At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Outside Cangzhou city, a biting wind howled.

The north wind howled across the open fields, making the tent curtains flutter loudly.

The sky was overcast and the clouds hung low.

Su Mu, wearing a cotton robe and hunched over, stood at the entrance of the tent, gazing intently at the gray-white city in the distance.

The city walls of Cangzhou are towering and the battlements are imposing.

The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, stood beside him, also wearing a thick cloak, his brows furrowed and his gaze deep.

Qin Hao stood on the other side, arms crossed, his expression grave.

"This Cangzhou City is truly a place of extraordinary danger."

Xiao Jingyu sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"The city is high and the moat is deep, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even with our 50,000 troops at the city gates, we have no confidence whatsoever in breaching the city."

"Now I understand why Tuoba Han chose to flee here after his defeat."

"This city can indeed save your life."

Qin Hao nodded and took over the conversation, his tone full of worry.

"Yes, Elder Su, Cangzhou City is not only well-defended, but its location is also excellent."

"There are mountains to the west and a river to the east, so we can only attack from the north and south."

"We have already blocked the south gate, but the north gate is open, and the Northern Di reinforcements can come in from the north at any time. If we launch a strong attack on the south gate, the losses will be heavy."

He looked up at the gray sky, his anxiety deepening.

"Moreover, the weather is getting colder and colder, and winter is just around the corner."

"If we can't take Cangzhou as soon as possible, when it gets really cold, the cold alone will freeze our brothers to death, even without the Northern Di attack."

Su Mu didn't speak, but simply stretched out his hand to feel the wind direction.

The wind was blowing from the north, pouring straight into their tent.

"The high mountain on the outskirts of Cangzhou City blocks the cold winds blowing from the north."

Su Mu finally spoke.

"It must be much warmer inside the city than outside. The Northern Di people have city walls to keep them warm, houses to live in, and fires to warm themselves, while our brothers can only freeze in their tents."

Qin Hao gritted his teeth, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Elder Su, if I may be so bold as to ask, do you have a strategy for breaching the city?"

Su Mu shook his head.

"Not yet, but I believe that there's always a way out."

He turned around and walked towards the camp.

"Let's go for a walk around the camp and check on how warm the brothers are. It's getting cold, we can't let them get cold."

Xiao Jingyu and Qin Hao exchanged a glance, nodded, and followed behind Su Mu.

……

Pioneer Camp, tent area.

The soldiers gathered in twos and threes; some were sharpening their knives, some were repairing their armor, and some were squatting on the ground warming their hands over charcoal.

There weren't enough cotton-padded coats, and many people were still wearing only autumn clothes, stamping their feet in the cold.

Su Mu walked past a tent and saw a young soldier squatting on the ground, holding a few bamboo sticks and a piece of paper, earnestly tying something together.

The soldier had his head down, his expression focused, and a smile on his lips, as if he were doing something very enjoyable.

Su Mu stopped and his eyes fell on what the soldier was holding.

It was a kite.

The frame was made of bamboo strips and covered with a thin layer of paper. Although simple, it was very sturdy.

The kite is shaped like a butterfly, with several delicate flowers painted on its wings, showing that the artist put a lot of effort into it.

Su Mu stepped forward, bent down, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Young man, what are you doing?"

The soldier looked up, saw that it was Su Mu, and quickly stood up, clasped his hands in salute, and had a slightly embarrassed smile on his face.

"Reporting back to the General, I...I am making a kite."

My little girl is seven years old this year and has always wanted a kite.

"I was thinking that when we finish the war and return home in triumph, I would give it to her personally. There wasn't much training today, so... I just tried to make one."

He scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile.

"Mr. Su, you won't blame me for neglecting my duties, will you?"

Su Mu shook his head, a hint of gentleness flashing in his eyes.

"Your thoughtfulness shows you're a good father. After the war, I'll grant you a few days' leave to go home and give the kite to your daughter."

The soldier's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, Elder Su! Thank you, Elder Su!"

Su Mu turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze returning to the kite.

Kite?

A buzzing sound went through Su Mu's mind, as if something had exploded.

He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the high mountain west of Cangzhou City.

The mountain was very high, with a thin layer of snow covering its summit. It was steep, with a distance of at least several hundred feet from the foot to the top.

To the east of the mountain lies the city of Cangzhou.

Between the mountains and the city lies a canyon that is not too wide.

Su Mu stretched out his hand, feeling the wind blowing from the north.

The wind is from the north.

The wind blew from behind the mountains, over the summit, and southwards.

If you jump off the mountaintop, could you glide to Cangzhou City using the lift of the kite?

Su Mu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his expression became excited.

"I have a plan to defeat the enemy!"

His voice wasn't loud, but the excitement in his tone was impossible to suppress.

Qin Hao and Xiao Jingyu were talking in hushed tones in the back. When they heard Su Mu's words, they both looked up at the same time, their eyes lighting up.

"Old Su, what's the plan?" Qin Hao rushed up to Su Mu and asked eagerly.

Xiao Jingyu followed, his eyes full of anticipation.

Su Mu did not answer, but turned and strode towards the camp.

He walked much faster than usual.

Qin Hao and Xiao Jingyu quickly followed, the three of them walking back to the central command tent in a row.

……

Inside the tent, Su Mu walked to the map and pointed heavily at the high mountain west of Cangzhou City.

"Look here."

Qin Hao and Xiao Jingyu huddled together, staring at the mountain marker on the map.

"This mountain is a natural barrier to the west of Cangzhou City."

"The mountain is hundreds of feet high and steep. The Northern Di people did not station troops on the mountain because they could not get up there."

"But our special forces team might be able to get up there."

Qin Hao was taken aback: "Old Su, what are you doing up the mountain?"

Su Mu's lips curled up slightly.

"This old man wants to fly down from the mountain."

"fly?"

Qin Hao was stunned, his mouth slightly open, his face full of confusion.

Xiao Jingyu also frowned, completely unable to understand what Su Mu was saying.

Su Mu didn't answer directly, but looked at Qin Hao and asked, "General Qin, do you remember that soldier who was making a kite just now?"

Qin Hao nodded: "I remember, he made kites for his daughter."

"A kite can fly because of the wind."

"The wind comes from the north, blows over the high mountains, and goes south. If our soldiers jump down from the mountaintop with a large kite tied to their backs, could they use the wind to fly to Cangzhou City?"

After a moment of stunned silence, Qin Hao became excited.

"Mr. Su, you want to...?"

"I'm going to send them a divine intervention," Su Mu continued, emphasizing each word. "I'm going to have the special forces brothers glide down from the mountaintop on kites to Cangzhou City, and then, taking advantage of the Northern Di people's unpreparedness, open the city gates and let the army in."

The tent was quiet for a moment.

Qin Hao's mouth was agape, unable to close.

Although fraught with danger, it is feasible.

If successful, they could take Cangzhou without much trouble.

"Elder Su, this subordinate understands!"

Qin Hao suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice filled with excitement.

"This humble general will immediately order men to make a large kite!"

Su Mu nodded.

"Remember, the kite must be sturdy to ensure safety. I don't want to see any of my brothers fall to their deaths because of a flimsy kite."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Qin Hao turned and was about to run out.

"And one more thing," Su Mu called out to him, adding, "Have Zhongyi come to see me."

Qin Hao nodded heavily and strode out of the tent.

Su Mu murmured, "Success or failure hinges on this!"