Chapter 987: Northern Frontier Pressure Resists the Northern City

Xu Fengnian suddenly stood up and let out a soft whistle. His warhorse, drinking by the river, galloped towards him. After mounting, Xu Fengnian gripped the reins with one hand, made a fist with the other, hit his shoulder hard, and grinned.

Far to the south, an old man walked ceaselessly, tears streaming down his face, whispering inaudibly.

"What are your thoughts at this moment?"

The old man finally stopped, looking around. His view was dominated by the vast desert and its yellow sands. Li Yishan, the strategist of Tide-Listening Tower, had no burial place after his death; his ashes were scattered beyond the pass.

The old man laughed freely, "Yishan! Before and after death, I am inferior to you."

At the south gate of Jubel City, Xu Fengnian abruptly stopped his horse and turned his head. The faint anomaly, acutely perceived by his superhuman physique, was fleeting, instantly returning to calm, leaving no trace.

It was like an autumn leaf falling into a pond, creating almost no ripples, quiet and serene.

Earlier, in an unnamed corridor in Liuzhou, Liuzhou's infantry formation confronted and halted fifty thousand Northern Mang cavalry from the Southern Dynasty border!

General Shifu of Liangzhou, as stated in the military document previously submitted to the Prince of Jubel City, did not lead his six thousand elite Qingyuan garrison cavalry to swiftly reinforce the corridor battlefield. Instead, he established a foothold in the plains south of the corridor, patiently awaiting Huang Songpu's main force's hurried retreat north. Concurrently, he needed to block Southern Dynasty border cavalry reinforcements from moving south to link up with Huang Songpu's remnants. This Liangzhou general only symbolically dispatched a scout unit to the corridor for reconnaissance. Shifu stopped his horse, looking south, his back always to the destined gory battlefield, where corpses would pile high. His face was calm, revealing a heart of stone.

At the southernmost battlefield of Old Woman Mountain, the third charge saw the heaviest casualties for both Liang and Mang forces. Kou Jianghuai deployed the cavalry unit belonging to the Liuzhou Governor's Residence, while Huang Songpu also used over six hundred genuine heavy cavalry. Both men and horses were fully armored. Each exceptionally tall and robust Northern Mang warhorse was equipped with a face curtain, chicken-neck armor, chest plate, body armor, rear cover, and parasitic armor, collectively known as "Iron Cavalry Six-Layered Armor," making them difficult to pierce with spears and arrows. Qi Fu Longguan, a young general temporarily commanding Liuzhou's cavalry under General Kou Jianghuai, once again led the remaining cavalry of the "Direct Charge Battalion" directly towards the six hundred heavy cavalry. However, during Qi Fu Longguan's desperate, vanguard charge, Xu Longxiang personally led three hundred Dragon Elephant elite cavalry. They gradually caught up with the Direct Charge Battalion's iron hooves on the battlefield, eventually riding abreast, and together, they broke the enemy formation!

After three charges, Liuzhou's cavalry was almost wiped out, and the Dragon Elephant Army was also severely depleted.

In contrast, while Huang Songpu's elite cavalry also suffered heavy losses, the most numerous "Yi-character" cavalry miraculously maintained a very high degree of integrity in their formation, numbering as many as thirty thousand. According to the situation on Old Woman Mountain battlefield, Huang Songpu, the commander, was confident he could annihilate Liuzhou's main field force even without the fifty thousand garrison reinforcements arriving.

But at this moment, a powerful cavalry force entered their sight in the plains east of Old Woman Mountain! That scene was like the sun rising over the East Sea!

This elite cavalry, arriving without warning to reinforce Old Woman Mountain, formed a single line, like a great tide along the Guangling River, surging rapidly from east to west.

This sudden appearance of cavalry was undoubtedly the most easily identifiable border cavalry unit of the Northern Liang army, apart from the Dayang Cavalry. Each helmet was adorned with a snow-white eagle feather, fluttering in the wind. From both sides of every saddle, arrows protruded from their quivers, looking like two clusters of snow-white reeds!

The iron cavalry advanced, like heavy snow swirling between heaven and earth.

Huang Songpu, the Northern Mang commander, whose iron armor was bloodied and who had already replaced two iron spears, his face covered in blood, turned to look east, his eyes wide with fury.

On the Old Woman Mountain battlefield, after three fierce, all-out charges from both sides, the Northern Mang cavalry now occupied the original position of the Liuzhou cavalry. This was initially the calculation of Huang Songpu, once the foremost figure of the Southern Dynasty in Northern Mang. He aimed to form a natural defense line, preventing Liuzhou cavalry from retreating south to Qingcang City, by positioning his forces in the southern part of the battlefield when Liuzhou's main field force was severely depleted and its morale at rock bottom. While the veteran commander's calculations proved successful, Kou Jianghuai's plans were also realized. The young Liuzhou commander had no intention of withdrawing from Old Woman Mountain; he clearly intended to counter-encircle the Northern Mang army!

Without hesitation, Huang Songpu ordered his entire army to break through and push north with all their might. Even if they encountered ambushes during their retreat, they were strictly forbidden from lingering in combat; they were to only move north! As long as they linked up with the reinforcements expected to arrive at the northern battlefield of Old Woman Mountain, the advantage would still lie with Northern Mang!

Qi Fu Longguan, Xu Longxiang, and Li Mofan, the three generals who had fought side by side on Old Woman Mountain until this point, without needing to communicate, tacitly and quickly shifted their formation from a three-pronged "goose-wing" wedge array (left, center, right) to a horizontal "single-line long snake" formation. They stretched out a long front line as much as possible. The tide had turned; it was now Liuzhou's border army's turn to charge with its front, middle, and rear forces. Li Mofan's Dragon Elephant cavalry was in the first two rows, Xu Longxiang led his troops in the center, and Qi Fu Longguan's remaining Liuzhou cavalry was at the rear. Their goal was no longer to break formations and kill enemies, but merely to impede the escaping hooves of Huang Songpu's main cavalry force as much as possible!

Yuan Nanting's White Feather Light Cavalry, after unleashing three waves of overwhelming arrow rain on the flank of Northern Mang's main army, seized the opportunity. Six thousand cavalry, with rainbow-like momentum, synchronously drew their sabers and swiftly charged the formation!

It was as if a blade had sliced through the Northern Mang cavalry formation's waist, perfectly severing Huang Songpu's direct lineage cavalry, Wanyan's private cavalry, and the thirty thousand "Yi-character" cavalry!

The remaining main force of the White Feather Light Cavalry began to arc north, not engaging in a chaotic melee with the Northern Mang army. Instead, leveraging the advantage of their extremely light equipment, their cavalry formation, which had been charging from east to west, quickly arced into an arrow-like shape pointing north.

If someone had just ascended Old Woman Mountain to overlook the battlefield, they would likely have mistakenly thought this brightly armored light cavalry was an ally of the prairie cavalry, moving north together, one on each flank.

In despair, numerous Northern Mang chiliarchs and centurions repeatedly led their remnants, fearlessly charging towards the White Feather Light Cavalry's right flank.

Unfortunately, that heroic scene ended like pebbles striking a river, completely failing to disrupt the White Feather Light Cavalry's stride.

The White Feather Light Cavalry, skilled in horsemanship and full of stamina, easily shifted slightly to the right after enduring waves of oblique charges from Northern Mang cavalry. The leftmost cavalry formation, which had been generally moving straight ahead, developed pockets of indentations, like traps, allowing Northern Mang death-squad cavalry to charge into them. What awaited these prairie barbarians was not the close-quarters combat of Northern Liang sabers, but highly skilled waves of mounted archery. Two hundred or three hundred Southern Dynasty cavalry were thus shot from their horses, like swathes of rice being harvested, without any of the brutal impacts of formation clashes, nor the bloody, fitting deaths of mounted combat. Facing the precise arrows of the White Feather Light Cavalry, which pierced skulls, necks, and chests, Northern Mang cavalrymen could only experience a helpless, unclosed-eyed death, sometimes even continuing to charge for a dozen paces before falling from their mounts.

In the northernmost area of the Old Woman Mountain battlefield, only rising dust could be faintly seen.

It was Ning Emei's four thousand Iron Pagodas, strategically positioned between the two battlefields!

Atop Old Woman Mountain, Kou Jianghuai calmly stated, "The overall situation is settled. Huang Songpu is finished."

Chen Xiliang, too, had a full view of the battle's progression. A faint smile appeared on his pale face as he turned and said in a hoarse voice, "General Kou truly deserves the phrase 'uses troops like a god'."

Kou Jianghuai looked east and said, "My fear is losing the big picture for a small gain."

Chen Xiliang asked, puzzled, "After the battle at Old Woman Mountain, what's wrong with moving the army east to reinforce Jubel City?"

Kou Jianghuai shook his head, "Who said we're going to Jubel City?"

Chen Xiliang was dumbfounded.

At the foot of Old Woman Mountain, Li Hanlin gathered the White Horse Rangers, preparing to re-enter the battlefield.

Lou Huang, the secret attendant from Wudi City, dispatched by the young prince to protect the White Horse Captain, was about to mount his horse and follow. But Li Hanlin said with a resolute expression, "Lou Huang, go straight to Jubel City! A grand martial arts master of your stature, eating sand behind my ass, is utterly boring!"

Lou Huang seemed unfazed. Sitting on his horse, he looked at the mostly young faces, then smiled and nodded at Li Hanlin, jesting, "Boy, don't be too greedy for glory and rush to your death, or else your Northern Liang King won't forgive me."

Li Hanlin grinned, "Tell Brother Nian for me: about that promise we made as kids, to pee together on the Northern Mang's Xijuan Hall—I've got his share covered!"

Lou Huang rolled his eyes and reminded, "Then remember to drink plenty of water beforehand."

Li Hanlin laughed loudly, "Even horse piss will do!"

Before riding off, Lou Huang gave a thumbs-up, "I'm impressed!"

The battle of the corridor: six charges, six repulses!

The entire fifty thousand Northern Mang Southern Dynasty border garrison cavalry had been driven to utter madness. After six consecutive charges, only over twenty thousand remained!

Even knowing they were likely powerless to reinforce the Old Woman Mountain battlefield, and even destined to face severe punishment from the enraged Emperor, these bloodthirsty prairie cavalry still launched their seventh assault without hesitation.

If Cao Wei had led his nine thousand elite cavalry into the battlefield from the northern entrance of the corridor even a mere incense stick's worth of time later, the Lantuo Mountain monk soldiers and three thousand Liuzhou soldiers would have been completely annihilated, literally with not a single man remaining!

When Cao Wei personally led eight hundred death-squad soldiers to breach the Northern Mang formation, carving a path until they reached the circular infantry formation of only two hundred remaining men, there was nothing but corpses all along the way.

All along the path lay shattered iron shields, broken spears, snapped mo-daggers, and discarded composite bows and powerful crossbows, scattered everywhere.

That so-called makeshift circular formation was merely a group of severely wounded Lantuo Mountain monk soldiers and Liuzhou militiamen, resigned to their fate. The true resistance against the charging Northern Mang barbarian cavalry was a slender man, armored and covered in blood.

It was Yu Xinlang, Wang Xianzhi's eldest disciple from Wudi City, a Central Plains Grandmaster!

He wielded a horse-severing mo-dagger, with a Liangdao saber hanging from each side of his waist. The Northern Mang cavalry who had fallen to his blades already numbered no less than nine hundred!

Yu Xinlang had previously promised the young prince personally to ensure Xie Xichui's survival!

He could have forcibly taken Xie Xichui out of the corridor, withdrawing from the blood-soaked battlefield.

But after Xie Xichui had personally fought, covered in blood, and repelled the Northern Mang cavalry for the fifth time, he resolutely shook his head at Yu Xinlang.

Yu Xinlang merely smiled, not forcing the issue. Instead, he retrieved a long spear and a mo-dagger from the battlefield.

The two fought side by side.

Until Xie Xichui was severely wounded, the fallen Liuzhou deputy general was grabbed by the shoulder by a middle-aged monk responsible for his safety, pulled from under the hooves of the Northern Mang cavalry, and then forcefully thrown backward. The monk himself, already exhausted and at his limit, was then swarmed by dozens of cavalry and died on the spot.

Cao Wei's cavalry unit, charging furiously from the rear, became the final straw. After barely resisting Cao Wei's vanguard cavalry charge, the Northern Mang border cavalry quickly disintegrated.

These Xing Dynasty garrison cavalrymen were certainly not afraid to fight or die, otherwise there wouldn't have been seven suicidal charges. However, Cao Wei's cavalry appeared so illogically, so abruptly, and so fiercely, especially within the narrow corridor. Nine thousand cavalry launched an incessant assault, as if only the endless figures of Northern Liang iron cavalry filled their vision. The Northern Mang cavalry collapsed like a mountain. After a chiliarch led his direct lineage of seven hundred cavalry in a final charge against Yu Xinlang and the dilapidated circular formation that was clearly on the verge of collapse yet refused to fall, all Southern Dynasty border cavalry spontaneously bypassed the unfamiliar martial arts grandmaster who alone held the pass against ten thousand, quickly skirted the circular formation, and decisively fled south from both sides.

Cao Wei leapt from his horse, stumbled, and almost fell. He staggered into the circular formation and finally saw the young general, sitting cross-legged, propped up by his saber. His helmet was long gone, his iron armor shattered, and blood obscured his once refined face.

A young Liuzhou militiaman, now with only one arm, had to gently prop up the general's back with his elbow.

Cao Wei knelt on one knee, tremblingly extended his hand, and gently wiped the blood from the young general's face.

The young general had actually long since lost consciousness, merely holding on with a final breath, unwilling to collapse.

Yu Xinlang furiously hurled the mo-dagger, cleaving a Northern Mang cavalry chiliarch, along with his horse and another person, in half as they galloped south.

He approached Cao Wei and Xie Xichui, squatted down, and took Xie Xichui's wrist. "External injuries aside, his internal organs are damaged. Only with extreme luck will he have a slim chance of survival."

Without a word, Cao Wei turned and punched Yu Xinlang in the chest, his eyes red with fury. He shouted, "Xu Fengnian wanted you by Xie Xichui's side just for this damn 'slim chance of survival'!"

Yu Xinlang remained silent, only continuing to lower his head and infuse a gentle vital energy into Xie Xichui.

Xie Xichui refused to leave. For some reason, Yu Xinlang, who had never been on a battlefield, also felt he shouldn't leave, so neither of them moved.

Xie Xichui felt he ought to die in battle there. Yu Xinlang felt that dying in the yellow sands beyond the Liuzhou Pass wouldn't be too bad either.

However, after repeatedly saving the precarious life of the Liuzhou deputy general, the latter angrily exclaimed, "Yu Xinlang! Every time you save me, you kill three or four fewer men! Do I need to teach you how to do the math?"

After punching Yu Xinlang, Cao Wei didn't immediately withdraw his arm. Instead, he uncurled his fist, slapped the Central Plains Grandmaster heavily on the shoulder, and choked out, "Thank you!"

Yu Xinlang still didn't look up, only asking, "After Xie Xichui's condition stabilizes, can I entrust him to you to be sent to Qingcang in Liuzhou? I want to go to Jubel City."

Cao Wei nodded, saying nothing.

A long while later, Yu Xinlang released his grip, slowly stood up, and placed both hands on the hilts of the Liangdao sabers at his waist. He then asked, "If I temporarily borrow two sabers, would that be against your Northern Liang military regulations?"

Cao Wei took a deep breath, shook his head, and chuckled, "From now on, you, Yu Xinlang, are a Cavalry Commandant under my command, General Cao! How's that? The battle of the corridor was won by your genuine military achievements! Forget two Liangdao sabers, you can hang yourself full of them, no problem!"

Yu Xinlang merely smiled. Joining the Northern Liang border army to become a cavalry general under Cao Wei was naturally impossible for Wang Xianzhi's foremost disciple, who was wholly dedicated to reaching the pinnacle of martial arts. However, Yu Xinlang found it inconvenient to refuse such kindness at the moment. He lowered his head, gazed at Xie Xichui, whom he had pulled back from the brink of death, then walked a few steps away. With a mere tip of his toes, his body instantly shot upwards.

He sped directly towards Jubel City!

On the day the young Prince of Jubel City and three Grandmasters of Southern Frontier martial arts entered the city one after another.

The great victory at Old Woman Mountain in Liuzhou, the news swiftly reached Jubel City!

The whole city buzzed with excitement.

However, barely an hour later, another urgent intelligence report arrived at the Prince's residence: the Northern Mang army, with four hundred thousand cavalry, would lay siege to Jubel City in no more than three days!

After the master swordsman Mao Shulang entered Jubel City, he requested to go up the city wall. With the Prince's residence's permission, the burly old man began to stroll alone along the rampart, stopping and starting, quiet and reserved.

Cheng Baishuang, the old scholar in green robes, rapidly broke through to the Grand Celestial Phenomenon realm at Little Lotus Peak on Wudang Mountain. After accompanying his friend Ji Liuan into the Prince's residence, he remained in the protocol room, discussing scholarly matters with Wang Jijiu, a literary grandmaster renowned throughout the court and commoners.

Only Ji Liuan, the chief guest elder of the Southern Frontier Dragon Palace, came to the Second Hall study to visit the young Prince, whose name was known throughout the Central Plains.

Xu Fengnian did not deliberately descend the steps to greet him, nor did he put on an air of welcoming humble scholars. He simply stood at the study door, smiling.

After leading Ji Liuan into the study, Xu Fengnian personally offered him a cup of "tribute tea" from the Northern Liang border army. Ji Liuan took the tea, sat down, and directly asked, "Your Highness, if I am willing to go out and fight, will there be a place for me?"

Xu Fengnian also asked straightforwardly, "Is this a mere formality to gain fame in the Central Plains, or are you truly prepared to fight to the bitter end?"

Ji Liuan gently twisted the lid of his teacup, rubbing the rim, then looked up and asked in return, "What's the difference?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "For the former, it's simple. Master Ji wouldn't even need to truly step onto the battlefield. I would arrange for the Fushui and Yangying bureaus to spread news, promoting and building momentum for Master Ji."

Ji Liuan chuckled, "And if I choose the latter?"

Xu Fengnian calmly replied, "Then, Master Ji, you might first need to make your final arrangements with your two old friends from the Southern Frontier. Because Northern Mang's four hundred thousand-strong army will besiege Jubel City within three days. You will have no opportunity to fight outside the pass with the Northern Liang cavalry; there will only be an extremely arduous siege. To be frank, even I am not confident that we can definitely hold Jubel City."

Ji Liuan, sitting in the chair opposite the desk, remained silent, his cup of tea untouched.

Ji Liuan drained his cup of tea in one gulp, gently placed it on the desk, then laid his sword across his lap and laughed openly, "If I hadn't come to Northern Liang with Cheng Baishuang this time, I wouldn't care about the outcome of the Liang-Mang war. But since I am here, I might as well seize this opportunity for a common man's rage!"

Xu Fengnian said softly, "Decades of hard work refining your martial arts, a Grandmaster's cultivation — how truly difficult."

Ji Liuan suddenly laughed indignantly, "Speaking of martial arts realms, Your Highness, are you implying that I, Ji Liuan, have wasted decades of my life like a dog?"

Xu Fengnian paused, then quickly waved his hand, smiling, "Master Ji, it's better to keep certain insights to yourself."

Ji Liuan glared angrily.

Just then, Ji Liuan quickly turned his head and was astonished to see a young girl hanging upside down outside the window.

She pointed towards Xu Fengnian, indicating the courtyard entrance.

Xu Fengnian said softly, "I know. Don't worry."

Soon after, Deng Tai'a, the Peach Blossom Sword God, with two swords at his waist, slowly walked into the study.

Ji Liuan stood up and nodded in greeting to Deng Tai'a.

The world of swordsmen had always produced exceptional talents, but after the passing of the previous Sword God, Li Chungang, only this individual standing before him could truly be acclaimed as the most outstanding.

Since Ji Liuan wielded a sword, regardless of whether his temperament was conceited or arrogant, or his status in the martial world high or low, he should show respect to this unassuming middle-aged swordsman.

After calmly returning the greeting, Deng Tai'a turned directly to the young prince and asked, "I won't drink tea. Just tell me when the battle with Northern Mang begins and where you need me to appear."

Xu Fengnian said in a startling manner, "I might trouble you to act twice. The first time will be very soon, within the next few days. The second time, perhaps only you and I will be involved, and the battlefield will be further away."

Deng Tai'a replied with an unruffled tone, "Bringing two swords will be enough."

After saying this, Deng Tai'a turned and left. Ji Liuan also bid farewell to Xu Fengnian and followed the Peach Blossom Sword God, intending to ask about some sword dao perplexities.

There is a hierarchy in understanding the Tao, and specialization in skills.

Deng Tai'a, in both sword dao and swordsmanship, could now be considered unparalleled among the world's swordsmen.

Most importantly, although Ji Liuan's cultivation was only at the Zhi Xuan realm, he possessed three hidden sword techniques never before revealed, believing their power could kill a Celestial Phenomenon realm expert. And Deng Tai'a had always been recognized as the foremost master of Zhi Xuan realm attainments in the world, even surpassing the Human Cat Han Shengxuan! How could Ji Liuan not be itching to learn a thing or two?

On the same day, many other top figures from the martial world, such as Li Houzhong, the Saint of Spears, entered Jubel City. However, Xu Fengnian did not appear, even skipping polite greetings. Only upon hearing that a certain blind female zither player had entered the city did Xu Fengnian personally walk to the main gate of the Prince's residence. The two, who had once faced each other in life-or-death combat, walked together towards the council hall.

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, "Miss Xue, do you have something you want to convey for Susu or Old Master Lu?"

The blind woman, carrying a zither case, shook her head and said, "I will repay Susu's debt of guilt to Northern Liang."

Xu Fengnian stopped. "Then have you considered, if you were to die beyond the Liangzhou Pass, who would compensate for the lifelong regret Susu would carry?"

Xue Songguan, as always, spoke in a cool tone, "I only know that Susu is not living happily, and if I don't do what I can, I will never be happy in this life."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said gravely, "Xue Songguan, I advise you to return to Xishu, to Susu's side!"

Xue Songguan also shook her head, "I absolutely cannot let him continue to feel that 'Susu is useless'!"

Xu Fengnian blurted out, "Have you ever considered what Susu truly wants, and what he wants most?"

Xue Songguan turned her head, and though blind, she gently "looked" towards the young Prince.

Xu Fengnian was immediately speechless.

How were his own unspoken deeds any different from this seemingly irrational, stubborn woman?

Xu Fengnian exhaled heavily and said with a wry smile, "Then stay."

Xue Songguan nodded.

The two continued walking. Xu Fengnian suddenly said, "Right now, Subing must be wildly jealous."

Xue Songguan smiled knowingly, the corners of her mouth turning up, her face full of tenderness.

Xu Fengnian grumbled, "Miss Xue, that you could actually take a liking to a guy like Subing, it's truly..."

The young Prince didn't finish his sentence. Xue Songguan laughed, "Your Highness means I must be blind, doesn't he? But I am blind to begin with."

Xu Fengnian felt a bit awkward.

Xu Fengnian stopped as if struck by lightning, his body stiff.

Xue Songguan frowned. Without turning around, she sensed three surges of powerful vital energy behind her, one of which was so overwhelming it was suffocating.

A young man and a young woman, both covered in shocking amounts of blood.

A middle-aged man, wielding an iron spear, strode towards Xu Fengnian and Xue Songguan.

Xu Fengnian slowly turned, looking at the three individuals who should have been at Huaiyang Pass: Xu Yanbing, Wu Liuding—the current Sword Crown of the Wu Family Sword Mound—and his sword attendant Cuihua.

Xu Yanbing smiled faintly, "Don't worry, Huaiyang Pass, even its outer city, is still standing."

Xu Fengnian felt a sense of relief, but his expression remained grim.

Xu Yanbing explained, "It was Chu Lushan who wanted the three of us back in Jubel City. He said leaving the remaining eighty Wu family swordsmen cavalry was sufficient, and that we three just sitting around staring there was pointless, so it was better to return to Jubel City."

As Xu Fengnian was about to speak, Wu Liuding impatiently interjected, "You, surnamed Xu, aren't unaware of Fatty Chu's temperament. If he was determined to send us away, we probably wouldn't even get a bite to eat at Huaiyang Pass. Chu Lushan was actually right; for transmitting intelligence at critical moments, our eighty swordsmen cavalry from the Sword Mound are more than enough."

Xu Yanbing glared at the outspoken young Sword Crown, who then sullenly fell silent.

Xu Yanbing whispered, "Chu Lushan said that Northern Liang would surely achieve a great victory at Old Woman Mountain, and then the Liuzhou border army should proceed directly north to take Xijing. The Northern Mang central army would then have no choice but to accelerate their attack on Jubel City, in a gamble to see who could conquer the other's stronghold faster. Chu Lushan also said that as long as Jubel City could hold until the winter snow melted, his Huaiyang Pass could hold until the spring and summer of next year."

Xu Fengnian breathed a sigh of relief. "Since he said so, I have no further worries."

Xu Fengnian had someone lead Wu Liuding, Cuihua the sword attendant, and Xue Songguan to stay in the West Wing rooms of the Third Hall, while he himself went to the study with Xu Yanbing.

Upon entering the study, Xu Yanbing said gravely, "Chu Lushan's final words were for Your Highness to remember one thing: if you still wish for our Northern Liang border army to have the last laugh, then the Dayang Cavalry and the two heavy cavalry units must absolutely not be used in this battle!"

Xu Fengnian fell silent, a somber expression on his face.

In the end, what Chu Lushan truly meant was simply that he didn't want the last reserves of the Northern Liang Iron Cavalry to die on the way to reinforce Huaiyang Pass.

Bai Yu personally saw Qi Xianxia off out of the city. Mr. Bailian, not being skilled at riding, took a carriage, while Qi Xianxia rode alongside him on horseback.

The carriage stopped north of the ferry bridge on the river. Bai Yu alighted from the carriage, and Qi Xianxia walked his horse. Together, they walked to the middle of the wooden bridge.

Qi Xianxia couldn't help but ask, "Why did you come to Jubel City to serve as Liangzhou Governor instead of staying in Liangzhou?"

Bai Yu leaned his elbows on the bridge railing, cupping his chin, and gazed at the slowly flowing river. He calmly said, "On one hand, staying at the Liangzhou Governor's Residence would mean living under someone else's thumb, being constantly suppressed by Deputy Commissioner Song Dongming, who is stationed at Qingliang Mountain. Rather than engaging in a close-quarters struggle on a losing chessboard, getting both of us covered in mud and exposing our disgrace, it's better to switch to a different game. Of course, this reason is far-fetched, merely to convince myself, and even a political outsider like you might not believe it. In truth, my decision to follow the new King of Liang to Jubel City, besides hoping to become a more trusted confidant than Song Dongming, a minister following the dragon, also has a selfish motive."

Qi Xianxia frowned, "A selfish motive?"

Bai Yu turned slightly, his face full of smiles, and asked, "Do you know what 'scholar's pride' means?"

Qi Xianxia, already in a bad mood, snorted coldly and retorted irritably, "A rough man like me doesn't understand the aspirations of you scholars!"

Bai Yu blinked, "Do you genuinely not understand, or are you pretending not to?"

Qi Xianxia kept a straight face, saying nothing.

Bai Yu stopped pressing the issue and looked back at the river. He took a step back, flicked his sleeves at the wrists, straightened his robes, and stood solemnly.

"An era, a nation, perhaps ultimately needs certain individuals, at certain moments, to resolutely step forward, to stand in a certain position, and just stand there! Not retreating a single step!"

"Once you stand there, it becomes an undeniable duty, an unshirkable responsibility!"

"On the battlefield, Liu Jinu of Hutou City and Wei Jingtang of Hengshui City in Jizhou were like this. In the imperial court, Zhang Julu was even more so!"

"Now, it's the turn of the new King of Liang, Xu Fengnian!"

Bai Yu squinted, looking into the distance. "I don't care what Xu Fengnian's motives or original intentions were for ultimately choosing to stand there. In any case, I, Bai Yu, only look at results, not reasons! So, I too choose to stand here. As for right and wrong, achievements and failures, let future generations judge after I am gone."

Bai Yu burst into laughter. "I wouldn't like future generations to describe this soul-stirring war, nor would I like future scholars to pore over the records and find that, in the end, no scholar died here!"

Qi Xianxia sighed softly.

Bai Yu suddenly said with sadness, "I didn't feel much before, but now I increasingly find how detestable those condescending remarks and sneers directed at Northern Liang are, expressed in the idle chatter within the Central Plains' imperial court and government offices."

Qi Xianxia suddenly swung onto his horse and said gravely, "I'm leaving! If I listen any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave myself!"

Bai Yu laughed heartily, "Go on, go on, get back to your Central Plains!"

Qi Xianxia indeed squeezed his horse's flanks and rode away.

Bai Yu didn't watch Qi Xianxia ride away the whole time; he couldn't see clearly anyway, so he wouldn't waste his effort.

Bai Yu suddenly slapped the bridge railing with his hand and sang loudly, "The great wind rises! Glorious is my Northern Liang!"

Wang Linquan, jokingly called the "God of Wealth of Northern Liang" in the martial world, left the Wutong Courtyard on Qingliang Mountain with a smile after seeing his daughter, Wang Chudong.

However, when no one was around, Wang Linquan's smile faded. The old man, who had been the richest in Qingzhou and then the richest in Northern Liang, was left with a face full of exhaustion.

Xu Weixiong had privately told him something that, as Wang Chudong's father, he could not refuse, but as an old veteran of the Xu family, his conscience troubled him.

Zhao Yutai, formerly the sword attendant to Princess Wu Su, gently pushed a wheelchair and came with Xu Weixiong to the shore of Tide-Listening Lake. The woman, whose face was covered by armor concealing her appearance, seemed to want to speak but hesitated.

Xu Weixiong said softly, "Auntie, I won't go to Jubel City, and neither should you."

Zhao Yutai asked tremblingly, "Why?"

Xu Weixiong folded her hands on her knees, gazing at the famous Tide-Listening Lake, and calmly said, "If we go, it will only distract him. He'd have to secretly arrange escape routes for us behind our backs, and also force a smile every day in front of us. How tiring would that be?"

Zhao Yutai's hands trembled.

Xu Weixiong tilted her head, gently resting it on Zhao Yutai's hand. "Auntie, if that day ever comes, please help him take care of Wang Chudong. Find a peaceful paradise in the Central Plains, far from the flames of war, alright?"

Zhao Yutai nodded with difficulty.

In Wutong Courtyard, the young literary genius, renowned for her masterpiece "First Snow," was racking her brain. She had just promised to write a timeless work for someone, one no less impressive than "First Snow," depicting the war smoke of the northwest, the border conflicts, those who generously faced death, and those magnificent scenes.

To clear his name, to speak for Northern Liang, to ensure they would be celebrated for a hundred generations, and not allow future historians to arbitrarily smear their reputation.

The slightly thin and haggard Lu Chengyan sat beside her, stealing moments from her busy schedule to grind ink for the renowned Master Wang.

Wang Chudong suddenly looked up, a troubled expression on her face, and said, "Sister Lu, it's been so long since I wrote, I don't even know where to start."

Lu Chengyan smiled softly, "A good essay is naturally formed, a masterpiece attained by chance. Don't rush."

Wang Chudong hummed in acknowledgment and continued to ponder the opening lines with a worried expression.

Lu Chengyan slowly rose and ruffled Wang Chudong's hair. "Take your time."

Wang Chudong suddenly beamed, clenched her fist, and waved it vigorously. "Don't worry, my inspiration will flow like a spring; you won't be able to stop it!"

Lu Chengyan smiled faintly, "Then I'll definitely be the first to read it."

After Lu Chengyan left the room, Wang Chudong, who had always given everyone the impression of innocence and carefree joy, suddenly burst into uncontrollable tears, like a string of broken pearls.

A carriage passed through the Old Woman Mountain battlefield, where the scent of blood still lingered. A young general, his face ashen, struggled to sit up, pulled back the curtain, and gazed out, reluctant to lower it for a long time.

The female Bodhisattva from Lantuo Mountain was sitting inside the carriage at that moment, responsible for preventing his injuries from worsening, and continuously infusing a peaceful vital energy into him.

Xie Xichui gazed at the battlefield, strewn with discarded Northern Mang corpses, and said softly, "Twenty thousand monk soldiers, though most belong to other factions of Lantuo Mountain, your three thousand direct disciples are also among them. That's your entire foundation, as a Six-Bead Master. I presume you've guessed why I had to go to that corridor, haven't you?"

The female Bodhisattva, her black hair almost reaching her waist, nodded indifferently.

Xie Xichui smiled wryly, "This was a three-birds-with-one-stone move that I had to make. It could both intercept Northern Mang reinforcements as much as possible, and transform the originally useless monk infantry into a surprise force in Liuzhou. Finally, of course, it could deplete the resources of the Western Regions. Regardless of whether Northern Liang wins or loses, there are only benefits. If we win, the severely weakened Lantuo Mountain, in pursuit of profit, will most likely have no choice but to continue sending monk soldiers to Northern Liang. If the Xu family of Northern Liang loses, and Northern Mang wishes to seize the opportunity to invade the Central Plains later, Northern Mang would have lost at least twenty thousand monk soldiers. Ultimately, Northern Liang gains, and your Lantuo Mountain is left with no choice but to follow our lead."

She sneered, "You, Xie Xichui, the culprit, if you had died in that corridor, and if the Liuzhou border army had also suffered a great defeat, I would have unhesitatingly taken your head to Northern Mang to claim merit."

Xie Xichui chuckled, "I'm afraid I've disappointed you."

After saying this, Xie Xichui had to lower the curtain, lie back down, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

She continued to close her eyes and rest, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

She silently recited a scripture, praying for the souls of the departed.

Inside and outside Huaiyang Pass, the two most famous fat men under heaven, Chu Lushan of the South and Dong Zhuo of the North, were in a standoff.

Dong Zhuo rode to the front line and looked up at the outer city wall of Huaiyang Pass. Over twenty thousand displaced individuals, forcefully brought from the grasslands, now treated as criminals, swarmed the city walls.

Dong Zhuo, commanding a private army of one hundred and forty thousand, had no expectation that these twenty thousand men could breach Huaiyang Pass, or even take the outer city.

Dong Zhuo was patiently waiting for winter to arrive, for a heavy snowfall.

Before that, it was very cost-effective to use twenty thousand doomed soldiers to deplete Huaiyang Pass's defending forces.

These twenty thousand troops were obtained by Dong Zhuo from the old woman without spending a single tael of silver. If he were to tap into his father-in-law's Yelü family fortune, he could borrow another twenty thousand young men from the Grand Xiti of the grasslands.

Furthermore, Dong Zhuo had already sent word to Helian Wuwei, the Commissioner of Hexi Province: "If you can't capture Fuling and Liuya towns before winter, I'll lend you troops to help. Don't be shy, this will be the first time I, Dong Zhuo, am so generous!"

Upon hearing this, the old general Helian Wuwei, famous for his martial prowess on the grasslands, didn't even bother to reply. He launched a massive siege, ceaselessly attacking day and night, with far greater intensity than the Huaiyang Pass offensive.

Dong Zhuo habitually clicked his teeth, like the world's softest drumbeat.

Chu Lushan stood on the inner city wall, also gazing at the besieging army in the distance.

Chu Lushan, clad in iron armor, exuded a commanding presence.

The Northern Liang Protector-General, expressionless, interlocked his fingers and gently tapped them together.

Prince Yelü Hongcai of Northern Mang did not ride in a carriage. Instead, clad in golden-yellow armor, he rode on horseback in the center of the vast army, looking around. The prairie iron cavalry stretched endlessly into the distance.

It was said that historically, Central Plains monarchs who personally led campaigns rode in grand carriages pulled by eight magnificent horses. However, such customs were never prevalent on the grasslands. Yet, this Crown Prince believed that once he ruled the Central Plains, he could appropriately alter ancestral traditions.

He hadn't truly expected that the Emperor, whom he genuinely feared, would actually be willing to grant him real power instead of keeping him as a mere figurehead. The Kheshig Guard around him, who obeyed only his commands, was clear proof of this!

Although the appearances of Yelü Dongchuang and Chunnabo Tuoba Qiyun were slightly irksome, they were ultimately irrelevant to the overall situation. As long as he proceeded cautiously, those two wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble. One's grandfather was a three-dynasty elder statesman, the other's father was Northern Mang's God of War—their backing was indeed formidable, but could it compare to his own?

From the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught sight of the woman riding high beside him—his wife, the nominal Crown Princess.

If, initially, he had held her in considerable respect and treated her with candor, often even seeing her as his backbone, a figure he needed to look up to, then after his confidante subtly appeared, the relationship between husband and wife grew increasingly distant, almost from respectful courtesy to icy indifference.

Thinking of his mistress, who was destined to remain hidden from the public, the Northern Mang Crown Prince felt a touch of regret and guilt.

But compared to the fate of the realm, compared to the Central Plains—a land never fully conquered by a prairie overlord—the choice was obvious.

Who was to blame but that young man surnamed Xu from Northern Liang, and his so-called three hundred thousand iron cavalry, for being so ineffectual and about to become his prisoners?

For the first time, the Northern Mang Crown Prince felt such immense pride and ambition, wanting nothing more than to let out a long, loud cry.

I have four hundred thousand cavalry under my command!

How could a solitary Jubel City possibly stop this?