I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 672 Loyalty in the North! Gazing North! Gazing North! Yearning for the Unreturning!

"Extra number! Extra number!"

"The imperial army was ambushed and annihilated by the Yan army at Xiaoshan, with a million soldiers wiped out in a single day!"

"Extra number! Extra number!"

"The imperial army suffered a disastrous defeat at the Xiaoshan Mountains—"

……

More than ten years have passed since the Taikang era to the present Xingping era.

The official gazette system, pioneered by Wangbeilou, was nothing new in the capital.

When newsboys roamed the streets and alleys, shouting their messages, the entire capital city of Haojing was shaken.

what!
The imperial army has been defeated?

This...how is this possible!

Upon suddenly hearing this earth-shattering news, most people, while shocked and horrified, simply couldn't believe it.

After all, they had all witnessed the awe-inspiring sight of the imperial army's million-strong force marching eastward from the capital in July.

Among them are not only the Imperial Guards who have guarded the capital for over two thousand years, but also the elites of various noble families.

With such terrifying strength, it would be enough to not only wipe out the mere Yan bandits, but also sweep across the entire world.

But now you're saying that this million-strong army just vanished like that?
What a joke!
"Absolutely ridiculous!"

"In my opinion, this Wangbei Tower is getting worse every day! In order to gain attention, it even dares to fabricate such absurd rumors!"

"Indeed! Do you really think we're all ignorant fools who never leave our homes and know nothing about geography?"

"The Xiaoshan Mountains are clearly west of Hulao Pass! With Hulao Pass still standing and this formidable pass blocking our way, how could the Yan bandits possibly set up an ambush at the Xiaoshan Mountains?"

In the teahouse and restaurant, someone slammed their fist on the table and stood up, their words filled with sarcasm and anger.

Upon hearing this, the tea drinkers and diners, who were initially alarmed by the shocking news, thought about it carefully and suddenly realized that there was some truth to what these people were saying.

indeed.

The Xiaoshan Mountains are located west of Hulao Pass, so how could the Yan army possibly cross this pass and set up an ambush in the Xiaoshan Mountains?

Not to mention that in one battle, they wiped out the entire million-strong army of the imperial court.

This news sounds really unreliable.

Despite this, some people still hesitated.

"Well, it's really hard to say."

"Don't forget, when has any news coming from Wangbei Tower over the years ever been wrong?"

"Furthermore, who is this Prince Yan? He is a military genius who has never been defeated in his campaigns in the south and north! If it were someone else, it might not be believable, but if it is that Prince Yan... this matter may not be false."

Those who had spoken earlier immediately sneered when someone refuted them.

"A military genius? Haha, even if that Yan traitor has extraordinary cultivation and is a master strategist, could he possibly transport hundreds of thousands of troops to the rear of Hulao Pass by himself?"

The human body contains the five elements and also yin and yang, hence the saying that the human body is a microcosm.

Moving hundreds of thousands of troops across Hulao Pass would be virtually impossible even for someone with great supernatural powers.

With such a huge logical flaw, isn't this matter obviously fake?

In an instant, a burst of laughter erupted throughout the teahouse.

As the target of ridicule, the tea drinker's face flushed slightly.

In fact, judging from his completely different way of addressing the "Yan traitor" just now, he didn't have any ill feelings towards the King of Yan, and even had a hint of respect for him.

After all, since the Prince of Yan rose to power, he has made outstanding contributions over the past ten years by conquering the grasslands in the north and pacifying the Yellow River in the south.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the greatest man in the world, a true hero.

If the new emperor hadn't forced the Prince of Yan to go to the capital, clearly showing a hostile attitude, the situation wouldn't have escalated to this point.

Of course, he dared not say these words aloud.

He could only blush and shout defiantly at the newsboy outside.

"Here! Bring me a copy of the official gazette!"

In his view, since Wangbeilou dared to release this news, the official gazette must not have made it up without reason.

The details of this battle are unclear, but the explanation is provided above; you'll understand it at a glance.

Sure enough, as soon as he got his hands on the official gazette, the article that occupied the front page caught his eye, and the tea drinker quickly showed an expression of sudden enlightenment.

"That's it! That's it!"

It was indeed impossible for an army of hundreds of thousands to cross the formidable Hulao Pass by sheer magical means.

But waterways are possible!
However, just as the tea drinker's face lit up with joy, preparing to slap those who had mocked him in the face, a group of fierce, armored warriors suddenly burst into the teahouse.

He first kicked the newsboy over, snatched all the newspapers from his hands, and then swept his gaze across the crowd with a gloomy and murderous look.

"Wangbei Tower is colluding with the Yan traitors! They are spreading rumors and causing chaos in the hearts of the people of our capital!"

"I am hereby ordered to thoroughly search and destroy the official gazettes, and to eliminate all falsehoods!"

"Anyone who keeps the official gazette or makes unfounded comments about this matter will be treated as an accomplice of the Yan rebels!"

Having said that, he didn't give the people in the teahouse a chance to react at all, and immediately began searching the entire teahouse.

Anyone who held the official gazette and was momentarily distracted would be whipped.

Almost instantly, the entire teahouse was thrown into chaos and left in a complete mess.

As these armored warriors rushed to the next teahouse without stopping, the people in the teahouse looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long silence, someone gasped and muttered under their breath.

"This matter... is probably not true, is it?"

The saying goes, "There's no silver buried here."

Some things are better left unsaid; in fact, the more you try to cover them up, the more serious the problem becomes.

Especially in this day and age, how many people are fools who still have the spare money and leisure to go out for tea and wine?
At this moment, even those who had just been laughing and mocking each other changed their expressions.

Qi Qi turned her gaze to those who had just bought the official gazette, forced a stiff smile, and tentatively asked.

"What exactly did the newspaper say?"

"The imperial army's million-strong force... is it really all gone?"

Unfortunately, those who bought the official gazette, whether out of fear or anger at the mockery, all chose to remain silent.

Someone suddenly couldn't help but sigh with a sense of melancholy.

"It's still hard to say whether the imperial court's million-strong army is really gone."

"But it seems that the Wangbei Tower is truly going to be gone..."

"From now on, we probably won't be able to taste those various delicacies and spirits from the North anymore..."

……

A single falling leaf heralds the coming of autumn.

The people of the capital city, under the emperor's nose, are indeed more perceptive in certain aspects than those in other places.

In fact, almost at the same time that the armored soldiers were searching for and destroying the official gazettes throughout the capital, a large number of armored elite soldiers had already surrounded the entire Wangbei Tower.

Before they could even make a move, a group of sinister figures dressed in magnificent crimson brocade robes suddenly appeared in front of them.

"What? Are you trying to steal our credit?"

Upon hearing the eunuch in the lead say these words, the imperial guard general broke out in a cold sweat and quickly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"You flatter me, Zhongchang. I wouldn't dare!"

The Lantai Pavilion, the emperor's henchmen.

Perhaps in the past they could have disregarded them, but now the emperor has executed the former prime minister and suppressed a host of court officials, his imperial power is at its peak.

If they angered these eunuchs, they would suffer greatly.

Seemingly pleased with the other party's sensibility, Linghu An smiled contentedly.

He then ignored the armored soldiers and disappeared with a group of Lantai Pavilion guards in front of Wangbei Tower.

……

"Unexpectedly, it was Lord Linghu who came in person."

Having served as a slave in the palace for so long, Linghu An couldn't help but feel a little melancholy upon suddenly hearing the title "Lord Linghu."

However, upon closer examination, it was precisely this title of "Lord Linghu" that brought him together with the Prince of Yan and these staunch and courageous northern warriors, who shared the same ideals and beliefs.

"Hey, why are you doing this to yourself?"

The man who was calmly burning the classified documents looked up and smiled.

"Some things always need to be done by someone."

"Moreover, to be a pioneer in the king's great cause is the greatest honor of my life, so why should I complain about hardship?"

Upon hearing this, Linghu An lowered his eyes and pondered for a while, then nodded in agreement.

"Right."

Having said that, he didn't waste any more time and went straight to the point.

"Are you all packed? If you are, let's go."

"The rest of the matter will be handled by me; there won't be any problems..."

As a comrade, how could Linghu An possibly sit idly by and watch him die?
To Linghu An's surprise, this fellow shook his head with a smile after hearing his words.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Lord Linghu's good intentions."

Linghu An was taken aback.

"You're not leaving?"

The man's smile remained unchanged.

“Since refusing to return north, this family has been waiting for this day.”

"If I leave, what's the point of me staying in the first place?"

Looking north, looking north.

In addition, they all spoke with northern accents.

The features of Wangbei Tower are actually quite obvious. Anyone with a discerning eye would already know the details of Wangbei Tower.

Ji Yin wasn't stupid; how could he not know?

Therefore, someone has to take the blame and mislead those people, including Ji Yin.

They would kill him to preserve all the arrangements they had made in the capital over the years.

This deal couldn't be more worthwhile.

"You...you're deliberately courting death..."

Having already discerned the other party's true intentions, Linghu An looked at the unassuming northern man with a complex expression, still wanting to offer further advice.

But the other party just smiled and shook their head again.

"My mind is made up, Lord Linghu, please say no more."

He said this with a mix of nostalgia and sigh.

"Back then, I was just a wandering knight in the marketplace, drifting aimlessly through the days, wasting my time."

"If it weren't for fate's favor and the king's appreciation, how could someone of my humble and lowly status have gotten involved in the affairs of the world and witnessed the vastness of this land?"

"Therefore, Lord Linghu, please do not grieve or feel sorry for me. This is a fortunate event in my life."

Upon hearing this, Linghu An opened his mouth several times, but did not know what to say.

At this moment, the manager of Wangbeilou, who had already dealt with those confidential documents, pointed to a corner of the secret room with a relaxed expression and spoke eloquently.

"By the way, those were prepared by someone for Lord Linghu."

"It doesn't involve core secrets, but it's enough for Lord Linghu to report to Ji Yin."

"With these in hand, I doubt that Ji Yin will be able to see through the connection between us."

It must be said that this former wandering knight of Youzhou is indeed a completely different person now.

This prudence and thoroughness alone are enough to call him an outstanding person.

But now, such a hero is actively seeking death for the sake of the king's great cause.

A hint of regret flashed in Linghu An's downcast eyes.

"If the king knew, he would not allow you to do such a thing!"

This can be considered as Linghu An's second attempt to persuade him.

But the other party just laughed and retorted.

"But the king also said that in the past, no great undertaking has been accomplished without bloodshed and sacrifice."

Upon hearing this, Linghu An was completely speechless, glaring at him angrily.

"Must I die?"

The other party neither dodged nor avoided, but remained resolute and persistent, even somewhat scorching and intimidating.

"He is destined to die."

Only after his death did Wangbeilou completely disappear.

Only then will Ji Yin and his group withdraw their gaze, thus protecting those in the shadows.

The relative importance of each is self-evident.

Linghu An couldn't bear the other party's almost martyr-like burning gaze for a moment, and sighed as he lowered his eyes.

What an idiot!

The King's army is about to arrive, and the great cause is within reach.

What awaits these loyal followers is bound to be immense wealth and power.

But this guy chose to abandon everything just before dawn broke.

There's no such fool in the world!

"That's it, that's all."

"Your achievements and sacrifices today will be personally conveyed to the King when His Majesty's great cause is accomplished. I will never allow a meritorious official to be tarnished!"

Seeing Linghu An's resigned and dejected look, the manager of Wangbeilou seemed to be amused.

After chuckling for a while, he said...

"There's no need to ask for credit."

"My family has been well taken care of by Your Majesty all these years, and we have no worries about food and clothing."

"However, I have something I would like to trouble Lord Linghu with."

Upon hearing this, Linghu An waved his hand and said.

"But there's no harm in talking."

After saying that, the other party carefully took out a small package wrapped in silk from his bosom.

Linghu An initially thought that the silk scroll contained some precious treasure, but when the other party opened it, he found that it was just a small cup of ordinary soil.

“Years ago, when I traveled south, the king gifted me some local soil, which I wrapped in a torn piece of clothing.”

"As a parting gift, I would like to remind everyone not to forget the way home."

"I have never forgotten it for a moment, but it is a pity that I will never be able to return home..."

As he spoke, he carefully wrapped the small handful of local soil from the silk cloth again and handed it to Linghu An.

"I hope that Lord Linghu will have the opportunity in the future to bury me and my family in this homeland in the north."

"This can be considered as fulfilling a promise made back then."

Holding this small handful of local soil, Linghu An felt as if he were holding an immense weight, his palm trembling slightly.

After a long pause, he slowly released the pent-up emotions in his chest and made a solemn promise.

"Even if we are separated by mountains and seas, our family will certainly live up to your expectations."

Upon hearing Linghu An's promise, the manager of Wangbeilou finally looked relieved.

"In that case... then I will thank Lord Linghu in advance."

"I have no regrets."

Having said that, his soul perished, scattering into countless points of starlight, which at first glance appeared dazzling.

Looking north from the Wangbei Tower.

North is my hometown.

I think about it, but I won't go back.

Seeing this, Linghu An's eyes welled up with tears, and he bowed deeply as a farewell gesture.

But a sharp, angry shout came from his mouth.

"How dare you! You try to outsmart us!"

At this moment, the guy on the other side laughed heartily in agreement.

"My king will soon arrive in the capital! He will purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the treacherous ministers!"

"At that time, you eunuchs and traitors will surely die without a burial place!"

The words fell.

From inside came Linghu An's furious shouts.

"Thief! How dare you!"

When the guards from Lantai Pavilion who were waiting outside realized something was wrong and rushed into the secret room, they saw the Yan thief pointing at them and laughing mockingly.

"Haha! I'll be waiting for you in the Netherworld!"

Having said that, his soul vanished.

The group of guards from the Lantai Pavilion looked at Linghu An, who was clearly furious, and their expressions changed. They quickly stopped him.

"Master! Wait! Leave him a whole corpse!"

As long as the body can be preserved intact, the secret techniques of the Lantai Pavilion can still be used to capture some fragmented clues.

Unfortunately, their cries came too late.

As Linghu An struck down with his palm, the Yan thief's corpse instantly turned into ashes.

Linghu An's face was contorted with anger and resentment.

"This scoundrel has enraged me! I must crush his bones and scatter his ashes to appease my hatred!"

Having said that, he suddenly turned around and looked at the regretful-looking Lantai Pavilion servants, and said in a sinister tone.

"What? Do you have any objections?"

Upon seeing this, the group of guards from the Lantai Pavilion felt a chill in their hearts and immediately lowered their heads in fear.

"I dare not!"

"Hmph! I doubt you'd have the guts!"

Having said that, he quietly waved his sleeve, gathering and collecting the dust that filled the air.

He then strode out and gave a chilling order.

"Pass on our order!"

"Arrest everyone in this North-Looking Tower and await their fate! Do not let a single one escape!"

"Wangbei Tower? Ha, what is that!"

As he spoke, he pointed to a few more people.

"This place is the core secret location of the traitors, and there must be confidential documents here that are in cahoots with the Yan traitors."

"Search this place thoroughly, do not miss an inch!"

"Once we achieve a success, I will certainly petition His Majesty for credit on your behalf!"

Upon hearing this, the group of guards from the Lantai Pavilion finally showed joy on their faces.

"Thank you, Pavilion Master!"

……

(End of this chapter)