Arriving At Beiyang City! Late Night Sneak Attack?

At this time, Orion's army had already left Yumen Pass and was heading south, deeply penetrating Liangzhou. During their march, they destroyed any small cities they encountered with ease. The cities were left deserted, with only the common people remaining as defenders—who were soon replaced by luck points.

When entering new territories, Orion had little interest in dealing with prisoners. It was simpler to eliminate them on the spot, which significantly boosted his luck value. Another holy-level lottery was approaching.

"My lord! Beiyang City, the county seat of Liangzhou, is three hundred miles ahead."

"Should we bypass it or capture it first?"

Scouts quickly reported their findings to Yuan Zuozong, who relayed the news to Orion.

"Beiyang City? Let me consider..."

Orion hesitated at Yuan Zuozong's suggestion. Should they besiege the city or take a detour?

After much deliberation, Orion decided to attack the city directly. There were two main reasons for this decision:

First, upon reaching the Central Plains, Orion faced numerous cities of the Great Zhou Dynasty. To reach Chang'an from Yumen Pass, he needed to traverse several prefectures and counties, including Liangzhou, Jinzhou, and Yizhou—a journey of thousands of miles. This meant encountering enemies everywhere along the way. A rash advance could easily result in being surrounded.

Second, Orion had a system that thrived on battle. War provided opportunities for growth and development, which would snowball into greater strength.

"Advance on Beiyang City directly!"

"Summon the entire army to march toward Beiyang City!"

"Understood!"

The prospect of battle excited Orion's generals, who immediately quickened their pace.

Beiyang City, City Lord's Mansion

Zhao Kuanying and City Lord Jiang were still discussing the situation when military intelligence arrived: Orion's army was only thirty miles from Beiyang City.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuanying smirked. "Haha, Orion is finally here! Killing a prince-level rebel will certainly boost my rank!"

Zhao Kuanying viewed Orion's presence as an opportunity for advancement, rather than a threat.

However, City Lord Jiang appeared concerned. "General Zhao, I believe we should proceed with caution. Orion cannot be judged by common standards."

"The Battle of Yumen Pass and the defeat of Li Weiming's 100,000 troops were full of anomalies..."

Although the strength of Orion's army was known, its exact capability remained unclear. Jiang Shicheng worried that if Beiyang City fell, it would stain his career.

Suddenly, Jiang Shicheng considered leveraging the relationship between their families and saw a potential breakthrough. "Perhaps persuading Orion to surrender could turn this into a significant achievement."

Jiang Shicheng narrowed his eyes, contemplating the possibility of using Orion for his own gain.

Zhao Kuanying, appearing to agree, was clearly impatient. "Alright, alright, I understand, City Lord Jiang. Don't worry, I will handle this carefully!"

He sneered at Jiang Shicheng's caution. "You speak as if you're afraid of a mere prince! Li Weiming and Li Shun were defeated by a loser. What a disgrace!"

As one of the few semi-saint generals in the Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Kuanying was among the most likely to achieve sainthood, and he took pride in his abilities.

A messenger hurried in with an update. "General Zhao! Orion's army has arrived and is stationed outside the city. They don't seem to be attacking for now."

"So fast?" Zhao Kuanying was briefly surprised. However, hearing that Orion's army was stationed, he laughed. "Stationed? Haha, Orion is intimidated! But it's fortunate—they've given me a chance to claim credit!"

"I was worried they might retreat before I could take advantage of this opportunity. I will personally lead the troops out tonight and ensure I receive full credit!"

"Anyone who tries to stop me is my enemy!" Zhao Kuanying declared, glaring at City Lord Jiang before striding out, eager to escape the nagging.

Under Beiyang City

Orion chose to stay put rather than attack immediately, having learned that Zhao Kuanying's 200,000 troops had just entered Beiyang City. This new information necessitated a more cautious approach.

"Yingmo, Yuxiang, scout the city. Determine the guard distribution and the origins of Zhao Kuanying's forces."

Orion decided to gather intelligence first. Knowing both his own and his enemy's strengths was crucial for success.

"Yes!"

Yingmo and Yuxiang nodded in agreement and began their stealthy infiltration of Beiyang City.

Inside Beiyang City

Beiyang City was in turmoil, with Zhao Kuanying's 200,000 troops and Orion's 100,000 imposing martial law. This level of security made infiltration difficult, but Yingmo and his team managed to gather the necessary information.

"I've learned about the troop deployments in Beiyang City!" Yuxiang reported. "Zhao Kuanying plans to lead his troops out of the city for a night attack."

Yuxiang found Zhao Kuanying's decision amusing. The defending side typically had an advantage during a siege, but Zhao Kuanying was willing to forgo this advantage. It was an unexpected twist that played right into their hands.