Outside of Zijin Pass.
The Mongolian garrison within Zijin Pass, their faces twisted with fury, stared at the battlefield beyond the city walls.
Their countrymen were being slaughtered by the Great Zhou army.
A black torrent of steel surged through the formations formed by their compatriots.
Everywhere it passed, corpses littered the ground.
They could only watch from within Zijin Pass, helplessly witnessing the death of their brethren, one by one.
The highest commander inside Zijin Pass, a Mongolian Wanhu, clutched his steel saber, his eyes burning with rage.
“My lord, please, don’t act rashly.” A man, his features markedly different from the Mongols, spoke beside the Wanhu, “Zijin Pass is crucial to the Khan's plan. It is also the Khan’s retreat route, and cannot be lost.”
This man feared the Wanhu’s impulsiveness. Like the Jurchen, these Mongols were prone to emotional outbursts.
Once they lost control, they would engage in reckless and irrational acts.
The Mongolian Wanhu suppressed his anger, choosing to ignore what he couldn't bear to see.
Those on the city wall watched from afar as the supply convoy, poised to enter the pass, was now being mercilessly butchered by the enemy.
“Gather the goods, let’s go.”
After eliminating every Mongol, beheading their corpses, Jia Yu led his troops, brazenly, away from the battlefield.
Naturally, the various supplies that had belonged to the Mongols fell into his possession.
Approximately thirty li from Zijin Pass, a small mound had become a giant encampment.
Within the camp, one could see a vast number of warhorses, along with mountains of various supplies.
Unable to locate the main Mongolian force, Jia Yu, with his three thousand camp cavalry, used the Zijin Pass entrance as a focal point, annihilating all Mongolian troops attempting to flee through the pass.
The number of Mongol heads within the camp had already reached thirty thousand.
Jia Yu had initially planned to order his men to build a pyramid out of these skulls, the so-called "Jing Guan" (Mountain of Skulls).
But then he considered the fact that these skulls were related to his achievements, even if he didn't desire such accolades, his subordinates still needed some merit to advance their ranks.
He wasn't sure if his three thousand plus cavalrymen would still be under his command after the war ended.
After all, he was currently just a cavalry Chifu Chang (Thousand-Man Commander).
For the sake of himself and his soldiers, he could only keep this thought buried deep within his heart.
As Jia Yu entered the camp, the camp's Baifu Chang (Hundred-Man Commander) immediately approached him, “My lord, Public Eunuch Liu awaits your arrival at the main tent.”
“Public Eunuch Liu is here!” Jia Yu exclaimed, brimming with joy, immediately urging his horse towards the large tent in the middle of the camp.
He saw that Public Eunuch Liu, whom he hadn’t seen in over ten days, now had streaks of white in his once-dark hair.
“General Jia, I’ve finally found you!”
Public Eunuch Liu, upon seeing Jia Yu approach, was overjoyed.
“I’ve been searching for you as well, but my messengers couldn’t contact you.”
Jia Yu grabbed Public Eunuch Liu’s hand, “Didn’t we agree that the main Mongolian force would retreat? Why haven’t I encountered them these past few days? I’ve been stationed here at Zijin Pass.”
“The main Mongolian force didn’t retreat from this side.” Public Eunuch Liu, calming his emotions, replied, “Those damned grassland barbarians pulled a flanking maneuver on us. They made us believe they would retreat through Zijin Pass, but instead, they suddenly attacked Tongzhou City. After plundering Tongzhou, they turned north, exiting the pass at Beigu Kou. The remaining forces of the Jurchens are there to help them.”
“No wonder I couldn’t find the Mongolian main force.” Jia Yu, leading Public Eunuch Liu into the tent, grumbled, “The ones I killed at Zijin Pass were just some rejects.”
“You didn’t kill rejects.” Public Eunuch Liu, his mood now calmed, considered the mountains of supplies and warhorses he saw in the camp.
“The Mongols have withdrawn, but our troubles haven’t ended.” Public Eunuch Liu, with a serious tone, asked Jia Yu, “General Jia, how do you perceive His Majesty’s treatment of you?”
Jia Yu, without hesitation, answered, “His kindness is as vast as a mountain.”
The Emperor had indeed been good to him. If the Emperor hadn’t trusted him, he wouldn’t have been allowed to roam freely with his four thousand men for so long.
“What if someone were to harm His Majesty?” Public Eunuch Liu looked directly at Jia Yu.
Jia Yu stood tall, his killing intent radiating outwards, “Then let’s see if their bones are as hard as my blade.”
Jia Yu was well aware of his limitations. He wasn’t a skilled administrator, especially when it came to diplomacy, he was utterly inept.
If this were a chaotic era, perhaps he could strive for a peaceful world. But, right now, there was a unified dynasty, even if it was declining, weakening, and being invaded by foreign powers.
Still, it was a unified dynasty.
With the Emperor at the helm, he only needed to fight. The logistics and such could be left to the Emperor.
Of course, if the Emperor ever turned on him, he wouldn’t worry.
Because, in his system store, a kill value could be exchanged for one thousand jin of grain.
He would never be limited by food and supplies.
His soldiers were also loyal to him.
For now, the Emperor treated him well.
Furthermore, the Emperor had just ascended the throne, his foundation was unstable, with many still discontented. This was a perfect opportunity to choose sides.
Jia Yu didn't wish for anything else. He would follow this current Emperor, and if things didn't work out, with four thousand Xuan Jia Tie Qi (Black Armored Iron Cavalry) at his disposal, no one could stop him.
Public Eunuch Liu, unaffected by the killing intent, nodded in satisfaction, solemnly stating, “Jia Yu, listen to the decree!”
“This subject, Jia Yu, listens to the decree.”
“The situation is urgent. By imperial decree, Jia Yu, Thousand-Man Commander of the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry, for your outstanding achievements in battle… You are hereby promoted to Commander of the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry, leading the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry. Return to the capital immediately.”
Public Eunuch Liu, as he spoke, produced the tiger talisman that represented the commander of the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry, “General Jia, this is the tiger talisman. Take it!”
“I’ve become the Three Thousand Camp Commander?” Jia Yu wasn’t familiar with the official ranks of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
However, the Three Thousand Camp Commander was a high-ranking official of the third rank.
He had jumped from a fifth-rank Chifu Chang to the commanding position of the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry.
“The situation is urgent.” Public Eunuch Liu kept his words brief, “The Eighth Prince, with an army of one hundred thousand from the Jiangnan Camp, will arrive in the capital soon. His Majesty had me find you to see if the Three Thousand Camp Cavalry was still usable. Now, seeing you and your soldiers here, it’s clear His Majesty made the right decision.”
Jia Yu took the tiger talisman, and a message flashed on his system screen, but now was not the time to read it.
Jia Yu said, “What do you require of me?”
Asking him to ponder was pointless. He’d rather be out there slaughtering more enemies.
“Take your spoils and army, make a grand spectacle… ”
…