Chapter 1984

He watched Changancheng gradually appear in his line of sight, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid!

Changancheng was right before his eyes!

When he rushed to the gates of Changancheng.

This Da Qian soldier took a token from his bosom and held it high.

He shouted, "Open the gates immediately!"

"Eight-hundred-li emergency military intelligence!"

At this moment.

Lu Zhen, clad in armor, happened to be patrolling the city gates.

Today, Wu Zhao was leading the officials in a sacrifice to Heaven, praying for a bountiful harvest and prosperity for the year; this was a matter of the utmost importance, so Lu Zhen was personally leading the patrol of Changancheng.

When he heard the soldier's voice, his expression changed drastically.

"Eight-hundred-li emergency military intelligence?"

Lu Zhen's face suddenly turned ugly.

"Is it the Yan Kingdom?"

"Or the Xiongnu?"

Rumble!

The city gates swung wide open.

The Da Qian soldier rode in and galloped straight toward the imperial palace.

Meanwhile.

Changancheng, the Royal Altar.

Wu Zhao, dressed in solemn black ceremonial robes and wearing a crown with twelve hanging bead tassels, was leading the civil and military officials in holding the grand "Harvest Sacrifice to Heaven" ceremony.

For a time.

Incense smoke swirled, and the music was solemn.

The civil and military officials stood in rows behind Wu Zhao, their faces solemn.

Wu Zhao held the jade tablet and stepped forward, her entire being radiating majesty; she was about to recite the prayer to Heaven, asking for favorable weather and peace for Da Qian.

But just at this moment.

A sound of hoofbeats, rapid as a sudden downpour, approached from afar, galloping toward them!

Then,

"Report!"

"Your Majesty, eight-hundred-li emergency!"

This voice shattered the solemnity before the altar.

Instantly.

Wu Zhao paused and turned around abruptly.

The officials also turned their heads in unison, their hearts filled with shock.

Cui Xinghe frowned tightly.

The current situation in the world was already very clear.

The Chu Kingdom's national strength was severely damaged, making it difficult for them to send troops.

In the Yan Kingdom, Yan Wushuang had usurped the throne, and the court was unstable, so it was unlikely they would send troops.

The only possibility was the Xiongnu, but it hadn't been long since Gao Yang's two battles in Hexi, and the Xiongnu had even lost Hexi.

It was said that the Xiongnu tribes had even begun to sing dirges.

Would the Xiongnu dare to send troops against Da Qian?

Then where could this eight-hundred-li emergency military intelligence be coming from?

It wasn't just Cui Xinghe who thought this; Yan Zheng, Song Li, Wang Zhong, and others all turned their gazes toward the source of the voice.

As everyone held their breath.

A fast horse, like an arrow released from a bow, broke through the guards surrounding the altar and charged straight into the core!

The Da Qian rider on the horse was covered in blood, his armor shattered, his face mixed with dust; he practically rolled off the horse, holding the blood-stained military report scroll high with both hands!

"Your Majesty!"

"Urgent report from Shuofang!"

"The Xiongnu Left Wise King led fifty thousand cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the border towns, breaking through the pass; the three towns of Yunzhong, Dingxiang, and Mayi have all been plundered, and the people are suffering!"

"Boom!"

In an instant.

The officials were in an uproar!

The sacrificial music stopped abruptly!

The Xiongnu? The Xiongnu who had just been severely crippled by Gao Yang in Hexi and were even singing dirges, dared to be so arrogant as to not only return but also break through three Da Qian towns?!

Were the Xiongnu crazy?

Cui Xinghe's pupils shrank, his heart shaken.

This was impossible! With Yan and Chu unable to take care of themselves, where did the Xiongnu get the courage?!

Unless...

Cui Xinghe suddenly thought of a possibility, and his face turned ugly.

He subconsciously looked at Wu Zhao, only to see that the face beneath the hanging beads of the crown was shrouded in frost, her killing intent chilling!

Wu Zhao's fair fists were clenched tight, her phoenix eyes extremely cold!

She had thought that after suffering such a heavy loss, the Xiongnu would be honest for a while, but she hadn't expected them to send troops to invade Da Qian so quickly!

But it wasn't over yet.

The messenger struggled to lift his head, his face showing a kind of tragic humiliation, and he spoke to Wu Zhao, "Your Majesty, not only that, but... that Xiongnu Great Chanyu also declared..."

At this point.

The Da Qian soldier hesitated and couldn't continue.

"Speak!"

"What did that Xiongnu Great Chanyu say?"

Wu Zhao's voice was ice-cold, every word dripping with endless chill.

The messenger gritted his teeth and said, "The Xiongnu Great Chanyu... the Xiongnu Great Chanyu declared that without the Living Yama, Your Majesty... Your Majesty is worth nothing, the Da Qian officials are worth nothing, the world's generals are worth nothing, and if you don't submit, come and fight!"

Once these words were spoken.

"Hiss!"

On the altar, a sound of gasping echoed!

Even civil officials like Yan Zheng and Lu Wen were filled with rage, feeling that the Xiongnu were simply too arrogant.

And that was to say nothing of the military generals.

Arrogant!

These Xiongnu were too arrogant!

They admitted that Gao Yang's ability to lead troops in battle was enough to rank among the world's famous generals, and they were indeed inferior.

But these words from the Xiongnu were a bit too insulting, weren't they?

They didn't take them seriously at all!

"Arrogant!!!"

"Helian Cha, you old dog, how dare you insult my Da Qian! Insult my Majesty!!!"

"Your Majesty, your subject requests to fight!"

"This general also requests to fight, swearing to exterminate this villain!!!"

For a time, the civil and military officials were like a pot that had boiled over, especially some of the generals, whose blood was boiling and whose eyes were spitting fire.

This was no longer just a military report, but a naked insult slapped onto the faces of Wu Zhao and all of Da Qian!

This was a ruthless mockery of Da Qian's entire military strength following Gao Yang's departure!

Wu Zhao's fists were clenched tightly within her wide sleeves!

She could feel the many strange gazes among the officials.

Her heart was even angrier than these generals who felt deeply humiliated!

This Xiongnu Great Chanyu was targeting her!