Wei spread the provincial map across the White Orchard table and held the corners down with stones. The Registry had not moved its main army yet, but its command seals were waking in towns north of the river.
“The main force will try to pin us here,” he said, placing a red marker beside White Orchard. “Smaller detachments will take the roads that feed the mill, then cut the wells.”
Huo, a former border officer, studied the route symbols. “The north road is where I’d send a diversion. It is wide enough for a banner and easy to see from the toll marker.”
Yan set a marker on the main road. “If I strike the army before it reaches the orchard, we can stop it from splitting.”
Wei moved a second marker toward the lower ridge depot. “Then a small unit takes the grain while you’re away. They don’t need to beat you. They only need to keep the carts from moving.”
Ning confirmed the grain had been moved to secondary stores. “The mill has several days’ supply, but we still need escorts between the depots. The drivers are willing to take the first run. They won’t take it if the road is unguarded.”
