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

On the official road leading to Ninghai City.

Dust filled the air, obscuring the sky and the sun.

The 50,000-strong army, like a winding dragon, marched swiftly along the official road.

Cavalry led the way, infantry followed in the middle, and baggage trains brought up the rear. Banners fluttered, and swords and spears stood like a forest.

Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng rode on his horse, clad in golden armor, wearing a phoenix-winged helmet, with a sword at his waist, his face grim.

He frowned, glancing ahead every now and then, as if anticipating something.

After Prime Minister Li Yuan fell from power, he lost a hand in the court and now desperately needs a major victory to solidify his position.

The Battle of the East China Sea was his opportunity to solidify his position as the future heir apparent.

But a vague unease lingered in his heart.

The Dongyi people advanced too quickly.

Zhenhai City fell in less than half a month.

He thought that at this rate, by the time he arrived, the Dongyi people would probably have already reached the gates of Wanhu City.

"Report!"

At this moment, a scout rode up from the front, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and spoke urgently.

"Your Highness, our scouts report that the Eastern Barbarian army has captured Wanhu City! Moreover, the Eastern Barbarian vanguard, Saki Musashi, is leading his troops straight towards Ninghai City, and is expected to be at its gates tomorrow!"

The crown prince's expression changed instantly, filled with utter astonishment.

"Wanhu City...has it lost another city?"

The scout lowered his head, not daring to look at him.

"Yes, the entire garrison in the city has been wiped out."

Xiao Yunfeng was so angry that his chest heaved violently and his face turned ashen.

He was just thinking about Wanhu City, and now he's received news that it's been breached!

What I feared most has come to pass!

At this moment, the crown prince became somewhat flustered.

Before he even reached the front lines, the battle had already reached Ninghai City.

If Ninghai is lost, half of the entire East China Sea will have been taken over by the Dongyi.

"What should we do?"

"The Dongyi people are advancing too fast! We still have three days' journey to Ninghai, and by the time we arrive, Ninghai will probably be..."

As Xiao Yunfeng spoke, he turned his gaze to the Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, and asked, "Third Uncle, what do you think we should do?"

Xiao Jingyu frowned, already thinking of a solution.

"Your Highness, the Eastern Yi people are advancing so rapidly because they want to capture another city before our reinforcements arrive."

"If Ninghai City falls again, the entire East China Sea defense line will be indefensible. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom."

"So, what does Third Uncle mean?"

"Send a cavalry force ahead," Xiao Jingyu said decisively. "Three thousand elite cavalry, lightly armed, will rush day and night to reach Ninghai City before the Dongyi people, join the garrison, and hold off the Dongyi's attack until the main army arrives."

The crown prince remained silent for a moment, then looked at Xu Cheng.

He knew that Xu Cheng was a veteran, steady and reliable, and that sending him ahead would ensure that nothing went wrong.

"Then let General Xu lead three thousand cavalry..."

"No," Xiao Jingyu interrupted him. "General Xu Cheng is the vanguard officer and must accompany the army."

In fact, Xiao Jingyu knew very well that among these 50,000 troops, the generals and soldiers looked at the crown prince's banner, but in their hearts, they respected Xu Cheng.

If he is sent away, the morale of the army will inevitably be affected.

The Crown Prince frowned: "So, what does Third Uncle mean...?"

Xiao Jingyu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his gaze fixed on the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, may a general accompany this old minister to lead three thousand cavalry in a preemptive raid on Ninghai!"

The crown prince paused for a moment, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Actually, he couldn't have been happier to accept the offer from his third uncle.

His third uncle opposed him in the imperial court, but he was a master of military affairs.

More than a decade ago, he was a renowned general of the Great Qian Dynasty who had never been defeated on the battlefield.

Sending him to the front lines would both tie down the Dongyi people and keep him out of sight.

Moreover, if something were to happen to him during the battle, it would be like removing a thorn in our side.

"Very well." The Crown Prince nodded immediately. "Zhao Huaizhong, you will accompany your third uncle, leading three thousand elite cavalry, marching day and night to reinforce Ninghai City!"

Zhao Huaizhong's expression changed slightly, and he felt a little scared. What were the chances of winning if three thousand cavalry went to fight those bandits?

But since the crown prince had given the order, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go ahead.

"This humble general... obeys!"

Xiao Jingyu didn't even glance at Zhao Huaizhong.

He turned his horse around and headed towards the cavalry camp.

Zhao Huaizhong quickly followed.

Soon, three thousand elite cavalrymen marched out in unison, their hooves thundering and dust billowing.

Xiao Jingyu swung his long whip, and his black warhorse neighed and galloped off like an arrow toward Ninghai City.

Three thousand cavalry followed closely behind, like a black torrent, separating from the main army and disappearing at the end of the official road.

The Crown Prince, mounted on his horse, watched Xiao Jingyu's departing figure with a furrowed brow and a heart full of worry.

Upon seeing this, Xu Cheng immediately turned his horse around and raised his whip towards the army behind him.

"All troops, advance at full speed! Target... Ninghai City!"

The 50,000-strong army quickened its pace and continued its march along the official road.

……

Three thousand warhorses galloped wildly along the official road.

The wind whistled past his ears as Xiao Jingyu lay on his horse's back, his gaze involuntarily falling on the long sword at his waist.

That battle sword, sealed away for fifteen years, will once again be unsheathed on the battlefield.

After traveling for several hours, a village appeared ahead.

Even before we got close, a strong smell of burning wafted over on the wind.

Xiao Jingyu frowned sharply, pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up high.

"stop!"

The three thousand elite cavalrymen came to a sudden halt.

Xiao Jingyu spurred his horse forward and, after walking more than a hundred paces, saw the village.

The village has been reduced to ruins.

The house was burned to the ground, leaving only ruins. Blackened logs lay crookedly stuck in the ashes, still emitting wisps of smoke.

The old locust tree at the village entrance was burned to charcoal; its crown was gone, leaving only a bare trunk, like a hand reaching towards the sky.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood and burning, a nauseating combination.

Xiao Jingyu dismounted and walked into the village step by step.

Zhao Huaizhong followed behind, his face pale, covering his nose, not daring to look any longer.

Corpses lay scattered haphazardly along the village road.

There were elderly people, women, and children.

Some had been beheaded, their heads rolling on the roadside, their eyes still open, their faces frozen in terror.

Some were burned beyond recognition, curled up in a ball, like a charred log.

A young woman was lying on the well platform, holding a baby in her arms.

Xiao Jingyu knelt down and reached out to close the woman's eyes.

Zhao Huaizhong stood behind, his face as white as paper, his lips trembling: "Your Highness...this...this is too tragic...the Dongyi people are not human..."

Xiao Jingyu did not answer.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the massacred village, his voice trembling with anger.

"The Eastern barbarian bandits slaughtered my villages, killed my people, and didn't even spare the babies."

"He deserves to die!"

"They must pay for their crimes in blood."

"If I don't avenge this, I will be unworthy of being the Prince of Daqian!"

He turned around abruptly, mounted his horse, and drew his sword from his waist.

The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, reflecting in his bloodshot eyes.

"All troops, listen to my command! Target: Ninghai City! Full speed ahead!"

The three thousand elite cavalrymen started up again, faster and more fierce than before.

……

Two more hours passed, and the outline of Ninghai City appeared on the horizon ahead.

On the city wall, flames soared into the sky, thick smoke billowed, and shouts of battle and screams of agony carried on the wind, clearly audible.

Ninghai City has already fallen.

Zhao Huaizhong's expression changed drastically: "Your Highness, the city gates have been breached, we're too late! We should retreat to Haizhou City and hold our position until the main army arrives..."

"No need!" Xiao Jingyu interrupted him, his voice firm. "The Dongyi people have only recently entered the city and haven't established a firm foothold. We'll attack from the rear, catching them off guard!"

He turned around to face the three thousand elite cavalry behind him, his voice booming.

"Soldiers! You've seen it! The Eastern barbarian bandits are slaughtering our villages, killing our people, sparing not even infants! Now they're massacring the people of Ninghai City! We're here to fight, but even more so to save lives!"

"These beasts! How many houses have they burned? How much food have they stolen? I will lead you in to slaughter them and make them pay for their crimes in blood!"

Three thousand elite cavalrymen roared in unison, their voices booming like thunder.

"A blood debt must be paid for with blood! A blood debt must be paid for with blood! A blood debt must be paid for with blood!"

Xiao Jingyu raised his battle sword, its tip pointing directly at the city gate ablaze with flames, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"kill!"

Three thousand elite cavalrymen surged toward Ninghai City like a flood bursting its banks.