Hexi County

October!

The northern winds, carrying a chilling blast, felt like a bone-scraping cold blade.

The battle at Anning Pass had concluded, while at Jubei Pass, the Northern Garrison Army, despite facing three hundred thousand Xiongnu troops, had not retreated an inch and was still locked in a bloody struggle.

Qishan Fortress had been breached by the Xiongnu Right Worthy King's army. Ten thousand Xiongnu cavalry surged south, crushing the lands of Yan, Qi, and Deng prefectures.

With the three prefectures fallen, women were seized by the Xiongnu army. The old, weak, and infirm were slaughtered in countless numbers, and able-bodied men were captured and taken as slaves.

Waves of refugees fled south, vast amounts of gold, silver, treasures, and grain were plundered by the Xiongnu army, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.

The fall of the three prefectures sent shockwaves throughout Great Wei.

Countless scholars and literati cursed vehemently, denouncing the court for its inaction and the defending generals for their cowardice.

Jin Daorong, the defending general at Qishan Fortress, was dismissed from his post under the immense public outcry.

The Second Prince, overseeing the state, had not anticipated the severity of the situation. The fall of the three prefectures also placed him under significant public scrutiny and pressure.

In response, the Second Prince was compelled to order Marquis Li, Great General Li, to lead a twenty-thousand-strong army north to repel the Xiongnu.

The march of the twenty thousand troops, led by Marquis Li, the Second Prince's most powerful supporter, further complicated the already turbulent political landscape in Luojing, leaving the Second Prince increasingly overwhelmed.

Currently, in Luojing, princes, royalty, and ambitious figures were engaged in fierce, back-and-forth power struggles, thoroughly enjoying the game.

The changes in the capital also had a considerable impact on the border.

Yang Ye's submitted request for casualty compensation had yet to receive a response.

The Northern Garrison Marquis at Jubei Pass's plea for reinforcements from the court had also been shelved.

The Anning Army, having endured the baptism of war, was still recruiting soldiers and training its troops, slowly recovering its strength.

On this day, a plea for aid arrived in Yang Ye's hands.

Two hundred miles west of Anning Pass lay a county named Hexi.

It was Great Wei Dynasty's northwesternmost county. Northwest of Hexi County were the Hexi Grasslands, formerly Great Wei's Hexi Prefecture, which had been seized by the Rong Di tribes. The only remaining county town was named Hexi County.

The letter in Yang Ye's hand was a plea for help from Hexi County.

Thirty thousand Rong Di troops were attacking the pass. Half of Hexi County's two thousand defenders had already fallen, leaving it in a precarious state. The county magistrate of Hexi requested the Anning Army's assistance.

Yang Ye handed the letter to his five brigade generals for review.

After reading it, the five brigade generals wore grave expressions.

"This is truly an eventful period!" Sun Hao sighed.

The entire northern frontier was ablaze, with no place of peace.

"Scouts report that the Left Virtuous King's army has retreated twenty kilometers but has not led his troops back into the depths of the grasslands. I fear he is unwilling to give up and still covets our Anning Pass," Li Daoru stated.

Their Anning Pass now consisted of eighty to ninety percent new recruits. Should the Left Virtuous King return, the pressure would only intensify.

When border troops are neglected by both maternal and paternal families, it is the most difficult of times. On one hand, they bear the responsibility of defending the territory; on the other, they are ignored and abandoned by the court. Retreat is not an option, leaving them with no choice but to fight to the death.

Currently, the Anning Army harbored considerable dissatisfaction and resentment towards the court.

"What do you think we should do? Who should be sent for reinforcements?" Yang Ye looked at his subordinate brigade generals.

Zhao Yong'an, Sun Hao, and the others exchanged glances.

They all had to remain at Anning Pass, so they could only send their subordinates.

However, very few of their subordinates were capable of independent command.

"Why not send that young man, Sheng Huai'an? His strength is comparable to Xiantian. He should be able to hold off the Rong Di tribes, as they are not a major Rong Di tribe," Sun Hao suggested.

Among the colonels, Sheng Huai'an was currently the strongest, and he also possessed some skill in leading troops into battle.

"Indeed, I also recommend Sheng Huai'an. This young man is a skilled fighter and a warmonger. He will surely be willing to go," Zhao Yong'an agreed.

"If that's the case, then he must undertake this task. Dispatch soldiers to complete his contingent, and have him depart immediately to reinforce Hexi County," Yang Ye ordered without delay.

Soon, Sheng Huai'an received the military order.

"What? Our camp is to reinforce Hexi County?" Sheng Huai'an asked the messenger, thinking he had misheard.

His camp only had three hundred men, and they hadn't even been fully assembled yet. Three hundred men to reinforce Hexi County?

Was this some kind of joke?

"General's orders. Priority will be given to completing your camp's personnel. Colonel Sheng is to lead the troops immediately to reinforce Hexi County," the messenger replied.

Upon hearing that his camp would be completed, Sheng Huai'an breathed a sigh of relief.

If they were truly sending him with only three hundred men to reinforce, it would be no different from sending them to their deaths.

He immediately ordered the assembly, and the three hundred soldiers under his command quickly gathered.

"Colonel, is there a battle? Why the urgent assembly?" Guo Xiaoping inquired.

"Indeed. There is a military order. Hexi County is under attack by a large Rong Di army, and General Yang Ye has ordered us to reinforce them," Sheng Huai'an announced loudly.

"Colonel, are you sure the military order is correct?" Hu Bing asked, his face full of doubt.

Their camp only had three hundred men; how could they possibly reinforce?

"That's correct. Another 1,700 men will be added to our battalion," Sheng Huai'an explained.

After hearing his explanation, everyone's doubts were cleared.

"Depart!"

Sheng Huai'an led his troops to the training grounds. Yang Ye had already assembled the forces: two thousand warhorses and 1,700 soldiers.

"Reporting to the General, my unit has been assembled as ordered," Sheng Huai'an said, approaching Yang Ye.

Sun Hao and Zhao Yong'an stood behind Yang Ye.

Yang Ye looked at Sheng Huai'an. "Hexi County is in distress. I'll provide you with 2,000 soldiers. Take 2,000 cavalry and rush to reinforce them immediately. You cannot let the Rong Di break through Hexi County and advance south. Can you accomplish this?"

"We swear to defend our territory and expel the enemy!" Sheng Huai'an declared loudly.

"Good, I await your good news!"

Yang Ye nodded with a smile.

"Mount up!" Sheng Huai'an immediately ordered.

The two thousand men mounted their horses. Sheng Huai, holding a battle flag, waved it forward.

"Depart!"

He led the 2,000 cavalry, without delay, and set off.

The two thousand iron cavalry, in a mighty procession, rode out of Anning Pass and galloped towards Hexi County.

Watching Sheng Huai'an lead his troops away, Yang Ye saw them off.

Currently, the few brigade generals and he could not leave Anning Pass. Their only hope for reinforcing Hexi County rested on Sheng Huai'an.

They also wanted to see if Sheng Huai'an could create a miracle.

This was a desperate measure, as they truly couldn't spare any elite troops to reinforce Hexi County.

With a Rong Di army of 30,000, there would inevitably be Xiantian experts.

For Sheng Huai'an, this was a challenge.

Moreover, with 1,700 newly arrived recruits who hadn't trained or coordinated at all, Sheng Huai'an himself was filled with apprehension.

But Hexi County had to be saved. If the Rong Di people managed to break through Hexi County, Yongzhou would also face the Rong Di cavalry.

If the Rong Di were to launch an attack behind Anning Pass, coordinating with the Xiongnu army, it would be even more fatal.

In Hexi County, all four city gates were tightly shut, with the Rong Di army at the city walls.

Last night, the Rong Di army had launched a probing attack with only 2,000 men, causing over 500 casualties among the defending garrison.

To request reinforcements, the county magistrate and the defending colonel had exaggerated the casualties by double.

Today, the Rong Di army continued their assault, with 3,000 Rong Di troops relentlessly attacking the city.

The defending soldiers resisted fiercely, continuously pouring down stones, molten metal, and other projectiles to stop the Rong Di army's advance.

The Hexi County magistrate and colonel personally wielded swords on the city walls, fighting the enemy.

With the county magistrate and colonel leading the way, the 2,000 county soldiers of Hexi County did not retreat, fighting bravely.

Under the magistrate's call, the courageous and martial men within the city also rushed to the city walls to help defend against the enemy.

"Soldiers, hold the line! The reinforcements from the Anning Army will arrive soon, and victory will surely be ours!" County Magistrate Chen shouted loudly, boosting morale.

With 30,000 Rong Di troops invading, they would not be able to hold their ground without reinforcements.

Looking at the Wei soldiers stubbornly resisting on the city walls, Yu Danjun's lips curved into a mocking smile, as if toying with prey.

"Young Master, why don't we press forward with the main army, take Hexi County, and plunder all the wealth?" an old man beside him asked.

"Uncle Xianyou, there's no thrill in killing prey with a single blow. We must savor the process of the chase and hunt.

Just like now, we must enjoy the resistance of the Wei people, and then watch them slowly descend into despair. We must appreciate their expressions of despair to feel the sense of conquest," Yu Danjun said with a smile.

They were from the Xianyu tribe of the Rong Di people, a large tribe within the Rong Di, occupying the Hexi Grasslands.

This expedition was initiated by Yu Danjun, the crown prince of the Xianyu tribe, who wanted to take advantage of the situation to raid. He led a 30,000-strong army south to attack Hexi County.

Seeing Yu Danjun's words, Xianyou did not speak further.

Otherwise, with the meager defending force in Hexi County, he, a Xiantian expert, could have taken the county with ease.

"Someone, send another 3,000 men forward. I want these Wei people to experience what despair truly is," Yu Danjun continued to command.