist the vanguard under Xue Canghai. This was Zhao Changhe’s own decision, and it was intended to keep the Blood God Cult’s brutality in check and prevent excessive slaughter. Yet they had not even marched halfway to their objective, let alone fought any major battles, and Wu Weiyang was already back...

Wu Weiyang sighed and cupped his hands toward Zhao Changhe. “We understand that war is no place for mercy. In the past, when the northern barbarians were defeated, they would scatter, regroup, and rise again, creating an endless cycle. So this time, when General Xue ordered the execution of all adult males in captured tribes, we held our peace...”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed. “And now he wants to kill women and children?”

“We did tell him that those below the height of a carriage wheel should be spared,” Wu Weiyang said grimly.

“And then General Xue... laid the wheel on its side.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“I tried to stop him, but General Xue argued that if we left only women and children behind, they wouldn’t survive anyway. If we were truly merciful, it would be better to send them south into Han territory, dispersing them into various settlements to bolster the population.” He paused before adding, “There is some logic to his reasoning, but doing this would require allocating significant military resources. We need you and the supreme commander to make a decision. Alternatively, we could handle this post-war. This campaign won’t last long, regardless of victory or defeat.”

Zhao Changhe glanced at Vermillion Bird. He himself had a soft heart in such matters and struggled to make the most ruthless decisions. But Vermillion Bird had once massacred entire clans without batting an eye. He half-expected her to suggest laying the wheel flat as well.

Instead, she nodded and said, “Handling it post-war is viable. This campaign won’t last long. For now, ensure they have basic provisions.”

Zhao Changhe and Wu Weiyang both let out a breath of relief. Wu Weiyang cupped his hands and said, “Then I will relay the decision to General Xue.”

“There’s no need to rush. You’re well-versed in military affairs. Stay and join the discussion,” said Vermillion Bird. She then gestured at the sand table and continued, “We are currently analyzing our strategic position. The fact that we are advancing in two separate forces is no longer a secret. Timur is undoubtedly aware of this. Logically, he wouldn’t foolishly split his forces evenly to deal with both of us. Instead, he will most likely attempt to entangle one of our armies while concentrating his main force to crush the other. The question now is: Where will his main force appear?”

Zhao Changhe asked, “What’s the prevailing opinion?”

“The consensus is that our force, composed mainly of light cavalry, is highly mobile and difficult to pin down. Moreover, with you, me, and Hongling, we have three at the Profound Control Realm in our ranks. Given this, Timur is more likely to commit his main forces against my father’s army while merely attempting to delay us. As long as he can prevent us from advancing unchecked, he can avoid unsustainable damage.”

Wu Weiyang nodded and said, “If you ask me, I hold the same view. Furthermore, given the current tensions between Timur and Bo’e, he might even allow us to advance freely, hoping that we’ll march straight to the Sacred Mountain and become embroiled in a fight with Bo’e, leaving him free to seize the advantage later.”

Several generals spoke out, “That seems unlikely. If we truly advance without obstruction, we wouldn’t necessarily target the Sacred Mountain first. Why wouldn’t we take a detour and strike at Timur’s rear?”

“That’s easier said than done. The two armies are still quite far apart. Coordinating such a maneuver across this distance is incredibly difficult.”

Zhao Changhe watched the back-and-forth debate and shrugged. This was precisely why he could never be a true commander. Offering suggestions was easy, but discerning the best course of action from a sea of conflicting opinions was something that required true skill. Historians might later claim that some general failed because they ignored the correct strategy, but in the heat of decision-making, how could anyone be absolutely certain which choice was the right one?

For now, the situation was still manageable. There were minor differences in opinion, but the general consensus was that Timur’s main force would confront Huangfu Yongxian’s army. What the supreme commander needed to decide was how to act based on that assumption. Should they take the long route to strike Timur’s rear? Or should they indeed push straight toward the Sacred Mountain? And how should they support Huangfu Yongxian’s forces? When, who, and how many troops should be allocated?

There were no telephones, no instant communication. Everything hinged on judgement alone.

Vermillion Bird remained silent for a long moment, staring at the sand table. Then she murmured, “If everyone thinks this way... wouldn’t Timur also anticipate that we think this way?”

Zhao Changhe was momentarily stunned, as was the entire tent.

This was not just a case of overcomplicating predictions. Strategic assessments required reasonable evidence, or else one could spiral endlessly into counter-guesses, making no definitive decision at all.

Vermillion Bird waved a hand. “I’m not playing a game of endless counter-predictions. My reasoning is based on solid grounds. I personally led the pacification of the Jinbei, so I know more details than any of you. The tribes of Jinbei did not submit willingly; they surrendered out of fear of my power. They are not truly loyal. Now that they’ve been forced to provide so much gold, grain, and horses, their resentment has only grown deeper. When my father was stationed in Yanmen, they dared not act rashly. But now that the army has left Yanmen, what do you think they will do?”

The tent fell into deep contemplation.

Vermillion Bird continued, “Originally, I planned to march further south, but the demon god Hidden Wind was guarding Jinnan, so I did not act recklessly. This means that an extremely powerful demon god remains in the region, serving as a backbone for the local tribes. If he chooses to incite a rebellion in Jinbei—or worse, if he personally leads a strike on Yanmen—what will happen? All the families of our soldiers are in Yanmen. If turmoil erupts in the Three Jins while our main forces are deep in enemy territory... what do you think the outcome will be?”

Wu Weiyang said, “The soldiers will grow restless, thinking only of returning to defend the pass. Timur wouldn’t even need to engage in direct combat. Just some well-placed harassment could force that army to retreat without losing a single soldier. On the contrary, if they were to meet the main force head-on, they might instead develop a do-or-die resolve.”

The gathered generals nodded. “That’s true... but supreme commander, since you already foresaw this, why didn’t you preemptively address the issue?”

Vermillion Bird smiled faintly. “Who says I didn’t?

Hmph

. I’ve already made arrangements, but Timur doesn’t know that. Instead, he will assume that we, being highly mobile and composed of elite forces, would never be the ones to engage his main force...”

As she spoke, her sharp gaze swept across the gathered generals, observing their expressions.

In truth, this was her first time acting as the supreme commander, and when she first spoke, she had not been entirely confident. But the reactions of those around her were reassuring.

Over the past few months, during their time together, she had noticed something. On the surface, the generals were all respectful, but deep down, they held their doubts. She was from a prestigious military family and had indeed followed her father into battle in her youth, but she had never served as a primary or lead commander. Her reputation was built not on battlefield strategy but on her dominance in the martial world, in the ways of the demonic path.

No one dared challenge her authority. After all, she was someone at the Profound Control Realm, the venerable of the holy cult, and even the de facto empress dowager; who could contest her position? But their skepticism was apparent in their eyes, slipping through in moments of unconscious doubt. Did she truly understand war?

Just now, when they thought she was overcomplicating things with mind games, the unspoken exasperation on their faces was almost palpable. Had she made an outright mistake, they would have jumped at the chance to correct her without hesitation, without concern for decorum.

Yet now, no one was arguing. Even that earlier exasperation had vanished. Every man in the tent was deep in thought.

That meant her reasoning was sound, even in the eyes of these battle-hardened veterans. And with that realization, confidence surged through her veins.

Vermillion Bird took a slow, deep breath and made her final judgment. “I am just about certain that Timur’s main force will be targeting us. And I will go even further: I dare say Timur and Bo’e will have no conflicts in this battle. The khagan and Tngri’s Temple will stand together, united in their goal to trap and annihilate us in the section of the Grasslands east of the desert.”

In the corner of the tent, where she was seated in silent meditation, Yue Hongling slowly opened her eyes. “My sword is trembling... Big Sister’s judgment may well be in tune with my sword heart.”

This was the so-called Sword Heart Illumination. Among all warriors in the world, none had a keener sense of impending danger than Yue Hongling. Even if it was not the main force they were about to encounter, there was a high likelihood that the enemy’s Profound Control Realm figures would be here.

The hardened warriors in the command tent did not waver at the prospect of facing the main force. If anything, a flicker of excitement rippled through them. After all, this meant glory and battlefield merit were at hand.

An old veteran in the army immediately suggested, “Since that’s the case, we should put on an even more convincing show. If we want them to believe we think the main battle will be on General Huangfu’s side, then we should act accordingly and send out a visible force to make it seem like we’re reinforcing the western line, when in truth, they won’t go far. But for this deception to work, we must ensure we remain undetected by enemy aerial scouts.”

Vermillion Bird pondered for a moment, then said, “Right, but that won’t be enough. From now on, no one is to use the storage boxes. We march as if we are truly living off the land, feeding off the enemy’s supplies and chasing water sources. Timur will believe he has set a trap for us... but in reality, we’ll be waiting for him.”

That very night, Wu Weiyang, leading 10,000 cavalry from the Demon Suppression Bureau, rode westward, heading toward the supposedly vulnerable western front. Soon, they moved beyond the eastern Grassland, disappearing from immediate surveillance. In the skies above, the enemy’s goshawks caught sight of this movement and swiftly relayed the intelligence northward.

At dawn the next day, Xue Canghai’s vanguard, having enjoyed a restful night’s sleep, received orders from the main army. The Blood God Cult disciples, blades glinting in the morning sun, let out bloodthirsty howls as they charged toward the next water source settlement, ready to carve a bloody path forward.

1. Wei Qing, courtesy name Zhongqing, was a Chinese military general and politician of the Western Han dynasty who was acclaimed for his campaigns against the Xiongnu and his rags-to-riches life. ☜

2. I’ll be using this term rather than falconer since they don’t really use falcons. This is at least more consistent with “beastmasters.” ☜