In the dense forest, the Black Tiger Army set up camp.
First came the fierce siege defense of Jincheng, followed by the chaotic street battles within, and then the final breakout, which left them nearly exhausted. Even with Shen Changqing covering their rear, the Black Tiger Army could not just keep moving forward.
In the end, after the Scouts found a relatively safe and hidden location, the more than 2,000 members of the Black Tiger Army temporarily settled down. Some were sent to keep watch, while the rest of the Black Tiger Army rested in their armor, swallowing down dry rations with plain water. Chu Ding and the other commanders received nearly the same treatment.
At night, a faint glow of firelight rose, providing some illumination without being visible from too far away. In the dry earth, a rudimentary sand table was etched out.
Chu Ding held a stick, pointed at the terrain on it, and then looked up at the others.
