Thump!

Upon hearing the message from the messenger sent to the Turkic camp, Liang Erhu, the commander of the Yunhui Army's vanguard, felt a sudden chill run through his body.

Previously, when General Wu Qingyun sent an urgent message to Liang Erhu to order the army to set off, he had reminded him to be extra careful with these Turks.

Timur went back on his word, promising to lend Yunhui Army 50,000 Turkic cavalry, but only 20,000 actually arrived.

This matter is inherently strange and eerie, and there must be some unspeakable secret hidden behind it. It might even be a conspiracy against the Yunhui Army.

Now, that damned Huobo Guiren has led his 20,000 Turkic cavalry to disappear overnight without saying goodbye. He certainly didn't rush to Longcheng to help me deal with Chen Huai'an!

If they're not going to Longcheng, where else can these 20,000 Turks go?

It must be Shuobei City, where the defending forces were weak, during the Yunhui army's southern expedition!

Thinking of this, beads of sweat appeared on Liang Erhu's forehead, and cold sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his pale cheeks.

He couldn't care less about heading south to Longcheng to deal with Chen Huai'an, and hurriedly gave the order:

"By order of the general, the vanguard cavalry shall immediately prepare and set off, while all other armies shall cease rest and return to Shuobei overnight, without fail!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

At Liang Erhu's command, the 80,000 Yunhui troops who had set up camp at Panlong Pass immediately sprang into action, preparing to return to Shuobei City.

Soon, the Yunhui Army's more than 8,000 vanguard cavalrymen were fully equipped.

Commander Liang Erhu also donned armor, mounted his horse, and personally led eight thousand cavalrymen back to Shuobei City.

In his heart, he kept praying that the 20,000 troops left behind in Shuobei would hold on and not fall into the trap of the Turks, opening the city gates and letting these inhuman beasts into the city.

As one of the most important border towns of the Great Xin Dynasty, Shuobei City had tall city walls, complete and sturdy fortifications, and a sufficient stockpile of military equipment such as rolling stones, logs, and burning oil needed for defense.

As long as the 20,000 Yunhui soldiers defending the city are fully alert, even if they encounter the Turks of the northern desert launching a fierce and all-out attack on the city at the cost of casualties, the defenders, relying on the city's strong fortifications, will be able to hold out for ten days to half a month until reinforcements arrive.

At this moment, Liang Erhu's biggest worry was that Huo Boguiren, that bastard, would take advantage of the night to falsely issue orders and trick the soldiers guarding the city into opening the city gates and letting in the 20,000 Turkic cavalry.

Once the Turks are allowed into the city, with 20,000 against 20,000, it will be a chaotic massacre.

The Yunhui Army guarding the city was responsible for the fighting, while the savage Turks were responsible for the indiscriminate killing.

The commander of the Yunhui Army who stayed behind in Shuobei City was Wu Sankui, a deputy general. He was a cousin of General Wu Qingyun, but he was not very capable and had a big temper.

Before the army set off, Commander Liang Erhu repeatedly instructed Wu Sankui that once the army heading south to Longcheng to quell the rebellion left Shuobei, he should immediately order the closure of all city gates.

The soldiers defending the city must all be on high alert, with their armor and horses still in place, to be ready to respond to any possible enemy situation.

After the army set off yesterday, Wu Sankui did indeed follow Liang Erhu's orders, instructing the defending troops to remain in a state of high alert without removing their armor or saddles.

Even Wu Sankui, the deputy commander, personally went up to the city wall to stand guard, wearing armor and carrying a sword.

But a night passed, and not a single ghost appeared in the direction of the northern grasslands.

The same was true during the day. Apart from the occasional wolf howl, there was no movement on the vast northern grasslands, let alone any signs of enemy activity.

In this way, Wu San Kui's tense nerves relaxed, and he thought to himself that General Liang was just being too nervous. There was no enemy situation at all!

Every day, they're constantly preparing for battle without even taking off their armor or saddles. Isn't that just torturing people? Even the toughest man couldn't take it!

Therefore, Wu Sankui arbitrarily ordered the cancellation of the entire army's alert and changed it to a rotation system, with everyone except the soldiers on duty that day going about their business.

Coincidentally, today is the grand opening of a newly opened brothel by a merchant from the Western Regions in the city. Wu Sankui has been specially invited to attend the banquet, enjoy the singing and dancing, and have a good time.

Upon hearing this news, Wu Sankui gladly went, hoping to find a few blonde girls from the Western Regions to relax with.

Tonight, the wind is strong and fierce in Shuobei City, a key border town.

Just as the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) arrived, Wu San Kui, who had changed into casual clothes, arrived at Yi Chun Courtyard with several servants.

As soon as he entered, Wu Sankui was attracted by the strong fragrance of cosmetics and the melodious sounds of drums, zithers, and pipa playing in the courtyard.

Looking in the direction of the sound, a beautiful woman from the Western Regions, her face veiled in a thin gauze, was dancing gracefully on the magnificent stage of the Yichun Courtyard.

The light and gorgeous dance costume could not conceal the expanse of white skin that was about to burst forth from her chest, rising and falling to the rhythm of the cheerful music.

The male guests watching cheered and whistled.

General Wu, you've arrived!

At this moment, a middle-aged man with a hooked nose, blue eyes, and a mustache saw Wu San Kui and immediately greeted him with a beaming smile, flattering him:

"General Wu's presence truly honors my humble abode!"

"Come, General, please take a seat!"

Ha ha!

Wu Sankui laughed heartily and said, "Abbas, this general wishes you a prosperous business!"

Boss Abbas grinned and said, "Thank you for your kind words, General. I hope you will come and support us often in the future!"

"Definitely, definitely!"

The two exchanged pleasantries and then took their seats in the best spots to enjoy the stage. Wu Sankui, as the military commander of the Shuobei garrison, naturally sat in the seat of honor.

After taking his seat, Wu Sankui realized that about 70-80% of the civil and military officials in Shuobei City had come, including several Yunhui Army generals who were supposed to be on duty on the city wall.

Just as Wu San Kui was about to get up and question the officers on duty, the Western Region dancer who was performing in the center of the stage suddenly moved to Wu San Kui's side to the rhythm of cheerful music.

A pair of slender, jade-like hands hooked around Wu San Kui's neck and they began a close, passionate dance.

In an instant, Wu San Kui's nostrils were filled with a fragrance as sweet as orchids and as sweet as musk, and his eyes were dazed as he looked at the exotic beauty so close to him.

In his mind, only primal hormonal impulses were running rampant, and he could no longer remember that he bore the responsibility of protecting the people and the land.

Seeing this, the rest of the onlookers, each with their own thoughts, could only clapp and cheer with envy, fantasizing about when this exotic beauty would come to their side and allow them to kiss her!

For a time, all the prominent figures in Shuobei City, those with military power and influence, gathered at Yichun Courtyard to indulge in pleasure, drinking and playing drinking games, living a carefree and joyful life.

Meanwhile, in the alley behind the Yichun Courtyard, a group of Turkic soldiers carrying scimitars, crossbows, and shields were quietly walking out of the back gate of the Yichun Courtyard. Under the cover of night, they headed straight for the south gate of Shuobei City with murderous intent.

Inside the Yichun Courtyard, singing and dancing filled the air, and people indulged in sensual pleasures.

Outside Yichun Courtyard, a cold wind was blowing, and danger lurked everywhere.

Separated by a wall, two worlds.

The hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

The area near the south gate of Shuobei City, where a curfew had long been in effect, was quiet, with only the mournful and lonely sound of the night watchman echoing above the gate.

The Yunhui Army soldiers on duty at the south gate were dozing off in twos and threes near the city gate, completely unaware that a fully armed group was rapidly approaching the south gate in the darkness.

Who is it?

Suddenly, a city guard who was squinting noticed the group of Turks approaching the city gate and shouted loudly.

Whoosh!

puff--

The next moment, an arrow pierced the body of the city guard and he fell to the ground.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Immediately afterwards, more arrows rained down on the Yunhui Army soldiers defending the city, and one after another, they fell to the ground, finally bringing the defending Yunhui Army soldiers to their senses, who cried out in alarm:

"Enemy attack—"

However, it was too late.

In the blink of an eye, more than a hundred Turkic soldiers armed with scimitars, bows, crossbows, and shields arrived at the city gate.

Without any superfluous words or battle cries, a group of men brandishing their scimitars engaged the Yunhui Army soldiers, who were hastily responding to the chaotic battle, in a fierce melee.

These one hundred Turkic warriors who participated in the raid were all battle-hardened elites in the Turkic army. They were not only skilled archers, hitting their targets every time, but also first-rate close-quarters combat experts.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the more than 300 Yunhui Army soldiers stationed at the South Gate were all slaughtered.

The Yunhui Army soldier who was preparing to beat the drum to call for reinforcements had his back riddled with arrows, and his hands were still tightly gripping the drumsticks even in death.

After the Turkic soldiers occupied the south gate, they immediately fired a cloud-piercing arrow outside the city. The orange flash that bloomed in the night was particularly dazzling.

Subsequently, the Turkic soldiers found the winch, lowered the drawbridge that was suspended above the moat, and opened the two heavy solid wood city gates from the inside.

Outside the city, Huo Boguiren, the vanguard general of the Turkic cavalry who had been waiting in the darkness for a long time, immediately led his army into the city after seeing the arrow that pierced the clouds above the south gate.

It turned out that Huobo Guiren had already arranged everything in the city, and the Yichun Courtyard run by Abbas, a man from the Western Regions, was where he hid his troops.

The decision to hold the opening ceremony of Yichun Courtyard tonight is also part of the whole plan, in order to leave the Yunhui Army in the city leaderless.

From the very beginning, Huo Boguiren devised a plan to seize the city by force, instead of resorting to the gimmick of knocking on the gate as Liang Erhu had predicted.

The reason why the Turkic Khan Temur changed his previous "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" strategy can be traced back to Chang Yuchun's lightning-fast capture of Jincheng.

Over the years, Timur has spent a lot of money training caravans to trade in various parts of the Northwest. Making money was one aspect, but another was to collect intelligence and act as spies.

Therefore, the news of the capture of Jincheng was immediately relayed back to Timur's tent by spies within the city.

Seeing Chen Huai'an's army marching south with unstoppable momentum, Timur also sensed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and immediately decided to lead his troops south to contend for control of the Central Plains.

The first battle is to take over Shuobei.

This led to Huobo Guiren's sudden withdrawal of troops overnight without saying goodbye.

Let's get back to the main topic.

As soon as he rode into the city, Huobo Guiren asked the leader of the assassins who had seized the gate, "Where are Wu Sankui and the other generals of the Yunhui Army?"

"Reporting to the General, they are all at the Yichun Courtyard!"

As he spoke, the Turkic assassin leader revealed a disdainful smile and scoffed, "I'm probably busy getting into a woman's bed right now!"

snort!

Huobo Guiren snorted coldly, then ordered, "Tuoba Lie, I command you to lead a thousand cavalry to the north gate, capture the garrison, and open the city gate to welcome the Great Khan into the city!"

"The rest of you, follow me straight to the Yunhui Army camp and convey my order: do not sheath your swords tonight!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

With Huo Boguiren's order, the bloody and tearful history of 200,000 soldiers and civilians in Shuobei began.

First, Tuoba Lie, the leader of the Turkic elite troops, led a thousand soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the north gate. After a fierce battle, they annihilated the Yunhui Army soldiers defending the city. Then, they opened the north gate to welcome the Great Khan Temur and 100,000 Turkic troops into the city.

Immediately following, the Turkic vanguard commander Huobo Guiren led over 19,000 Turkic cavalrymen into the Yunhui army camp under cover of night. Countless soldiers perished in their sleep, hacked to death, and burned to death.

Then, the Turkic Khan Timur led a 100,000-strong Turkic army into the city through the north gate. As soon as these uncivilized northern barbarians entered the city, their inherent savagery erupted.

He combed through the streets and alleys of Shuobei City again and again, like a fine-toothed comb.

The first time, it mainly involved the brutal killing of young and middle-aged men in the city and the abuse and harm of women;

The second time, the main focus was on robbing gold and silver treasures;

The third round focused on searching for survivors and continuing to plunder gold, silver, treasure, food, and women.

The fourth time...

That night, Shuobei City, which had stood proudly on the northwestern border for hundreds of years, was completely transformed into a living hell.

Murder was happening everywhere, and the air was filled with the agonizing screams of women. The air reeked of blood and gunpowder, and echoed with the unbridled laughter of the northern barbarian soldiers.

In the early hours of the morning, Liang Erhu, the commander of the vanguard of the Yunhui Army, led eight thousand cavalrymen to the city of Shuobei. Seeing the city gates tightly closed, flames soaring into the sky, and screams and wails echoing throughout the city, Liang Erhu's vision went black and he fell off his horse.

Meanwhile, Wu San Kui, the commander of the Yunhui Army's city defense force, was only awakened in the middle of the night by Huo Bo Gui Ren, who splashed a ladle of steaming horse urine on his face from his bed in Yi Chun Yuan.

When the drunken Wu San Kui heard the screams echoing throughout the city, he realized that he had committed a terrible crime: the Turks had marched into the city overnight!

But it was too late.

Because this event occurred in the first year of the Jian'an era of the Great Xin'an period, it is historically known as the "Jian'an Rebellion"!

The next day.

Just as the first hint of dawn appeared in the east, scouts dispatched by Fan Wuji, the vanguard general of the Longcheng Northern Expeditionary Army, immediately relayed the news of the fall of Shuobei back to the army.

Upon hearing this news, the military commanders in Longcheng's Northern Expeditionary Army were all shocked.

Pang Xianchu, in particular, who had followed the late King Chen Polu on three expeditions to the northern desert and had a deep affection for Shuobei City, was furious and enraged.

He immediately roared in anger: "Liang Erhu is a treacherous villain who has brought disaster to the country and its people. He actually allowed the Turkic barbarians to slaughter my compatriots and humiliate my women and children, ruining the achievements of the late king's five expeditions to the northern deserts!"

"No, I'll go to the Prince of Jin right now and ask for permission to lead an army straight to Shuobei. I'll make those northern barbarians pay for their blood debt and leave their corpses lying in Shuobei!"

With that, Pang Xianchu angrily charged toward the central command tent, where Chen Huai'an was resting.

"General Pang, wait!"

At this moment, Fan Wuji suddenly called out to Pang Xianchu.

The latter was taken aback and looked at Fan Wuji with a puzzled expression.

Fan Wuji leaned close to Pang Xianchu's ear and whispered, "General Pang, the fall of Shuobei to the Turks might actually be a good thing for the Prince of Jin!"

"Don't get agitated, listen to me!"

Fan Wuji's eyes were firm as he asked, word by word, "General Pang, why is the Prince of Jin raising troops in Longcheng this time?"

Pang Xianchu's expression froze for a moment, then he replied after a brief pause: "By imperial decree, we quell the rebellion, purge the court of treacherous officials, eliminate the corrupt ministers, secure the nation, and strengthen the foundation of the country!"

Fan Wuji said, "That's right, that's why our Longcheng troops are also called the Jingnan Army!"

Then, he changed the subject, saying, "The banner of the Jingnan Army was used for internal warfare."

Now that the Turks have occupied the northern frontier, it is an invasion of our border territory by an enemy state, and the slaughter of our compatriots and border people. If the Prince of Jin were to directly wage war against the Turks, wouldn't it be inappropriate to do so under the banner of the "Jingnan Army" (a military campaign to quell a rebellion)?

"If the name is not correct, then the words will not be proper!"

Pang Xianchu raised an eyebrow and said, "Fan Wuji, what do you mean?"

Fan Wuji said, "What I mean is, why doesn't Your Highness Prince Jin take this opportunity to declare yourself emperor in the north, don the yellow robe, establish a new country, and then declare war on the Turks with a legitimate reason and just cause?"