The Tyrant of the Great Qian Dynasty: Not only will I refuse to arrange a marriage alliance, but I w

"Waaah—waaah—"

A desolate and long horn sounded across the plains north of the capital.

The sound pierced through the morning mist and spread throughout the camps for dozens of miles.

The ten thousand troops in the camp moved at the sound.

One hundred thousand troops marched north.

The infantry phalanxes advanced, their banners like a forest; the cavalry ranks moved forward, their armor gleaming like water. The army formations stretched for miles, their beginning and end invisible.

Su Zhe, dressed in the custom-made golden armor, rode at the very front of the procession atop his magnificent warhorse, "Wu Zhui."

Behind him were 30,000 Snow Dragon Riders led by Chen Baipao, followed by elite troops such as the Mo Dao Team, the Shenji Battalion, and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, and finally, 50,000 reorganized Imperial Guards.

A large black banner embroidered with a golden dragon fluttered high above his head.

News of the army's departure had already spread throughout the capital.

On this day, before dawn, the official road leading north from the capital was spontaneously filled with people who came to see him off.

Their numbers were greater than those at the coronation ceremony.

Men, women, and children, packed the road in layers, making it completely impassable.

When the vanguard of the army appeared, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Long live Your Majesty!"

"The Great Qian will surely prevail!"

The people were excited and eager. They carried baskets filled with hot food, water bags, and boiled eggs, and tried desperately to stuff them into the hands of the soldiers who passed by.

"Soldiers, have an egg, and come back safe and sound!"

"Have some water, it's from our own well!"

Many soldiers' families were also mixed in with the crowd.

They didn't cry or shout; they just waved their hands vigorously with red eyes, silently saying goodbye.

This passionate yet somewhat tragic atmosphere inspired many young soldiers.

Looking into the expectant eyes of their fellow villagers, they were filled with a burning desire to defend their homeland.

At that moment, Su Zhe's indifferent yet authoritative order spread throughout the entire army.

"All troops, listen to my command! No gifts from the people are permitted!"

A military judge with a booming voice rode back and forth along the ranks, loudly announcing:

"His Majesty has decreed that the army's provisions will be supplied by the national treasury! You soldiers, who eat the emperor's food, are obligated to serve him and defend the country—this is your duty!"

"The best farewell for our soldiers is for them to live in peace and prosperity! Those who disobey orders will be punished according to military law!"

This order puzzled many soldiers and left the enthusiastic civilians somewhat bewildered.

But they soon understood Su Zhe's intention.

This is a disciplined and powerful army, not an army that needs the support of the people to fight.

In this way, the emperor proclaimed the dignity and strength of the Great Qian Dynasty to his people and his soldiers.

Strict military discipline is more effective in stabilizing public sentiment than any gift.

The people watched this army, so different from any before, and their trust in them grew ever stronger.

The army marched north and reached the foot of the Yanshan Mountains, where the magnificent Great Wall, stretching from east to west, came into view.

This is the dividing line between the Great Qian and the grasslands.

The troops guarding the passes along the Great Wall were border guards who had been reorganized after the Battle of Beijing.

Their equipment and morale were far inferior to the elite force brought by Su Zhe.

When they saw the endless military formations and witnessed the menacing soldiers, they all held their breath, their envy evident in their expressions.

Su Zhe did not order the army to pass directly through the pass.

He ordered his army to set up camp on the plains outside the pass for a final rest.

He then summoned all the border guards' generals to his central command tent.

He did not put on airs as an emperor, but instead carefully inquired about the recent developments on the grasslands from the generals who had been stationed on the frontier for many years.

Where did the tribes migrate? Where will the water sources dry up in which season? What kind of fodder do the horses love to eat the most?

The questions were extremely detailed, leaving the border commanders, who had initially been apprehensive, feeling flattered and overwhelmed.

After learning the details of the situation, Su Zhe gave them a new task.

"After I lead the main force deep into the heart of the grasslands, your task is not to guard this pass."

He pointed to the area along the Great Wall, stretching for hundreds of miles, on the map.

"Your mission is to take the initiative! Sweep away and pacify all the scattered tribes along the Great Wall. Incorporate the submissive ones, and eliminate the rebellious ones. I want you to ensure the absolute safety of the main army's rear!"

This order was exactly what the border guard commander wanted.

They guarded the Great Wall their whole lives; who wouldn't hope to one day take the initiative to go beyond the pass and wage war?

After completing all the arrangements, Su Zhe dismissed everyone.

Alone, at dusk, he climbed the ancient Great Wall, its walls weathered and mottled by a thousand years of wind and rain.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of him.

He held onto the city bricks, gazing at the boundless, desolate land beyond the pass.

The golden grassland stretches to the horizon in the twilight, magnificent and unpredictable.

This place was once a natural barrier that the Great Qian Dynasty was proud of.

But while this wall defended against foreign enemies, it also bound the steps of the Great Qian Dynasty and imprisoned the ambitions of the Central Plains dynasty.

Chen Baipao had somehow climbed up the city wall and stood quietly behind it, his posture upright and silent.

Su Zhe didn't turn around, but said softly:

"From today onwards, this wall will no longer be our line of defense."

"It should be the starting point of our attack."

"I will extend the territory of the Great Qian Dynasty beyond this wall, stretching northward for thousands, even tens of thousands of miles!"

These words caused Chen Baipao behind him to tighten his grip on the spear.

The next morning.

As the first rays of sunlight illuminate the earth.

"Creak—"

The incredibly heavy door was slowly opened by the combined efforts of dozens of soldiers.

A golden ray of dawn shone in from beyond the pass, paving a bright road leading to the unknown world.

Su Zhe remained silent and gently squeezed the horse's belly with his legs.

"Wuzhui" let out a long neigh, its four hooves flying, like a black lightning bolt, and it was the first to rush out of the pass!

Behind him, Chen Baipao led 30,000 Great Snow Dragon Riders, following closely behind.

Following them were the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, the Mo Dao Brigade, the Shenji Battalion, and the Imperial Guards...

An army of 100,000, like a floodgate opened, officially set foot on this land belonging to the steppe wolves.

The revenge of the Great Qian Dynasty has begun!

When the army first entered the grasslands, they were faced with the boundless天地 (heaven and earth) and realized how vast it was.

The vast grasslands were both a paradise for cavalry to roam freely and a nightmare for logistical supply lines.

Their first enemy was not the army of the northern barbarians, but the land itself.

The army had only advanced less than fifty li when the scouts they sent out brought back bad news.

"Your Majesty, we report that within a hundred miles ahead, the carcasses of slaughtered cattle and sheep have been found in all rivers, lakes, and other water sources. The water has been contaminated and is undrinkable!"

Immediately afterwards, another scout rode back at full speed.

"Your Majesty! Large areas of the pastures ahead have been burned! Stretching for dozens of miles, not a blade of grass grows! We will face a shortage of horse feed!"

The northern barbarians began using their most proficient tactics.

Strong walls and clear fields.

They intended to use this land, where they had lived for thousands of years, to wear down this massive army from the south.