Chapter 269

The gloom and bloodiness of the Jinzhou battlefield could not completely block the news coming from other directions.

Just as Chen Wen was dealing with the Netherbone threat in the mountain ridge main camp, painstakingly seeking a strategy to defeat the enemy, a swift horseman from the south arrived like sunlight piercing the gloom, bringing a report of victory capable of invigorating the entire northern frontier situation.

The messenger was led straight to the central commander's tent, his clothes dusty and travel-worn, his armor covered in dried mud, yet his face overflowed with uncontainable excitement and pride.

"Your Majesty! A great victory in Hebei! A great victory in Hebei!"

The messenger dropped to one knee, his voice trembling with excitement, and raised both hands high, holding a military document adorned with three red feathers, signifying the highest-level victory report.

The officers in the tent, including Li Wu, who had just endured the Netherbone impact and felt heavy-hearted, were all suddenly invigorated, their eyes locking onto that military report.

Chen Wen sat upright above, his usually calm face also flickering with a hint of movement.

"Present it."

The guards took the military report, quickly inspected it, then handed it to Chen Wen.

Chen Wen unfolded the report, his eyes scanning the jointly signed text by Han Tong and Zhang Yongde, the brushstrokes strong and forceful.

The report detailed the entire course of the battle at Ye Lang Kou:

"Having received the news of Your Majesty's personal campaign, the three armies were invigorated, morale like a rainbow."

Furthermore, we received the new Disturbing Crystal Disk from the Ministry of Works; although limited in number, its effect was significant, repeatedly blunting the rebels' vigor.

We observed that the rebels' camp, unable to hold out after a prolonged siege, saw their supply lines growing weary; their relied-upon Iron Crow elite troops could not be replenished as swiftly as at the start.

Moreover, Liu Yongzu himself grew increasingly arrogant and licentious, feasting and drinking in camp, flogging the soldiers, and the army's morale already showed signs of disintegration.

I consulted with General Zhang Yongde, and we agreed that the battle opportunity had arrived and must not be missed.

Thus, five days ago, we mustered all our elite forces, resolved to engage the rebels in a decisive battle!

Seeing this, Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde are both veteran generals, their grasp of the battle opportunity extremely precise.

They clearly seized the key window of low rebel morale, internal instability, and the possible weakening of Iron Crow Army support due to increased pressure on the Jinzhou front.

The report continued:

On the day of the decisive battle, I took the Disturbing Crystal Disk squad as the vanguard, tasked with disrupting the formation of the enemy's medicine-person elite troops.

General Zhang Yongde led the elite cavalry in a flanking maneuver, waiting for the chance to strike at the enemy's command center.

I personally commanded the main force of the central army, establishing a solid camp and fighting a stubborn battle, directly confronting the rebels' main force charge.

Initially, the rebels' spirit remained fierce, especially their medicine-person vanguard, which was ferociously unmatched.

Yet our Disturbing Crystal squad, fearless of death, plunged into the enemy formation, fully activating their arcane device, successfully thwarting the medicine-person troops' charge and throwing their ranks into disarray!

General Zhang Yongde seized the moment, leading his iron cavalry like a thunderbolt from the heavens, piercing straight to the enemy's heart, instantly paralyzing the rebels' command.

Seeing the battle opportunity arrive, the central army's officers and men, without exception, fought as if one against ten, bravely advancing and crushing the rebels' main force head-on.

From the chen hour until sunset, the rebels suffered a crushing defeat.

We beheaded seven rebel commanders on the battlefield, annihilated over four thousand enemies, and captured countless more.

Liu Yongzu fled north with only a thousand or so of his personal guards in disarray, no longer a threat.

The main force of the Hebei rebellion has been declared utterly destroyed!

Han Tong and Zhang Yongde bowed their heads, thanking Your Majesty's heavenly might and the soldiers' devotion, fortunate not to have failed their duty!

At the end of the report, the ink stains seemed to carry the bloodiness of the battlefield and the exaltation of victory.

The tent fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of those present.

Hebei……we won!

Moreover, it was a thoroughly exhilarating victory that completely crushed the rebels' main force!

This means that the Hebei rebellion, which had troubled Great Chen's heartland for months, tying down vast troops and resources, has basically been pacified!

Great Chen's flank threat has been completely eliminated!

More importantly, this victory came at exactly the right time!

Just as the Jinzhou situation had reached a stalemate, the enemy had deployed terrifying new troop types, and the Chen army's morale faced a critical test!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Chen Wen exclaimed "good" three times, then sprang up from his seat.

His face broke into the most relaxed and sharpest smile he had shown since arriving at the Jinzhou front.

This smile dispelled the gloom that had lingered from days of campaigning and ignited the fire in the eyes of all the commanders in the tent.

"Han Tong! Zhang Yongde! Truly you are my arms and legs, the bulwark of the state!"

Chen Wen's voice rang out loud, unreserved in its praise and delight.

"With Hebei secured, our army has no rear worries, and the supply lines flow smoothly!"

"Furthermore, we can redeploy troops to focus entirely on confronting the enemy at Jinzhou!"

His gaze swept over the officers, seeing the fighting spirit and confidence rekindled on their faces.

This victory report is not merely a military triumph; it is also a spiritual stimulant!

It proves that the Iron Crow Army is not invincible, and proves that before the troops of Great Chen, any enemy will ultimately be crushed!

"Immediately make multiple copies of this victory report!"

Chen Wen issued the order in a deep voice.

One copy, to be sent as quickly as possible to Jinzhou city, to inform Shi Dun and Li Hong, so that the defending troops may also hear this victory's call!

One copy, to be distributed to the entire army tomorrow, so that every soldier knows how glorious a victory their comrades have achieved in Hebei!

"The last copy……"

Chen Wen paused, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc.

Have them fire signal arrows into the Northern Han allied camp!

I want them to know too, that their ally is finished!

As commanded!

The officers inside the tent shouted their assent, their voices brimming with the excitement of pride and relief.

The orders were swiftly carried out.

Soon, the news of the great victory in Hebei spread like a prairie fire, instantly reaching the entire Chen army camp.

The atmosphere, originally subdued by the appearance of the nether bones, was completely swept away by this wave of victory.

Soldiers ran to and fro spreading the news, cheering and leaping with joy, the excitement shining on their weary faces.

We won! Hebei won!

Marshal Han and Marshal Zhang are amazing!

See how the Northern Han dogs and those Iron Crows can still be arrogant!

Morale surged at a visible pace, even surpassing the level after the initial victory.

At the same time, several remarkably strong archers, under the cover of shield-bearers, crept to the edge of the allied camp's bow and crossbow range, tied several copies of the victory report written on silk to whistling arrows, and shot them forcefully toward the enemy camp.

One can imagine how grim the faces of the Northern Han allied forces, especially the high-ranking officers of the Iron Crow Army, would be upon seeing this detailed victory report describing how Liu Yanzuo suffered a crushing defeat and how the rebels were utterly destroyed.

This is not merely a transmission of information; it is the most direct and naked psychological blow to morale.

Chen Wen climbed the watchtower once again.

He felt that the vortex of Fortune Momentum within him, representing the fate of Great Chen, became more vigorous and weightier thanks to this crucial victory in Hebei.

Although he still could not actively command it, that vigorous vitality and power nonetheless fed back into him, making the recovery speed of the mental energy expended from using Ability Granting and sensing nodes seem a bit faster.

He gazed toward the enemy camp.

That icy will, after the Hebei victory report arrived, became noticeably restless, even revealing a hint of vexation from having its plans repeatedly disrupted.

And the fifty nether bones, staked like poisonous thorns outside the camp, saw their deep azure glow faintly dim under the surge of Fortune Momentum and the morale shock.

The great momentum… is mine.

Chen Wen softly uttered four words, facing the icy wind of the northern borders, his posture straight as a pine.

The victory in Hebei sounded the horn of counteroffensive.

The stalemate in Jinzhou will surely be broken thereby.

He could hardly wait for the final showdown.