Lord of the Desert

Chapter 347
In the 29th year of Zhenghe, it was the third day of September.

Flowing clouds move in the sky.

Under the clouds is Guancheng.

The two mountains are like palms, gathering in the north wind.

Hong Fan held the parapet in his hand and stood on the city against the wind.

The autumn harvest ended more than half a month ago.

The peaceful situation in the entire central Huaiyang Kingdom also changed as a result.

To the south, three large flags led the way, and the vanguard soldiers followed the flags and crossed the city.

Look back and take a long view.

The team snaked and meandered, with occasional interruptions, all the way to the military camp behind Longqiu Town.

In comparison, Yishan Lake, which stands in the sky, seems to be the size of a puddle.

This time the Hundred Victory Army mobilized [-] soldiers, as well as a larger number of auxiliary soldiers and civilians.

It can almost be regarded as an overwhelming force.

Hong Fan withdrew his gaze and looked down at the soldiers walking towards the city gate.

Wearing linen leggings and leaning on a wooden stick.

The procession was followed by carts pulled by oxen and horses.

The vehicle was neatly equipped with weapons such as spears and horizontal knives, and sets of armor. In addition, there were bows, arrows, medicine boxes, tents, and corresponding poles, beams, wooden stakes, and hammer nails.

With Hong Fan's eyesight, he could even see the number of lines on the armor's leaves written on the front of the armor.

On both sides of the pass and next to the foothills, many larger vehicles are being loaded, and the cargo is large logs of wood that have been preliminarily processed.

This was used to build siege engines.

Hong Fan had seen the situation north of Duanli. All usable trees had long been cleared away by the city's defenders.

It took a full two-quarters of an hour before Guanxia passed the two thousand-man team.

Departing an army is far more complicated than ordinary people imagine.

This made Hong Fan think about Tang Xingqing.

Even though she had been trapped in Yingshan Courtyard, she still sensed that the Yum Victory Army was about to take action through the few words of passers-by and the sudden increase in the sound of wheels on the street.

For two days in a row, Tang Xingqing took the initiative to clean the house, deliberately saved a few persimmons from the food, and pretended to be well-behaved to please Hong Fan.

Of course the latter wouldn't say anything.

But the more this happened, the more certain she became that a war was about to break out, so she tried several times to break through the wall and cause trouble.

Of course, there was no result in the end.

In fact, as far as Hong Fan knew, the Tang family had always sent people to discuss redemption, and the conditions were very high.

But they can only be released after the battle in Duanli City.

Let the Thousand-Pointed Star stand on the city wall, and the Bai Shengjun is asking for trouble.

"Young man Hong."

A call from the side.

Hong Fan's thoughts were interrupted.

The person who spoke was a messenger.

"Everyone in the White Tiger Hall is here. Xu Shuai invites you to come over."

He said respectfully.

Xu Shuai refers to Xu Yuntao.

Hong Fan nodded his thanks and returned to the tower.

It was noon, the sun was shining brightly, but there were no windows in the White Tiger Hall, and there were braziers on the left and right for lighting.

More than ten people formed two lines.

Duan Tiannan stood on the innermost side with his hands behind his hands, staring at an extremely exquisite huge sand table - it was Hong Fan's creation.

The most important terrain on the sand table is two mountains, a lake, a pass, and the hills outside the pass.

The three small flags mark the three core locations of Longqiu Town, Tingshanguan and Duanlicheng.

Hong Fan crossed the threshold and heard Qiu Yuankui lecturing.

"I have said time and again that Duanli City must be captured."

"First of all, this city faces Tingshan Pass across the sky. It is the transportation hub of Huaiyang State and the only way to enter Yunlan City."

"Secondly, the Yao River is to the east of Duanli City, and the city occupies the natural radiation waterway. From now on, if we advance to the southeast, we can rely on the Yao River to maintain the supply line and save a lot of logistics."

"Thirdly, Duanli City is a sacred place. It has been run by the Tang family for generations. There are many granaries and there are iron mines in the south of the city. Once this city is captured, the shortage of military rations, gold and silver, materials, etc. will be solved..."

Qiu Yuankui's words were firm.

But Hong Fan sounded a little helpless.

After all, it is an old saying that has been said several times.Now the army is moving like a dragon, but Qiu Yuankui still wants to say something.

Of course he had a reason to repeat it.

Not long after the conversation stopped, a man with a mustache sitting on the left spoke.

"Master, we all understand the importance of Duanli City."

Hong Fan recognized this man, his name was Pan Rui, he was Qiu Yuankui's direct disciple and a powerful man in Yongnian City.

"But after several times of coordination, the brothers below are still not on the same page."

He had a bitter look on his face.

"Now the enemy and we each have their own strengths. We hold the dangerous pass of Tingshan, and Wang Ting occupies Duanli Gaocheng."

"Whoever moves first will suffer the consequences!"

Qiu Yuankui's face darkened slightly.

Pan Rui immediately stopped talking.

But there was another sound on the right.

"Yam Shenggong, Xu Shuai, or can we wait a little longer?"

A square-faced man wearing armor tried to speak.

Hong Fan met him twice. His name was Yi Hong, and he was also a general in the army.

"We are in a good situation, can we rest and recuperate until next year..."

The tone of both of them was very humble.

But Hong Fan knew that Qiu Yuankui's words were in vain.

As a degree of outsider, he saw the nature of the problem clearly.

The rationale for attacking Duanli City is simple.

There is no dispute now simply because the focus of this issue has shifted from military to political.

During his two months in Longqiu Town, Hong Fan understood a lot of local people's thoughts.

Whether it's for food or martial arts, the motivation for most people in the Yum Victory Army to join is just to survive.

It was okay when the outward expansion was overwhelming.

Once blocked, many ideas emerge uncontrollably.

The harvest is good this year, and Wang Ting can no longer control his own land. Why can't he stay in the two mountains and live a stable life first?

As for leaving Tingshan Pass again...

People in other places are dead or alive, and they are no longer in front of them, so what does it matter to them?

Yihong is still talking in circles.

Hong Fan sighed silently.

Duan Tiannan could no longer listen.

"It's early September now. By the beginning of next spring, there will be at least another [-] to [-] lives in the storm - and that's not counting the wind disaster!"

He turned around suddenly and interrupted.

"If you want to talk about the close ones, taking down Duanli City will cut off the left and right sides of Anmin County. It is equivalent to removing the hanging swords from the heads of several rebel armies in the west."

"You guys want to stay far away. If you want to end the chaos in Huaiyang Country, Fengjian Ke must die."

"A year and a half ago, Yunlan City was full of wind and stench for half a month. This is something I have personally confirmed.

At that time, everyone in the city said that the Five Declines of Fengjian Guests, Heavenly People, and Humans had arrived, and the number one on the earth rankings had to be replaced. "

"He didn't die in the end."

"But there is no doubt that the Heaven's Gate has not been broken open."

"Now unless he breaks through on his own, we have only one way to kill him - to besiege or even attack Yunlan City."

"The more people the impermanent realm eats at the top of the sky, the more it means it will be unsustainable."

"As soon as the blood sacrifice is stopped, it will be the end of Fengjianke!"

Duan Tiannan said every word, his eyes scanning the generals in the hall one by one.

"As long as the Bai Sheng Army is still a rebel army, Duanli City must fight."

He dropped his words.

No one in the hall dared to speak anymore.

Duan Tiannan is not the founder of Bai Shengjun, nor is he involved in any regular affairs.

Based on the self-consciousness of a latecomer, although he often attends high-level meetings, he usually only agrees or makes suggestions and does not make decisions.

This is the first time he has made such a decisive expression.

PS: I have finally finished coding a difficult chapter. I will go see a Chinese medicine doctor tomorrow for some treatment. Good night.

(End of this chapter)