togophonebook Chapter 41 Survey
Chapter 41 Survey
Operation Falcon has begun.
The first priority was to thoroughly understand the terrain of Eagle Beak Cliff and transform that rough map into a detailed battlefield model in Lin Mo's mind.
The next day, in the darkest hour before dawn, two figures, like ghosts, silently left the already on high alert Mo Garden. They were Lin Mo and Han Li. Both were dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes suitable for movement in the mountains and forests, carrying weapons on their backs, their auras concealed to the extreme, blending into the deep night.
The thirty-mile official road might take an ordinary person half a day to traverse, but for them, it was just over an hour's walk. As dawn broke, the two had already left Qinghe Town and arrived at the outer edge of Eagle's Beak Cliff.
Instead of rushing towards the official road, Lin Mo chose a more secluded and rugged mountain path, climbing up the ridge on the side of Eagle's Beak Cliff from the side and rear. Morning mist permeated the mountains and forests, carrying the moist scent of grass, trees, and earth, and also concealed their tracks.
Standing at a high vantage point with a wide view, Lin Mo gazed intently down.
The official road, like a gray-white ribbon, cuts through a natural pass formed by two steep cliffs. The terrain here is indeed treacherous; the cliffs are almost vertical, with jagged rocks, and only a narrow passage, several meters wide, in the middle is wide enough for carriages and horses to pass. On both sides of the road, near the cliffs, grow shrubs and scattered trees that are not dense but enough to provide shelter.
"Han Li, remember this." Lin Mo's deep and clear voice broke the silence of the mountain forest in the early morning.
"Yes, Master." Han Li immediately responded, his sharp gaze sweeping across the area below, his mind focused.
Lin Mo pointed and said, "Look at the entrance to that pass, on the left side of the cliff, behind that huge rock that looks like a reclining ox. The view from there is excellent, overlooking most of the area from the entrance to the middle of the official road, and the rock itself is excellent cover. Here, we can deploy the first group of crossbowmen, five men, equipped with the strongest crossbows, responsible for the first round of long-range sniping, targeting the scouts and the leader of the caravan, aiming to disrupt their formation with one blow."
Han Li nodded silently, already picturing the crossbowmen lying in ambush in his mind.
Lin Mo's gaze shifted, pointing to an area in the middle of the official road, near the right cliff face. "There, the ground appears no different from the surroundings, but upon closer inspection, the soil is slightly darker and the vegetation is sparser. Below should be soft soil and rocks, easy to dig. A pit can be set up here, not too deep, but the bottom must be filled with barbed wire and covered with camouflage. The purpose of this pit is to hinder the middle section of the caravan, especially the core area where the caravan is located, preventing them from advancing or retreating, and causing injuries to both men and horses."
He paused, then continued, "About ten feet ahead of the pit, on the left side of that dense thicket of bushes, we can set up tripwires. The ropes should be coated with plant sap to conceal them, and set up in several crisscrossing patterns, about a foot off the ground and up to knee height. This will work in conjunction with the pit to further create chaos."
Then, Lin Mo looked up at the cliff tops on both sides. "These weathered boulders on the cliff tops, their foundations already loosened, are a gift from heaven. Select a few key locations and have people prepare in advance with crowbars and ropes. When the caravan enters the ambush zone, especially when they are confused due to pitfalls or tripping ropes, listen to my command and push down the boulders. The boulders rolling down will be terrifying, effectively dividing the caravan, damaging morale, and causing real casualties."
His finger then pointed to several barely noticeable depressions or protrusions on the cliff face: "These places can conceal agile, close-combat experts. When the crossbows attack, the traps are activated, and the rolling stones cause chaos in the caravan's formation, these ambushers can use the cliff face to quickly slide down or leap down, directly attacking the heart of the caravan, launching a close-quarters assault, severely killing any stubborn resistance, and quickly taking control of the caravan."
Finally, Lin Mo's gaze fell upon the forest behind Eagle's Beak Cliff. "After the success, retreat is crucial. We cannot return the way we came, nor can we retreat along the official road. From here," he pointed to a narrow mountain crevice half-hidden by vines behind the pass, "go through it, and beyond lies a much denser primeval forest. Although difficult to traverse, it will be enough to shake off any potential pursuers. Set up several temporary assembly points and supply depots in the forest beforehand, so that the troops can rest and disperse during their retreat."
"All ambush points, attack order, and escape routes must form a complete network," Lin Mo summarized, his eyes icy. "I want to make Eagle's Beak Cliff a death trap for this caravan of the four great families."
"Understood!" Han Li replied solemnly, firmly imprinting every word and instruction from Lin Mo into his mind. He knew that the manor lord's reconnaissance and deployment had taken into account almost all the key details of the ambush, and the use of terrain advantage was almost perfect.
"Just looking isn't enough; you have to experience it yourself," Lin Mo said, and with a swift movement, he slid down the steep cliff face as nimbly as a monkey. Han Li followed closely behind.
The two stealthily infiltrated the official road. At the designated pitfall area, Lin Mo even personally dug a few holes with his dagger to confirm the soil was loose and easy to work with. At the tripwire's pre-set point, he carefully examined the growth and toughness of the bushes. For every possible crossbowman ambush point and melee attack point, he personally stood on it to simulate the angles and movements for attack and retreat.
He even estimated the approximate time required from launching the attack to completely controlling the situation, and then to evacuating the entire pass with the goods, as well as the speed and route at which the four great families might send reinforcements.
Throughout the process, Lin Mo remained silent and efficient. Every judgment he made was based on the experience he had accumulated from countless life-and-death battles in his previous life as an assassin, as well as his profound understanding of martial arts, the human body, and the battlefield environment in this life. Han Li followed behind, feeling that he had benefited immensely, and his awe for this young yet unfathomable manor lord deepened.
As the sun rose higher, the mist in the mountains and forests gradually dissipated. The terrain of Eagle Beak Cliff, every undulation and turn of the official road, every rock and shrub that could be used, were all etched into Lin Mo's mind like a brand.
"That's enough." Lin Mo took one last look at the silent official road, as if he could already see the bloody battle and chaos that would soon erupt here. "When you get back, based on what you saw today, draw a more detailed map of Eagle Beak Cliff, marking all ambush points, traps, attack order, and escape routes. Don't let your guard down on the personnel selection for Shi Yong's side and your continued monitoring of Han Li."
"Yes!" Han Li replied in a deep voice.
The two did not linger, but quietly retreated along the path they had come from, as if they had never appeared at all.