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When a problem can't be solved for the moment, set it aside.
This was a method Fei Qian often used in later times. It might seem like avoidance, but sometimes it was effective.
Like when you can't find something at home—the harder you search, the less you find it. But if you sit down, take a break, have a drink, eat a meal, or visit the restroom, then casually look again, the item often turns up.
So, unable to figure out why the Wei family of Hedong was targeting him, Fei Qian put it aside for now. More pressing matters awaited.
Sending Du Yuan ahead to establish the Beiqu camp was slightly risky but not overly so. Beiqu was close to the Three Adjuncts, so even if Qiang or Hu came, they wouldn't linger long—just raid and leave. If actions were swift, there'd be no issue.
Du Yuan had done well—exceptionally well, especially in choosing the camp's location, which was nothing short of brilliant.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't quite Beiqu yet. Fei Qian didn't know if Beiqu County's site would be better, but this camp's location truly maximized geographical advantages.
The Xinshui River flowed through here, curving around a mountain spur in an "S" shape. The camp was built in the upper half of the "S," where the terrain was gentler, surrounded by water on three sides, leaving only one accessible direction.
From a military perspective, Beiqu camp was a true "heroic camp"—a fortress with few vulnerabilities, easy to defend and hard to attack, as opposed to a "yielding camp."
The river's rapid flow, forced to curve around the mountain, made attacking from that side extremely difficult. The only viable approach was the gentler side, limiting an enemy's ability to deploy forces and allowing defenders to focus solely on that front.
The camp's walls were made from local materials—trees about four meters tall, stripped of branches and bark, driven deep into the soil, reinforced with packed earth at the base, and coated with river mud for fireproofing. The walls had parapets, topped with outward-angled sharpened stakes.
Du Yuan was also digging trenches and building a drawbridge, planning to divert Xinshui River water for added defense. Once completed, this would likely deter most commanders from attempting a direct assault.
A camp's quality could protect soldiers from harassment on a small scale or even determine the outcome of an entire campaign on a larger scale…
Du Yuan, leading a group, approached and respectfully clasped his hands, standing to the left of the path.
Fei Qian dismounted and walked to Du Yuan. "Wenzheng, you've worked hard."
"For my lord's cause to reclaim Shangjun, how could I speak of hardship?" Du Yuan clasped his hands again, then noticed Ma Yan beside Fei Qian. Stunned, his eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hesitation. "…Could it be… Uncle Ma?"
Ma Yan laughed heartily. "I'd heard your name under my lord's command but wasn't sure. Now I see it's really you! How's my old friend from the Du family?"
Du Yuan's expression dimmed. He bowed to Ma Yan before saying softly, "My late father passed years ago…"
Ma Yan was taken aback, then sighed deeply, falling silent.
Seeing this, Fei Qian quickly changed the subject. "Wenzheng, how did you choose this site? It's truly remarkable."
Du Yuan's face darkened again as he clasped his hands. "When my father was alive, he surveyed this area many times, planning to build a fort here. Sadly, Shangjun's unrest prevented it…"
Fei Qian felt awkward, unable to steer clear of the topic. "Wenzheng, don't grieve. This fulfills your father's wish—you should be proud."
Du Yuan nodded, thanking Fei Qian for his kindness.
As they walked toward the camp, Ma Yan suddenly stopped, looking around with a frown.
Seeing this, Du Yuan paused and asked, "Uncle, is there a flaw in the camp's setup?"
Ma Yan grunted. "The camp itself is fine, but… Nephew, have you sent out scouts?"
Du Yuan's face changed. When he first arrived, he had dispatched scouts, but with the camp nearing completion, he'd focused his efforts here, using all hands to speed up work and neglecting to send scouts recently…
Seeing Du Yuan's expression, Ma Yan understood, stomped his foot, and turned to arrange for scouts.
Du Yuan, embarrassed, moved to kneel and apologize, but Fei Qian stopped him. "Let's discuss this in the main tent."
No matter what, Du Yuan had worked hard with limited manpower. Punishing him before acknowledging his efforts was unreasonable.
In the main tent, the awkward incident dampened the mood for casual talk. Fei Qian ordered soldiers to boil water, both to quench thirst and ease the tension.
Du Yuan's father had been a Shangjun official, not a military expert. Du Yuan, young and with some knowledge of military texts, couldn't match the seasoned experience of someone like Ma Yan in such details.
When the water was ready, soldiers served it in bowls, and everyone drank quietly.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, sinking everyone's hearts.
"Report! Hu scouts spotted twenty-five li north of the camp!"
"Keep scouting and report back!" Ma Yan, as Shangjun's duwei and a key military leader, responded first, issuing the order.
The scout saluted and left.
"What?!" Du Yuan paled, cold sweat breaking out. Hu scouts—mostly cavalry—at twenty-five li meant they were within striking range!
"Chengyuan, Shuye, muster the troops, reinforce the camp, and prepare for battle," Fei Qian ordered, quickly recovering from the shock.
Ma Yan and Huang Cheng saluted and left.
Du Yuan knelt, trembling. "I was negligent, my lord. Please punish me!"
"You've earned merit building this camp, but you were lax in scouting. Let this balance out. Just don't be so careless again, Wenzheng." Fei Qian helped him up.
Du Yuan nodded repeatedly, his back soaked with sweat.
It wasn't entirely his fault. With limited troops and the complex task of building the camp, Du Yuan, lacking extensive military experience, had done well to achieve this much.
Even Fei Qian hadn't expected the Hu to come so quickly. He felt fortunate to have arrived early. With only Du Yuan's few hundred men, even this well-placed camp would likely have faced crushing defeat against overwhelming force…