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

North of Ninghai City, the official road was shrouded in dust.

The Daqian army, like a torrent stretching for miles, rapidly approached the city occupied by the Dongyi people.

The cavalrymen in the front row rode slowly, their hooves kicking up clouds of grayish-yellow dust as they trod on the dry earth.

Soon.

The outline of Ninghai City has already emerged from the horizon.

The gray-white city walls appeared somewhat mottled in the sunlight, and black flags of the Dongyi people were planted on the top of the walls, with a blood-red crescent moon embroidered on the flags, swaying gently in the wind.

The figures of patrolling soldiers can be vaguely seen on the city wall.

"We've finally arrived."

Xu Cheng spurred his horse forward and rode alongside Su Mu.

His gaze fell on the city wall, and he took a deep breath.

His eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions: anger, shame, and endless unease.

Because he had suffered a crushing defeat on this land before.

Without turning his head, Su Mu asked, "General Xu, is this the place where you suffered your defeat?"

Xu Cheng was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I was standing right under this city wall when I was knocked off my horse by Otomo's iron mace. If it weren't for Han Shixun risking his life to save me, I would have lost my life here."

"I have always thought that one day I must return here and regain the face I have lost."

"But when we actually reached the city walls..."

"I'm still a little scared."

After listening, Su Mu calmly replied, "Don't worry, it won't happen this time."

"You will definitely be able to avenge yourself."

"Go, tell the vanguard battalion to quicken their pace."

Xu Cheng cupped his hands in greeting, then rode forward on horseback.

After speaking, Su Mu turned his head to look at Xiao Jingyu, who was standing beside him.

"Your Highness, how is General Xu's condition?"

Xiao Jingyu's gaze lingered on Xu Cheng for a moment, then he shook his head slightly: "General Xu is a veteran general, courageous and resourceful, but the defeat last time has taken root in his heart."

"He says he wants to avenge himself, but he hasn't completely gotten over that hurdle in his heart yet."

Su Mu nodded.

"Actually, Xu Cheng isn't the only one like this."

"The shadow of the last defeat has not yet completely dissipated among the tens of thousands of soldiers behind us."

Xiao Jingyu frowned slightly: "What does Elder Su mean...?"

"You want to use their own methods against them to help the army regain its morale and confidence?"

Su Mu smiled and looked at Xiao Jingyu with admiration: "No one understands this old man better than the Third Prince."

Xiao Jingyu also laughed.

"That would be an honor for Jing Yu."

Su Mu understood perfectly.

The Eastern Barbarians were able to win last time because of Ōtomo Tetsumaru's ferocity on the battlefield.

If we kill him in public, the suppressed morale can be restored.

The thorn in the hearts of Xu Cheng and his soldiers was thus removed.

Xiao Jingyu looked at Su Mu, and he already knew what Su Mu was thinking.

He thought to himself, "Old Su's move is about winning people's hearts."

"How wonderful, how wonderful!"

……

Half an hour later, the army arrived at the city gates.

Su Mu and his soldiers rode to the front, looking at Ninghai City ahead with different expressions.

Su Mu said, "Tie Niu, go forward and challenge them."

He spurred his horse and charged out of the ranks.

He cupped his hands and said, "Alright, I'll go and meet those Eastern barbarian bastards now."

Xu Cheng remained worried and reminded him, "Brother Tie Niu, don't underestimate your opponent."

"That Otomo Tetsumaru possesses remarkable martial arts skills and immense strength..."

Zhao Tieniu waved his hand and replied, "General Xu, Tieniu understands. I'm leaving now."

He then rode his horse and galloped towards the city of Ninghai.

The horse's hooves kicked up a trail of dust. He held a knife in one hand, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, his figure standing out conspicuously in the empty fields in front of the city.

When they were about a hundred paces from the city gate, he suddenly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up high, letting out a loud neigh.

Zhao Tieniu took a deep breath, gathered all his energy, and shouted towards the city wall with a voice like thunder:

"You barbarian bastards on the city wall, listen up!"

"Your great-grandfather Zhao Tieniu is here! If you know what's good for you, hurry up and open the city gates, kneel down and call me 'Grandpa' three times, lest I cleave you all in two when I rush in!"

"You, Otomo Tetsumaru! Get your ass out here! Aren't you supposed to be the fiercest general of the Eastern Barbarians?"

"What kind of skill is it to cower behind the city walls like a tortoise?"

"You dare come down here and exchange a few blows with me! I'll give you a three-move head start! If you manage to touch the hem of my clothes within those three moves, I'll kowtow three times to you right now!"

The tens of thousands of Daqian soldiers behind him burst into laughter, which echoed far across the open field.

You Zhongyi couldn't help but say, "Tie Niu's words are faster than his sword when it comes to fighting."

Everyone laughed.

On the city wall, the faces of the Dongyi soldiers were increasingly grim.

Otomo Tetsumaru stood in the center of the castle tower, his face ashen, his teeth clenched.

They couldn't wait to leave the city and engage in battle.

"Commander!" He turned sharply to Ryunosuke, "Get me out of here! I'm going to twist that black bastard's head off and use it as a football!"

Ryunosuke did not answer immediately.

His gaze fell on the figure standing below the city wall challenging the enemy, then passed over that figure and looked towards the distant formation of the Great Qian army.

At the very front of the army formation, the white warhorse and the white-haired old man stood out conspicuously.

Takenaka Hyōe walked up to Ryūnosuke and reminded him, "General, Su Mu... he wouldn't do something without preparation."

"He must have had his reasons for sending this burly man out to challenge us."

"This humble general suggests that we send someone to scout out the situation first, and not let General Ōtomo go into battle lightly."

Ryunosuke remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

He turned to the side and said, "Tanaka Ichiro, go and test that black guy's skills."

"Yes, sir!"

A wiry and capable general stepped forward in response.

This man was in his forties, with a thin, long face and a shrewd, fierce glint in his eyes. He was a lieutenant under Ryunosuke, known for his swift and ruthless swordsmanship.

After receiving the order, he quickly left the city and led five thousand soldiers out of the city gate to form a battle formation in front of the city.

Tanaka Ichiro rode forward, his katana held horizontally in front of him, a disdainful smile playing on his lips:

"You arrogant dog, don't be so cocky! Why would General Ōtomo need to intervene to kill you? I am enough!"

Zhao Tieniu looked at the newcomer, his large, round eyes scanning him up and down: "You?"

Tanaka Ichiro's facial muscles twitched: "Enough talk! Take this!"

He spurred his horse, and the warhorse charged towards Zhao Tieniu, his samurai sword raised high in his hand.

His swordsmanship was indeed fast, known for its speed and precision. He aimed straight for Zhao Tieniu's neck with a swift and ruthless strike.

Zhao Tieniu did not dodge.

He leaned back slightly, the blade grazing his nose.

At the same time, he swung his long sword diagonally upwards, the blade whistling through the air with tremendous force.

"clang!"

Tanaka Ichiro's sword was knocked away, tumbling several times in mid-air before crashing to the ground a few feet away.

Tanaka Ichiro never expected that this guy's swordsmanship would be so terrifying.

With a single strike, he knocked the samurai sword out of his hand.

Before Tanaka Ichiro could react, Zhao Tieniu's second slash had already come down.

There are no fancy moves, just the simplest downward chop.

The blade flashed like a silver waterfall, carrying immense force as it slashed straight down.

Tanaka Ichiro instinctively raised his arms to block.

The long knife fell.

"puff!"

A single slash, diagonally from the shoulder to the waist and abdomen.

Tanaka Ichiro's body split open from the middle, and blood gushed out.

The body slid to the sides, fell from the horse's back, and crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Zhao Tieniu sheathed his sword, glanced down at the corpse on the ground, and grinned, "Tsk tsk, I haven't even used my full strength yet, and it's already down?"

He raised his head, facing the city wall, and shouted in a booming voice, "Next!"