Chapter 328: Fire and Smoke

Liu Jingyuan frowned.

His thick, black eyebrows were wrinkled like a centipede.

Why didn't he realize before that Qiao Song was so popular?

"I was unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery and was deceived by the treacherous. After the rebellion is quelled, I will personally write a memorial of apology, explain the whole story to Your Majesty in detail, and ask for Your Majesty's punishment."

No, as long as this matter is handled well and solves His Majesty's biggest concern, His Majesty will not punish him, and the Liu family will be able to move up to a higher level.

"Since the general said so, there must be solid evidence."

"Get ready."

At the critical moment, someone knocked on the city gate.

"King Zuo Xian led a large army to Zhenzhi Pass and threatened to attack Shengyan Pass at night."

"The closure is lost."

"Open the gates, open the gates quickly."

"My last name is Qin."

"Open the gates."

General Qin, who was born with the talent of a general, shouted hysterically.

"This general wants to return to Beijing to report to His Majesty."

The army of King Zuo Xian of the Northern Hu was so densely packed like an ant nest that it made him shudder.

The huge Zhenzhiguan Pass, plus the bandits he recruited, barely had 10,000 soldiers and horses. If they were to face the army of Zuo Xianwang, they would be courting death.

Anyway, my uncle had told me before I came here that if I could defend the Zhenzhi Pass, I should do so, but if I couldn't, I should abandon it. I shouldn't hesitate, and the higher-ups wouldn't blame me.

He had been guarding the place for three years, dealing with the repeated petty disturbances by the Northern Hu. He had done his duty and worked hard.

Now tens of thousands of Northern Hu troops are attacking the city, and he cannot defend it.

General Qin felt tired, so he lay on his horse's back and told his trusted men to continue knocking on the gate.

Liu Jingyuan, feeling very annoyed, hurried up the city wall and looked down.

The torches flickered continuously, illuminating the shadows of people.

But Liu Jingyuan still saw the person on the horse clearly.

A descendant of the Qin family's side branch.

Call Qin Taishi "cousin".

Somehow, he caught the eye of Qin Yuanqing, the eldest son of the Qin family. After Grand Tutor Qin reported the situation to the emperor, he was sent back to the north to serve as the garrison commander of Zhenzhi Pass.

At that time, he personally hosted a banquet to entertain this young Qin general who was said to be well-versed in military books.

The man on horseback was wearing a royal blue robe and a golden crown on his head. There was no trace of blood or mud on his body. He looked like a nobleman returning late from an outing rather than a defender of a city.

Liu Jingyuan felt indescribable feelings in his heart.

He is also a lackey of His Majesty and Grand Tutor Qin, and has committed no less evil than Young General Qin. But looking at Young General Qin who has no sense of sorrow, he can't help but feel contempt and disgust in his heart.

How can such a person guard the pass?

Seeing Liu Jingyuan's figure appear on the city wall, General Qin raised his head and waved, "General Liu, don't you miss me?"

"Open the gates quickly."

Being blocked at the foot of the city, he did not feel safe at all, for he was afraid that a large army of Northern Hu would appear behind him, brandishing curved swords and rushing towards him with bared fangs and claws.

Liu Jingyuan asked in a deep voice, "What does General Qin mean?"

"King Zuo Xian led tens of thousands of troops to attack Zhenzhi Pass. This general led his troops to resist to the death. After a bloody battle, we were ultimately defeated."

"The closure is lost."

"The army of King Zuo Xian of the Northern Hu will soon cross Zhenzhi Pass and capture Yan Pass."

"General Liu, let me enter the city first."

The young general from the Qin family's side branch said this without blushing or breathing heavily.

"When General Qin came, did he encounter Qiao Song's army? Qiao Song secretly communicated with the Northern Hu and led his generals to defect to the Northern Hu."

“Never.”

"There is more than one route from Shengyan Pass to Zhenzhi Pass, so you might miss it."

Fortunately missed it.

Otherwise, his life would be over.

Liu Jingyuan pondered for a moment, thinking of Qin Yuanqing, the eldest son of Qin, and finally sighed, raised his hand, and signaled to open the city gate.

However, faster than his movements was the sound of the arrow breaking through the air.

It hit young general Qin right between his eyebrows.

Blood splashed everywhere.

General Qin's smug smile froze at that moment.

Liu Jingyuan's hands were suspended in mid-air, his body was stiff, and he stared at the man standing not far away in disbelief, and shouted angrily, "Tian Yinjun, what are you doing!"

The man shooting the arrows was his brother-in-law.

He is the husband of his half-sister.

"Brother." Tian Yunjun said confidently, "On such an eventful night, who knows if he is a spy or not, and if there are people hiding in the dark forest."

"His words are full of loopholes."

"How can a man who has fought bloody battles be so elegant and graceful?"

"Brother, Qiao Song can betray us, which shows that you can only judge a person by his appearance and not his heart."

"I'm thinking about my brother!"

Liu Jingyuan almost vomited blood.

His brother-in-law killed the person personally recommended by Mr. Qin.

How should he explain to the Qin family!

Tian Yinjun looked at the others calmly, "What are you waiting for if you don't take action?"

"My military advisor taught me that it is better to strike first."

"Brother, you don't want to kill me, do you?"

Liu Jingyuan took a deep breath and raised his hand. "The traitor is cunning and pretends to be a Daqian soldier. Punish him."

Yes, it must be an impersonation!

Arrows flew out and wailing sounds were heard.

All the defeated soldiers who fled with the young general Qin, abandoning the town and the stranded civilians, died under the rain of arrows.

"General, do you want to rearrange the city's defenses?"

"What if the Northern Hu Zuoxian King leads a large army to attack the city..."

Liu Jing looked at the military advisor dressed as a scholar. The military advisor stroked his beard and said meaningfully, "What I mean is that the invading army from the northern barbarians should be buried in the Zhiguan Pass, and the tranquility of Shengyan Pass should not be disturbed, so as not to worry Your Majesty."

"It was Prince Zuo Xian who led the army personally..."

Liu Jingyuan was a little hesitant.

Since he took charge of the army, he has never engaged in large-scale confrontations with the Northern Hu.

"General, the Northern Hu Zuoxian King is planning to attack Shengyan Pass at night. If we send a large army there now, we can catch him off guard."

As he spoke, the scholar lowered his voice and said, "There are more than 100,000 soldiers from the Northern Border who have experienced hundreds of battles. How can they be inferior to the Northern Hu Army when one is against ten?"

"When Qiao Song's troops and the Northern Hu army are both defeated and injured, the general will reap the benefits."

Liu Jingyuan calmed down.

yes.

The Northern Frontier Army, trained by the Xie family, was extremely brave, with various formations emerging one after another. For decades, the Northern Hu people never got any advantage.

It doesn't make sense that the Northern Army's combat effectiveness has been declining after he has only been in charge for more than three years.

This battle will surely be the one that makes him famous.

After this battle, he will be able to accumulate confidence and capital, and will not have to be submissive in front of Grand Tutor Qin.

"Pass on my military order, and the army will rush to the pass to calm down the stalemate."

"Future invading enemies and traitors will be buried in the Zhenzhi Pass."

…

The people sent by Old Lady Xie to report the news and ask for help met Xie Yan's troops.

"But he is the commander of Shengyan Pass?"

"I would like to thank you, Commander..."

"King Zuoxian of the Northern Hu led his army to attack Zhiguan. I was ordered to come and ask for help."

Xie Yan pulled the reins, his heart pounding.

His grandfather is still struggling.

There's still time.

It will be in time.

"Shengyanguan Qiaosong."

"We saw smoke signals coming from the direction of Zhenzhiguan, so we went to rescue them."

"Don't delay."

"General Qiao," a messenger summoned up his courage and cautiously reminded, "King Zuoxian has a lot of troops, thank you... Some people estimate that there are more than 70,000 people."

The implication is that your ten thousand people are not enough.

Xie Yan said, "I'm just a vanguard."

"It won't be long before the rest of the camp's troops catch up."

"Hurry up."

Thank you, handsome.

His grandfather is still regarded as a handsome man by the people of the North.

Thanks for the support