A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

After the great victory in Jiangnan, Wei Zhao led his army to Jianmen Pass.

After a seven-day arduous march, the 300,000-strong army finally arrived.

Wei Zhao reined in his horse and looked up at the fortress that was once known as the "First Pass of the Southern Border".

It's unbearable to look at.

Half of the city gate tower had collapsed, with charred logs lying haphazardly in mid-air.

The city wall was riddled with holes smashed by the giant elephants, bricks and stones were scattered all over the ground, and the bloodstains had long since dried into a dark brown color, mixed with the soil, and emitted a foul, fishy smell.

After the Southern Barbarian army trampled through this place, it looked like a broken bowl that had been chewed by a dog.

The gates were wide open, with no barricades or guards.

Only three thousand old, weak, and disabled soldiers, dressed in tattered uniforms, knelt trembling on the muddy ground on both sides of the city gate.

"Young Marshal, you've finally arrived." An old soldier with gray hair mustered his courage to raise his head, his eyes red-rimmed.

Wei Zhao dismounted and walked up to the old soldier.

"Where is the commander?" he asked in a low voice.

The old soldier gritted his teeth, tears mingling with the ash on his face as they streamed down his cheeks.

"Before the Southern Barbarian elephant cavalry even reached the pass, General Pang fled with his personal guards and the grain supplies from within the pass."

Looking at these old soldiers who couldn't even hold their swords properly, Wei Zhao felt his anger rise again.

"stand up."

He bent down, helped the old soldier up, and then turned to look at the messenger.

"Order the entire army to set up camp and rest both inside and outside the pass."

Huo Qingluan rode up from behind on horseback.

She didn't look at the remaining soldiers or the tragic scene on the ground; her eyes, like a ruler, swept across the city wall from left to right.

"The foundation at the base of the west wall is loose, so we need to re-pile it. The gaps at the south gate are too big to be filled with ordinary bricks and stones; we need to pour molten iron into them."

She spoke quickly, dismounted, and somehow found a roll of blueprints in her hand.

"Three thousand remnant soldiers were incorporated into the logistics, and the new recruits brought from Jiangnan immediately went up the city wall to move stones."

She turned to Wei Zhao and said, "Give this place to me. Within three days, I'll turn it into an impregnable fortress."

Wei Zhao looked at her decisive and efficient manner and twitched the corner of his mouth.

That's how Huo Qingluan is. Whenever she encounters something related to defense or formations, she becomes like a drawn sword, frighteningly focused.

"Okay, whatever you say." Wei Zhao nodded.

The central command tent was quickly erected.

Su Qingyun sat behind the desk, the abacus beads clicking and clattering.

"The battle of Jiangnan City resulted in significant losses, but by incorporating the defeated troops and recruiting new able-bodied men, the total number was restored."

Without looking up, she quickly drew names on the paper with her charcoal pencil.

"100,000 cavalry, 50,000 heavy infantry, 100,000 ordinary infantry, plus new recruits, totaling about 280,000."

Su Qingyun pushed the account book forward.

"The grain supplies can last for another three months, and that's only after I had the Su family mobilize all their resources in the six counties of Jiangnan."

"Jianmen Pass is a bottomless pit. To rebuild it and support 50,000 garrison troops, the cost of money and food will be astronomical."

Wei Zhao pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Don't worry about the money," he said. "Those merchants in Jiangnan who bet on both sides should be spitting out some blood now."

Su Qingyun smiled, a smile that was extremely gentle and graceful.

"Don't worry, young marshal. I'm an expert at this. I can skin them alive and pull out their tendons. I guarantee they won't even be able to scream in pain."

The curtain was lifted, and Hua Jieyu walked in.

She changed into a sharp black outfit, her red lips still eye-catching, but there was no smile in her eyes.

"The old lady has sent a letter."

Hua Jieyu threw a bamboo tube sealed with sealing wax onto the table.

Wei Zhao opened the package, pulled out the secret letter inside, glanced at it, and immediately raised his eyebrows.

"East, Hangu Pass." He slammed the letter on the table.

Su Qingyun stopped calculating.

"Fresh grass and Donghu?"

"Yes, the news of the complete annihilation of the Southern Barbarian army should have reached the east by now."

Hua Jieyu walked to the map and pointed to the location of Hangu Pass.

"The King of Donghu is not a peaceful man, and the band of opportunists in Xianyuan are even more fickle."

She turned to look at Wei Zhao.

"The old lady means that with Sister Qingluan guarding the southern front and Qingyun managing logistics in Jiangnan, things are stable enough. You can lead the army to Hangu Pass."

Wei Zhao stared at Hangu Pass on the map.

The Donghu, cavalry archers, are swift and agile. The Xianyuan, semi-Sinicized, excel at winning battles when they have the upper hand.

If these two countries join forces and take over from the east, the heartland of Great Wei will truly be hollowed out.

"Go, if we don't beat these beasts until they feel the pain, they'll always think that the Great Wei is easy to eat."

Wei Zhao tapped his finger heavily on the map.

Late at night.

Outside Jianmen Pass, campfires lit up the rows of tents.

When Wei Zhao lifted the covers of Huo Qingluan's tent, she was still awake.

A huge map of Jianmen Pass's defenses was spread out on the table, covered with dense red and black lines.

There were also several wooden city wall models on the side.

Huo Qingluan wore a thin, plain-colored undergarment, and her hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin.

With her back to the tent flap, she was studying the design of a hidden troop shelter.

Wei Zhao walked over without deliberately making a fuss.

Huo Qingluan did not turn around.

"The barbican at the south gate is too small. If the Donghu cavalry rush in, it won't be able to annihilate them. It needs to be expanded by three zhang."

She continued talking to herself.

Wei Zhao walked up behind her and reached out to take the charcoal pencil from her hand.

Huo Qingluan paused for a moment, then turned her head.

A hint of surprise flashed across her cool and beautiful face, then she pursed her lips slightly.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was still cold, but her eyes had already started to wander.

"It's late. We'll expand the barbican again tomorrow," Wei Zhao said, looking at her.

He reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Huo Qingluan's body stiffened for a moment.

"I haven't finished drawing yet." She turned her face away and lowered her voice.

"The map can't be hidden." Wei Zhao lowered his head, his nose brushing against her earlobe.

Huo Qingluan's breathing became erratic. She didn't speak again, but suddenly raised her hand and hooked it around Wei Zhao's neck.

Wei Zhao smiled.

He scooped the person up in his arms and carried them to the bed deep inside the tent.

"Wei Zhao..." she called his name.

"I am here."

The wind was very cold outside Jianmen Pass that night.

But it was as hot as fire inside the tent.

The commotion didn't subside until late into the night.

Huo Qingluan leaned against Wei Zhao's chest, her long hair disheveled, a blush still lingering on her cool face.

Instead of snuggling in his arms and acting coquettishly like an ordinary woman, she propped herself up and looked at Wei Zhao's face.

"I will guard Jianmen Pass for you." Her tone was calm, as if she were issuing a military order.

Wei Zhao reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek.

She paused.

"Go east with peace of mind, and defeat the Donghu..."

"See you in the capital," Wei Zhao replied.

Huo Qingluan's lips curled up slightly.

She rarely smiled. But when she did, it was like icicles melting in winter, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

See you in the capital.

The next morning.

Bugles sounded throughout the camps inside Jianmen Pass.

Wei Zhao stood on the command platform, looking down at the Wei family army that had been arrayed in formation.

There were no lengthy mobilization speeches, nor any impassioned but pointless rhetoric.

"Break camp. Target: Hangu Pass."

The military order was quickly relayed.

The army began to operate, like a massive and sophisticated war machine.

Liu Jingshuang was dressed in a plain-colored outfit, with a long sword at her waist, and was riding a horse.

"I'll lead the infantry, with 100,000 infantrymen bringing up the rear. We'll proceed cautiously and steadily. The Donghu people are skilled in mounted archery; we mustn't let them kite us."

She glanced at Wei Zhao.

"I know," Wei Zhao nodded.

"I'll lead the cavalry ahead," Wei Zhao said, turning his head to look in the other direction.

Shang Wanqing sat in a huge modified carriage, surrounded by craftsmen and disassembled ballista parts.

"The ballistae should follow the vanguard. The Donghu people's horses are fast, so we need to use the ballistae formation to suppress their charge."

Shang Wanqing didn't even look up; she was polishing a gear in her hands.

Su Qingyun stood beside the grain cart, holding an account book in her hand.

"The advance army has prepared enough provisions for ten days. I will have transfer stations set up along the supply routes for the follow-up supplies."

She looked at Wei Zhao with a smile: "Young Marshal, just focus on fighting, you won't go hungry."

Hua Jieyu has long since disappeared.

Last night, she led her undercover agents to the eastern front to gather intelligence ahead of time.

What is the Donghu royal court doing? The troop movements of Xianyuan—she must get her hands on them before the army arrives.

"Let's go." Wei Zhao spurred his horse.

The great banner bearing the character "卫" unfurled in the wind, and 100,000 iron cavalrymen, like a giant black dragon, slowly drove out of Jianmen Pass and headed east.

Huo Qingluan stood on the gate wall, watching the army depart into the distance.

She didn't look away until the white "Wei" banner disappeared on the horizon.

She turned around, her face instantly returning to its icy expression.

"Pass on the order!"

She strode down the city wall, her voice sounding particularly cold and hard in the wind.

"The recruits' camp must begin training in the Mandarin Duck Formation immediately! The logistics battalion must seal all the breaches in the city wall! Within three days, I want to see the moat dug two feet deeper!"

Several captains were so intimidated by the murderous aura emanating from her that they scalp tingled. They loudly agreed and turned to run off to relay the order.