Chapter 141: Besieged in a Desperate Situation

Duan Yuquan was the first to nod, and the others had no objections. In Qishan, from the commander down to the lowliest soldier, everyone was as close as father and son, brothers and sisters. They were bound by familial ties, a quality that set them apart from all other armies. Because of this, human life was always the highest priority, and on this point, everyone reached a consensus immediately.

With this foundation established, Jiang Chen voiced the idea he had been contemplating for a long time: "If you ask me, negotiating with Northern Yan to exchange for the ten thousand or so trapped brothers is a desperate, bottom-tier strategy. We cannot let Northern Yan lead us by the nose. Especially after dealing with the Northern Yan people, I hold no optimistic views regarding the process or the outcome of any negotiations."

Duanmu Qing asked, somewhat puzzled, "Then what should we do? Do you have a better way to save those brothers?" She had pinned her hopes on Jiang Chen successfully negotiating their release, and now that she learned there might be a better way, how could she not feel a sense of anticipation?

"A good plan requires us to discuss it together. I am merely proposing this concept first. At the very least, if we can withdraw our men ourselves, it is surely easier than negotiating with the Northern Yan."

Jiang Chen then asked Duan Yuquan for a detailed account of the situation at Qiwu Mountain, the current positions of both the enemy and friendly forces, and the terrain and environment there. The situation was dire, exceeding Jiang Chen's expectations. In short, more than ten thousand men were trapped in a valley below Qiwu Mountain, with the Northern Yan army occupying the high ground and controlling all the main thoroughfares. It was currently the coldest part of the deep winter in the Northern Territory. The Qishan soldiers trapped in the mountains were thinly clad, their provisions were exhausted, and many wounded received no treatment, left to die silently in the endless, day-and-night torment.

Speaking of this, Duanmu Qing’s eyes reddened. Jiang Chen knew she felt their pain as if it were her own, her heart twisted like a knife. For every day they delayed, hundreds of comrades would perish beneath Qiwu Mountain. Therefore, speed was of the essence; they had to make a decision quickly and finalize a rescue plan.

Observing the map, Jiang Chen noticed a narrow path connecting the valley to a river called Quzhao. Perhaps this was the lifeline for those ten thousand men! "This Quzhao River should be frozen over now. Is there a Northern Yan army guarding the opposite bank?"

Duan Yuquan cast an appreciative glance at Jiang Chen. Being able to spot this path showed that Jiang Chen was highly skilled at interpreting military maps; an ordinary person would find the lines representing mountains and rivers to be nothing but a confusing, hopeless mess.

"You are correct; the Quzhao River is indeed frozen, but there is a Northern Yan force of one thousand stationed on the opposite bank, cutting off our retreat. However, they are not the biggest obstacle. The real problem is that this river is simply impassable."

Jiang Chen was surprised. Since the river surface was frozen in the bitter climate of the North, the army should be able to cross it completely. "Is there a problem I haven't considered?"

Duan Yuquan replied, "The Quzhao River is in the shade. During midday, when the sun hits it directly, the frozen surface melts and loosens. For over ten thousand people to cross it is fundamentally unrealistic. The ice is not thick enough to support that much weight, so this retreat route is merely a mirage and cannot be utilized by us."

Jiang Chen nodded. The others later offered their own opinions, but after ruling out all impractical ideas, evacuating via the Quzhao River remained the only plan that seemed potentially feasible.

That evening, the Qishan base was brightly lit. Wreaths of cooking smoke rose from the tents, and the air was filled with a comforting, domestic atmosphere. Jiang Chen was eating his meal; the dishes before him were specially prepared by Duanmu Qing. As a distinguished guest from afar, he naturally enjoyed some special treatment.

"I was afraid you wouldn't be used to the stew from the camp's big pots, so I made a few extra dishes for you. My cooking is worlds apart from Sister Yue'er’s, though, so please don't mind it. Also, our daily training is very physically demanding, so we put a lot of salt in every dish. We have long been accustomed to it."

Jiang Chen said, "It doesn't matter. From now on, I will eat the same as everyone else. Don't spoil me."

The two smiled at each other. Suddenly, a thought struck Jiang Chen's mind like a bolt of lightning, filling him with excitement. "Salt!"

Duanmu Qing quickly said, "Is it too salty? Are you choking? Let me get you some water."

Jiang Chen waved his hand. "No, your words just now reminded me of a way to break this stalemate!"

The next day, several teams in the Qishan camp were ready to depart. After discussion, they had clearly defined their tasks and decided that, without delay, they would act according to the plan immediately.

Han Yuyang, accompanied by a few trusted aides, would head toward the southeast of Liaocheng, where thousands of defeated Qishan remnants were scattered. He needed to rally these forces and coordinate with the actions of the other two routes.

Duanmu Qing was to head to Longjiang. She carried the jade pendant that the wealthy merchant Lin Xuesong of Ziyang City had given to Jiang Chen, hoping to seek the help of this powerful tycoon to purchase large quantities of salt to send to Qiwu Mountain.

The most critical part of the plan lay with Jiang Chen. He was carrying the fake *Collection of Gu Ma* and *Yanwu Cavalry Formation*, still two thousand warhorses short of the Northern Yan's demands, but none of that mattered anymore. He was going to stall Xiao Tong, dragging out as much time as possible so that the hidden deployments could be successfully completed.

As he was about to leave Qishan, Jiang Chen noticed a figure acting suspiciously, seemingly watching his every move from time to time. He decided to remain calm and see who exactly was behind this.

"Brother, I will be waiting for you on the other side of the Quzhao River."

Han Yuyang mounted his horse. The rising sun cast a golden light, stretching their shadows infinitely. Jiang Chen rode alongside Han Yuyang and joked, "If I manage to capture Xiao Tong alive this time, can I be made a general?"

"Xiao Tong is a great general of Northern Yan who has killed so many of our Qishan brothers. If you can really bring him back, it will be a debt of blood repaid for everyone. Not to mention a generalship, I would even willingly step down and let you take my place."

Jiang Chen put on a troubled expression. "As deputy commander of the Qishan Iron Cavalry? That won't do. Managing tens of thousands of men must be exhausting. You're just trying to dump the burden on me so you can go off and enjoy the scenery with Duanmu Qing. That won't do at all."

The two burst into hearty laughter at this. Not far away, Duanmu Qing saw this scene and revealed a relieved smile. Seeing the two of them so relaxed was truly reassuring.