Battle for Northern Frontier: The game begins with the grassland woman buying him.

Next, Su Zhan and his team clarified their objective: while recuperating, they should seize the opportunity to cleanse the larger tribes in the surrounding area.

These are like nails on the grassland; they need to be pulled out one by one. Only when the nails are removed can they feel at ease.

Their target was a grassland village called Black Wind Village, located about 300 miles away.

This village has never been involved in grassland conflicts, but they are all grassland people, and that is their original sin.

And Su Zhan and his team are going to destroy this huge threat today.

At this moment, the bloodstains on the stone city wall had not yet been washed away, and the craftsmen were repairing the crenellations. The air was filled with the smells of various types of wood and wound medicine.

The city was no longer the deathly silence of the battle, but it was far from bustling with activity either; busy figures could be seen everywhere.

Su Zhan's old shoulder wound throbbed faintly in the cold weather, a constant reminder of the fierce battle he had fought not long ago.

He stood behind the reinforced city wall, gazing into the distance, his head pointing north, where he had now pinpointed the village.

He returned to the council chamber, which was brightly lit and filled with a very somber atmosphere.

Bai Zhanqiu's arm was clamped between wooden boards and hung in front of his chest, but his eyes remained sharp.

The weariness on Pheasant Neck's face couldn't hide the excitement brought on by intelligence work. He spread several newly drawn maps and intelligence reports on the cutting board.

"Second and third leaders, we've pretty much figured out the details of Black Wind Stronghold. Their leader is called Wuyan Tu, a cunning old fox. In the past, he used the excuse of hereditary neutrality and protecting ancestral lands to deflect Agudamu's several battles with Huyan Zhuo. The stronghold is built against the mountain, in a strategic location that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The population is not large, about five thousand, but it is said that only two thousand are capable of fighting."

As he spoke, he pointed to a blurry area behind the village on the map: "According to the scouts, there seems to be something unusual going on deep inside the village. There is often thick smoke drifting by, and even the sound of metal clanging. It seems there is a smelting workshop there. The defenses there are very tight, and our people cannot get close."

"Smelting? The sound of metal clanging?" Bai Zhanqiu frowned, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table again, making a thumping sound. "Generations of neutrality, yet secretly forging weapons. What exactly is this old fox trying to do? Is he raising a bandit to enhance his own power, or is he waiting for us and other tribes to weaken each other so he can reap the benefits?"

He looked at Su Zhan and then said, "Su Zhan, what do you think?"

Su Zhan's gaze swept across the location of Black Wind Village on the map, and his finger slowly traced the winding mountain road leading to the village.

He recalled rumors circulating on the grasslands about special iron ore hidden deep within Black Wind Mountain. A thought instantly washed over him like a bucket of ice water.

He said, "It's probably not as simple as just waiting to get a bargain."

Su Zhan's voice was deep: "Wuyan Tu has occupied the Black Wind Pass for generations, never getting involved in conflicts, yet he remains unscathed. Even Huyan Zhuo and Agudamu couldn't do anything to him. He relied on far more than just empty words of neutrality. The secret smelting in his village is likely not just ordinary swords and spears."

Bai Zhanqiu's eyes instantly sharpened: "You mean?"

Su Zhan slowly uttered a few words: "It is very likely heavy armor, or a core component of siege equipment."

The steppe troops primarily relied on light cavalry raids, but they were not incapable of siege warfare. When Agudamu's army pressed in, their rudimentary battering rams and siege ladders already caused us considerable trouble.

If Black Wind Stronghold were to secretly develop more sophisticated and larger siege weapons, their so-called neutrality would become a contract that could be torn up at any time.

Once the time is right, or if there is sufficient profit to drive them, this lurking wolf may pounce at any moment, targeting our Stone City. They might even be hidden agents of some powerful force, such as remnants of the royal court, or forces from beyond the Great Wall seeking to encroach on the northern border—all of these are highly possible.

The council chamber fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the crackling of the lamp oil.

Pheasant Neck gasped, "Third Master is absolutely right! No wonder the scouts said the defenses were so tight that not even a bird could fly in! If they really are building siege weapons, then Black Wind Stronghold is a sharp axe hanging over our heads!"

Bai Zhanqiu slammed his hand on the map, making the oil lamp jump.

His wound was aggravated, but he merely grinned, a murderous glint in his eyes: "We have to pull it out, and quickly! While they're not fully prepared, while we still have our strength and morale, we absolutely cannot let that axe fall on our heads!"

Su Zhan stared at the mark on the map that symbolized Black Wind Stronghold, his eyes sharp as knives: "Indeed, this thorn is more venomous than we imagined. He doesn't participate in any conflicts, yet he can secretly forge weapons that can destroy everything. We can rest, but removing this thorn is of utmost urgency."

He turned to Wild Chicken Neck: "Wild Chicken Neck, send more elite men, at all costs, to keep a close watch on Black Wind Stronghold! I need to know the weak points in their stronghold walls, their patrol patterns, and Wuyan Tu's guard strength, especially the situation at that Crimson Flame Stronghold. Even if it means losing men, you must dig out the intelligence for me!"

"Yes, I will personally oversee it!" Pheasant Neck accepted the order and left.

Bai Zhanqiu looked at Su Zhan and said in a deep voice, "Su Zhan, this operation..."

Su Zhan interrupted him decisively: "What?! My shoulder injury is completely healed now, and my bones and muscles have fully recovered."

Dealing with such a venomous snake lurking in the shadows requires speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness! Your role as the commander-in-chief of Stone City, overseeing the overall situation, mobilizing supplies, receiving reinforcements from all sides, calming the morale of the troops, and restoring their strength are all more important matters.

Moreover, Agudamu's blood is still warm. It's the perfect time to use that old fox from Black Wind Village to consecrate the sword once more, showing those tribes on the grasslands who are still observing or have ulterior motives that the sword of Stone City can not only slay the king but also remove these treacherous, scheming tumors!

Bai Zhanqiu looked at the familiar determination in Su Zhan's eyes and knew that further persuasion would be useless.

He nodded emphatically: "Alright, take your men and go! Remember, Black Wind Stronghold is a treacherous location, and Wuyan Tu is exceptionally cunning. Never underestimate them or act rashly. Once you receive intelligence, devise a foolproof plan before making your move. Stone City is severely weakened and cannot withstand another major loss. I'll be here waiting for your triumphant return!"

Su Zhan nodded, his gaze turning north again.

The Black Wind Stronghold appeared peaceful, but in his eyes it was already a huge crisis.

Next, he would wait for news from Wild Chicken Neck and then devise a plan to deal with Black Wind Stronghold.

The intelligence about the pheasant's neck arrived three days later.

The parchment clearly marked all the intelligence on Black Wind Stronghold. Three elite scouts perished at Eagle Rock Cliff on the western cliff of Black Wind Stronghold, but they traded their lives for this deadly news.

Every day at 3:45 AM, the ore-carrying convoy would enter the smelter through the narrow passage behind the mountain. At that time, the guards were most lax, and it was also the interval between shift changes at the watchtower on the cliff top, making it a good opportunity to take action.

"The smelter isn't inside the village? That old fox Wuyan Tu has hidden it all in the mountains!" Su Zhan's fingertips traced the folds of the cliffs on the map.

Bai Zhanqiu stared at the narrow path: "Are you going to climb the cliff again?"

Su Zhan nodded: "The two thousand defenders on the front are a tough nut to crack. If the main camp behind them falls into chaos, the front will naturally fall into chaos as well."

Bai Zhanqiu nodded: "Then let's do as you say."

So Su Zhan immediately made the arrangements, and everything was about to begin.

One day later, in Black Wind Canyon, at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the night was as dark as ink.

Su Zhan clung to the cold cliff face like a gecko, with five hundred assassins behind him, all of whom were covered in mud to blend into the rocks.

The sound of yawning coming from the watchtower on the cliff top proved that those people were very tired.

Su Zhan's steel claws slammed into the crevice in the rock, and then he and his men climbed up tightly.

Upon reaching the summit, he shouted in a low voice, "Make your move!"

In an instant, the crossbow bolt tore through the fog, and two sentries fell to the ground with blood streaming from their throats, without making a sound.

Everything was swallowed up by the mountain wind. The group climbed up the cliff top like raccoons, and the view below suddenly opened up: eight blast furnaces spewed flames in the valley, and some slaves were shirtless, pouring molten iron into molds, which were clearly outlines of ladders, chains, and battering rams.

"Wild Chicken Neck's information is absolutely correct!" Afterwards, Su Zhan led his men to wait quietly on the mountain, waiting for Wild Chicken Neck's signal.

Sure enough, a dazzling firework suddenly exploded in the night sky in the distance. Su Zhan suddenly shouted to the people behind him, "Attack!"

He used his scimitar to cut off the main ventilation pipe, and kerosene poured down the pipe into the furnace pit in front.

Then, a deafening explosion shook the earth, and the valley quickly turned into a sea of ​​fire. Broken molds shattered like meteors, and unfinished siege weapons were caught in the flames, twisting and howling. The chaotic defenders had no idea what was happening; they simply surged towards the valley entrance, only to run into the Stone City's army.

At this moment, the Stone City army was advancing rapidly. The first wave consisted of crossbowmen, and poisoned arrows rained down, completely blocking the escape route at the valley entrance.

Before those people could react, they were immediately nailed to the ground as corpses.

Chaos erupted completely, and the people in the camp finally realized that they had been attacked.

The chaos in this incident was premeditated, but they had no defense whatsoever and could only frantically resist.

Meanwhile, Wuyan Tu, inside the main tent, had already learned of everything that had happened outside. He roared, "These Han dogs dare to attack us!"

His hair was already gray, but the ruthlessness in his eyes had not faded.

This Black Wind Stronghold was a place he had managed for many years, but now it had been targeted by the people of Stone City, and their carefully built smelting plant had been easily turned into a sea of ​​fire by Su Zhan.

Wuyan Tu was furious and immediately organized a counterattack.

Meanwhile, the people of Stone City are also attacking. The gate is currently being struck by a giant battering ram. Countless Stone City warriors will be able to break through the gate and storm in.

Wuyan Tu had already given his orders when dozens of strange carts covered with cowhide were pushed onto the stockade wall. The iron pipes glowed with a ghostly blue light in the firelight; they were gunpowder sprayers, a rare sight on the grasslands.

The soldiers below, witnessing this, paled and shouted, "Watch out!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, the poisonous fire grazed past his body, and the warriors behind him were instantly reduced to charred bones.

In the instant of death, a sharp shriek suddenly echoed from the direction of the cliff.

Pheasant Neck led his men through the blasted-out secret passage of the smelter, and once again, a rain of poisoned arrows pelted the sturdy wall.

Wuyan Tu was standing on the city wall, directing his men to attack the Stone City warriors below, but he never expected the rain of arrows to be aimed at him, and suddenly an arrow struck his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Su Zhan and his men had already charged down into the fray.

In an instant, the scimitar swept down with the night wind, turning the battle on the field into a chaotic mess.

The once impregnable city was rendered helpless due to its hasty defeat.

The grassland people tried to organize a resistance, but they were quickly scattered by the people of Stone City.

The city gates, amidst cries of agony, finally gave way and were completely breached.

Countless warriors from Stone City poured in through the archway, and the situation on the field became chaotic once again.

Countless grassland people brandished their dragon-patterned swords, attempting to resist, but the Stone City people on the field were far too fierce, completely different from these grassland people who usually only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.

The warriors of Stone City have fought bloody battles for so many years and experienced several major wars, so their fighting spirit has reached its peak.

They were no ordinary people who could withstand them. These grassland people had been weakened by wine and women, how could they possibly resist the brave warriors of Stone City? In an instant, the city gate was smashed to pieces.

Meanwhile, Su Zhan had already led his men to attack the city and immediately began striking the resistance forces within.

On the last side, Pheasant Neck and his men charged in without hesitation. Under the crisis on three sides, the grassland people on the field quickly fled. Some did not have time to escape and were cut down by the big sword, turning into a pile of corpses on the ground.

The scene they saw before they died was that countless Stone City people trampled over their bodies and stormed into the city, annihilating all resistance.

The battle was extremely fierce, with casualties on both sides.

However, Stone City, with its indomitable spirit, superb swordsmanship, and even a premeditated plan, completely conquered Black Wind Stronghold, a place it had long occupied.

When the battle was over, Wild Chicken Neck immediately reported to Su Zhan: "Third Master, everyone has been taken care of, and the wounded brothers have been settled. We are now at your disposal."

Su Zhan nodded, then led his men directly into the city.

The city is now a giant treasure trove, waiting for them to explore.

This is a smelting site that the grassland people have been operating for a long time. There must be many good treasures inside. This is a huge gain for the entire Stone City.

It is said that war sustains war, and Su Zhan has already tasted the benefits. He has acquired so many weapons and armor, as well as those simple but highly efficient firearms, which will be of great help in the upcoming battles. Stone City is currently lacking such things.

As for the slaves who were oppressed on a daily basis, Su Zhan also sent word to them that anyone who was willing to work for Stone City could stay, and anyone who was unwilling could leave immediately.

The entire battlefield was quickly cleaned up, and everyone got busy.