Chapter 110: Laugh My Ass Off, I Don’t Need A Single Soldier—i’ll Go Chop Off Tudan’s Head Myself
The atmosphere in the imperial court was oppressive, filled with panic.
The Emperor held the military report, his face ashen. From the border defense to the imperial capital, even a swift horse would take two days. At this moment, all he knew was the situation from two days ago.
Tudan’s troop movements were like lightning, his maneuvers cunning and his approach swift as the wind.
Precisely because of this, the Emperor was more anxious than ever to know the true situation at the border defense.
An old minister trembled as he stepped forward, “Your Majesty, the immediate priority is to dispatch troops to reinforce the border defense. Among all the civil and military officials, only General Qin Li has previously dealt with Tudan and understands his military tactics. If he is sent, he will surely be able to stop the enemy forces outside the national gate.”
The Emperor knew that many in the court feared Tudan, and the only one truly capable of confronting him was indeed Qin Li.
However, Qin Li was currently stationed in the south. Transferring him now would involve a long journey, and it might be too late to be of any use.
Another minister stepped forward and reported, “Your Majesty, Tudan of the Mengye Country has mobilized his forces to invade, perhaps not with the intent of conquering the nation. It is simply that at the previous Arena Competition, the Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan severely injured his son, Tuli Ming. If we could…”
His words were cut short.
The Grand Tutor, who had been silent, suddenly changed his expression and strode forward, interrupting loudly, “Your Majesty, this old minister believes the most crucial matter now is to immediately mobilize the forces of the three major camps: Bo’an, Guiyun, and Jinhe, and send them at high speed to reinforce the border. Regardless, we must keep the Mengye barbarians outside our borders.”
“Simultaneously, an envoy should be dispatched to the front lines to meet with Tudan and ascertain his true intentions. This action will also buy time for the imperial court to mobilize troops and generals.”
How could the Grand Tutor not understand the unspoken words of that minister?
At this critical juncture, it had to be stopped immediately.
If the suggestion was to have Lin Fan quell Tudan’s fury, such a foolish plan would warrant execution.
Once spoken, His Majesty would surely fly into a rage, and then even the Heavenly King himself could not save him.
The Emperor nodded, “Beloved Minister, who do you think should serve as the commander this time?”
The Grand Tutor calmly replied, “Your Majesty, Qin Xiang can bear this heavy responsibility.”
“Qin Xiang.”
“Your servant is here.”
“I bestow upon you the title of Grand General of Pacifying the Barbarians. You must hold the line against Tudan at the border,” the Emperor said gravely.
“Your servant accepts the decree and will not disgrace the mission,” Qin Xiang replied with a stern expression.
He had already harbored a burning rage from his defeat in the arena competition, and now was a perfect opportunity for revenge.
In a one-on-one fight, he might not be Tudan’s match, but in terms of military deployment and strategy, he was confident he was no inferior.
War was ultimately not about individual bravery. No matter how skilled one’s martial arts, facing thousands of soldiers was in vain.
The next day, at the morning court.
With the war on the border in full swing, the imperial court continued to function as usual. The morning court could not be canceled, and in the court, civil and military officials, as well as the Emperor, could only stare blankly, awaiting news from the border.
Another messenger arrived in haste. Military intelligence reports came in like snowflakes, one after another.
“Report, urgent report from the border.”
The Emperor, seated on the throne, looked grave. “Speak quickly.”
“Your Majesty, the border defense has collapsed on all fronts. The General, Zhao Defang, fell victim to Tudan’s stratagem and has… has died a martyr. A breach has been torn in the border defense, and Tudan personally leads fifty thousand troops south, besieging Jizhou City. Another contingent has been dispatched on two routes to fiercely attack Ganzhou and Xuanfu. All strongholds along the line… have fallen,” the messenger reported urgently.
As the words fell, a deathly silence filled the Golden Palace Hall.
No one had expected the situation to deteriorate so rapidly.
The Emperor said in disbelief, “Zhao Defang martyred, Jizhou City besieged, Ganzhou and Xuanfu attacked. How long has it been? Are my border strongholds made of paper?”
The officials in the hall whispered amongst themselves, discussing the situation.
“Jizhou is the gateway to the north. If it falls, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
“Tudan’s military tactics are so ruthless and swift!?”
“Qin Xiang is still en route, and the forces of the three major camps have not yet been fully assembled. The situation has already worsened to this extent… can he truly resist?”
Faced with the Emperor’s questioning, the officials fell silent.
The civil officials were adept at impeaching political opponents but could only exchange bewildered glances when it came to military matters.
The Duke stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, this is not the time for assigning blame. Tudan’s division of forces and attack are perilous. If Jizhou, Ganzhou, and Xuanfu are breached, the situation will be dire. Although this old minister is aged, I implore Your Majesty to permit me to lead troops to halt them.”
The Emperor waved his hand, “The Duke is advanced in years; how can I allow you to risk your life again?”
“Your Majesty.” The Duke tried to say more, but was interrupted by the Emperor.
The Grand Tutor stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, at present, only Governor Qin Li can lead the army to battle and resolve the border defense issues.”
Faced with matters of state, the Grand Tutor would naturally not play games and cause the war to fail. After all, if the Mengye Country discovered this, they might continue their advance and directly assault the capital. While he was the high and mighty Grand Tutor now, if the capital were breached, he, the Grand Tutor, would become a fugitive of a fallen nation.
These were games, yes, and feuds, yes.
But they could not let the nation be destroyed.
At least, not at this moment.
The Emperor, deeply aware that this matter concerned the safety of the state, made a swift decision, “Someone, quickly convey my imperial decree, ordering Qin Li to immediately lead his troops to battle and drive the Mengye army out of our territory!”
In this critical moment, the Emperor naturally thought of Lin Fan, but then he suppressed this thought.
While his beloved minister was undeniably brave, warfare required the ability to command troops and strategic planning. Individual martial prowess could not decide the outcome of a battle.
Furthermore, he did not wish for his beloved minister to be in danger.
Many in the court wished him harm. If the grain and fodder were delayed, or if his subordinate generals acted in bad faith, leading to missed opportunities, the responsibility for defeat would inevitably fall upon Lin Fan.
Therefore, he wanted to protect Lin Fan’s safety.
He had now promoted him to Divine Martial Great General and Commander of the Divine Martial Department.
Once he arrived in the capital, the Emperor planned to personally supervise him in studying military strategy and the art of commanding troops.
Within five years, he would undoubtedly become a pillar capable of supporting the nation.
At that time, even after his own demise, the empire would have a pillar of strength.
…
At this time.
Two consecutive days of urgent border reports made the common people sense that something unusual was happening.
After the officials left the court, some inevitably discussed the war at home, and the news spread like wildfire.
In the streets and alleys, many common people were discussing the matter.
“The Mengye Country’s army is marching south, and the border defense can’t hold them back. This won’t lead to something serious, will it?”
“What’s there to fear? We have Governor Qin, and the Divine Martial Great General whom His Majesty crowned as the greatest under heaven.”
“War isn’t about individual strength.”
“Damn it, these barbarians have the audacity to attack our superior nation! They must have eaten bear’s heart and leopard’s gall!”
The common people were quite satisfied with the current imperial court.
Under the Son of Heaven’s gaze.
Although there were instances of the powerful oppressing the common people, their lives were relatively good. They had enough to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to seek justice.
…
Several days later.
All civil and military officials bowed their heads in silence. Some secretly glanced at the Emperor, whose face was terrifyingly grim, his hand holding the memorial trembling slightly.
The Emperor stared intently at the eunuch kneeling in the hall to report, almost spitting out the words through his teeth.
“You… say that again?”
The eunuch, terrified, said, “Your Majesty, Governor Qin states that the army has not yet moved, and provisions come first. He implores Your Majesty to first allocate military pay to boost morale.”
The Emperor’s breathing grew rapid. Coughing, his face flushed red, “At such a critical moment, he is making demands of me? With four million taels of military pay annually, how dare he ask for more?”
The court officials remained indifferent.
They naturally understood that of the annual four million taels, an unknown amount had been embezzled over the years.
Many years ago, two million taels of military pay had been sufficient. But in recent years, it had been continuously increased to a staggering four million taels.
Not long ago, Qin Li had requested a further increase in military pay, directly to six million taels.
This was a terrifying number.
If it continued to rise, it could even cripple the imperial court.
But there was no alternative. The southern border, guarded by Qin Li, had a nation eyeing the court greedily, frequently launching sea assaults, committing arson and slaughter with impunity. Relying on their familiarity with sea transport, they could come and go at will, leaving the imperial court in a state of passive defense with no effective counterattack.
Suddenly.
“Report…”
Another messenger arrived in haste.
Hearing the word “report,” the officials’ hearts suddenly jolted. Heaven forbid it be bad news.
“Speak,” the Emperor said grimly.
The messenger said, “Your Majesty, Ganzhou has fallen. This army has now joined forces with Tudan’s army, completely encircling Jizhou City and cutting off its supply lines. It is completely besieged. If troops are not dispatched soon, the grain and fodder in Jizhou will only last for about ten days at most, and then they will truly be without provisions.”
As these words were spoken.
The imperial court erupted in chaos. Everyone’s heart pounded, filled with trepidation.
Had the situation truly become this dangerous?
The Emperor asked, “Where is Qin Xiang’s army?”
The messenger replied, “Your Majesty, this humble servant does not know. This was the situation two days ago. I truly do not know the current state of affairs.”
The Grand Tutor said, “Your Majesty, the immediate priority is to stifle the barbarians’ advance. Allocate the military pay and have Qin Li break camp at once to provide support.”
From the Grand Tutor’s perspective, he could only think, Qin Li, you are truly ruthless. At a time of national crisis, you actually seek to profit. Do you think you can act with such impunity because no one in the court can replace you?
But upon closer thought, it made sense.
Most of the generals capable of leading troops in the court were Qin Li’s men. And the only one who could fight and win battles was Qin Li himself. The main reason the Emperor could not act against Qin Li was that if Qin Li were removed, the imperial court would truly have no usable military officers.
The surrounding nations feared not the Emperor, but Qin Li.
If they were to learn that Qin Li had been captured.
They would undoubtedly swarm like wolves and tigers, devouring the vast territory.
“Give it to him, disburse the military pay,” the Emperor said, the words squeezed from his throat.
…
At this time, on the southern coast.
Qin Li’s mansion was resplendent and magnificent. Although not as large as the imperial palace, its luxury surpassed it.
Inside the hall, dancers twirled, and fine wine perfumed the air.
Qin Li leisurely watched the singing and dancing with his confidant generals, exuding an air of ease.
As a dance concluded, the dancers took their seats beside the surrounding soldiers. These soldiers were all Qin Li’s confidants and were accustomed to such a life, enjoying the service of beautiful women.
“Governor, the imperial court has ordered us to deploy troops to resist Tudan in the north. Are we truly not moving?” a general asked.
Qin Li smiled, “Why move? How to move? Without military pay, who would be willing to move these soldiers?”
He naturally knew Tudan’s strength and his impressive ability to lead troops. The vast imperial court had only him who could contend with Tudan; anyone else sent would be futile.
Another subordinate said, “Governor is right. The current peace and prosperity of the imperial court are all thanks to the Governor’s presence. If the Governor were not stationed here, you would see the jackals and wolves around us launching an invasion. I say, the Emperor should have agreed to the six million taels of military pay the Governor requested earlier.”
Qin Li smiled. Now that he held military power, he was the de facto local emperor here. He actually hoped that Tudan’s invasion would be swift and overwhelming, pressing deep into the territory.
Then, the Emperor, not him, would be anxious.
He wanted the Emperor to understand how important he, Qin Li, was to the imperial court. Without Qin Li, the Emperor’s position would not be secure.
Another general brought over a basin of food and said, “Take this Phoenix Tongue, for example. Each dish requires over thirty chickens, and they are specially raised chickens. One dish costs at least ten taels. Our Governor stays here guarding the border to defend against foreign invasion, allowing them to live comfortably in the capital. If they don’t provide sufficient military pay, who would be willing to stay here?”
“That makes sense.”
“Indeed, it does.”
The assembled soldiers all agreed.
“Governor, the young master has already led troops to the border defense. Will something happen?” a general asked.
Mentioning his son Qin Xiang, Qin Li’s expression soured. The young man had disobeyed him, not following his arrangements but voluntarily staying in the capital to be at the Emperor’s disposal. Truly loyal to the ruler and devoted to the country.
Sometimes, he was so angry he didn’t know what to say.
Qin Li said, “If the Mengye Country had sent another general, with this young man’s ability, he could handle it with ease. But this time it’s Tudan himself leading the army. That young man is still far from ready.”
A general said, “Governor, if Tudan can push all the way to the capital, then when you lead your troops to drive Tudan away, wouldn’t you be able to capture the Emperor directly? You, Governor, could transform yourself, don the dragon robe, and ascend the throne. And we brothers would also…”
“You’ve had too much to drink. Stop talking nonsense.” Qin Li’s gaze sharpened, frightening the general into immediate silence.
The generals present all secretly hoped for Governor Qin to ascend the throne, at which point they would also be rewarded with noble titles. They had followed Qin Li, prepared for any consequence, even the annihilation of their nine generations of kin.
With just one command, they would rebel.
Of course, rebellion required seizing the right opportunity.
At least, from the current perspective, this was the best opportunity.
…
Imperial Capital.
Lin Fan returned with everyone.
In addition to those who had gone originally, he brought back quite a few people this time. Song Qing was transferred to his side, along with his family.
He also selected some capable constables from Yong’an and Anzhou, giving them a chance to soar to great heights, and brought them into the city to establish the Divine Martial Department.
The constables who accompanied Lin Fan were all extremely excited.
They knew this was the greatest opportunity of their lives. If they couldn’t seize it properly, then even their ancestors would break out of their coffins and slap them a few times.
At this time.
Lin Fan noticed that the topics of discussion among the common people in the capital seemed to all be about the border situation.
He stopped a commoner and asked what was happening.
Upon learning that Tudan of the Mengye Country was leading a large army south, breaking through the border defense, and that the situation was urgent, he, with a cold expression, instructed Ning Yu to arrange for everyone, and he would go to the imperial palace.
Tightening the reins, he galloped away at high speed.
At the imperial palace gate, the Imperial Guards on duty stood at attention, simultaneously exchanging words.
“It seems the situation at the border defense is very serious. The morning court hasn’t ended yet.”
“I agree, it’s serious. During this time, three batches of messengers have arrived, one report after another.”
Suddenly, the sound of hooves approached from a distance.
“This must be the fourth batch.”
They mistook Lin Fan for a messenger.
But upon seeing his attire, they realized he was not a messenger and immediately stopped him, “Who goes there?”
Lin Fan took out a gold token, “Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan, I need to see His Majesty.”
The two Imperial Guards quickly made way. Who in the capital didn’t know Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan? He was a favored official of His Majesty, rising from a General Class official in Anzhou to Divine Martial Great General, ranked first class. This was something many officials could only dream of.
In the imperial court.
The officials were still discussing the intelligence from the border front. The Emperor’s mood grew heavier with each passing moment, a sense of unspoken pressure and tension filling him.
Suddenly, a eunuch’s announcement echoed from outside the hall.
“Divine Martial Great General, arrives!!!”
Hearing this, everyone looked towards the hall entrance and saw Lin Fan hurrying in. He didn’t glance at anyone present but came directly to the hall, “Your Majesty, I have heard that Tudan of the Mengye Country is leading his army to invade. I request Your Majesty’s permission to go to the border and twist Tudan’s head off.”
As these words were spoken.
The officials in the hall were stunned, looking at Lin Fan as if he were an idiot.
What, are you playing house?
Twist off Tudan’s head? Do you think he’ll just stand there and let you?
Of course, they did not mock him, but in the current situation, His Majesty was enraged. Anyone who dared to provoke Lin Fan would incur His Majesty’s displeasure, and they themselves would be the ones to suffer.
The Emperor composed himself, managing a smile, “Beloved Minister, when did you return?”
“Your servant has just returned. Upon arriving in the capital, I heard the common people mention this matter. Your Majesty, please grant me permission to go to the border.” Lin Fan wanted to go, and no one could stop him. Of course, the proper procedures had to be followed; these were the rules, and he was a very rule-abiding person.
The Emperor said unhurriedly, smiling, “Beloved Minister, do you know military strategy?”
“No.”
“Then, beloved minister, do you know how to lead troops in battle and are you familiar with military affairs?”
“No.”
Lin Fan’s “no” to both questions amused the officials, who lowered their heads and chuckled, thinking this Divine Martial Great General was truly amusing. Perhaps he believed that being conferred the title of Divine Martial Great General meant he could wage war.
The Emperor said, “Beloved Minister, I know you wish to resolve my worries, but war is not child’s play. Since you know neither of these things, how can I allow you to lead troops?”
He shook his head. It seemed that after the border situation was resolved, he would have to accelerate Lin Fan’s study of military treatises. Now that he had agreed to increase Qin Li’s military pay and disburse it.
This border issue could also be resolved.
Time was still long. He was not in a hurry about the current threat. He must remain calm, composed, and unhurried. He believed his beloved minister would not disappoint him.
Lin Fan declared loudly, “Your Majesty, your servant does not need a single soldier or a single piece of equipment. Your servant will go alone, with only the Wild Goose Feather Dagger bestowed by Your Majesty. With it, I can chop off his head. If all goes well, I will directly storm the capital of the Mengye Country and capture their so-called Mongol King!”
“Hahaha…” Finally, an official couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “General Lin, you are truly joking. Do you know how terrifying the battlefield is? Do you know how many elite soldiers their Mengye Country’s capital has?”
Lin Fan looked at the official and cursed, “Laughing at your mother! Laugh again and I’ll smash your dog’s head in.”
The official who was cursed by Lin Fan stopped laughing abruptly, replaced by anger, yet he was powerless. He could only turn his head away indignantly.
In the imperial court, to dare to insult their officials in such a manner, only this Lin was capable of it.
But they were all sensible, understanding that His Majesty protected him. Even if they were cursed or beaten, it would be in vain.
“Beloved Minister Lin, do not be angry,” the Emperor said, trying to placate him. “I have already ordered Governor Qin to lead his troops. Before long, the barbarians will surely retreat. Beloved Minister, please remain in the city and focus on establishing the Divine Martial Department. Your sincerity is known to me.”
He hoped his beloved minister would remain calm.
For now, he should focus on establishing the Divine Martial Department to rectify the court officials. As for leading troops in battle, that could wait until he learned military strategy and became familiar with military affairs.
The Emperor was now truly protecting Lin Fan like a treasure, unwilling to let him take risks. If something were to happen at the border defense, he would regret it immensely.
“Your Majesty, what are the demands of this Governor Qin’s deployment?” Lin Fan asked.
The Emperor shook his head, not intending to speak, but the Grand Tutor interjected, “Governor Qin requested that Your Majesty grant six million taels of military pay before he would deploy his troops.”
As these words were spoken, the Emperor glared at the Grand Tutor, his eyes conveying a warning. However, the Grand Tutor bowed his head, as if admitting to speaking too hastily.
How could the Emperor not understand the Grand Tutor’s intention in saying this?
It was nothing more than wanting His Majesty’s beloved minister, Lin, to develop an opinion of Governor Qin, thereby creating conflict and allowing the Grand Tutor to reap the benefits.
As expected.
“Bastard! Qin Li is truly a bastard! At such a critical moment, he dares to haggle with Your Majesty! Six million taels of military pay, does he know what six million taels of military pay even means?”
“Damn it!” Lin Fan was truly enraged. “Your Majesty, this demand cannot be agreed to. I will depart immediately for the border and capture Tudan, bringing him back to the capital for Your Majesty to deal with.”
Having said that, Lin Fan turned and left. He hated most seeing someone who had benefited him so much being threatened at a crucial moment and being powerless, forced to agree to their demands.
What did this make him, Lin Fan?
An incompetent husband?
Forced to watch as the Emperor was arbitrarily trampled by Qin Li?
Others could endure it, but he absolutely could not.
“Beloved Minister, beloved Minister…” The Emperor suddenly stood up, shouting, but to Lin Fan, whose mind was as firm as iron, he directly pretended not to hear. “Quick, stop my beloved minister! Do not let him act rashly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The eunuch immediately ran out, but after a short while, the eunuch returned to the hall, clutching his backside, looking dejected, “Your Majesty, this servant failed to stop the Great General. The Great General even kicked my backside and said that in the imperial court, you officials are simply useless, tolerating Your Majesty’s humiliation while shamelessly standing here, truly a bunch of incompetent fools.”
As these words were spoken.
The imperial court fell silent. The officials looked at each other.
Damn it!
Are you truly this arrogant?
“Nonsense! Hurry and chase after him!” The Emperor was deeply moved but had no time to dwell on it. He angrily ordered someone to pursue, but as soon as Lin Fan left the hall, he mounted his horse and rode away, not even taking provisions, heading towards the border defense at full gallop.
After a long while.
“Your Majesty, General Lin has already ridden out of the city at full speed and disappeared without a trace. It’s impossible to catch up.”
The eunuch, whose backside had been kicked, reported helplessly.
Hearing this, the Emperor slumped onto his throne, his mouth slightly open. He hadn’t expected his beloved minister to be so impulsive. He truly couldn’t stand seeing him wronged.
But he really wanted to tell his beloved minister, “I can endure being wronged. If you truly don’t want me to be wronged, then in the future, study military strategy and military affairs diligently.”
But now… his beloved minister had already left.
No.
This must not happen.
“Quick, summon the Commander of the Imperial Guards for me! Have him lead a hundred men and immediately pursue! Even if they have to chase him to the border defense, they must bring my beloved minister back.” The Emperor roared.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Soon, as the court adjourned, the news spread through the capital like a storm.
The common people heard that the Divine Martial Great General had left the capital alone, heading to the border defense, intending to capture Tudan for the Emperor. This left the common people stunned.
It was as if they were listening to a tall tale.
The civil officials were quite adept at spreading rumors.
Through intentional dissemination.
The matter directly transformed into: the Divine Martial Great General swore in court that if he did not capture Tudan, he would return with his head.
Some also said that the Divine Martial Great General was merely a brute with only superficial strength, unable to even write his own name. For His Majesty to confer such a high office upon him was unfair and entrusting the affairs of state to him was irresponsible towards the common people.
Regarding this, the common people were half-believing.
After all, not long ago, the Great General had won glory for their country. Now he was being disparaged as worthless. They felt something was off.
But under the persuasion of a group of scholars, many common people came to believe this narrative.
In their minds, they formed a negative impression of Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan as unreliable, impulsive, and brainless.
Duke’s Mansion.
“Ah? Where did my master go?” Ning Yu looked at her grandfather, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.
The Duke sighed helplessly, “He went to the border defense, intending to capture Tudan for His Majesty. How could your master do such a thing…”
“Yes, that’s right! My master is too much! He didn’t even take his most beloved disciple for such a matter. No, I have to go too! Maybe I can catch up to my master, and then my master and I will bring Tudan back together. Then, future history books will have my name, Ning Yu.”
“Ning Yu and Divine Martial Great General Lin Fan, together, captured Tudan of the Mengye Country.”
Ning Yu did not feel her master’s actions were particularly impulsive. Since she became his disciple, she couldn’t recall ever seeing her master do anything without confidence.
The Duke frowned, “You girl, why are you so whimsical, just like your master? That is war, not playing house, nor is it bandit suppression. Thousands of soldiers charging, no one can come out alive.”
“Grandfather, you don’t understand my master,” Ning Yu said. “My master is not an ordinary person; you wouldn’t understand.”
The Duke looked at his granddaughter. He had many things to say but found himself at a loss for words.
“Fine, fine, I don’t understand. But do you know that the soldiers of the Mengye Country are all strong and sturdy, able to fight two against one? Tudan leads only the elite troops he trained. Not to mention anything else, there are a thousand men in full armor and iron cavalry. Once these thousand charge, they will enter the formation of ten thousand as if passing through an uninhabited area. Can your master still withstand such a charge?”
The Duke looked at his granddaughter’s unwavering trust in Lin Fan and didn’t know what else to say.
Even if Tudan’s personal strength was formidable, he couldn’t withstand armored iron cavalry.
Thirty men couldn’t stop them.
Three hundred men couldn’t stop them.
Then it would be three thousand, thirty thousand, three hundred thousand…
No matter how powerful an individual was, facing thousands of soldiers, they would only meet a gruesome end.
Several days later.
In the land of Ganzhou, smoke billowed from the city. The city’s defenders had all been captured. The one who captured Ganzhou City was Tudan’s confidant, Huo Ge.
At this time, soldiers guarded the city walls. These soldiers were from the Mengye Country, strong and sturdy. After entering the city, they engaged in burning, killing, and looting. However, General Huo Ge did not give them much time to vent their fury before hastily leading his troops to cut off Jizhou’s rear, forming a pincer encirclement.
Only a hundred men were left to guard this place.
Lin Fan arrived on foot. His horse had long since tired to death, and he could only run on his own two feet.
When he reached the city gate, he was covered in dust. But this was not the time to dwell on it. The Mengye soldiers on the city wall saw Lin Fan and couldn’t help but laugh, “Come, come, everyone, look. Here comes someone to die.”
The Mengye soldiers who arrived laughed heartily. Having experienced a victory, they were now acting with impunity and completely disregarded Lin Fan.
The soldiers of this country were too fragile.
Lin Fan’s expression was impassive. He merely lowered his body slightly, clenched his right fist, and pulled it back. Power gathered in his fist. Without a running start, without using any external strength, he let out a roar and swung his fist out.
BANG—!!!
A world-shattering sound erupted.
The sturdy city gate collapsed with a roar, kicking up a cloud of dust. The laughter of the soldiers on the city wall stopped abruptly. Some soldiers who were engaged in burning, killing, and looting in the street heard the commotion and looked at the city gate in a daze.
A woman being dragged by the ankle by a barbarian also looked on in astonishment.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!”
The Mengye soldiers roared.
The centurion left behind here was devouring meat with large mouthfuls. The general had gone to rendezvous with Great General Tudan, leaving him in charge of a hundred men to search for local grain and provide support. He hadn’t expected someone to force their way in.
“Kill him! Kill him!” the centurion shouted.
Lin Fan looked at the situation before him and was enraged, “Damn it! I didn’t intend to go rampaging in your Mengye Country, yet you dare to counter-attack! You’re simply asking for death.”
He drew the iron rod from behind him. The sound of whistling arrows flew. Facing these incoming arrows, he could entirely choose not to block them, to take them directly with his flesh.
But he didn’t want to ruin his clothes.
He swung the rod in a rotation, the clanging sound deflecting all the incoming arrows.
“This…” The centurion was greatly shocked by this sight. He had only seen his own general and Tuli Ming capable of this.
But whether the opponent could do it or not, none of that mattered.
“Kill…”
Facing the ferocious Mengye soldiers surging from all directions, Lin Fan’s expression was calm. A soldier raised a saber and brought it down towards his head. He directly swung his rod out.
With a bang.
The soldier was sent flying backward, unable to withstand the force of the blow. His body splintered, and blood splattered everywhere.
Lin Fan did not give them a chance to attack preemptively, but instead charged forward with his rod.
His movements were simple and brutal, without any flashy techniques, just swinging the rod, swinging the rod, and swinging the rod again. Every swing meant death for [Truncated: Max tokens]
The sound of bones breaking and screams echoed continuously throughout the city.
The efficiency of killing was too high.
The Mengye Country soldiers would often exchange a glance with Lin Fan, and before they could react, a club would strike them, shattering them.
“Ah! Devil! Devil!”
Some soldiers were terrified by the scene before them.
This was a one-sided slaughter, with no room for resistance. In their panic, they only wanted to flee.
Lin Fan glanced, his toe flicked a scimitar off the ground, and with a kick, the scimitar shot out like an arrow, piercing the opponent’s body.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the soldiers left to guard Ganzhou were ruthlessly killed by Lin Fan, their remains scattered everywhere. The air was thick with the stench of blood, mixing with the smoke from the city, making one nauseous.
Lin Fan stood in the pile of corpses, looking down at a few drops of blood on the corner of his clothes, frowning slightly. He had been careful, but he hadn’t expected to get stained.
He looked at the centurion who was stunned in place.
Striding forward, he walked to the other person’s front step by step.
Clang!
The centurion felt the sense of oppression emanating from Lin Fan, his weapon dropped to the ground, his pupils dilated, his eyes filled with fear and awe of Lin Fan.
“Say, where is Tudan?” Lin Fan asked.
“Who are you?”
Slap—!
Lin Fan raised his hand and slapped, “Speak, where is Tudan?”
He was unfamiliar with this place and didn’t know the way, so he definitely had to find someone to lead him. After killing a circle, he would certainly have to leave one alive.
“We are… we are suppressing bandits in Jizhou,” the Centurion said, trembling.
Lin Fan grabbed the other person, “Lead the way, no more dawdling.”
Without saying any more nonsense, he left directly.
After Lin Fan left, the surviving common people of Ganzhou City emerged, their faces filled with nervousness and fear. They looked at each other as they saw the corpses of the Mengye Country soldiers before them.
Who was that person just now?
But they saw with their own eyes that the young man held an iron rod, like a god of war reborn, and killed the group of barbarians so swiftly that they didn’t even have a chance to resist before they were all cleanly dispatched on the spot.
Jizhou.
Tudan’s army is stationed outside, and has already besieged Jizhou. Inside the tent, Tudan’s confidant generals were extremely joyful. They never expected things to go so smoothly up to this point.
“General, what a brilliant strategy of catching the turtle in the jar. Qin Xiang is indeed green. He really thought he could defeat us and resolve his worries, but in reality, he was just waiting for us to enter the city. Now he is trapped in Jizhou, and his rear grain and fodder have been cut off by us. With so many mouths to feed, I wonder what he can give the soldiers to eat.” Huo Ge laughed heartily, as if he could already imagine the scene of the great army pressing down on the Central Plains.
Tudan, sitting upright, was powerfully built, even more so than Tuli Ming. Especially in his armor, he was like a tank, giving an unimaginable sense of oppression.
Even ordinary people would not think anyone in the world could be his opponent upon seeing him.
Tudan said, “That brat, this general has never taken him seriously. The only one I’m waiting for now is Qin Li. As long as I can capture Qin Li in one fell swoop, there will be no one left in the vast Central Plains to be my opponent.”
Thinking of Tuli Ming being deposed, his heart blazed with fury.
Directly, they sent troops intending to teach the Central Plains Dynasty a lesson, but who could have imagined it would go so smoothly, directly breaking through the border defense strongholds, taking Ganzhou, and even besieging Jizhou.
As long as Jizhou can be taken, it will be a complete opening to invade the Central Plains Dynasty, a truly rare opportunity, and naturally, it cannot be missed.
“Great General, the messenger has already reached the capital, the Mongol King will surely send troops, and when the great army marches south, the territory of Mengye Country will expand completely.”
Huo Ge said excitedly.
Tudan nodded, swallowing the Central Plains Dynasty whole would be extremely difficult, after all, their main force had not yet arrived, but as long as Jizhou could be taken, Mengye Country would be like a sharp blade hanging over the Central Plains Dynasty’s head; there was no rush to act, but when they wanted to act, they could do so at any time.
“Hahaha, the guard generals of the Central Plains Dynasty are all useless sacks of grain, I even doubt if they’ve ever read a military treatise. Back then, after the battle of Yu Qin Li, Mengye Country suffered heavy losses and has only just recovered.”
“Since then, I, this general, have always felt that the military generals of the Central Plains Dynasty are extraordinary and cannot be attacked rashly. Now, in a fit of anger, marching impulsively, the gains are so great.”
Before making a move, Tudan truly feared the Central Plains Dynasty and dared not act rashly.
But after learning that his son had been crippled, he originally only intended to raid them a bit to let the Central Plains Dynasty know that this matter had made this general very angry. Who would have thought it would shatter with a touch? Since that’s the case, why would he retreat? Naturally, he would press on and take the border defense in one go.
“Let’s go, gather our forces and challenge them before the city. Let’s see how long they can hold out.”
“Yes, Great General.”
Inside Jizhou.
Qin Xiang looked at the soldiers before him, his expression extremely grave. The current situation was very unfavorable for them.
“General, the grain in the city can only last for three more days,” a soldier said worriedly.
If it truly came to the point of being out of ammunition and food, the Mengye Country army wouldn’t even need to attack; they would fall into disarray on their own. The morale was very low, the people were panicking, and there was no will to fight at all.
Qin Xiang knew he couldn’t panic. “Gather all the remaining grain from the common people in the city. Except for the old, weak, women, and children, everyone shall serve as soldiers. We must hold on until reinforcements arrive, no matter what.”
“General, there is no more grain to be scavenged from the city’s populace,” the soldier said.
Qin Xiang remained silent, only tapping the table repeatedly.
He was originally reinforcements, bringing together the forces of the Bo’an, Guiyun, and Jinhe camps, a total of over thirty thousand men. Who would have thought that the Mengye Country would play a trick? They seemed to have defeated them, but they didn’t expect a flanking maneuver, burning their grain and fodder. As a result, their over thirty thousand men entered the city, not only failing to provide assistance but also needlessly consuming more grain.
The grain that could have lasted seven to eight days.
Now, it had been reduced to three days.
“How could Ganzhou have fallen? Couldn’t they have held out a little longer?” Qin Xiang grew more and more angry as he thought about it. With Ganzhou fallen, the Mengye Country army had bypassed their rear and encircled Jizhou, leaving him in a very passive position.
Just then.
“General, Tudan’s army has gathered before the city and is issuing a challenge.”
Qin Xiang took a deep breath. “Let’s go. No matter what, we have to hold on.”
When Qin Xiang arrived on the city walls, he looked at the dark mass of tens of thousands of troops in the distance, and his heart trembled. Tudan was only issuing challenges and not attacking, and he could not leave the city to engage in battle, so he could only defend within the city.
