Chapter 191: Northern Border Beacon Fires

The undercurrents and oppression within Chan Prefecture City were suddenly shattered by an urgent six-hundred-li military report from the north.

Hooves thundered like lightning; a scout with three dyed feathers stuck in his back, drenched in blood, almost fell from his horse after a tumble, and charged into the Jiedushi's residence.

"Report!"

"Northern invaders breach the border! Hukou Pass is in urgent peril!"

A hoarse shout, like a sudden thunderclap, exploded in the dull government office.

Wang Po's face grew grave; he hurried out from the inner hall and snatched the military report soaked in blood and sweat.

He glanced at it only a few times, and his brows locked tight.

"Sound the bell! Gather the commanders!"

He issued the order in a low voice, his tone betraying a barely perceptible tremor.

Soon, the low, resonant assembly bell echoed over Chan Prefecture City.

One after another, the bells rang urgent and solemn.

……

The Jing'an Army's encampment, the drill field.

Chen Wen was inspecting a batch of newly forged infantry armor.

These armors, under the effect of the "broadly bestowed eightfold efficiency," far surpassed ordinary workshops in both quality and output speed.

In the sunlight, the armor plates flashed with a cold, bleak light.

Shi Dun wore a full set of armor, flexing his muscles, his face full of excitement.

"My lord, this armor is really powerful!"

"Wear it, and I feel I could single-handedly smash a Northern Han unit!"

Chen Wen nodded slightly, about to speak, when the faint bell sound reached him and his expression hardened.

He tilted his ear to listen.

The bell… rang seven times.

Border emergency report — the great generals gather!

"Here they come."

He muttered to himself, his eyes showing little surprise, only a calm, water-like solemnity.

What was meant to come will always come.

"Dunzi."

"Here!"

"Issue the order: all commanders of the Jing'an Army and above, immediately follow me to the Jiedushi's residence."

"Yes!"

……

The Jiedushi's residence, the council hall.

The atmosphere was even more solemn than usual.

The air was thick with the oppressive feeling of an impending mountain rain.

Wang Po sat upright in the chief seat, his complexion pallid, yet his eyes remained sharp.

Han Tong, Zhang Yongde, Zhao Kuangyin, Chen Wen, and the other core commanders of Chan Prefecture stood in two rows.

Everyone's gaze focused on the military report in Wang Po's hand.

"Gentlemen."

Wang Po cleared his throat; his voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly to every ear.

"Just received an urgent report from the commander of Hukou Pass."

"The Lord of Northern Han, Liu Min, has allied with the Khitan general Yelü Tatelie, mustering fifty thousand troops, claiming a hundred thousand, and launched a major southern advance."

"Their vanguard has already broken two of our stockades, and their forces point straight at Hukou Pass!"

"Less than three thousand troops defend the pass; the situation is dire!"

As his words fell, the hall filled with the sound of drawn-in breaths.

Although we had anticipated the northern barbarians would take advantage of the chaos, none expected them to arrive so swiftly, with such overwhelming numbers!

Fifty thousand troops, in this chaotic era of the Five Dynasties, already constitute a force capable of overturning the balance of a region.

Especially among them could be seen the silhouettes of Khitan iron cavalry.

The shadow of the Battle of Gaoping has not yet fully dissipated.

"Mr. Wang!"

Han Tong stepped forward first, clasping his fists.

"The northern barbarians run rampant; I, the junior commander, request to lead the cavalry to rush to the aid of Hukou Pass!"

As the Cavalry Commander, he now requests to fight — it is his duty.

Zhang Yongde followed closely behind.

"The infantry is willing to follow General Han!"

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes flashed as he stepped forward, his voice ringing loud.

"My subordinates have long sharpened their weapons and fed their horses; they wish to serve as the vanguard and strike hard at the northern barbarians!"

His gaze swept over Chen Wen, carrying a barely perceptible provocation.

This is precisely the critical moment to seize military command and establish prestige.

If he can achieve merit in this battle, he will not only suppress Chen Wen's limelight, but also greatly strengthen his voice within the Chan Prefecture Army.

Wang Po watched the officers volunteering for battle, yet did not immediately declare his stance.

His gaze swept over everyone's faces, finally landing on Chen Wen, who had remained silent.

"Defense Commissioner Chen Wen."

Wang Pu spoke slowly.

"What is your opinion?"

Instantly, everyone's gaze focused on Chen Wen.

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde looked on with scrutiny.

Zhao Kuangyin, meanwhile, harbored hidden hostility.

Chen Wen met their gazes, stepped forward steadily, clasped his hands, and spoke in a steady, clear voice.

"Mr. Wang, generals."

"The Northern Han-Khitan allied forces advance menacingly, seeking to exploit our internal troubles, break through the pass in one strike, and plunder Hebei."

"Although their force is great, it has weaknesses."

"Oh?"

A flicker of interest crossed Wang Pu's eyes.

"Speak."

"First, the allied force is a makeshift union; the Northern Han recently suffered defeat, its morale not yet recovered, while the Khitan have come after a long march, men and horses exhausted, so their unity may not be genuine."

"Second, Hukou Pass is strategically vital, easy to defend but hard to attack; though our forces are few, holding the perilous position can buy us time."

"Third, the enemy army labors on a distant expedition; its supply line is long, favoring a quick battle but not a prolonged one."

He paused, his tone firm and resolute.

"Therefore, I believe the key to this battle lies in."

"First, swiftly dispatch elite troops to reinforce and stabilize the Hukou Pass defense line, blunting the enemy's spirit."

"Second, avoid their sharp edge and strike their weary retreat."

"Wait until their prolonged assault fails, their troops grow old and weary, then use elite forces to seize the opportunity and break them, only then can we achieve total victory."

Han Tong, upon hearing this, gave a slight nod.

Chen Wen's analysis truly hit the mark.

Zhao Kuangyin, however, let out a cold snort.

"Defense Commissioner Chen Wen is steady enough."

"But the military situation is urgent; Hukou Pass could fall at any moment."

"If we follow routine, we fear the reinforcements will not arrive before the pass is lost!"

"When that happens, the Northern barbarians' iron hooves will trample Hebei, bringing misery to the populace—who can bear that responsibility?"

He turned toward Wang Pu and clasped his fists again.

"Mr. Wang! In warfare, speed is essential!"

"I am willing to issue a military pledge, leading my division's elite troops day and night, to reach Hukou Pass within three days!"

"I will surely keep the Northern barbarians outside the pass!"

Chen Wen didn't even glance at Zhao Kuangyin, simply speaking calmly to Wang Pu.

"Commander Zhao's bravery is commendable."

"Yet, haste makes waste."

"To underestimate the enemy and rush forward, if we fall into their strategy of besieging a point to attack reinforcements, we risk losing troops and generals, ultimately harming the overall situation."

"You!"

Zhao Kuangyin's face flushed with anger as he gripped his sword hilt.

"Enough!"

Wang Pu slammed the table sharply and shouted to stop.

He coughed violently a few times, an abnormal flush rising on his face.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Wang Pu caught his breath, his eyes like blades, sweeping over Chen Wen and Zhao Kuangyin.

"With a great enemy before us, instead of thinking of united defense against humiliation, you keep arguing—what sort of conduct is this!"

He fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, his gaze settled on Chen Wen.

"Defense Commissioner Chen Wen."

"You, at the Battle of Gaoping, once turned the tide, excel at hard battles, and moreover your Pacification Army is brave and skilled in combat, with excellent armor and weapons."

"This time, the crucial task of reinforcing Hukou Pass and blocking the Northern barbarians' advance is entrusted to you."

"Order you to immediately lead your Pacification Army, and take command of the troops of the prefectures near Hukou Pass, to resist the enemy with all your strength, without fail!"

Chen Wen resolved in his heart and bowed solemnly.

"I, the subordinate, accept the order!"

Wang Pu then looked toward Han Tong and Zhang Yongde.

"Commander Han, Commander Zhang."

"You two are responsible for coordinating subsequent reinforcements and supply convoys; you must ensure frontline supply and closely monitor other directions to prevent the Northern barbarians from feinting east while striking west."

"We accept the order!" Han Tong and Zhang Yongde replied in unison.

Finally, Wang Pu turned to Zhao Kuangyin, whose face was ashen, and his tone softened slightly.

"Commander Zhao."

"Your forces are all elite; they can serve as strategic reserves, stationed at the key routes north of Chan Prefecture, ready to support any sector, and tasked with eliminating any small enemy units that might infiltrate."

This arrangement seemed important, but in fact it placed Zhao Kuangyin in the second line.

Zhao Kuangyin's chest heaved violently, his nails almost digging into his palms.

But he knew he could not argue any further at this moment.

"The humble general... receives the order."

He squeezed these words out from between his teeth.

……

After the military council dispersed, Chen Wen strode out of the prefectural office first.

The core members—Shi Dun, Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and Qian Gui—had already been waiting outside; seeing this, they immediately gathered around.

"Sir, how is it?"

Shi Dun asked impatiently.

Chen Wen swept his gaze over the crowd and spoke in a low voice.

"Say it back."

"The entire army is on first-level combat readiness."

"Dunzi, immediately muster the troops; in two hours, assemble at the drill ground."

"Zhang Cheng, according to the third contingency plan, allocate provisions and arms."

"Wang Ru, pacify the rear and coordinate the laborers."

"Qian Gui, send out additional scouts; I need to know the movements of every unit of the northern barbarian allied army, especially the deployment of the Khitan cavalry!"

Orders were issued one after another, concise and clear.

"Yes!"

Everyone responded solemnly to the orders and immediately dispersed to act.

Chen Wen mounted his horse, and under the escort of his personal guards, he galloped toward the Jing'an Army's encampment.

The wind fluttered his cape, making a rustling sound.

He lifted his gaze toward the gloomy northern horizon.

In his field of vision below, the pale blue system interface appeared silently.

【Personal Multiplier: Lv. 5(32x)】

【Growth Progress Bar: 18%】

【Fortune Momentum Vortex: active, heavy, slowly growing…】

The progress bar twitched slightly, rising from 18% to 19%.

The footsteps of war approached once again.

This time, he would no longer be merely a commander.

What he bore was the survival of Luochuan's three counties, the safety of Chan Prefecture's north gate, and furthermore the foundation he had built with his own hands, as well as… the ever-clearer resolve to control his own destiny.

"Pass the order down."

He said to the orderly beside him, his voice as cold as the northern wind.

"Target, Hukou Xing."

"Jing'an Army, march out!"