xymnovel Chapter 88 Departure, Yaohua Pass!
Chapter 88 Departure, Yaohua Pass!
After receiving their orders, the three princesses began preparations in earnest.
The army is fully equipped and ready to go, with ample supplies of food and weaponry.
Si Luoying personally selected elite troops to ensure the safety of the journey to Cangzhou.
Si Luoshi then discussed diplomatic language with the envoys of Daqian to ensure unimpeded communication with Cangzhou.
Si Luoqing then summoned experts from various martial arts sects to discuss a protection strategy.
Finally, after several days of preparation, the day of departure slowly arrived.
As dawn broke, the entire palace was already a hive of activity.
The three princesses stood at the highest point of the palace, looking down at the army and the people who came to see them off.
The morning light shone on their military uniforms, making them look heroic and radiant, their golden hues shining brightly in the morning light.
Their faces were resolute, but their eyes revealed deep worry.
The three men each rode a tall horse, with a fully equipped army behind them.
The soldiers were in high spirits, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight, and their faces were filled with determination and resolve.
"Second sister, are we really leaving?"
"To leave Father Emperor, to leave Qiandu?"
Si Luoshi looked at Si Luoying, her eyes filled with reluctance to leave the Great Qian Imperial Palace and confusion about the future.
Si Luoying laughed heartily, patted Luo Shi's hand, and said, "Sister, this is what we should do. The Great Qian needs us now, and the people of the Great Qian need us too."
"I know, I'm just a little reluctant to leave."
Si Luoshi bit her lip, lowered her head, and looked somewhat helpless.
"Don't worry, Fourth Sister, everything will be alright."
"Moreover, we are not fighting alone. We have the Emperor's army protecting us all the way, and the road to Cangzhou is the heartland of our Great Qian."
Looking at the frail Si Luoshi, a pang of heartache flashed in Si Luoying's eyes, but she was powerless to do anything about it and could only offer soft words of comfort.
"Moreover, I have heard that the Prince of Yun is exceptionally handsome and has already become the ruler of a state at a young age."
"Who knows, once you see them, you might not want to go back to Qiandu!"
"Although..."
Si Luoying smiled and changed the subject, but as she spoke, she couldn't help but sigh.
Just then, Si Luoqing spoke coldly, "This is not the time to talk about this. We should go."
She turned to look into the distance. "The journey to the East is long, we must set off as soon as possible."
Si Luoying and Si Luoshi exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Let's go!"
The three princesses mounted their horses and slowly descended the steps.
The soldiers stood up straight, their eyes fixed on them.
The people waved flowers and flags, shouting words of blessing.
At this moment, they were not only daughters of the royal family, but also heroes of the Great Qian Dynasty.
Let's go!
Following the orders of the three princesses, the army slowly set off.
The grand procession passed through the palace gates and moved slowly forward amidst the onlookers.
The people were discussing it, some with concern and others with blessings.
But no matter what, they all believe their country can overcome this difficulty.
The three princesses rode at the head of the procession, their faces bearing resolute and determined expressions.
Si Luoying's gaze was firm and fearless; Si Luoshi wore a smile and remained calm; Si Luoqing's expression was cold and stern, as if everything was under control.
The sound of their horses' hooves echoed on the stone road, stirring the heart like war drums.
In the ranks, the soldiers marched in perfect unison, their armor clashing with their swords with a crisp, clear sound.
Banners fluttered in the morning breeze, seemingly displaying the glory and majesty of the Great Qian imperial family.
The convoy moved slowly, carrying provisions, weapons, and other supplies to ensure the army's logistical support.
The roadside was packed with people who came to see them off, holding flowers, incense, candles and all kinds of offerings, to pray for and send off the soldiers who were going on their journey.
The children waved their little flags, their faces beaming with innocent smiles.
Some women, with tears in their eyes, sighed at the unpredictable fate of the three princesses.
The three princesses turned back frequently to wave goodbye to the people, their eyes slightly moist.
As the procession set off, the people who came to see them off gradually dispersed.
The three princesses also felt somewhat heavy-hearted and nervous.
They were fully aware of the difficulty and danger of this mission.
However, they also understand the responsibilities and missions they bear, and only by going all out can they complete the task and strive for benefits for the Great Qian Dynasty.
The team was traveling on the road to the East, a road full of unknowns and challenges.
...
Meanwhile, Su Ye, far away in the mountains of Qizhou, was unaware that three peach blossoms were heading straight for Cangzhou, all for him.
Right now, he's scratching his head, looking at these tortoise shells in the Qizhou mountains.
To the west of Qizhou, there are continuous mountain ranges with towering peaks.
These mountains are not only a natural barrier, but also a fortress for Qizhou for many years.
Qizhou built countless strategic passes and fortifications in these mountains.
These checkpoints, like the arms of giants, tightly guarded Qizhou, leaving the Cangzhou army somewhat helpless.
Clearly, facing the massive invasion of Cangzhou, and with the Qi King of Qizhou no longer able to provide support to Qizhou under the Dayong Dynasty.
They have already planned to build these strategic passes using the mountains west of Qizhou.
They formed a series of tortoise shells, preparing to wage a protracted war against the Cangzhou army in these mountains.
The key is that such a simple strategy still has some unsolvable problems.
To conquer Qizhou, we must first break through these strategic passes.
However, these passes were strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the fierce resistance of the Qizhou army made the offensive extremely difficult.
Moreover, these checkpoints and fortresses are interconnected, leaving no loopholes to exploit.
Only one fortress and one pass can be captured at a time.
Previously, Su Ye had summoned his commanders to discuss strategies for defeating the enemy.
The generals expressed their opinions, with some advocating a direct assault and others suggesting splitting their forces to flank the enemy. Opinions were varied and numerous.
However, in the end, Su Ye decided to adopt Li Jing's steady and methodical tactics, and conquer these dangerous passes one by one.
Yaohua Pass!
This majestic pass, standing to the west of Qizhou, is the first immovable line of defense for the mountains to the west of Qizhou.
The city wall is tall and sturdy, mainly composed of huge stones and bricks, with a thickness of more than five meters and a height of about fifteen meters.
Both the inner and outer sides of the city wall have been carefully polished and reinforced, and the smooth stone walls appear exceptionally hard under the sunlight.
The top of the city wall is wide and flat, large enough to accommodate several soldiers fighting side by side.
At the edge of the city wall, there is a deep moat, which is an obstacle set up to prevent the enemy from climbing the city wall.
The trench was filled with dry branches and sharp stones, and any enemy attempting to cross it would be severely injured.
At key locations along the city walls, arrow towers and watchtowers were erected, allowing the defending soldiers to fire upon and observe enemy forces.
The building's design was ingenious, providing not only a shooting platform but also reinforcing the city walls.
The watchtower allows the defending troops to keep abreast of the enemy's movements and respond promptly.
In addition, the city wall of Yaohua Pass also has an important defensive structure—the barbican.
A barbican is a semi-circular or square area outside the city wall, where the wall is recessed inward, forming a natural trap.
The design of the barbican forced the enemy to pass through a narrow passage when attacking the city, and the walls on both sides could be positioned high up to attack the enemy from both sides, greatly increasing the difficulty of the siege.
It can be said that the city wall of Yaohua Pass has a rigorous structure and ingenious design, which fully takes into account the needs of defense.
Whether it's the arrow tower, the watchtower, or the barbican, they all embody the pinnacle of wisdom of that era, making Yaohua Pass a formidable and difficult pass to conquer.