Martial Arts Master: The Lin Family Sword God, who swept through the Five Mountains and Four Sects

Lacking the open grandeur of Dasheng Pass, the city was instead filled with layers of checkpoints and menacing swords. Lin Tian fought his way through the checkpoints and finally arrived at the city garrison's residence.

Outside the mansion gate, Meng Gong, Lü Wende, Guo Jing, and others were already lined up and waiting.

"The matter was handled hastily, and I was unable to greet His Highness the Crown Prince from afar. My sins are immense." Meng Gong clasped his hands and knelt on one knee, but because he was clad in heavy armor, he could not perform the full ceremony.

"Please forgive us, Your Highness!" Lü Wende and Guo Jing knelt down in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized.

"No need." Lin Tian raised his hand slightly, his tone calm. "Wartime is an extraordinary time. From today onwards, there is no need for formalities within Xiangyang City."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Everyone stood up, their expressions tense.

After the group entered the residence and took their seats, Lin Tian's gaze shifted and landed on Meng Gong: "With 500,000 Mongol troops stationed outside the city, what are your chances of winning?"

Meng Gong's expression changed slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Hard to say?" Lin Tian's voice was not loud, but it was as cold as ice, revealing no emotion.

Meng Gong gritted his teeth, knelt on one knee again, clasped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to the Crown Prince... if we were to engage in a direct confrontation, although our army has 800,000 men, this humble general... has less than a 10% chance of victory. If we were to merely defend the city and ensure that Xiangyang does not fall, we would have only a 30% chance of success."

As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead.

The atmosphere around them was solemn, as if the air itself had frozen.

Lu Wende's heart sank, and his vision blurred. He had thought that with 800,000 troops and the natural defenses of the terrain, the city was as solid as a mountain, but now, upon hearing this, he realized that the situation was precarious. If the city fell, he, as its defender, would likely be taken to Lin'an and beheaded as a sacrifice to the flag!

"Um."

Lin Tian responded calmly, showing no anger. Instead, he nodded, "That's the truth. If you dare say you have a one in ten chance of winning, I'll strip you of your command right now. Get up, I said there's no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Meng Gong breathed a sigh of relief and slowly stood up, his back soaked with cold sweat.

For some reason, he was even more nervous facing this young crown prince than when he met Emperor Lizong Zhao Yun. In just a short while, he was drenched in cold sweat.

"What if the Mongol army loses 200,000 and is left with only 300,000?" Lin Tian suddenly asked again.

Meng Gong was taken aback, then replied, "Three hundred thousand... This general still has a 30% chance of victory and a 70% chance of holding Xiangyang."

"Then—" Lin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice like a cold blade, "If Kublai Khan dies, and the enemy army is leaderless, what then?"

Meng Gong pondered for a moment, then his tone brightened slightly: "If Kublai Khan dies, the city's defenses are secure. If we venture out to fight, I have a 70% chance of victory and can decisively defeat the enemy!"

"Seventy percent?"

Lin Tian suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing Meng Gong like a knife: "Three hundred thousand enemy troops, their commander is dead, and you only dare to say seventy percent? What use are you as a general then! I want one hundred percent! Do you understand?!"

"I...I understand! As long as the Mongol army suffers losses of 300,000 and Kublai Khan dies, I guarantee with my life that we will win this battle!"

Meng Gong gritted his teeth, his voice low but resolute. He hesitated, then frowned, "But...but Your Highness, if we are to achieve this, I'm afraid..."

"This is none of your business," Lin Tian interrupted coldly, his tone like a knife. "The only thing you need to do now is train your troops, set up formations, and mold your soldiers into a sharp blade."

"Yes, Your Highness." Meng Gong bowed his head in response, daring not to say another word.

"Diyi."

Lin Tian's gaze shifted and landed on the man who had remained silent all along. He was thin and wiry, like a shadow hidden in the corner of the crowd, his presence so faint as to be almost ignored.

"Have you taken care of the two things I asked you to do?"

He bowed deeply, his respect tinged with a cold composure: "Reporting to Your Excellency, the first matter was completed half a month ago, after I personally led the seven hundred most loyal men of the pavilion. Now, the seven hundred brothers are eating and sleeping together, cut off from all external contact, and not a single one has leaked the secret. The second matter was carried out jointly by the seven pavilions of the north. All the men have been brought back and are now being kept under strict guard in Xiangyang City."

"Not a single person can be missing." Lin Tian's eyes turned cold. "Anyone who dares to escape will have their head handed over to me."

"Understood," he said, bowing his head.

Lin Tian nodded slowly. With these two moves made, the balance of victory had already shifted.

He turned to look at Lü Wende and said calmly, "Lord Lü, I've traveled all the way from Shaolin and am quite tired. Is lodging ready?"

Lu Wende quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness, everything has been arranged. The banquet is ready and waiting for Your Highness to take your seat at the city garrison."

"Hmm." Lin Tian nodded slightly. "Then go and prepare yourselves. The Mongol army will arrive in a little over ten days. A great battle is imminent, so conserve your energy and don't let your guard down in the face of battle."

The group acknowledged the order and withdrew.

……

"Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it"—Lin Tian had only ever seen this line in poems before.

Today, he saw it with his own eyes.

Standing atop the Xiangyang city wall, one can gaze into the distance.

The distant earth trembled, and billowing dust, like dark clouds, surged forth, covering the sky and the earth. It was five hundred thousand Mongol cavalry, charging like thunder, their momentum like a collapsing mountain.

What would it be like to have 500,000 people?

Lin Tian had never known this before, but now he understood.

As far as the eye could see, there were countless black dots, like ants crawling across a field. Each dot represented a cavalryman, a warhorse, and a long spear.

The iron hooves pounded the ground, the earth rumbled, and even the city walls beneath their feet trembled slightly.

Every few breaths, a deafening roar would erupt from the enemy ranks—uniform and powerful, like a dragon in flight. Five hundred thousand men roared in unison, as if the heavens and earth themselves changed color.

With such discipline and military might, it is no wonder that they swept across Eurasia.

Even though Lin Tian had already reached the legendary realm, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of suffocation.

But in the next instant, that oppressive aura transformed into overwhelming fighting spirit, burning away all distracting thoughts.

Who in this world dares to face 500,000 iron cavalry?

And Lin Tian not only has to face—

We must crush them, pulverize them, and bury them beneath the walls of Xiangyang!

The Mongol army halted their horses two or three hundred paces from the city. This distance was so safe it bordered on arrogance.

Kublai Khan sat calmly on his horse, undisturbed. He was unafraid of the rain of arrows or the surprise attack.

Because in this world of the Condor Heroes, no one can shoot an arrow that is still lethal even after traveling two hundred feet.

Lin Tian won't do either.

It wasn't that he lacked the strength, but rather that this world had yet to produce such a divine bow.

"Great Khan, shall we attack the city?" A general beside him rode forward and asked in a low voice.

Kublai Khan nodded, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's as he locked onto the city wall: "Begin."

However, at that very moment, a strange unease swept through my heart.

He frowned slightly, then gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Absurd! Who can stop me against the Mongol cavalry?

After today, the Song Dynasty will collapse, and Xiangyang is just the beginning!

His achievements will surely surpass those of his ancestors—and rival those of Genghis Khan!

"Yes, Great Khan!"

The general received the order, raised his hand sharply, and shouted, "Release them!!"

As soon as the order was given, thousands of ragged civilians staggered out from the Mongol army ranks. When they saw Xiangyang City, their eyes lit up with a desire to survive. They cried out and crawled toward the city gate.

"Damn it!!"

Meng Gong's pupils shrank sharply, and he slammed his fist hard against the parapet, sending stone chips flying and his knuckles cracking and bleeding.