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

On the official road leading from the Northern Barbarians to Mozhou, wind and snow raged.

The cold wind howled, swirling up the snow on the ground. On the boundless snowfield, the dark army stretched out like a long black dragon, winding forward as far as the eye could see.

Fifty thousand cavalry and fifty thousand infantry.

Banners fluttered, and the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps mingled together, causing the earth to tremble slightly.

At the very front of the procession, a huge golden flag fluttered in the wind and snow.

The banner is embroidered with a golden eagle, wings outstretched as if about to take flight. The eagle's eyes are inlaid with two large rubies, which glow with a blood-red light in the hazy sky.

Beneath the banner, Tuoba Feng, the King of the Northern Di, rode a jet-black steed, clad in golden armor, a black sable cloak, and a golden crown. With his tiger-like eyes and thick eyebrows, he stared straight ahead.

A golden sword hung at his waist, and a jet-black spear dangled from the side of his saddle, its tip gleaming white and flashing coldly in the wind and snow.

Behind him, four fierce generals walked side by side.

The first man on the left was burly and broad-shouldered, wielding a pair of heavy iron hammers, each weighing at least eighty pounds, yet they felt as light as nothing in his hands.

This man was named Timur, the strongest man in the Northern Di, capable of lifting a cauldron. He once killed thirteen enemy generals in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and was known as the "God Hammer of the Grasslands".

The second person on the left was thin and dark-skinned, with deep-set, hawk-like eyes that were sharp as knives.

He carried a huge longbow on his back, its arms as black as ink, and the bowstring made from the sinew of a snow leopard.

This man was named Hurchi, the top archer of the Northern Barbarians and the senior brother of Manxiao. His archery skills were even better than Manxiao's, and he could shoot a bird in the eye from three hundred paces away.

The other two were generals of the guards of the Northern Di King. They were both among the top ten warriors of the Northern Di, seasoned veterans, and skilled in battle.

Imperial Advisor Xuan Ce rode beside Tuoba Feng, wearing a long black robe, with a thin face and deep eyes.

……

Tuoba gazed at the vast white snowfield ahead, his eyes filled with an unwavering determination.

"Imperial Preceptor, how far are we from Mozhou?"

Xuan Ce cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there are still fifty li to go."

"Your Majesty, it is already late, and the wind and snow are heavy. The soldiers have been traveling for days and are exhausted. I suggest that we set up camp here and rest for the night before advancing again early tomorrow morning."

Tuoba Qingtian pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"The Imperial Advisor is right. Soldiers, rest up and be ready to take the city of Mozhou in one fell swoop when we reach it tomorrow!"

He raised his riding whip and shouted behind him, "Order to set up camp here! Tomorrow morning, march on Mozhou!"

The order was given, and the 100,000-strong army slowly came to a halt.

The soldiers began setting up tents, cooking, feeding the horses, and sharpening their knives.

On the other side, Sikong Yu, riding his horse, saw the Northern Di army setting up camp in the distance, and he immediately recognized the king's eagle banner, which was fluttering high in the cold wind.

He muttered to himself, "Prince Tuoba Lie is truly a prophet. The King really did lead the expedition in person, and with so many troops. If we are defeated in the northern border, the Northern Di will surely be in turmoil. At that time, the entire Northern Di will be plunged into internal political turmoil, and there may even be a situation of foreign invasion."

"I must hurry to see the King and stop all of this from happening!"

So, Sikong Yu rode his horse and galloped towards the army.

……

One tent after another was set up, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys.

Tuoba Qingtian dismounted and strode into the central command tent.

A charcoal fire had already been lit inside the tent, and warmth filled the air.

Several guards laid out a carpet, set up a table, and served hot mare's milk wine and roasted mutton.

The soldiers filed in and took their seats on either side.

Tuoba Feng looked at his generals with piercing eyes.

"Generals, tomorrow our army will be at the gates of Mozhou City. I will seize this city in one fell swoop!"

"That centenarian Su Mu killed several of my generals and captured two of my brothers. I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"

Timur quickly declared, "Your Majesty, rest assured! These iron hammers of mine are specifically for smashing that old bastard's head! Tomorrow, when we reach the city walls, I will be the first to charge forward and smash Su Mu's head into a pulp!"

"With the other three generals, if we attack together, we will surely be able to break through the northern border."

Looking at these four fierce generals, Tuoba Qingtian felt reassured.

"Excellent! With the four of you here, how could I possibly fail to conquer the Northern Border? Tomorrow, when we breach the city, I will reward you handsomely!"

"Report!"

Suddenly a hurried shout came from outside the tent. A guard lifted the curtain and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, a man has arrived outside the camp. He claims to be Sikong Yu, the military advisor under the Right Wise King, and says he has just come from the northern border and has urgent military intelligence to report to Your Majesty!"

Tuoba Feng's brows furrowed sharply.

"Sikong Yu?" He looked at Xuan Ce. "Strategist, isn't this the strategist by my second brother's side? How did he escape?"

Xuan Ce cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Sikong Yu is the chief strategist by the Right Wise King's side. He is resourceful and wise. He played an indispensable role in the swift conquest of the Northern Territory three years ago."

"Since he was able to escape from the North, he must know the details of the North."

"Your Majesty might as well summon him in and ask him what's going on. If you can bring him along on the campaign, with his advice and strategies, we'll be more confident in winning this battle."

Tuoba Feng nodded and waved his hand.

"Let him in!"

Before long, Sikong Yu was brought in.

He was travel-worn, his robes were covered in snow and mud, and his face bore the marks of his imprisonment; he looked much more haggard.

Yet his eyes remained clear, and his steps were steady.

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant Sikong Yu, pay my respects!" Sikong Yu knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in greeting.

Tuoba Feng looked him up and down, and asked in confusion:

"Sikong Yu, you're really capable of escaping from the northern border."

"Tell me quickly, what's the situation in the North right now? How many troops does that old man Su Mu have? How are the city's defenses?"

Sikong Yu raised his head, took a deep breath, and spoke urgently.

"Your Majesty, I did not escape; it was Su Mu who released me."

An uproar erupted inside the tent.

Tuoba Feng's face instantly darkened.

"Su Mu released you? Why did he release you? Did you defect to the enemy?"

Sikong Yu quickly took out the letter sealed with sealing wax from his bosom and raised it high above his head with both hands.

"Your Majesty, please understand! This humble subject has not betrayed the enemy! This humble subject was ordered by the two princes to deliver a letter to Your Majesty! This is a joint letter from the two princes; please take a look!"

Tuoba Qingtian took the letter, tore open the seal, and unfolded the letter.

His gaze swept from the first line to the last, his expression growing increasingly grim and somber.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his temples throbbed, and his hand holding the letter trembled slightly.

"Snapped!"

Tuoba Feng slammed the letter onto the table and then smashed it down with his palm, causing the wine bowl to jump and spill wine all over the table.

"Absurd! Ridiculous! A fool's dream!"

His angry voice echoed through the tent.

"What do Tuoba Lie and his companion mean by this? Are they asking me to sue for peace with the Great Qian? To cede territory and pay reparations? And to keep a prince in the Great Qian as a hostage for three years? Have they been terrified of Su Mu or driven mad by being imprisoned?"

Timur suddenly stood up, his big, round eyes wide open.

"Sue for peace? Cede territory and pay reparations? Our Northern Di cavalry has traversed the grasslands and has never bowed its head to anyone! Why should those weaklings of the Great Qian force us to cede territory and pay reparations?"

Hurchi also stood up and sneered.

"Your Majesty, the two princes have probably been imprisoned for too long, and their minds are no longer clear."

"A centenarian, relying on a few victories, thinks he can make my Northern Barbarians bow down and submit? What a joke!"

Sikong Yu knelt on the ground, sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Your Majesty, Su Mu is no ordinary man! His martial arts are unfathomable, his strategies are extraordinary, and he is skilled in leading an army."

"Yeluqi and Mantu are both formidable generals of our time, yet they couldn't withstand more than a few rounds against him! He also captured the two princes alive! If Your Majesty does not believe me, this humble subject is willing to stake my head on the fact that everything stated in this letter is true!"

Temur snorted coldly, strode up to Sikong Yu, and stared down at him.

"Sikong Yu, you wouldn't have defected to Su Mu and are deliberately trying to sow discord among the troops, would you? What benefits did that old man give you to act as his advocate?"

Sikong Yu raised his head, his gaze unwavering.

"General Temu, your loyalty to the King and the Right Wise King is as clear as day!"

"Every word I have said is true! If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send someone to investigate. My family is still in the Northern Barbarian lands. If I had any disloyal intentions, would I not care about the lives of my family?"

Timur choked for a moment, his face turning red.

Xuan Ce picked up the letter, read it carefully, and frowned.

He put down the letter, looked at Tuoba Feng, and whispered, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the handwriting of the two princes."

"The Left Wise King's calligraphy is vigorous and unique, and no one else can imitate it. Moreover, the letter is stamped with the private seals of the two princes, which is also genuine."

Tuoba Feng frowned.

Xuan Ce continued, "Your Majesty, given the Left Wise King's character, he would never make such a suggestion without a reason."

"Your Majesty, I believe that this matter should be considered at a longer time."

"Let's take it a long time?" Tuoba Feng suddenly stood up, his face full of anger.

"I, the King, have personally led an army of 100,000, pressing on our borders. The arrow is on the bowstring, and we must release it! At this point, you're telling me to 'consider our options'? Where do you think I'll put my face? Where do you think the Northern Barbarians will put their face?"

He pointed outside the tent, his voice booming.

"Su Mu, a centenarian, thinks he can force me to cede territory and pay reparations based on a few minor victories? He's dreaming!"

He turned around, looked at Sikong Yu, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light.

"Sikong Yu, go back and tell Su Mu that I will not accept any conditions! I will personally cut off his head and hang it on the flagpole so that the people of Daqian can see the consequences of opposing my Northern Di!"

Sikong Yu was so anxious that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead hitting the cold ground with a thud.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Tuoba Feng sneered, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"With my army of 100,000, 50,000 iron cavalry, and four valiant generals, flattening the mere city of Mozhou will be as easy as taking candy from a bag!"

"You keep spouting nonsense and disrupting our morale."

"Someone come here!"

Two guards rushed in from outside the tent and knelt on one knee.

"Drag this guy who's disrupting morale and undermining the troops away and execute him!"

Sikong Yu's face turned deathly pale as he struggled desperately.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please reconsider! Every word I have spoken is true! Your Majesty must not act rashly! We cannot fight this battle against the Northern Barbarians!"

Two guards grabbed Sikong Yu from the left and right and dragged him out.

Sikong Yu's feet left two deep marks on the ground, and the sound grew fainter and fainter.

"Your Majesty! I deserve to die, but the Northern Barbarians cannot be defeated! Your Majesty!"

Tuoba Feng didn't even glance at him. He turned around, facing the four fierce generals and Xuan Ce in the tent, his voice serious and firm.

"Gentlemen! Tomorrow morning, the army will set off and march straight for Mozhou! We will take the northern border in one fell swoop and show the Great Qian that our Northern Di cavalry is invincible!"

Timur raised his hammer and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty is wise! We will conquer the North!"

"Crush the Northern Border!"

Four fierce generals, their voices resounding throughout the camp.

The Northern Barbarian generals and soldiers were in high spirits!