There was a vast expanse of yellow sand, and the dark clouds were very low. The wind blew up smoke and dust. The two armies were fighting, and the sound of bloodshed was deafening.

After the Wei army camped outside Jiuchuan City for five days, the Wutuo people in the city finally could no longer hold back.

The number of soldiers was decreasing day by day, and the female marquis from Wei never confronted them head-on. Even when the spies they sent out fought with the Wei soldiers, the Wei soldiers did not dare to pursue them after they were not far from the city gate. Arrogance was engraved in the bones of the Wutuo people, and gradually, the news sent back by Maka and Huyate was only regarded as an excuse for their incompetence.

A woman, who had only gained some fame because of her husband, a famous general, was not a big deal. Even the Wei army could not control its own men. After only five days, half of them had deserted. The leader of Wutuo believed that the Wei army was cowardly, so he ordered the elite troops to go into battle lightly that night and chase the remaining Wei army.

When the Wutuo soldiers arrived outside the city and walked toward the Gobi Beach, they suddenly heard the sound of killing in front of them. The Wei soldiers ambushed on both sides fired thousands of arrows at the same time, like a torrential rain, killing them by surprise. At that moment, another group of cavalrymen rushed over with long swords in hand. The leader was a young woman in red armor, with a proud look in her eyes and holding a pale long sword, as if she wanted to cut through the sky. She came on the wind and was unmatched.

The two armies fought, with drums and gongs beating loudly.

When the Fuyue Army was taken in by General Feihong, they were like a godly army, and no one could stop them. Since the real General Feihong left, they have never been so proud as they are today. The thin and petite woman seemed to have great power in her body. The Fuyue Army was like the best sword in her hands, and the battle formation and ambush were all exquisite. He Yan lay on the horse's back, and the long sword was like her arm. She rushed into the enemy's camp without any fear. Where the long sword flew, hot blood spurted, and the enemy's head was chopped off. And the smile on her lips was refreshing, illuminating the gloomy night on the Gobi Beach.

The Utu people were defeated and had to abandon their armor and weapons.

The last trace of blood on the long sword was wiped off, and the fierce battle ended.

Some of the Utu people were killed, some were captured, and although the city gates were not broken, the first battle was considered a victory.

The deputy general excitedly found the woman who was walking back. Regardless of his own fatigue, he ran over and said, "My lord, this battle was won beautifully! Your foresight is brilliant!"

He Yan smiled and said, "It's not my credit."

Her armor was covered in blood, and her face was also stained with blood, perhaps not just from the Uto people, but she stood tall and straight, without a trace of fatigue. Instead, her eyes were bright and she looked energetic, making the surrounding Vietnamese soldiers feel at ease as soon as they saw her.

It seemed that as long as she was there, they would definitely be the winners in this battle with the Uto people.

The military has always relied on strength and fists to speak. If the army had been appeased before, they still had some objections to He Yan's leadership and did not understand why she asked people to reduce the military supplies every day. After this battle, she really won the hearts of the army. Everyone can see how effective the ambush and the formation are. She took the lead on the battlefield and led the troops. How majestic the long sword is is not fake.

Perhaps, the real General Feihong is here, with such grace and elegance.

He Yan said, "Let the military doctors treat the injured brothers first, and clean up the battlefield for the brothers who are slightly injured or not injured." After a pause, she said, "When the day breaks, we have to attack the city again."

"Attack the city? It's only been one night. I'm afraid my brothers..."

He Yan smiled and said, "We are not really attacking the city, we are just harassing them."

Although this battle was won beautifully, it was not an easy victory. The troops sent out were the elite of the Uto people. They had some difficulty in fighting against the Yue army, but they had the upper hand. And this was just the first step.

Someone came running up from behind, calling her breathlessly, "He... Lord He!"

He Yan turned around and saw that it was Jiang Jiao. She asked, "What's wrong?"

"Brother Shan..." Jiang Jiao's face was very ugly, "You go and take a look."

Hong Shan was stabbed in the chest by a Wutuo man. After taking off his armor, his clothes were stained with blood. Wang Ba and his group surrounded him. The military doctor saw He Yan coming and shook his head.

He Yan walked over. This man who always patted her shoulder with a smile and called her "Ah He" would never wake up again.

Hong Shan was not the best among the group, but he was always trying to keep up with the others. He Yan still remembered that the first person she met when she joined the army was Hong Shan. This man treated her like his weak younger brother and always took good care of her. He also said, "There's nothing wrong with being a team leader, at least you're still alive." But now, he died on the battlefield.

He had no token of his belongings, nothing to take with him.

Wang Ba, who always had something to say, didn't say a word at this moment, and his eyes were a little red.

They are brothers who have been through a lot together, and their feelings are inherently deeper than those of others. However, the cruelty of war is that no one can know in advance who will be the next to leave forever.

And she doesn't have the time or energy to be sad here.

"Let's bury him." She said softly, stood up and walked forward.

Wang Ba couldn't help but said angrily: "Hey, is this the end?"

"Pack up," the woman's voice was firm and clear, without any unnecessary sadness, "At daybreak, attack the city."

…

The city gates were wide open, and thousands of troops were on the mausoleum road, with war drums thundering.

The young general in silver armor was like a nimble silver dragon in the night, his blade carrying a fierce and cold edge.

Gui De, the Lieutenant Colonel, was used to fighting in a direct and fierce manner, and the Yan Family Army under his command was also like this. The two armies fought, and it seemed that there was no way back.

Although the plague in Ji County is severe, it is now under the control of Lin Shuanghe. After a few small tests, the Yan army won several battles in succession. Today, the city gate was finally broken, which can be regarded as a real head-on confrontation.

Perhaps because the Wutuo people were more afraid of General Feng Yun than Yan He, most of Wutuo's troops were sent to reinforce Yunzi, leaving Ji County with fewer troops than Yan's army. Wei had the upper hand for the time being.

Winning a battle is the best way to boost morale. At this moment, the Yan family army was in high spirits. They heard the soldiers around them shouting, "Kill the Wutuo people and get them out of Wei!"

"Get out of Wei!"

Some people also laughed and shouted: "This battle is a victory. Maybe we will be the first troops to return to Shuojing!"

People who say this like to hear it, because everyone knows that their General Yan loves to compete with General Feng Yun the most. If they win this battle first and return to Shuojing first, doesn't it mean that their general is more powerful than Governor Xiao?

Yan He also felt relieved after hearing this.

At this time, he saw a Wei soldier fighting with the Wutuo people in front of him. He looked familiar and suddenly remembered that this was the man who had told him about his young child a few days ago. Yan He still remembered that the eldest daughter of this man was only three years old. At this moment, he was fighting desperately with the Wutuo people in front of him and did not see the cold arrows flying from behind.

Yan He frowned, he couldn't be distracted on the battlefield, but maybe it was the desire for home reunion in the man's eyes that day that made him feel so deep. Or maybe it was his little daughter who was waiting for her father to bring back sweet cakes at home that made Yan He think of the unborn child in Xia Chengxiu's belly.

Anyway, he flew over and pushed the man away with one palm.

The arrows grazed their hair and Yan He breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, I heard the panicked voice of the person next to me: "General——"

…

Yunzi is close to the sea, and is in completely opposite directions from Tongji County and Jiuchuan.

The night was as dark as ink. You could hear the sound of waves hitting the rocks on the coast, and the wind brought the moist breath of the sea. Looking from the shore, the sea and the sky merged into one, as if you were sailing out to sea, and if you kept going forward, you would reach the ninth heaven.

If there were no war, the scenery here would be extremely beautiful. However, once there was a war, the vastness and remoteness turned into desolation and coldness.

Torches can be seen in the tent, and a young man in black armor is looking at the map on the sand table in deep thought.

Someone came in from outside and said, "Young Master, your order to have people carry rice baskets through the city gate has been arranged."

Xiao Jue nodded: "Okay."

Of the two great generals of the Wei Dynasty, in the eyes of the Wutuo people, General Feihong was no longer around, and the only one left who was difficult to deal with was General Fengyun. Therefore, Yunzi had the most Wutuo troops, but after Xiao Jue led the Southern Army to Yunzi, the Wutuo people never confronted him head-on from beginning to end.

Perhaps the Wutuo people had suffered a lot from Xiao Jue in the past. Or perhaps they attributed all the credit for the victory of the Wei Dynasty in the battle between Rundu and Jiyang to Xiao Jue, and this time, they were not willing to act rashly. Therefore, the city gates were closed tightly, and they vowed not to leave the city.

Fei Nu looked at the young man sitting at the table and said, "Young Master, these Wutuo people have been unwilling to take action because they want to wear down the will of the Southern Army. Although the Southern Army and the Nine Banners Camp will not be intimidated by this, I am afraid that after a long time, there will not be enough food and fodder."

This is something that really needs to be considered.

"That's what they were thinking." Xiao Jue said, "However," he pulled the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold, "The Wutuo people arrived in Yunzi before the Southern Army. Even though there is rice and grain in the city, they have more people, and the rice and grain in the city may not last long. Want to consume us?" The young man smiled mockingly, "We should consume ourselves."

The Wutuo people wanted to wait until the Southern Army soldiers were short of food and hungry, and their morale was low before sending out their troops. However, as time went on, not only the Southern Army soldiers were exhausted, but the Wutuo troops also faced the same dilemma.

"So, Master asked them to carry rice through the city gate on purpose for the Wutuo people to see?"

"If they find out that the Wei Kingdom has enough rice and grain, I wonder how long they can hold out?"

Fei Nu lowered his head and said, "Young Master is wise."

Xiao Jue put down the short stick he was using to point at the map, turned around and walked out of the tent.

There was no moon outside. The patrolling soldiers were walking around holding torches. Some soldiers were sitting together eating dry food. When they saw Xiao Jue, they greeted him politely.

The Southern Army and the Nine Banners Battalion were brought up by Xiao Jue, especially the Nine Banners Battalion. Unlike the Liangzhou Guards and the Fuyue Army, the soldiers and their superiors were not too close. It was not because of cold feelings, but because the Right Army Commander had a cold personality and attached great importance to military discipline and regulations.

The women only saw the good looks of the "Jade-faced Governor", but the men in the barracks knew the real heart of the King of Yan beneath his good looks.

Therefore, on ordinary days, not even a single joke was heard among the Southern Army soldiers.

Xiao Jue walked past the tent. A soldier poked Chi Wu beside him and asked in a low voice: "Chi Wu, what is that hanging on the governor's waist? Is it a sachet? Why would he hang something so ugly?"

Chiwu: “…”

Xiao Jue was one of the most handsome men in Wei. Even in armor, he looked particularly handsome and elegant. But this time, the accessory on his waist became a sachet, which was embroidered with a mess of things and no one knew what it was. But it was so conspicuous that it was hard to ignore. The soldiers did not dare to ask, but the brave one finally couldn't hold back and asked Xiao Jue's close subordinate Chi Wu.

"Yes, Chiwu, what is that?" Someone else asked, "I saw the governor keep it on his body every day, and he treasures it very much, what is its origin?"

Chiwu waved his hand: "That was embroidered by the young lady for the young master. What do you know?"

"Young Madam?"

The soldiers who had gathered around looked at each other, and the one who spoke first smiled awkwardly, "Young Madam's needlework... is truly special."

"It's quite special," someone nodded and said, "The governor wears such a special sachet every day. Chiwu, I heard that the governor dotes on the young lady very much. Is it true?"

"That's impossible. When have you ever seen a governor's favorite? Can you imagine it?"

"I can't."

Chiwu was annoyed by the questions, so he stood up and pointed at them and taught them a lesson: "Stand guard properly. What are you thinking about all day? Do you care about others so much when you already have a wife? Be careful that the young master will hear you and beat you with a stick!"

When he stood up, someone noticed the boots on his feet and asked curiously, "Hey, Chiwu, your boots are quite special. Why are there flowers embroidered on them?"

"What? Where are the flowers? Wow, there are really flowers!"

"This must have been embroidered by the girl. Chiwu, when did you have a lover? You didn't even tell your brothers. You are so disloyal!"

"What sweetheart?" Chi Wu blushed and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense!" He turned around and left.

Xiao Jue walked to the shore.

The shore was lit up by torches, illuminating the ripples on the water. The moonless night seemed a little chilly.

He reached out and untied the sachet from his waist. On the sachet, the crooked "moon" was looking at him. It seemed that he could see the bright smile of the needlework owner through the clumsy needlework.

The young man stared at the sachet in his hand, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.

Jiuchuan and Yunzi are too far apart, so it will take a long time for the news to reach here. I don't know what the situation is like on her end, but... I think she should be able to handle it.

He raised his eyes to look at the sky. The sea was boundless as far as the eye could see. Only the sound of the waves was like the whispers of a lover in a dream, scattered bit by bit in the night of the battlefield.

…

Shuojing.

The wind blew open the window that was not closed properly. The wind made the paper rolls on the table rustle. The person on the bed opened his eyes, turned on the light, got up from the bed, walked to the window and looked at the night sky.

The capital was peaceful and quiet, without any panic about the upcoming war. It was hard to imagine what the soldiers were doing on the battlefield thousands of miles away.

The maid's confused voice echoed behind him, "Madam, why are you up?"

Xia Chengxiu smiled and said, "Nothing, I just couldn't sleep."

The little maid walked up to her, stretched out her hand to close the window, helped her walk inside, and said, "Madam, please be careful. Now that you are pregnant, the spring wind is very cold. Don't catch a cold. If the general asks about it later, I will suffer."

Everyone in the Yan Mansion knew that although General Yan was arrogant and overbearing, he didn't like to punish his servants. But when it came to Xia Chengxiu, he would be very fussy. When Xia Chengxiu first came in, the beautiful daughter of the housekeeper was hostile to Xia Chengxiu and secretly provoked him. When General Yan found out, he drove him and his entire family out of the mansion without showing any mercy.

Before setting out on this expedition, Yan He had specifically informed everyone in the Yan Mansion that if anything happened to Xia Chengxiu and the baby in her belly, the entire mansion would be in trouble.

General Yan kept his word, and of course his servants were always on edge about Xia Chengxiu, fearing that something unexpected might happen.

As if thinking of Yan He's worrying about every detail, Xia Chengxiu couldn't help but laugh and said, "How can you be so exaggerated? I'm in the mansion, I have people taking care of me, and the doctor comes to check my pulse every day. How can I be so spoiled?"

The maid smiled and said, "The general is also worried about the lady."

Xia Chengxiu lowered his head, looked at his own abdomen, reached out to touch it, but clearly he could not feel anything. Yet strangely, it was as if he could know the joy of the little guy inside at the moment through the instant contact of blood.

The maid saw her movements and asked with a smile: "It would be great if the general could catch up with the birth of the young master or the young lady. The general loves his wife so much, I think he will be the best father in Shuojing City after the young master or the young lady is born."

"If that's the case," Xia Chengxiu said with a smile, "he must have thought about how to teach this child a long time ago."

The child had not been born yet, but they had already chosen a name. Xia Chengxiu was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Before leaving, he apologized to "Mu Xia" quite sincerely, saying that the war was urgent and he could not accompany her for the time being. When he came back, he would double the compensation and told her not to be angry with her father.

Who knows whether the baby in this belly is "Muxia" or "Liang Jiang"?

However... Xia Chengxiu was inexplicably looking forward to what Yan He would be like as a father. Before she married Yan He, she had seen this young man being aggressive and provocative, but she never thought that he would become her husband. She also never thought that the General Gui De, who fought hard outside, would be so obedient to her at home.

If he became a father, no matter if it was "Muxia" or "Liangjiang", he would love them sincerely and teach them carefully, watching them grow up day by day and become excellent people.

Just like him.

"Madam...are you thinking of becoming a general?" the maid beside her asked, looking at her expression.

Xia Chengxiu smiled. Under the light, the woman's already gentle features looked incredibly soft.

After an unknown amount of time, she hummed and answered earnestly, "I miss him."