novelraw Chapter 76 : The Northern Campaign!
Chapter 76 : The Northern Campaign!
Chapter 76: The Northern Campaign!
Canglong Pass was perilous in terrain and solid as bronze, a true stronghold among the world’s fortresses.
However, even the mightiest fortress under heaven could never withstand a two-front siege without aid—
one from within the pass and another from without.
That would be a death trap indeed, enough to crush any bastion of stone and steel.
Though Jiang Zhaoming was loath to do so, he had no choice but to send Anxi’s elite into the northern grinder of blood and flesh.
For once Canglong Pass fell, the Great Jin’s iron cavalry could dispatch troops and transport supplies through it into the interior.
And as Anxi Prefecture lay adjacent to the pass, how could it possibly remain untouched in such a situation?
The logic of “when the lips perish, the teeth grow cold” was clearer to him than to anyone else.
If the Jin army truly launched a fierce assault from beyond the pass and achieved a pincer formation, he would have no other choice left—
but to command his troops northward and defend the border with blood.
As for relying on reinforcements from the Imperial Court, Jiang Zhaoming never saw that as a lasting solution.
For once war broke out at Canglong Pass, Anxi Prefecture would already become a thorn in Great Jin’s eye, and the flames of war would inevitably spread there sooner or later.
Rather than passively await attack, it was better to strike first and seize the initiative.
Moreover, a war against Great Jin might not be without reward—
if he won, the glory of victory alone would bring him abundant fortune.
Amid the tense winds and anxious hearts of this looming crisis—
as though to confirm his darkest fears, a message arrived from the northern sandworm couriers of Beiting County, bearing the news he least wished to hear:
The Great Jin iron cavalry had split into two forces and were advancing upon Canglong Pass—
one attacking fiercely from within,
the other marching swiftly under the night sky from without.
The Jin army’s double envelopment was about to form.
Jiang Zhaoming exhaled deeply, the last shred of hope in his heart utterly crushed.
But he was not a man prone to hesitation.
“Landa, draft a decree for me!”
He rose sharply, voice like iron, his resolve unwavering.
“Pacifying Rebels Army, Yili Army, Black-Armored Army, Queshe Army, Guan Ning Iron Cavalry—
five armies advance together! Break camp at once and march north with full speed to Canglong Pass! Engage the enemy!”
Banners flapped like storms, blotting out the sky.
Blades and spears gleamed like a forest, cold light reflecting off snow.
From above, the five Anxi armies resembled colossal dragons of steel, carrying with them the will to crush all obstacles.
They crossed the grasslands, braving the biting sand-laden winds, surging north toward Canglong Pass—
that pass upon which fate would be decided.
Canglong Pass stood proud upon the highest peak.
The frigid northern wind swept up the dust, lashing against the weathered battlements, producing a wailing cry.
Within the gate tower, wavering lamplight reflected upon the furrowed brow of Canglong Pass’s commanding general, Li Chong.
He suddenly raised his head, eyes sharp as an eagle’s, and looked toward the two vice-generals beside him, both with equally grim faces.
“Outside the pass… there’s also a Jin army approaching? Have we learned their details?”
One vice-general swallowed hard and answered hoarsely,
“Reporting to General—our scouts returned at the cost of their lives.
The Jin army beyond the pass is commanded by Guo Donglin, mid-stage Golden Body Realm, with Guo Xiazhi, early-stage Golden Body Realm, as his deputy. Their forces number no less than five hundred thousand!”
“Guo Donglin? Guo Xiazhi?”
Li Chong’s lips curled into a cold, mocking sneer.
“Hmph! These Jin scoundrels—after stealing our Great Zhou’s lands, now even mimic our solar terms for names? Truly monkeys wearing crowns!”
His derision struck like steel, yet beneath it lay a heavy sense of helplessness.
As his words fell, the tower fell into silence—only the cold wind howled through.
All three men felt the same crushing weight upon their hearts.
The Jin army within the pass already had three Golden Body Realm commanders; now two more appeared beyond it—five in total.
No matter how formidable Canglong Pass was, before such overwhelming power, besieged from both sides—
it was like a lamb roasted over a raging flame, perilously close to ruin.
Li Chong then asked, “When will reinforcements from the court arrive?”
After a long, suffocating pause, the other vice-officer spoke with a deep frown,
“General, word from the court says… no reinforcements will be sent to Canglong Pass.”
Li Chong’s tone grew heavier. “Why?”
“His Majesty personally decreed that since the Prince of Anxi is marching to aid the pass, the defense shall be left to Canglong’s garrison and Anxi’s forces.”
Li Chong’s expression darkened between gloom and fury, eyes full of helpless worry.
Yet as a frontier general, he had no right to question the emperor’s will.
He gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “His Majesty still values the trials of the princes so much… even at the cost of our borders?”
Both vice-generals fell silent, their hearts heavy with bitterness.
With a sigh, Li Chong took out a communication talisman.
But before he could activate it, another talisman in his hand glowed and trembled—
it was Jiang Zhaoming contacting him first.
“General Li, I have learned that Canglong Pass is besieged by Jin forces from both sides and faces grave peril.
I am personally leading the Anxi royal army north to reinforce. As you have long defended this stronghold, you must know the Jin’s deployments well—send me the details of the enemy forces at once.”
After reading, Li Chong immediately replied with the Jin army’s information and discussed strategy with him.
The result left Li Chong stunned—Jiang Zhaoming intended to handle all forces beyond the pass himself.
Unable to oppose royal authority, Li Chong could only comply.
On the flying warship racing northward—
the vast vessel cleaved through the clouds at high speed toward Beiting County.
Inside the cabin, Jiang Zhaoming sat upon the main seat, holding the jade slip containing Li Chong’s intelligence.
He read intently, his brows knitting into a deep “川” shape.
The twenty-six Divine Power Realm royal guards standing like iron towers beside him immediately sensed the shift in his expression.
The air grew heavier.
Guo Huaian asked, “Your Highness, how are the Jin forces on the front line?”
Jiang Zhaoming pondered briefly, fingers tapping the armrest in a calm rhythm.
“Beyond the pass, the Jin army has three hundred thousand cavalry and two hundred thousand infantry. The commander is Guo Donglin, mid-stage Golden Body Realm; the deputy, Guo Xiazhi, early-stage Golden Body Realm.”
“What? Two Golden Body Realm experts!”
Guo Huaian’s eyes widened; he gasped sharply and almost ordered the ship to turn back.
But Jiang Zhaoming raised his hand to stop him.
“No need for panic. Though they have two Golden Body commanders, the rest of their soldiers are not elite Jin troops.”
Indeed, apart from those two Golden Body cultivators, the rest of that Jin army only included two Myriad Phenomena experts and around thirty Divine Power cultivators. Most were merely in the Tempering Bones Realm—hastily assembled troops at best.
After hearing Jiang Zhaoming’s assessment, not only Guo Huaian but even the stoic royal guards exchanged uncertain looks.
What did His Highness mean?
“Only two Golden Body experts”—as if Myriad Phenomena were easy opponents?
Seeing their doubt, Jiang Zhaoming smiled faintly. “Relax. When have you ever seen me fight an unprepared battle?”
At that, Guo Huaian swallowed his protest.
Indeed, since arriving in Anxi, Jiang Zhaoming had known only victory—but this time, the enemy was no ordinary foe.
At the army’s vanguard, beneath the command banners—
Yue Fei was directing the five columns in their advance when Jiang Zhaoming’s voice resounded in his mind.
When the names of Guo Donglin and Guo Xiazhi appeared before him,
Yue Fei’s deep, cold eyes suddenly flared with terrifying brilliance.
A searing battle intent, long suppressed to the brink of combustion, erupted like a dormant volcano.
Ever since hearing of Great Jin’s ravages in Yanbei, that name had burned in his soul like a brand.
Though this “Jin” was not the same as that of his past life, the fated enmity and unfulfilled vendetta had already turned into roaring flames within his chest.
He had waited for this moment—for a chance to face Great Jin’s might head-on and wash away old shame.
Now, the opportunity had come.
The heads of two Golden Body Realm commanders—his finest offering of vengeance and glory!
“Heh…”
A low chuckle filled with boundless edge escaped Yue Fei’s throat. His grip on the report tightened until his knuckles whitened.
Yet in the next instant, he forced that blazing will back down beneath sheer resolve, regaining his icy composure.
He raised his head sharply, his voice booming like thunder across the ranks:
“Transmit my order! The entire army—reform formations, fortify the camp by the terrain, inspect all arms, and prepare for battle!”