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

The news of the fall of Yanze City was like a pebble thrown into water, creating a small ripple in the Yuezhi Kingdom. However, it was quickly quelled by Wuchan's theory that "harassment by a small force is nothing to fear."

Most of the nobles and generals chose to trust the Prime Minister's judgment.

After all, what kind of trouble could a lone army without logistical support make in the vast heart of the Western Regions? They were like a pack of wolves that had wandered into the desert. No matter how fierce they were, if they couldn't find water and food, they would only face certain death.

However, they all miscalculated one thing.

Xiao Jingchen's army was not a pack of wolves that had wandered into the desert.

They themselves are a moving desert storm. They don't need to search for water, because wherever they go, they devour everything, turning all oases into deserts.

After conquering Yanze City and plundering all its wealth, artisans, and the meager amount of food it possessed, Xiao Jingchen's army did not linger and immediately headed south towards the next city of the Yuezhi—"Camel Hump City."

Camel Peak City was a major commercial town in northern Yuezhi territory and an important node on the Silk Road. The city was much larger than Salt Lake City, and its walls were more fortified. It is said to have a standing army of five thousand, and the city lord was a distant relative of the Yuezhi royal family.

In Wu Chan's opinion, even if Xiao Jingchen's "flanking force" was extremely bold, it would never dare to provoke Camel Peak City.

But he was wrong again.

Five days later, while the residents of Camel Peak were still asleep, a massive earthquake struck.

Countless warhorses surged in from the northern horizon like a black tide. Unlike a normal army, they did not set up camp outside the city and send envoys to persuade the city to surrender, or build siege weapons.

They launched an attack directly.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

On the city wall, the soldiers on night watch let out screams that were distorted with terror. The piercing sound of bugles broke the tranquil night sky.

The city lord was jolted awake from his dream. He rushed up the city wall, his clothes disheveled. When he saw the endless cavalry outside the city, his legs trembled.

"It's...it's Xiao Jingchen's army! How did they get here!" He recognized the large black banner with the character "Xiao" on it, which looked particularly ferocious under the torchlight.

"Quickly! Close the city gates! Everyone, get to the city walls! Prepare to meet the enemy!" the city lord roared hoarsely.

Five thousand defenders rushed haphazardly up the city wall, grabbed their weapons, and looked down at the enemy below in terror.

However, the scene they had envisioned—the enemy charging forward with ladders—did not materialize.

Five hundred paces from the city wall, the massive cavalry force halted.

Immediately afterwards, rows of strangely shaped weapons, resembling giant boxes, were brought out from the center of the army.

It was Yuanrong's crossbow.

The garrison of Camel Peak had never seen such a powerful weapon before. They simply watched curiously, wondering what those Han Chinese were tinkering with.

"put!"

With Chen Jing's command.

"Buzz—"

Thousands of crossbows simultaneously emitted a teeth-grinding buzzing sound.

The next second, a dense rain of arrows, like dark clouds, rose into the air, drawing a deadly arc, and poured down towards the walls of Camel Peak City!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The dense barrage of arrows, with terrifying penetrating power, pierced through the wooden shields, the simple leather armor, and the bodies of the defenders.

A series of piercing screams suddenly rang out from the city wall.

Countless defenders fell like felled wheat, their blood staining the bricks and stones of the city walls.

After one volley, another volley began.

The rain of arrows seemed endless, giving the defenders on the city wall no chance to catch their breath.

They were pinned to the city walls, unable to even lift their heads. The so-called five thousand defenders were as fragile as paper in the face of this devastating attack.

The city lord hid behind the parapet, trembling with fear, his face deathly pale.

This is not war!

This is slaughter!

The enemy didn't even send a single soldier to charge; their terrifying long-range weapons alone were enough to completely collapse his army.

"Surrender! We surrender!" he roared with all his might.

But his voice had already been drowned out by the dense rain of arrows and screams.

Meanwhile, the Han army's infantry were suppressing the enemy with crossbow fire.

Lei Lie's Northern Frontier Cavalry, along with Hadan and Bayin's grassland cavalry, had already circled around to the other three gates of Camel Peak City from both flanks.

"Break it open!"

Lei Lie took the lead, followed by dozens of strong Beiliang soldiers who carried a huge battering ram and slammed it hard into the not-so-sturdy city gate.

"boom!"

"boom!"

The city gate groaned in pain under the tremendous impact, and the bolts began to loosen.

On the other hand, Hadan and Bayin used a simpler and more direct grassland method.

They ordered their soldiers to take out ropes they had prepared beforehand, with grappling hooks attached to the ends, and hurled them fiercely at the city wall.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Hundreds of grappling hooks caught on the crenellations of the city wall.

"Get them!"

At Hadan's command, countless grassland men, like agile monkeys, quickly climbed up the ropes.

The defenders on the city wall were mostly focused on the crossbows aimed at them from the front. By the time they realized that countless enemies were climbing up from the sides and rear, it was too late.

The cold, curved blades slashed their throats.

In less than half an hour, the four gates of Camel Peak City were opened from the inside almost simultaneously.

"kill!"

Xiao Jingchen's icy voice echoed across the battlefield.

The 150,000-strong army, which had been waiting outside, poured into the prosperous commercial city from four directions at the same time, like a floodgate being opened.

What happened next was an absolute nightmare for the residents of Camelback City.

But for Xiao Jingchen's army, it was an organized, disciplined, and highly efficient "takeover" operation.

Lei Lie's Northern Frontier Cavalry was responsible for wiping out all military forces that dared to resist within the city and controlling all major transportation routes.

Chen Jing's infantry quickly occupied important locations such as the city lord's mansion, granary, and armory.

Shen Wanqian's business division, along with Hadan and Bayin's grassland cavalry, became the main force in this "takeover" operation.

Shen Wanqian's men, armed with pre-prepared account books and abacuses, stormed into the homes of every wealthy merchant and into every shop.

"All gold, silver, and jewels must be handed over! Anyone who dares to hoard them will be executed without mercy!"

"All silk, cloth, and spices must be registered and moved to the City Lord's Mansion Square!"

"All the artisans in the city—blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers—must assemble in the square! Anyone who dares not go will have their entire family executed!"

Shen Wanqian's command was methodical and incredibly efficient. He was like a shrewd businessman taking stock of his goods.

The tribes of Hadan and Bayin, on the other hand, are even more direct.

They charged into the streets and alleys like a pack of wolves smelling blood. They had little interest in gold and silver; they preferred cattle, sheep, horses, and... women.

"Haha, this woman is not bad, let's take her away!"

"This chick has such fair skin, I'll give her to one of my warriors!"