Chapter 1325 - 324: Royal Banner!

Chapter 1325: Chapter 324: Royal Banner!

No matter how much planning, how much grain and fodder, how many laborers, how much military equipment, how much on paper or off paper, the thoughts of those generals and the suspicion among them along the way...

No matter how much and how much more,

In the end,

It still comes down to real sword and spear clashing with bloodshed.

There’s no escape,

Nor avoidance.

Throughout history, although there are examples of bloodless victories or an entire nation surrendering without a single real man, blood was indeed shed, just earlier.

The rain stopped,

The sky cleared,

At midday,

In the Snow Sea Pass military camp, more than twelve thousand cavalry riders emerged from the camp, among them, three thousand Desert Barbarians cavalry as the vanguard, with the Wild King who once disturbed the peace in the land of the Three Jin among them;

In addition, forces of three battalions each from Jin Shuke and Keyan Dongge served as rear guard, not because Lord Zheng meant to expend the barbarian soldiers, but because in terms of loyalty and combat power, barbarian soldiers are the most trustworthy.

This battle,

As the opening strike against Chu,

Allows only for victory, not defeat!

The cavalry squad raced like thunder, bypassing East Mountain Fort, then headed southward, thrusting straight before Town South Pass, at the core of the combined Chu military camp and fort!

East Mountain Fort first raised the wolf smoke,

This was not the Yan people’s scouts,

This was the Yan Army’s main force!

Soon after,

Beacon fires burned in all forts and camps,

Signifying the official commencement of the national war between the two eastern powers Yan and Chu!

...

Town South Pass, General’s Mansion.

General Nian, clad in military attire, stepped out of the hall and asked the messenger kneeling on the ground before him:

"How many troops did the Yan people bring."

Wolf smoke not only serves as a warning but its color and thickness can also convey the scale and intensity of the enemy attack.

"Reporting to the General, front lines report, ten thousand Yan cavalry entered."

"Ten thousand cavalry?"

General Nian frowned, pushed aside the aide attending to his armor’s silver tassels by his side, "Only ten thousand cavalry?"

"Report!!!!"

A second wave of messengers arrived:

"Yan cavalry heading towards our Town South Pass!"

"Nonsense, they’re heading for Yangshan Village."

Nian Yao picked up his saber and ordered:

"Beat the drums, summon the generals, meet at the city tower."

The city tower, of course, is the north city wall tower of Town South Pass.

From there, one can clearly see the wolf smoke and detect changes in military situations early.

This is a chessboard,

He sits in the south,

Facing north is Tian Wujing,

With such an opponent across him,

Nian Yao dared not show any slackness or carelessness.

...

Snow Sea Pass cavalry each mounted on two horses, therefore did not stop, directly rushing towards Yangshan Village;

The moment the wolf smoke rose, it already signified the commencement of this battle, even though Prince Jingnan led various armies to counter, Lord Zheng dared not assume the Chu’s grand general opposite was merely ornamental.

Finally, before dusk, Yangshan Village appeared in the army’s sight.

Liang Cheng immediately ordered, sent out the scouts, a thousand cavalry on each side, with the remaining troops, half to rest and eat, half to pick up shovels and start digging.

The sandbags had been prepared early, directly requisitioned from the logistics camp’s laborers.

Lord Zheng rode Pixiu into battle this time;

The golden armor,

He didn’t feel right wearing it,

But Pixiu, under the watchful eyes of all the forces, it wouldn’t be right to leave it in the camp.

And during the siege, courage and morale were most needed, Lord Zheng, as a mascot, was naturally more conspicuous in rallying the morale of these troops.

In front of Yangshan Village, the terrain was originally low-lying, even though the weather cleared today, it still formed marshy mud there.

Firstly, because they received an early wolf smoke warning, secondly, because they saw it with their own eyes, thus the vine-armored soldiers in Yangshan Village immediately began operations, earnestly preparing for defense.

...

Chi Mingyi stood on the high platform, continuously issuing orders, while below, rows of vine-armored soldiers methodically prepared defenses.

From his position looking north, a black shadow could be seen, but the issue was, this shadow was far thinner than he imagined.

"Report, Yan Army appeared outside the west camp!"

"Report, Yan Army appeared outside the east camp!"

Chi Mingyi immediately said: "Instruct both eastern and western camps to be on careful alert, that’s just a Yan feigned attack, no big deal."

"Understood!"

"Acknowledged!"

Chi Mingyi was right, those cavalry were indeed just feigning attack, rushing up for a quick ride, shooting a few arrows, calling out.

Meanwhile, on the main battlefront,

The soldiers who had eaten began switching with those digging earlier, continuing to fill sandbags.

The sandbags were gradually piling up.

On Lord Zheng’s side, someone set up a small tent for him, and he lay inside, resting with closed eyes.

The remaining forces, under Liang Cheng’s command, completed the fortification task before nightfall.

The Yan’s way of warfare inherently carries a sense of grandeur, and with their Lord’s presence, all ranks had an air of disdain.

Everyone,

Those who should dig earth did so, those who should boil water did, those who should rest did, despite being in a battle, it felt leisurely like a spring outing.

As long as troops and horses remain calm in battle, it counts as a capable fighting force;

If they can remain composed, then they are truly elite.

War horses were all around, many simply lay on the horseback when resting.

Later at night, every two hours, over two thousand cavalry would set out and return, circling Yangshan Village’s outskirts, shooting arrows, lighting torches, shouting, even singing Desert Barbarians’ ballads.