Chapter 107

The Ximen of the capital.

The heavy gate, under the pull of iron chains, was opened by the elite soldiers working in unison—

Finally, it swung open with a boom—

Outside the gate!

The sound of deafening hoofbeats echoed between heaven and earth!

"Clop—clop—"

The sound of them striking the ground and the clashing of iron armor composed a heart-palpitating, strange melody!

Looking from afar!

It was like a black dragon rising from the horizon, its scales opening and closing, casting a bloody murderous intent.

At the very front of this army!

A blood-red flag fluttered loudly, with a huge "Lu" character embroidered on it!

"Is this... the Lu Family Army?"

An old general standing at the city gate was the capital garrison of this Ximen, holding a military rank of the fifth grade.

He was a veteran who had been through many battles and bore numerous scars, but at this moment, he muttered to himself, his eyes full of disbelief.

He had participated in the uprising of the Jiangnan people, been promoted through military merit, seen blood, and seen piles of dead men!

But this scene before his eyes!

Struck him with unprecedented shock.

"Clop—"

"Clop—"

Such a terrifying torrent—even the capital's elite Jin Wuwei had never shown such momentum!

He couldn't help but recall the reputation of the Lu Family Army.

"A body of blood, two feet of mud!"

"It is easy to shake a mountain, but hard to shake the Lu Family Army!"

This heroic army from the North was the iron-blooded force that had kept the Northern Wind from daring to head south easily for fifteen years.

Their prestige had long been sung in the Northern Wind, and when the historians of the Northern Wind recorded this army.

They had to use the words "fierce soldiers" to describe them.

Today!

The Lu Family Army finally stepped into Jiangnan, and their arrival seemed even more terrifying than the rumors!

The guards at the city gate, looking at the torrent of iron armor surging like a tide, couldn't help but feel a sense of fear in their hearts.

The uniform sound of hoofbeats was like striking his heart, making him restless and worried about whether this city could withstand such a powerful army.

"General, we received orders to open the city gate, but is doing so really appropriate?"

The guard asked with a trembling voice, fearing that once the city gate was wide open, the people and soldiers inside would be exposed to this fierce army, unable to withstand its edge.

The old general was furious and kicked him directly.

"The battle hasn't even started, and you're already scared like this; besides, you're not the Northern Wind, what are you afraid of!"

The old general stood on the city wall, looking at the approaching Lu Family Army, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He knew well that the defensive strength at the city gate had been greatly weakened; not only had the soldiers been transferred away, but even the several support camps were empty and existed in name only.

All had been transferred into the imperial palace.

He didn't know what kind of trouble had occurred!

Such a defense could be called "empty," unable to withstand any large-scale attack, let alone the Lu Family Army with such momentum before his eyes.

However, the order from above made him feel slightly relieved.

The old general took out a secret imperial decree that had come from the palace; it only had a few words on it.

"Open the city gate and welcome the Lu Family Army into the city."

He frowned slightly, and it wasn't until the second letter arrived that his locked brows relaxed.

"Follow their orders, exchange defense, and you shall live!"

He knew the origin of the letter; it was Lord Xie Chunan reminding him.

The two were old acquaintances, and he had saved him from danger many times.

This capital garrison no longer hesitated.

He gave the order: "Welcome the Lu Family Army into the city."

The bugle at the city gate sounded.

Looking at the black mass of the great army approaching the city, the murderous aura rushing toward them.

It was like iron cavalry circling a dragon city!

Making the guards at the city gate tremble!

Fortunately!

The old general had no courage in his heart to block such a great army either!

And at this moment, being able to follow the trend of the times and let the Lu Family Army enter the city smoothly was not necessarily an unwise move.

The Lu Family Army did not rush to enter the city but rested slightly outside the city, forming several strict formations.

Afterward, they slowly passed through the city gate and stepped into the territory of the capital.

Among them, the "Deng Battalion" served as the vanguard and immediately took over the defense of the city gate upon entering the city.

This sudden change caused quite a stir within the city.

Seeing this, the lieutenant hurriedly ordered in a loud voice:

"This is the decree from the palace; everyone, do not panic and keep to your own duties!"

Under his pacification, the tense atmosphere gradually eased, and a potential conflict was avoided.

The old general standing on the wall recognized several people; they were all big figures who had shaken the world in those years.

At the head was a tall, middle-aged man.

"The Grand Marshal of the Northern Garrison Army, who decided on Yanbei, planned Nanyang, broke two hundred cities without a single defeat—the commander-in-chief of the Northern Garrison Army, Feng Haiping."

A big man with a dark face and a beard.

"One of the twenty-six generals of the Pavilion, who pacified Heluo and was always the first to climb the walls—the Flying General, Jia Fu."

A scholar in white.

"Ranked twelfth among the twenty-six generals of the Pavilion, a talent for both civil and military affairs—the Longshui Brave Guard, Dou Gu."

A middle-aged monk in monk's robes with a large saber.

"Ranked eighteenth among the twenty-six generals of the Pavilion, the first to attack cities and break formations—the living Buddha General, Cheng Pu."

There were several more behind!

The old general didn't recognize them, only able to vaguely guess their identities.

There was a white-robed Daoist and a general holding a spear!

But every one of them was a presence that had shaken the world in those years.

Today, they have all entered the capital!

The torrent-like Lu Family Army did not head straight for the imperial palace as everyone had expected.

Instead, they turned toward the Imperial City Department, a move that made the old general on the city wall narrow his eyes, his heart filled with doubt.

He knew well that the Imperial City Department was a "clear water" government office of no importance, yet the Lu Family Army chose to head there—what was their intention?

The Imperial City Department?

It had been ten years since the Heaven Drum was struck, and there had been no movement since then.

The old general recalled the various rumors of recent days, and a glimmer of understanding gradually formed in his heart.

The news of Commander Lu being arrested, the Son of Heaven's rage, the questioning of Mount Zhongnan, and then the news of the Young Protector entering the capital.

Could it be that they came for this?

It was a pity he was only a small city gate guard with too low a rank to know about such secret matters that dominated the changes in the court.

Suddenly!

A more shocking thought emerged in his mind:

If the Young Protector really sat on the throne of this land, what would happen...

But as soon as this thought appeared, he denied it himself.

These things were not for an old man like him to worry about!

……

……

【The three of you walked out of the Imperial City Department.】

【Only to hear on the street!】

【The sound of hoofbeats like beating drums, like muffled thunder rolling across the sky, shook the ground of the capital until it trembled slightly.】

【The air was filled with an indescribable tension and expectation, making people hold their breath involuntarily.】

【The soldiers of the Five Northern Schools, wearing armor and holding weapons, lined up on both sides of the street. Their expressions were stern and tense, looking toward the street corner from time to time, as if a terrifying giant beast were about to emerge from there.】

【Deng Ping's gaze was particularly sharp; he pursed his lips tightly, his eyes like torches, locked onto the street corner, as if he wanted to see through the high walls to the source of it all.】

【His fingers gripped the sword at his waist unconsciously.】

【In contrast, Lu Yu smiled indifferently.】

【"They are really fast!"】

【As his words fell, the deafening sound grew closer and closer—】

(End of chapter)