NCCnovel Chapter 255 Goodbye Zijing Pass
Chapter 255 Goodbye Zijing Pass
Zhang Xiaofeng ran northward along the winding mountain path at lightning speed, as if an invisible force was driving him forward.
The sunlight filtered through the dense treetops, dappling his face. Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the dusty path, instantly being swallowed up by the dry earth.
His eyes were firm, with an unyielding light flashing in them. He had only one thought in his mind - to get to Zijing Pass as soon as possible, where he would find the support and answers he desperately needed.
The mountain road is rugged, and the occasional bird calls break the silence, adding a sense of desolation and urgency.
As they got closer to Zijing Pass, Zhang Xiaofeng's heartbeat became more and more rapid, and every step seemed to be a race against time.
Finally, when he climbed over the last ridge, the majestic outline of Zijing Pass came into view. It was a complex emotion mixed with hope and despair, like a traveler who had been thirsty for a long time and finally saw the oasis of life.
However, the scene before him made his heart sink. Beneath Zijing Pass, the Lu family army's banners were still flying, but the troops beneath them appeared sparse and scattered, clearly the remnants of a fierce battle.
The soldiers were either sitting or lying, their faces filled with fatigue and sadness, and the air was filled with a depressing atmosphere.
"General Zhang, what brings you to the gate of Zijing Pass?"
A deep voice broke the silence, and a heroic general in armor slowly walked out of the crowd. It was Hou Qianzhi. He had now taken over the jurisdiction here, with a bit of curiosity and amusement in his eyes.
Zhang Xiaojun stopped, gasping for breath, his chest heaving violently, as if he had just experienced a life-and-death struggle.
He looked up at Hou Qianzhi, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, that smile contained both helplessness and anger: "
A gust of explosive hot wind, carrying smoke and flames, almost swallowed me whole.
He gritted his teeth and almost roared out these words, his voice filled with uncontrollable grief and indignation.
Hou Qianzhi's face changed slightly when he heard this. He knew very well that what Zhang Xiaofeng said was true. The situation in the north had been turbulent recently, with various forces fighting openly and secretly, and the war was ongoing.
He silently took a few steps forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "General Zhang, since you're here, it's time for us to stick together. Although our Lu family army has been severely damaged, as long as we can hold Zijing Pass, we still have a chance of survival."
The two looked at each other, and without saying anything, they had reached a silent understanding with each other.
Zhang Xiaojun took a deep breath, as if to absorb all the fatigue and fear into his chest, and then transform it into the motivation to move forward.
He knew that the road ahead would be even more difficult, but as long as he had companions by his side and faith in his heart, there was nothing he could not overcome.
The wind at Zijing Pass seemed to become gentler because of this firm will, blowing across everyone's face, carrying a hint of imperceptible hope.
Hou Qianzhi stepped aside to make way and signaled Zhang Xiaofeng to enter the pass. The two of them walked into Zijing Pass side by side.
The flickering candlelight inside the pass illuminated the mottled city walls, and the air was filled with a faint smell of blood and scorched earth.
They walked into the meeting room, where battle maps were hung on the walls and a sand table was placed in the center.
Hou Qianzhi's fingers lightly traced the terrain on the sand table, his brow furrowed. "Zhao Sheng's pursuers are as fierce as wolves and tigers. Although their strength is not as strong as our army's at its peak, they are more mobile and flexible.
We need to rely on the natural barrier of Zijing Pass to set up layers of defense, and at the same time send out scouts to find out their movements."
In the conference room, illuminated by candlelight, Zhang Xiaofeng and Hou Qianzhi stood side by side, their shadows stretched on the wall, interweaving into a silhouette of them fighting side by side.
Zhang Xiaojun's fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the sand table, producing a steady rhythm that echoed with the occasional sound of the wind coming from outside the window.
His eyes were as sharp as torches, fixed on every undulation of the terrain on the sand table, as if he wanted to carve every rock and every stream into his mind.
Hou Qianzhi held a thin bamboo stick and outlined the outline of the defensive formation on the sand table. Every stroke seemed so decisive and powerful.
The two of them sometimes whispered to each other, and sometimes fell into deep thought. The air was filled with tension and concentration, as if even time had stopped.
……
Ma Damao led the pursuers at lightning speed and finally arrived at Zijing Pass.
Dust flew all over the sky, and the thunderous sound of iron hooves seemed to shake the earth. Even the sturdy walls of Zijing Pass seemed to tremble slightly under this surging momentum.
Ma Damao rode a strong tall horse, his black armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
His resolute face was tense, his brows were furrowed, and his tiger eyes were filled with a burning flame, a light that showed an extreme desire for victory.
Behind him, a dark mass of pursuers rolled in like a surging black torrent, their armor gleaming glaringly in the blazing sun, like cold and deadly blades.
Ma Damao suddenly raised the rifle in his hand high and roared in the direction of Zijing Pass with his rough and loud voice:
"Brothers, charge! Inside Zijing Pass, there are tons of gold, silver, treasures, and delicious food. As long as we take this pass, all the credit will be ours!"
Following his passionate and powerful shout, the pursuers were like a group of ferocious beasts whose fighting spirit was completely ignited. They let out deafening roars and rushed towards Zijing Pass desperately.
The sky was covered with dust, and the passionate shouts of killing seemed to break through the clouds, converging into a war scene that was both tragic, fierce, and exciting.
However, on the tower of Zijing Pass, the guard general Hou Qianzhi was observing all this with a solemn expression. He gripped the sword at his waist tightly, his eyes firm and stern, and secretly vowed in his heart that he would defend this pass.
The soldiers on the city wall were also on high alert. They held their weapons tightly, without any fear in their eyes.
Just as the pursuers led by Ma Damao were about to approach the city gate, Hou Qianzhi waved his hand and shouted, "Shoot!" In an instant, thousands of arrows were fired from the city wall, pouring down on the pursuers like dense raindrops.
Seeing this, Ma Damao's eyes widened with anger and he shouted, "Raise your shields! Use your guns to kill them! Keep charging!"
The artillery company that arrived from behind also set up their mortars and rushed forward to report, "Commander-in-Chief, the mortars are ready. Please give your instructions."
Ma Dame was in high spirits after hearing this and ordered, "Second Company Commander, fire at me!"
With this order, the entire artillery company seemed to be injected with infinite power.
The second company commander waved the command flag in his hand without hesitation. At that moment, cannons roared and flames shot into the sky.
One shell after another was like an angry fire dragon, cutting through the sky and smashing into the enemy's position with destructive force.
The rumbling sound of cannons shook the entire battlefield and everyone's heart.
This was a contest of the brave, a battle of faith and glory. At this moment, the artillery fire seemed so powerful, as if it had become the brightest star on the battlefield, leading the light of victory and illuminating the way forward.