Chapter 322: Ghost?

Chapter 322: Ghost?

Next, when she goes to Tong Pass, she must seek the second prince’s assistance to expedite the search for her husband.

Furthermore, Tong Pass is home to numerous generals.

Besides the second prince, she can also enlist the help of other generals in her search.

Meanwhile, in the Liao army camp.

Xiao Yuan, who had been gloomy for some time, finally smiled today.

This was because the reinforcements he had been eagerly awaiting had finally arrived.

Inside the main command tent.

"Issue my orders: we attack the city at dawn! We will capture Tong Pass in one swift move!" Xiao Yuan arranged the mission, concluding his instructions.

He had waited so long for this moment that he was reaching his limits.

Had it not been for the need to rest the newly arrived reinforcements, he would have issued the attack order tonight.

Tong Pass shall be his!

"Understood!" The generals responded immediately, their excitement palpable.

"All of you, prepare yourselves!" Xiao Yuan added.

"Aye, sir!"

After the generals had left, Xiao Yuan returned to his desk.

He must win this battle, and not just win, but crush the Jin army, seizing vast territories from the Jin state.

Only in this way would the court officials have no basis to criticize the Empress Dowager.

It would also alleviate the emperor's suspicions of the Empress Dowager.

After all, they were not related by blood, and their relationship was not as harmonious as it seemed.

This time, he had brought trouble to the Empress Dowager.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yuan felt a heavy burden in his heart.

The next day, at dawn, the Liao Army sounded the war horn.

This assault was fierce, and the Liao Army moved swiftly like a pack of wolves, as numerous as the waves, constantly assaulting the various city walls of Tong Pass.

Fortunately, the second prince was well-prepared, and his soldiers responded swiftly, fighting valiantly, firmly repelling the Liao soldiers outside the pass.

With both sides fighting desperately, the battle was extremely brutal.

Both the Liao and Jin armies suffered heavy casualties.

By midday, bodies had piled up like mountains at Tong Pass, and blood flowed like a river at the city gate.

Although the Liao Army charged up the city towers several times, they were repeatedly driven back by the Jin army.

The bravery of the Jin army refreshed the Liao Army's previous perception of the Jin soldiers.

Upon seeing the battle report from the front line, Xiao Yuan's expression was grave.

He had already deployed 30,000 troops to assault the three city towers of Tong Pass for half a day, but none had been captured.

Indeed, worthy of the Great Jin's second prince; the soldiers under his command are indeed superior to ordinary Jin troops.

However, even so, they won't be able to halt the mighty Liao cavalry.

"Give the order to continue the attack! The army that first breaches Tong Pass will see its commander promoted by one rank, and each soldier under him will be rewarded!" Xiao Yuan said solemnly.

"Yes!" Someone immediately took the order to pass it along.

Xiao Yuan’s gaze turned to the map on the table, already contemplating how to penetrate Jin territory and advance swiftly after breaching Tong Pass.

This time, the Liao Kingdom has paid such a huge price; he must ensure the Great Jin pays an even greater price to compensate for the Liao’s losses.

Inside Tong Pass.

The second prince and his commanders received the battle report from the front lines, and all wore serious expressions.

Upon hearing that the Liao army had once again committed additional forces to attack the city, with the determination to capture the city, the second prince’s brows furrowed deeply.

"Where is Mr. Qin?" The second prince asked in a low voice, shifting his gaze away from the map.

"According to the scout's report from half an hour ago, he should now be less than 100 li away from Tong Pass." Someone replied with a bow.

"Good." A glimmer of hope appeared in the second prince’s eyes.

"Give the order, let the soldiers hold on. All three city towers must be defended at all costs until Mr. Qin arrives!" he said firmly.

"Yes!" All the commanders responded.

Previously, when the second prince had gathered everyone to discuss countermeasures, they had already devised a strategy.

That was to concentrate all forces to firmly defend the three city gates, using the advantage of the terrain to exhaust as many Liao troops as possible.

However, the situation at the three gates was not the same, and the distribution of forces was not entirely uniform.

If the Liao army tested them for a little longer, they might find the weakest point and concentrate more forces to attack there.

In this way, the gates could be breached.

The second prince's intention was to defend the city at all costs, prolonging the time it would take for the Liao army to break through until the reinforcements arrived.

Once the reinforcements arrive, they will deliberately expose a weakness, allowing the Liao army to breach one of the city towers and fall into their trap.

Mr. Qin, known as "The God of Death of the Great Jin," commanded several special training teams, whose members were all ruthless assassins.

Even some of the elite soldiers, after being trained by Mr. Qin, became fiercely formidable. They were most suitable for such harvesting operations.

If everything goes smoothly, after this major battle, the numerical disparity between them and the Liao army may be eliminated.

Once that happens, given Xiao Yuan’s cautious nature, perhaps peace can be restored between the two sides.

Thus, the battle for Tong Pass continued.

Tong Pass had become a slaughterhouse.

As time dragged on, Xiao Yuan's patience was almost exhausted.

And on the second prince's side, the resistance was growing more difficult.

Fortunately, just before nightfall, Qin Xiaoyao finally arrived.

Hearing this news, the second prince personally led the military leaders out of the camp to welcome her.

Shortly after, with little formality, both sides got down to business.

Learning of the second prince’s strategy, Qin Xiaoyao expressed full agreement.

She then followed the second prince’s arrangements and acted according to the plan.

Shortly after nightfall, the Liao forces finally broke through the western gate of Tong Pass.

A large number of Liao soldiers poured into Tong Pass.

Xiao Yuan was overjoyed.

He then dispatched an additional 10,000 troops to rush to the western gate of Tong Pass.

Hoping to use these forces to breach the North and South Gates of Tong Pass, and thus completely take over the city.

When the Liao soldiers, wielding Liao sabers, charged into the western city of Tong Pass, they were unaware that Qin Xiaoyao had already set an ambush.

As they entered the trap, Qin Xiaoyao immediately ordered the attack.

The Jin army under her command emerged like heavenly warriors, taking the Liao soldiers completely by surprise.

Liao soldiers were mowed down by arrows or surrounded in small groups and wiped out.

Street battles and skirmishes erupted repeatedly.

The most active and ruthless were the specially trained units.

Familiar with the terrain beforehand, they used this advantage to constantly shuttle through the alleys, slaying Liao soldiers.

Wherever they went, countless Liao soldiers fell, screaming in agony.

The night, which should have been silent, was filled with the sounds of hooves and screams.

The Liao soldiers, initially elated as they stormed into the city, aimed to join forces with the Liao troops at the northern and southern city gates, intending to assist in capturing these gates.

But along the way, they faced constant ambushes, their numbers dwindling.

Witnessing the ghost-like appearances and terrifying tactics of the Jin army, they quickly became fearful. Their morale began to falter.

The Jin soldiers within Tong Pass seemed more like ghosts than living beings.

They appeared and disappeared mysteriously, treating the living as prey.

Once targeted, escape was nearly impossible.

Many Liao soldiers watched their comrades being slaughtered by these phantoms, who then grinned menacingly at them.

All of this had exceeded their comprehension and bearable limits.