The Army Besieged the Pass

The Great Yan border army had lost nearly half its men and could no longer wage a decisive strategic battle against the barbarian tribes. They could only hunker down and defend Dingyuan Pass.

In half a month, the barbarian tribes had gathered nearly three hundred thousand troops outside Dingyuan Pass. They could launch a full assault at any moment.

Every night, the barbarian tribes sent small groups of warriors to harass Dingyuan Pass, wearing down the border army in body and spirit.

Gao Yu sent nine urgent reports to the capital in quick succession, requesting that the court dispatch reinforcements.

But even if reinforcements could reach Dingyuan Pass, it would take at least another month.

Could Dingyuan Pass hold out that long?

No one knew.

A bitter wind howled.

Night blanketed all of Dingyuan Pass, and only a faint glow from the fires lit the city walls.

Soldiers huddled atop the walls, their snores rising and falling.

A few soldiers stood watch by the walls, facing the vast darkness.

One of them leaned almost all his weight on the spear in his hands.

His eyelids drooped again and again, and each time he struggled to open them.

At last, the spear in his hands slipped against the ground. He nearly fell, but the jolt snapped him awake.

The other soldiers standing watch beside him also jolted.

It seemed he wasn't the only one who'd been startled awake.

The soldier acted as if nothing had happened, straightened up on the wall, and turned his gaze back toward the night ahead.

Then sleepiness swept over him again.

It wasn't that the soldier didn't understand how dire the fighting had become.

He simply couldn't help it.

Almost every day lately, the barbarian tribes had sent small detachments to feign an attack on