At the tender age of eight, he was hastily dragged out and made emperor!

As the war raged on, the days alternated between fast and slow. Sometimes the days passed quickly, and before you knew it, half a month or even more had gone by. Other times, the days seemed to drag on, and it felt like a long time had passed, but upon closer inspection, only a few days or even less had actually gone by.

But life goes on as usual. For the nations or forces that get involved in the war, this is undoubtedly the fairest thing to do. As for success or failure, or anything else, that depends on their own methods.

As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition launched by the Great Yu, Sun Bin felt that time was passing too quickly. It was mid-March when there were changes in the northern border and the front line, and now he was leading a large army to conquer the north, and it was already August. Sun Bin had this feeling not because of how many battles he had won or how many northern barbarians he had eliminated, but simply because the temperature difference between day and night had changed.

crackle...

The sound of the burning campfire broke the tranquility of the place.

The night breeze was cool, and it sent sparks flying everywhere.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars twinkle.

Being here is a truly refreshing experience.

From an aerial view, the clusters of firelight dotting the darkness illuminated many places and revealed many people and objects, thus filling the area with a sense of desolation and oppression...

"Time flies, it's already August."

The main force of the Northern Expeditionary Army of the Great Yu Dynasty, where the central army was located.

A voice rang out from inside the command tent, breaking the atmosphere.

Li Gan, who was sitting and roasting a whole lamb, stopped what he was doing when he heard Sun Bin's words. He turned around with a twitch at the corner of his mouth and looked at Sun Bin, who was sitting with his hands on the wooden table and his back to him.

You scoundrel, are you even speaking human language?

Seeing Sun Bin's reaction, Li Gan didn't say anything, but he cursed inwardly.

It's already August in the blink of an eye?

It's already the end of August, damn it!

Heading north from Henghai City, the army of 70,000 to 80,000 men successively breached six or seven Northern Barbarian strongholds and two or three strategic passes. Half of the core of the central line of the Tuowu Mountains had been destroyed. Next, they would face the Northern Barbarian's stronghold, Wuchuan Town. You tell me it's gone by so fast? Well, it's gone by so fast!!

grass! ! !

"I'm talking to you."

Sun Bin's words made Li Gan regain his composure.

"Yeah, time really flies."

Li Gan turned his head and replied.

Shila-

Seeing the charcoal fire start to burn, Li Gan reached out and scooped up a handful of water, instantly splashing it onto the burning charcoal, causing smoke to rise and dissipate.

The aroma of the roasted mutton was even stronger.

"Everyone says that Li Gan's barbecue, especially the whole lamb, is exceptional."

While Li Gan was busy, Sun Bin turned around and walked over. Looking at the whole roasted lamb that was almost done, Sun Bin smiled and sat down on the wooden stool. "I've been busy before and haven't had a chance to try it. Now that I have some free time, I'll try your cooking. It's a pity there's no wine, otherwise..."

"Give."

Before Sun Bin could finish speaking, Li Gan grabbed a water bag and casually tossed it to Sun Bin.

Sun Bin took it, pulled out the cork, and held it to his nose; the aroma of the wine was very strong.

"You guys..."

Sun Bin held a water bag in one hand and pointed at Li Gan with the other.

"I didn't drink a drop, I just brought three or four water bags full of wine."

Li Gan glared at him and said, "I know you're under a lot of pressure, and you need to have a drink sooner or later. Don't be so ungrateful."

"Ha ha!!"

Instead of getting angry at Li Gan's words, Sun Bin burst into laughter. Under Li Gan's gaze, Sun Bin raised the wine bag and took a big gulp.

The spicy and stimulating sensation made Sun Bin let out a long, satisfying sigh.

That's awesome!

Seeing Sun Bin's reaction, Li Gan sneered.

"Give me a piece of meat, I'll eat it plain, and taste how it smells."

"Wait a little longer, it's not quite done yet!"

"Stop fanning the fire, what are you staring at me for?"

"If you don't understand, don't give orders. Just wait patiently."

"You guys..."

The sounds coming from inside the tent brought a slight smile to the cold faces of the armored warriors stationed outside, but their eyes remained wary as they looked around.

It wouldn't be good for outsiders to see our lord drinking in his tent.

As the personal guards of Marquis Chenyang, they were Sun Bin's most trusted retainers, and he took them everywhere to ensure their safety.

With the war having progressed to this point, deep into the heart of the Tuowu Mountains occupied by the Northern Barbarians, Sun Bin was able to sleep soundly because he had something to rely on.

Without this support, Sun Bin couldn't sleep well at all.

Besides these personal guards and retainers, the central army was guarded and protected by the elite troops of the Shanglin Army. To put it bluntly, even if the enemy attacked, even if all the other camps were scattered and wiped out, as long as the central army area remained stable, Sun Bin would have no fear!

"I must say, this tastes really good!"

Inside the commander's tent.

Sun Bin took the meat that Li Gan handed him, put it in his mouth and chewed. Under Li Gan's gaze, Sun Bin's eyes widened, showing surprise, and he said something to Li Gan.

Li Gan smiled but said nothing.

"Meat and wine, a match made in heaven!"

Sun Bin took a sip of wine and handed the wine flask to Li Gan, "Here, have a sip."

"Stop doing."

Li Gan stared at the wine flask before him, his Adam's apple bobbing. He licked his lips and met Sun Bin's gaze. "Before my godfather's memorial tablet, I swear I will never drink again."

"Ugh."

Sun Bin sighed softly and put away the wine pouch. "The old Duke Xun's life was worthwhile. He died on the battlefield, catching Xichuan off guard. This is the kind of ending a military general longs for. Respect to the old man!"

At this point, Sun Bin raised the wine bag, and the wine spilled down.

Looking at the spilled drinks, Sun Bin's expression was somewhat complicated.

Seeing Sun Bin's reaction, Li Gan remained silent, but a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. He saw a resemblance to Sun Bin in him.

In the first year of Yongchang, his adoptive father had done the same thing. Li Gan did not understand that battle. After all, the new emperor Ke died suddenly not long after he succeeded to the throne, and the successor was an eight-year-old child. Not only was he not granted a title of king, but he was also so young. The key point was that the founding emperor died when this child was born...

Li Gan couldn't understand why his adoptive father would do such a thing. Even if he sacrificed his life in Xichuan, causing a significant blow to Xichuan and making it less likely for Xichuan to send troops, could the new emperor really secure his throne like this?

This misunderstanding lasted for a long time until he escorted the coffin back to Yudu. It was raining that day, and all the civil and military officials gathered at the Zhuque Gate. The three empresses did not come. To be honest, Li Gan was resentful at that time. His adoptive father had died in battle for the Great Yu, and he even risked infamy and doubt. It wasn't until Li Bin rode his horse in the heavy rain, followed by the emperor and a group of noble sons, that Li Gan still remembered those scenes.

In particular, when Li Bin cried and said to the emperor, "I have no grandfather," Li Gan's heart trembled. But it was from that moment that Li Gan's thoughts about the emperor changed.

What followed—the rebellion of the vassal states, the invasion of foreign enemies, the Empress Dowager's presence in the central government, Han Qing leading troops to quell the rebellion—gradually made Li Gan understand his adoptive father's actions.

What my adoptive father did was actually fulfilling his duty as a minister of Yu; he didn't want the country to fall into turmoil. If it did, the Great Yu would be plunged into chaos...

"Are they going to take Wuchuan Town?"

Li Gan tried to calm himself down, took a short dagger, cut off a leg of lamb, and handed it to Sun Bin.

"We must take it."

Sun Bin, after taking the lamb leg, sighed deeply. Instead of eating the meat, he started drinking. "If we don't capture Wuchuan Town, the battle situation on the western and central fronts will not be able to effectively distract Murong Gu. Once Murong Gu makes a choice and stops hesitating, the situation on the front lines will change."

"But have you considered that this tactic of fighting results in too many casualties for our army!"

Li Gan gripped the hilt of his short dagger tightly, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Sun Bin. "You trust Li Ying and believe that he can withstand immense pressure and bring reliable troops to the front lines to take over the key passes and towns that our army has conquered. I can't say anything else about that."

"But have you considered what might happen if any of the officers and soldiers who came with us, or their subordinates, realize something during this time...?"

"That's why I sent the Shanglin Army to reinforce the front line of Tuowu City."

Before Li Gan could finish speaking, Sun Bin said sharply, "Tell Zong Ning to find a way to contain the main force of the Northern Barbarians and prevent them from forming a pincer movement against our army. Of course, we can't rely on just one person or one place. Zhang Hui's elite Southern Army is in Shalu City, and the goal is to achieve the same effect!"

Right now, the front lines of the Tuowu Mountains are like a taut bow, the bowstring taut and the bow body taut. The former represents the Northern Barbarians, and the latter represents the Great Yu. The current contest is to see which side will break first!

"You still haven't finished telling the truth!!"

Li Gan plunged the short dagger into the whole sheep, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes.

This battle is not as simple as it seems.

In addition to the things mentioned above, Sun Bin's actions now also include his desire to reorganize the rear, which is to make the Northern Barbarians, and even his own troops, focus their attention on the front lines and thus ignore something.

The Southern Army vanguard and the Imperial Guards who had previously outflanked the enemy from Tuowu City and Shalu City!

Previously, Li Gan thought that what they were doing was to harass the rear of the Northern Barbarians in order to divert their attention and divide their forces, but now Li Gan no longer thinks that way.

Even Sun Bin has gone to the most dangerous place. If things go wrong, the entire army may be wiped out at any time. How can Li Gan believe that this special force is just a simple raid on the rear of the Northern Barbarians?

"What you think in your heart is what I want to do."

Sun Bin didn't look at Li Gan. He took a big bite of the lamb leg. The aroma was strong, but it tasted like wax to Sun Bin.

"Once His Majesty sounded the clarion call for the Northern Expedition, everyone involved in this expedition, regardless of who they are, is a pawn in this grand scheme, including myself!"

Sun Bin's voice was deep, "But you should feel fortunate. Fortunate about what? Fortunate that His Majesty has placed absolute trust in us. This trust is not just for me alone, but for all who are loyal to the Great Yu, loyal to the state, and absolutely loyal to His Majesty!!"

At this point, Sun Bin raised his head, his eyes fixed on Li Gan.

“You can say whatever you want about your worries and concerns in front of us, but if you dare let outsiders know, you will die!!” Sun Bin said sharply.

"In this battle against the Northern Barbarians, I will not die, you will not die, and everyone else fighting on all fronts will not die, but the prerequisite is that you are not afraid of death and dare to fight and declare war on the Northern Barbarians!!"

"I must live well. This battle with the Northern Barbarians is just the beginning. There will be many more battles to fight them in the future. The Great Yu is doomed to destroy the Northern Barbarians!!"

"The Northern Barbarians are vast and have many fierce generals. Do you think we can wipe them out with just our generation? His Majesty is still young, but we are not."

Li Gan's hand trembled slightly.

Only at this moment did he realize what Sun Bin was carrying on his shoulders. The Great Yu had shouted the slogan of destroying the Northern Barbarians more than once, but reality was cruel.

If the Northern barbarians were so easy to destroy, they would have been destroyed at the very beginning of the founding of the nation.

After all, the Great Yu was a powerful and well-equipped army at that time. It had wiped out one separatist force after another before it finally came to rule the world. Even if the Great Yu's treasury was not very full at that time, if it could really destroy the Northern Barbarians, Emperor Taizu and all the civil and military officials would definitely have put in their best efforts to do so.

Once the northern barbarians are dealt with, the Great Yu will be able to expand its territory, and crucially, there will be no more threats to the northern border of the Great Yu!

It couldn't be done back then, and now it's not impossible, but the hope is very small. But after hearing Sun Bin say this, Li Gan understood.

This is to toughen up the army, especially the younger and more senior officers!

That's how Li Gan realized just how broad-minded the emperor was, even though he was far away in Yudu.

"You will be the commander-in-chief in the Battle of Wuchuan Town."

Sun Bin tossed away the meat bone, took a sip of wine, and looked at Li Gan, saying, "The main force of the central army is entirely under your command. Press the various units that have been transferred to launch a fierce attack. I'm only giving you three days. If you can't take it, then we're done. Just die in battle, and I'll lead my men to continue!"

"Another batch of troops has been transferred from the rear to the front lines?"

Li Gan understood what Sun Bin meant and frowned as he spoke his thoughts.

"Yes."

Sun Bin nodded.

"Then three days!!"

Li Gan leaned forward and snatched the wine bag from Sun Bin's hand. "If you can't take it, I'll kill myself to atone for my sins!"

"Didn't you quit, you son of a bitch?"

Sun Bin stared wide-eyed.

"Even in this desperate battle, there's still a drink to be had. What's wrong with me taking a sip?"

As Li Gan spoke, he didn't forget to wipe his mouth, but when he raised it, Li Gan frowned and turned the mouth of the pouch downwards. Apart from a few drops of wine, there was nothing else.

"grass!!"

"Ha ha--"

Shouts and laughter rang out from inside the tent.

Sun Bin smiled, but a different emotion arose in his heart.

The battle of Wuchuan Town will be tough. If the overall situation is a tug-of-war with the Northern Barbarians, then this battle is a tug-of-war with our own troops. We must use a series of great victories to motivate our troops, especially our officers and soldiers, to keep their fighting spirit high and keep pushing forward!

Despite paying a heavy price, they failed to capture Wuchuan Town in time. Even with the continuous transfer of battalions and schools, once that initial momentum dissipated, the subsequent battles would be much more difficult. In fact, internal strife might even occur within their own unit, which was definitely not what Sun Bin wanted to see.

That's why, ever since Li Gan joined the Northern Expedition, Sun Bin hadn't called him to participate in battles. He wanted Li Gan and his men to hold back their energy, so that it would burst forth at a crucial moment, thereby propelling his own troops to continuous advancement!