They felt it.
Energy surged from their cores, spreading through every vein, tissue, and organ. Expanding, strengthening, and enhancing every fiber. It was a transformation on a fundamental, biological level.
Their muscles bulged, straightened, and compressed—pulsing with newfound power. Strength coursing through their bones and sinew.
'I could wrestle a bear into submission… with one arm', Liang Wude thought, flexing experimentally.
'I should be able to stop and flip a charging horse with this strength, shouldn't I?' Zhao Kun mused, clenching and unclenching his fists.
'Lifting those siege boulders and dropping them with precision? Definitely possible', Bai Xian considered, feeling the raw force under his skin.
'Each swing of my glaive should easily be able to unhorse—or even kill—two, maybe three enemies at once... I should try a heavier glaive, that should be even more devastating', Feng Luo thought, eyes gleaming.
Similar realizations rippled through their deputies' minds as well. Then, as if on an unspoken signal, they all dropped to one knee.
"We thank the Commander for his great favor! Our lives are yours to command. Should you say go east, we would never go west!"
Qin Feng smiled. By having them take the Great Bear pills in this manner, he had confirmed their loyalty. And with the wonderful effects of the pills, he had elevated it to a new height.
"Rise," he said. "Tonight, we feast with our men. It may be the last feast some of our brothers ever have, so let's make it a grand one. Open my private store—I have filled it with high-quality grains and fine meats. Fill yourselves tonight."
"For tomorrow, the enemy begins its march towards our fortress."
---
That night, fires burned across the fortress courtyards. Cauldrons steamed as soldiers ate in tight clusters by unit and rank. Meat passed hand to hand; bowls were filled again and again. Laughter rose and fell, rough and fleeting. Officers moved among the men, speaking softly, exchanging cups without overfilling them. Above, banners hung still in the night wind.
Everyone ate. No one lingered.
They all knew the days ahead would determine whether this was their last feast.
---
Three days later
The day had arrived. Over 300,000 soldiers of the Northern Khaganate could be seen setting up camp about ten kilometers from the north gate of Beiguan Fortress.
On the wall, Qin Feng stood with his generals, eyes fixed on the enemy camp.
"They're finally here," he said.
"Your intel is spot-on, Commander—about 350,000," Liang Wude replied, staring into the distance.
"350,000. Overwhelming compared to our mere forty thousand," Feng Luo added.
Zhao Kun glanced at Bai Xian. "These fur cloaks look hungry, General Bai. Think your walls can hold them?"
Bai Xian scoffed. "You should worry more about guarding your own pass. They'll learn quickly that there are thousands of ways to die on these walls."
Beiguan Fortress guarded the primary northern pass—the most strategic entry point for the Northern Khaganate into the Sheng Empire. Secondary passes existed but were unsuitable for moving a massive army, making Beiguan their key target.
Yet the Khaganate valued speed, mobility, and minimizing losses. Open-field engagements, raiding weak points, or bypassing obstacles were their preference. They would only risk long sieges if strategically essential, in most cases, they'd pin down the fortress and send smaller forces through the secondary passes.
So, the Northern Frontier army had to not only defend the fortress—which guards the most essential pass—but the secondary passes also.
"General Zhao, General Liang," Qin Feng called.
"Here!" they echoed, hands clasped and bowing, ready for orders.
"Depart for the secondary passes as planned. I entrust the safety of our countrymen to you. Walls of steel, waves of blades—Block their charge and shred them to pieces!"
"As you command!" They respond, immediately setting off, each commanding 5,000 troops—3,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry.
"Feng Luo," Qin Feng called next.
"Here!"
"Depart with your forces through the west gate, as planned."
"As you command!" 8,000 cavalrymen set out, camping westward, hidden from enemy eyes, awaiting orders.
Now, only Qin Feng, Bai Xian, and 22,000 infantry remained to defend Beiguan Fortress.
"General Bai," Qin Feng asked, "are you confident?"
Bai Xian surveyed the walls—lined with giant crossbows, defensive traction trebuchets, rotating tower ballistae, archers with peerless bows, pots of boiling oil, piles of boulders ready to be dropped, concealed murder holes, and countless other deadly surprises.
"Absolutely," he replied.
--
Night — Northern Khaganate Main Camp
"Still no news from the scouts?" a general shouted, frustrated.
"Almost all scouts were lost, General. However, a few returned with reports," his deputy replied.
"Really?" The general's eyes lit with hope. "Give me their report!"
"Yes, General!"
"The enemy has split into three forces. The main force remains at the fortress, while two contingents of 5,000 each guard the secondary passes. Even with their limited numbers, they aim to block every route into their empire."
The general cackled, then broke into full laughter.
"What a laughable and futile resistance." He pulled on his cloak and strode toward the command tent in high spirits. "I must report this to the Commander immediately."
---
AN: I almost made a huge blunder here. Cos I was thinking of just a tower defense scenerio. Then while playing the battles in my head and trying to come up with possible response of the invaders, I asked myself, "why should we keep attacking an impregnable fortress? It's not like the fortress is a rich city with lots of lots to plunder". Then, I literally hit my head in exasperation. The Northern invaders are not trying to "conquer the world" or anything like that, their aim is simply to loot resources. I then did some research and properly realigned the mental geography and made lots of adjustments.
Well, it was a rather educative experience for me. Frontier fortresses are usually built in the most strategic route that invaders can use. But, usually (except in few places where natural barriers don't allow it) there are secondary (narrower) and even tertiary routes (which spies and the likes usually use, but can't be used by armies).
Anyways, that's all for this chapter. If you enjoyed it, please read on, leave a comment, add it to your collection, and drop some power stones.
I also welcome discussions—whether it's strategy, historical nuance, or corrections. Feedback from Chinese readers is especially appreciated, so I can fix any mistakes or oversights early on, particularly in later chapters where court intrigue becomes more prominent.
Thank you.