Chapter 1635: Eliminating Potential Threats

The fall of the enemy general was like a signal flare, instantly igniting panic and chaos within the fortress. Zhao Yun's figure stood tall amidst the firelight and smoke, his long spear dripping with blood, like a war god descended. Wherever his gaze fell, the enemy soldiers trembled and retreated.

"Those who surrender shall be spared!" Zhao Yun's voice pierced through the clamor of the battlefield, clear and powerful. Some enemy soldiers who were still resisting heard this and threw down their weapons one after another, kneeling on the ground to beg for their lives. Zhao Yun did not slaughter the innocent; he knew deeply that the purpose of war was not for killing, but for peace and stability. He ordered his soldiers to collect weapons and guard the prisoners, while continuing to push deeper into the fortress to ensure complete control of the entire stronghold.

Meanwhile, the other two armies also made significant progress. The team launching the frontal feint, after attracting a large amount of the enemy's attention, retreated at the right moment and joined the second army that had detoured to the enemy's rear, together cutting off the fortress's connection to the outside world. The enemy forces were divided into several pieces, each fighting on their own, their combat effectiveness greatly reduced.

Under Zhao Yun's leadership, the third army not only captured the command center but also quickly occupied key positions in the fortress, such as the granary and the armory, ensuring the continuity of subsequent supplies and combat. In the night, the fortress's flags were changed, marking the birth of the victor of this battle.

However, the battle was not completely over. Deep within the fortress, there was still a stubborn enemy force gathered in the final bastion, resisting to the death. This was a unit composed of elite warriors, well-equipped and well-trained, serving as the enemy's last line of defense.

Zhao Yun knew deeply that to end the battle completely, this bastion had to be conquered. He quickly assembled all available forces, including those among the newly surrendered enemy soldiers who were willing to join the resistance, forming a powerful assault team. After a brief mobilization, Zhao Yun led this mixed force to charge toward the final bastion.

The bastion's defenses were exceptionally sturdy, with towering stone walls and dense arrow towers. Arrows fell like raindrops, attempting to block the attackers' steps. Zhao Yun took the lead, holding his long spear, charging at the very front. His figure wove through the rain of arrows, every dodge perfectly timed, as if he had the ability to foresee the future.

"Follow me!" Zhao Yun shouted, his figure surging forward like a wild horse off its tether, charging straight for the bastion gate. Under his leadership, the soldiers' morale soared, and they followed closely behind, disregarding life and death, fighting bravely forward.

The gate collapsed with a thunderous crash under the violent impact, and Zhao Yun was the first to charge into the interior of the bastion. Inside, the enemy elite warriors were already prepared, and both sides engaged in a life-and-death struggle. Here, there were no large-scale charges or retreats, only hand-to-hand combat and slaughter; every inch of land witnessed the cruelty of the battle.

Zhao Yun's long spear danced among the crowd, every swing accompanied by the wails of the enemy. His spear technique was both fierce and delicate, capable of killing with a single strike while also precisely controlling his strength to avoid harming friendly troops. Under his leadership, the assault team gradually gained the upper hand, the number of enemy elite warriors continuously decreased, and their defensive line began to collapse.

Just then, an enemy general rushed out from the crowd, holding dual blades, heading straight for Zhao Yun. This man was burly and possessed immense strength, every strike capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks. Seeing this, Zhao Yun's eyes narrowed slightly; he knew this was a decisive duel.

The two clashed like a dragon and a tiger fighting; amidst the flashing blades and shadows, sparks flew. Zhao Yun and the enemy general traded blows, locked in an inseparable struggle. The surrounding battle seemed to freeze at this moment, all eyes focused on this peak duel.

Zhao Yun's figure was light, his steps flexible; he utilized the length advantage of his long spear to constantly probe for the enemy general's openings. The enemy general, meanwhile, relied on brute force and speed, attempting to defeat Zhao Yun in one fell swoop. The two fought for dozens of rounds, still without a victor.

Suddenly, Zhao Yun's figure swayed, as if he were about to fall to the ground. Seeing this, the enemy general was overjoyed, thinking the opportunity had arrived, and slashed down violently. However, this was a feigned opening deliberately sold by Zhao Yun. Just as the enemy general's blade was about to fall, Zhao Yun's figure surged, his long spear like lightning, piercing straight into the enemy general's chest.

"Puchi!" The long spear pierced through the enemy general's armor, plunging straight into his heart. The enemy general's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, and finally, he slowly fell.

With the death of the enemy general, the enemy forces within the bastion completely lost the will to resist and surrendered one after another. Zhao Yun stood at the highest point of the bastion, looking at the scarred battlefield, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Although war was cruel, it also brought the dawn of peace.

On the horizon, the first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds, illuminating this land ravaged by war. Zhao Yun knew that a new chapter was about to begin, and he would continue to shoulder the heavy responsibility of guarding this land, moving forward on an endless journey.

With the final conquest of the bastion, deafening cheers rang out inside and outside the fortress. Zhao Yun stood high up, looking at the gradually brightening sky, his heart filled with both the joy of victory and deep mourning for the sacrificed soldiers. He knew deeply that behind every victory lay the payment and sacrifice of countless lives.

"General, we won!" a deputy general ran over excitedly, his face overflowing with irrepressible joy.

Zhao Yun nodded slightly, his gaze profound: "Yes, we won. But the battle is not over; there are more challenges waiting for us. Pass the order down: immediately organize the troops, treat the wounded, and bury the sacrificed soldiers. At the same time, send an envoy to the enemy's main camp to inform them that the fortress is under our control and demand they withdraw their troops immediately, otherwise we will launch a full-scale offensive."

The deputy general took the order and left, while Zhao Yun continued to patrol the fortress, ensuring every part was under control. He knew deeply that post-war reconstruction and stabilizing the defensive line were equally important; he could not give the enemy any chance to counterattack.

As time passed, the fortress gradually restored order. The wounded received timely treatment, and the sacrificed soldiers were properly buried. Zhao Yun set up a simple command center in the center of the fortress, summoned the generals of all routes, and began to discuss the next strategic plan.

"General, although the enemy's main camp received our message, they did not withdraw immediately; instead, there are signs of them strengthening their defenses." A scout reported the latest enemy situation.

Zhao Yun's brows locked, and after pondering for a moment, he said: "The enemy is clearly unwilling to accept defeat; they may be waiting for reinforcements or looking for a chance to counterattack. We cannot lower our guard; we must make full preparations."

Subsequently, Zhao Yun deployed a detailed defense plan, including strengthening the fortress walls, adding arrow towers, and setting up traps. At the same time, he sent out multiple reconnaissance teams to closely monitor the movements of the enemy's main camp, ensuring he could timely discover and respond to any potential threats. ===== CHAPTER 1636 =====