Where the wind rises, dark clouds are thick. The battle of Jicheng has officially begun. This war, which formally formed the contours of the territory of a great empire, is destined to go down in history for centuries.

A few years later, when Chu Jiangmian, who carried the eyes of the world, climbed Jicheng in the autumn breeze and looked into the distance, his heart was still full of emotion. Later generations have only seen the great feats and glory of this war. But little is known about the cost of winning this war. Perhaps, in addition to the tens of millions of soldiers who participated in the Battle of Jicheng at the beginning, only Chu Jiangmian knew best what had happened here.

This city of heroes, in this war against foreign enemies, is like a long sword leaning on the sky, rising from the ground on this northern land. With its incomparable sharpness and light, it stubbornly blocked the footsteps of the 300,000 army of the grassland. In the past half a month, dozens of battles have been fought in large and small areas, and the heroes have been shining ...... The iron cavalry broke the halberd and sank into the sand, and King Hu's ambition was shattered. Since then, the vitality of the barbarians in the entire northern steppe has been greatly damaged, and there is no longer any strength that can threaten the Central Plains tribes.

And the direct consequence of this war was to provide the most favorable conditions for a great eastern empire to unify Kyushu and the four seas. At the same time, it also provides a model for the integration of different ethnic groups. It can be said that the victory of the Battle of Jicheng is very important for the future historical process.

It is precisely because of this that when Chu Jiangmian inspected the northern frontier as a new imperial monarch, he specially stopped here for three days. A memorial monument to the heroes stands just outside the North City Gate. The eight big characters on it are exactly what he inscribed.

"Heroes through the ages"!

And the names densely engraved on this monument are 28,396 people. They were all Central Plains warriors who died in this war. Everyone's deeds are worthy of praise and praise.

At the cost of nearly 30,000 sacrifices, 300,000 troops of the steppe were buried. In every sense of the word, it was a brilliant victory. However, for a long time afterward, Chu Jiangmian felt deeply guilty in his heart.

After all, he still underestimated the power of the grassland. Paying such a large casualty is an unbearable burden for him who is compassionate to the heavens and compassion. If you can prepare more sufficiently, make the armor of the warriors stronger, make their knives sharper, and plan the battle plan more detailed...... Will it reduce more casualties?!

But all is in the past. The warriors who sacrificed their lives for the country have turned into heroic souls and surrounded the sky. They are worthy of the expectations of their fathers and elders behind them, and even more worthy of the king's favor. The autumn wind is in the north of the thistle, and the apricot blossoms are in the south. When the four seas of Kyushu are settled again, and the people are living and working in peace and contentment again. No one will forget their exploits!

But inside and outside Jicheng at that time, no one would have thought of these posthumous honors. No one cares too much about life and death. From General Li Mu downward, 80,000 soldiers of the Zhao State were ready to fight to defend the northern defense line.

The army led by Hu Wang Moke himself was indeed extraordinary. They first launched an attack on all the Zhao strongholds near Jicheng in several directions. The five or six walled cities that were originally built outside Jicheng soon became critical.

The fierce and good fighting of the steppe barbarians is definitely not boastful. They seem to be tireless and can fight day and night. Exhausted the Zhao army who was ready to hold on. Coupled with the repeated attacks of these guys who are not afraid of death, every walled city that has formed a horn is in danger in a very short time.

In response to this situation, Li Mu, who was personally in charge in Jicheng, quickly readjusted his operational deployment. He ordered the soldiers outside the city to abandon their hold and retreat to the edge of the city to reduce unnecessary casualties. In this way, Hu rode into victory, and in a few days cleared all obstacles that stood in the way of their horses' hooves.

The Hu people's riding and archery skills are too powerful. Wherever the 10,000 cavalry rode by, those featherless iron arrows fell like locusts that covered the sky, and almost no one dared to resist this sharp spirit head-on. If it weren't for the mobilization and retreat of the people in this area by the Zhao army in advance, I am afraid that none of them would have been spared, and they would have been unable to escape this catastrophe.

Even then, these places have suffered heavy losses. Almost all the villages and bazaars were burned down. Anything of value was also plundered by the Hu cavalry. The lack of the expected riches and gains infuriates these savage creatures. Therefore, wherever their horses' hooves tread, they became scorched earth.

In Jicheng, emergency military information was transmitted back and forth. Li Mu frowned, listening to the news coming from different directions. There is no doubt that the strategy of the Hu people is to form a shackle, shrinking closer and closer, until this lonely city is strangled.

There have also been suggestions to abandon the city and retreat. If considered from the facts, the Zhao army abandoned this isolated city and retreated to the area of Yunzhong and Shanggu, where a new strong defense line was formed. Not only can we have more stable logistical support, but we can also take advantage of the favorable terrain to calmly arrange, and the chances of victory will be greater.

But this suggestion was immediately vetoed by Li Mu himself. In front of all the generals, he stuck his sword in the city. He expressed his determination with a serious face.

"From this moment on, I will defend the city of Ji with this sword. The sword is in the people, and the sword is dead!"

From that moment on, 80,000 soldiers strengthened their determination to defend the city and fight. Since the great generals are going to live and die with this city, what else do they have to say? If you want to fight, you will fight! The man's spirit is only death!

Dark clouds cover the top, and iron arrows rain down. No matter what the difficult situation, there is always a team of 100 people, firmly guarding the surroundings of this sword. The general's sword is no longer an ordinary sword. It represents the will of the general, and it also represents the confidence of victory in this isolated city. Even in the most critical moments, the steppe people who were not afraid of death climbed to the top of the city. None of the people here have taken a step back. Together with the other defenders, they fought hard to defeat wave after wave of grassland dead warriors.

"General! The last general is willing to go out of the city to fight and thwart its edge!"

Seeing the siege on three sides, some generals under his command asked for their lives. Li Mu agreed without hesitation. More than 1,000 horsemen rode out on flying horses, and by the moat, blood stained the yellow sand, shouting and fighting, until the battle reached the last horse, and no one looked back.

"General! It is difficult to win against Hu Qi head-on...... We'll have to find another way!"

Hearing Sima in the army's worries, Li Mu nodded. Standing on the head of the city to watch the battle in person, the reason why he agreed to the battle under his command was precisely to see how the real combat effectiveness of these Hu cavalry was. He was surprised by the results. Although the warriors of the Thousand Cavalry Zhao Army killed and wounded the same number of enemies, they were all finally killed in the city.

"Pass my orders. The officers and men of the whole army held the city wall in the east, west, and north directions. Do your best, and don't let a single soldier in. In addition, 10,000 cavalry were mobilized to stand by at the south gate at any time. If there are Hu Qi who bypass Jicheng and want to go south, no matter what the price is, they must be stopped. As long as you can stick to it...... It is as little as three or five days, and as much as ten days. The situation on the battlefield in the north is bound to change unexpectedly. At that point, it's time for the decisive moment. ”

Many generals looked at Li Mu in confusion, not understanding why he would make such an arrangement. However, they immediately carried out the order without hesitation. The long-term trust in General Li Mu made them believe that there must be a mystery in this. Perhaps, it is just for the sake of secrecy, and it is not convenient for them to know for the time being.

The generals were not wrong in what they had guessed. Li Mu is waiting for the best opportunity. At the same time, we are waiting for good news from afar. He stood at the head of the city, looking at the Hu people who surrounded Jicheng from three directions like wolves, he was not shocked on the surface, but he was extremely anxious in his heart.

If he can rely on the strength of the defenders of Jicheng to gain the first opportunity, of course he will make a decisive decision and lead his soldiers to start a decisive battle with the Hu people. But this premise is not valid. The difference in strength between the two sides was too great, and although the Zhao army had sharp crossbow arrows and other sharp weapons in the army to help, it was still difficult to win. Therefore, he could only take defense as an attack, mobilize all his forces to form an impregnable Jicheng defense line, and wait for a breakthrough battle from the grassland.

However, whether inside or outside the city, some people can't wait. When night falls again, the sound of fighting on the city gradually fades away. The people of the city also ended their days of fear, and after praying for God's blessing, they went to sleep with a restless mood.

The stars in the sky dimmed, and the moon seemed to hide from the land where fierce wars had taken place. Many figures who are moving in the shadows, taking advantage of the cover of the night, look like ghosts.

"Why is it scheduled to act tonight? Time was too rushed. Everyone's not ready yet!"

"There's no way! It has been three days since the steppe army attacked the city, but there has been no progress. The walls of Jicheng are tall and strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Many Hu people were sacrificed in vain...... King Hu was very angry. He gave a stern order to the envoys we sent, telling our hidden forces in the city to move quickly, cooperate with the Hu people outside the city, and break through this fortified city as soon as possible! If it is delayed any longer, on the day the city is broken, he will order the steppe army to slaughter the city without discrimination! ”

At the entrance to a tunnel in a secret courtyard in the city, more than a dozen leaders of the rebels are deliberating here. Hearing King Hu's stern order, they all gasped. The brutality of the barbarians is terrifying. This is in no way intended to scare them.

"Then do it! General Yan, what should I do, everyone obeys the assignment!"

"Good! The so-called thief captures the king first. The key to the battle of Jicheng lies in Li Mu, the general of Zhao State! If this person is removed, it will be the first achievement! Tonight, I will kill Li Mu first, cut off his head, and pass the ...... outside the city!"