"Beifu Army?" Orion raised an eyebrow, unfamiliar with this unit.
However, upon reading the system's description, his expression brightened with pleasure.
[Beifu Army: Commanded by the Peak Martial Sect, Deputy Commander of the Ordinary Martial Sect, Chief Martial King of Thousands, Centurion Martial King, Grand Chief Martial Master, and Sergeant Martial Master!]
Elite!
An army of such caliber could even compete with soldiers rewarded at the holy level! This configuration is likely among the top rewards from the super lottery!
"General Xie Xuan, pay your respects to the Lord!"
With the successful distribution of system rewards, a formidable figure knelt before Orion.
"Thank you, General. There's no need for formalities!" Orion replied with a slight smile.
"Thank you, General. I will entrust you with guarding Yumen Pass!"
"There are still 20,000 surrendered troops at the pass. I leave their management to you."
"There's only one condition: ensure that those who remain are loyal!"
"The general will not fail his mission!" Xie Xuan accepted the order with confidence.
"By the way, General Xie," Orion suddenly asked with curiosity, "Do you have a sister named... Xie Daoyun?"
"Yes!" Xie Xuan replied, clasping his fists and nodding. Despite having no memories of the past, he could never forget his sister.
"Really!" Orion was taken aback. The name Xie Daoyun had been legendary, known for enchanting the hearts of many scholars throughout history. Unfortunately, he could only interact with her brother, who was far from the poetic ideal.
Orion shook his head, refocusing on the pressing matters at hand. There were still many significant challenges ahead.
The capture of Yumen Pass was just a minor episode in the grand scheme.
After assigning the responsibility of Yumen Pass to Xie Xuan, Orion prepared to advance with his army.
The cost of maintaining troops was high, and time was of the essence. If the Empress mobilized her forces to intercept him, it could become troublesome.
"Let's move forward! Head south!"
Entering the Central Plains was like stepping into a vast sea.
Orion finally set foot in the expansive Central Plains.
In Liangzhou, Beiyang City stood as the northernmost seat of the Zhou Dynasty, right on the border with the Northern Territory. The city was a thousand miles from Yumen Pass.
At this moment, outside Beiyang City, a massive force of 200,000 men was led by a strikingly handsome young general with bright eyes and a commanding presence.
Wearing white armor that radiated a semi-holy aura, Zhao Kuanying, the prince of Duke Wu of the Great Zhou Dynasty, exuded an air of arrogance and indifference.
Behind him, the 200,000 troops were reinforcements sent by the Empress to support Yumen Pass.
Just as Zhao Kuanying arrived at Beiyang City, an urgent military report was delivered.
"Huh? An urgent military report?" Zhao Kuanying's brow furrowed as he took the message.
He opened the envelope and read the contents, initially nonchalant. But as he absorbed the details, his eyes widened in shock.
"What! Yumen Pass has fallen!"
"Guardian Li Shun has been killed!"
"Orion, the King of Zhenbei, has crossed Yumen Pass and led his army straight in!"
Bang!
Furious, Zhao Kuanying slammed his golden whip into the ground, creating a deep crater.
"Li Shun, that fool! He couldn't even hold out for a single day!"
"Yumen Pass, lost just like that!"
Zhao Kuanying was livid, his eyes blazing with rage. It was inconceivable that such a critical fortress could be lost so easily.
"Damn it, I'm furious!"
The situation was dire, and Zhao Kuanying's anger had no outlet.
Adding to his frustration, the deputy general arrived with more bad news:
"General, the troops are complaining about the grueling pace of the march!"
"We've reached our limit, covering thousands of miles each day!"
"The speed talisman has been exhausted, and our marching speed has slowed. See…"
The Swift Movement Talisman was a military artifact created by a Talisman Master to increase the army's speed.
Without it, covering the vast distance from Chang'an to Yumen Pass in a day was impossible, even for well-trained soldiers.
Faced with exhaustion and the inability to reach Yumen Pass, Zhao Kuanying had no choice but to make a quick decision:
"Send orders to the entire army to abandon Yumen Pass!"
"Temporarily set up in Beiyang City to resupply!"
The troops, having traveled light to march quickly, now found themselves in need of supplies, with Yumen Pass fallen.
Beiyang City, the county seat of Liangzhou and its most prosperous city, had not been prepared for such an influx.
The sudden change in plans caused considerable commotion.
The bustling streets, lined with stalls from merchants and hawkers, became chaotic as the army entered the city.
Some soldiers, seizing the opportunity, raided the small vendors on the streets.
"Haha! Here you go!" A veteran, eyes gleaming with greed, took advantage of the situation.
Robbery had become routine, with no distinction between friend and foe. The officers turned a blind eye, knowing these soldiers' survival depended on such actions.
A ragged old man with gray hair begged a soldier, tears in his eyes.
"No! Master Bing, if you take these, it's my entire savings for three months!"
"Please, Master Bing!"
The old man had gathered rare herbs from deep forests, risking his life. Selling them was crucial for his family's survival.
"Move aside, old man!" The veteran, named Youzi, growled.
"If you don't get out of the way, I'll have to be rough!"
Impatient, Youzi kicked the old man, who was frail and hunched.
A gust of wind swept from the kick, but the old man, as fragile as a candle in the wind, was left in grave danger.