Chapter 101: The Eve

"Great King, it was here that our men were ambushed by the Yan King Army."

In the Yanshan Mountains, on a narrow mountain path leading to Qingfeng Pass.

The Northern Di Cavalry force stretched for dozens of miles, with each Northern Di cavalryman having one man and four horses.

One for riding, three for backup; in this way, they could constantly switch mounts and march rapidly.

And it is precisely because of this extravagant possession of four horses per person that, during every Autumn Hunt, even the Great Song cavalry find it difficult to catch them.

When they return fully loaded, these horses can also serve transport functions.

At the rear of the force, there were also a large number of cattle and sheep; these cattle and sheep were their rations for the two days of marching.

Once they enter Yanzhou, after their rations are exhausted, they can only rely on what they plunder in Yanzhou to stave off hunger.

Kutu heard this and looked around, discovering that this was indeed a good place for an ambush.

Looking down at the valley, there were still baggage carts damaged during the battle, and the dried bloodstains on the stones had already turned black, proving the intensity of the battle that day.

"Hmph, Yan Wang, this time I will make him pay back tenfold." A sharp light erupted in Kutu's eyes.

In all these years, the Northern Di had never lost so shamefully.

Every year during the Autumn Hunt, although the Yuan Family sent troops, it was merely a formality; they plundered to their hearts' content with almost no losses.

But this Yan Wang had made him lose all face.

This matter had already spread throughout the Grassland, making him a laughingstock among other tribes.

This time he led the Autumn Hunt in person, just to capture Yan Wang, cut off his head, and use it as a chamber pot to humiliate him day and night.

"Move out."

With a loud shout, Kutu flicked his whip and moved forward.

The massive force once again slowly moved forward along the mountain path.

Zhang Family Wubao.

Zhang Kang was leisurely teasing a myna bird in the courtyard; on the streets inside the Wubao, the Zhang Family disciples looked relaxed, showing no signs that a great battle was about to take place in Yan Commandery.

Compared to the Zhang Family, other Rich Clans were much more nervous.

They had handed over their farmland to the Prince's Mansion and disbanded their private soldiers.

They could only take the old and the young to flee to Yancheng for refuge.

"My husband has been in a very good mood these past few days; what happy event is there?" Yuan Shi walked over at this moment.

Zhang Kang shook his head, "In a few more days, Yan Wang will be dead, and by then, Yan Commandery will be under our Zhang Family's control."

Yuan Shi and Zhang Kang were one in marriage, and she was also a daughter of the Yuan Family, so she had never had a good impression of Yan Wang.

If Yan Wang were to die, she would be just as happy as Zhang Kang.

So she smiled and said, "You said Father intends to use the Northern Di people to get rid of Yan Wang, but once the Northern Di people kill Yan Wang, do you think they will attack our Wubao?"

"Certainly not." Zhang Kang blurted out.

After saying this, he realized he had been too definitive, which would make Yuan Shi suspicious, so he said, "Even if they attack, we have soldiers; it was fine in previous years, and it will be fine this year too."

Yuan Shi nodded; every year the Northern Di cavalry would surround the Zhang Family Wubao, but the fighting was usually not very intense, and most of the time the Zhang Family private soldiers held the advantage.

It was precisely because of this that she dared to live in the Wubao with Zhang Kang, rather than in Yancheng, which Yan Wang defended heavily.

City.

After chatting with her husband for a while, Yuan Shi went back.

At this time, a servant walked over and whispered a few words into Zhang Kang's ear.

Zhang Kang nodded, left the Wubao with the servant, and came to a mulberry field not far from the Wubao.

"The Great King's army will arrive at Yancheng in two days. Have the death squads in the city prepare; once the main army camps outside the city, open the city gates from the inside immediately." Tuoba Lie walked out from between the tree branches.

"Yes, my lord." Zhang Kang replied cautiously.

He had currently planted eight hundred death squads inside the city; once they received the order, these death squads would attack the city gates and open a path for the Northern Di main army.

Then he asked, "Is the Great King not going to attack the other counties, but come directly to Yancheng?"

"No need.

Yan Wang has placed heavy troops in the three northern counties; by the time we reach Yancheng, Yan Wang will have rested and waited for us, which is not conducive to taking Yancheng," said Tuoba Lie.

Zhang Kang agreed; Tuoba Lie's reasoning was the same as what he had investigated.

In the past two days, a large number of Prince's Personal Army soldiers had left Yancheng.

"However, Yan Wang is cunning; my lord should still be careful to prevent any tricks." Zhang Kang now had psychological trauma.

After all, he had already been openly played by Yan Wang twice.

Tuoba Lie frowned; this time he hadn't let the Zhang Family investigate at all, but had come out himself, bringing spies to keep an eye on Yancheng.

He was afraid of being played like the previous two times.

But this time there really seemed to be no problem.

It was true that the Prince's Mansion's soldiers had left; he estimated that Yancheng now only had about fifteen thousand people.

"No matter how many tricks there are, they are useless under the iron hooves of our Northern Di. Therefore, the most important thing is to open the city gates; as long as the city is breached, we Northern Di can fight ten men each," Tuoba Lie said confidently.

The ones defeated by Yan Wang last time were merely servant troops; the true Northern Di warriors will make Yan Wang fearful this time.

After giving these instructions to Zhang Kang, Tuoba Lie disappeared into the mulberry field.

When he appeared again, he was already in Yancheng.

He had kept a backup plan for Zhang Kang; now, besides Zhang Kang's eight hundred death squads, there were five hundred death squads he had arranged in Yancheng.

While Zhang Kang's men caused chaos, he would also send his own death squads to take another city gate to ensure the army could enter the city.

After his figure disappeared into the streets, a person appeared where he had just been standing.

It was none other than Chai Wu.

War clouds gather over Yan Commandery, and the Flame Guard are naturally busy.

Among these, what worries them most is the Zhang Family and this Northern Di spy.

Therefore, they have been keeping watch during this time.

It is just that the Zhang Family and the Northern Di spy seem very confident in their own intelligence-gathering capabilities, making arrangements in Yancheng with great swagger, completely unaware that they have already been targeted.

Perhaps they never imagined that Yan Wang attaches great importance to intelligence and had long since secretly deployed surveillance.

Moreover, besides the Flame Guard, Tianxiang Lou is also cooperating with them this time, sharing the information they have gathered with the Prince's Mansion.

With various intelligence gathered, and knowing that Zhang Kang has a secret plot, they naturally focus on tracking down the dead soldiers within the city.

……

The Prince's Mansion.

Zhao Xu is trying on his Armor; with a great battle imminent, he naturally cannot hide in the Prince's Mansion and let the soldiers charge into the fray alone.

Therefore, he has decided to go to the battlefield in person with Chang Wei to take command.

This way, he can greatly boost the soldiers' morale and increase his own prestige in their hearts.

"Does Your Highness really have to go to the city wall? Swords and spears have no eyes; if Your Highness were to... we would not want to live either." Feng'er helps Zhao Xu put on his Armor, her eyes suddenly turning red.

She hears the people of Yan Commandery talk about the cruelty of the Northern Di people every day, and she cannot help but feel afraid in her heart.

Luan'er is much the same as Feng'er, with not a trace of a smile on her face.

They have waited for three years for Yan Wang's brain ailment to finally heal, yet now there is the risk of losing Yan Wang once again.

Although Yan Wang has been full of confidence these past few days, they understand that the battlefield changes in an instant, and until the very last moment, no one can be certain to whom victory belongs.

After putting the Armor on Zhao Xu, the two exchange a glance.

At this moment, Feng'er suddenly closes the door to the bedchamber.

The two come before Zhao Xu, their fair hands peeling away, and the clothes on their bodies instantly slide off.

"Your Highness, the future of this great battle is uncertain. This servant does not wish for her body to be defiled by those Northern Di people; I hope Your Highness will show pity."

Feng'er's face is flushed red, and her eyes seem as if they are about to brim with water.

Zhao Xu looks at the two, who are like mutton-fat jade, and is instantly struck dumb.