Chapter 178: The Lu Family Army Has Arrived!

The west gate of Jingcheng.

The heavy gates, pulled open by iron chains, were thrust wide by the concerted effort of elite soldiers—

Finally crashing open with a thunderous roar—

Outside the gate!

The earth trembled with the deafening thunder of hooves!

"Thud—thud—"

The pounding of hooves on the ground, mingled with the clatter of iron armor, forged a chilling, strange symphony!

In the distance!

Like a rising black dragon, undulating from the horizon, its scales opening and closing, pouring forth a bloody aura of slaughter.

At the very front of this army!

A blood-red banner snapped fiercely in the wind, emblazoned with a massive character: "LU."

"Is this… the Lu Family Army?"

An old general stood at the gate—he was the capital's western gate defender, holding the military rank of fifth-rank proper.

A battle-worn veteran, scarred by countless campaigns, he now muttered to himself, eyes filled with disbelief.

He had taken part in the southern peasant uprisings, risen through military merit, seen blood, seen masses of the dead!

But this sight before him!

Left him utterly shaken.

"Thud—"

"Thud—"

Even the capital's elite Jinwu Guard had never displayed such an aura!

He could not help but recall the reputation of the Lu Family Army.

"One body stained with blood, two feet caked in mud!"

"It's easier to shake a mountain than to shake the Lu Family Army!"

This mighty northern force had once kept the northern winds from daring to march south for fifteen years.

Their fame had long echoed through the northern winds; northern historians, when recording this army,

Had no choice but to label them "ferocious troops."

Today!

The Lu Family Army had finally entered southern Jiangnan—and their arrival seemed even more terrifying than legend claimed!

The gate guards stared at the iron tide surging toward them, their hearts trembling with fear.

The synchronized hoofbeats struck like hammers against their chests, leaving them unnerved, wondering if this city could possibly withstand such a force.

"General, we were ordered to open the gate—but is this truly wise?"

The guard asked, voice trembling, fearing that once the gates opened, the city's civilians and soldiers would be exposed to this ferocious army, helpless before its might.

The old general flew into a rage and kicked him squarely.

"We haven't even fought yet, and you're already cowering like this? And you're not from the northern winds—what are you afraid of?"

Standing atop the wall, the old general watched the approaching Lu Family Army and smiled bitterly.

He knew full well that the gate's defenses had been stripped bare—most troops had been relocated, and the supporting camps stood empty, useless.

All had been summoned into the imperial palace.

No one knew what had happened!

This defense was more than just "weak"—it could not withstand any organized assault, let alone the roaring might of the Lu Family Army before him.

Yet the orders from above brought him slight relief.

The old general pulled out a secret edict from the palace, bearing only a few words:

"Open the gate. Welcome the Lu Family Army inside."

He frowned slightly—until a second letter arrived, and his furrowed brow finally relaxed.

"Obey their orders. Hand over the defenses. Live."

He knew the sender—it was Xie Chunan, warning him.

They had known each other for years; Xie Chunan had saved him from death multiple times.

The capital's gate commander no longer hesitated.

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

The horn sounded from the gate tower.

As the dark tide of soldiers stood before the gate, the wave of killing intent crashing over them—

Like iron cavalry encircling the dragon city!

The guards on the gate shuddered in terror!

And fortunately—

The old general himself had no courage to stand against such an army!

To yield to the tide and let the Lu Family Army enter peacefully was, perhaps, the wisest course.

The Lu Family Army did not rush into the city but halted just outside, forming several disciplined formations.

Then, slowly, they marched through the gate and entered the capital's territory.

Among them, the "Deng Regiment," as vanguard, took immediate control of the gate's defense upon entry.

This sudden turn of events stirred great unrest within the city.

The deputy commander, seeing this, shouted loudly:

"This is the imperial decree! Do not panic! Each man, remain at your post!"

His calm reassurance eased the tension, preventing what might have become a violent clash.

The old general, standing on the wall, recognized several figures—great men who had once shaken the heavens.

At their head stood a tall middle-aged man.

"Commander of the Zhenbei Army, who decided Yanbei's fate, planned the southern campaign, shattered two hundred cities without defeat—Zhenbei Army's commander, Feng Haiping."

A black-faced, bearded giant.

"One of the Twenty-Six Pavilion Generals, Jia Fu—the flying general who led the charge at Heluo."

A white-robed scholar.

"Twelfth among the Twenty-Six Pavilion Generals, a statesman of both civil and military talent, Changshui Elite Guard Dou Gu."

A middle-aged monk in monk's robes, wielding a great blade.

"Eighteenth among the Twenty-Six Pavilion Generals, Cheng Pu—the living Buddha-general, first to breach walls and storm fortresses."

Behind them stood several more!

The old general did not recognize them, only vaguely guessing their identities.

A white-robed old Daoist, a spear-wielding general!

Yet each one was a legendary figure of their time.

All had entered Jingcheng today!

The flood of the Lu Family Army did not, as expected, head straight for the palace.

Instead, it turned toward the Imperial City Office—a move that made the old general's eyes narrow, his mind filled with confusion.

He knew the Imperial City Office was a trivial bureau, insignificant—why would the Lu Family Army head there? What was their intent?

The Imperial City Office?

It had not sounded the heavenly drum in over ten years—nothing had followed since.

The old general recalled recent rumors, and a glimmer of understanding began to form.

The Lu commander had been arrested; the Son of Heaven had raged, demanding answers from Mount Zhongnan—then came the news of the Shaobao's arrival in the capital.

Could this be why?

But he was merely a lowly gate guard, with too little authority to know such secrets that shaped the court's fate.

Suddenly!

A more shocking thought flashed through his mind:

If the Shaobao truly seized the throne… what then…?

But he immediately crushed the thought.

These matters were not for an old man like him to worry over!

…

…

【The three of you stepped out of the Imperial City Office.】

【From the streets!】

【A drumbeat of hooves rang out, like thunder rolling across the sky, making the very ground of Jingcheng tremble.】

【The air hung thick with an indescribable tension and anticipation, forcing all to hold their breath.】

【The soldiers of the Northern Army's Five Camps stood in formation along the streets, clad in armor, weapons in hand, their faces grim and tense, eyes constantly flicking toward the street's mouth—as if a monstrous beast were about to emerge.】

【Deng Ping's gaze was especially sharp; his lips pressed thin, eyes blazing, locked on the street's mouth, as if he could pierce the walls to see the source of it all.】

【His fingers unconsciously tightened around the hilt of his waist sword.】

【In contrast, Lu Yu merely smiled calmly.】

【"They're moving fast!"】

【As his words fell, the deafening sound drew ever closer—】

(End of Chapter)