The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
The four gates of Ji City were wide open, and a steady stream of Qin soldiers poured out of the city, exuding a terrifying aura of iron-blooded killing intent and battle spirit.
Shortly after, the Qin army split into two groups outside the city.
North.
"Marching out!" Wang Jian raised his whip and gave a soft shout, and the war drums on horseback thundered. The soldiers responded and sped along the official road outside the city towards Liaoxi.
The 150,000-strong Qin army, in perfect formation, surged northward like a raging tide. The thunder of hooves and the clang of armor set off a cloud of dust that rose into the sky like a yellow dragon.
Meanwhile, the wicked man led the Black Dragon Armored Army and 50,000 elite troops, galloping relentlessly towards Liaodong. As dawn broke, even the fierce winds could not dispel the Qin army's long-suppressed ferocity.
Erniu excitedly gripped the reins, looking at the official road stretching ahead, and couldn't help but urge his horse to speed up: "Grand Commandant, do you think the King of Donghu will be so frightened by our arrival that his legs will cramp up and he'll run back to those deep mountains and forests overnight?"
The wicked man sneered, "Escape? Since he wants to devour my Qin territory, he should know that touching the tiger's mouth will surely result in bloodshed. If he dares to touch it, he can forget about getting away unscathed."
Chun Ning chimed in, "Once we conquer Liaodong and wipe out their assembled young and strong soldiers, it will be too late for the Donghu king to regret it."
The wicked man's gaze was steady, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Crush Qi and Yan, and then wipe out the remnants of the Donghu army. This will add some weight to the King's congratulatory gift!"
He knew that Ying Zheng had postponed the wedding to make way for him, and he should repay him with generous gifts!
In an instant, the procession was bustling with noise, and the horses' hooves never stopped, surging towards Liaodong like an overwhelming tide.
Several days later, the flashing of swords was already approaching in both Liaodong and Liaoxi.
Wang Jian's army marched swiftly, encountering little resistance along the way. Most of the Yan cities that had been captured by the Qin army were undefended, with only a few scattered remnants of the army remaining.
After some investigation, it was discovered that most of the soldiers stationed in the city had defected to the Donghu, and the remaining people were those who were unwilling to forget their ancestors and traditions.
While Wang Jian was burning with anger, he also felt a sense of satisfaction. The seven states' diplomatic maneuvering, no matter how fierce the fighting, was ultimately their own affair. Those who would rather seek refuge with outsiders than submit should have their entire clan executed.
Those who refused to forget their ancestors and traditions deserve praise. Therefore, Wang Jian personally offered them amnesty. Those who wished to join the Qin army were treated equally, and those who did not wish to join were also given some money and allowed to return home as commoners.
Wang Jian's actions won the hearts of the people, and almost all of these abandoned Yan soldiers joined the Qin army, so much so that before a single battle had been fought, the army's strength had increased by nearly 10,000 men.
After finishing his miscellaneous tasks, Wang Jian learned from the Yan soldiers that the Donghu forces were all concentrated in Liucheng, the capital of Liaoxi Commandery. He immediately ordered the three armies to march overnight and attack Liucheng to annihilate the main force of the Donghu in Liaoxi.
.........
Unlike Wang Jian and Liaoxi Commandery, Liaodong was where the main force of the Donghu was located. Each city was guarded by Donghu troops to varying degrees, but due to the shortage of troops and their dispersed nature, the number of troops was not very large.
The wicked man was always fierce and direct in his actions, and did not want to waste time with these small groups of soldiers, so he ordered Erniu to lead the Black Dragon Armored Army to clear the way again.
Erniu was extremely ruthless, leaving a trail of bloodshed wherever he went. No matter how many people were involved, they were all slaughtered by the Black Dragon Armored Army, leaving no survivors.
Erniu, mounted on his horse, excitedly licked his lips: "Grand Commandant, these past two days we've only managed to defeat small groups of resistance. When will we finally run into the main force of the Donghu? My hands are itching to get going."
The wicked man squinted, examining the distant plains and mountains: "It will be soon. This place is less than three hundred li from Xiangping, the capital of Liaodong Prefecture. We will be able to meet their main force then."
...
At the same time, in Xiangping City, the capital of Liaodong Commandery.
Before the sun had even set, several bonfires were lit within the city, where the Donghu barbarians were busy roasting meat. The city was noisy, with the occasional mournful screams of women echoing through the air.
With the city falling and foreign invaders arriving, one can only imagine the terrible things the people inside were going through!
Inside the grand mansion in the center of the city, the King of Donghu and his confidants, including his advisors, gathered together, all with furrowed brows. This was because scouts had sent back news that the Qin army had already assembled a large force and entered Liaoxi and Liaodong in two separate routes.
"The Qin army arrived so quickly?" The King of Donghu slammed his fist on the table, his expression grim. Initially, he thought it would take Qin at least another month to stabilize the former territory of Yan, but he hadn't expected the enemy to act so swiftly.
The strategist, still retaining a semblance of composure, advised, "Your Majesty, there is no need to panic! We have already seized the initiative, and the Qin army will have to pay a heavy price to breach the city..."
The King of Donghu pondered for a moment before saying, "Send out the order to strengthen the defenses of the entire army and send more scouts to patrol the area within a hundred miles. If any trace of the Qin army is found, report back immediately."
The strategist bowed and accepted the order, though uneasy, he did not wish to show it before the king. After all, if this matter succeeded, it would be enough to solidify the prestige of the Donghu king. If it failed, he could take the opportunity to evacuate with a large amount of looted wealth, avoiding a direct confrontation with the Qin army.
In his view, this deal was a sure thing, no matter how you looked at it.
......
Meanwhile, more than two hundred miles away from Xiangping, the Black Dragon Armored Army, led by E'fu, was splitting into two groups to encircle and capture Liaodong County in the shortest possible time. The small garrison along the way were almost no match for them, and Erniu and Chun Ning were "killing on sight," leaving no survivors.
Erniu rode up to the wicked man's side and excitedly reported: "Grand Commandant, we have captured another small town. The Donghu barbarians inside surrendered upon hearing the news, and the few who resisted were all killed on the spot. Now the official road is completely open!"
The wicked man nodded slightly: "Very good. Travel another fifty li and we will reach Xuyang Pass, the gateway to Liaodong Prefecture. If the garrison dares to obstruct us, we will break through it in one fell swoop."
Chun Ning looked ahead with a cold smile: "Once we pass Xuyang Pass, Xiangping will be right in front of us. By then, the King of Donghu will be too late to escape."
The wicked man pondered for a moment, then looked up at the gradually lowering clouds to the north: "No need to wait for them to run away, let's storm the city and annihilate them in one fell swoop. Let's not give the Donghu people a moment to breathe!"
Erniu laughed loudly: "Good! Once we take Xiangping, we'll make that Donghu king regret provoking the Qin army. It will also relieve our lord's pent-up anger!"
At a command, the army broke camp and marched forward once more. The cold glint of swords and halberds flashed, and the thunderous roar of horses' hooves crashed down on the heart of Liaodong Commandery like rolling thunder.
......
That afternoon, the Qin army arrived outside Xuyang Pass in Liaodong Commandery.
From a distance, the fortress wasn't particularly tall, but it was built strategically on a natural terrain. Banners were scattered on the walls, and one could vaguely make out Donghu people dressed in fur coats and armor.
Perhaps due to the hasty occupation, they did not make many changes to the city's defenses, only reinforcing the gates with some wooden fences and other miscellaneous items, which was very unprofessional.
The wicked man led his vanguard to the pass, observed for a moment, and then said calmly, "Erniu, take your men and break through this small pass..."
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