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

"What did you say? Camelhump City... is... gone too?"

Inside the central command tent, Wu Chan grabbed the scout by the collar. His fat face was contorted with extreme shock and fear. His voice was shrill, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

The scout was a stragglers who had managed to escape from the direction of Camel Peak. He was covered in blood, his armor was tattered, and his face still bore the lingering fear.

"The Prime Minister... is gone... all gone..." he cried incoherently. "It's the devils... they are the devils! Their arrows can rain down from the sky! Our city walls are like paper in front of them!"

"They...they stormed into the city, looted everything, and killed everyone who dared to resist...Lord City Lord...the Lord City Lord was hanged from the flagpole by them..."

The scout's words struck like heavy hammer blows into the hearts of Wu Chan and all the generals in the tent.

If Yanze City had fallen, they could still deceive themselves by claiming it was just a small group of troops harassing them.

So, how could Camel Hump City, with its 5,000 heavily armed soldiers and fortified defenses, be breached in less than a day, with its commander and royal lord killed? There's only one possibility—

Xiao Jingchen's main force has really arrived!

Moreover, in a way that they could not understand at all, they bypassed the 100,000-strong army at Yumen Pass and directly penetrated into their heartland!

"How could this happen... how could this happen..." General Kuntu, with his eight-character mustache, slumped to the ground, muttering to himself with vacant eyes.

Just a few days ago, they were drinking and having fun here, dreaming about how to divide up the wealth of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Today, the butcher's knife is already at his own throat.

"Xiao Jingchen... how many men does he have? How did he manage to do that?" another general asked, his voice trembling.

No one can answer this question.

In everyone's mind, it was an impossible task for an army of hundreds of thousands to carry out such a long-distance raid, especially when the supply lines were completely cut off.

This is beyond their understanding of war.

"Your Excellency! What should we do now?"

"Yes, Your Excellency! Xiao Jingchen's target is definitely our capital! There aren't many troops guarding it!"

"We must return to their aid immediately! Otherwise, the nation will perish!"

Inside the tent, chaos reigned. All the generals were panicked, chattering incoherently, their previous arrogance and haughtiness completely gone. They all looked at Wu Chan with pleading eyes.

Wu Chan's mind was also blank.

Return to provide aid?

That's easy for you to say!

They are currently positioned below Yumen Pass. Meanwhile, Xiao Jingchen's army has penetrated deep into their territory, reaching a position even closer to the capital, Golden Tent City!

What would happen if they broke camp now and turned back?

First, they were a mixed force of infantry and a small number of cavalry, while Xiao Jingchen's force, according to intelligence, was almost entirely cavalry, and each man had multiple horses!

The marching speed is on a completely different level!

How could they possibly outrun a cavalry force of hundreds of thousands of legs on two legs?

Secondly, once the army begins to retreat, it means that they will completely expose their backs to the Great Yan garrison inside Yumen Pass!

Although the garrison at Yumen Pass is small, if we take advantage of their weakness and strike them hard, we can give them a good beating.

The scariest thing is that they might be caught red-handed by Xiao Jingchen, who is waiting in ambush, on their way back to provide reinforcements!

An army that is marching hastily, in disarray and filled with panic, is going to meet a well-rested and elite cavalry force with high morale.

The result is obvious, even to a fool.