"Our Tiger Armor Army charges into battle, not knowing when we might return wrapped in horsehide. Commander Guan is getting on in years and seems to have only one descendant. Commander Xiang fears Guan might not have heirs, so he places Guan Feng in the equipment section, avoiding combat."

In Meng Zhen’s words, Commander Guan is the leader of the Second Tiger Camp of the Tiger Armor Army, already advanced in age, and despite his refining the internal organs cultivation level, his body is starting to decline.

Commander Guan...Guan Feng...Wan Yuan...Wan Feng...smell of blood...

Chu Ming remained expressionless, secretly noting this person and what Meng Zhen said about Commander Guan.

Has the Tiger Armor Army been infiltrated by the Blood Evil Sect too?

Chu Ming felt a bit worried about Fang Xiao, as he would leave camp tomorrow, and Fang Xiao would have to face everything in the Tiger Armor Army alone.

It’s crucial both to prevent exposure of identity and to guard against the Blood Evil Sect...

Chu Ming’s guilt grew stronger, knowing Housekeeper Fang stays in the Tiger Armor Army at constant risk to his life for him; he didn’t know how to repay him.

He had discussed with Housekeeper Fang about abandoning this plan, but Housekeeper Fang had already made the decision to cover all for him, remaining unwavering no matter how he tried to persuade.

He considered secretly killing the one named Guan Feng to eliminate future troubles.

But this approach would only heighten Fang Xiao’s danger.

How many members of the Blood Evil Sect are there in the Tiger Armor Army? How severe is the infiltration, and is Commander Guan, who is linked with Guan Feng, also a member of the Blood Evil Sect?

This commander had the Commander of the Tiger Armor Army personally place Guan Feng in the equipment section, surely owing to deep trust.

If he acts against Guan Feng, who knows what trouble might be stirred.

Chu Ming’s eyes flickered.

Originally, he thought coming to the Tiger Armor Army would allow some peaceful time.

But that Blood Evil Sect is like a persistent leech.

He gazed at the equipment around him and the patrolling soldiers, making a decision in his heart.

"Blood Evil Sect...it seems I must take the initiative."

Leaving the equipment section, Chu Ming said he was tired and went back to his tent to rest early.

Once back, he explained the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse and the possible relation to Wan Feng and the Blood Evil Sect to Fang Xiao.

"This is something the old servant willingly chooses, young master need not worry for me,"

Upon hearing these matters, Fang Xiao remained firm as ever.

Chu Ming said no more, returning to his quarters, quickly working on the inference technique.

Throughout this time, he has been studying a cultivation technique more suitable for Fang Xiao, prioritizing speed enhancement, followed by solidifying Qi Blood.

With the aid of herbal decoction and his guidance, Fang Xiao has currently regrouped ten strands of Qi Blood, remarkably fast.

Besides the cultivation technique, he wrote numerous notes, including precautions and some interpretations from the Mountain Scripture.

Such as the habits of the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse, the latter part of Mountain Scripture mentions the preference for not fresh meat but a grass called purple clover.

But this grass does not grow in Xirong County; it only grows in the southeast area of the Great Qin Dynasty.

As for today’s walk around the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse Grassland, it appears the Tiger Armor Army is unaware of this.

He writes for Fang Xiao, perhaps it might prove useful.

"Blazing Fire Tiger Horse likes sweet-flavored purple clover, dislikes acidic food;"

"Barbarian Bull of the Nine Hordes Kingdom likes to eat blue water vines, fears the sound of heavy bamboo poles striking;"

"..."

Lines of text emerged on the paper pages.

As dusk settled, the Tiger Armor Army camp lit up brightly, with more patrolling soldiers than during the day.

Suddenly, a team rode Blazing Fire Tiger Horses charging into camp.

"Commander Xiang is back, open the gates quickly."

...

Tiger Armor Army, main tent.

A massive wooden table displayed a sand table, complete with mountains, rivers, lakes, plains, cities, and flags.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear the sand table represented the border range between the Great Qin Dynasty and the Nine Hordes Kingdom.

The cities above belonged to both the Great Qin Dynasty and the Nine Hordes Kingdom.

Above the sand table stood a man in armor, burly in stature, with a firm face, his features carved like a mountaintop by a knife.

"Commander, Celestial Horde Pass is located within Nine Hordes Kingdom, thousands of miles from our Xirong County, with three major cities in front obstructing. To attack Celestial Horde Pass in three years is nigh impossible."

On the right, an elderly-looking person pointed at a place on the sand table, speaking calmly:

"Though we now grasp most maps and combat habits of the Nine Hordes Kingdom, our Tiger Armor Army has only three hundred thousand troops, merely barely resisting the Nine Hordes Kingdom attacks these two years, lacking deep foundation, seeking to counterattack Nine Hordes Kingdom..."

He shook his head: "I urge Commander to reconsider."

The elderly person was none other than the leader of the Tiger Armor Army’s Second Tiger Camp, Guan Zhen.

The Third Tiger Camp’s Huo Buyan pointed at the sand table, his tone equally grim:

"Our Tiger Armor Army has long battled the Nine Hordes Kingdom, naturally not fearing those Rong People, yet Celestial Horde Pass lies nestled within Nine Hordes Kingdom, with several of its heavily fortified cities in front blocking the way."

"Saying to attack Celestial Horde Pass is effectively saying to attack several of Nine Hordes Kingdom’s fortified cities and then Celestial Horde Pass within three years. I believe, given our Tiger Armor Army’s present strength and equipment, the possibility is almost non-existent."

Once Huo Buyan finished speaking, the leaders of the Fourth and Fifth Tiger Camps nodded: "We can at best repel the Nine Hordes Kingdom invasion now, His Majesty allocates only so many resources each year, how can we counterattack?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Among the Tiger Armor Army’s six leaders, the first and sixth are engaged in exterior battles, only four are present.

Xiang Yue’s expression remained calm, his gaze lowered onto the sand table.

After a moment, he sighed quietly: "Our Tiger Armor Army only faces Nine Hordes Kingdom, but His Majesty must contend with all hostile nations around the Great Qin Dynasty..."

With a pause, he pointed at a plain on the sand table, saying: "Yangjia Plain, the vast grassland where Nine Hordes Kingdom breeds Barbarian Bulls, what measures can the esteemed colleagues propose to seize it?"

Guan Zhen looked at the sand table, slowly spoke: "Yangjia Plain is a thousand miles away from our dynasty, positioned behind Yangjia City in Nine Hordes Kingdom; conquering Yangjia Plain necessitates first taking Yangjia City."

He followed the path from Yangjia City outward: "Ahead of Yangjia City lies an expansive thousand-mile reach of flat land, perfect for cavalry charges, but..."

"The charging prowess of Blazing Fire Tiger Horses cannot match that of the Nine Hordes Kingdom’s Barbarian Bulls."

While Blazing Fire Tiger Horses indeed possess tiger and leopard bloodlines, in direct confrontations, they fall short of the more robust Barbarian Bulls.

"Moreover, that thousand-mile stretch, though flat, is also desolate, posing substantial supply issues."

Xiang Yue acknowledged with a slight nod, then looked towards Huo Buyan and the other two.

Huo Buyan studied the sand table, pointing to the middle of that flat land, the only protruding spot, considering: "If we can lure the Nine Hordes Kingdom here..."

The point he indicated was a large valley, known as West Wind Valley, framed by rugged mountains and featuring a depression in the center.

"The Blazing Fire Tiger Horse surpasses the Barbarian Bull in agility, and the Barbarian Bull is overly cumbersome. If we preemptively set an ambush in West Wind Valley..."

Before finishing, the Fourth and Fifth Tiger Camp leaders shook their heads: "Despite the sound plan, it’s largely unfeasible, as the Nine Hordes Kingdom is not foolish cattle or horses, which we might lure into the valley?"

What followed was a prolonged silence within the tent.