Nta stood on top of the hill overlooking the nearby Namsu Village with a few scout soldiers standing beside and behind him. Namsu Village is the closest village to Nue-Li City and home to the Northeast Military Camp of Hmagol. Feeling the wind blow across his face, the chilling northern summer wind made the hair on his arms stand up. Although winter was still a few months away, the northern summer wind was as chilling as the winter wind.
He continued to stare at Namsu Village from a distance, hearing only the sound of wind howling past him. He had been patrolling this area for the past two days, and according to the information he had received, the enemy camp had shown no sign of retaliating.
"Captain," a soldier said, his voice a low murmur. "It's too quiet?"
"Could the information we received be false?" asked another soldier, his brow furrowed.
Nta sighed and turned to look at his soldiers. His expression was grim. "It is indeed very quiet. If Batzorig is dead or badly injured, there would be more commotion over at the enemy camp than this."
"Or because Batzorig is dead," one soldier said, a speculative tone in his voice, "but the enemy is only putting up a show."
Nta said, his gaze fixed on the distant village, "The only way to find out if Batzorig is truly dead or not is to attack the enemy Northeast Camp, but that will depend on what the General says." He turned around and began walking down the small hill with his soldiers. "Let's report back to General Chong."
When Nta got to the foot of the hill, three other soldiers rode towards him. The three soldiers stopped their horses in front of Nta and quickly dismounted.
"Report, Captain," one of the scout soldiers said, snapping a quick salute.
"Go on," Nta said, nodding.
The soldier said, his voice urgent, "News that the Razaasia soldiers have already crossed into Kosanz and are heading towards Payapasa Kingdom."
Nta asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, "What is their destination?"
The soldier replied, his voice low, "The Golden Triangle."
Nta's heart sank once he learned that the Razaasia soldiers were heading towards the Golden Triangle. He couldn't understand why the Razaasia would move their army at a time like this when they had suffered heavy losses in Hosha City.
Then it suddenly dawned on him that Payapasa Kingdom and Zasra Kingdom were longtime friends. Their connection was deep and tied to the Great Kingdom of Tanggolia. The friendly army exercise Zasra Kingdom announced to the world was not as pure as they claimed if their final destination was the Golden Triangle.
Nta said, his voice sharp with realization, "Let's go back to the city and report this information to General Chong."
Riding his beloved brown horse down the small dirt road into the city from the east side of Nue-Li City, Nta couldn't shake off the feeling that soon Nue-Li City would be facing many difficulties.
Just when he arrived at the gate, a soldier was riding very fast towards the city gate and almost collided with him, but the soldier managed to stop his horse on time before it collided with Nta.
"Soldier, what is the rush?" Nta asked, his tone sharp. The soldier's dark, gloomy face made him feel uneasy. He sighed. "Do you have urgent news to report?"
"Yes, Captain," the soldier replied, his voice breathless. "The Magoli soldiers are heading to the enemy Northeast Military Camp."
Nta and the soldiers rushed into the city on horseback, heading straight towards the military camp on the west side of Nue-Li City.
When Nta and the soldiers arrived, they found that General Chong and the others were already beginning their morning meeting.
Nta walked into the conference room with the scout soldier who came from the South.
Inside the conference room, Nta was surprised to see Dae, the Mayor of Nue-Li City, sitting with Chong and the others.
Chong said, his voice tinged with surprise, "Captain, I didn't know you were coming back today."
Nta said, gravely, "It seems like the soldier from the South has urgent news to share."
Chong said, "Give me your report." His tone was expectant.
The soldier said, speaking quickly, "General, ten thousand strong Magoli soldiers are heading here."
Dae said, leaning forward, "So, it is true that the Magoli are going to reclaim Nue-Li City."
Already burdened by worry about the uncontrolled outbreak that had reached some small villages, Chong felt the news that the Magoli soldiers were heading towards Nue-Li City added even more pressure onto the heavy load he carried on his shoulders.
Chong sighed with a heavy heart and said, his voice heavy, "With so many soldiers heading to the Northeast, the news that the Magoli were reclaiming Nue-Li City is most likely true. Currently, Batzorig and his four thousand troops are guarding their Northeast Military Camp. If the number is correct, in a few days, the Northeast Camp of Hmagol will be filled with soldiers ready to attack us."
Hmoo said, bluntly, "Then we'd better prepare to defend the city."
Nta said, adding his information, "Also, the scout I sent out had reported back that the Razaasia soldiers were already in Payapasa Kingdom and were heading towards the Golden Triangle."
Dae asked, looking confused, "Why the Golden Triangle?"
Hmoo said, pointing on a map laid out on the table, "The Golden Triangle side of Payapasa Kingdom is overlooking Nue-Li City and Namsu Village. Their target could only be us or the Hmagol Northeast Military Camp."
Chong said, rubbing his temples, "Attacking the enemy Northeast Military Camp at this time is suicide, so they are most likely not going to do that. It seems like in this battle, whoever wins will be attacked by the Razaasia soldiers."
Dae said, standing up, his face etched with concern, "Should I begin the evacuation process by moving Nue-Li citizens to Zoaging City?"
Chong said, nodding slowly, "Let's begin moving the citizens. The aftermath of the two previous battles here is not a pretty sight."
Nta asked, his voice quiet, "What about those who refused to move?"
Dae said, his shoulders slumping slightly, "There is not much we could do if they refused to move." He turned to Chong. "General," He inclined his head. "Thank you for letting me join this meeting. I will start the evacuation process right away so that those people who wanted to leave the city will have a chance to leave before the enemy attacks us."
With the sun on his left, the cool summer breeze rushing past him, and the familiar taste in the air reaching his throat, he could see the dust rising with the rhythm of the clopping sounds of the horses moving down the dirt road.
Staring ahead was Whitefang Peak. The grayish-white rocky mountain was the sign that he would be approaching the place he hated most.
Every step the horse took, his heart felt an ounce heavier with guilt. Looking at Whitefang Peak, he knew they would approach Namsu Village, and once they reached Namsu Village, he would have no time to feel guilty. He would have to focus all of his attention on trying to survive and making sure that his friends and fellow brothers would survive too.
"Chinua," Hye said, as his horse was steadily riding beside Chinua's horse. His tone was serious. "Let's have some discussion before we reach Namsu Village."
Chinua turned to Hye and asked, her expression thoughtful, "So, you have a plan in mind already?"
Hye said, shaking his head, "Not yet, but I've thought of something."
Chinua looked around and found that they were in a good place to camp for the night. It seemed that they were ahead of schedule, so a day of rest before entering Namsu Village would be good for the soldiers who had journeyed for ten days.
Chinua said, her voice decisive, "Khenbish, send a message to the unit leaders that we are resting for the night here. Khunbish, gather Haitao and Bilguun here."
She dismounted and handed the reins to one of the soldiers who quietly led her horse away for feeding.
She and her men gathered in a small circle. Haitao, Bilguun, and the others joined them.
Hye laid down the map of Namsu Village, Nue-Li City, and Zoaging City on the ground, making sure that everyone sitting in the small circle could see it.
Hye pointed at the map and said, his voice clear and instructional, "Namsu Village is about three hundred yards from the border of Hmagol and Gimsong Kingdom. These three hundred yards to the border are an open area with no trees or boulders to hide, so, basically, you are exposed when you put yourselves there."
He pointed his finger right in front of the three-hundred-yard stretch to Nue-Li City.
"From the beginning here until the front gate of Nue-Li City, there are automatic arrow machines every ten yards. These automatic arrow machines are controlled from within the city wall."
Bilguun asked, his voice sharp with concern, "And how are we going to defeat them?"
Hye chuckled and said, a glint in his eye, "There are three ways to defeat the automatic arrow machines. First, hold our position until the machines run out of arrows. Second, destroy them, and last, turn them off from the inside."
Haitao said, shaking his head grimly, "The third option is out. We will not be able to turn those machines off. Even if we get inside, there is no way we will know how to turn them off. The first option was already tested by General Batzorig." He sighed. "They were ambushed, and three thousand soldiers were killed. They didn't even make it to the front gate. By that time, the reinforcements had already arrived."
Chinua said, her voice firm and resolute, "Then we will destroy them and make sure that reinforcements will not arrive on time this time."
Hye pointed East of Nue-Li City and said, "Nue-Li City normally gets their reinforcements from Zoaging City."
Chinua said, her gaze meeting Hye's, "Therefore, if Zoaging City is also invaded, while we attack Nue-Li City, no one will be coming to their rescue."
Bilguun said, looking confused, "But to reach Zoaging City, Nue-Li City must fall first."
Hye said, with a knowing smile, "Not always."
Bilguun looked at Hye and asked confusedly, "What do you mean?"
Instead of replying to Bilguun's question, Hye's eyes met Chinua's. Without a word, their minds linked; they understood each other completely.
Chinua looked at her and Haitao's subordinates and said, her voice clear and impactful, "Now is the time to use the training we did in Whitefang Peak. This mission is dangerous, but it's crucial to our victory. I will only ask for volunteers."
Naksh looked to his left and to his right, and the eyes that met his told him that whatever Chinua ordered, they were ready. He looked at Chinua and said, his voice steady and loyal, "Just say the words, and we will make sure it is done."
Chinua looked at her and Haitao's subordinates and said, her voice dropping slightly, weighted with the gravity of her words, "You will enter death ground."