Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 211 Marching Through the Mist

In the late autumn of the Jiangbei Plain, a trace of warmth still lingers during the day, but as night falls, the chill spreads with the rising steam from the river, penetrating to the bone. An army of unimaginable size, like a silent river flowing in the night, moves silently eastward through country lanes and riverbank depressions far from the main roads.

There were no towering torches, no deafening shouts of men and neighing of horses; even the wheels of the carriages were specially wrapped to reduce noise. Soldiers, gagged and horses with cloth-wrapped hooves, led the massive column, guided by officers' deep commands and pre-arranged hand gestures, in several separate lines, maintaining impeccable formation, towards the designated assembly area on the north bank of the Yangtze River. The starlight was dim, the moonlight obscured by thin clouds; only the small lanterns in the scouts' hands emitted a faint, almost imperceptible glow a hundred paces away, guiding the following troops.

At the heart of this silent legion, in an abandoned fishing village near the river that had long been cleared out and was under tight security, Chen Xing's camp was set up. The so-called "camp" consisted of just a few inconspicuous dark tents, no different from the ordinary military tents around it, the only difference being the exceptionally tight security.

Inside the central tent, the candlelight was adjusted to illuminate only the table. Chen Xing, Chen Wei, Shen Qing, Dian Xiong, and Jia Wen, who had just arrived on horseback, sat around a square table covered with the latest reconnaissance map. On the map, the red lines representing the Allied forces' deployment were particularly dark in places like Caishiji and Guazhou, while the blue arrow representing Xingqi's main force subtly pointed to an inconspicuous bend in the river upstream of Wulindu.

"All units have entered their final ambush positions around midnight tonight, as planned." Chen Wei's voice was low as he traced several dots on the map with his finger. "General Dian Xiong's 20,000 elite troops and auxiliary forces are positioned in the reed marshes and abandoned salt fields at the forefront; the main force of 50,000 troops is stationed in three reserve camps in the rear, spaced 15 to 20 li apart, communicating by fast horses and beacon fires. All camps are backed by hills or forests, offering open views in front while remaining well concealed. Smoking is strictly prohibited during the day, and light control is in place at night."

Shen Qing added: "The main force of the navy, including eight new-style warships, forty large warships, and over a hundred troop transport and supply ships, has dispersed and concealed itself in three upstream river branches and harbors, using fishing nets and tree branches for camouflage. Patrol boats on the river are disguised as fishing boats, monitoring the upstream and downstream movements day and night. No large-scale enemy reconnaissance ships have been detected approaching. General Zhang Liao's western flank and naval flank launched another 'strong attack' on a beach west of Xiakou yesterday. Although they feigned defeat and retreated, the momentum was immense, and it is reported that it has caused a stir in the Allied Western Front Command, which has repeatedly requested reinforcements from Nanjing."

Jia Wen squinted as he listened to the report, then slowly said, "According to a secret report from the Eastern Station of the Censorate, Xiao Jingyan has been convening his staff for three consecutive days to discuss the military situation on the western front. Although his main force stationed at Caishiji has not moved, there seem to be signs that some of the reserves stationed in Jinling and a portion of the navy at Guazhou Ferry are being transferred westward. It seems that our 'sound' has had an effect. However," he paused, "Xiao Jingyan is inherently suspicious and cautious in his military operations. Even if the western front is under pressure, it is still unknown whether he would dare to boldly withdraw too many troops from the eastern front. Moreover, his navy is constantly patrolling the river, and such a large-scale, covert movement of our army will inevitably be exposed if it goes on for too long."

All eyes eventually turned to Chen Xing, who had remained silent throughout, simply gazing at the location of Wulin Ferry on the map.

Chen Xing raised his head, the candlelight dancing in his deep eyes. He reached into his robes and took out a flat box of peculiar material, neither gold nor wood. Inside, instead of an imperial seal or military tally, was a special piece of paper, decorated with intricate symbols and curves, resembling both a star map and a nautical chart. The paper gleamed with a faint, luminous sheen, unlike anything from this era.

"Elementary Meteorology" - a redeemable item in the system store.

"Whether Xiao Jingyan divides his troops, and how many troops he divides them, is not entirely within our control." Chen Xing's voice was calm and even, yet it carried a certainty of insight into the secrets of heaven. "But what we can control is the 'timing'." His finger pointed to a front symbol on the weather map that was moving slowly, representing the convergence of warm and humid air currents and cold air from the north of the Yangtze River.

"Starting tomorrow, over the next three days, the warm and humid airflow from the East China Sea will significantly strengthen and continue to converge with the cold air mass lingering north of the Yangtze River in the middle and lower reaches. Long-lasting and extremely dense advection fog will appear on the river surface and along the banks, especially from dawn to 9 AM, when visibility will be extremely low, dropping to less than a hundred paces, or even just a few dozen paces."

The breath caught in their throats. They were all seasoned veterans, and they immediately understood the meaning behind the emperor's words. A dense fog! And a dense fog that had lasted for days and was extremely thick! For the side needing to cross the river covertly and launch a surprise attack, this was a godsend!

"Your Majesty, is this celestial phenomenon... truly certain?" Shen Qing couldn't help but ask. As the commander of the navy, he knew well the unpredictable weather of the Yangtze River, and such a precise long-term forecast was unheard of.

Chen Xing glanced at him, offering no explanation for the origin of the blueprints, but simply said, "If I say it exists, then it exists." The unquestionable tone in his voice immediately silenced Shen Qing, who felt an even greater sense of awe for the emperor's mysterious "inheritance."

"During the dense fog, the enemy's lookout and patrol efficiency will be minimized, and their navy will not dare to easily set sail in the thick fog, lest they collide and get lost. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our army to cross the river!" Chen Xing's finger landed heavily on Wulin Ferry. "Cross the river while the fog is thick, take them by surprise, and attack them when they are unprepared!"

He looked at Dian Xiong: "Minister Dian, your elite troops are the sharpest blades in this fog! When the fog is thickest, take the first fast ships and head straight for the south bank! At all costs, seize the beachhead and establish a position! Follow-up troops will follow closely behind!"

"Your humble servant obeys! I am ready to charge into battle, even at the cost of my life! I will surely tear open a breach on the south bank for His Majesty!" Dian Xiong clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice like muffled thunder, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

"Shen Qing, the navy must ensure that the river crossing is unobstructed, suppress any enemy interception fleets that may appear, and cover the return of subsequent fleets. The heavy crossbows on the new-style warships can also conduct general coverage fire even in the fog, deterring enemy coastal defense forces."

"Chen Wei, coordinate all the troops crossing the river to ensure an orderly landing and continuous follow-up support. Jia Qing, after the fog lifts, the 'eyes' and 'ears' of Jiangnan will be in your hands."

The commands were clear and unambiguous, and everyone responded with resentment.

"Starting tomorrow evening, the fog will begin to appear. The decisive battle will take place at dawn the day after tomorrow!" Chen Xing closed the weather map, his eyes flashing like lightning. "Order the entire army to rest and recuperate, and to inspect their weaponry. Victory is assured!"

"Victory is certain!" the crowd roared.

Outside the tent, the night deepened, and the river breeze carried a damp scent. On the distant opposite bank, the lights of the allied camp stretched as far as the eye could see, seemingly impregnable. However, a vast fog, about to blanket the entire river, was brewing deep within the East China Sea, about to veil this battle that would decide the fate of the world with its thickest and most deadly layer of mist.