Ning Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Old Pan, go get the map."

"Yes!"

After a short wait, Pan Yucheng brought the map.

Ning Chen studied it and put his finger on a spot. "So the Xiliang army is about here now?"

Prince Wu suddenly pointed to another spot. "I think we could ambush the Xiliang army here."

Ning Chen looked where he was pointing. "Tiger Roar Gorge?"

Prince Wu nodded. "That's right. The lay of the land at Tiger Roar Gorge is a lot like Wangfeng Pass, the way we came... If we can take the high ground on both sides and ambush them with rolling rocks and logs, the Xiliang army is sure to take heavy losses.

It'll take them three days to reach Tiger Roar Gorge. If we force-march, we can get there in a day and a half. That leaves plenty of time to prepare."

Ning Chen brightened.

Prince Wu had once guarded the western frontier, and no one knew its terrain better.

Ning Chen asked, "Are the mountains on either side easy to climb?"

Prince Wu nodded. "Very easy. The mountains on either side of Tiger Roar Gorge are oddly shaped. The east side is a slope, the west side sheer cliffs... We can get up easily, but it'll be hard for them to come up after us."

Ning Chen laughed. "Excellent! The Xiliang army is heading straight for Bianzhou, which means they don't know yet that Leng Wenyan has lost.

We'll do as Prince Wu suggests.

Yuan Long, Lei An, Feng Qizheng, hear my order!"

The three said together, "These officers are here!"

Ning Chen said, "The three of you, assemble the Ning'an Army and the modao army at once, gather supplies, and stand ready!"

"These officers take the order!"

Ning Chen went on, "Prince Wu, we'll split the hundred thousand men we brought into two. Fifty thousand will come with us to Tiger Roar Gorge; the other fifty thousand will hold Bianzhou under Yue Congyun.

Pan Yucheng will stay too and help her."

"As you command!"

Ning Chen waved a hand. "Go see to…