In this chaotic world, the northern barbarians marched south to fight, and the entire north was devastated by war. Many gentry families sought refuge with the Northern Emperor. In the second year of the Jianyuan era, the Great Qi Emperor personally led an expedition, heading north all the way.
Before Emperor Daqi even ascended the throne, he had already conquered Libei and Beiyou, occupying most of the northern landmass. Beiyou was adjacent to Beiyan and spanned the entire Endless Sea, giving it a superior geographical location. His first stop in his northern expedition was Beiyan.
However, he went south from the Western Regions and established a regime in Northern Yan. He had been fighting with the Northern Capital for several months. At this time, he came to Qin Nan in person, causing turmoil throughout the Northwest.
However, the Emperor of Qi was born into the Lanling Yan clan and had the support of the entire Yan capital's powerful families. He personally went to Qinnan, and the northern gentry dared not act arrogantly. They responded to the imperial edict from Jiankang and sent troops to assist him, leading to wars breaking out all over the north.
The Qi army entered Qin's south by water from the Si and Huai rivers. The Yan army held their city and refused to fight. However, the northern army launched a fierce attack, and the Qin's south river was engulfed in continuous battle. In just one month, they captured several cities.
Since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, it has continuously expanded its territory, destroyed the Southern Liang Dynasty, joined forces with the Northern Capital to eliminate the northern states, and divided the world among themselves.
This time, he personally led the expedition, dividing his troops into eight routes to launch a northern expedition. Starting from the Huai River and Luo River area, he directly approached the Qin Nan Jiu Zhao Pass. He ordered the generals of the north to divide into several routes along the Changchuan River and Zhongdu, taking the waterway to attack the Beidu Yan Army. One route went west along the endless sea and won one victory after another, forcing the barbarians to flee back to Liangdu.
If the fighting continues like this, the next target of the Great Qi will be the Northern Capital. Once the Great Qi unifies the north, the Northern Capital will once again be subservient to the Great Qi.
Inside the military tent, a general from the Northern Capital risked his life to advise the Northern Emperor to join forces with the Western Regions and march south to kill the Qi Emperor first.
After Shen Yan declared himself emperor in Longcheng, he was constantly at war, successively exterminating the Di people, destroying the Later Qin, killing the Rouran, and conquering as far as Nanshan, thus unifying the Hexi region.
However, with centuries of division and struggle in the north, it was extremely difficult for him to unify the north. The various forces were locked in a stalemate. This time, the north was in great turmoil, and he disregarded his imperial throne and personally led an expedition to clash with the Western Regions at the Si River.
Currently, with the Northern Army launching such a fierce attack and suffering setbacks in the rear, once the Great Qi Emperor seizes the eastern northern lands, it will be difficult to unify the north again.
Inside the main tent, on the huge sand table, there were thousands of ravines and dense mountains. Shen Yan listened to the general's attack route, his eyes bloodshot.
"If Your Majesty wants to unify the North, the greatest threat is still the Northern Expedition. Why not join forces with the Western Regions and eliminate the Great Qi Emperor, this major threat, first?"
Bai Xun looked at the silent man and spoke, "For hundreds of years, the North has been divided, with powerful families monopolizing the government. As long as the division in the North continues, the country will not be at peace."
Shen Yan's jawline was taut, and his unfathomable black eyes held a hidden, unfathomable depth.
Has Helian Ye left Qin Nan?
"Not yet, news from our people indicates that several cities in Qin Nan have fallen in succession, and the Emperor of Great Qi and that young master of the Western Regions are fighting in Yongcheng."
Yongcheng?!
Shen Yan looked at the topographical map on the sand table, his eyes flickered, and after a long pause, he said, "Send word to send 30,000 troops to Jinghe."
"Yes, Your Majesty, are you going to Yongcheng in person?"
"Who is leading the troops in Northern Yan?"
The general replied respectfully, "Yuwen Yong."
"Order Shen Kuo to kill Yuwen Yong and capture the fourteen cities of Yinshan within two months."
"yes."
For centuries, the northern region had been divided, with local governors and prefects outwardly pledging allegiance to the emperor while secretly harboring their own ulterior motives.
At the end of November of the Jianyuan era, the entire north was in chaos. The Great Qi won several battles in a row and achieved many victories, but in the battle of Yongzhou, it was attacked from both sides and tricked by the Northern Capital. The Great Qi Emperor was furious, beheaded the governor of Yongzhou under the city wall, massacred the city to sacrifice to the flag, and then advanced to conquer Qi and Jing.
He marched north, employing ruthless tactics in battle. He fought three battles with the Western Regions in the Tianshui area. Generals such as Xuan Yao and He Xing entered the Hao River from the south of Qin and captured three cities in Yinshan.
In early January, a heavy snow fell across the entire north, and a thick layer of ice accumulated on the Jingzhou River. The troops stationed in the north were trapped by the Western Region troops in Yanli Mountain, and a large number of troops could not cross the river and could not go upstream.
The Western Regions were conquered on horseback, and the cavalry were extremely fierce. They occupied Jingzhou in one fell swoop and rushed towards the gates of Guanhe City with all their might. The hooves of horses were like thunder, and the sound of horses roared everywhere. The whole land was covered with a dense mass of black heads, and the deafening sound of swords and thunder resounded through the sky.
This battle has been raging for two months. The northern army has been trapped in Yanli Mountain, fighting for half a month without being able to break out. Now, the western army is sweeping in, and the entire city wall is filled with boiling roars.
Yan Beimo stood high on the city wall, dressed in a black robe with gold-threaded dragon patterns and a black cloak.
He stood tall and straight, his gaze fixed on the massive army that surged forward, which blotted out the sky. He slowly drew his crossbow and aimed it at the head of the Western Regions general, Helian Qing, who was leading the army.
With a whooshing sound, the arrow, imbued with internal energy, shot out like a bowstring taut, soaring past thousands of soldiers and horses, and heading straight for them.
Helian Qing realized the arrow was coming, but it was too late. In a panic, he quickly pulled the soldier next to him to shield him from the arrow.
But the archer's arm strength was so great that the arrow pierced through the soldier's bones and into his shoulder, causing him to roll off his horse instantly.
"General!"
The Western Regions army was shocked, and the leading generals immediately shouted for protection.
Yan Beimo calmly watched the scene unfolding below the city wall, then waved his hand behind him, "Release the arrows."
In an instant, countless arrows rained down like locusts, overwhelming the land. The people of the Western Regions raised their shields high, and the arrow rain roared everywhere. The entire land was filled with flying arrows and loud whistling sounds.
Blood stained the entire battlefield, war eagles cried out mournfully in the sky, and the sounds of fighting and roaring surged up like a storm sweeping across the land.
Helian Qing stood on the chariot, looking at the man on the city wall, his face terribly gloomy.
With the northern army trapped in Yanli Mountain, there must not be many soldiers left in the city. With a snort, he drew his arrow, ignoring his injury, and shouted, "Attack the city!"
His brother brought him to the Central Plains this time, and he must make great achievements. If he can kill the Emperor of Qi, he will not have to be subordinate to his brother in terms of military merit.
“General, the Emperor of Qi is treacherous and cunning; we must be wary of him,” a strategist said frankly. “The young master’s decision to send you to Jingzhou this time is probably premeditated.”
Helian Qing ignored everything else and, looking at the soldiers rushing towards the city wall, shouted angrily, "Kill Yan Beimo, and the Western Regions will soon rule the Central Plains. Such a meritorious service must not be relinquished."
"kill!"
The deafening cries of battle quickly erupted across the battlefield, while under the gloomy sky, snowflakes danced in the air and arrows rained down.
Suddenly, the city gates burst open, and countless troops poured out, plunging the battlefield into chaos, which was stained with blood.
Helian Qing was shocked and furious at the large army. "Weren't the troops from Libei trapped in Yanli Mountain? How come there are so many soldiers in the city?"
The generals from the Western Regions were also astonished and angrily said, "If we continue fighting like this, our Tiger Army will suffer heavy losses against the Great Qi. Wouldn't that just benefit Helian Ye?"
Helian Qing clenched his fists, glaring angrily at the unmoved man on the city wall.
"kill."
He must not retreat; he must kill the Emperor of Qi and achieve unparalleled merit.
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