It's a Date

"For our return trip, we will naturally go back to where we came from."

Gu Chengyin's voice was calm, but it stirred up a thousand waves in Shangguan Yunying's heart.

Where did they come from? From Beihe City.

Where were they going back to? That meant going back to Beihe City.

"We... are going back to Beihe City?!"

Shangguan Yunying repeated subconsciously, her tone laced with disbelief.

"Yes, but not exactly."

Gu Chengyin nodded. His fingertip traced an arc in the empty air, as if a military map was laid out right in front of him.

"We won't be retreating along our original route. Instead, we will head south along the outskirts of Shuanghe City."

"Then, outside the encirclement of the Three-City Coalition Army, we will head west, trace an arc, and eventually return to Beihe City."

"Also, our destination for this march is to be kept strictly confidential for now, pending Her Highness's orders."

When Gu Chengyin mentioned the Three-City Coalition Army and their encirclement, a flash of inspiration struck Shangguan Yunying's mind.

She suddenly recalled his previous discussion with Chen Busha about speed advantages and mobile penetration.

A light of sudden realization burst forth in her eyes, and her voice pitched higher with excitement:

"I understand! Administrator Gu, you want to use the speed advantage of our light gear."

"Before the Three-City Coalition Army can complete their encirclement, we will use mobile penetration to jump right out of it!"

"And this fake camp..."

Shangguan Yunying looked toward the valley where the camp was rapidly being set up.

"Is deliberately meant to be exposed! It will make them believe we are exhausted and resting here, thereby buying us time! Am I right?"

Gu Chengyin looked at the sparkling light in her eyes, thought for a moment, and nodded:

"Although not entirely, you are indeed correct."

Hearing this affirmation, a surge of satisfaction instantly swelled in Shangguan Yunying's heart.

She secretly clenched her fists, her eyes brightening.

She had finally caught a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of this grand strategy!

Even if it was just a blurry shadow, it was enough to make her incredibly thrilled.

As a Foundation Establishment realm expert, Shangguan Yunying had never told anyone, not even Her Highness.

Deep in her heart, what she truly revered and even worshipped had never been sheer power.

Rather, it was that supreme wisdom that could see through the entire board, calculate without omitting a single detail, and foresee ten or even a hundred steps ahead from just a single move!

Luo Zhao's ability to turn clouds with a flip of her hand and bring rain with a turn of her palm made her akin to a god in Shangguan Yunying's heart, which was why she was so fiercely loyal.

Now, a second person like that had appeared, someone who might even be on a higher level than the Highness she served.

Coupled with the fact that his status wasn't so unattainably high, at the very least, Shangguan Yunying would never dare to ask Luo Zhao such a question.

But since it was Gu Chengyin, she could boldly and safely voice her curiosity.

She could even ask for more detailed explanations.

Having received a satisfactory answer, Shangguan Yunying asked no more and turned to leave, unable to conceal her delight.

This left Gu Chengyin feeling that the woman was a bit baffling.

She suddenly ran over to ask a question, got an incomplete answer.

And then just...

Walked away completely satisfied?

Sure enough, the hypnotized Shangguan Yunying was better.

At least she was docile.

Just as Gu Chengyin was muttering to himself, the camouflage work was nearing its end.

The tents of the temporary camp were scattered in an orderly fashion, with cooking smoke curling upward.

Dummies were scattered all over the inside and outside of the camp, and there were even a few flags deliberately planted at a crooked angle.

It created an atmosphere of a hasty encampment, with men and horses thoroughly exhausted.

Unless someone barged right into it, observing it from a distance would be enough to fool the vast majority of people.

Gu Chengyin nodded in satisfaction. Without further delay, he announced:

"Her Highness has ordered:"

"The entire army is to assemble and depart immediately. Direction: south, then west."

"Ensure you evade the Three-City Coalition Army."

"Destination: Beihe City."

......

Outside Liming City, at the main camp of the coalition army.

The massive army of one hundred and thirty thousand troops (fifty thousand from Liming City, forty thousand from Shuanghe City, and forty thousand from Huangzhong City) had essentially completed their integration. Their banners blotted out the sun, and their tents stretched on endlessly.

Yang Yufeng sat high upon the commander-in-chief's exclusive command chariot, wearing magnificent armor and looking thoroughly smug.

Military Advisor Wei Tingsong quickly climbed onto the chariot, leaned close to Yang Yufeng's side, and reported in a lowered voice:

"Commander, we just received the latest intelligence from Shuanghe City. That demoness and her Golden Feather Guards did not force an attack on Shuanghe City. Instead, they have set up camp in a hidden ravine outside the city!"

Wei Tingsong wore a confident smile on his face:

"The spies didn't dare get too close for fear of alerting the enemy. However, through observation, it has been confirmed that the people in the camp are indeed the Golden Feather Guards, and they are currently resting and resupplying."

"It seems they finally couldn't hold on any longer. This demoness still has some sense left, knowing that if they don't rest now, they will collapse on their own."

"Good! Very good!"

Yang Yufeng stroked his beard and smiled, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"An overdraft of true qi is absolutely not something that can be recovered in a short amount of time."

"This is a god-given opportunity! The Three-City Coalition Army has formed, yet they are just marching in place?"

"Haha, they are truly courting death! Have the left and right wings spread out?"

"Rest assured, Commander!"

Wei Tingsong cupped his hands and said: "Your subordinate has already ordered Generals Fan and Lu to command the left and right wing armies to fan out and advance steadily toward Shuanghe City."

"Now that demoness has a fortified city blocking her path ahead and the coalition army encircling her from behind. This time, even if she grew wings, she wouldn't be able to fly away!"

"Mhm, but we must still be careful."

Although Yang Yufeng felt victory was within his grasp, he still maintained the prudence of a veteran general.

"No matter what, those are the Golden Feather Guards. Even if their true qi is overdrawn, they still have their heavy armor and battle intent."

"If we truly push them into a corner and they fight us to the death, it will still be too much for us to stomach."

Hearing this, a sly smile appeared on Wei Tingsong's face. He lowered his voice even further, almost to a whisper:

"Rest assured, Commander. Regarding this point, your subordinate has already made an agreement with General Fan of Shuanghe City."

"Once the encirclement tightens, the armies of our Liming City and Shuanghe City will both bypass the ravine where the Golden Feather Guards have set up camp."

Wei Tingsong's eyes flashed with a cold light as he continued:

"Then, all you need to do, Commander, is use the excuse of hunting down enemy remnants to 'coincidentally' assign the location of that ravine to the designated sector of General Lu from Huangzhong City."

At this point, Wei Tingsong stopped at just the right moment and exchanged a tacit, knowing glance with Yang Yufeng.

Yang Yufeng was taken aback for a second before immediately grasping the profound meaning behind his words.

"Hahaha! Good! Mr. Wei truly understands my heart! A flawless calculation!"

He couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh aloud, saying with great satisfaction:

"This way, we leave the toughest battle for Huangzhong City to chew on. That desperate fight to the death will be theirs to handle."

But a second later, his laughter faded: "However... this Shuanghe City..."

Yang Yufeng didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was self-evident.

Wei Tingsong's eyes flickered rapidly. As the military advisor of Liming City, he understood his own commander all too well.

"Commander, the demoness's current position is too close to Shuanghe City, which is somewhat troublesome..."

Upon seeing a cold glint flash in Yang Yufeng's eyes, Wei Tingsong immediately changed the subject, his tone resolute:

"But! Under the Commander's brilliant leadership, your subordinate experienced a sudden epiphany."

"I have already made an advance agreement with General Lu of Huangzhong City."

"As long as we capture the demoness, he will immediately form an alliance with our Liming City right then and there to jointly oppose Shuanghe City!"