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

Yuzhou City, the prefectural government office.

In the center of the main hall, a huge sheepskin map was laid out on a long table, with mountains, rivers, cities, and passes clearly marked.

Right Wise King Tuoba Han rested his hands on the edge of the table, leaning over and staring at the location of Qinghe County on the map, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

His fingers moved slowly along the mountain range surrounding Qinghe County, measuring inch by inch from north to south and from east to west.

He was already planning in his mind how to advance rapidly into the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty after taking Qinghe County.

Once Qinghe County is captured, the entire five prefectures and thirteen cities of the northern border will fall into the hands of the Northern Barbarians.

At that time, heading south to the Central Plains will be a smooth and flat journey.

Tuoba Han's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"Your Highness, when shall we launch a military campaign against Qinghe County?"

Yeluqi stood aside, watching Tuoba Han leisurely study the map, his heart already filled with barely suppressed excitement.

His pacing back and forth made a "thump-thump" sound as his boots stomped on the floor tiles.

Ever since Chi Lie was killed, he has been restless and eager to make a move.

He was eager to see just how capable the so-called "expert" who could kill Chi Lie really was.

Unable to contain himself any longer, he cupped his hands and said:

"Your Highness, in my humble opinion, the Daqian army is nothing but a disorganized mess and is not worthy of being a match for the Northern Di's iron hooves."

"As long as Your Highness gives the order, I am confident that I can take Qinghe County within three days."

Tuoba Han raised his head, glanced at Yeluqi, smiled slightly, and said, "General Yeluqi, don't be impatient. Throughout history, those who achieve great things have always needed to plan ahead. The outcome of the battle is not determined in a few days, but rather through strategic planning in the imperial court."

Yeluqi grew anxious, took a step forward, and continued, "Your Highness, with the strength of our Northern Di Iron Hoof, there's no need for us to be so wary of those Daqian soldiers!"

"This humble general is willing to swear a military oath: as long as Your Highness gives the order, this humble general will surrender Qinghe County to Your Highness!"

Tuoba Han straightened up, his gaze shifting from the map to Yeluqi's face, his smile fading slightly.

"How can a general, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, be so reckless?"

"Qinghe County is the last stronghold for our Northern Di to rule the northern border of Daqian. The closer we get to the end, the more cautious we must be. One wrong step and we will lose everything."

"My goal this time is to take Qinghe County with minimal losses. Our Northern Di cavalry must conserve their strength."

"The Central Plains are our true main battlefield."

Yeluqi opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but seeing Tuoba Han's confident look, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He sighed heavily, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness is wise. This humble general... is going to drill the troops."

After saying that, he turned and strode out of the main hall, the sound of his boots gradually fading into the distance.

Tuoba Han watched his retreating figure, then shook his head with a smile.

The strategist Sikong Yu, who was standing to the side, laughed and said, "Your Highness, our Yale General can't hold back any longer."

"Military generals are naturally passionate and impulsive, so it's understandable that they might be a bit rash."

"Strategist, have you heard anything from the reconnaissance team we sent out?"

Sikong Yu was in his forties, with a thin face, a long beard, and deep, shrewd eyes.

He cupped his hands slightly and replied unhurriedly, "We expect to hear back soon."

The words had barely left his mouth...

A hurried shout came from outside the main hall, followed by a figure rushing in, kneeling on one knee, panting heavily.

"Report..."

Tuoba Han and Sikong Yu exchanged a glance, a glint of light flashing in their eyes at the same time.

"What's the matter that you're in such a panic?" Sikong Yu asked.

The soldier took a deep breath and shouted, "Your Highness, Strategist, the scouts we sent to Qinghe County have returned! They have important military intelligence!"

Tuoba Han's lips curled up slightly as he quickly walked back to the main seat and sat down, straightening his robes.

"Let him in."

"yes!"

A moment later, a spy dressed in plain clothes, looking travel-worn, strode into the main hall, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Stand up and speak," Tuoba Han waved his hand. "How's the investigation going?"

The scout stood up, took a deep breath, and began to report in detail.

"Your Highness, we have found out who killed General Chi Lie."

"The killer was indeed an elderly man with white hair, nearly a hundred years old, named Su Mu."

"This man was originally an ordinary old farmer from Qinjiacun Village in Qinghe County. He joined the army because he enlisted in place of his granddaughter."

Tuoba Han's brow twitched slightly: "A hundred years old? Joining the army in place of his granddaughter?"

"Indeed," the scout continued. "Although this man is old, he possesses immense strength and his swordsmanship is divine."

"On the day he entered the camp, he tamed the Akhal-Teke horse with his bare hands."

"Later, he was assigned to the cook battalion. A few days ago, he led the cook battalion to Qingfeng Town to escort grain and fodder. He repelled the bandits who had been entrenched in Qingfeng Town for many years and successfully transported the grain and fodder back."

"In addition, the reconnaissance team we sent out... also encountered the cook battalion led by Su Mu and was completely wiped out."

"When I arrived, all I saw was... a dozen or so corpses and a pile of broken helmets and armor."

The main hall was quiet for a moment.

Tuoba Han sat in the main seat, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest twice. His expression was calm as still water, but his eyes were churning with turbulent emotions.

Sikong Yu stood to the side, his folding fan hovering in mid-air, forgetting to wave it.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his thin face was filled with shock.

"A centenarian..." Sikong Yu muttered to himself, "Taming a Ferghana horse with his bare hands? Leading the cooks to repel the Qingfeng Village bandits? And wiping out our elite reconnaissance squad halfway through the journey?"

"How is this possible? At a hundred years old, even walking is difficult; how could she have such abilities?"

Tuoba Han did not speak. He stood up, paced around the hall with his hands behind his back, and then suddenly stopped.

"How did General Xu Shigui treat this man?"

The scout quickly replied, "Your Highness, according to my investigation, Xu Shigui and Su Mu are at odds."

"Xu Shigui is a narrow-minded and petty person."

"His two sons were kicked by Akhal-Teke horses, so he took his anger out on Su Mu and made things difficult for him at every turn."

"Su Mu made great contributions, but instead of rewarding him, he used the excuse that Su Mu was good at riding Akhal-Teke horses to offset his merits and demerits."

"Sending Su Mu to Qingfeng Town to escort grain supplies was also a scheme to use someone else to do the dirty work."

After hearing this, Tuoba Han suddenly laughed.

Puzzled, Sikong Yu stepped forward and asked, "Why is Your Highness laughing?"

Tuoba Han turned around and looked at Sikong Yu, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.

"Strategist, think about it..."

"A centenarian with such extraordinary abilities was constantly suppressed by the general and assigned to the cookhouse. What does this tell us?"

Sikong Yu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This shows that Xu Shigui is narrow-minded, jealous of talent, and loses the support of the army."

"Not bad." Tuoba Han walked back to the map, placed his hands on the edge of the table, and looked at the location of Qinghe County. "With the generals at odds and the army disunited, even if there are many brave generals, such an army is nothing but a disorganized mess."

He straightened up, his smile growing wider.

"Strategist, I already have a plan to defeat the enemy."

Sikong Yu's eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, this humble subject is dull-witted; may I ask you?"

Tuoba Han replied, "Since the generals and commanders are at odds, let's use a divisive tactic."

He walked to the table, picked up a pen, spread out a piece of parchment, and dipped the pen tip in thick ink.

Begin preparing for his divisive tactics!