Chapter 325 Arrival at Zhennan Pass

Yan Shixu led the elite imperial guards and marched day and night, not daring to delay any time except for necessary rest and supply.

However, what I saw and heard along the way was shocking.

The closer we got to the border of Jingzhou, the more refugees there were on the official road.

Most of them looked terrified and migrated north with their families.

The baby in the cradle cried hoarsely and weakly, the old man staggered with the help of a wooden stick, and the atmosphere of despair filled the dusty road.

After asking, I found out that these were people from the cities near Zhennan Pass.

They all heard that Zhennan Pass was about to be abandoned, the Nanzhao ghost soldiers and plague were wreaking havoc, and the people of the entire Jingzhou would eventually die.

They were worried that the war would spread to their city, so they fled with their families in advance.

There were also people who moved their families later who said that there was now an imperial envoy in charge of Zhennan Pass. The envoy was the biological brother of the Imperial Noble Consort and his wife, Nangong.

The court sent them here, which means they will not give up Zhennan Pass.

But the people still had doubts. Although the other party was of noble status, if he couldn't defend Zhennan Pass and protect the people of Jingzhou...

The people in the nearby cities are also not far from death.

Therefore, there was a constant stream of people fleeing with their families.

Panic spread like an invisible plague as the refugees moved, disrupting the order of the state capitals along the way.

"His Majesty."

The accompanying Minister of War Su Zhanyue was worried. He was already worried about his son, and when he saw this scene, he almost couldn't maintain his calmness on his face.

"Rumors are rife, and public sentiment is unsettled. If the news of Your Majesty personally leading the expedition is not quickly disseminated, civil unrest may ensue. Furthermore, with these refugees intermingling, there's no guarantee there won't be spies from Nanzhao fanning the flames."

Yan Shixu's face was as solemn as iron, and his hawk-like eyes swept across the silent villages on both sides of the official road and the withered crops in the fields, finally landing on the fleeing team that was winding like a long snake with no end in sight.

"Issue orders to all prefectures along the way to open their granaries, release grain, build temporary shelters, and properly house the refugees! Thoroughly investigate the source of the rumors and post notices stating that I have personally led the army and will not abandon Zhennan Pass! Anyone who dares to spread rumors and incite rebellion will be executed immediately!" He paused, then continued, "Also, order the Secret Guard to immediately cast a net and once again investigate those Nanzhao spies hiding among the refugees! It's better to catch the wrong ones than to let them go!"

The order was issued quickly, and officials from prefectures along the way did not dare to neglect it. On the one hand, they opened their warehouses to provide relief, on the other hand, they sent troops to maintain order and announce the news that the emperor was personally leading the expedition.

Notices were posted all over the city and countryside. The six powerful characters written by the emperor himself, "Zhennan Pass will never be abandoned", acted like a magic needle that stabilized the sea, slightly calming the anxious people's hearts.

The secret guards also moved like ghosts, successively catching several Nanzhao spies who spread rumors and tried to create chaos.

Executed on the spot, his head hung up in public to serve as a warning to others.

When the team entered the territory of Jingzhou, the air suddenly became humid and hot, as if a thick cloth soaked in sewage was covering the mouth and nose.

There was an indescribable smell of corruption, a mixture of rotting grass and wood and some kind of sweet and fishy smell, so strong that it could not be dissolved.

On both sides of the road, the bodies of fallen livestock began to appear, swollen and black, with flies and insects buzzing;

Occasionally, you can even see uncollected corpses, their clothes tattered, pecked beyond recognition by crows, and emitting a disgusting stench.

Some villages were eerily quiet, with only broken walls and ruins left.

An imperial physician accompanying the army, with a serious expression on his face, rode forward and said anxiously:

"Your Majesty! The stench here is extremely foul. Please pass down orders that all guards immediately cover their mouths and noses with white towels soaked in the medicine. Strictly order that no raw water be consumed; all water must be boiled. Encampments must be kept away from stagnant water and lime must be spread around the perimeter to repel insects and prevent fouling. Clothes of anyone who has come into contact with corpses or the sick must be boiled, and the body must be rubbed with strong alcohol."

Yan Shixu nodded: "Approved! Execute this order immediately! Violators will be subject to military law!"

He tightened the reins and looked at the gloomy sky ahead, feeling even more worried. If the outer hinterland of Jingzhou was like this, how tragic would the situation be at the Zhennan Pass front?

Three days later, the imperial carriage arrived at Yunxiang Prefecture, the capital of Jingzhou.

The scene before me makes me feel nervous.

The city gates were closed and the drawbridge hung high.

On top of the city wall, the defenders were armed with swords and spears, and their bows and crossbows were strung. The atmosphere was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

At the foot of the city, thousands of ragged, pale-faced civilians gathered in a black mass, their anger boiling like a boiling oil pan.

Several people in the lead were holding sticks and hoes, shouting and cursing loudly, their voices hoarse and angry.

"You bastard An Daohe, get out here! Are you going to sell us all out to the Nanzhao barbarians in exchange for your own lives?!"

"If they don't want Zhennan Pass anymore, then they don't want Jingzhou either, right?! Doesn't the imperial court care about our lives?"

"Open the warehouse! Release the grain! Let us in! Otherwise, we'll destroy this broken city! We'll die anyway!"

The defenders on the city wall were sweating profusely and shouting at the top of their lungs, their voices becoming hoarse.

"Fellow villagers! Calm down! Don't listen to rumors! The Emperor has already led the army in person and is on his way! Zhennan Pass will never be lost! Everyone calm down! Please stay calm! Don't fall for the treacherous schemes!"

However, panic and anger spread like wildfire, and the crowd became more and more violent, pushing and shoving.

Just as they were about to lose control and charge at the city gate, someone suddenly pointed to the rear and exclaimed:

"Hurry... look back! What... what is that?!"

Everyone turned around and looked in the direction the man was pointing.

Black dragon flag!

The huge black dragon flag fluttered in the wind, making a rustling sound.

Immediately afterwards, the heavy and orderly sound of iron hooves came from far away, like thunder rolling over the earth, shaking the loess beneath the feet slightly.

A silent and murderous army appeared in everyone's sight.

The leader wore dazzling black armor and a bright yellow battle robe with dragon patterns. The black dragon flag fluttered in the wind like dark clouds covering the sun. The sound of iron hooves came from far away, shaking the earth slightly.

A silent and murderous army appeared in everyone's sight.

The leader wore dazzling black armor and a robe with dragon patterns on it.

He came riding on his horse, his aura as imposing as a deep pool or a mountain. As he approached, the invisible imperial pressure spread out.

"Dragon...dragon flag! It's the emperor's carriage! The emperor has really arrived!"

"Oh my God! It's the Emperor! That man is wearing a dragon robe! There's no doubt about it!"

"The Emperor is here! We are saved! Zhennan Pass is saved!"

The defenders on the city wall were so excited that their voices trembled and they almost shed tears.

The noisy crowd below the city fell into silence in an instant, and all eyes were focused on the figure on horseback.

Surprise, fear, hesitation, a hint of disbelief...all kinds of emotions intertwined.

Yan Shixu reined in his horse and stopped a few feet in front of the crowd.

He slowly took off his helmet, revealing his young yet angular and majestic face.

Looking around at everyone, Yan Shixu's every word was like a hammer hitting everyone's heart:

"I came here to tell you and everyone in the world!"

"Zhennan Pass is the southern gate of Dayan! Every inch of land is borne with blood! As long as I am here, the pass will remain here! I will not give up on any of my people!"

The next moment, his voice suddenly turned sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath, carrying a chilling murderous intent.

"Who said I was abandoning the pass? What kind of wicked individuals spread such rumors, disrupting military morale and shaking the foundation of the nation?! You, ignorant of the truth, were instigated to gather a crowd to besiege the city and attack the government. This is tantamount to treason! According to the law, you must be executed immediately!"

The crowd immediately knelt down, and the leaders turned pale, their bodies trembling like sieves, and they kowtowed continuously, with blood instantly appearing on their foreheads.

"Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, please spare me!"

Yan Shixu changed the subject and spoke in a slightly slower tone, "However, I know that you were also deceived by the treacherous people and made mistakes out of fear. Considering that this is your first offense and your circumstances are excusable, I will not pursue the crime of gathering a crowd for now! But..."

"Anyone who dares to spread rumors and mislead the public, or gather a crowd to cause trouble, will be executed without mercy! No leniency!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" The people who survived the disaster burst into tears and banged their foreheads heavily on the cold ground.

"Where is the governor of Jingzhou?!" Yan Shixu turned his gaze to the top of the city wall and shouted sternly.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty is here!"

An official wearing a scarlet robe, with his official hat askew and sweating profusely, crawled down from the city wall and almost fell in front of the imperial carriage.

"Your Majesty, I, An Daohe, pay my respects to you. Long live your Majesty!"

Yan Shixu looked at him coldly.

He stared at An Daohe until his face turned pale, cold sweat poured down his face, and he almost collapsed to the ground. Only then did he speak.

“Why don’t you open the warehouse and release the grain?”

An Daohe wiped his sweat. How could he dare to say that since the people were making so much noise, he planned to starve them for a few meals to dampen their fighting spirit?

Yan Shixu didn't have time to listen to his quibbling and directly ordered:

"Open the city walls immediately! Organize all government officials, soldiers, and young men in the city to open the granaries, release grain, build shelters, and house the refugees from outside the city! Set up soup kitchens and pharmacies to treat the sick and strictly prevent the spread of epidemics! If you continue to slack off and cause public outrage, I will remove your official hat and your head!"

"I obey your order!" An Daohe kowtowed like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Where is Wen Zhiyan?" Yan Shixu asked again, his eyes looking towards the city wall.

"Your Majesty! Lord Wen and the two Nangong Divine Doctors are at Zhennan Pass."