"Order transmission!"
"Order transmission!"
"The frontline situation has changed!"
"All Ninth Mountain troops, remove baggage, travel light on fast horses, rush urgently for a thousand miles, and must arrive outside Zhen Nan Prefecture by midnight the day after tomorrow!"
"Quick, quick, quick!"
The sharp whistle, coupled with the urgent shouts of the orderlies in the wind and snow, pierced through the night, reflecting great urgency.
This flying order transmission represented that the Ninth Mountain troops needed to abandon all non-essential armaments and supplies, march two thousand miles without rest, to reach outside Zhen Nan Prefecture as quickly as possible!
With the red command flags fluttering upstream, passing through the ironclad torrent roaring through the ice and snow of Black Mountain, this howling quickly spread through the dark night.
Soon, among the ironclad torrent, one after another armored soldier clad in heavy armor, helmets glinting with icy cold luster, shouted, drawing swords single-handedly from their waists,
Blades of cold light flashed as sharp long knives were drawn.
The armored soldiers simultaneously drew their swords, slashing at the hinges on the sides of their heavily armored horses.
As the hinges were cut, the heavy armor slipped off through the slits in the horse’s armor, like pearls with their strings cut, scattering on the galloping horses.
Other soldiers cut apart the war chariots carrying heavy military equipment and army tents...
Soon, the speed of the horses visibly increased, their bodies passing through the icy winds, steaming white like floating clouds, creating a spectacular scene as ten thousand horses whistled.
And at the flanks of the black torrent against the red command flags, three other troops crossed the icy river a few miles behind.
They were the Three Mountain Mountain-cutting Army, following the Ninth Mountain’s right-flanking Divine Might Army from Chuanzhong Pass, as the army’s wings!
Upon noticing sudden changes in the central army, simultaneously, three streaks of light shot out from the front of the troops, slicing through the night towards the central army.
The three streaks of light quickly reached the forefront of the Ninth Mountain Army, where the Right Road Piaoqi, Lu Ming, had switched mounts, riding a creature clad in black-scaled armor, horse-like in form, a single horn on its head, eyes glowing like red fire. It galloped as if soaring, its feet off the ground, flames flickering beneath!
The streaks of light rapidly arrived beside Lu Ming, advancing side by side with him!
The Seventh, Eighth, and Twelfth Mountain Middle Lang Generals appeared, treading the void, flying close to the ground, their protective Gang Qi tearing through the oncoming cold wind, forming dazzling arcs of light, among them, the Seventh Mountain Middle Lang General, with a solemn face, had guessed something and turned to inquire Lu Ming.
"Lu Piaoqi, is this a forced march? Have the Nine Colonels sent word?"
At this moment, Lu Ming’s brow was tightly furrowed, the eyes under his red helmet flickering with fire, breaking through the oncoming, knife-like wind and snow, he shouted urgently:
"The General’s latest message!"
"The situation in the mountains has changed, those demons have detected the General’s intentions and shut down the transmission array over there!"
"Our forces are ordered to reach Zhen Nan Prefecture with utmost speed, to exterminate the demons there and force those beasts to open the transmission array."
Lu Ming’s voice was filled with a murderous spirit, a certain ruthless resolve, eager to rush to Zhen Nan Prefecture and commence battle against the demons there!
The General’s orders, relayed by Gongsun Yang, indicated the severity of the situation, as they contained the word "utmost."
Therefore, now, they had to abandon all unnecessary baggage, march a thousand miles non-stop, urging their horses onward!
"Then we’ll assault over a thousand miles to slaughter our way forward!"
"But the combat plans might need to change, sprinting thousands of miles doesn’t give the demons much chance to react, nor much time for us to buffer."
"The further we advance, the quicker the demons’ scouts will discover us. Our scouts won’t have buffering time, and then it might be a head-on bloody battle!" The Eighth Mountain Middle Lang General responded swiftly, eyes under the helmet sharp, quickly pointing out issues without hesitation.
Originally, Commander Pei’s plan was for their three Mountain-cutting Armies, totaling sixteen thousand cavalry, to flank and ambush in coordination with the Ninth Mountain’s right-flanking Divine Might Army, hoping to win a beautiful battle.
Now plans couldn’t keep up with changes, the Ninth Mountain needed a forced march to quickly reach Zhen Nan Prefecture and battle the demons stationed there, leaving no room for strategizing, only straightforward combat, leading to a bloody war.
Lu Ming’s eyes were bloodshot, the military situation urgent, and speed imperative, allowing him no time to overthink, confirming the orders.
This was his first time leading a command, and the burden on him felt as heavy as a mountain!
Thus, the four quickly reached an agreement.
Previous combat plans canceled, leaving a few thousand cavalry behind, all other troops abandoned unnecessary baggage, and began a forced march!
Instantly, the sounds of horses and people resounded.
Thus, more than twenty thousand cavalry, lightly equipped, rode like clouds, racing against the howling wind and snow, crossing Black Mountain and White Water, heading straight south, stirring a trail of rolling smoke and clouds.
The distant mountains hidden under the night snow seemed like waiting beasts ready for conquest!
"Changes in military situation, take this message to other supporting comrades, they should have already set out!"
In that trail of smoke and clouds, soon, clear eagle cries echoed.
Several silver flashes soared from below, heading east and west in a hurry, soon vanishing into the vast night sky.
While tens of thousands of Mountain-cutting Army galloped across thousands of miles of wind and frost, rushing to Zhen Nan Prefecture, on this same snow-covered, vast horizon, several other troops, from different directions, moved southward with force.
In less than half a day after thirty thousand iron cavalry passed Chuanzhong Pass, the Southwest defense line, three thousand miles from Chuanzhong Pass at Pingyu Pass, saw eight thousand government soldiers exit the city, heading directly to the midline between Huxia Pass and Zhen Nan Prefecture, their task to ambush in the mountains and forests between Huxia Pass and Zhen Nan Prefecture, stopping enemy reinforcements.
On the Southeast defense line, more than two thousand miles from Jingyuan Prefecture, iron cavalry rumbled, over ten thousand iron cavalry traveled through the wind and snow daily, at the front, a red dress fluttered in the wind, wearing light armor, carrying a Three-foot Green Peak Sword on the back, and holding a Red Tassel Spear!
Beside her, four men in armor, with bear-like wide shoulders, fierce faces, their eyes occasionally flashing with scarlet-blue light, hinted at demon light, unlike human eyes.
And behind the red-robed woman, three teams clad in various styled armor cavalry followed, galloping.
Suddenly, the woman in red raised her spear, her chestnut horse let out a long neigh, the troops gradually stopped.
"How far is it to Luotian Gorge from here?"
"Reporting to General Lian, about one thousand seven hundred miles!"
Behind her, a Colonel dressed in green armor rode forward and respectfully addressed the female general.
This woman was none other than Lian Nichang, ordered to lead troops to the Southeast defense line, also having received orders from Chuanzhong Pass to block enemy reinforcements outside Jingyuan Prefecture at Luotian Gorge.
In that order, she was named Red Feather General and granted a long spear!