Chapter 62: The Eastern Army

While Liu Chou and Qingmei were drinking and making merry in Qiyi, Huang Chenyuan was in the crucible of suffering in that very same city.

The breakthrough of the demon race had stirred monstrous waves across the Great Zhou state. Although Huang Chenyuan did not command the armies in person, the entire Western Frontier was, after all, his zone of defense. Furthermore, as the General of the White Horse, the fall of Yangguan Pass was inextricably linked to him. Merely three days later, news came from the Great Zhou that Huang Chenyuan would soon be relieved of his post and recalled to Haojing to account for his crimes.

The successor to Huang Chenyuan was Ji Guyi, the General of the Eastern Frontier. Years ago, he had already secured peace with the three nations of Ao Lai, Da Xia, and Yuezhi connected to the eastern front. He only needed the state of Yushi Qie to agree to a ceasefire before he could personally lead two of the Sixteen Armies—Mountain-Shaking and Line-Breaking—back to resist the demon race.

The Sixteen Armies of the Great Zhou were originally deployed as follows:

Western Frontier: The Northern Huben and Yingyang armies, numbering one hundred thousand; the Central White Horse army, numbering fifty thousand; and the Southern Feixiong, Chibao, and Mingkun armies, numbering one hundred and fifty thousand. Totaling three hundred thousand, they defended against the demon invasion.

Due to years of fierce combat, troop strengths had suffered severe attrition, resulting in discrepancies within every army. While veteran soldiers were formidable, there were also many new recruits, making their combat effectiveness difficult to estimate. The deployment of mechanized beasts was highest in the Great Zhou, with nearly every army possessing them.

Northern Frontier: Stationed by the Longxiang and Panshe armies to defend against the demon race of Beiju Luzhou, mustering a force of twelve thousand.

The Sixteen Armies were divided into inner and outer, upper and lower. Longxiang and Panshe were the remaining two of the upper four armies among the outer twelve. Having experienced prolonged trials and tempering, their troops were extremely fierce. Moreover, according to ancestral teachings, they were not to be mobilized lightly; thus, even with the demon invasion, Nangong Xian, who garrisoned this area, remained entirely inactive.

The mechanized beasts, battle slaves, weapons, and armors within this army were all of elite quality, self-produced and self-consumed, receiving no support whatsoever from the Great Zhou.

Southern Frontier: A land of barren deserts where the Sky army alone sufficed, boasting the strongest military force of over eighty thousand men.

The Sky army was one of the lower four armies, under the command of General Su. Having spent years locked in combat with the southern border barbarians, nearly everyone in the army possessed a battle beast. With eighty thousand troops plus over sixty thousand battle slaves, aside from logistical grain transport, there was almost no trace of mechanized beasts. Their fearsome reputation was such that the mere aura emanating from ordinary soldiers could stop crying infants at night.

Eastern Frontier: The Mountain-Shaking, Line-Breaking, and Earth-Rending armies, each numbering sixty to seventy thousand. They fought against the various nations of Dongsheng who shared the same human ancestry, winning far more often than losing. Consequently, their troop strength accumulated day by day; although their regular forces numbered only a little over twenty, they commanded more than five hundred thousand auxiliary troops from the three nations of Da Xia, Yuezhi, and Ao Lai.

The ranks of the Eastern Frontier featured few mechanized beasts or battle beasts, but they possessed a vast quantity of cavalry. Aside from a small number of ordinary warhorses, the majority were horned horses—progenies born from the mating of warhorses and demons. They were larger and faster than ordinary warhorses, required meat at every meal, and were capable of heavy-load charges, forming the core of their strength.

Facing an army of such massive scale, the Great Zhou could only feel at ease if it remained firmly in their own hands.

Among the Sixteen Armies, the remaining four outer armies—Yulin and Xuanjia guarding Haojing, Benlei stationed in Qiyi, and Xingyun stationed in Shanguan—each fulfilled their respective routes, sealing the entire Great Zhou airtight and ensuring absolute stability and security.

The controllers of the four inner armies were also of the Ji clan. Mechanized beasts, battle beasts, and cloud ships were fully and finely equipped—after all, as the Emperor's personal guards, no negligence was permitted.

With the violent strike of the demon race, the situation in the Western Frontier of the Great Zhou had become critical. At present, the only forces available for mobilization were the four inner armies and the eastern border garrisons. Ji Guyi becoming the successor to Huang Chenyuan was also the general trend of the times. Cloud ships across the Eastern Frontier were being mobilized, waiting only for peace to be negotiated with the state of Yushi Qie so they could head west.

Accepting this critical command under duress, Ji Guyi immediately issued orders for soldiers from all regions who had returned home to visit their families to gather at Quwo, backed by supplies from the western frontier headquarters as a vanguard, determined to stem the enemy's momentum and stabilize their footing.

The gathered soldiers totaled over twenty thousand, and supplemented by the swiftly reinforcing Feixiong army, they barely numbered forty thousand. To hold off hundreds of thousands of demons was a venture of nine deaths and one life. Therefore, although various generals eagerly petitioned for the assignment, Ji Guyi ultimately insisted on dispatching his second son, Ji Yu, to lead the army and head to the rescue!

His words were simply:
"It is merely going to die, and my unworthy son will suffice!"

Ji Yu had long resided at home; although he held a noble title, he had never commanded troops. The generals were quite unconvinced in their hearts, and privately there was much heated discussion. However, when the reply to the Great Zhou's command came back, it consisted of a single character:
"Granted!"

Banners fluttered against the bleak sky, and warhorses neighed incessantly. Ji Yu personally led over ten thousand eastern frontier cavalry as the vanguard, augmented by more than a thousand junior officers—centurions, decurions, and squad leaders—setting off first. Behind them, over thirty thousand troops riding all manner of mechanized beasts followed closely in their wake.

The long-neglected straight roads could no longer bear such heavy burdens. Under the pounding of hooves, the roads turned into muddy swamps stretching endlessly ahead. Mud was continuously splattered by the trampling hooves, staining everyone from head to toe and leaving them in a disheveled and wretched state. Yet Ji Yu's eyes were very bright, his face clean, and his expression brimming with spirited vigor.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats echoed. A single rider galloped swiftly from the rear, and the cavalry along the path hastily yielded. Even Ji Yu moved out of formation, standing slightly back by the roadside. Soon, he saw a deputy general holding a sheepskin scroll, hurrying to his side with a deeply worried expression, and saying in a low voice:
"General, the demon race broke out of Yangguan Pass three days ago!"

"Where are they heading?"
"The main force of the army is marching straight for Yongyi, while several other detachments, numbering in the hundreds and thousands, have split off to various locations."

"Yongyi, is it? If our army marches at top speed, we might barely make it in time..." Ji Yu frowned slightly, then suddenly said: "We are not going to Yongyi! Order the vanguard to change direction, take the route via the Cang River, and intercept the enemy across the river."

"But General, our military orders are to reinforce Yongyi. If we divert our course like this, Yongyi will surely fall..."
"Do you think Yongyi can still be held?" Ji Yu let out a heavy snort and said, "Our Eastern Army excels at field battles, surprise raids, and swift assaults. Against the demon race, the outcome is uncertain. But if we trap our cavalry inside the city walls, it is simply casting sheep into the tiger's mouth—what use would that be? The demon race is closer than our army. If the battle goes favorably, by the time we arrive, there will only be a ruined aftermath left, which is of no benefit to the entire Western Frontier... Say no more, transmit the order!"

As the commander-in-chief of the reinforcements, Ji Yu's commands were absolute as mountains. Although the deputy general felt unconvinced in his heart, he dared not say much more and could only obediently acknowledge:
"Understood!"

Immediately afterward, the military order was swiftly conveyed to the entire army, which then changed direction and headed toward the Cang River.

When Ji Yu's forces arrived at the Cang River, it was already five days later. News from Yongyi arrived, and true to Ji Yu's prediction, the demon race had captured Yongyi in a mere half-day. After resting for a single day, they were already rushing rapidly toward the Cang River. It was precisely because of Ji Yu's impromptu diversion that the entire reinforcement army avoided the disadvantageous situation of fighting while fatigued, and gained time to arrive ahead of schedule.

The entire Cang River ferry crossing was as chaotic as a disaster zone!

On the opposite bank of the river, soldiers in rout and refugees from the state covered the mountains and plains. Gazing across both banks, there was a dense, dark sea of heads of astonishing and boundless numbers. Every face was filled with terror and panic, eagerly searching for ferry boats in the desperate hope of crossing the river to flee for their lives!

Ji Yu could not help drawing a deep breath: there were tens of thousands of people at the docks alone, and behind them, more routed soldiers and refugees were pouring in endlessly, a churning sea of humanity. Yet across the entire river surface, there were no more than a few dozen large and small boats. At this rate of transport, they could not finish crossing even in five days, and would only become fodder for the demons.

The situation on this side of the river was identical. Some of those who had crossed the river sat slumped haphazardly on the ground to rest, some were crying out in anguish as they searched for loved ones, while others limped and clogged the straight road, moving at a snail's pace. It seemed as though the broad river behind them gave them a sufficient sense of security, temporarily removing the threat of the demons so that their flight could slightly slow down...

Amidst such chaotic and terrifying scenes of war, even Ji Yu could feel the panic and terror permeating the air, let alone the soldiers, many of whom were already beginning to glance around nervously and whisper among themselves.

A mere ten thousand cavalrymen were nothing more than a drop in the ocean compared to this massive multitude of refugees and deserters. Any careless action could trigger a massive upheaval, or even a riot, creating an irremediable situation. Ji Yu made a prompt and decisive judgment, immediately issuing orders:
"Display the banners and sound the horns! Let everyone dismount and form ranks, advancing in formation—vanguard, step forward, drive the refugees to the roadside and clear the straight road!"

"Anyone who disobeys orders shall be executed!"
"Anyone who defies order and discipline shall be executed!"
"Anyone who creates chaos or disrupts order shall be executed!"

Under the three decrees of execution, the soldiers of the Eastern Frontier instantly sprang into action.

Everyone began to dismount and form ranks. The soldiers selected to clear the path drew their gleaming sabers and spears, dispersing according to the squad and platoon structure, and began advancing against the current. As the resonant sound of war horns echoed, the refugees along the bank turned back one after another. Just as the noise subsided, countless voices merged into a single collective shout:

"Listen to all commands! Yield the straight road, the army is advancing. Everyone must follow orders, no shoving or crowding is permitted, no running amok at will, and maintain your respective order! Anyone who resists shall be shown no mercy!"

The vanguard soon approached. The reality was far more chaotic than it had appeared; the human tide had choked the straight road completely solid. Some people had fallen to the ground and, before they could even get up, were trampled by countless feet, their miserable screams unending.

When the vanguard met the human tide, they were immediately jostled and staggered, nearly breaking formation.

"Kill!" Ji Yu squeezed the word coldly through his teeth. The deputy general was greatly startled, but before he could speak, Ji Yu's personal guards had already drawn their bows and loosed arrows—dozens whistling through the air!

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!"

Following a flurry of bowstrings, the dozens of people who had been violently rushing at the very front fell to the ground on the spot, arrows protruding from their bodies, either perishing or struggling. Along with the sound of the crossbows, the vanguard soldiers also let go of their restraints, and with a few swift slashes of their blades, they cut down the vagrants and scoundrels among the refugees!

Only a few dozen people died, but simply because blood had been shed, the entire scene instantly grew compliant.

Clearing the path by the vanguard became exceptionally easy. Before they even drew close, a mere gesture of hand signals caused the refugee deserters to hurriedly dodge to the sides, marching in an orderly fashion with no one daring to provoke or cause chaos. The gazes that the deputy general and the Feixiong army officers cast toward Ji Yu had shifted somewhat. Only then did they realize that this second young master, who had been able to lead an army on an expedition without a resounding prior reputation, was far from ordinary.

Protected by the legacy of his ancestors, taking command of an army was simple; but being able to order executions without hesitation—that was the true challenge!

The military formation began to move forward slowly. Before the officers had fully recovered from the recent shock, Ji Yu rattled off a string of military commands one after another, passing them down to various officers to direct their actions. Having learned from the recent lesson, the officers did not dare to say more and acted in strict accordance with the orders.

The refugees began to be inspected one by one; anyone carrying weapons had to surrender them all to be used for defense. The elderly, weak, women, and children were arranged to retreat to the rear, while one out of every three able-bodied men was drafted to serve as laborers.

The routed soldiers were organized, registered on rosters, and then regrouped and restructured. The extra contingent of junior officers brought along was immediately appointed and dispatched, assigning the soldiers to their respective commands, distributing weapons and armor, and deploying them as a second-line defense.

Three Qi-refiners arrived at the riverbank and arranged the fishing boats into a line. As their spiritual power was channeled, an ice path solidified across the various boats at a speed visible to the naked eye. Connecting rapidly, it soon formed a broad ice bridge. Once sprinkled with soil and gravel, it was sturdy enough for people to cross the river on foot without needing boats anymore.

Along the riverbank, countless felled timbers were piled up and rapidly erected into camp palisades to serve as defenses!

Everything was in perfect order, and in a mere instant, harmony and discipline were restored to the entire ferry crossing.