The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

The night at Tiebi Pass was much colder and harsher than that at Lin Yuan City. It wasn't the lingering, damp cold of Jiangnan, but the dry, cold wind of the north, like countless tiny knives, whistling in through the cracks in the thick bricks of the city wall, stinging one's face and freezing one's heart, forming a heavy, chilling ice called despair and vigilance.

Princess Yun Jin's temporary lodging was a small, independent courtyard near the western city wall inside the pass. It was originally the residence of a civil official, which was temporarily vacated. The furnishings were simple, but it was clean enough.

The fire in the charcoal brazier struggled to emit a faint warmth, but it was insufficient to dispel the chill that permeated every corner of the room, much less to dispel the cold and complex gazes that had lingered on her during the day, whether bright or dim.

Qingdai draped a thick fox fur coat over Yun Jin's shoulders and added two more pieces of charcoal to the brazier, saying with concern, "Your Highness, it's much colder here than in the capital. You've just traveled a long way and have to inspect the city's defenses tomorrow, so please get some rest."

Yun Jin shook her head, stood by the window, and looked through the frost-covered window paper at the dark outline of the fortress outside, where only the flickering lights of scattered torches could be seen. The cold wind howled, and the monotonous sound of the night patrol soldiers' clappers could be faintly heard in the distance, as well as the seemingly endless howling of the wind and snow in the distance.

"I can't rest," she whispered, her voice unusually clear in the quiet room. "Zhou Bo and the others are probably not able to sleep either."

The scenes from the daytime are still vivid in my mind.

When she stepped into the fortress, which reeked of decay and bloodshed, carrying the royal decree and surrounded by the remaining two hundred guards, she was greeted by the faces of the deputy governor Zhou Bo, who barely maintained their courtesy but could not hide their suspicion, indifference, and even hidden hostility.

The generals from within the pass, from captains to colonels, none of them stepped forward or said much. They simply bowed silently, led the way silently, and settled her in this secluded courtyard.

That invisible barrier and rejection was more biting than the north wind.

She could understand. A "woman from the inner palace" and a "disaster relief envoy" were suddenly parachuted into this desolate place, a land of corpses and bloodshed, where every day was uncertain, and were also required to "oversee defense coordination." In the eyes of the border generals who had been through many battles and had just experienced a crushing defeat, this was nothing short of a huge joke, or even another signal that the court had abandoned them.

She did not immediately react or rush to demonstrate her authority; she simply accepted the arrangements calmly and stated that she would inspect the city's defenses and comfort the wounded soldiers the next day.

"Your Highness," Qingdai hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Judging from the way those generals looked at you... I'm afraid they don't take you seriously. What if they outwardly comply but inwardly defy us during tomorrow's inspection, or..."

"Or are you deliberately showing me your worst side so that I'll back down or even be scared out of my wits?" Yun Jin interjected, a cold smile curving her lips.

"They will. But that's exactly what I need. How can we know the crux of the problem if we can't see the real Iron Wall Pass? Qingdai, go and check the boxes of warm clothes and medicine we brought. Come with me to the city tomorrow."

Also, bring me the latest secret report from Pang Xiaopan regarding the grain, supplies, and weapons within the Great Wall.

"Yes," Qingdai replied and went to prepare.

Just then, a guard's deliberately raised voice announced from outside the courtyard gate: "Commander Zhou Bo requests an audience with Her Highness the Princess!"

Yun Jin's gaze sharpened slightly. They've arrived, even faster than she expected.

She straightened her clothes and nodded to Qingdai: "Please meet Governor Zhou in the front hall."

A moment later, Zhou Bo's tall but slightly hunched figure appeared at the entrance of the front hall.

He had changed out of his military uniform and was only wearing a worn cotton robe. He was not wearing a helmet, and his gray hair was a little messy. His face showed a deeper weariness than during the day, but his slightly cloudy eyes, under the dim light, gleamed with a sharp light like a hawk, and he looked at Yun Jin, who was sitting in the main seat, without any attempt to hide it.

"This humble general, Zhou Bo, greets Your Highness the Princess." He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, but his tone remained calm and even.

"General Zhou, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Yun Jin gestured with her hand, then said to Qingdai, "Serve some tea."

Zhou Bo sat down in the guest seat, his back ramrod straight, his hands resting on his knees—a habit formed from his long military service.

He didn't touch the steaming cup of coarse tea, and went straight to the point: "Your Highness must be tired from your journey and should rest well. However, the military situation is urgent, and I have some things to say that I must get off my chest. Therefore, I have disturbed you in the middle of the night. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

"Governor Zhou is devoted to military affairs, what crime has he committed? Please speak freely." Yun Jin said calmly.

Zhou Bo stared at her, then slowly spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "Your Highness, this is not the Linde Hall in Linyuan City, nor is it the relief porridge shed in Jiangnan. This is Tiebi Pass, a desperate place that could be trampled into dust by the iron hooves of the Northern Di at any moment."

Everyone here, from the lowest-ranking officer to the lowest soldier, lives on the line, not knowing if they'll still be breathing when the sun rises tomorrow.

He paused, his eyes flashing even brighter: "The court has sent His Highness here; this humble general dares not presume to speak of His Majesty's will."

But I would like to know, Your Highness, is your presence here to appease the army on behalf of the court, to put on a show, so that when the pass is breached, you will have a reason to explain to the world?

Or... do you really intend to live and die with this Iron Wall Pass and the thirteen thousand defeated soldiers inside?

This question was extremely pointed, even rude.

But Yun Jin was not angry. She met Zhou Bo's scrutinizing gaze and said, word by word, "I have come here with the royal command flag and the imperial sword, and have been ordered to take charge of the coordination of the defense of the northern frontier."

To appease the troops is true, and to live and die with them is also a vow I made before the Emperor.

Does Governor Zhou doubt my resolve, or does he doubt His Majesty's decree?

"This humble general dares not." Zhou Bo said he dared not, but his tone showed no sign of backing down. "Your Highness's decision has been clear to me in broad daylight."

However, determination is one thing, ability is another. Defending a city is not about determination, but about real battles, supplies, weaponry, a thorough understanding of the enemy situation, and the soldiers' willingness to fight to the death!

Your Highness, are you aware that within the pass, each person now has fewer than ten arrows on average? Oil, logs, and rolling stones are all nearly exhausted. Even if the grain reserves are halved each day, they will only last for half a month.

Are soldiers dying every day in the wounded soldiers' camp due to lack of medical care and medicine?

With each sentence he spoke, his tone grew heavier: "Does Your Highness also know that fifty miles outside the city, Di cavalry have already appeared in Black Wind Gorge, and their main force will arrive soon?"

Modu Chanyu was fond of using feints to attack from the east and divisive forces to weaken the enemy. In addition, he had an elite "Kheshig" force under his command, which was swift as the wind and best at surprise attacks.

Within our borders, morale is low; three or four out of ten of the newly defeated soldiers turn pale at the mere mention of the Di! Even among the generals, some are wavering in their thoughts, each harboring their own ulterior motives!

He suddenly stood up, walked into the hall, and pointed to the howling night sky outside the door: "Your Highness! This is no child's play!"

You bring two hundred ceremonial guards and utter a few empty words; you can't change anything!

The longer you stay here, the greater the danger!

This humble general dares to urge Your Highness to depart for the capital tomorrow! Reporting the true situation to His Majesty and urging the swift dispatch of reinforcements, provisions, and capable generals is the proper course of action! As for the duty of guarding the pass…”

He turned around, clasped his hands tightly, and a look of determination and sorrow flashed in his eyes. "This humble general and the soldiers within the pass will do our utmost. The city stands as long as we live; the city falls, we fall! We will never fail the court!"

This is a blatant order to leave, a final warning, and a desperate cry.

Zhou Bo laid bare all the difficulties, dangers, and helplessness before Yun Jin, hoping to scare away this princess, whom he considered naive and inexperienced, with this bloody reality.

The hall was silent, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.

Qingdai held her breath nervously. Night Owl was hidden in the shadows outside the door, his hand already on the hilt of his knife.

Yun Jin listened quietly, her face showing neither anger at being offended nor panic at being frightened.

Only after Zhou Bo finished speaking, his chest still rising and falling slightly, did she slowly pick up the cup of tea in front of her, which had long since gone cold, and take a small sip.

Setting down her teacup, she looked at Zhou Bo with clear and sharp eyes, which inexplicably made this seasoned veteran feel a chill.

"Has Governor Zhou finished speaking?" Yun Jin asked, her voice still calm. "Now, it's my turn to speak."

She also stood up and walked to the simple map of the Iron Wall Pass and its surrounding terrain hanging on the wall, pointing her finger at several locations on the map.

"I am aware of the provisions."

The first batch of 50,000 shi of new grain, 3,000 sets of cotton clothing, and 500 dan of wound medicine can be transported from the 'Wild Fox Ridge' warehouse to the interior within ten days.

Another 250,000 shi of grain and military equipment are being collected and transported.

"I had already made arrangements for this matter before I left the capital; there's no need for the court's slow procedures."

Zhou Bo's pupils constricted sharply. The Wild Fox Ridge warehouse? The princess actually had a secret warehouse and transportation channels in the Northern Frontier? How come he didn't know?

Before he could think it over, Yun Jin moved her finger to "Black Wind Gorge": "The Di cavalry has appeared, and the movement of their main force is being reported by 'Di Ting' every day."

Luandi Maodun is currently still in Shuofeng City, busy looting and dividing the spoils. Due to internal disputes over the distribution of spoils, Right Wise King Tuoba Wugu has already had a falling out with him.

It will take at least five more days for their army to assemble.

The vanguard will take at least three days to reach the pass. We still have time.

"Listening?" Zhou Bo was shocked again. That was the secret intelligence agency of the Tianming Empire? The princess could actually mobilize it? And she even knew about the internal conflicts among the Di people?