Pingcheng is a strategic stronghold on the western line of Jiacheng Pass. If Jiacheng Pass is the throat connecting the northern territory to the three northern desert kingdoms, then Pingcheng is the barrier to the west of Jiacheng Pass.
As long as this barrier stronghold, Pingcheng, is held, the western expanse of the northern territory will not be lost. This is precisely why Xiao Yunlong chose to gather the main army here.
By the time Xiao Yunlong arrived at Pingcheng, it was already dark. Li Jiuxiao had already led a hundred thousand troops to arrive first as ordered.
Subsequently, Zhuge Wushuang and Tu Fu also arrived with a hundred thousand soldiers from the former Black Xuan Banner to rendezvous. Finally, only Zhuque Nangong Qingzhu and Liu Ruyan arrived with twenty thousand Dragon Blood Guards, followed by Chu Tiange's fifty thousand Zheng Huang Banner soldiers.
In less than a day, Xiao Yunlong had integrated and gathered 270,000 troops with his iron-fisted approach. When Zhang Qingyun, the Northeast Tiger from the Southern Border camp, learned of this, his face turned green.
"Well done, King Xiao Bei. I lost the first engagement to you. It was my carelessness and underestimation of you!" Zhang Qingyun sat in the main hall and coldly reprimanded.
The burly, bearded general cupped his hands and said, "My lord, King Xiao Bei now has 270,000 troops, and we have no more than 250,000 soldiers at most. It will not be easy to defeat him this time!"
"It is indeed not easy, but from now on, it will not be so easy for him to defeat me!"
Zhang Qingyun finished speaking, slapped the back of his chair, and stood up, shouting loudly, "The three northern desert kingdoms have already attacked. Issue an order to withdraw all soldiers stationed at Jiacheng Pass to Wancheng on the eastern line!"
"Also, spread the word that King Xiao Bei is stationed at Pingcheng. As long as one comes from the three northern desert kingdoms, he will kill one, until the three supreme commanders of the northern desert allied forces are captured alive!"
Several generals below said, "King Hu's move is brilliant. This way, the hatred can be diverted to the western line, which will reduce our pressure and increase our chances of winning!"
"Stop flattering me and act immediately!" Zhang Qingyun shouted sternly.
Although Zhang Qingyun maintained his composure on the surface, in reality, he was already feeling the pressure, a pressure brought by King Xiao Bei.
As the night deepened, the cold wind of the northern frontier in winter was like a knife, whistling in the darkness.
At this time, after dinner, Xiao Yunlong was walking on the streets of Pingcheng with Liu Ruyan, hand in hand, like a young couple.
Pingcheng is an ancient city with a long history. Although its nightlife is not rich, it has its unique charm.
The two walked aimlessly. Although they didn't need to buy anything, Liu Ruyan enjoyed this time together, her face beaming with the happiness of a young woman.
To Xiao Yunlong's surprise, in an inconspicuous antique shop in a corner, he found a jade stone imbued with spiritual energy. It was a small jade pendant, not conspicuous among the many jade artifacts.
Upon learning that the price was eight thousand yuan, Xiao Yunlong was about to swipe his card without hesitation. However, he was stunned to find that his card was empty.
"This..." Xiao Yunlong was momentarily stunned.
"No money, huh? Let me do it!" Liu Ruyan smiled slightly and paid the bill.
"Thank you, Ruyan!"
Xiao Yunlong smiled awkwardly. In fact, it wasn't that he had no money, but rather that he didn't care much about money, or rather, money was just a concept to him.
"If you really want to thank me, don't just say it with words. I see a good lamb skewer shop at the end of the street. Will you treat me to lamb skewers as a thank you?"
Liu Ruyan took the packaged jade pendant and said sweetly.
"If it's a late-night snack, then it should be fine!" Xiao Yunlong scratched his head and said. It was only in front of Liu Ruyan that he would put down his kingly demeanor and become an ordinary boyfriend.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Liu Ruyan picked up the box, linked her arm through Xiao Yunlong's, and left.
Just as they reached the door, the boss's disdainful voice suddenly came from the shop: "Damn, so he's a gigolo!"
Hearing this, Xiao Yunlong almost stumbled and lost his balance. Liu Ruyan covered her mouth and laughed heartily.
Of course, Xiao Yunlong wouldn't stoop to their level. Soon, the two arrived at the lamb skewer shop at the end of the street.
Liu Ruyan's appetite was noticeably better tonight. Perhaps she was enjoying the leisurely and comfortable time, so she ate more and slower than usual.
It wasn't until past ten o'clock in the evening that the two returned to the Pingcheng City Lord's Mansion.
Of course, the City Lord's Mansion had already been temporarily taken over by Xiao Yunlong. As for the 270,000 troops, some were stationed within the city, while others were outside.
"Are there any new developments from Jiacheng Pass?" As soon as Xiao Yunlong returned to the hall, he immediately asked Jun Bufan.
Jun Bufan had now become Xiao Yunlong's personal attendant and deputy. Of course, this was also the position Jun Bufan desired the most.
Liu Ruyan quietly retreated to the side, because at this time, her fiancé no longer belonged solely to her, but to the entire northern territory.
"Reporting to Big Brother, just a while ago, news came from Jiacheng Pass. Because Zhang Qingyun, the Northeast Tiger, withdrew the 80,000 defenders stationed at Jiacheng Pass to Wancheng on the eastern line, the 60,000 vanguard troops of the three northern desert allied forces captured Jiacheng Pass without much effort!" Jun Bufan cupped his hands and reported.
"So, Jiacheng Pass has fallen!" Xiao Yunlong said calmly, not surprised by this, as he had anticipated it.
Jun Bufan said, "Jiacheng Pass is the throat connecting the northern territory to the three northern desert kingdoms. Now that it is occupied by the enemy, it means they have the capital to overlook the entire northern territory. Next will be Wancheng and Pingcheng on the east and west lines!"
At this moment, Li Jiuxiao said, "My lord, our 270,000 soldiers in Pingcheng are only stationed here and have not yet set up defensive formations. Should we immediately deploy defenses?"
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand and interrupted, "No rush. The vanguard of the three northern desert allied forces has only reached Jiacheng Pass for now. The follow-up troops will take at least two more days to reach Jiacheng Pass, and it will take at least a day and a half to travel from Jiacheng Pass west to Pingcheng!"
"Tell the soldiers to wait in place. I need to know the specific deployment situation of the three northern desert allied forces after they reach Jiacheng Pass before taking action!"
"Yes!" Li Jiuxiao and other generals cupped their hands.
"I will be in seclusion from now on. Notify me when the three allied forces reach Jiacheng Pass and make their deployments," Xiao Yunlong said, then turned and walked into the backyard from the side.
A tough battle was inevitable. The three northern desert kingdoms' joint offensive was fierce and not easy to deal with, especially the wolf warriors from the Snow Wolf Kingdom, who were not weak.
According to high-level intelligence, Xiao Yunlong learned that the Snow Wolf Kingdom had even dispatched the legendary shaman witch doctors, which made them even more difficult to deal with. That's why Xiao Yunlong needed to seize the time and improve his combat power as much as possible.
While Xiao Yunlong was in seclusion, at Jiacheng Pass, a tall and mighty man with white hair and blue eyes, accompanied by several distinguished generals, ascended the city wall of Jiacheng Pass.
"How foolish! these Dragon Country people are truly foolish, especially King Xiao Bei and the so-called Northeast Tiger King. For their own selfish reasons, they fought each other and gave up this city pass for nothing. It's utter foolishness!"
The white-haired, blue-eyed man stood on the city wall, gazing at the vast expanse of the northern territory, and sneered with pride.
This person was the vanguard general of the three northern desert allied forces, Zhahada!
"Immediately send a telegram to the commander, informing him that we have occupied Jiacheng Pass and asking the follow-up troops to speed up their advance!" Zhahada suddenly ordered loudly.
"Yes, General!" A subordinate cupped his hands and retreated.
When the commander of the three northern desert allied forces, Bruzag, received the news, he could not contain his joy.
"Good, it's excellent! I originally thought that capturing Jiacheng Pass would be the most difficult battle, but I didn't expect to take it without any effort. As expected, the turbulent situation in the northern territory and the internal strife between the two kings have given us a great opportunity!"
Bruzag sighed repeatedly.
The deputy beside him said, "But Commander, there's a rumor from the front line that King Xiao Bei has declared that if we send one, he will kill one, and if we send two, he will kill two. Moreover, he also said that he wants to capture you alive!"
"Bastard!"
Commander Bruzag became enraged, gritting his teeth and roaring, "You good-for-nothing King Xiao Bei! Although I lost to you last time, you are now just a fallen king, yet you dare to speak such arrogant words. This time, I will surely defeat you and turn your head into a wine pot!"