My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Dismount! Load the forage on the horses' backs and let them carry it themselves!"

Chen Sansi shouted loudly, "My White Swan Horse will lead your horses to a hiding place and, if necessary, come back to support you!"

"That's truly miraculous..."

Xie Sishu couldn't help but move closer, wanting to take a closer look, and almost got kicked: "You..."

He wanted to explode but forcefully held back.

"Qian Xun, come here."

Chen Sansi stroked the horse's head and whispered, "I appoint you as the Imperial Horse General. You must work hard, understand? Make sure to hide well and not get caught. When I return next time, I will reward you with Spiritual Rice."

Qian Xun nodded, neighed loudly, and led more than two thousand horses away; it truly resembled a military brigade, quickly disappearing from sight.

"..."

Even Chen Sansi himself was somewhat overwhelmed by the shock.

"Cross the river!"

Yu Song gave the order.

After crossing the river on foot, more than three thousand people marched day and night, quickly arriving outside several county towns.

The entire eastern defensive forces had been completely withdrawn; either moving south or to the west to encircle the main force of Liangzhou. These cities were extremely vulnerable, basically guarded by only a few constables, with no one defending. Upon seeing the enemy army, they were first shocked and then immediately opened the city gates to surrender.

They continued southward and eventually stopped at Jiankou County to rest and recuperate.

Marching all the way, though appearing merely a short distance on the map, was, in reality, counted in hundreds or thousands of miles on foot. Without horses, even the Martial Artists' Qi-Blood was limited. Marching hurriedly without resting would surely be fatal.

Since crossing the river.

Fifteen days had passed; they had virtually no casualties, just exhaustion.

"Chirp—"

Hai Dongqing landed on his arm, bringing the latest intelligence.

Outside Yangchun Prefecture, an army of seventy thousand besieged and attacked daily. Over these days, the defenders dwindled from eighteen thousand to fifteen thousand, suffering heavy losses, though the strong walls of Yangchun Prefecture could still hold for a while.

However, the earliest reinforcements, the Yan State Army, wouldn't arrive for another twenty-some days, entering from the westernmost part of the Ming State map and still needing to start a war with the West Qi Kingdom to the east, a difference of a hundred and eighty thousand miles.

As for the rest of the defending troops, let's not even mention them.

On the city walls, Chen Sansi held the National Guardian Dragon Spear, not neglecting his daily cultivation.

[Cultivation Technique: National Guardian Dragon Spear. Hua Jin (Proficient)]

[Progress: 256/1000]

Without Qian Xun around and his time being limited, it was fortunate he had Spiritual Rice Medicine Ointment and treasure medicine, preventing the progress from appearing slow.

In a blink of an eye.

The campaign had nearly reached three months, now in May of the year 73 under the Longqing era.

Sister Lan was also five months pregnant; her belly was probably quite conspicuous by now.

Those in Liangzhou, upon knowing the situation in Ming State, would surely be worried, perhaps even thinking they were already dead. Sadly, no messages could be sent out.

Smoke signals had been seen for three months, and family letters were worth their weight in gold, so it went.

Hai Dongqing was also needed for gathering intelligence and could not be extravagantly used for sending messages.

"General Chen!"

Yu Song returned hastily and reported, "News from the rear, Sword Gate Canyon has dispatched ten thousand soldiers from the West Qi Kingdom to pursue us. We can't stay any longer. The plan was yours to make. What's the next move?"

"Head south."

Chen Sansi had long been prepared, tapping on the southernmost checkpoint of the map: "Make straight for Luotian Pass! Let's first see if we can escape from Ming State!"

Luotian Pass, the last checkpoint to the south.

If they could get through, they might find their way out!

"Good!"

Yu Song nodded: "On my command! The whole army will advance to Luotian Pass!"

...

Yangchun Prefecture.

"Kill!"

"Brothers, hold on!!"

"..."

Sha Wenlong split an enemy General who had climbed the wall in two, temporarily repelling the opponent's offensive.

Next to him, Cao Fan was utterly exhausted, collapsing to the ground the moment he heard the signal to retreat.

Fifteen days!

During these fifteen days, they had not closed their eyes for a moment!

They were either defending the city or building fortifications, with losses growing larger by the day and their provisions steadily diminishing. Continuing this way, waiting for reinforcements was impossible.

"Go." Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Sha Wenlong took the intelligence from Hai Dongqing and let it fly away.

"Cough cough..."

Cao Fan coughed twice: "General Sha, it's a letter from Chen Sansi, isn't it? How are they doing?"

"Still alive."

Sha Wenlong clenched his fist, and his Gang Qi crushed the intelligence to smithereens: "They're preparing to head south with Yu Song to Luotian Pass."

"Luotian Pass might as well be called Heaven and Earth Net Pass!"

Cao Fan sneered: "With barely more than three thousand men, including three with the Body of Martial Saint, neither Dong An nor the West Qi Kingdom will let them go. They will definitely reinforce Luotian Pass with heavy troops. They are doomed. All we need to do now is wait for the news of their deaths."

If Hai Dongqing's master dies.

Hai Dongqing will immediately seek out the nearest General possessing another Hai Dongqing.

This also means the original master is already dead.

"It's a pity..."

Cao Fan closed his eyes: "We might not survive either."

"Princely Heir, do not lose heart."

Sha Wenlong, seasoned in battle, calmly said: "Even if the city falls, I have a way to get the Princely Heir out of here. By then, with Chen dead, the Princely Heir can return to Liangzhou and naturally assume the position of True Inheritor."

...

Outside the city.

Rebel army Central Army Tent.

"Report—"

A Scout rushed into the tent, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Commander Dong, the Reserve Camp has fewer than four thousand people moving south after crossing from the east. It seems they are preparing to take Luotian Pass and then escape through the Great Wilderness."