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

Cangzhou City, the east wing of the government office.

The autumn wind was bleak outside the window, rustling against the windowpane.

The charcoal fire inside was burning brightly, but the chill couldn't be dispelled no matter what.

On the bed, Manxiao leaned against the pillow, his face deathly pale, his lips cracked and chapped, and his left shoulder wrapped in thick bandages, with blood seeping through them.

His eyes were sunken, his cheekbones were prominent, and he had lost a lot of weight. Where was the imposing presence of the Northern Di's number one archer?

His arrow wound has been healing for almost half a month.

Su Mu's arrow pierced his left shoulder, and the arrowhead got stuck in the bone. It took the army doctor a lot of effort to remove it.

Although the wound is slowly healing, my left arm is basically useless. I can't even lift a bowl, let alone draw a bow.

For an archer whose life revolves around his bow, this is worse than death.

"The Prince has arrived!"

A shout came from outside the door.

Manxiao gritted his teeth and tried to get up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed.

The sharp pain in his left shoulder made the veins on his forehead bulge, and cold sweat poured out, but he endured it without uttering a sound.

Tuoba Han strode in and saw Man Xiao struggling to get up. He quickly stepped forward, placed his hands on Man Xiao's shoulders, and spoke urgently.

"General, there's no need for such formalities! You're seriously injured; resting and recuperating is the most important thing!"

Manxiao gave a bitter laugh, stopped struggling, and leaned back against the pillow.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid my health is ruined."

"Nonsense!" Tuoba Han sat down on the chair by the bed, his tone stern. "You are the number one archer of the Northern Barbarians. What is this little injury? I have already sent someone to get medicine from the best pharmacy in Cangzhou City, and I have also invited several old doctors from outside the city who specialize in arrow wounds. With proper care, you will recover in no time."

Manxiao shook his head, his eyes filled with bitterness.

"Your Highness, you don't need to comfort me. I know myself well. Su Mu's arrow pierced my shoulder blade and damaged my tendons. Even if the wound heals, I won't be able to draw a bow with this hand. What kind of archer is one who can't draw a bow?"

He paused, his voice lowering even further.

"I never expected that Su Mu would be so skilled. I thought my archery skills were unparalleled, but he fired two arrows at the same time, one to intercept and the other to hit the target. In my twenty years of military service, I have never seen such archery skills. If that arrow had been a few points off, I would not be lying here now, but in a coffin."

"Su Mu... Su Mu..." Tuoba Han gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffed out. "I really underestimated him. Back outside Qinghe County, I should have gone all out and wiped him out. How could this disaster have happened today?"

Barbarian Owl sighed and looked out the window at the gray sky.

"Your Highness, do you think the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty isn't yet over? Is that why Heaven sent this centenarian to prolong their lives?"

Tuoba Han remained silent for a moment, without saying a word.

Manxiao continued, "In the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty, young heroes have always been revered. The stories written in novels and the songs sung in plays all depict young generals emerging out of nowhere to save the world. But now, the one who saves the Great Qian Dynasty is a centenarian. It's truly both laughable and lamentable."

He turned his head and looked at Tuoba Han, his gaze complex.

"Your Highness, I have fought in battles for half my life and have never seen anyone like Su Mu. His martial arts are superb, his swordsmanship is divine, his spearmanship is invincible, and his archery skills are even more amazing."

"Moreover, he was not only a skilled fighter, but also an adept strategist. His peculiar unit, which appeared and disappeared without a trace, and its Mo Dao and Ma Zha Dao formations, rendered our iron cavalry utterly helpless."

He shook his head, his voice full of helplessness.

"Su Mu is a man of both wisdom and courage, proficient in both literature and martial arts. If such a man had appeared a few years earlier, how could the Great Qian have fallen to such a state today? But just when we were about to take over the Northern Border, he appeared."

Tuoba Han's brows were furrowed.

The tyrant gave a bitter smile.

"Your Highness, I do not believe in fate, but I have no choice but to believe in Su Mu."

"He alone changed the entire war situation in the North."

Tuoba Han gritted his teeth and remained silent.

He knew better than Manxiao how terrifying Su Mu was.

From Qinghe County to Yuzhou City, and from Yuzhou City to Qingzhou City.

He suffered defeat after defeat, lost city after city, his 50,000-strong army was wiped out, Man Tu was killed, Man Xiao was seriously injured, and he himself fled to Cangzhou like a stray dog.

Su Mu was like a mountain, pressing down on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

"General, take good care of your injuries." Tuoba Han stood up and patted Manxiao's hand. "I promise you, one day I will personally cut off Su Mu's head to avenge you, Mantu, and all the brothers who died."

Manxiao bowed, his eyes slightly red.

"Your Highness's kindness is deeply appreciated. If I can truly recover, I will loyally assist Your Highness in eliminating Su Mu and conquering the Northern Territory!"

Tuoba Han nodded, turned around and walked out of the room.

……

He walked heavily along the corridor toward the main hall.

"Bald Lie," he asked as he walked, his voice low.

"Your subordinate is here." Bald Lie followed from behind, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Any news from the strategist's side?"

Bald Lie's expression turned serious. After hesitating for a moment, he said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I have sent men to infiltrate Qingzhou City to investigate for many days, but we still cannot find any trace of the strategist. However, I have learned some information at an inn near the east gate of Qingzhou."

Tuoba Han stopped and turned around to ask.

"What news?"

"The innkeeper said that on the night Qingzhou City was occupied by the Daqian, three people rode away from the east gate on horseback."

"One of them was thin and wore a gray robe, which was quite similar to the strategist's description."

Tuoba Han's eyes lit up slightly, then dimmed again.

"Three people? Who are the other two?"

"I don't know. I heard that the two men were burly and had long swords at their waists, like guards. After leaving the city, the three of them headed east."

"The east? If the strategist escaped, why didn't he come to Cangzhou to find me? Why did he go east instead?"

Bald Lie lowered his head and said, "This humble general does not know either. Perhaps... the strategist is injured and dares not come rashly? Or perhaps he has other plans?"

Tuoba Han remained silent for a moment.

"Keep sending people to search. We need to find them alive or dead!"

"Yes, sir!"

Bald Lie clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned, and left.

Tuoba Han stood in the corridor, gazing at the gray sky, and let out a long sigh.

His strategist was the person he trusted most and the smartest person around him.

If even the strategist is dead, then he will truly be all alone in the North.

Just as he was about to take another step forward, a personal guard rushed over from the direction of the main hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your Highness! The King's special envoy has arrived and is waiting in the main hall! Please proceed immediately!"

Tuoba Han's heart sank.

The ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.

"understood."

He took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the main hall.

……

Inside the main hall, a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a gold fish pouch at his waist was sitting in the guest seat, slowly sipping his tea.

This man had a fair complexion, no beard, long and narrow eyebrows and eyes, and a stern expression.

He was a trusted envoy of Tuoba Feng, the King of the Northern Barbarians, and was responsible for conveying the king's orders. He rarely left the capital.

His arrival indicates that something significant has happened.

"The Right Wise King has arrived!"

Tuoba Han strode into the main hall, put down his teacup, stood up, cupped his hands and smiled, "Right Wise King, it's been a long time, you still have the same charm."

Tuoba Han did not laugh, but simply cupped his hands in greeting and sat down in the main seat.

"The envoy has come from afar; may His Majesty grant us his orders?"

The envoy took out a roll of bright yellow silk from his sleeve, raised it high with both hands, and raised his voice several decibels.

"Right Wise Prince Tuoba Han, receive the imperial decree!"

Tuoba Han stood up and knelt on one knee.

Wanyan Lie unfolded the silk scroll and read it aloud.

"Right Wise King Tuoba Han led troops to conquer the northern border of Daqian, but suffered repeated defeats, lost soldiers and generals, and lost cities and territories. His crimes are unforgivable. However, considering his past merits, he will be given a lighter punishment for now. But from this day forward, he will be relieved of his post as Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition and will immediately return to the capital of the Northern Barbarians to recuperate and await orders. The post of Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition will be taken over by Left Wise King Tuoba Lie."

Tuoba Han knelt on the ground, his face ashen.

He waited a long time before slowly saying:

"Your subject...accepts the decree."

Wanyan Lie handed him the silk, bent down to help him up, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, the King said that you have worked hard these past few years. Go back to the capital and rest well. The Left Wise Prince is young and strong, and is good at fighting. It would be a good thing to let him share the burden with you."

Tuoba Han suppressed his anger and said calmly, "The envoy is right. I wonder... when I shall depart?"

"Three days later, His Majesty said there was no rush. Your Highness can pack up and hand over the affairs of Cangzhou before leaving."

Tuoba Han nodded without saying a word.

The envoy exchanged a few more pleasantries, then, feigning exhaustion from the journey, was led by his personal guards to a guest room to rest.

Tuoba Han stood in the main hall, clutching the imperial decree in his hand, his heart filled with resentment and anger.

Tuoba Lie entered at some point, and seeing Tuoba Han's expression, he cautiously asked, "Your Highness, what brings the envoy here?"

Tuoba Han threw the imperial edict on the table and sneered.

"Your Majesty has relieved me of my post as marshal and allowed me to return to the capital to recuperate. The position of Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition will be taken over by the Left Wise King Tuoba Lie."

Bald Lie's expression changed drastically.

"The Left Wise King? He's coming to succeed him? Then Your Highness..."

"Me? I've become a stray dog, summoned back to the capital, waiting for the reckoning." Tuoba Han's voice was full of sarcasm. "Your Majesty ostensibly said you wanted me to recuperate, but in reality, you've stripped me of my military power. I suffered a defeat, lost Qingzhou, and lost my barbarian chieftain. I can understand Your Majesty's decision!"

My baldness is getting really bad.

"Your Highness, so you're just going to accept it like that?"

Tuoba Han turned around, walked to the window, his back to the bald man Lie, and looked at the gray sky outside.

"Accept it? I am not willing."

"I have been managing the northern border for three years and finally conquered five states and thirteen cities. Now I have lost Qingzhou and Yuzhou, but Cangzhou, Yingzhou and Mozhou are still in my hands. I have not lost completely yet."

Tuoba Lie quickly walked up behind Tuoba Han and lowered his voice.

"Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

Tuoba Han remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he turned around and said coldly:

"Bald-haired Lie, convey my secret order: summon the Thirteen Envoys of the Black Cloud!"

Bald Lie's pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran down his spine.

"Your Highness, you want to..."

Tuoba Han sneered, "Go!"

Bald Lie opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

He simply clasped his hands in a fist and said in a low voice, "This humble general obeys."