[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2347033,4587,"Chapter 18: Iron Floaters, Strategy Formulated in the Tent","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>Seeing Yu Ke lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu and his father did not disturb him, for Lu Chen had just arrived and was weary from the journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke’s memories of the past twenty years passed before him like a galloping horse viewing flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are now entirely Lu Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His understanding of the Northern Wind Xuan Kingdom deepened further; the current commander outside Hulao Pass was Tuoba Shuyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sixth prince of the Northern Wind Xuan Kingdom, he commanded great prestige within the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under his command were thirty thousand heavy armored troops, supported by hooked cavalry and light horsemen piercing through formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once engaged in battle, they moved like a gale, crushing all resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In previous major battles, they caused the Daqing army to flee in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When two armies face off, if no strategy exists to break the enemy, one will inevitably be crushed without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his northward journey, Lu Chen had witnessed the Iron Floater cavalry, three men per small unit, moving in perfect coordination—the pinnacle of cold-weapon warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the heavy armor, only their eyes were visible; even their warhorses showed nothing but their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To defeat the Northern Wind Xuan Kingdom, one must first unravel the “Iron Floater.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu had gathered detailed records of the Northern Wind Xuan Kingdom and the biography of the sixth prince, Tuoba Shuyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he handed them to Lu Chen, page by page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Shuyi’s origins were unremarkable; his mother had been neglected in the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a child, he lost his mother at four and entered the palace at five, beginning his court life from then on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At six, he recognized Lady Xuan as his mother, gaining her faction’s support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seven, …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At sixteen, he breached a city, captured its governor’s wife, and earned considerable favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he delved deeper into Tuoba Shuyi’s life story,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke’s eyes grew slightly warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his heart!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An inexplicable sense of familiarity arose, as if he had known this sixth prince for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Shuyi was ambitious; his childhood experiences made him deeply suspicious of those around him, trusting no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He craved power and regarded human lives as worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though outwardly fearless and moody, inwardly he clung desperately to his own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In military strategy, he adhered to the principle: “If you employ someone, trust him completely; if you doubt him, do not employ him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thoroughly studied military texts and could flexibly apply timing on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He favored surprise tactics, yet inwardly was exceedingly cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbound by rigid doctrine, he was a true military genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart felt an uncanny familiarity with Tuoba Shuyi’s character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke could not help but be astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he quickly realized this was Lu Chen’s talent: [Perception of Character].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This talent was astonishing indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely from a person’s life record, he could judge their character and conduct with such precision, as if they had been close companions for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke set down the documents; he had already formulated a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu hurried forward and asked: “Brother, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke did not answer directly but turned to Lu Yu and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yu, do you think we could launch a surprise attack on the Northern Xuan cavalry camped to the north?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the monastery, they were no longer master and disciple, but brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu scratched his head, thought for a moment, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, I think their camp is too close to the city; our surprise attack would be swift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daqing has long been terrified of them—they’d never expect us to strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, that position lies just beyond our bow range, yet it’s a vital western stronghold we cannot let them hold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The western gate of Hulao Pass was now entrusted to the Lu Family Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If another rebel force held it, Commander Wang Yang might harbor doubts; there had been precedents of rebel armies defecting to the Northern Xuan Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this brave and fearless Lu Family Army, Commander Wang Yang had full confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opposite them, Tuoba Shuyi was infamous for his iron fist—he never accepted surrender; any enemy who bowed to him faced death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuoba Shuyi was supremely confident, believing his ten thousand personal guards alone could dominate the land, unmatched by any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan, Lu Chen’s father, disagreed with Lu Yu’s view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the map on the table and said solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tuoba Shuyi took the battlefield at fourteen, fought countless battles, wielded strategy like a god—how could he make such a mistake? This is surely a decoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe his flanks conceal ambushes; once we attack, we’ll be struck from both sides.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan’s finger traced the terrain on the map; indeed, that location was vulnerable to attacks from both flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, I advise against acting rashly. You do not understand the true danger of this Northern Wind Xuan prince. Five northern cities surrendered outright upon hearing Tuoba Shuyi was leading the army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His discipline is absolute; orders are obeyed without question. His hundred thousand troops form an iron wall, unbreakable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their opinions clashing, both fixed their gaze on Lu Chen, awaiting his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chen’s father knew his son had always been calm and methodical, rarely making mistakes, and thus he especially wished to hear his view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lu Yu had trusted Lu Chen since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yu Ke no longer delayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suggest we be bold: open the city gates and launch a surprise attack, catching the enemy off guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, both were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lu Yu was bold by nature, even he was shaken by the proposal and worried:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, opening the gates is too risky—if anything goes wrong, Hulao Pass may fall into crisis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chen’s father also frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This plan is still too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Yu Ke proposed this strategy, the reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood Tuoba Shuyi’s nature well—he felt this man resembled the historical “Cao Cao,” who loved other men’s wives, was deeply suspicious, and excelled at surprise tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Yu Ke’s strategy was a variant of “borrowing arrows with straw boats” and “empty city ruse,” designed to strike unexpectedly, exploit unpreparedness, and target Tuoba Shuyi’s suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Jiachi  of [Perception of Character], Yu Ke’s understanding of this sixth prince was deep enough to dare such bold action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu, though pleased his brother supported the surprise attack, still harbored doubts about opening the gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chen, aware of their concerns, calmly laid out his plan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, tomorrow morning, fog will obscure visibility—we can use this to buy time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Yu, you lead two thousand elite troops. If there are ambushes, Father and I will follow with two thousand reserves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Lu Yu’s confidence surged and he readily agreed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, rest assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With me, Lu Yu, the troops will return safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan, hearing Lu Chen’s plan, nodded slightly; it now seemed far more Wentuo .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan himself found it strange why he agreed to such a risky plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, from his eldest son Lu Chen, he glimpsed an unprecedented calmness and composure—especially in those bright eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered when Lu Chen was young, his tutor had said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this were a time of peace, this boy would become a pillar of governance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But alas—he was born in chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jiaxuan snapped back to reality and thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulao Pass urgently needed a victory—to declare to the world and stabilize morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To tell the allied forces that the Northern Xuan Kingdom was not invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three settled on the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yu rose to make arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Lu Yu’s retreating figure, Yu Ke felt a surge of thought, curious about his younger brother’s current martial cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What level had Lu Yu’s innate qi cultivation reached?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to soldiers’ reports from Hulao Pass, Lu Yu moved as light as a swallow, leaping effortlessly atop city walls over ten zhang high, and once fought eighty men alone without defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such martial skill was extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke secretly speculated that Lu Yu’s martial prowess might rival Guo Jing, who defended Xiangyang in “The Return of the Condor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Guo Jing had fully mastered his arts and still moved effortlessly against ninety-eight men in the Heavenly Gang Northern Dipper Formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Guo Jing was then middle-aged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How old is Lu Yu now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has not yet turned nineteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1403,"2026-06-21T01:32:57.622Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","30da7ba961a3688ebc18d4dabfc8983def076d1411a3e1afc289cf16f0207192","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-19","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-17",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]