Qingyao remembered another matter, turned her head to look at Mochou, and said, "Immediately contact people from Fengchen Palace and have them find a way to send out the city's distribution map as soon as possible. We need to see such a thing by sunset."
"Yes, I'll contact Lin Simiao right away."
Mochou walked out. They had a unique way of contacting Lin Simiao, using smoke signals as their communication. As long as she sent out a signal, Lin Simiao would know what kind of information they wanted. Although Chen Tang Pass did not allow anyone to enter or exit, as long as he wanted to, he could find a way to deliver it.
Inside the tent, Bingxiao silently watched everything. It turned out that the Empress was the Palace Mistress of Fengchen Palace. Fengchen Palace had made quite a stir at the coronation ceremony of the new emperor of Huang Yuan Kingdom. They were now the most famous gang in the martial arts world, but who would have thought that the gang actually belonged to Empress Xian Yue.
Bingxiao could not help but sigh; as a woman, the Empress was undoubtedly successful.
That night, ten elite squads, each consisting of only about ten people, all highly skilled. Each person was dressed in black night-traveling attire, blending in with the dark night. Except for their bright, sharp eyes, no other expressions could be seen. Qingyao spoke slowly.
"Each of you must act with extreme caution and not alert anyone else. Everyone has a copy of the city's distribution map. General An and I will each lead five squads, covering half the area. Once the task is done, return immediately."
"Yes, Commander."
The crowd responded, each with a pack on their back, containing maps and smoke bombs.
These smoke bombs were still poisonous smoke. Their purpose tonight was not to kill one or two people from the Danfeng Kingdom, but they had a greater ambition.
The night was deep and dark, with no lights far or near. The night breeze blew gently, and faint, weak light pierced through the dappled branches, casting shadows in the woods. A group of people quickly left the tent, countless figures flying away.
Chen Tang Pass was under strict guard, and soldiers carrying long spears patrolled the high city walls from time to time.
At a corner of the tall city wall, Qingyao scanned the group beside her. Everyone was being very careful. If they wanted to retreat safely tonight, they had to be extremely cautious. After all, the soldiers and generals of Chen Tang Pass had just suffered a heavy blow, and many were likely to be highly alert. Therefore, if they wanted to retreat safely, they had to be extremely careful. Everyone here knew this.
Yinxuan took the lead, reaching out to pull Qingyao, his voice cold and deep, "Let's go."
Everyone followed closely behind him, speeding towards the city wall. Some, not fast enough, used a five-clawed hand. With a flick of their wrist, the five-clawed iron hooks embedded themselves in the city wall, and with a leap, they followed the figures ahead. In the blink of an eye, the ten small teams scaled the city wall.
On this night, under a strangely unsettling night sky, the situation dramatically changed.
At three-quarters past midnight, they gathered below the city wall. Qingyao counted the personnel and found that no one was missing. Not a single person was absent. She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Perhaps Ji Xue and the others had never dreamed that they would be so audacious as to launch a surprise attack in the middle of the night...
Qingyao looked at everything before her, nodding with satisfaction and smiling. She turned to look at Chen Tang Pass, slumbering in the night. It was quiet and silent. Death was spreading throughout Chen Tang Pass, and those people were dying in their sleep. She figured someone would be furious early tomorrow morning. Qingyao gave a cold smile and waved her hand, ordering, "Retreat."
The group quickly departed, melting back into the night.
On this night, Chen Tang Pass lost over sixty thousand men. In the early morning, many people in the camps died mysteriously. Ji Xue and the main general, Yu Jiao, were both hit by a sudden shock. Both knew clearly that it was the work of Xian Yue's people, but they could never have imagined how they had managed it. Finally, from the smell of poisonous smoke left in the rooms, they identified that these people had died from poisoning. But what method could cause people to die without them even realizing it? Furthermore, from the evidence left at the scene, Ji Xue's expression became extremely grim. These were clearly the things drawn by that woman, Mu Qingyao.
Ji Xue and Yu Jiao, along with others, were filled with anxiety. The entire Chen Tang Pass fell into unprecedented panic. All the events happening here were closely observed by other countries, and everyone was silently watching this battle from the shadows.
Ji Xue issued an order to search everyone within the pass, forbidding any slightest disturbance. Anyone suspected was not to be spared.
This move undoubtedly made things worse. The local populace suffered immensely. The once peaceful and prosperous Chen Tang Pass was shrouded in an aura of death. People could not leave, so they could only stay at home, not daring to step out. Soldiers patrolled everywhere on the streets, making it impossible for people to move. Every household was shut tight.
Qingyao also received the news. She dared not casually contact her subordinates within the pass again. If she caused any flaws, it would inevitably lead to the demise of her subordinates. Therefore, the movements within Chen Tang Pass were lost in communication with the outside.
For a time, Qingyao also dared not act rashly.
She believed that Ji Xue within Chen Tang Pass would definitely take action and would not remain in a stalemate. Moreover, even if they had lost seventy thousand troops, there were still nearly two hundred thousand soldiers within the pass, while their own forces were only a little over one hundred thousand. Even if they entered the city, they might not retreat safely. Although they possessed advanced weaponry, a forceful entry would likely result in the deaths of many civilians, which she was unwilling to see.
Five days later.
In the military headquarters of Chen Tang Pass, a man as beautiful as a celestial being arrived. His exquisite face was unforgettable at first glance.
However, a ruthless glint flashed in his beautiful eyes, and a dark, cold smile curved his lips, sending a chill down one's spine.
The main general of Chen Tang Pass, Yu Jiao, and her two attendants, Xia He and Dong Mei, bowed respectfully. "Your subordinate greets His Royal Consort."
This man was Hua Wenbo, the chief consort of the Empress of the Danfeng Kingdom. He had received orders from the Empress and had rushed over to help Ji Xue quell the rebellion in Chen Tang Pass.
Hua Wenbo waved his hand, signaling Yu Jiao and her two subordinates to rise. He turned to look at Ji Xue, who had been sitting motionless at the head seat. The two of them exchanged a cold glance, their dark eyes clashing in the air. Finally, Ji Xue conceded, slowly stepping down from the high seat, and spoke softly, "I greet His Royal Consort."
"Rise," Hua Wenbo said, his previous coldness replaced by a touch of cloying sweetness that made one uneasy. He gently extended a fair, slender hand to help Ji Xue up. His touch on Ji Xue cast a shadow over her heart. She looked up at Hua Wenbo, wondering what this man meant.
She saw a fervent and intense flame leaping within the depths of his eyes. Ji Xue, who had many male consorts in her palace and was well-versed in the ways of men and women, understood the meaning behind Hua Wenbo's fiery and bold gaze. Her heart tightened, and a surge of unnameable anger rose within her. She abruptly pulled her hand away.
Hua Wenbo was the Empress's consort. What business did he have using such a gaze to disrespect her?
Ji Xue turned away angrily and sat to the side. Hua Wenbo walked to the upper seat without concern, looking down at the assembled people, and slowly began to speak.
"Tell me about the situation of the battle in Chen Tang Pass?"
General Yu Jiao, seeing that the Crown Princess was inexplicably grim and furious, and unwilling to speak, had to say in a deep voice, "Reporting to His Royal Consort, as of now, we have lost over seventy thousand troops and two fierce generals. The enemy's forces are limited, but they possess a formidable weapon that we have never seen before, and its power is immense."
"Over seventy thousand troops? Two generals?"
Hua Wenbo's voice was somewhat dark. His black eyes cast a stormy gaze at Ji Xue, and he slowly enunciated each word.