The coalition captains gathered around the map recovered from Ren’s coat. The fortress at Dusk Ridge stood above the western valley, its guns aimed across the civilian roads. The route marked for the evacuation convoy crossed farther west toward Narrow Bridge.
“We have an hour before the artillery crew changes its aim,” Wei said. “The convoy’s exact location is still unknown.”
Qinghe set her patient list beside the map. “Is there a clinic team on the western route?”
“Han Yue’s unit is near Narrow Bridge,” Wei said. “Her people have a field clinic there.”
Ning’s message arrived by runner. White Orchard’s depots could receive evacuees if they came in groups. The message included a fresh count of available carts and the number of patients the clinic could shelter.
Bai checked the supply board. “We can provision one major response before night. I can send food west with the evacuation cart or load it with the assault team. We can’t move all the stores before dark.”
He sorted the supplies into three piles: food for the westbound cart, tools for the assault team, and medicine for the infirmary. A captain asked him to move two sacks of grain to the assault line.
