I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 667 Closing the door to beat the dog! Annihilating a million soldiers in the capital!

This was Gongye Jin's third trip eastward out of Luoyang.

Counting the days, it was also August last year when I led troops out of Luoyang, the eastern capital.

This time, however, both the mindset of the commander-in-chief, Gongye Jin, and the scale of the troops deployed were completely different from before.

After suffering two crushing defeats that wiped out his entire army, Gongye Jin, who was once praised by many as the greatest Confucian general of his time, had lost all his pride and spirit, and looked much more gloomy.

August, though summer has passed, still retains its lingering heat.

The scorching sun beat down so hard that it even seemed to distort the void before our eyes.

Among the densely packed marching army, the soldiers were alright, after all, they had been promised a considerable amount of military pay for this battle.

Buying your life? Not at all.

But when it comes to enduring some hardship, no one complains.

But those pampered scions of noble families and high-ranking officials found it hard to bear.

Many people couldn't help but curse and complain, they really didn't understand.

Why can't we all just enjoy peace and tranquility?
Why insist on fighting to the death?
In the end, they will also be dragged down and suffer this humiliating fate because of their noble birth.

"If you ask me, instead of mobilizing a large army and wasting countless resources, it would be better to give these resources directly to the Yan bandits in exchange for their withdrawal, thus avoiding this great war."

"Wouldn't that be wonderful if everyone were happy then?"

These words immediately garnered support from many aristocratic families and scions of high-ranking officials.

That makes sense, in my opinion.

"The world is in conflict for nothing more than fame and profit."

"For fame, that Yan traitor is now the King of Yan, having reached the pinnacle of human power, and there is no higher title to bestow."

"What remains after all the fighting is just about profit."

"We've mobilized so many people for this battle, feeding the men and horses, and filling carts to the brim. If we can get those Yan traitors to retreat directly, it's a worthwhile deal no matter how you look at it."

As he spoke, the pale-faced general in the Imperial Guard armor sneered.

"I suppose that Yan bandit came from a lowly background and rose to power in the harsh land of Liaodong, so he probably hasn't seen anything good."

"Maybe we can just give him a few coins and be done with it."

These words, spoken in a playful tone, drew laughter from the scions of noble families.

Just then, a cold gaze descended as if it were a physical entity, instantly extinguishing all the laughter.

"Have you laughed enough?"

The voice was like a cold snake's tongue licking the ears of the group of noble families, sending chills down their spines and making them shiver involuntarily.

Just as he was about to speak up in his own defense, Gongye Jin continued.

"What is the punishment for making noise and disturbing the morale of the troops during a march?"

These words were like a cold wind, causing many people to feel a chill in their hearts.

At this moment, the military commander who was actually from the Imperial Guard and was standing next to Gongye Jin hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward and spoke.

"General, according to military law, he should be executed!"

Upon hearing this, the scions of those aristocratic families glared angrily at the military commander.

These lowly Imperial Guard officers wouldn't even have been qualified to be their dogs in the past.

How dare you spout such nonsense at this moment?

Unfortunately, Gongye Jin did not give them the chance to retaliate.

The moment the military commander's voice fell, he coldly snorted.

"Since you know military law, what are you waiting for?"

After saying this, Gongye Jin glanced at the military commander, who looked stunned and seemingly incredulous.

"What? You're going to disobey orders?"

……

A dozen or so bloody heads were severed in one fell swoop.

Gongye Jin seemed to think that wasn't enough, so he had these heads carried around to all the armies, clearly intending to make an example of them.

His overbearing behavior naturally aroused dissatisfaction and even anger among the military leaders of various factions.

Gongye Jin only said one sentence indifferently.

"Do not forget why you sent troops this time."

After saying that, he added another sentence.

"In this battle, neither of us has a way out."

The leaders of each faction remained silent.

Now that they have already sent troops and paid such a high price, they certainly wouldn't be reluctant to sacrifice just a few juniors.

They were simply angered by Gongye Jin's arrogance.

So after a moment of silence, someone said in a cold voice.

"Although the general is loyal to His Majesty to the death, we are still fellow ministers in the same court. We will see each other often in the future, so we should still..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gongye Jin grinned.

"In the future?"

"If I do not win this battle, I will have no future."

There are no more than three things.

In this battle, he led a million troops to fight against the Yan rebels. If he were to be defeated again, he would only face death.

How can they have the face to continue living in this world?

"Alright, I have said all I need to say."

"I urge you all to restrain yourselves from getting too close and not give me another opportunity."

"Go."

The leaders of various factions, dismissed with just a few words, turned ashen-faced and couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

"Damn it, you're insane!"

……

Without a doubt, Gongye Jin was the best choice for Ji Yin.

Because only he would abandon all reservations and fight the Zhenliao Army to the death.

Only he, with his life-or-death madness, could truly suppress the various powerful figures with their differing motives.

And that is indeed the case.

With a dozen or so bloody heads laid out before all the scions of noble families that day, many of them finally learned what reverence meant.

At least on the surface, they no longer dared to make wild pronouncements or outwardly comply with but inwardly defy the orders of the central army.

This not only changed the morale of the troops, but also significantly increased the speed of their originally large and slow march.

"In two or three days, we will reach Hulao Pass."

The monk had sharp hearing and keen eyesight.

Even though there were still two or three days' journey ahead, and even though Hulao Pass ahead was shrouded in soaring evil energy.

But the enormous roar of the mountain-shaking cannon could still be faintly heard.

Those Yan bandits came so fast!

At this moment, many people secretly rejoiced that they had decisively sent a large army to provide support.

Otherwise, if Hulao Pass were lost because of this, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, this situation caused some powerful and influential families, whose members served as the vanguard of the army at Hulao Pass, to become somewhat impatient.

"General, why don't we speed up our march and reach Hulao Pass as soon as possible?"

Gongye Jin remained noncommittal in the face of such urging.

He simply glanced at the undulating mountain range ahead and then asked.

"Have the scouts sent out returned?"

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guard general behind him clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Reporting to the general, except for a few who are still stranded, everyone else has returned."

"According to their report, there is nothing unusual ahead."

Upon hearing this, Gongye Jin's expression darkened.

Just as they were about to send someone to investigate further, some impatient members of aristocratic families said...

"This place is the southern part of Hulao Pass. Hulao Pass is still in our hands. Do those Yan thieves think they can sprout wings and fly here to ambush us?"

For a cultivator to fly around Hulao Pass, they must be at least at the middle three realms.

Even if such powerful figures come in small numbers, what can they do to their million-strong army?
Therefore, he was somewhat disdainful of Gongye Jin's hesitation.

People thought that Gongye Jin was so terrified by those Yan bandits that he was so timid and cowardly, which only made him a laughingstock.

Gongye Jin glanced at him and immediately understood his thoughts.

After a few moments of contemplation with his eyes lowered, neither angry nor upset, Gongye Jin suddenly nodded.

"Very well, since you have such ambition, your unit will go first, and the central army will follow."

This was clearly using him as a pawn to probe the enemy's defenses. The general was furious, but seeing Gongye Jin's cold gaze, he had no choice but to suppress his anger and accept the order with clasped hands.

"Here!"

Gongye Jin squinted at the other party's angry departing figure, and suddenly felt a little hopeful that countless Zhenliao Army ambushes would actually appear on the other side.

After all... the Yan bandits are His Majesty's greatest enemy.

These aristocratic families and generations of officials are a major concern for His Majesty.

In this battle, he not only wanted to annihilate the Yan bandits, but also, if possible, to weaken the strength of these aristocratic families.

Unfortunately, Gongye Jin was ultimately disappointed.

Until the vanguard army of tens of thousands of people completely disappeared from sight, the towering mountains and ridges in front of them remained calm.

There seemed to be absolutely nothing wrong.

So much so that the young officer who turned back to report had a hint of mockery and disdain in his eyes.

"Our troops have safely advanced fifty li."

"General, now you can rest assured to send the central army to follow behind."

Gongye Jin was no longer pleased or angry at this level of mockery; he simply frowned inwardly.

'Perhaps I'm overthinking things?'

This thought flashed through his mind. If it were in the past, he would have already abandoned everything and chosen to send the entire army forward.

But now he raised his brow and unceremoniously ordered the other troops to go first.

Although the leaders of each army were very dissatisfied with this, as each army safely entered the towering mountains ahead, their dissatisfaction gradually turned into disdain and ridicule.

"General, when shall we enter the mountains?"

As the various armies continued to separate, the central army, which was originally positioned to protect the heart of the main army, has now become the rear army.

Faced with the mocking glances from their allies, the Imperial Guard generals were somewhat embarrassed.

However, Gongye Jin, who was being urged repeatedly, frowned even more deeply.

Perhaps it was the intuition honed by two consecutive crushing defeats.

At this moment, he felt a strong sense of unease.

However, upon closer examination, the source of this unease is nowhere to be found.

Turning to one of the veteran generals, Gongye Jin once again asked in a deep voice.

"General Chu, are you sure there's nothing unusual here?"

Upon hearing this, the veteran general of the Imperial Guard, known as General Chu, replied with a wry smile.

"General, rest assured, I have personally inspected each mountain, and there are no Yan bandits lying in ambush."

"If the general still doesn't believe me, he may—"

Seeing the old general of the Imperial Guard speak with certainty, Gongye Jin's brows finally relaxed a little.

"Forget it, no need."

This veteran general is quite skilled; he is one of the few remaining elite soldiers of the Imperial Guard after several calamities.

Even if a ninth-realm Taiyi uses magic to conceal it, it is impossible for him not to reveal the slightest flaw under his discerning eyes.

Slightly relieved, Gongye Jin hesitated for a moment before finally waving his hand.

"In that case, the entire army shall enter the mountains."

……

As the saying goes, even with a population of over ten thousand, they still spread across the land.

Moreover, there are the million mighty soldiers who have marched eastward today.

If viewed from above, the hundred-mile stretch of mountains behind Hulao Pass would be almost entirely covered in crimson armor, resembling a vast red tide.

The central army, having already entered the mountains, couldn't help but sigh as one of the Imperial Guard generals, who was here for the first time, remarked.

"It is said that Hulao Pass is a prison for fierce tigers."

"But if you ask me, these surrounding mountains really are like a natural prison."

"If a large army were to block the gates, any attempt to struggle and escape would likely be futile..."

The general, seemingly realizing the ominous nature of his words, quickly stopped talking.

He then chuckled and said...

"Look at that mountain, it has a rather alluring and seductive charm..."

The army is mostly made up of rough men.

Naturally, one cannot utter beautiful lines such as, "I find the green hills charming, and I suppose the green hills find me just as charming."

Therefore, this statement is extremely vulgar.

This made the soldiers want to burst into laughter, but they dared not do so because of military law.

They were all feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Gongye Jin, who had already walked safely for more than ten miles, gradually relaxed his tense expression.

He even found himself following the general's gaze and looking towards the distant mountain.

The mountain range was indeed quite unique, naturally graceful, and wisps of clouds and mist shrouded it, like a beautiful woman lightly draped in a thin veil.

At first glance, it does have a certain flair.

Gongye Jin smiled inwardly, about to burst into laughter, but the smile that had just begun to appear on his lips froze in the next instant.

"Disaster is imminent..."

And it seemed to be in response to the three words he uttered.

The next instant, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the once peaceful and tranquil mountain ranges.

It's the Zhenliao Army's Mountain-Shaking Cannon!
They actually bypassed Hulao Pass and hid their army in these towering mountains!
boom--

In an instant, the massive cannon roared, its terrifying power tearing countless human bodies apart.

Many soldiers didn't even have time to scream or cry out before they turned into a cloud of blood mist and a pile of bloody mud.

General Chu, who witnessed this tragic scene firsthand, was deeply shaken, his eyes glazed over, and he muttered repeatedly.

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

"I personally investigated, there's no mistake! There's no mistake! How could this be—"

It may be impossible now, but the facts are undeniable.

Looking around, amidst the booming of cannons, countless black dots tore through the air, leaving streaks of flame in the void before crashing down into the dense crowd.

At this moment, even the bravest soldiers can only become lambs to the slaughter.

escape?
With towering cliffs all around, where can I escape to?
Even if one manages to climb up using their own cultivation and quick reflexes, they will be met with black-armored tigers and wolves belonging to various mountain ranges.

One side is in a panic, while the other is poised to strike.

The result speaks for itself.

"put--"

boom--

boom--

boom--

In an instant, countless corpses lay strewn about.

In the blink of an eye, this place, nestled among the scenic mountains behind Hulao Pass, has become the most tragic hell on earth.

……

On the great river, the treasure ship stood still.

Gongsun Xinyi stared blankly at the battlefield footage projected by the Heavenly Eye, and stammered.

"You...how did you do that?"

Han Shao was somewhat smug upon hearing this.

"This matter is thanks to Li He. In the ten years since the founding of the capital, there has been constant communication and exchanges. How could we not have made preparations earlier?"

"Hulao Pass was too conspicuous, so we didn't take any action."

"But the mountains beyond Hulao Pass have long been hollowed out by his men."

With the mountain blocking the way and the Mo family's formation, even cultivators in the upper three realms would not be able to see through it for a while without deliberately exploring.

Seeing Han Shao's smug look, Gongsun Xinyi felt a little amused, but more than that, she was filled with emotion.

"You've been preparing for this day for a long time?"

Han Shao laughed heartily.

"The world is like a game of chess; how can one not anticipate the enemy's moves?"

After saying that, he stopped laughing and looked at Gongsun Xinyi.

"Do you still remember what you said to me back then at Zhenbei Tower?"

"You said I was born a traitor."

"Look at you, you have a really good eye for people."

……

(End of this chapter)