The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

While Wang Chong's 5,000-strong reconnaissance force was annihilated in the valley by Cang Jia's ambush, another black-clad cavalry force had already silently appeared beneath the walls of Youzhou City.

The one leading the group was none other than Cang Jia himself.

He left 15,000 men to clean up the battlefield and continue to confuse the enemy, while he personally led 10,000 of his most elite cavalry on a long-distance raid under the cover of night, heading straight for the heart of Zhao Kuo's army—Youzhou City.

At this moment, the city walls of Youzhou were sparsely lit, and the laxity of the defenses was not much better than that of Heifengkou.

Most of the garrison in the city had been transferred by Zhao Kuo to the Panlong Valley camp, leaving behind only the old, weak, sick, and disabled, totaling less than three thousand men.

Like Zhao Kuo, they never dreamed that the enemy's advance would be so swift and so cunning.

"General, everything is ready." A captain approached Cang Jia and whispered, "The 'Hive' brothers inside the city have sent word that the guards at the East Gate will be rotated tonight, giving us a brief respite. We've also bribed the gatekeeper; he'll open the gate for us then."

"Very good." Cang Jia nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

The "beehive" laid out by the prince was indeed all-pervasive.

This combined internal and external approach to breaching a city is a hundred times easier than a direct assault.

"Get the brothers ready. Once inside the city, don't linger. Split into three groups: one to seize the treasury and granaries, another to control the four city gates, and the remaining group to set the entire city on fire!"

Cang Jia's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

"Remember, our goal isn't to occupy Youzhou City, but to burn it to the ground! The bigger the commotion, the better! I want Zhao Kuo of Panlong Valley, even if he's blind, to be able to see the flames here!"

"yes!"

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passes quickly.

In the distance, towards the east gate of Youzhou City, the heavy city gate slowly opened a crack in the darkness.

"action!"

At Cang Jia's command, ten thousand Northern Iron Cavalry, like phantoms in the night, silently surged into the sleeping city.

There were no shouts of battle, no sounds of weapons clashing.

Only the dull thud of horseshoes, wrapped in thick cotton cloth, pounding on the snow.

While the people of the city were still asleep, this important northern town had already changed hands.

Soon, the city's granaries and treasuries were taken over by the Northern Army.

Immediately afterwards, towering fires broke out simultaneously in the south, west, and north of the city.

The fire is fueled by the wind, and the wind fuels the fire's power.

Dry wooden houses become the best fuel in the cold winter.

The raging fire, like a greedy beast, quickly devoured everything in the city.

Cries and screams finally shattered the tranquility of the night.

Countless people were awakened from their sleep, and seeing the daylight-like fire and billowing smoke outside their windows, they were plunged into endless panic and despair.

"Fire! Run!"

"Help! Help!"

The entire city of Youzhou was in complete chaos.

Cang Jia sat on his horse, coldly observing the hellish scene before him, his face expressionless.

War is that cruel.

Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.

He wanted to use this great fire to burn away all of Zhao Kuo's hopes, to burn away his last shred of hope.

"General!" a soldier reported, "The granaries and treasuries have been completely emptied! All supplies are being loaded onto wagons and transported out of the city!"

"Good!" Cang Jia nodded. "Pass down the order: in half an hour, the entire army will retreat! Remember, block all the city gates from the inside with stones!"

He wanted to leave Zhao Kuo a ruin that he couldn't enter or save.

……

Panlong Valley, Central Command Tent.

Zhao Kuo did not sleep all night.

His five thousand men, once again, disappeared without a trace.

He was now 100% certain that Xiao Jingchen's army had arrived.

Moreover, its scale far exceeded his imagination, and its combat power far exceeded his understanding.

He was like a blindfolded boxer, not even knowing where his opponent was, yet he had already been hit with several heavy punches, leaving him dizzy, disoriented, and terrified.

"General! General! Something terrible has happened!"

A guard scrambled into the tent, his face filled with horror.

"What is it now!" Zhao Kuo's heart was in his throat.

"Fire! General, look! To the east! A huge fire!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuo rushed out of the tent.

The eastern horizon was now painted an eerie blood red.

Huge pillars of fire shot into the sky, clearly visible even from hundreds of miles away.

That direction...

It's Youzhou City!

"Youzhou..." Zhao Kuo's lips began to tremble.

He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

It’s over.

This is it, it's completely over.

Youzhou City was the lifeline of his 500,000-strong army.

All the grain, weapons, and supplies were stockpiled there.

Once Youzhou City falls, his 500,000-strong army will become rootless duckweed. Forget about fighting, they will starve to death in less than three days!

"Xiao Jingchen...you're so cruel..."

Zhao Kuo felt a sweet taste in his throat, and then he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He finally understood.

From the very beginning, he fell into the trap that Xiao Jingchen had meticulously designed for him.

What about the inability to wage war in winter? What about scouts going missing? What about the provocation of blood-red banners…

Everything was designed to lull him into a false sense of security, to confuse him, and to make him focus all his attention on the front of Panlong Valley.

But Xiao Jingchen's real killing move was something he never dreamed of—a night raid on Youzhou City!

That was a really vicious move!

They cut off his entire escape route by striking at the root of the problem!

"General! General, what's wrong!"

The surrounding generals were terrified when they saw Zhao Kuo vomiting blood, and they quickly gathered around him.

"Quickly...quickly issue the order..." Zhao Kuo struggled, using his last ounce of strength to roar, "All troops...all troops, attack! Target: Youzhou City! Recapture Youzhou City!!"

He knew that the only way to survive now was to retake Youzhou City at all costs.

Even if it means losing all 500,000 troops, we will not hesitate!

However, his orders were destined to be in vain.

While his large and bloated army was still frantically assembling and preparing to set off.

Cang Jia, with his ten thousand elite cavalry, laden with supplies seized from Youzhou City, disappeared into the vast night.

Only a dead city remained, swallowed by fire and despair.

And a sarcastic imperial edict from the capital, urging him to proceed steadily and await the arrival of spring.

Zhao Kuo looked at the imperial edict, then at the blood-red sky in the distance, and let out a mournful cry like a wild beast.

He knew he had lost.

A crushing defeat.

They haven't even seen the enemy's main force yet.