Chapter 226

The northern wind brought a piercing chill and a faint scent of blood, sweeping across the slightly barren wilderness.

Named entities: north - not a proper name; it's a direction. Not listed.

Chen Wen reined his horse and stood on a gentle slope; behind him were the elite Imperial Guard Cavalry, their dark armor gleaming coldly in the thin sunlight.

Named entities: Chen Wen. Imperial Guard Cavalry - that's a unit name; could be considered a named entity (military unit). But it's a descriptive phrase; not a proper name. Might not need to list. The glossary didn't include it. We'll decide later.

He wore no conspicuous imperial robes, but rather finely crafted dark armor with a deep-colored cloak over it, his gaze calm as he looked into the distance.

Named entities: imperial clothing - generic.

It is the north bank of the Yellow River, and also where Khitan cavalry frequently roam and border forts see beacon fires rise.

Named entities: Yellow River. Khitan Cavalry - in glossary as Khitan Cavalry. Also border fort - generic.

After leaving Bian Liang several days ago and riding hard, he finally arrived at his destination—the area north of Chan Prefecture where the vanguard forces of Yelü Talie, Prince of the Southern Court of the Khitan, are active and rampant.

Named entities: Bian Liang. Chan Prefecture. Prince of the Southern Court Yelü Talie. Also the title Prince of the Southern Court maybe a title. Also vanguard army - generic. Also Khitan - in glossary.

The tense atmosphere in the air was more direct and bloodier than the scheming and intrigue of the Bian Liang court.

Named entities: Bian Liang again; imperial court - generic.

"Your Majesty, General Shi Dun is already waiting in the main camp ahead."

Named entities: His Majesty - generic form of address; exclude. Shi Dun. main camp - generic.

A scout officer came riding up, dismounted with a rolling halt at the slope's base, knelt on one knee, and reported in a loud voice.

Named entities: scout officer - generic rank; not in glossary.

The surrounding soldiers stared fixedly at the figure on the hilltop, their eyes filled with awe and fervor.

No named entities.

This is their Great Chen emperor, the commander who has led them through troubled times, and now he himself has come to the front lines!

Named entities: Emperor of Great Chen. Great Chen - in glossary. Emperor - generic? But combined with Great Chen makes a title. We'll list "Emperor of Great Chen". Also the emperor's personal arrival - phrase.

"Go."

No.

Chen Wen had no more words; he pulled the reins, and his warhorse charged down the gentle slope like an arrow released from a bow.

Named entities: Chen Wen.

The cavalry behind followed silently and swiftly, their hooves thudding like muffled thunder against the hard early-winter ground.

No.

Not long after, a military camp built upon an abandoned border fort appeared before them.

Named entities: border fort - generic.

The camp was sturdy, watchtowers stood in rows, defenses were tight, showing the chief commander's caution and experience.

Named entities: chief commander - generic.

The camp gate stood open, and a tall, heavily armored general led a group of officers in solemnly standing to greet them.

Named entities: general - generic.

This was Shi Dun, who had been ennobled as Marquis of Loyal Martial and appointed Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry.

Named entities: Marquis of Loyal Martial. Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry and Infantry. Shi Dun.

Upon seeing Chen Wen arrive on horseback, Shi Dun and the officers behind him all bowed in unison.

Named entities: Chen Wen. Shi Dun. generals - generic.

"We, your subjects, respectfully welcome Your Majesty!"

Named entities: His Majesty - generic.

Their voices were uniform and resonant, carrying the distinctive clang of military bearing.

No.

Chen Wen dismounted, stepped forward quickly, and grabbed Shi Dun just as he was about to perform the full ceremonial bow.

Named entities: Chen Wen. Shi Dun.

"No need for excessive ceremony in the army."

No.

His gaze swept over Shi Dun and the weathered faces behind him, most bearing the mark of the Jiao Tu garrison, and a hint of genuine smile appeared on his face.

Named entities: Shi Dun. Jiao Tu Zhen - in glossary.

"Everyone, rise."

No.

He looked at Shi Dun's noticeably thinner yet increasingly fierce face, and patted his sturdy arm armor.

Named entities: Shi Dun.

"You've worked hard."

No.

Shi Dun grinned, showing his teeth, then immediately composed himself and spoke in a low voice;

Named entities: Shi Dun.

"Your Majesty's personal arrival has greatly boosted the troops' morale!"

Named entities: His Majesty - generic. soldiers - generic.

He stepped aside to guide the way.

No.

"Please, Your Majesty, enter the camp and allow me to report the military situation in detail."

Named entities: His Majesty - generic. subject - generic.

Inside the central commander's tent, the charcoal fire dispelled the chill of the northern lands.

Named entities: central commander's tent - generic. northern lands - generic.

Chen Wen sat in the center, with Shi Dun and the officers arrayed on either side.

Named entities: Chen Wen. Shi Dun. generals - generic.

A large, rough map hung on the side, marked with the dispositions of friend and foe.

No.

"Your Majesty, Yelü Talie's vanguard numbers about three thousand cavalry, led by his fierce general Xiao Hugu, and has recently become extremely arrogant."

Named entities: His Majesty. Yelü Talie. vanguard - generic. Xiao Hugu. recently - generic.

Shi Dun pointed to several locations on the map that had been repeatedly marked, his tone grave.

Named entities: Shi Dun. map - generic.

They rely on swift cavalry, splitting into several groups to continually harass our border forts and villages.

Named entities: cavalry - generic. border forts - generic. villages - generic.

"They burn, kill, loot, and commit every conceivable evil."

No.

"The other day I led the vanguard cavalry on a sortie, launching a night attack on one group of about five hundred, which was a minor setback for them."

Named entities: subject. vanguard cavalry - generic.

"But..."

No.

He paused, his brows furrowing.

No.

"These Khitan people are slippery; they strike and flee, never lingering in battle."

Named entities: Khitan people - generic? Could be considered a people; but Khitan is already in glossary as Khitan. The people are Khitan; we could list Khitan. But we already have Khitan as a people/faction. We'll list Khitan as a people. However we need to avoid duplication; we can list each unique entity once.

"Moreover, they always seem to be one step ahead, avoiding our main force encirclement."

Named entities: main force encirclement - generic.

Chen Wen listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his seat.

Named entities: Chen Wen.

"What do you think—are they merely raiding, or do they have some other scheme?"

No.

Shi Dun pondered for a moment, then said;

Named entities: Shi Dun.

"I don't think it's merely raiding."

Named entities: subject.

"Their actions are orderly, as if they are probing our troop deployments and reaction speed."

No.

"Moreover, according to refugees and forward scouts who risked their lives to bring back news, it seems that some… people with strange behavior have become mixed into this Khitan army."

Named entities: Khitan army - generic; but we have Khitan as people; army is generic. civilians - generic. forward scout - generic.

"They do not shout and charge like ordinary Khitan soldiers; instead they are silent, with icy eyes, better equipment, and excel at small-unit combat and concealment."

Named entities: ordinary Khitan soldiers - generic. equipment - generic.

"During our night raids, the fiercest resistance came from squads led by these people."

Named entities: squad - generic.

"The junior general suspects… it might be the Iron Crow Army that Qian Gui mentioned, mixed into the Khitan forces."

Named entities: junior general -

"Iron Crow Army..."

Named entities: Iron Crow Army

Chen Wen repeated the name in a low voice, his eyes sharpening.

Named entities: Chen Wen

Indeed, they are everywhere, like bone-eating maggots, tightly entwining every enemy, attempting to strangle him and his new dynasty in the cradle.

Named entities: new dynasty - generic? Could be "new regime". Not a proper name.

"How are the casualties?"

No.

He asked, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent.

Named entities: generals - generic

Although they had won, facing enemies possibly containing the Iron Crow Army, the cost would certainly not be small.

Named entities: Iron Crow Army

Shi Dun's face darkened.

Named entities: Shi Dun

"Seventeen killed, over thirty seriously wounded, more than half lightly wounded."

No.

The fallen brothers, most of them were done in by the cold arrows and desperate counterattacks of those weird fellows.

Their fighting style…… is very wicked, they don't fear death, and they even seem unable to feel pain.

He clenched his fists.

If it weren't for His Majesty previously granting the 'Concentrated Endowment', which greatly boosted the brothers' strength and speed, catching them off guard, casualties would have been even greater.

Chen Wen nodded.

This exchange, even though we have the 'Ability Granting' advantage, is still not easy.

This shows how troublesome the Iron Crow Army's infiltrating power is.

This also confirms the calibration of the combat system——elite troops without endowment, when facing the Iron Crow Army, must pay a price;

while elite troops that have received the 'Concentrated Endowment' can gain an advantage, but not without loss.

"Take me to see the wounded soldiers."

Chen Wen stood up.

"Then let's go check the front line."

He needs to see the enemy with his own eyes and feel the atmosphere of the battlefield.

More importantly, he needs to personally confirm the traces of the so-called 'Nether Energy Crystal Ore' and the existence of the Iron Crow Army.

The research results sent by Zhao Lao Nian on how the crystal ore counters 'Fortune Momentum' might find an application here.

Shi Dun quickly rose to his feet.

"Your Majesty, the front line is dangerous; the Khitan Cavalry appears and disappears unpredictably......"

He hadn't finished speaking when Chen Wen raised a hand to interrupt him.

"I came to the Northern Frontier not to hide in the safe rear and look at maps."

Chen Wen's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable force.

"Since the enemy has come, I must personally see what they are made of."

"Also, let the soldiers know that I am with them."

He paused, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes.

"As for Yelu Talie, and those rats in his army......"

"Perfect, let's test them with my new dynasty's blade to see if it's sharp!"

"Also, let the wind of these northern lands blow away the gloom brought from Bian Liang."

Upon hearing this, the officers in the tent felt a surge of hot blood rise to their hearts, the pent-up frustration from days of enemy guerrilla warfare seemingly swept away.

The emperor personally comes to the front line, and even goes to inspect the forward outpost!

What courage!

Following such an emperor, what enemy is there to fear?

"I, your humble subordinate, obey!"

Shi Dun stopped dissuading, straightened his chest, and loudly replied.

"I will immediately arrange the guards to accompany Your Majesty to the forward outpost!"

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

He walked to the map hanging on the tent wall, his eyes falling on the winding line representing the Yellow River, and the broad territory on the north bank marked as enemy-occupied territory.

The Growth Progress Bar remained steadily at 67%, but he could feel that the unprecedentedly active and weighty 'Fortune Momentum' vortex within him, stirred by the killing atmosphere here, seemed to circulate a bit faster.

It still cannot be actively driven, yet it acts like an invisible mirror, reflecting the killing intent, popular sentiment, and national fate of this land.

He knew that this Northern Frontier battle was not merely a military response to external enemies, but also a crucial battle for the new dynasty to establish its prestige.

He must win cleanly and swiftly.

Not only must we repel the Khitan, but we must also root out and severely damage the Iron Crow Army lurking in the shadows, so that the world sees Great Chen's strength and resolve.

Also, let those who are still watching, even secretly colluding with the Iron Crow Army, weigh the consequences well.

"Let's go."

Chen Wen turned and led the way out of the tent.

"Let's go meet the vanguard of that King Yelu Talie, and his shady 'friends'."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every commander's ear, bringing a strong confidence that reassured the heart.

Sunlight poured in through the opened tent flap, casting his dark armor with a faint halo, as if merging with the outline on the map behind him that represented Great Chen's territory.