I was to be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang, and Empress Ma smashed Zhu Yuanzhang's jade seal.

"I will personally ask that old emperor why he wronged His Highness the Prince of England!"

"Anything that stands in my way, be it man or god, city or pass!"

"Raze them all to the ground!!!"

"roar!"

The soldiers from Jiangdong roared like wild beasts!

Half an hour later.

The massive, heavy steel gate of this secret fortress slowly opened with a creaking sound.

A black torrent surged forth from the fortress!

Xiang Yu, clad in black gold armor, wielding the Overlord's City-Breaking Spear, and riding his black steed, led the way!

Behind him, eight thousand soldiers from Jiangdong followed closely.

Although their numbers are small, each of them is a fierce warrior capable of taking on a hundred men!

This power is enough to destroy any enemy that stands in their way!

Their first target was the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, which blocked their way south!

Shanhaiguan.

One of the most important passes in the northern border region of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming general guarding the pass was standing on the city wall, looking worriedly towards the north.

He also saw the black plume of smoke.

But he didn't know what that meant.

All he knew was that it was definitely not a good omen.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, a lookout soldier suddenly let out a terrified scream.

"General! Look! What's that!"

The garrison commander was startled and quickly grabbed the telescope beside him, looking north.

Upon seeing it, he was instantly terrified!

On the distant horizon, black waves appeared!

The waves were incredibly fast, kicking up clouds of dust, and were hurtling straight toward Shanhaiguan with unparalleled momentum!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The piercing alarm sounded instantly throughout the entire Shanhaiguan area!

The soldiers guarding the city were thrown into chaos.

Before they could even react to the alarm, the black wave had already surged to the foot of the pass!

The garrison commander then saw it clearly.

That's not a wave at all!

That was an army!

A terrifying army he had never seen before, exuding an aura of ancient times!

The person at the very front, the demon god riding a black steed and wielding a huge halberd, made him feel a tremor from the depths of his soul!

"Who are you?! This is Shanhaiguan, the capital of the Ming Dynasty! Stop immediately! Or you will be killed without mercy!"

The garrison commander roared, his voice stern but his heart filled with fear.

Xiang Yu slowly raised his head, his double pupils filled with contempt.

"Shanhaiguan?"

He sneered and raised the Overlord City-Breaking Spear in his hand.

"Break for me!"

The Jiangdong soldiers behind him did not use any siege equipment, but instead took out bundles of black, cylindrical objects from their backs.

They lit the fuse and then threw it with all their might at the sturdy city wall that was tens of feet high!

"What is that?"

The garrison commander looked completely bewildered.

next second.

boom!

boom!

boom!

boom!

A series of earth-shattering explosions resounded on the city wall of Shanhaiguan!

Countless thunderbolts exploded simultaneously!

That terrifying power blasted out huge gaps in the magnificent city wall that was built with glutinous rice juice and boulders and was strong enough to withstand thousands of troops!

Stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!

The Ming soldiers on the city wall were terrified by this unprecedented attack method, and suffered heavy casualties!

The defending general was thrown to the ground by the shockwave, and was completely disoriented.

He struggled to lift his head and, through the billowing smoke, saw a scene he would never forget.

That man, who resembled a demon god, urged his warhorse forward and charged straight up the city wall through the huge gap that had been blasted open!

"Those who block my way shall die!"

Xiang Yu's roar was like rolling thunder!

The Overlord's City-Breaking Spear in his hand transformed into a whirlwind of death!

Any Ming soldiers who approached him, whether men or horses, were instantly torn to shreds by that terrifying force!

Blood stained the city walls red.

Limbs and severed arms were scattered everywhere.

This is no longer a war.

This was a one-sided massacre!

A Jinyiwei spy, hidden on a distant hillside, covered his mouth tightly with trembling hands to keep from screaming.

He stared blankly at the demon god who moved through the enemy ranks as if they were nothing, at the army that easily tore through the Shanhaiguan defenses with terrifying explosives.

It’s over.

The sky is about to fall.

He scrambled to his horse, pulled out his communication tools from his pocket, and with trembling hands wrote a few words on specially made silk.

"Shanhaiguan... has fallen... fallen..."

Just as Xiang Yu, in the most barbaric and direct way, blasted open the Shanhaiguan Pass and led the Jiangdong soldiers southward with unstoppable momentum.

Thousands of miles away from the northern frontier, in a hidden valley that doesn't even exist on any map.

A large army is also stationed here.

Unlike the grim atmosphere of the Snow Dragon Riders and the domineering presence of the Jiangdong soldiers, this army appeared unusually quiet, even silent.

Hundreds of thousands of troops were scattered throughout the vast valleys, their camps neatly arranged and their sentry posts scattered like stars. Everything was orderly, yet it also possessed a mysterious quality, like a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace.

The entire camp blends seamlessly with the surrounding mountains and rivers.

Inside the central command tent.

A middle-aged scholar with a thin face but surprisingly bright eyes stood with his hands behind his back in front of an enormous sand table.

The sand table was none other than a map of the entire territory of the Ming Dynasty.

From the grasslands of the north to the coastal areas of the south, from the Gobi Desert of the west to Liaodong in the east, every mountain, every river, and every city has been meticulously recreated.

He is another legendary general who was signed by Zhu Muying.

Han Xin, the genius strategist!

A peerless military strategist who manipulated war with ease!

A messenger entered silently, knelt on one knee, and presented the same intelligence report.

"Reporting to the General, the flames of war have already risen in the north."

Han Xin did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the sand table, admiring a perfect work of art.

"understood."

His voice was flat, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.

The messenger was somewhat taken aback.

Order to Resist the Emperor!

This is the highest level of warning issued by the Prince!

Why was the commander-in-chief's reaction so indifferent?

Han Xin saw through his thoughts and said calmly, "King Xiang should have already set off, shouldn't he?"

"Reporting to the commander, according to the scouts, half an hour ago, an elite force of unknown designation forcibly broke through Shanhaiguan Pass and is heading south at high speed. Its commander... resembles Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King."

The messenger answered respectfully.

"hehe."

A meaningful smile appeared on Han Xin's lips.

"A man's courage is reckless and lacks strategy."

He shook his head, his tone tinged with disdain.

"He just rushed over there so openly, as if he wanted the emperor in Nanjing to know? Foolish."

"but……"

Han Xin changed the subject, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"His outburst was just what he needed. Like a rampaging bull, he was sure to attract everyone's attention."

"This provides the best cover for our operation."

He stretched out his long, slender fingers and gently tapped a few spots on the sand table.

"Pass on my orders."

"First, order the 'Tiger Guard Army' to set off immediately and launch a surprise attack on Tongzhou at top speed! I want to capture all the canal wharves and official granaries there within three days!"

Tongzhou, the northern terminus of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, is the throat of the nation's grain transport.

Controlling that area would be tantamount to cutting off the economic lifeline of the entire north.

"Secondly, order the 'Divine Machine Battalion' to split into three routes and seize the three passes of Jingxing, Feihu, and Puyin in the Taihang Mountains! I want to completely sever the connection between Shanxi and Hebei!"

"Third, order the 'Iron Eagle Warriors' to march south along the Yellow River. There's no need to attack any cities; simply spread the word along the way that the King of England has been wronged, and we are here on orders to go south to purge the court of treacherous officials and punish the corrupt ministers!"

Cleanse the court of corrupt officials!

The messenger's heart skipped a beat when he heard those three words!

This is...this is rebellion!

Han Xin, oblivious to his shock, continued to issue orders at a leisurely pace.

"Fourth, send out all the scouts to deliver this edict to the commanders of the various tribes in the northern frontier."

He took out a silk scroll that he had prepared long ago from his sleeve.

The above, written in Zhu Muying's voice, bitterly denounced Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicion and injustice, and called on all his loyal soldiers to march south to Nanjing to save him from his predicament.

Of course, this edict was written by Han Xin himself.

Zhu Muying had no idea.

"Tell them that King Xiang has raised an army. Our hundreds of thousands of troops have also marched south. This battle is not for rebellion, but to seek justice for King Ying! If they do not wish to march south, ask them to hold their troops still, blockade the border, and prevent the Mongols from taking advantage of the situation."

Every command Han Xin issued was precise, ruthless, and hit the nail on the head.

Unlike Xiang Yu, he did not single-mindedly rush towards Jinling.

What he wanted to do was to completely disrupt and paralyze the entire northern part of the Ming Dynasty in the shortest time and at the lowest cost!

He wanted to put Zhu Yuanzhang in a desperate situation, surrounded by enemies on all sides!

"at last……"

Han Xin's gaze fell on the sand table, on the model representing Jinling City.

"We will assemble our main force, two hundred thousand troops, and march out of Hangu Pass, along the old course of the Dan River, straight towards the Nanyang Basin! Before that emperor in Jinling can react, I will plunge a sharp knife into his heart!"

The messenger was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

The commander's arrangements were all interconnected and each move was deadly!

This is hardly the act of serving the emperor.

This is clearly...

Plan to conquer the world!

"General...do...do we really have to do this?"

The messenger couldn't help but ask in a trembling voice, "His Highness... he might not want to see this."

Han Xin slowly turned around, looked at him, his eyes calm, yet carrying a kind of all-knowing wisdom.

"Do you really think that His Highness was unaware that this day would come?"

"He summoned us, who 'shouldn't exist,' into this world, and hid this million-strong army in the northern frontier. Do you really think it was just to resist the Mongols?"

Han Xin shook his head.

"Wrong."

"The prince knows better than anyone the consequences of having too much merit and overshadowing the emperor. He also knows better than anyone the character of that emperor."

"He spared us, he spared this million-strong army, not to rebel, but so that, while he didn't want to die, no one could kill him!"

"This is the last card he's keeping for himself."

"Now, it's time to reveal this trump card to the world."

Han Xin walked to the entrance of the main tent, looking at the hundreds of thousands of troops outside who were fully prepared and stood silently like a forest. In his eyes was absolute confidence that he was in complete control.

"Go."

"Let this world descend into chaos once more."

"Then, it is up to us to establish a new order for it."

The messenger was shocked; he finally understood.

It turns out that all of this was part of the prince and the general's plan.

Without further hesitation, he bowed deeply, turned and left.

One command after another, like precise instructions, were swiftly transmitted to every corner of the valley.

The hundreds of thousands of troops, which had been dormant, began to move like a giant dragon awakening, silently yet irresistibly.

At this moment, a vast net, woven by Han Xin himself and covering the entire northern part of the Ming Dynasty, slowly unfolded.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was in Nanjing and basking in the glory of how to "dignifyly" execute one of his sons, was completely unaware of this.

In the northern desert, deep in the grasslands.

A massive camp, constructed from countless yurts and skeletons, is engulfed in flames.

Limbs, broken scimitars, and tattered flags littered the earth.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and burning.

In the center of the camp, a tall, imposing man was wiping the Overlord City-Breaking Spear, which was decorated with strange patterns, with a tattered cloth.

At the top of the halberd hung a head with its eyes wide open in death.

Judging from his braid and clothing, he was clearly a commander of ten thousand households in the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

The man was clad in a chainmail armor with a beast-faced design and wore a three-pronged purple-gold crown. Beneath him rode a magnificent, fiery red steed that was snorting impatiently.

Among men, Lü Bu is the best; among horses, Red Hare is the best!

He was none other than Lü Bu, Lü Fengxian, another peerless warrior signed up by Zhu Muying!

Unlike other hidden armies, Lü Bu and his Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry and Trapped Camp were always regarded by Zhu Muying as the sharpest dagger, thrown onto the grasslands.

Their only mission is to kill!

They relentlessly pursued and annihilated the remaining Mongol tribes roaming the grasslands, maintaining peace in the northern border of the Ming Dynasty in the bloodiest way.

Lu Bu really enjoyed this job.

Because here there are endless enemies to kill and endless bloodshed.

"Fengxian, have some water."

A gentle voice came from behind.

A middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, with a refined appearance, walked over carrying a water bag.

Chen Gong, Chen Gongtai.

Lü Bu's strategist.

"Gongtai, these Mongols are getting weaker and weaker."

Lu Bu took the water pouch, took a swig, and said listlessly, "They all ran away after just one charge. How boring."

Chen Gong shook his head with a wry smile.

It's not that the Mongols are weak; it's that you, Lü Bu, and your elite Trapped Camp are utterly inhuman.

With the will to charge into battle, there is no chance of survival.

The eight hundred elite soldiers trained by Gao Shun were all fearless war monsters.

With Lu Bu, the most powerful general in the world, any cavalry formation would be no different from paper in front of them.

Just then, on the distant horizon, a fast horse galloped towards them, kicking up dust.

Immediately, a wolf from Bingzhou died.

"Report!"

"General! Strategist! Urgent report from the north!"

The knight dismounted and presented a letter sealed with sealing wax.

Chen Gong took the letter, opened it, and his expression changed instantly.

"What's wrong, Master?"

Seeing that his expression was strange, Lü Bu frowned and asked.

"Fengxian..."

Chen Gong's voice was somewhat hoarse, "Something terrible has happened."

"Your Highness... has been imprisoned."

"What?!"

Lu Bu suddenly stood up, and the overwhelming killing intent that had just subsided erupted once more!

"What did you say?! The prince has been imprisoned?! Who did it?!"

His voice was like a thunderclap, startling the messenger knight so much that he fell to the ground with a thud.

Chen Gong took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and quickly repeated the contents of the intelligence report.

When he heard the word "treason," Lü Bu laughed.

His laughter was ferocious, his laughter was insane.

"Treason? Hahahaha! What a ridiculous joke!"

"If Your Highness wanted to rebel, would you have waited until today? Back in the northern deserts, with just a word, the world would have been overthrown!"

"That old scoundrel Zhu Yuanzhang! Was he blind, or had he lost his mind?!"

Lü Bu's anger differed from Xiang Yu's violent temper.

Xiang Yu's anger stemmed from righteous indignation at his brother being bullied.

Lu Bu's rage was the fury of having his most treasured possession defiled by ants!

In Lü Bu's eyes, Zhu Muying was the only person in this era qualified to be his lord!

He was the only man who could make Lü Bu willingly submit to him!

Now, someone actually dares to touch his lord?

Unforgivable!

"Gongtai! What do you think we should do?"

Lu Bu turned his head, his blood-red eyes fixed on Chen Gong.

A fine layer of sweat appeared on Chen Gong's forehead.

He knew that the tiger before him had been thoroughly enraged.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Fengxian, this matter is of utmost importance. The Prince's imprisonment must be due to the Emperor's suspicion. If we rashly head south, we will only confirm the Prince's charge of treason, which will ultimately harm him."

"So you mean we're just going to sit here and wait?"

Lu Bu's voice was filled with a dangerous undertone.

"Of course not."

Chen Gong shook his head. "We cannot march south under the pretext of 'rebellion,' but we can do so under the pretext of 'serving the emperor!'"

"To serve the emperor?"

"That's right!"

A glint of light flashed in Chen Gong's eyes. "The prince has been wronged. As his soldiers, it is our duty to go south to rescue him! This is 'purging the court of treacherous officials'! The fault lies not with the prince, but with the treacherous ministers around the emperor!"

"In this way, we will have a legitimate reason to attack!"

"What a brilliant move to purge the court of corrupt officials!"

Lü Bu laughed loudly, "You, Gongtai, are truly brilliant! I don't care about treacherous or loyal ministers; I only know that whoever dares to harm my lord, I will rebel against them!"

"If Zhu Yuanzhang dares to lay a finger on my lord, I will lead my troops into Nanjing!"

Lu Bu's words could be described as extremely treasonous.

But Chen Gong could only smile bitterly upon hearing this.

This is Lü Bu.

A pure, power-hungry warmonger.

"Fengxian, we must march south immediately! To defend the Emperor!"

Zhu Muying was detained.

No one can control his fierce soldiers anymore!