kvmb Chapter 899 Snowing
Chapter 899 Snowing
There are more than a dozen prefectures to the north of Chenzhou, which were originally all part of the territory of the Great Zhao.
After the Battle of Shunhe more than 20 years ago, the northern territories, including Jinzhou, Tongzhou, and Fengzhou, fell into the hands of Northern Yan. The two sides were almost separated by the Shunhe River, and a large area of land north of the Shunhe River was occupied by Northern Yan.
Later, Rong Che led his army north and recovered a large area of northern territory, but was defeated in Chenzhou.
After the defeat at Chenzhou, General Cheng, as the commander-in-chief of the northern garrison, gradually reclaimed several cities near Chenzhou and set the northern border in Yingzhou, north of Chenzhou.
Over the years, small-scale conflicts have continued in the north, but they have never crossed Yingzhou.
This time, the Northern Yan army marched south and captured two cities near Yingzhou. The two armies were locked in a stalemate in Yizhou, northwest of Yingzhou. Once Yizhou was captured, they would advance directly on Yingzhou, completely shattering the superficial peace of the past few years and officially starting the war.
Now, the army of Da Zhao has been forced out of Yizhou and retreated to Fengming Mountain.
The night is getting dark.
Inside the temporary tent of the Da Zhao army camp, the commander Zong Shuo's lips were cracked and dry, and his cheeks were covered with bloodstains that had not yet been treated. He frowned as he looked at the sand table in front of him. The flag on Yizhou had already fallen. From Yizhou to Yingzhou, Fengming Mountain was the last checkpoint.
The tent was brightly lit.
Yan Yue lifted the curtain and came in. "General, the strategist just said that according to the celestial phenomena last night, it looks like it will snow in the next couple of days."
Zong Shuo didn't look up, staring at the topographical map on the sand table. "Fengming Mountain is not a dangerous pass. Once it snows, these two passes will definitely fall, and we will have no choice but to retreat to Yingzhou."
Yan Yue came over. Their vanguard, led by Zong Shuo, consisted of 30,000 troops. They had been fighting against Northern Yan for almost a month, losing nearly 10,000 men, and still lost Yizhou. They retreated to Fengming Mountain. If they couldn't hold Fengming Mountain, then Yingzhou would be next.
As the main base of the garrison in the north, Yingzhou has accumulated more than 50,000 civilians over the years. The north has been plagued by war for many years. After the Northern Yan occupied the north, some civilians fled south, while most of them became slaves of the Northern Yan. Originally, only one in ten of the northern people survived. After the army was stationed in Yingzhou and things became relatively stable, the refugees gradually settled down, and the military households that have slowly developed over the years have now reached a considerable size.
This is the hometown they worked so hard to build.
Once the Yan army reaches Yingzhou, the evacuation of the city's residents alone will be a massive undertaking, and they will likely be displaced again.
Zong Shuo came to Beiguan when he was eleven years old, and it has been almost ten years since then.
He watched Yingzhou gradually stabilize. Now, if he can't hold onto Yingzhou, what will become of the people?
There were no outsiders in the tent at the moment, and Yan Yue lowered his voice, "Fourth Brother, judging by the time, Cousin should be arriving soon. As long as we hold out for two more days, once Cousin arrives, we can defend Fengming Mountain, and the people won't have to flee south anymore."
Zong Que stared at the sand table with a solemn expression: "Fengming Mountain is just one of the passes. To the north and northeast, there are two more passes. If any of these passes fall, Yingzhou will be in grave danger. The day before yesterday, the General sent someone to deliver a message that if Fengming Mountain cannot be held, the people should be evacuated from Yingzhou as soon as possible. We cannot be sure which pass the Yan army will concentrate its forces to attack. Even if Second Brother's reinforcements arrive, we cannot act rashly."
"Report!"
"General, enemy tracks have been spotted to the west, and the sound of approaching horses' hooves can be heard!"
The soldier urgently reported the incident.
Zong Shuo hadn't even had time to change out of his armor when he heard the report. He grabbed his spear and headed out of the tent.
"Order to assemble!"
The sound of bugles rang out in the deep of night.