Chapter 89: Departure, Yao Hua Pass!

After the three princesses received the order, they began to prepare in a flurry.

The troops were ready and waiting to depart, with provisions and armaments fully prepared.

Si Luo Ying personally selected elite soldiers and strong generals to guarantee the safety of this journey to Cangzhou.

Si Luo Shi then consulted with the envoys of Great Qian on diplomatic phrasing, ensuring unimpeded communication with Cangzhou.

Si Luo Qing, meanwhile, summoned the masters of the martial arts sects to jointly discuss defense strategies.

Finally, after several days of preparation, the day of departure slowly arrived.

The sky had just begun to show a fish-belly white, and the entire imperial palace was already a bustling scene.

The three princesses stood at the highest point of the imperial palace, looking down upon the troops below and the seeing-off crowds.

Morning light fell upon their military uniforms, making their spirited bearing shine with a golden glow, especially dazzling in the dawn.

Their faces bore resolute expressions, yet their eyes revealed deep worry.

Each of the three rode a tall horse, with the fully equipped army behind them.

The soldiers' morale was high, their weapons gleamed in the sunlight, and their faces were filled with determination and resolve.

"Second sister, are we really leaving?"

"To leave Father Emperor, to leave Qian Du?"

Si Luo Shi looked at Si Luo Ying, her eyes filled with reluctance toward the Great Qian imperial palace and confusion about the future.

Si Luo Ying gave a carefree smile, patted Luo Shi's hand, and said, "Younger sister, this is what we ought to do. Now Great Qian needs us, and the people of Great Qian also need us."

"I know, I'm just a bit reluctant."

Si Luo Shi bit her lip, lowered her head, and her expression was somewhat at a loss.

"Fourth sister, don't worry, everything will be fine."

"Besides, we are not fighting alone. Along the way we have Father Emperor's great army protecting us, and the route to Cangzhou is all within Great Qian's heartland."

Looking at the fragile Si Luo Shi, Si Luo Ying's eyes flashed with a hint of pity, but now she herself could not help it, so she could only softly comfort her.

"Furthermore, I have heard that the Yun Wang Heir is extraordinarily handsome and outstanding, and now, at a young age, he can stand on his own and has become the lord of a province."

"Who knows, when you meet him, little girl, you might not want to return to Qian Du!"

"Although."

Si Luo Ying laughed and changed the subject, but as she spoke she couldn't help but sigh.

Just then, Si Luo Qing beside them spoke coldly: "Now is not the time to talk about this. We should go."

She turned to look into the distance, saying, "The road to Dong Tu is far; we must set out as soon as possible."

Si Luo Ying and Si Luo Shi exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Let's go!"

The three princesses mounted their horses and slowly descended the steps.

The troops' officers straightened their backs in unison, staring fixedly at them.

The civilians waved the flowers and flags in their hands, shouting blessings.

At this moment, they were not only daughters of the imperial clan, but also heroes of Great Qian.

"Let's set out!"

Following the three princesses' command, the troops slowly set out.

The mighty procession passed through the palace gates, moving slowly amid the spectators of the populace.

The populace discussed animatedly, some worried, some offering blessings.

But no matter what, they believed their nation could overcome this crisis.

The three princesses rode at the very front of the column, their faces showing resolute and determined expressions.

Si Luo Ying's gaze was firm, without fear; Si Luo Shi wore a smile, calm and composed; Si Luo Qing's expression was stern, as if everything were under control.

The sound of their horses' hooves echoed on the stone slabs, like war drums stirring the hearts.

Within the ranks, the soldiers' steps were uniform, and the clashing of iron armor and swords produced a clear ringing sound.

The banners snapped in the wind, fluttering in the morning breeze midair, as if displaying the glory and majesty of the Great Qian imperial clan to the people.

The supply convoy moved slowly forward, carrying provisions and armaments to ensure the troops' logistical support.

The seeing-off crowds filled both sides of the road, holding flowers, incense, and various offerings, praying blessings and seeing off the departing soldiers.

The children waved their little flags, their faces beaming with innocent smiles.

Some women shed tears, silently lamenting the fickle fate of the three princesses.

The three princesses frequently turned back to wave farewell to the populace, their eye sockets also a little moist.

As the column set out, the seeing-off crowd gradually dispersed.

The three princesses' mood also grew somewhat heavy and tense.

They deeply understood the arduousness and danger of this mission.

But they also understood the responsibility and mission they bore; only by giving their all could they accomplish the task and secure benefits for Great Qian.

The column marched along the road to Dong Tu, a road full of the unknown and challenges.

Meanwhile, Su Ye, far away in the mountains of Qi Zhou, was unaware that at this very moment three peach blossoms were racing straight to Cangzhou for his sake.

Now he was scratching his head and cheeks over those turtle shells in the Qi Zhou mountains.

The western mountains of Qi Zhou stretch continuously, with perilous peaks standing thick.

These peaks are not only a natural barrier, but also a longstanding fortress of Qi Zhou.

In these mountains, Qi Zhou has built countless strategic passes.

These passes are like the arms of a giant, tightly guarding Qi Zhou, leaving the great army of Cangzhou somewhat at a loss.

Obviously, faced with Cangzhou's large-scale invasion, the Qi Wang of Qi Zhou, in the situation where the Great Yong dynasty could no longer support Qi Zhou,

had already planned to make use of these strategic passes built in the western mountains of Qi Zhou.

They formed one turtle shell after another, and with the Cangzhou Army they settled into a protracted war in these mountains.

The key is just this simple strategy, yet it remains unsolvable.

To capture Qi Zhou, we must first break these strategic passes.

However, these passes are strategically located, easy to defend but hard to attack, and coupled with the tenacious resistance of the Qi Zhou Army, the offensive becomes extraordinarily difficult.

Moreover, these pass fortresses support each other, leaving no gap to exploit.

We can only capture them one fortress, one pass at a time.

Before, Su Ye summoned his subordinate Commander-in-Chiefs to discuss strategies for defeating the enemy.

The generals each voiced their own opinions: some advocated a strong assault, some suggested dividing troops to flank the rear, and opinions diverged.

But in the end, Su Ye still decided to adopt Li Jing's steady, step-by-step tactic, attacking these strategic passes one by one.

Jade Splendid Pass!

This towering mighty pass standing west of Qi Zhou is the first immovable defense line of the western mountains of Qi Zhou.

The city wall is tall and sturdy, its main body built of huge stone blocks and bricks, with a thickness of over five meters and a height of about fifteen meters.

Both the inner and outer sides of the city wall have been carefully polished and reinforced, making the smooth stone walls appear exceptionally hard in the sunlight.

The top of the city wall is broad and flat, wide enough for several soldiers to fight side by side.

At the edge of the city wall lies a deep moat, set as an obstacle to prevent enemies from climbing the wall.

The moat is filled with dry branches and sharp stones; should any enemy attempt to cross, they will suffer severe harm.

At certain key positions on the city wall, arrow towers and watchtowers are set up, allowing the defending soldiers to shoot and observe the enemy from here. Arrow

The tower's design is extremely ingenious, not only providing a platform for shooting but also serving to reinforce the city wall.

The watchtower allows the defenders to constantly monitor the enemy's movements and respond promptly.

Furthermore, an important defensive facility of Jade Splendid Pass's city wall is the barbican.

The barbican is a semicircular or square area outside the city wall, where the wall recesses inward, forming a natural trap.

The design of the barbican forces attacking troops to pass through a narrow channel, with the walls on both sides able to strike from above, greatly increasing the difficulty of the siege.

One can say that the city wall of Jade Splendid Pass is strictly structured and exquisitely designed, fully considering the needs of defense.

Whether arrow towers, watchtowers, or the barbican, they embody the era's utmost wisdom and make Jade Splendid Pass a formidable stronghold that is hard to conquer.

(End of chapter)