Blue, Red and White Dark Abyss Cauldron

Chapter 546: Red Soldiers Rush to Attack Jieyun Pass

In April of the eighteenth year of the Tiancheng era, it was the beginning of summer. At the junction of Jinyang City and Bicheng in Cangmu State, there was flying sand and rocks and a thick yellow fog.

In the dust raised by the trampling of people and horses, the soldiers of Jinyang City, wearing bronze helmets and bronze armor, formed a large shield formation. The outermost five layers were grouped in groups of three. The soldier in the middle held an iron shield with a beast face nearly as high as a person in both hands, the soldier on the left held a black iron spear, and the person on the right held a ghost-back saber. The spears stretched straight outward, and the broadswords protected the gaps.

The soldiers on the inner side of the formation held crossbows with horns, drew the bowstrings and tightened the triggers, and pointed the crossbow arrows diagonally at the yellow-gray fog dozens of feet away. They held their breath and waited for the enemy.

In the middle of the formation stood a general wearing a flying feather-studded golden crow iron helmet, a golden beast-faced armor, and holding a long crescent-shaped sword. This general had eyebrows like horizontal swords, a face like blue iron, and a messy beard on his face that he hadn't shaved for several days.

At this time, he was staring coldly at the sand fog in front of the formation, and had no time to pay attention to the dust and broken grass leaves that fell into his beard.

This golden-armored general is Jiang Gupu, one of the four golden commanders of Jinyang City.

He raised the big moon sword high above his head and suddenly shouted, "If a red soldier invades our border, he will be killed without mercy!"

The soldiers followed up by shouting loudly: "Any Red Soldiers who invade our border will be killed without mercy! Any Red Soldiers who invade our border will be killed without mercy..." The shouts were deafening, penetrating the thick yellow dust, shaking the mountains and fields, and even the earth and sky were shaking.

After the shouting, a large number of strange howling sounds were heard in the dust. The howling sound became louder and stranger, and rushed towards the Jinyang City soldiers in front of Jieyun Pass frantically.

Jiang Gupu's eyebrows were getting more and more furrowed, and then more and more upright. His tiger-like eyes stared at the yellow dust in front of him without blinking, and his sand wolf-like ears listened carefully to the strange howling sounds.

When the whistling sound got closer, he finally shouted the order: "Shoot!"

Sharp arrows flew out like a rainstorm.

In Jinyang City, 1,200 miles north of Jieyun Pass, the scene is completely different. Where there are trees, there are red flowers and green leaves everywhere, and where there is water, there are ducks, geese and fish. The scenery is charming, full of vitality, and full of peace and beauty.

It was early summer, and the weather was getting hot. The wealthy people in the city had already changed into light silk clothes or fresh twill-patterned shirts. Men were fanning themselves, reciting poems and playing the zither, climbing high to admire the scenery, or drinking with friends, leading a carefree and comfortable life; women were walking in lotus-like steps, observing the street scenes, hunting for rare and interesting things, or chatting and laughing... In short, they were having a leisurely and enjoyable time.

There was a sound of horse hoofbeats at the south gate, and a group of people came running in from outside the city. When the soldiers guarding the city gate saw this group of people, they did not step forward to stop them, but hurriedly made way for fear of blocking their way.

The first of the group of riders wore a golden hairpin, a laurel sword on his waist, and a emerald robe. He looked like golden glass and had a heroic air. Needless to say, this person was Jin Li'er, the daughter of Jinyang City Lord Jin Huapeng, the head of the Jing'an Hall, the head of the Yunying Hall, the Emerald Goddess, and the "Little Master".

She was followed by six servants in thin, scaled grey armor.

There was another person who was quite different. He was wearing a grey linen dress and a plain ribbon crown on his head. He was dressed simply. However, the horse he rode had a precious saddle, green bridle, golden stirrups and black hooves. It was much more majestic than Jin Li'er's Conglong horse.

This person was none other than Chu Xiaomu, the commander of the newly established “Qingyu Army” in Jinyang City.

He had originally bought two brocade clothes, but the slippery feeling was very uncomfortable to wear, so he finally changed to linen clothes. He immediately felt a lot lighter and said that wearing good clothes was a torture.

Jin Li'er and her group were returning to the city after inspecting several large towns including Xinshan, Fuju, and Cuishilian. In order to form the "Qingyu Army" that had just been selected, she worked non-stop and forgot to eat and sleep.

Most of the people in the main city of Jinyang City live a wealthy life, and not many are willing to join the army and endure hardships. These towns are important places for Jinyang City to recruit new soldiers, and she must put a lot of effort into them.

As the group of eight entered the city, a rider came to report. His face and body were covered in blood, his armor was torn, and his left arm was wrapped in a bandage to stop bleeding. He must have experienced a life-and-death battle not long ago.

Jin Lier listened to the soldier's simple military report with a solemn expression. She turned around and said to the followers behind her, "Hurry up and inform the two Jinweis Zhao and Qi, as well as Master Zhang, Sun Zicao, and the Palace Master Huangwu. Let's go to General Xuan's mansion to discuss matters together!"

Six attendants hurried away.

Jin Lier then said to Chu Xiaomu: "Lin Jinwei, although you don't have any soldiers yet, you have already received the sword and the seal, and you are truly one of the four great Jinweis in Jinyang City. You can't miss this meeting."

Chu Xiaomu said: "My lady, I may be able to fight and use my strength, but dealing with the Red Soldiers is not my forte. It would be useless for me to go, and I would be annoying..."

Jin Lier frowned slightly and said, "Who dares to be annoyed with you? Look, I won't use a whip to whip him!" After a pause, she continued, "To tell you the truth, you didn't go to the first two meetings, and the two Jin Weis, Zhao and Qi, were very dissatisfied. They even said that you were just a useless person who was just filling in the numbers, and asked General Xuan and me to remove your position as Jin Wei."

Chu Xiaomu did not answer. He thought that the purpose of my coming to Jinyang City had been achieved. Several large ships of food had been transported to Bicheng via the Kunhe waterway, and the support from the Bicheng Army had been arranged. Once this batch of food arrived, plus the Bicheng Army came up with some ideas on the west bank of the Kunhe River, it should be able to last until the autumn harvest of round-leaf wheat straw.

Moreover, the main force of the Red Army now seems to be no longer targeting the Green City Army on the west bank of the Kun River, but splitting into two groups to deal with Yutuo City and Jinyang City. The Green City Army can take this opportunity to open a passage to the east bank and transport food and grass from Green Plains. However, I heard that the Red Army has been rampant and the people of Green Plains have suffered greatly in the past few months. I am afraid that there is not much food to be requisitioned.

I also thought that my position as the Golden Lieutenant was fake. The urgent need in Bicheng has been resolved. I must hurry back to help the general. You can find anyone to be the Golden Lieutenant. I don't want any. In the past twenty days, you, Jin Lier, have been quite good to me. At most, I can recommend two better candidates for the Golden Lieutenant. I think Xuanying's elder brother, You Ganzhan, is quite good...

Jin Li'er never thought that Lin Jinwei's mind would be full of twists and turns in such a short time. Seeing that he looked quite uncomfortable, she didn't care and said, "That's it, listen to me today." She turned the horse's head and continued to move forward, and Chu Xiaomu had to follow.