At the border between the Great Han and the Great Yan Dynasty, a formidable fortress rose majestically, cleaving the two empires apart. The Second Army of the Vermilion Bird Legion, under Gongsun Zan's command, was stationed there.
This formidable fortress was originally built by the Blood Sun Dynasty in ancient times. After its fall, Zhang Liao reinforced it with his troops. Standing atop its ramparts, one could gaze thirty li into the Great Yan Dynasty's territory.
Within the city, banners emblazoned with the Southern Sun Fire fluttered everywhere. Their rustling was like the cry of a vermilion bird, filling the entire mountain pass.
"Hiss~~~"
"Rumble!!"
Within the fortress, dust flew as ten thousand cavalry thundered across the training grounds. Waves of blood energy surged like dragons, their spears pointed towards the heavens!
The Second Army of the Vermilion Bird Legion comprised the entirety of the legion's cavalry. Each of its hundred thousand soldiers rode a Flaming Horse of the Guiyuan realm. These were chosen by Du Ruhui, the Minister of War, from Canglan and Moluo Provinces. Individually, they were insignificant, but here, there were a total of three hundred thousand Flaming Horses of the Guiyuan realm, meaning each soldier had three mounts!
The three hundred thousand Flaming Horses were clad in Vermilion Bird armor, wreathed in layers of Southern Sun Fire. The entire fortress seemed to flow with a surging sea of fire, exuding a majestic aura.
In the general's mansion, Gongsun Zan pored over an entire table full of intelligence reports. These were dispatched by Liao Hua's scouts. Liao Hua had originally been the deputy general of the First Army, but to organize the Second Army around the White Horse Righteous Cavalry, Gao Shun and Liao Hua had been swapped.
Gongsun Zan frowned as he read the intelligence gathered from the eastern part of the Great Yan Dynasty. The Great Yan had fallen too quickly. In just three days, this second largest dynasty had been utterly defeated.
All one hundred cities in the eastern Great Yan Dynasty had fallen. The populace of the Great Yan Dynasty was in a state of panic. Yan Hai, the ancestor behind the Great Yan Dynasty, had intervened, gathering armies from all regions and establishing defensive lines in the capital. This was tantamount to digging their own graves.
The Great Yan Dynasty's territory was vast, with its capital at the center. By abandoning all four sides, it had become a solitary city. If the two forces had been evenly matched, it might have been sustainable. But the current situation clearly indicated they were presenting themselves as easy targets!
Gongsun Zan stood up and walked to the map, studying the terrain at the border of the Great Han and the Great Yan.
"At this rate, the Heaven Devouring Wolf army will be at our gates before long!"
Gongsun Zan traced the map, murmuring worriedly, "By the command of the Human King of Great Han, border generals must lead their troops to repel the enemy outside our gates!"
"General!!"
Liao Hua strode in, holding a letter. "General, a secret message from the strategist!"
"Oh!"
Gongsun Zan hurried over, took the letter, and unfolded it. A large paper contained a single, bold character: "Fight!"
With the word "Fight," Gongsun Zan breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Liao Hua beside him. "The army will march beyond the border and enter the Great Yan!"
"Yes!"
Liao Hua's expression was solemn. He knew that once the army marched, it meant the Great Yan was on the brink of collapse.
He bowed and immediately exited the hall. "Second Army of the Vermilion Bird Legion, assemble!"
"Assemble!"
"Assemble!"
"Assemble!"
At the general's order, troops swarmed in from all directions!
...
In the War Office of Chang'an City, Great Han.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Yang Hao walked slowly. Since the seal broke and the ancient wilderness invaded, the War Office, which had been idle for over half a year, was once again bustling.
As Yang Hao entered, all the ministers of the War Office stood up and bowed to him, about to kneel.
"You may be excused!"
Yang Hao raised his hand and walked to the throne. Li Si, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, and Fang Xuanling slowly took their seats. Su Dan Fiction Network.
The entire hall was filled with military intelligence reports, occupying a significant portion of the room. These were all recent intelligence gathered from various regions.
The Imperial Guards, the Shadow Hall, and the border armies had formed a powerful alliance, penetrating deep into enemy territory and constantly monitoring the wars of the various dynasties.
"Tell me, what have you discussed?"
"Your Majesty!"
Du Ruhui stood up and bowed.
"Sit, sit, sit. This is not the grand hall; there's no need to be so formal!"
Yang Hao waved his hand. Du Ruhui felt a moment of hesitation and looked around. "Then I shall be so bold!"
Du Ruhui sat down nervously, took a breath, and continued, "Your Majesty, the Blazing Rhinoceros army on our northern border has entered the territory of the Human Emperor's Palace. Elder Sheng, along with the Northern Cold, Holy Origin, and Heavenly Origin Dynasties, has gathered a million troops and entered the Cangmu Dynasty yesterday!"
"After our analysis, Elder Sheng's million-strong army will undoubtedly suffer another major defeat. Their opponents are not just the Blazing Rhinoceroses. We suggest that Zhang Jiao and Yuan Tiangang be ordered to lead the Taoist forces to suppress the northern border. As for the Azure Dragon Legion and the Qilin Legion, they can advance south!"
"Furthermore, the Kui Niu Legion should lead troops eastward, cooperating with the Azure Dragon and Qilin Legions to intercept all the Blazing Rhinoceros and Blood Python armies around the capital of the Cangmu Dynasty, and annihilate them in one battle!"
"Agreed!"
Yang Hao followed Du Ruhui's line of thought. The north would be temporarily secure with the Taoist Zhang Jiao and Yuan Tiangang guarding it.
"Draft an imperial edict!"
"Order Zhang Jiao and Yuan Tiangang of Taoism to march north and guard the border!"
"Order the Qilin Legion and the Azure Dragon Legion to reclaim the Human Emperor's Palace territory and advance south!"
"Order the Kui Niu Legion to march out of Qingcang Pass!"
"Your Majesty!"
"This is a military report submitted by Chen Gong. Please review it!"
As Yang Hao finished speaking, a few breaths later, Fang Xuanling stood up, holding a letter with both hands, and approached Yang Hao.
"Hmm?"
"The Great Yan has fallen so quickly!"
Yang Hao's expression changed as he read the contents of the letter. If the mighty Great Yan had fallen so quickly, what about the Heavenly Moon Dynasty and the Unending Dynasty?
"Your Majesty, according to our analysis, the situation in the Great Yan is clear. Our Great Han's Vermilion Bird Legion can now make a move!"
"If that is the case, then reply to Chen Gong!" Yang Hao nodded. The Great Han's southeastern border was adjacent to the Great Yan front, making it vulnerable to repercussions. Now, Great Han marching into the Great Yan was entirely justifiable.
"Squeak~~"
Just then, the door to the War Office suddenly opened, and Mao Xiang, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, entered. Upon seeing Yang Hao, his expression changed instantly, and he knelt down. "Your Majesty, I did not know Your Majesty was here..."
"Alright, get up!"
Yang Hao smiled. He had heard about Mao Xiang's actions. Recently, the War Office had been flooded with intelligence, and ministers like Li Si and Changsun Wuji were busy analyzing the global situation. To save unnecessary trouble, Mao Xiang was permitted to enter the War Office directly without reporting.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Mao Xiang's pale face gradually softened. "Your Majesty, a plea for help from the Heavenly Moon Dynasty!"
"Hmm?"
All the ministers stood up. A plea for help from the Heavenly Moon Dynasty?
Too late!
All of this was too late!
The Great Han was far from the Heavenly Moon Dynasty. Even if the Qilin Legion advanced rapidly, it would have to traverse the territory of the Human Emperor's Palace!
ps: I've seen some comments requesting the appearance of female heroes. I'll arrange it soon...
Everyone, what do you think of the Empress of Unending? Should Yang Hao take her into his harem?