Chapter 287 Seizing the Pass

"This damn weather, it's really killing me."

"You're telling me."

A Northern Liang Army soldier wiped his sweat and looked toward the pass city with a face full of envy.

"I heard the officers bought a block of ice today and are drinking chilled wine right now."

"Chilled wine?"

The soldier who spoke first showed an envious look in his eyes and licked his dry lips.

"I wonder what it tastes like..."

"Forget it, you couldn't afford it even if you wanted to. That's not something common folk like us can enjoy, unless..."

"Squad Leader, unless what?"

"I heard that over in Southern Yue, ice is supplied daily during the summer. In the markets, a catty of crushed ice only costs one copper coin."

"That sounds great... I'd really like to go see it..."

"Shh, do you have a death wish? If the Commandant hears you, your life is over..."

Just as the two Northern Liang Army soldiers were discussing, a merchant caravan selling ice passed through Yangping Pass today. At this moment, the high and low-ranking officers guarding Yangping Pass were gathered together, enjoying chilled wine.

The next day, another caravan arrived outside the pass gates. As usual, a soldier wanted to lift the fur covering to inspect it, but a manager quickly stepped forward and said with a fawning smile:

"Brother, this is the ice the General in the city requested. If the cold air escapes when it's opened, it'll all melt. Please, do me a favor."

"No, all passing goods and vehicles must be inspected."

The manager waved his hand, and his subordinates brought over a pottery jar. The manager took it and stuffed it into the hands of the leading officer.

"General, because of the inspection yesterday, quite a bit of ice melted, and General Ma didn't enjoy himself fully last night. You see..."

The officer felt the pottery jar in his hand; the slight chill put him in a great mood. He walked over, feigned lifting a corner of the fur, and then turned to instruct his men:

"Alright, alright, I've inspected it personally. Let them through!"

"Thank you, General! Thank you, General!"

After the caravan entered the city, the officer couldn't wait to return to the barracks. Opening the mud seal of the pottery jar, he saw it was indeed a jar of ice. His mood improved even more, and he immediately called his subordinates to bring wine and enjoy it together.

Perhaps they were drinking too heartily, or perhaps they had lived in leisure for too long, but none of the garrison noticed that the merchant caravans delivering ice for several consecutive days had remained in the pass city and had not left.

In less than ten days, the size of the lingering caravan had exceeded two hundred people.

Late at night, inside a residence within Yangping Pass, two groups of people had just met. Xia Luqi asked impatiently:

"General Chen, the weapons and armor have all been transported into the city. When do you think we should act?"

"General Xia, please be patient. We will act once the Lord gives the signal."

"What signal?"

"You'll know tomorrow."

Early the next morning, just as the ice-delivering caravan reached the city gates, dust billowed in the distance. The soldiers atop the wall saw it and immediately began to shout:

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Close the gates quickly!"

The city gates were suddenly in chaos. The caravan was also ushered into the city, so naturally, no one noticed that this caravan was larger than those of previous days.

Wu Ban led his army to the base of the pass and shouted insults for a long time. Seeing that no one came out to fight, he left dejectedly, which allowed the garrison to breathe a sigh of relief.

The defending general dared not be careless and sent a messenger to Nanzheng for reinforcements that same day.

Although he held a world-renowned pass, Ma Bo did not believe he could hold Yangping Pass for long with only two thousand troops, so he chose to call for reinforcements immediately.

Watching the messenger ride away, Chen Dao revealed a smug smile and nudged Xia Luqi, who was dozing beside him.

"General Xia, wake the brothers. We move tonight."

Hearing this, Xia Luqi felt all his drowsiness vanish in an instant, and he became fully alert.

Late at night, everything was silent. The security on the walls of Yangping Pass had been increased today, but there were still fewer than a hundred men.

After a patrol team left, several courtyard gates opened simultaneously, and a group of soldiers clad in iron armor filed out. They said nothing, only the "rustle" of their armor plates rubbing together could be heard.

Their movement was swift, and they didn't encounter a second patrol until they were near the city gates.

Zhang Xiaoshan was a Squad Leader in the Northern Liang Army. Today, as usual, he was patrolling with his soldiers. He never expected that just as they passed an alleyway, several figures would spring from the darkness.

Before they could react, their mouths were covered. They felt a chill on their necks, followed by warm liquid flowing from their throats.

Taking one last, unwilling look at the world, the things called souls drifted away from the bodies of these soldiers.

All of this happened extremely quickly; in just a few breaths, over a dozen lives came to an end.

Xia Luqi flicked the blood off the tip of his blade, sheathed it, and then waved his hand, leading his men onward toward the city gates.

"Who's there? Halt!"

A soldier's shout pierced the quiet night sky, followed immediately by his shrill cry:

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Instantly, the garrison at the city gates was jolted awake. They grabbed their weapons and charged toward the attackers.

Meanwhile, in the shadows outside the city gates, hundreds of soldiers received the signal from afar. Dozens of grappling hooks with ropes flew onto the city walls.

Soon, the garrison soldiers discovered in horror that enemy troops had also appeared behind them on the walls; they were surrounded.

The sounds of fierce battle broke the silence and woke everyone in the city. By the time Ma Bo had put on his armor and stepped out of his residence, the city gates had already been opened.

"General, General! It's the Nanyue Army! The Nanyue Army launched a sneak attack and has already breached the city!"

"The city is breached?"

Ma Bo stumbled and nearly lost his footing; his subordinates quickly stepped forward to support him.

Shoving his subordinates aside, Ma Bo roared:

"What are you standing there for? Organize the men immediately to drive the enemy out and retake the gates!"

"General, the soldiers have already been scattered and killed. We can't find anyone. Let's go! If we don't leave now, it'll all be over."

"Over? It's over this quickly?"

"Let's go, General!"

"Yangping Pass is lost! How am I supposed to explain this to General en own reason?!"

"As long as you're alive, you can explain it to anyone!"

Surrounded by his men, a despondent Ma Bo mounted his horse and quickly fled Yangping Pass from the other side.

Once Ma Bo and his confidants retreated, the entire Yangping Pass garrison became even more leaderless. As a result, the battle was completely over in less than an hour after the Beiwei Army entered the city.

However, it was not over yet. Gao Yuan, who had entered Yangping Pass, left Wu Ban to handle the aftermath, arrange defenses, and clear out the remaining enemies in nearby areas like Mount Dingjun.

He then took Xia Luqi, Chen Dao, and Zhao Meng, leading the Cavalry directly out of the pass.

On the other side, hearing that Gao Yuan's army had arrived outside Yangping Pass, en own reason, who was stationed in Nanzheng, sent someone to Chang'an to report the news while also reorganizing his army to reinforce Yangping Pass.

He knew very well that Ma Bo's abilities were mediocre, and it would be very difficult for him to hold Yangping Pass.

Once Yangping Pass was lost, the entire Hanzhong would have no natural defenses to hold, making it easy for Gao Yuan to drive straight in. So, he decided to abandon Nanzheng to save Yangping Pass at all costs.

What he didn't know was that Yangping Pass had already fallen the day before he set out, and his subordinate Ma Bo was captured alive shortly after escaping the pass.

At this moment, he and the thousands of soldiers under his command were already in dire peril.