On the city wall of Zhuozhou, a red banner with dark clouds fluttered slowly in the evening breeze, which carried the smell of burning.
The dark red bloodstains on the flag seemed to blend into the flag's color, silently telling the story of the fierce battle that took place during the day.
Zhao Muyun walked slowly along the broken battlements, her feet stained with blood and covered in broken bricks and tiles.
Xi Sheng's Mo Dao battalion is resting in the city. The preliminary list of casualties shows that nearly 30% of them have been lost.
The men who silently wiped the congealed blood from their swords had eyes that, in addition to exhaustion, also conveyed an unyielding sorrow and unwavering resolve.
Liu Yi's Divine Machine Battalion is urgently counting the remaining Fire Oil and Thunderclap Bombs; the quantity is running low.
Wu Shangzhi and Guo Luo's heavy cavalry were on guard at their temporary camp outside the city, their warhorses occasionally neighing anxiously.
"Grand Commander, the initial count of casualties has been completed. Our army suffered 522 dead, 173 seriously wounded, and countless minor wounded. Among them, the Mo Dao Battalion suffered the heaviest casualties."
The military advisor, Fan Si, spoke in a low voice as he handed a bamboo slip to Zhao Muyun.
Fan Si is Fan Nan's distant cousin and Fan Bingbing's cousin. He was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) of the Great Yin Dynasty and was well-educated and reasonable.
Zhao Muyun took it, but did not look at it immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze to the majestic outline of the Yanshan Mountains in the twilight to the north.
"The fallen soldiers shall be properly buried on the spot and their names recorded. The wounded shall be treated to the best of our ability."
His voice was calm, yet carried a subtle, almost imperceptible heaviness. "How was the spoils?"
"The captured grain and fodder can supply our army for about ten days, and we have also replenished some arrows and weapons, but most of the defensive equipment was destroyed by artillery fire and our army's heavy oil."
Fan Si replied, "The city's defenses are severely damaged, especially the west gate, which needs immediate repair."
"Order that the entire army take turns resting, while auxiliary troops and lightly wounded soldiers immediately participate in the emergency repair of the city defenses, especially the breach at the west gate, which must be plugged with bricks, stones, and timber overnight!"
"Old Tang!"
"Grand Commander!" Tang Yanhai's figure appeared in the shadows like a ghost.
"Dispatch out the entire scout battalion! I need to know the enemy's movements in the Youzhou direction, and where the reinforcements Wuzhu sent are!"
"Within a radius of fifty miles, I must know of any disturbance immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Zhao Muyun knew very well that capturing Zhuozhou was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Zhuozhou is located at the throat of Hebei and Yanyun, and is a key point for the Tartars' logistics supply.
The Northern Barbarians will not give up easily; their subsequent counterattack will be like a raging storm.
His isolated force was like a sharp blade hanging behind the enemy, but it could also be seized by the enemy at any moment and turned against them.
As news of Zhuozhou's change of ownership spread like ripples, the Southern Privy Council in Youzhou was already gripped by fury and panic.
The generals who remained in Youzhou gathered in the main hall, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Seated in the main seat was Han Yanshou, the Privy Councilor and an old friend of the Hedong Army.
His face was ashen, and he held the urgent document from Zhuozhou in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Ten thousand... just ten thousand men! Yet they dared to penetrate deep into our territory, capturing several cities in succession, and now they've even lost Zhuozhou!"
"What is the Darughachi good for! Are the eight thousand garrison soldiers all made of mud?"
His roar echoed through the hall, and no one dared to look him in the eye.
"Sir, please calm down"
A seasoned and prudent general stepped forward. "According to the fleeing soldiers," he said, "the enemy, though small in number, is extremely elite. Their heavily armored cavalry are impervious to swords and arrows, and their charge is terrifying; their infantry are fierce and brave, especially adept at street fighting; and they possess powerful firearms capable of breaching city walls..."
"They are no ordinary troops; they are likely the army under Zhao Muyun of Hedong. According to reliable sources, Zhao Muyun is personally leading the expedition!"
"Zhao Muyun!" Han Yanshou gritted his teeth. "He actually dared to come in person! What audacity!"
When Han Yanshou was under the command of the Prince of Loufan, he had already experienced firsthand Zhao Muyun's prowess.
The army of 10,000 was flooded, and more than half of them were lost. Afterwards, Zhao Muyun tricked Cao Jun and Liu Pan from Hebei away, which greatly weakened Han Yanshou's strength.
"My lord, Zhuozhou is the gateway to southern Youzhou, and it must not be lost! It must be retaken immediately!"
Another general urged, "The Left Wise King has already dispatched General Arahan with 10,000 elite cavalry to reinforce the city overnight. We should take advantage of Zhao Muyun's unstable foothold and launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, annihilating him beneath the walls of Zhuozhou!"
Han Yanshou took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down: "Issue the order! Gather all available troops in Youzhou, and conscript the major clans of Yan and Yun to form an army of 20,000. I will personally lead them and march south immediately!"
"Immediately contact General Arahan and implore him to spare no effort in advancing directly west of Zhuozhou to cut off their retreat! I want Zhao Muyun to perish in Zhuozhou!"
In Youzhou, a major town that the Northern Di had been developing for a year, the massive war machine began to operate at full speed.
Countless messengers rushed out, and bugle calls echoed continuously throughout the military camp.
Squads of cavalry and infantry began to assemble, and the air was thick with the tense atmosphere of an impending storm.
In Zhuozhou City, Zhao Muyun soon received intelligence from Tang Yanhai's scout camp.
"Grand Commander, Han Yanshou of Youzhou has personally led an army of 20,000 southwards, and his vanguard has already passed Liangxiang! The whereabouts of Arahan's 10,000 elite cavalry under the command of the Left Wise King are unknown, but it is speculated that his intention is to outflank our army to the south!"
Tang Yanhai spoke very quickly, his body still carrying the dust of travel and a hint of blood.
Upon hearing this, the generals inside the tent all became solemn.
Thirty thousand enemy troops! They're closing in from both the north and south!
After continuous fighting, our side had less than 9,000 soldiers left capable of fighting, and we had to divide our forces to defend the city, making the situation extremely critical.
"They came so fast!" Wu Shangzhi clenched his fist.
"Thirty thousand people... they're trying to swallow us whole." Guo Luo frowned.
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