Ning Chen looked up from the sand table at Feng Qizheng and the others. "This prince means to send out troops and hit the Gaoli Kingdom's army on the way.

I had a dream just now. I dreamed the Gaoli Kingdom's army found out what happened inside the pass, turned tail and ran."

He pointed at the sand table. "Originally, I planned to fight the battle outside the pass... but now I mean to take the fight to them."

Yuan Long hesitated. "My lord prince, the Gaoli Kingdom's army will be outside the pass in three or four days... We've got plenty of grain and fodder now, but moving troops and appointing officers takes two days at the very least. There isn't enough time."

Ning Chen waved a hand. "Suppose I had you raise forty thousand cavalry and ten thousand archers, every man carrying seven days' rations on him... How long would that take?"

Yuan Long thought for a moment. "One night is enough!"

"Good. Get to it right away. Tomorrow at first light, we march!

Feng Qizheng will come along with the modao army."

Yuan Long bowed. "This officer obeys." Then he hurried off.

Ning Chen said in a low voice, "Prince Wu, hear my orders!"

"Here!"

"I'm giving you two days. Pick fifty thousand of your best troops and finest officers and march hard in the direction of Gaotian City."

Prince Wu nodded. "Yes!"

Ning Chen went on. "Lei An, hear my orders."

"This officer is here!"

"You're in charge of the baggage train. Bring the muskets and cannon and catch up as fast as you can."

On an ordinary march, the grain and fodder moved out before the troops, or at least with them.

Not this time. The Gaoli Kingdom's army had sent them all the grain and fodder they needed.

Lei An took the order. "This officer obeys!"

Ning Chen's gaze settled on Qin Qiao. "General Qin, you'll command the remaining sixty thousand men and hold the frontier pass.

Whatever you do, be careful... We're holding forty thousand Nanyue prisoners. With us gone, this prince is…