Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1011: Chapter 365: Hongguan, Town Chief’s Ultimatum, Reinforcements and the Nine Towns’ Discord, Eye to Eye

The terrain of the North Bank of the Heng River gradually rises from west to east. However, due to the long stretch, over two hundred kilometers, the rise is incredibly gradual and hard to notice without careful observation.

But, by simply observing the direction of the Heng River’s flow, one can generally discern this. Because the terrain rises from west to east, the river flows from east to west.

Walking east along the north bank, when reaching the eastern exit, the southern mountain wall of Twin Dragon Mountain is only over two hundred meters high, indicating that the elevation here is not much different from the Twin Dragon Mountain area.

The overall flow of the Heng River is indeed from east to west, but for some unknown reason, the middle segment suddenly diverts to flow northwest for roughly fifty kilometers before returning to its normal flow due to the terrain of Twin Dragon Mountain.

Whenever a river changes course, it inevitably impacts the surrounding terrain, especially a wide river like the Heng River, which spans five to six kilometers in width.

In the eastern section of the North Bank, the river’s sediment has made the area exceedingly narrow. Near Jinbi Village, the width remains five to six kilometers, and around Dragon River Village, it’s about four kilometers, but near the eastern exit, it narrows to less than two kilometers.

The vegetation in the Ice Abyss is mostly exceedingly robust. The two-kilometer width, coupled with the cold from the Heng River attacking from the south, makes it so that barely a few large trees can grow, and the temperature is extremely low, unsuitable for human habitation.

However, moving east from this opening, away from the Heng River basin and reaching the borders of the Nine Towns, the circumstances differ entirely.

The eastern exit of the North Bank is exceedingly narrow, and the cold from the Heng River attacks it, causing the entire pass to freeze year-round with icicles hanging everywhere like the beak of a cold beast named the Vermilion Bird, hence the name Hongguan (Hong Pass).

Knowing it’s named after a pass suggests that Jiangxia Town had long seen its strategic importance, making its significance hard to ignore.

The entire Hongguan Pass is coated with thick ice. Not only large trees but even a single plant cannot be found.

Moao Calendar, 131st year, October 18th

In the nighttime, over a thousand armored soldiers, lined up from south to north, stood five steps apart with sentinels every ten steps, almost filling the less than two-kilometer pass entirely. A careful look would reveal a few figures patrolling the top of the northern mountain wall.

These soldiers appeared highly vigilant. Any slight disturbance would immediately catch their attention, prompting them to send someone to investigate. Confirming safety, they would return to their post to stand guard.

Suddenly, several figures rushed from the west towards the pass, instantly catching the attention of numerous Red Armor soldiers.

”Who goes there!”

”Stay alert, someone’s coming.”

”Halt where you are!”

......

”I am Xiahou Qin, make way quickly, I have an urgent military report!”

Hearing the panicked voice, more than ten Green Armor officers rushed from the back of the pass. Seeing Xiahou Qin’s group of five covered in wounds and in disarray, their expressions changed drastically.

”Lord Xiahou, what happened?”

”Has something occurred at Jinbi Village?”

”Isn’t there still a garrison at the Dragon River?”

.........

”Both Jinbi and Dragon River have fallen. I must go to Hongguan Camp to report to the Deputy Army Chief. Continue to hold this position, more people should be escaping soon, verify those who arrive.”

”Yes, my lord!”

”Understood, my lord. Proceed to the camp quickly.”

”We’ll definitely guard the pass!”

In Jiangxia Town, Xiahou Qin evidently had some status. Once he spoke, the officers nodded in agreement, then gestured for him to hurry to the camp.

He nodded and quickly led his four companions towards the east.

Two kilometers east of the pass, there was a village. Although there were many lights in the village, few people were moving around, but plenty of soldiers were patrolling the village. A dark flag on the main building towered in the breeze, the gold characters ”Jiangxia” on the flag were particularly prominent under the firelight.

Xiahou Qin, after being screened by the soldiers, headed straight for the main building upon entering the village.

”Xiahou Qin, why did you return from Jinbi Village?”

”Has it fallen?”

”Isn’t there still Dragon River?”

”What’s happened?”

.........

More than a dozen people were seated in the main hall of the main building. Seeing the disheveled Xiahou Qin, they were evidently surprised but quickly realized something, their expressions changed drastically, and a few stood up to inquire about the situation.

”Inspectorate Dean Xiahou Qin, greets Deputy Army Chief!”

Xiahou Qin, too pressed for time to greet everyone, bowed directly to the middle-aged man in a green brocade robe seated at the head of the hall.

The middle-aged man in green showed a hint of surprise seeing Xiahou Qin but swiftly motioned him to rise, then asked gravely, ”Have Jinbi and Dragon River both fallen?”

”Both places have fallen, I am guilty!”

Xiahou Qin straightforwardly knelt to confess his guilt, then recounted the entire process of Jinbi Village’s fall. His knowledge about Dragon River was sparse; he provided only a rough explanation.

”After Jinbi Village’s fall, I led over three hundred Cold Resistance Level soldiers out of the encirclement towards the Dragon River, unaware it had already been overtaken by the four chief monks of Dajue Temple, leading over five thousand Zen Temple Bhikkhus. They were cleverly disguised, and in our chaotic retreat, we entered the village without proper reconnaissance, resulting in an ambush, with heavy casualties. Less than one in ten of us managed to escape, I am guilty, I deserve death!”