Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1117: Mouth Run

Chen San quickly responded, "Don't worry, General. A batch of supplies arrived from the rear yesterday. Rolling stones and battering rams are piled almost to the top of the city walls, and each crossbowman has at least fifty arrows. But..." He changed the subject, a look of difficulty on his face. "But the brothers have been holding the line for three days and three nights straight. Many are too cold to hold their bows, and some have developed high fevers. The military doctor's herbal medicine is almost out." Zhou Wu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with fatigue. He knew that the situation at Yanmen Pass was more difficult than he had imagined. The Northern Di cavalry was advancing with great force, and the defenders in the city were already at the end of their strength. But he could not retreat. Yanmen Pass was the gateway to the northern border. If it fell, the Northern Di cavalry would be able to advance straight in, and then the people of the northern border would suffer. Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs, accompanied by heavy breathing. A scout stumbled up the tower, his armor stained with dark red blood, some of which had already frozen. His face was also lacerated with several deep cuts, blood mixed with snow and water dripping down. As soon as he stepped onto the tower, he fell to his knees with a plop, leaving a deep pit in the snow. "Report—General!" the scout's voice was tinged with tears and a violent cough. "The barbarian cavalry… the barbarian cavalry have passed Black Wind Pass. The vanguard is less than a hundred miles from Yanmen Pass. They will be at the city gates within three days!" "What?" Zhou Wu's eyes shot open and he grabbed the scout's arm with such force that he grimaced in pain. "Say it again! Black Wind Pass is a strategically important place. I clearly stationed three thousand soldiers to garrison it. How could it be breached so quickly?" The scout endured the pain and spoke haltingly, "The Northern Di… the Northern Di sent at least a hundred thousand cavalry, along with a considerable amount of siege equipment. The brothers stationed at Black Wind Pass… they fought tooth and nail, but we were greatly outnumbered. In the end… in the end, only I, a general, escaped." Zhou Wu's hand dropped limply. The scout's words were like a hammer, hammering down on his heart. Three thousand soldiers—his most elite force—had been completely annihilated, leaving only this single scout. He sucked in a breath of cold air, and the cold wind rushed into his throat, choking him and making him cough violently. "Quick!" Zhou Wu turned around abruptly and looked at Chen San behind him, his voice trembling with excitement, "Send an urgent message to the capital immediately, eight hundred miles away! Tell him that one hundred thousand cavalrymen from the Northern Di are invading, that Heifengkou has been lost, and that Yanmenguan is in danger. Please, Your Majesty, send reinforcements as soon as possible!" Chen San did not dare to delay, and immediately took out a blank piece of letter paper and a wolf-hair brush from his pocket and handed them to Zhou Wu. Zhou Wu took the brush, his fingers a little stiff from the cold, and he rubbed his hands vigorously before writing the urgent message on the letter paper. His handwriting was originally strong and powerful, but now it was crooked, and every stroke seemed to have exhausted all his strength. After finishing, he carefully reviewed it, making sure nothing was missing. Then, he affixed his seal and handed it to Chen San: "Hurry! There can be no delays along the way!" Chen San took the urgent message and carefully tucked it into his pocket. Then, with a thud, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Zhou Wu: "General, rest assured. Even if it costs me my life, I will deliver this urgent message to the capital!" With that, he stood up, turned, and ran towards the stairs. The clinking of armor echoed through the empty city walls, gradually fading into the cold wind. Zhou Wu watched Chen San's retreating figure, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. He didn't know if this urgent message would reach the capital in time, nor did he know if His Majesty would send reinforcements. He only knew that for the next three days, he and the soldiers at Yanmen Pass would have to use their flesh and blood to hold off the attack of a hundred thousand Northern Di cavalrymen. He walked to the edge of the city wall and once again gazed at the distant smoke. The wind picked up, and snowflakes pelted his face, stinging. From the bottom of the city wall, the sound of soldiers training could be heard. Although exhausted, they were still in good order. Zhou Wu took a deep breath and drew the sword from his waist. The sword blade gleamed with a cold light in the cold wind. "Pass my order!" Zhou Wu's voice spread throughout the entire city wall. "All soldiers, immediately strengthen vigilance. Place a crossbowman every three feet on the city wall, and roll stones and battering rams at any time! No one is allowed to leave their post without permission. Violators will be punished by military law!" "Yes!" The soldiers on the city wall responded in unison. Although their voices were a little hoarse, they revealed a determination to face death. Zhou Wu looked at the soldiers in front of him, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. Most of these soldiers were children of the northern border. They were guarding their hometown and their loved ones. He believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would be able to defend Yanmen Pass and wait for the arrival of reinforcements. At the same time, the capital, thousands of miles away, was immersed in a peaceful atmosphere. Shops lining the streets were festooned with lights and red lanterns. Pedestrians, dressed in thick cotton jackets, smiled as they chatted about the coming New Year. But deep within the palace, within the Purple Palace, a different scene unfolded. The Purple Palace, where the emperor conducted state affairs, was spacious and bright. Paintings depicting scenes of prosperity hung on the walls, the floor was paved with smooth marble, and in the center sat a massive dragon throne. Sitting on the throne was none other than Xiao Jingyuan, the emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty. The warmth of the moment filled the hall, the charcoal fire in the charcoal basin blazing brightly, emitting wafts of hot air. Yet, the civil and military officials bowed their heads, daring not to breathe. The air was thick with a stifling tension. Xiao Jingyuan sat on the dragon throne, clutching an urgent report from Yanmen Pass, the paper already crumpled from his grasp. His expression was sullen, and his once gentle gaze now pierced the palace's ranks like a knife. "Yanmen Pass is the gateway to the northern frontier. Once it is lost, the Northern Di cavalry will be able to march straight in and approach the capital!" Xiao Jingyuan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty. "Now that the Northern Di cavalry is invading by 100,000, Yanmen Pass is in danger. My dear ministers, who is willing to lead the troops to fight and save Yanmen Pass?" The hall was silent, with only the "crackling" sound of the burning charcoal in the charcoal basin. The civil and military officials looked at each other, but no one dared to stand up. The Northern Di cavalry was fierce and good at fighting. This was something known to everyone in the court and the country. In recent years, the Northern Di had repeatedly gone south to plunder, burn, kill, and loot, committing all kinds of evil. Some of the previous generals died on the battlefield, leaving no trace; some returned in defeat, were dismissed and investigated, and even their entire families were executed. Now, no one wants to touch this bad luck. Xiao Jingyuan looked at the scene in front of him, and his anger grew stronger and stronger. He has been on the throne for ten years.