My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Even you and I can't get the slightest bit of respect."

"It's as if they don't even consider us human!"

"They are Immortal Masters, destined to seek immortality in the future, naturally a cut above us, that's quite normal."

While eating his meal, Tong Xiaochu's gaze fixed on the map in front of him, "Moreover, without the two Immortal Masters holding fort, we wouldn't have been able to make it here so smoothly."

"Be that as it may..."

Teng Le wanted to complain further, but Tong Xiaochu didn't listen and quickly interjected, "How's the situation with West Qi?"

"The same as before."

Teng Le responded, "No matter how we provoke or challenge them, they refuse to show themselves. It seems we won't be able to overcome them anytime soon."

"No matter, this was part of our plan all along."

Tong Xiaochu put down his eating utensils, "In two or three months, the Enemy Army will naturally retreat five hundred miles due to supply issues. That's when we'll seize the opportunity to press our attack and take them down in one fell swoop. Start preparing now, you first withdraw twenty thousand troops from this location..."

"Report—"

Just as he was about to strategize, a soldier rushed into the tent in a fluster.

"What's the matter?"

Tong Xiaochu, somewhat displeased, "How many times have I said that we, as military men, must remain calm in the face of changes? How will you lead troops like this? Speak, what is it, is there a troop movement from the military department?"

"No."

The soldier held up an unopened letter, "A secret missive from the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion."

"Governor Mansion?"

Tong Xiaochu paused, frowning slightly, "What does Chen Sansi want with writing letters, this battle has nothing to do with him."

"It's a gold-sealed secret letter, only the Commander is qualified to read it."

The soldier stated, "A letter of this level definitely concerns the overall situation of this battle."

"I am the Commander of this battle! What need is there for him to give instructions?!"

Holding the unopened letter and staring at the gold seal, Tong Xiaochu found it unbearably irksome, "This Chen Sansi is really taking himself too seriously, isn't he?!"

"General Tong."

Teng Le advised, "Why not take a look? General Chen is after all a master of military strategy. This battle is critically important. It's always good to consider some suggestions."

"Are you suggesting that I don't understand warfare?"

Tong Xiaochu huffed coldly, "Go look at the Qilin Pavilion next to the Ziwei Mountain Temple! My Tong Family ancestors are ranked fourth among the Twelve Marshals, renowned for their tactics three hundred years ago!

"I admit, that Chen is formidable.

"But my sword is sharp too!"

He spoke as he placed the still-unopened letter over the flame of a candle, letting it catch fire from the bottom before casually tossing it on the ground.

"Teng Le, you take five hundred Light Cavalry with me to Yiling, to scout the terrain ahead!"

"This... alright, I'll go now."

Teng Le left, having no other choice.

And just when he led his men into the darkness and no one else was inside the tent,

Tong Xiaochu hurriedly stamped out the flames on the letter, quickly bent over to pick up the envelope, carefully opened it, and after confirming most of the content was undamaged, he let out a long sigh of relief.

How could he possibly not read Chen Sansi's suggestions.

His earlier display was merely for show.

He was the Commander of this battle, his prestige was paramount.

If he opened the letter in front of everyone and found its contents different from his plans, necessitating quick changes, wouldn't that be openly telling everyone,

Chen Sansi saved me!

Then his hard-won authority and control over the military would vanish.

But on the contrary!

If he viewed it in private,

Any good advice could be claimed as his own idea after he adopted it.

That way, in the eyes of others,

He would be no less than the White Robe!

It's about creating momentum for oneself!

Warfare, is all about momentum!

Not only is it useful in battle but also in other aspects where one must use momentum to their advantage!

Ever since the Four Crossings of Hongze, Tong Xiaochu had been closely monitoring every military move of the White Robe, and he was immersed day and night in the study of "Tactics", integrating it with what he had learned all his life.

The Tong Family had been dormant for too many years.

Now that an opportunity to distinguish themselves had come, they would certainly grasp it tightly.

But he wondered what the White Robe was writing about at this time.

Tong Xiaochu was curious.

He believed there was nothing wrong with his deployment of the supervisory troops, a steady and secure strategy, merely needing to bide time for the ultimate victory.

But Chen Sansi's letter at this time meant he must see an issue with his arrangement.

Looking at it couldn't hurt.

With that thought,

Tong Xiaochu began to scrutinize every word of the letter.

Suddenly, he felt a heaviness in his heart: "This is bad!"

...

In the West Qi Army campsite,

Inside the Central Army Tent,

A man dressed in a white robe, exuding both elegance and an ethereal aura, sat in front of a chessboard. He slowly placed a chess piece down, his voice serene and lingering, "Life is like a game of chess, and so is warfare. Commanding a battle is like playing a chess game.

"The generals of both sides are the chess players, and the troops under their command are the chess pieces.

"I used to get so excited to face a strong player that I couldn't sleep.

"Regrettably, ever since Mr. Han unified the seven countries thirty years ago and stepped onto the Immortal Path, my days were confined to meditation and cultivation, deprived of chess-playing opportunities.

"Mr. Han had thought that there would never again be a game of chess in this life, but to his surprise, here on the Eastern Continent, an excellent game of chess emerges."

"Clack~"

As the black piece held between his slender fingers landed, his counterpart, Martial Saint Zhong Wuxin, showed a wry smile, "Ha~ I've lost again. I'm truly no match for the Immortal Master."

"Of course, you're not my opponent."