As the early summer sun sank into the horizon, the wilderness seemed to be burning in waves.
Yunzhong Mansion, the towering city walls were hidden in the golden light. Carriages and horses came and went, and it still looked prosperous. However, on this day, when the sun set, the situation became tense.
At the western and southern city gates, the merchants were restless, and most of the escort teams took up their weapons. In the sun that engulfed the sky, smoke was rising in the distance. The guards went up the city wall.
Soldiers also gathered at the city gate, but there was no sign of panic. The Northern Land had been in chaos for a long time, and Yunzhong was a land of war. In the more than ten years after the Jin Kingdom destroyed Liao, the original soldiers either became nobles or went to the streets. Most of those who were merchants and escorts here had killed people. Even if the flames of war really came, they would not be afraid. Moreover, the border soldiers were nervous, and it was possible that they lit the wrong smoke.
Some people with connections had already approached the city gate, trying to get some information. More people, seeing that they could not get in for a while, gathered on the side of the road to chat and discuss. Some people boasted about their war experience in the past. "At that time, we would die if we lit the wrong smoke."
"… Maybe we met some bandits."
"Today's child soldiers …"
Only when the messenger cavalry galloped over from the south of their field of vision, the war horse that was practically foaming at the mouth under the whip of the rider entered the city did a piece of news explode among the crowd.
— Yanmen Pass has fallen, the dog in the south is here.
The news of the fall of Yanmen Pass caused an uproar near the city. But what did the dog in the south mean? Hearing the second half of the message, people even wanted to laugh. But soon after, whispers came out. Some people remembered the defeat thousands of miles away in March.
Yunzhong was too far away from the southwest. It was impossible for the army to send back battle reports from time to time. But in April, people in the Jin Kingdom finally knew about the defeat at Yan Bridge, the killing of Bao Shan, and Zong Han's retreat. This was only news in stages. The upper echelons of the Jin Kingdom were in an uproar, and they suppressed the news in doubt. But there were always people who could get such news from various channels.
The matter hadn't affected them yet. Everyone was willing to wait and see for a period of time when negative news spread thousands of miles away. But at this moment, some well-informed merchants and escorts recalled the incident: Marshal Zong Han had suffered a crushing defeat in the southwest, his son had been killed, and the Goddess of Valley the Wise was no match for the Great Devil in the south who had committed regicide and rebellion. It was said that the devil was an expert at manipulating people's minds and playing with strategies. Could it be that, in coordination with the situation in the southwest, he had arranged for the Central Plains to take advantage of the fact that the Jin Dynasty's troops were weak to counterattack? Directly invade and take Yan Yun?
Several thousand li away, after defeating Zong Han in the southwest, they would immediately launch a counterattack on the Central Plains. Such a grand strategy, such a tyrannical scheme brimming with ambition, such a bold spirit that could swallow the heavens and devour the earth. In the past, no one would have ever thought of such a thing. The people in the distant north did not even know what the southwest was.
But it was precisely because of this dense fog of information that the news of the southerners breaking through Yanmen Pass, while the situation in the southwest was still shrouded in secrecy, that many people could not help but connect the dots.
Under the setting sun, which looked like a splash of golden ink, a warning gong sounded in the City Amongst the Clouds.
It had been some time since the smoke signal rose from the south. Over the years, the Jin Kingdom had been strong and powerful. Although the land of Yan Yun had never been peaceful, and after the fall of Liao, bandits and horse thieves could not be eradicated, there were people like Zong Han and the Goddess of Valley keeping watch in Yunzhong City. These clowns could not cause too much trouble. The few times the smoke signal was seen, it wasn't a big deal. Maybe it was because bandits plotted to kill people and started a fire, or starving people attacked the military camp. Sometimes, it was even because the smoke signal was lit by mistake.
The gates of Yunzhong City were not closed. It was just that all the big families had gathered their servants and private armies to prevent people with ill intentions from taking advantage of the chaos to cause trouble. But as the first message arrived, the tense atmosphere in the Manor in the Clouds became as if water had been soaked under a piece of paper. The noble children quickly rode through the streets and alleys of the city, discussing with each other and making connections.
The elders and relatives of these people were mostly in the army, so they kept a close eye on the military situation in the southwest. The news of March had already made them restless, but after all, it was a long journey, so they could only keep their worries to themselves. Now that they were suddenly slapped in the face by the news of the southern dog breaking through the Yanmen Pass, they trembled all over — most of them realized that if this was really the case, the matter might not be a small one.
Most of the commoners in the city did not know what had happened. Some of the nobles had already begun to distribute weapons and armor to the private soldiers at home. When Wanyan Dezhong rode back to the Prince's Mansion, several young people had already gathered there. They were exchanging information with his younger brother Wanyan Youyi in the side hall. The housekeepers had also gathered their family guards. He greeted the crowd and ordered his men to fetch his own armor, and then he said, "Everything happened in a hurry, the intelligence at present is not clear. Brothers, don't panic yourselves. Whether it's Central Plains people or not, we still can't be sure at present."
Wanyan Youyi had also put on his soft armor. "They attacked from the south through Yanmen Pass. If they weren't from the Central Plains, who else could it be?"
"Yanmen Pass fell this morning. The warning couldn't be sent out in time. The cavalry from the south chased and killed the soldiers who were guarding the pass. They broke through two relay stations and only lit the beacon when they reached the Guanyun Inn, 40 miles north of Yanmen Pass. The person who escaped into the city just now didn't say much. The specific situation is not clear yet. "
"They only had time to light the beacon after fighting for 40 miles … This group of people is strong and well-trained. They must have planned this." A nobleman stood up. "Damn it. We can't underestimate the enemy."
"But there are thousands of soldiers guarding Yanmen Pass. Why didn't the news spread?"
"Unless they broke through the north gate at lightning speed after they seized the pass and cut off the way to the north?"
"… With the elite light cavalry, we still need to have a smooth battle. However, Yanmen Pass hasn't suffered a military disaster for a long time. A group of businessmen came and went. The guards were careless. It's hard to say. "
"… There are usually more than three thousand soldiers stationed near the Yanmen Pass. If the enemy deceives them to open the city gate from the south, and then rushes out from the north at high speed to cut off their way, those three thousand soldiers will be blocked at the Yanmen Pass. They will definitely fight to the death. This is a desperate fight. The enemy needs real elites. But how can the Black Flag Army of the Central Plains have such elites? If the enemy directly broke through the pass in the north, it might be more believable. "
"If that's the case, the guards should at least be able to light the beacon. I think it's the group of people from Liangshan. "
"Liangshan and Yanmen Pass are not thousands of miles apart, but at least 800 miles apart."
"I've speculated before that this group of people are entrenched in East Shandong Road. Now that they are blocked by King of Lu in the north and Zong Fu and Zong Bi's army in the south, they will die sooner or later. I think it's possible that they attacked from thousands of miles away to take Yanmen Pass."
"Are the spies that King of Lu placed in the Central Plains all dead?"
"Is the Black Flag Army really so powerful?"
The group of young people who were familiar with Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi mostly had fathers who served under the Goddess of Grains. Many of them had also studied in Xi Yin's private school. They usually discussed war strategies in their spare time. At this moment, they looked at each other and speculated about the situation. Although it was hard to believe, the more they thought about it, the more they felt it was possible.
Wanyan Youyi frowned and said, "Back then, this Inner Demon only had a few thousand men and he killed the Wu dynasty emperor like killing a chicken. Later, he fought from the northwest to the southwest. Until today … Which one of you thought of this? If it's really the war in the southwest, he attacked Yanmen Pass from thousands of miles away. This kind of scale … "
As he said this, he pulled the armor on his body and it made a clattering sound. Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Although they did not pay attention to these things in the past, they all knew the purpose of the expedition of their elders. Before the expedition, Zong Han and the Goddess of Grains had prepared for this war to be the last war of the Jurchen to conquer the world.
The group of young people did not know the specific reason why their elders paid attention to the southwest. But as Zong Han met his match and even had his son killed, the Goddess of Grains, who had always been successful in devising strategies, was obviously defeated by the Han Demon's plot in the southwest. Only then did everyone have a standard to measure the horror of the Demon.
When they thought of the fact that the Demon had consecutively defeated the two founding heroes of the Jin Kingdom, and even arranged an army from thousands of miles away to launch such a fierce attack on the Jin Kingdom, the group of young people felt a chill in their hearts and their scalp went numb.
Realizing this, the side hall even fell into a suffocating silence for a moment. Someone said, "If that's the case, Yunzhong Residence should be put under martial law as soon as possible. Since this group of people attacked with light cavalry speed, perhaps they are targeting Yunzhong."
"Sealing the city must be decided by Sir Shi."
"I'm just afraid that Sir Shi is too cautious …"
While everyone was discussing, the servants and private soldiers gathered outside. It was also very lively. Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi walked to the side and discussed in a low voice how they should ask their mother about this.
Their mother, Chen Wenjun, was known as the "Han Madam". She usually took care of the Han people in the south. Everyone had a tacit understanding on this matter and the two brothers were also very protective of their mother. But at that time, the Jurchen Zhenren had the upper hand and Lady Yin was kind, so no one dared to say anything. Now that the "southern dogs" had killed their way through Yanmen Pass, what would everyone think of the "Han Madam"? Or perhaps, what would their mother herself think of this matter? The two brothers were filial people, so they couldn't help but feel a little conflicted about this matter.
While they were in a state of confusion, they saw a few figures coming from the side hall. Everyone in the room stood up one after another and saluted.
The one who came was Chen Wenjun.
Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi also reacted and hurriedly went forward to greet her. However, they saw Chen Wenjun's phoenix-like eyebrows furrow. She swept her gaze over the dozen or so young people in the room and said, "That's enough. What are you all still doing here? Marshal Zong Han has led the army on an expedition, leaving Yunzhong Residence empty of troops. Now that the smoke of war has risen, although the news from the frontlines has not been confirmed, you are all nobles and should seize the time to prepare for battle. Are you all going to wait for the order to come before putting on your clothes? "
Her voice was cold and clear. She looked at her son beside her and said, "Dezhong, take stock of the number of people and supplies in the house. If there is any further news, immediately report the situation to the city guards. You personally go to Sir Shi and wait for his orders. Youyi, you take care of the house with you. "
Wanyan Dezhong said, "Yes." Wanyan Youyi had some objections to this arrangement. He called out, "Mother …" Chen Wenjun glared at him and he didn't say anything else.
She swept her gaze over the others and said, "You all go home as well. Make preparations and wait for my orders. Remember, when the time comes, do whatever the higher-ups want you to do. Don't disobey them in the slightest. When I came over just now, I heard you all talking about Sir Shi. If a fight really breaks out and you all go to the battlefield, this kind of thing can't happen again. Remember all of them!? "
Everyone hurriedly agreed and then took their leave. They each went home to do a detailed accounting. After everyone had left, Dezhong and Youyi went to their mother's side. The three of them walked along the corridor illuminated by the setting sun. Wanyan Dezhong hesitated for a long time and couldn't help but say, "Mother, if this time it really is the Han from the south …"
They saw their mother's distant gaze looking at the flowers outside the Lang Garden in front of them. She sighed and said, "Your father and I have been together for so many years. Even if it really is the people of the Central Plains attacking, what can we do? You all go and prepare yourselves. If the enemy really comes, just fight with all your might. That's all. All right, go and do your man's work. "
She patted her two sons' shoulders. Wanyan Dezhong left first. Wanyan Youyi followed beside him for a while. Not long after, he also went to make arrangements for the family guards. Chen Wenjun walked through the courtyard of the mansion. Not long after, she walked to a high place in the mansion and looked at the surroundings of Yunzhong City. The setting sun turned from golden to red and was swallowed by the western horizon. The city was bustling and restless. Specks of fire were lit up. She thought of the land of the Han family that she had left many years ago.
Are the Hans really coming to kill us?
Not long ago, Shi Liai and Tang Minjie had warned her about the problem of the location. The news of Yue Yue Xie Bao's death had shocked her for a long time. Today, the news of Yanmen Pass being breached truly made people feel that the world had changed.
She had been here for too long. It was so long that she had a child. It was so long that she had adapted to this world. It was so long that her hair at her temples turned white. It was so long that she suddenly felt that there would never be a day when she would return to the south. It was so long that she once thought that the world's situation was really just this.
The wooden railings at the top of the attic were still slightly warm from the sun. She even felt a sense of familiarity when she caressed them with her palm. This was something from the north. She had lived with them for too long. What was the south like? Pavilions, attics, small bridges, and flowing water. Her memory was no longer very clear. She had also seen countless sad things.
Inner Demon Ning Yi had defeated Wanyan Zonghan. Her husband and the others seemed to be powerless. Now, Yanmen Pass had been breached. Was this really the work of the king-slaying demon in the south?
She thought of Tang Minjie. She looked at the City Amongst the Clouds where the crowd had gathered. What was he doing at this time? He was such a crazy member of the Black Flag. But he was only crazy because of pain. If the Inner Demon Ning Yi in the south was also as crazy — or even crazier and scarier — then the matter of him defeating Zonghan and the Goddess of Grains would not be so hard to imagine …
"… If one day, the Han people defeat the Lady Zhenren and Yan Ran is dead, where will you go?"
The words of the madman seemed to be ringing in her ears. She sighed softly. Some things in this world were scary. As for the matter of whether the Han people would really kill their way over, she did not even know whether she should look forward to it or not. She could only not think about it and temporarily put the problem at the back of her mind. The atmosphere in the city was somber and chaos was about to break out. Perhaps the madman was also happily causing destruction.
She could almost clearly see the excited look of the madman in her mind.
Forget it. Ever since she came to the north, the world that she had seen was chaotic. It did not matter if there was one more madman or one less madman. She did not care about it anymore …
Not long after, there was a second and third message that came to Yunzhong one after another. Although the identity of the enemy was still in doubt, it was already in the afternoon that the cavalry was advancing towards Yunzhong. It was already confirmed that they had taken down several military camps and roadblocks. The other party's intention was directed towards Yunzhong.
At a quarter past seven, Shi Liai issued an order to close the four gates, cordon off the city, and mobilize the troops. Although the news that came had begun to suspect that it was not the Black Flag Army who attacked Yanmen Pass, the news of "the southern dog is coming" still spread in the city. Chen Wenjun sat in the attic and looked at the sparks of fire. She knew that it would be a sleepless night in Yunzhong …
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