The Young Swordsman of Dalu

To secure his throne, Murong Xuan of the Northern Dynasty desperately needed a victory to prove himself. He issued an edict to Tuoba Hongrui, ordering him to launch a third offensive as soon as possible. Tuoba Hongrui, however, delayed in carrying out Murong Xuan's order, infuriating Murong Xuan. However, he knew he was in dire need of capable men and couldn't afford to lose his temper. Besides, Murong Xuan knew Tuoba Hongrui very well; they were peers and had grown up together. Murong Xuan suppressed his dissatisfaction and could only patiently observe and await Tuoba Hongrui's next move.

Tuoba Hongrui was indeed a standout among the younger generation of the Northern Dynasty. He had a keen sense of warfare and had been well-versed in military strategy since childhood. By his early twenties, he had accumulated a great deal of combat experience. He was waiting for an opportunity, a chance to annihilate the army of the Great Lu State.

Tuoba Hongrui dispatched envoys to the Western Regions army to persuade the generals, both high and low. He instructed the envoys and generals to thoroughly analyze the current situation and the internal and external troubles facing the Great Lu Kingdom. He then described the Great Lu Kingdom's fertile land, abundant resources, beautiful mountains and rivers, and numerous beautiful women to them, leaving the generals swallowing hard as they listened. Persistence paid off. After Marshal Mirobu, who commanded 100,000 troops from the Western Regions on the Northern Dynasty's border, reported the war situation between the Northern Dynasty and the Great Lu Kingdom and the determination of his soldiers to their Khan, the Khan felt the time for war had come. Khan Abruk, in conjunction with various tribes of the Western Regions, stationed 300,000 troops on the northwestern border of the Great Lu Kingdom, and a major battle on the northwestern border was imminent. Khan Abruk also instructed the Western Regions army on the Northern Dynasty's border to act according to circumstances and cooperate with the Northern Dynasty army to attack the northern border city of the Great Lu Kingdom.

With the Khan's order to fight, the Western Regions army, from soldiers to generals, became excited, eager to immediately step into the territory of the Great Lu Kingdom and take it for themselves.

In the military tent of the Great Lu Kingdom, from morning to noon, Li Chaoyang received war reports from all over the Great Lu Kingdom. The thing he feared had come to pass: the northwestern border of the Great Lu Kingdom was in imminent danger. Three hundred thousand troops from various tribes of the Western Regions were pressing in, and Li Linlie's mere fifty thousand men were like an egg hitting a rock. Li Chaoyang was sweating for his youngest son and muttered to himself, "Linlie, my son! Everything on the northwestern border depends on you. I am also overwhelmed!"

Shangguan Chenxing looked worried, and Wenjie asked, "General Shangguan, what problem have you encountered?"

"News from the northwest border indicates that 300,000 troops from various tribes in the Western Regions have already set up camp there, ready to invade our Great Lu Kingdom at any time. The Southern Barbarians in the south are also restless, and the Great Li Kingdom in the east has been on good terms with us for generations. I'm afraid some people might want to take advantage of our situation. But we can't deal with them all. We see that the Northern Dynasty is about to launch another attack. The Grand Marshal is extremely worried!" Shangguan Chenxing said.

"Our Great Lu Kingdom is in such a difficult situation, General Shangguan. We cannot sit idly by and wait for death. What can I do? Just tell me. For the sake of the Great Lu Kingdom, I, Wenjie, am willing to give up everything," Wenjie said tragically.

“I’ll go find the Grand Marshal to discuss it and see what his plans are. You can come with me too,” Shangguan Chenxing said.

"Okay." Wenjie followed Shangguan Chenxing into Li Chaoyang's military tent.

The generals in the army had all arrived at the military tent. Li Chaoyang looked around and said, "Now, the time has truly come for the life and death of our Great Lu. Soldiers, go into battle and fight the enemy to keep them out of our territory. The time has come for our people to need us!"

"Grand Marshal, according to our scouts, when the Northern Dynasty attacks again, the Western Regions' army of 100,000 will also attack our Northern Frontier City. How should we respond?" a general asked.

“If we can defeat Tuoba Hongrui’s 200,000-strong army, the Northern Dynasty will be severely weakened. I am more worried about the 100,000-strong army from the Western Regions. They are a nomadic people, a people who ride on horseback. Our Great Lu Kingdom fought against them at the beginning of its founding. Although we defeated them, we paid a considerable price. This time, they will definitely not be lenient with us when they attack us. We must be extremely vigilant,” Shangguan Chenxing said.

“Shangguan’s words make a lot of sense. We should keep a close eye on the movements of the Western Regions army,” Li Chaoyang said.

"Tuoba Hongrui's attack may be about to begin," someone said.

"Instead of being passive, we should take the initiative. Let's pass the word down and make sure the soldiers are well-fed and watered before we start the battle!" Li Chaoyang said.

"Understood!" the soldiers shouted.

"Uncle-Master Li, where is Wenfei? Did he run away again?" Wenjie did not find Wenfei when he entered the military tent.

“Wenjie, Wenfei has gone where he needs to go, he’ll be fine,” Li Chaoyang said.

"Yes, Uncle-Master." Wenjie didn't dare to ask any more questions and left the military tent.

Outside the military tent, the soldiers were having a lively meal, chatting and laughing. They didn't seem to be going to the battlefield, but rather like victorious heroes returning home. Wenjie looked at these soldiers, and his eyes welled up with tears.

"What remarkable soldiers of the Great Lu Kingdom!" Wenjie thought to himself.

Wenjie saw Liang Feiyan busy in the distance, so he walked over and said, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Second Young Master, could you help me tidy up these strips of cloth? I need to quickly grind some wound medicine so that the soldiers can use it to stop the bleeding," Liang Feiyan said.

"Where is Miss Li?" Wenjie asked.

"I don't know. She disappeared early this morning. Maybe she found another fun place," Liang Feiyan said with a smile.

“Wenfei is also missing. It seems that Uncle Li knows where he went,” Wenjie said.

"What a coincidence, they've both disappeared," Liang Feiyan said.

"Are you scared?" Wenjie asked.

“With you here, I’m not afraid!” Liang Feiyan blurted out.

“When the battle starts, try to stay in the back and don’t rush forward, understand?” Wenjie said.

“If a soldier is wounded at the front, can I bear to watch him suffer?” Liang Feiyan asked.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you," Wenjie said softly.

"Don't worry, Second Young Master, just focus on fighting the enemy. I'll take good care of myself," Liang Feiyan said.

"Be careful!" Wenjie said.

“You too!” Liang Feiyan said.

Li Chaoyang rode at the very front of the army, followed by Shangguan Chenxing and the other soldiers.

A scout reports that the Western Regions army is advancing towards our northern border city.

Li Chaoyang ordered Li Hong to lead a group of men to bypass the western end of Beijiang City and launch a surprise attack on Tuoba Hongrui's camp, catching him off guard.

Li Chaoyang then ordered Shangguan Chenxing to lead a large army to guard against the Western Regions army outside the Northern Frontier City, preparing for battle at any time.

Li Chaoyang led the remaining soldiers to confront the Northern Dynasty army under Tuoba Hongrui head-on.

The movements of the Lu Kingdom's army were all under Tuoba Hongrui's control, and Li Chaoyang was gradually walking into Tuoba Hongrui's encirclement.

The northern border is in grave danger! The Great Lu Kingdom is in grave danger!