The northern wind carried a chill as Jeng Minh stood atop the palace battlements, the sprawling city below quiet under the waning moon. The Phoenix had revealed glimpses of its strategy: rapid troop movements, carefully orchestrated supply line disruptions, and subtle psychological pressure on local governors. Every action was precise, yet not fully transparent.
Bai Ye joined him, carrying the latest reports from scouts stationed along the northern passes. "They've been testing our responses for weeks. Villages abandoned, caravans diverted, patrols lured into ambushes… but they've made no outright attacks yet."
Jeng Minh nodded, tracing invisible lines on the air as if drawing the battlefield itself. "Exactly as expected. The Phoenix does not strike blindly. It seeks to probe, learn, and control perception before committing to direct engagement. This is a strategist's war, not one of brute force."
He turned to Bai Ye, eyes sharp. "Our first countermove must be subtle. We cannot confront the Phoenix head-on—it would reveal too much and play into their hands. Instead, we guide, manipulate, and shape their perception of the empire's strengths and weaknesses."
Jeng Minh outlined the plan:
A few northern villages would be left seemingly vulnerable, creating the illusion of opportunity while secretly reinforcing hidden defenses.
Messages would be deliberately "leaked," suggesting internal dissent among provincial governors, tempting the Phoenix to act prematurely.
Scouts and hidden observers were positioned along critical passes, ready to report every subtle movement, giving Jeng Minh an almost omniscient view of the battlefield.
Small detachments would engage only when advantageous, creating the perception of empire weakness while luring the Phoenix into predictable maneuvers.
Bai Ye's eyes widened. "It's… intricate. We're essentially letting them walk into a trap of their own making."
Jeng Minh smiled faintly, a predator assessing prey. "The Phoenix believes it is testing us, learning our patterns. In reality, we are shaping the battlefield before it even fully exists. Strategy is not just reaction—it is preemption. Influence before the battle, control before the first arrow flies."
Days passed, and the northern provinces became a stage. Scouts reported that the Phoenix's forces were probing, testing supply lines, and observing the "weak" villages. Every movement was subtly guided by Jeng Minh's planning.
One night, a scout returned with a startling observation. "Commander… the Phoenix has taken the bait. They're moving to seize the eastern northern pass, believing it unguarded. Entire units, moving with precision, as if anticipating victory."
Jeng Minh's eyes gleamed, the chain thrumming against his chest. "Exactly as we intended. They believe they control the tempo, but in truth… they are stepping into a position we've prepared, mapped, and controlled. The first real test begins at dawn."
He turned to Bai Ye. "Inform the generals: we do not strike to destroy. We strike to observe, to test, and to shape. Every move the Phoenix makes from this point forward will reveal their strength, their weakness, and ultimately… their true intentions."
The night deepened, lanterns flickering over the city like distant stars. In the north, under the shadow of jagged mountains, the Phoenix commander surveyed the approaching opportunity, unaware that every step was guided by a mind far more patient, calculating, and unseen.
The first countermove had begun.