Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

This time, the Northern Hu people even covered the muzzles of their horses with cloth.

The cavalry, numbering several thousand, remained utterly silent.

The leader in charge was an old chief with a scar on his face.

He was the loudest one on the first few occasions, but when he actually got to the city walls, he was more cautious than anyone else.

"Eight of you go down and open the door first."

Those going up, please step quietly and don't make a sound.

Several skilled Northern Hu soldiers used grappling hooks to climb the city wall.

They didn't even light torches, relying entirely on the moonlight to find their way.

After climbing over the wall, they quietly dealt with a few watchmen leaning against the corner.

When the city gate was opened, it made only a few very soft thuds.

The scarred leader waved his hand.

"Go! Hurry!"

The horse's hooves, covered in grass, made a dull sound as they trod on the ground.

One group rushed in first, heading straight down the long street towards those high-walled, wealthy households.

"This place has grain! Go in!"

"Don't hurt anyone! Did you hear me?!"

"Take what you need, but don't kill!"

As soon as a Northern Hu soldier drew his sword, someone next to him pressed it back down.

"Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten what you said before you came?!"

"Put the knife away! Grab it and run!"

The people inside the high gate were so frightened that they huddled inside, not daring to make a sound.

Someone peeked through the crack in the door and saw the courtyard full of Northern Hu soldiers, and even when they cried, they covered their mouths tightly.

The Northern Hu soldiers didn't have time to frighten anyone.

They went straight to the granary, grabbing rice and flour, taking meat and oil wherever they could find it.

Some horses were already fully loaded, yet they were still rummaging through the house.

"That's enough! We can't take that many!"

"Don't be greedy! Come out, all of you!"

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the scarred leader was already shouting at the top of his lungs in the street.

"Retreat quickly! Loot as much as you can! Don't draw out the Liang soldiers!"

A group of people ran out of the city as if they were being chased by ghosts.

Some people even dropped the half-bag of rice they had stolen, without bothering to pick it up.

Once they rushed out of the city gate, the cavalry immediately dispersed, as if melting into the night in the north.

The people in Daliang City didn't dare to open their doors and look out until quite a while later.

Some people's legs were shaking.

"They...left?"

"They're gone. They didn't kill anyone."

"They only stole the grain."

"When did these northern barbarians become so 'polite'?"

Even the city guards found it strange.

The news quickly reached Xiao Fang's tent.

When Mingrui entered, Xiao Fang was looking at a city defense map under the lamp.

"Your Highness, the Northern Hu people have made a move."

Only a small force came and seized a small town to the south.

They didn't kill anyone, they just stole the grain and ran away.

Xiao Fang didn't even look up.

How badly were you injured?

"Only two civilians fell, no one died."

Xiao Fang hummed in agreement.

"They've learned to be afraid."

Mingrui said.

"Should we send troops to pursue them?"

"Don't chase."

Xiao Fang put down the lamp holder in his hand.

"Let them rob it two more times."

Mingrui was taken aback.

Xiao Fang has already looked at the city defense map again.

"The more smoothly they rob, the bolder they become."

The order was given: if the border town is attacked, defend it and do not pursue.

Let the people find safe places, and give them grain first.

I want the Northern Hu King to offer his neck himself.

That night, the Beihu camp was like a festival.

The bonfire burned brighter than ever before.

Several tribal leaders sat together, drinking from large bowls and grinning.

"We finally got our revenge! Those guards didn't even dare to give chase!"

"I knew it! During the national mourning period, how could the soldiers of Liang dare to move recklessly!"

"So what if it's Xiao Fang?"

The late emperor has only just passed away; does he dare to be the first to stick his neck out?

"Exactly! With the rules of propriety and law in place, his soldiers can only slack off like tortoises!"

The more they talked, the more excited they became.

Someone slammed their wine bowl on the ground.

"In my opinion, we don't need to be so careful at all!"

They dare not send troops, so why should we act like thieves?

The Northern Hu King shook his head.

"We must not be careless."

Xiao Fang was no ordinary general.

If he gets really anxious, he won't care about etiquette.

What we need is food, a way to survive.

Don't provoke him.

A younger leader immediately became dissatisfied.

"Your Majesty! If he doesn't move, are we just going to plunder these small, outlying towns?"

How many people can be fed with this little bit of grain?

"Exactly! If we don't take advantage of their national mourning period now, it'll be even harder for us once the formalities are over!"

"Why don't we rob Fengcheng! It's the granary of the north; one raid there will be enough for us all winter!"

Everyone's eyes lit up.

The Northern Hu King held his wine bowl but remained silent.

Of course he wanted to seize Fengcheng.

But he was also afraid of forcing Xiao Fang to reveal himself.

"Your Majesty, let's try one more time."

This time, let's find a midtown location, stay a little longer, and grab a bit more.

Let's see if Xiao Fang comes out!

"If he still doesn't pursue it, it means he's truly overwhelmed by the national mourning."

The Northern King remained silent for a moment, then gave a heavy "hmm".

"Okay. Let's do it this way."

Three days later, the Northern Hu army moved again.

This time, they're attacking a medium-sized city.

The city is bigger than last time, and there are more people.

The leader was still Scarface.

He was even more daring than last time.

"Once the city gates open, peer inside! Two incense sticks' worth of time!"

"The big farmers have plenty of grain, so they're all moving in!"

"Don't dawdle! Don't hurt anyone! Take it and go back!"

The Northern Hu soldiers were bolder than last time, and they weren't as timid as they were the first time.

Someone rushed into the grain shop and started carrying bags of grain out.

Someone broke into a wealthy household and even stole the cured meat from the storeroom.

The people on the street were so frightened that they ran all over the alley.

"The Northern Hu people are here!"

"Run! Hide!"

But the group didn't really pay them any attention.

They only seize the grain, not the people.

A northern soldier was hit on the foot by a bag of rice that fell from the house. He cursed in pain but did not draw his sword.

"Take it and get out of here! Don't worry about anyone else!"

"Collect goods at the North Gate! Hurry!"

Two incense sticks later, the scarred leader gave another order.

"withdraw!"

The cavalry retreated like a receding tide.

Some of the garrison soldiers chased after them, but after less than half a mile, they retreated.

The Northern Hu people became increasingly convinced of this.

Xiao Fang dared not resort to force during the national mourning period.

The news spread throughout the Northern Hu camp, and most of the people's last concerns dissipated.

"They even robbed Midtown, but he still hasn't come out!"

"He definitely wouldn't dare! Otherwise, given Xiao Fang's personality, would he allow us to take it a second time?"

"Fengcheng! We must take Fengcheng this time!"

"If we take Fengcheng, all the northern lakes can survive the winter!"

The Northern Hu King finally stopped suppressing them, as if he had seen a glimmer of hope.

"Order all tribes to assemble all available troops."

"Gather at least 150,000 men and give them all their strength to attack Fengcheng!"

"This is the only battle we'll fight; we must seize enough food for the winter!"

A chorus of agreement erupted from inside the tent, like a pack of wolves finally smelling blood after a snowfall.

150,000 people.

They practically emptied their pockets.

The northern barbarians have been waiting for this food for far too long.

The Northern Hu army of 150,000 finally made its move.

With so many people, there's no way to hide them.

When the cavalry passed through, they looked like a dark swarm of locusts, and the snow dust kicked up by their hooves could be seen from a great distance.

The Northern Hu people themselves knew they couldn't hide their tracks.

But they didn't care.

"So what if Xiao Fang knows? He wouldn't dare leave the city!"

"Yes, the Zhenbei Army has 400,000 men."

But they had to defend thirteen cities, which meant each city didn't have many soldiers to defend it.

"With 150,000 of us against their tens of thousands, we could swallow Fengcheng whole if we each took a bite!"

"Rob it all and head back, don't wait for reinforcements!"

They marched at an extremely fast pace, like a pack of wolves driven mad by hunger, rushing straight towards Fengcheng.

Xiao Fang had already guessed what they were going to do.

Snatching the smaller one is just a test.

Once they believe that the Great Liang truly dares not launch a military campaign, they will definitely head for the largest and richest cities in the northern border.

Only the grain in the big city was enough for their entire tribe to get through the winter.

Therefore, Xiao Fang received the news as soon as the Northern Hu soldiers left the camp.

He stood before the desk and asked only one question.

Which direction are they heading?

"Fengcheng direction."

The entire army numbered 150,000, with no troops divided.

"150,000."

Xiao Fang sneered.

"They've risked their lives."

He turned to look at the map and pressed his finger on Fengcheng.

"Order that all cities mobilize troops and assemble them in Fengcheng as quickly as possible."

"How much do you want?" Lu Zhao asked hurriedly.

"Transfer as much as you can, at least 300,000."

"They all came from inside the pass, so the northern barbarians couldn't see them."

"Remember, be quick, but don't rush."

As soon as the order was given, the border troops in each city immediately sprang into action.

Under the cover of night, the large contingent sped towards Fengcheng from the official road inside the pass.

The banners were rolled up, and the horses' hooves were wrapped in cloth.

There were no torches, nor horns.

Three hundred thousand people split into several groups, like several black knives, silently plunging towards Fengcheng.

The northern barbarians were completely unaware of this.

They were still singing Hu Ge and dreaming of seizing grain, rushing all the way to Fengcheng.