After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

Inside the hall, everyone gathered around the map.

Tu Shan Jing's fingertips slowly swept across the map, heading north from Duanbei City, across a low hill, and then tapping on the markers of the two cities in turn.

"Lonely Smoke City." He pointed to the larger one, "Broken Army Pass." His fingertip moved to the smaller one.

"The two cities are mutually supportive. Lonely Smoke is the main city, with high walls and thick fortifications, and the garrison is no less than 50,000. Moreover, we do not know how many reinforcements have recently gathered."

"Although Pojun Pass is a military town, its terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack." He raised his head and scanned the people in the tent. "If we attack Guyan, Pojun will harass us from the side; if we break Pojun, Guyan will flank us from behind."

"So we'll attack both of them together."

There was a moment of silence inside the tent.

The generals exchanged glances; no one voiced their opposition, but none rushed to agree either.

Fighting on two fronts simultaneously means that forces are dispersed, and if one front is tied down, the other front will be under tremendous pressure.

Tu Shan Jing emphasized the name of Guyan City with his fingertip: "I will lead 60,000 main forces to attack Guyan City, and Senior Cangwu will accompany me to cover the retreat."

Then he pointed to Pojun Pass: "Jiang Yan will lead 20,000 troops, assisted by Pei Xiao, to attack Pojun Pass."

"Lu Zhanshuang led 20,000 troops to garrison Duanbei City, ready to provide support to both routes as needed."

He looked up at Jiang Yan.

"The enemy's troop deployment is currently unclear. If Sirius concentrates its main force under one of the cities, then one side should focus on delaying and entanglement to buy time for the other side to break through the city. After breaking through the city, they should immediately launch a pincer attack from the flanks to form an encirclement."

Pei Xiao stood to the side with his arms crossed, flicking his tiger tail.

"The two sides are feinting attacks on each other; whichever side creates a breach first becomes the main force, is that the idea?"

"That's what I mean." Tu Shan Jing nodded.

Jiang Yan bent down to look at the distance between the two cities on the map, and silently calculated the time it would take for the cavalry to march at full speed.

"The distance between the two cities can be covered by cavalry in less than half a day by rapid march. If one side is captured first, the other side will indeed have time to provide support. The key is to keep up with the pace of the siege."

"Exactly." Tu Shan Jing drew a semi-circle on the map with his finger. "The main force of Tianlang is still gathering. The faster we go, the more passive they will be."

"It's settled then." Tu Shan Jing looked around at everyone. "Everyone, this battle concerns the fate of the nation. The main force of Tianlang is still intact, but their morale has been dampened. The faster we go, the more chaotic they will become."

The generals responded in unison.

After the meeting, the generals filed out of the tent. Pei Xiao walked beside Jiang Yan, his tiger tail swaying behind him.

"It's only been a little over a year," he suddenly said, his tone tinged with emotion. "Back when you first came to the army, you were just a greenhorn under my command. Now, you're my superior."

Jiang Yan glanced at him with a smile and teased him.

"If General Pei minds, you can still command this siege, and I will cooperate."

"Bullshit." Pei Xiao laughed and cursed, slapping him hard on the shoulder with his big tiger paw. "I admit I'm not as good as you at fighting. You go ahead and command, I'll be your vanguard."

……

Three days before the army set off, Jiang Yan's Northern Expeditionary Army was officially expanded to 10,000 men.

Lu Fa and Tu Shanye were so busy they barely had time to breathe.

Half of the new recruits were veterans from the Northern Army camp, who had met Jiang Yan at the outpost and Broken Monument City.

The other half consisted of elite troops transferred from the capital's reinforcements, well-equipped but with a scrutinizing look in their eyes towards their new commander.

On the west side of the drill ground, several new recruits from the capital whispered among themselves.

"I heard that the Marquis is human and only fifteen years old. Is that true?"

"No matter what race they are, a good general is one who can lead us to victory."

An old soldier next to him chimed in, bowing his head to adjust his shoulder armor.

"He saved my life at Outpost No. 3."

The recruits looked at each other, and no one spoke.

Before setting off, Jiang Yan led Jian Li to Ao Tianxin.

Ao Tianxin was leaning against a pillar in the side hall, drinking.

Seeing the two approaching, he put down the wine pot and his gaze lingered on Jian Li for a moment.

"Tianxin." Jiang Yan gently pushed Jianli forward. "I haven't had time to look after her lately, and I'm worried about leaving her in Broken Stele City. How about letting her stay with you for now?"

Jian Li looked up at Ao Tianxin.

Those bright, sparkling eyes blinked, and she called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Sister Tianxin."

Ao Tianxin paused for a moment, holding the wine glass.

She looked down at the little one, her eyebrows curving slightly.

These past few days, Jianli has been following her around, and she's been very sweet-talking, calling her "Sister Tianxin" all the time, which she finds quite pleasing. She's beautiful, quick-witted, and speaks in a charming way.

"Alright." Ao Tianxin placed the wine jug on the railing. "Leave the men to me, you go fight your battle."

Jiang Yan bowed and thanked him, then squatted down to look Jian Li in the eye.

"Follow Sister Tianxin, and don't be naughty."

"I understand, Master." Jian Li nodded obediently, then added, "Master, please be careful."

Jiang Yan smiled, pinched her cheek, stood up, nodded to Ao Tianxin, and strode towards the training ground.

On the training ground, the army had already formed ranks.

The black armor stretched out like an iron-gray sea under the sunlight, while the "Jiang" banner of the Northern Expeditionary Army fluttered in the wind and sand.

Jiang Yan stood on the high platform of the military camp, looking down at the densely packed square formations below.

He was wearing the spirit armor bestowed by Tu Shan Lie, which was dark silver all over.

With an upright posture and calm eyes, he stood there like a sword yet to be drawn.

Jiang Yan's gaze slowly swept over the ten thousand faces below the stage.

Standing at the front row were five thousand veterans of the Northern Expeditionary Army. They had fought their way from the outpost to Duanbei City. Now, they looked up at the young man on the stage with undisguised fervor in their eyes.

Most of the soldiers in the back row had only heard of Jiang Yan.

Standing under his banner for the first time, I felt a mix of reverence and nervousness in my eyes.

"Half of you have just joined the Northern Expeditionary Army, and the other half have been with me for a year."

"My rule is to achieve the greatest results with the least casualties," Jiang Yan said, without mincing words. "Regardless of whether you're new or old, come back alive."

The drill ground was quiet for about three breaths.

Then the five thousand veteran soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army were the first to raise their weapons and shout in unison, "Lord Marquis, you are mighty!"

Immediately afterward, the newly joined soldiers joined in the shouting, and the roar of ten thousand men shook the flags on the city wall.

Ao Tianxin watched this scene from the distant city wall.

Jian Li stood beside her, her small hands gripping her sleeves, her eyes fixed on the silver-armored youth on the stage.

"Sister Tianxin, Master is so majestic," Jianli whispered.

Ao Tianxin did not answer.

She watched as the young man on the command platform calmly issued orders, and the demon soldiers below the platform wholeheartedly supported him, their admiration undisguised.