The war broke out at dawn on the second day.
When the eastern sky was just turning pale, a loud bugle call pierced the dawn and soared into the sky.
The soldiers, with the anger pent - up for a whole night, launched the fiercest attack on Gengnan City under the dim light of dawn.
Just as Qin Feng had said, the soldiers fought with blood - red eyes, like wild and furious beasts, pouncing forward with all their might.
Gengnan City, which had rarely seen any battles in history, had two battles in just five days - two bloody and tragic battles that were destined to be recorded in history.
The "Ruby" spread the news of the heroic sacrifice of Qian Shuyu's entire army throughout the Protector - General's Office at the first time. Qin Huaiqiu was riding on his horse. His eyes were blood - red. He looked at the majestic Kunlun Mountains in the distance and then glanced back at the vast Gobi Desert. The firm determination in his eyes was like a sharp arrow, piercing into the hearts of every soldier.
"Warriors..." Qin Huaiqiu said with tears in his eyes, his voice low and firm. "The people of Loulan massacred Gengnan City and killed all of Qian Shou and General Feng's subordinates! I, Qin Huaiqiu, swear here - I will never coexist with Loulan! I will surely make them pay in blood!!!"
What Qin Huaiqiu didn't know was that when he rushed to Gengnan City at the fastest speed, an unexpected outcome occurred - he met Qin Feng's troops retreating from Gengnan City, but he didn't see Qin Feng.
Qin Huaiqiu's eyes widened. In an instant, his heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar. He numbly dismounted his horse, grabbed the leading soldier, and asked in an extremely cold tone, "Where's my father!?"
"R - Report to General Qin... General Qin Feng, he..."
"What happened to my father? Speak!" Qin Huaiqiu almost roared.
The young soldier was so frightened by Qin Huaiqiu's roar that he fell to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Spare my life, Young General! At first, our battle went smoothly. We had broken through the city gate by noon. But those Loulan barbarians played dirty tricks. Somehow, they sent a letter to General Qin Feng. After reading the letter, the general directly led his troops towards their main camp. But unfortunately, he walked into an enemy ambush on the way. The Loulan people captured General Qin Feng alive and threatened us to retreat with his life. Then they left Gengnan City with General Qin Feng and headed north along the Kunlun Mountains!"
Qin Huaiqiu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"What your subordinate said is absolutely true!" The young soldier was so scared that he knelt down and kowtowed. "Your subordinate doesn't dare to deceive the Young General. Before leaving, those Loulan barbarians left a letter for us to give to you."
After saying that, the young soldier tremblingly took out the somewhat crumpled letter from his bosom.
Qin Huaiqiu stared fixedly at the letter for a long time, then snatched it from the young soldier's hand. His hands were trembling, and he gasped for breath. His fingertips quivered. He tried several times to open it but failed. Finally, he gritted his teeth and tore open the envelope, revealing a thin piece of paper inside.
The paper was thin and light, but the handwriting on it was messy and eye - catching -
"Save me"
Qin Huaiqiu's breath caught in his throat!
At that moment, it seemed as if thousands of hands were tightly squeezing his lungs. The feeling of pain and struggle suddenly rose from his limbs, gradually climbed up his body, and got stuck in his throat, making it hard for him to breathe.
That was -
Lian'er's handwriting!!!
No wonder his father had rushed head - on into the enemy's main camp without hesitation. No wonder a battle - hardened general had easily fallen into the trap of the Loulan barbarians.
Even the coldest wolf would protect its cubs. Even the most invincible warrior had a soft spot in his heart. The letter Qin Feng had received might also be a distress letter written by Lian'er!
It was after recognizing Lian'er's handwriting that he had gone crazy and led his troops straight in.
Qin Huaiqiu suddenly felt his legs go weak. He staggered and almost fell. He grabbed the reins of his horse tightly, forcing his body to stay stable. Then he took several deep breaths before the inexplicable oppression and suffocation in his throat eased a little.
Qin Huaiqiu's younger sister and father had both fallen into the hands of the Loulan people.
They were all his blood relatives in the world.
One could only imagine the torment in his heart.
"After they retreated along the Kunlun Mountains, did you send someone to follow them and find out where they were going?" Qin Huaiqiu asked after taking a long time to regain his voice.
"Yes, the first group of scouts has returned. According to them, it seems that the enemy is going straight north along the Kunlun Mountains and entering Zhucheng, which is currently under their control."
Zhucheng was the largest city near the border within the jurisdiction of the Protector - General's Office. It was also one of the main supply points and occupied cities of the Loulan people after they invaded the Central Plains.
Qin Huaiqiu held the thin piece of paper tightly in his hands. Lian'er, whom he had been longing for, had actually written these words in the Loulan's lair.
Was she still safe now?
Or had she already escaped?
Qin Huaiqiu didn't even dare to think about it.
He would rather believe what Nie Rong had said before, that Lian'er was their only bargaining chip to threaten the Protector - General's Office, so they wouldn't harm her life.
But no matter how much he tried to comfort himself, after seeing the extremely scrawled words "Save me" written by Qin Huailian, he couldn't help but let his mind wander.
Lian'er, Lian'er... You must be okay!
"What's the current situation in Gengnan City?" Qin Huaiqiu asked with one hand covering his mouth, somewhat difficultly.
The young soldier reported, "Report to the Young General. Your subordinate has sent someone to investigate the city. There are hardly any signs of Loulan people's activities. There is also news that they seemed to start retreating after capturing General Qin Feng."
"Which means their target from the very beginning was my father!" Qin Huaiqiu gritted his teeth. His hands formed fists, and his bones creaked.
... The Loulan people had killed so many people, gone to so much trouble, and even traveled thousands of miles a day to attack this small city deep in the Kunlun Mountains - and after winning, they "generously" gave up this strategic gap leading to Sichuan so easily.
Although they would give up this gap sooner or later - after all, if the Loulan army chose to enter Sichuan, Yunnan and other places through this gap, there would be a perfect gap in their rear, which would put the Loulan army in a pincer - like situation. The Loulan people understood this, but... they seemed to "retreat" a bit too quickly.
What were they up to?
Qin Huaiqiu rubbed his chin, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
Why was the target Qin Feng! Why?