In early October, the weather was cold and the wind was strong.
A soaring eagle flapped its wings and swooped down from the sky, the tall grass on the wasteland rustled sparsely, and a fierce wind swept across the entire Moonfrost Pass, leaving the world in a vast expanse of desolation.
The battle at Chishui has been going on for a full month. The continuous fighting has caused huge losses to both sides. A few days ago, Helian Qi, a general from the Western Regions, shot the Northern Emperor in the shoulder with an arrow in the battle of Chidu, which greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers.
The Western Regions troops, taking advantage of their victory, crossed the Chishui River and attacked Shu Prefecture. In the winter of that year, the northern lands were engulfed in continuous warfare, with devastation sweeping across the land.
Once you leave Tongguan, you'll be in the north. Chu Changning didn't go to the military camp; instead, she rode her horse towards Lichuan.
When news came back from the north that he had died on the Lichuan River and that his body had been taken away by the Qi reinforcements, the Northern Emperor, fearing a trap, sent pursuers to kill him.
For the next year, there was no news of him in the entire northern region. She was going to Lichuan to find him and see with her own eyes that he was still alive.
"Princess, would you like to rest here for a while?"
Xiao Yan's voice came from behind. Chu Changning glanced at the bustling inn ahead, then stopped his horse with a whoosh.
"Go inside and get something to eat."
We've been traveling for over half a month, and now that we've passed through the border, we finally came across a tea stall. Everyone wanted to have some hot tea.
The weather in the north is always cold, and the border is turbulent and desolate. Along their journey, they have witnessed the devastation of life and the influx of refugees. However, the inn is bustling with activity, as diners from all over the country discuss the wars of the past two years, exaggerating and making grand pronouncements.
Chu Changning found a secluded spot to sit down, ordered two pots of tea, and some naan bread, a specialty of the region beyond the Great Wall.
"Hmph, what is that Great Qi Emperor? He's dead. But speaking of that battle, it was truly brutal. The vast plains were littered with corpses, and the stench lingered for days, making the entire Lichuan River stink."
"All those useless officials of the Great Qi surrendered. I heard that an old general of the Great Qi was so angry that he spat blood on the city wall and fell headfirst off! Hahaha--"
This teahouse is frequented by people from all over the world, chatting and making all sorts of noise. Chu Changning clenched his fists and lowered his head.
"It's been another year of fighting, and I don't know when it will be peaceful. If they keep recruiting soldiers like this, everyone will just hide in the mountains. People won't be able to survive."
Two men's voices came from the side. Chu Changning listened to their words, his eyes trembling slightly, and slowly broke the pancake apart.
The continuous wars of the past two years have left tens of thousands of unarmed civilians homeless and without land to cultivate. They are being conscripted, taxes are being levied, and grain is being stockpiled at the border. If the war continues, who knows how many more people will die.
In this chaotic world, the northern lands were divided for hundreds of years, and various ethnic groups were in turmoil. After the Northern Liang was destroyed and the situation of unification in the north became clear, many small countries were crushed and forced to submit.
However, since the Western Regions invaded the south and established the Northern Yan regime two years ago, war broke out again, and the entire north was filled with war and the people were suffering.
If Shen Yan can completely destroy Northern Yan and drive the Western Regions out of the Central Plains, he can completely unify the north, and the centuries-long period of chaos and division will come to an end.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when a familiar face flashed before her eyes. She slowly closed her eyes, and silent tears streamed down her cheeks and disappeared.
When Xiao Yan came to the North, he sent the Imperial Guards to Lichuan to prevent any incidents from happening. However, to avoid attracting attention, he only had a few hundred people with him.
The Western Regions army has now entered Chishui, and the entire area around Lichuan has been occupied by the Northern Capital's troops. Cities along the way have also been massacred by the Western Regions, and key locations have been controlled.
After arriving in Gaozhou City, Chu Changning found a small courtyard to rent and stay in.
Gaozhou City had already been occupied by the Western Regions' troops, and the checkpoints for entering and leaving were heavily guarded. After she arrived in Gaozhou, she had been searching for news of him everywhere. The Linwei people were also searching in several cities in Lichuan, but there was no news for a long time, as if he had disappeared.
She sent people to inquire with the generals of Tongguan, but the letters she received all said that after the Battle of Lichuan, His Majesty died in battle and had not been heard from since. All the generals had returned to Tongguan to defend it to the death.
It has been snowing in the north for the past few days. Snowflakes are flying over the borderlands, and the world is covered in a vast expanse of white.
Chu Changning rode his horse to the Lichuan Plain. A year ago, a great battle here turned this place, which was once covered with tall grass, into a barren and desolate place.
A thick layer of ice had formed on the Lichuan River, and the plains on both banks were covered by snow and ice. As far as the eye could see, everything was a vast expanse of white.
It was midday, and the sun in the sky was extremely dazzling. The sunlight seemed to be splashed across the plain in large patches of bright red blood, and the whole place was bathed in red light.
She rode her horse slowly across the Lichuan River and tied it to a withered tree on the other side.
A soaring eagle flew overhead, and snowflakes mingled with the howling wind across the plains.
She walked slowly across the wasteland, squinting at the fine, rustling snowflakes. The sunlight shone on her face, making her delicate, pale face appear even paler.
Several birds flew over the Lichuan River, and vultures swooped down to gnaw at the frozen ice.
Looking at this vast, desolate glacier, she seemed to see the war from years ago in a daze.
It is said that many people died on the Lichuan River back then. The bright red blood and flesh blurred the earth. Vultures circling high in the sky survived the whole winter on these corpses that had been reduced to bones. A stench permeated the plains of Lichuan.
"He died in Lichuan. His body was pulled out of the river and brutally stabbed. There wasn't even a complete corpse left. Wake up, he's dead."
They died, like all the soldiers who participated in that great battle. Their bright red, hot blood stained the Lichuan River. Their bodies, cut in half, were probably eaten and swallowed by these vultures, leaving not even bones behind.
Do you want to go?
Are you coming with me or not?
"A-Ning, come with me."
Suddenly, the wild grass in her desolate memories began to spread and grow in her heart. The man's voice suddenly burst forth like a torrent in her ears. Her gaze was unfocused as she stared at the frozen river, tears streaming down her face.
"Chu Changning, you're a liar."
The man turned around and angrily rebuked him in a defiant voice.
She raised her head and retorted defiantly, "Then you're a complete hypocrite!"
Images buried deep in her memory suddenly surged forth like a tidal wave. Countless past scenes flashed before her eyes like a fleeting glimpse, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes, warm tears streaming down her face.
"If I pacify the north this time, I will bring you the fiercest horses from the north."
"I don't want to, I never want to ride a horse again."
Suddenly, a war eagle in the sky let out a cry, and her body went limp. She knelt down on the ground and burst into tears.
"Liar, you're the biggest liar---"
Fine snowflakes fluttered in the sky, and the sound of horses neighing on the snow-covered plains was extremely loud in the quiet Lichuan Plain.
"Hey, what are you crying about?!"
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