Reincarnation Girl Becomes Immortal

And because the soldiers are physically strong and can absorb more spiritual energy, a rough calculation suggests that the number of people who perished in this city is probably three times that of the soldiers from both armies...

As Xi Heng pondered in silence, the grand ceremony finally came to an end.

Just as they were about to return to their camp to rest, and had just boarded the carriage, a deputy general rushed over, clasped his hands, and knelt on one knee to deliver a message:

"Your Highness, Yan Meng's army, which is currently encamped in the northern border, has sent an envoy to request peace talks."

"Get him out of here." Xi Heng replied without hesitation, "And take this message with you: I will personally lead the troops to attack in seven days. Let them wash their necks and wait."

……

Seven days later, as his physical weakness gradually subsided, Xi Heng believed he could muster six or seven tenths of his strength. So he put his armor back on, took his sword, and drew a few spells on his arm. He then led 20,000 elite Ever Victorious Army soldiers from Yan'an City northward along the pre-prepared supply route.

Other generals followed behind with their troops, but they moved slowly and could not match the speed of the Northern Frontier Ever Victorious Army, which was known for its strict discipline and unwavering orders.

The 20,000-strong Ever Victorious Army rushed ahead to the Blackwater Pool camp where Yan Meng's army was stationed, as indicated in the intelligence.

After marching for more than ten days, Xi Heng had fully recovered and was just waiting for a great battle to avenge his soldiers and the people of Zhao.

However, the scouts ahead brought news that the enemy camp described in the previous intelligence was now just a remnant.

Extinguished campfires, wooden pegs used to secure the large tents, and a jumble of footprints... the camp that once housed tens of thousands of people has been moved, leaving only these remnants.

She naturally continued to lead the army, pursuing the enemy in the direction they were retreating.

Two or three days later, two important messages were simultaneously delivered by the intelligence officer—

One of them is the whereabouts of the enemy's main force—now that Yan Meng's army has lost its Khan, it has lost its will to fight.

Their southward journey was merely a routine plunder of resources and people; only Yan Qingshi was truly aiming to storm the capital of the Great Zhao.

Now that Yan Qingshi is dead, and they have plundered enough, having also lost a large number of soldiers along the way, they naturally dare not confront the massive Zhao army any longer.

Yan Mengren has withdrawn from the border of the Great Zhao through Yumen.

Another piece of news came from the imperial court in the capital. It first congratulated her on her achievements in defeating Yan Meng's army and killing the enemy emperor. It also said that because most of the officials, government officials and military personnel from various places had gathered in Yan'an, the security in various places was slightly weak and there were riots. It hoped that she could disperse these government officials and troops back.

Xi Heng looked at the order and subconsciously read it aloud:

"Furthermore... due to the hardships of feeding the people, I hope that the Grand Commandant will withdraw his troops and only rebuild the border defense line, and not pursue the enemy too far and lengthen the supply route."

The longer the grain route, the greater the amount of grain lost along the way.

Even if we were to continue the offensive, it would be best to wait two or three years and rebuild fortresses and granaries in the northern frontier...

But she didn't want it to be like that.

"With lofty ambitions, we'll feast on the flesh of the barbarians when we're hungry, and laughingly drink their blood when we're thirsty." Xi Heng replied, ordering the messenger beside him to write it down: "Yan Meng's army can plunder our positions and cities to sustain their war effort, and our army can do the same."

"Report back to the court and order them to continue transporting grain for two more months—otherwise, if I cannot advance north, I will have no choice but to lead my troops south."

Upon hearing this, the messenger paused for a moment, his fine pen still in his hand.

"General... really, do you really want to write it down like this?" His voice trembled slightly.

"Not a single word will be changed." After saying this, Xi Heng turned his head to look at the endless sky in the north and said, "On this march, I will surely conquer Yan Meng's capital."

……

Chapter 125, Sweeping Across the World

After sending the messenger back to the southern capital with the documents, Xi Heng continued to lead his army north.

First, they passed through Qiming City, where a small number of troops were still holding out in the northern border region, and then continued to plunder along the official road towards Kezhou and Xingzhou.

All the way north.

Seven days later, following the trail of the retreating enemy, they arrived at an important pass called Yumen on the Great Wall of the northern border.

Because Yan Meng's attack this year directly captured Yumen, there are no Zhao troops left guarding this pass. The stored grain, weapons and other resources have all been looted and taken away, and have disappeared without a trace.

Xi Heng left two thousand Ever Victorious Army soldiers here to rebuild the defense line and collect a large amount of supplies that had traveled a long distance from the south. He then sent out reconnaissance cavalry northward and gradually established a grain route to the capital of Yanmeng Kingdom.

Although the Yanmeng people were born on the Great Grass Sea, they were not like the nomadic people who relied solely on herding sheep and cattle for a living. They did not have a fixed place to live, but simply led their sheep to graze across the grasslands. After finishing one patch of pasture, they would move with their family to another grassland to settle down.

They do indeed have a large metropolis built of white stone, called Wolf Peak Bahrain.

Wolf Peak Balin is built against the mountain, with the city walls rising and falling in layers. Every few steps, you have to climb a series of steps. Most of the houses are cave dwellings carved into the mountain, while there are also small houses built of white stone...

These permanent residences were reserved for nobles within the Yanmeng Kingdom. They were ornately decorated and filled with various animal bones and fine furs to showcase the bravery and nobility of their owners.

Outside the city, numerous tents of various kinds were scattered haphazardly. Each tent was separated only by a small passageway. Except for the area along the main road into the city, there was almost no planning. The layout was extremely chaotic. If an ordinary person entered, it would be as easy as walking in a maze and getting lost...

—The above information was told to Xi Heng by a deputy general from the northern frontier who had once visited the capital of Yanmeng Kingdom.

The location of the enemy capital on the map was also marked by this person.

Inquiries revealed that Langfeng Balin was home to a large number of Yanmeng people, and any Yanmeng person could freely set up camp outside the city without any restrictions, making the entire city appear extremely bloated.

The number of people involved may be even greater than that of the Great Zhao capital, which had a clear population distribution plan.

The capital of Great Zhao had over a million people, and this area was even larger, supposedly with two million people, though the actual number was unknown.

Yan Meng's other permanent city strongholds were mostly villages and towns in other countries that they had plundered.

After all, wood and stone are scarce on the grasslands; all that's there is grass and soft mud. If you build a house with just mud, a heavy rain can wash it away and leave it riddled with holes.

We can't expect them to build the city with cow dung...

Therefore, if one wants to destroy Yanmeng Kingdom, the only target one needs to focus on is Wolf Peak Balin.

However, conquering this place will be quite difficult.

As a native of the northern grasslands, Yan Mengren was able to survive the hardships of life, and his physical fitness was stronger and more robust than that of ordinary people in the rich southern regions.

Furthermore, due to their ethnic characteristics, they all have rough skin and large frames, and are all skilled warriors.

The Yanmeng ethnic group is divided into many large tribes. In many tribes, as long as the members are adults and relatively healthy, they will follow the chief to various places to fight and plunder – this is their tradition.

This rampage has lasted for a century, and many ethnic groups have been enslaved or even exterminated.

It is precisely because of this continuous plundering and expansion, seizing the industrial and economic resources of other countries, that the territory of Yanmeng State has now developed to a level comparable to that of the Great Zhao.

If the northern border of the Great Zhao Kingdom, known as the Central Kingdom, were to be occupied again, then the name of Great Zhao would probably have to be changed to Southern Zhao...

However, with her there, Yan Meng would definitely not be able to do that.

Even if she only had tens of thousands of victorious soldiers under her command, while the enemy was the entire Yanmeng people of Langfeng Balin, the capital of Yanmeng Kingdom—possibly three or four hundred thousand capable warriors.

With a large number of enemies and the need to fight a war to protect the country, it is generally expected that many difficulties and obstacles will be encountered in order to truly conquer them.

But since Xi Heng was present, it was no ordinary situation.

The Blood Spirit Stones are already overflowing. Even if a few more people who have consumed dragon meat come, as long as they can unleash the Blood Sea Technique, they can easily defeat the enemy formation.

The more than one million people in Langfeng Bahrain will only become nourishment for a sea of ​​blood.

She is certain to win this battle.

……

Seven days later, outside the Jade Gate.

Xi Heng, riding a red-maned steed, was the first to step out of the border of the Great Zhao, leading his army into the territory of Yan Meng Kingdom.

Gazing at the endless, desolate fields ahead, the girl let out a soft cry as the early winter wind whipped her face.

"With 53,000 ever-victorious soldiers, who are said to have a force of 100,000, is it possible for them to win an attack on Yan Meng Kingdom?"

She asked General Zhao Wanli, who was following her.

"The Yanmeng people have lost their will and strength to fight. If our army merely enters the territory to plunder and seize some land, it will be without consequence. The enemy might even hand it over to us," General Zhao analyzed.

"However, it will be difficult to capture their main city."

"It's alright. I didn't come here for something simple." Xi Heng lightly flicked the reins, urging the brown-red steed to move forward.

Her loose white hair danced wildly in the cold wind, and when it touched a strand, the girl gently brushed it back behind her ear.

Now, every time I exhale, I can see a white mist appear in front of me.

Every morning when I wake up, I can see a thin layer of frost on the grass.

Autumn passes, winter arrives.

“Winter marches may consume more resources, but the stored grain should be enough for the army to reach Wolf Peak Balin.” Xi Heng thought for a moment: “If we fail to achieve any victories and seize any resources, we won’t have enough to return.”

Once the capital is captured, there will be plenty of beef, mutton, dairy products, and grains.

Leading the cattle, sheep, and grain back to Zhao would alleviate some of the resource pressure within Zhao and help restore people's livelihoods.

"When using the Blood Sea Technique, be mindful of things like cattle and sheep on the pasture..."

Although Xi Heng did not comply with the previous imperial order to cease the attack, he did reluctantly obey it.

Instead, the officials and their troops who had gathered in the northern frontier were ordered to disperse and return to their respective territories to manage public order.

Logically, after the Ever Victorious Army of the Northern Frontier won and drove away the enemy, it should have returned to the western part of the Great Zhao to attack the Western Barbarians and support the defenders of the city.

Alternatively, they could move south to confront the Dark Heavenly Sect, which now poses the greatest threat to the Great Zhao.

However, since she is leading the army, no one can expect the Great Zhao Ever Victorious Army to do anything else before Yan Mengren destroys the country.

……

Time slowly passed by.

The marching route of the Great Zhao Ever Victorious Army was also drawn on the map of the northern frontier.

The army marched north, traversing a long distance from Yumen Pass, heading straight for the enemy capital in the central part of the northern frontier.

Due to the slow march, the army encountered several enemy scout cavalry units along the way. Although the vanguard was sent to kill many of them, they were still unable to completely stop them.

Therefore, even though they had only gone halfway, the news of the arrival of the Zhao army had probably already spread throughout Yanmeng.

This is one of the problems with large armies; it is relatively difficult to capture large nomadic tribe camps while on the march.

Because the slow-moving main force had not yet arrived, the enemy forces, knowing they were no match for them, had already withdrawn, making it difficult for them to obtain supplies during their march.

Even if we send out vanguards, we can only find some remnants that haven't completely evacuated, among which the grain, fodder, cattle, and sheep were basically the first to leave.

On this flat grassland, there were no cities or fortresses that could be conquered.

Xi Heng's idea of ​​using war to sustain war is not feasible along the way.

However, as a result, the army was able to travel through Yan Meng's territory for more than ten days without encountering any obstacles.

……

Fifteen days later.

The first snow of winter fell.

The snowfall was light, but the wind was strong, making it seem quite intense.

Snowflakes fell on the girl's face, but she brushed them away with a flick of her finger.

The temperature dropped today. Even though the military knew that winter was coming and had taken some precautions, the change in temperature made them feel somewhat uncomfortable and their morale was slightly low.

Frost and snowflakes fell on the slightly dry, endless grassland beneath my feet. As I walked over them, the grass and snow mingled together.

Xi Heng raised his hand, attracting the attention of the surrounding generals.

She wanted the soldiers to speed up.

Before he could even open his mouth, he saw a small cavalry squad that had been sent to scout the surrounding area within a few dozen meters speeding towards him through the hazy snow in the distance.

The five or six horses were moving at almost full speed, which suggests they must have obtained some very important information.

The girl then stopped giving instructions and continued forward.

When the scouts approached, one of them dismounted, clasped his hands in a fist and knelt on one knee, and loudly proclaimed:

"Grand Commandant, after half a day's journey ahead, there is an enemy position. Yan Meng's troops are lined up and waiting. The number of them is unknown. In the distance behind, there is a large, indistinct camp that has not been evacuated. It seems to be the Wolf Peak Balin that you mentioned."

"We've finally arrived." Xi Heng nodded.

If you calculate the timeline, it's about right.

It is unknown how many defenses the enemy has set up in Langfeng Balin, or how many Yanmeng people they have gathered to defend it.

It will definitely be more, not less.

Xi Heng ordered the military to rest for the time being, and during this brief rest period, he went to the rear service troops and ordered them to slaughter a cow to bleed it.

He then picked up the spirit stone with one hand and smeared the blood on the other, slowly drawing the runes of the Blood Sea Technique on the back of his hand.

Once the drawing was completed, they returned to the front of the army, stopped the soldiers' rest period, and continued marching.