Chapter 19: The Method to Break Iron Futo, the Plan Begins

Yu Ke was not idle.

With time still early, he fetched blueprints and wrote down some of his ideas.

On the paper, he wrote:

Iron Futo.

He did not understand military strategy or battle formations, but in his past life he had been a history enthusiast.

He had studied this peak form of ancient cold-weapon warfare.

Those heavily armored knights, like the hooked cavalry sweeping from both flanks, were unstoppable.

These were heavy cavalry, armored to the teeth.

These heavy cavalry, their defense perfected, linked every three horses with iron chains, charging into battle with no equal.

Yet!

The drawbacks were obvious: the horses bore heavy loads; once a rider fell, they became birds without wings, utterly motionless.

Yu Ke combined this knowledge from his past life.

Cut the horses’ legs!

That was a good solution—after all, horse legs were never covered in iron armor, or the horses could not run.

The commanders in this simulation world were no fools; Yu Ke felt the world’s realism.

The records before him documented battles involving clever stratagems and poison.

Cutting horse legs had long been devised.

Heavy axes, mo dao, and other weapons had been used.

The results were good, always leveraging terrain.

It worked once, but lost effectiveness after repeated use.

Outside Hulao Pass now lay vast plains.

The two armies lined up, facing each other squarely.

Yu Ke, in black ink on white paper, wrote three words that leapt off the page.

Three Lives Formation!

As the name suggests, this formation is “deploy a circular encircling formation at the front, then extend both flanks to attack from left and right,” hence named Three Lives Formation.

The tactic is exquisite: first use the hooked cavalry on both flanks to probe the enemy’s weak points, then launch a fierce strike by extending both flanks, finally driving straight for the enemy’s heart with the unyielding might of Iron Futo, forcing the enemy to break.

This tactic appears simple, yet it deeply understands the way of military strategy.

In large-scale confrontations, deploying troops and forming formations, to employ such a brilliant tactic proves its power.

The Northern Xuan State’s invincibility in battle, its unstoppable advances,

stem precisely from their flawless mastery of the “Three Lives Formation.”

In many major battles, soldiers did not die merely from enemy swords and spears; more died from chaotic formations, trampling each other like lambs awaiting slaughter.

Yu Ke paused to think, drawing on old memories.

He dipped his brush and slowly wrote: “Disperse the troops for field warfare, grouping in tens and fives, spread like scattered stars.”

This line was not his own—it came from a great military strategist of his past life.

On the battlefield, heavy cavalry charge infantry formations like floods and beasts, aiming to shatter their order.

Once the infantry formation breaks, the battle is over.

If a solid formation cannot repel Iron Futo, why not break it into fragments and strike with dispersion?

Play to strengths, avoid weaknesses—that is the path to victory.

Ancient texts record armies that “advanced upon drumbeat, dispersed upon gong signal,” shifting flexibly between small-unit coordination and large-scale operations.

When Iron Futo charges onto the battlefield, it becomes surrounded by scattered infantry.

Cut their horse legs, then annihilate the riders!

He wrote again on the paper, decisively:

“Fight to the death!”

Cutting horse legs is the beginning of a fight to the death.

Facing the Northern Xuan State’s astonishing combat power and endurance, to win,

one must embrace the will to die!

This is a battle of morale, the critical moment testing a soldier’s will and a general’s ability.

Ancient history records how eight hundred brave men shattered ten thousand enemies, relying solely on unshakable conviction and soaring morale.

The commander holds the center, directing the entire army.

Generals must personally enter the battlefield, fearless of life or death, to inspire morale and unlock soldiers’ potential.

As Yu Ke finished writing these words, his father Lu Jiaxuan watched silently beside him, eyes filled with seriousness and deep thought.

His gaze grew brighter, as if stirred by the words, his face showing a look of profound contemplation.

At that moment!

Lu Yu had prepared everything and entered the tent to report: “Father, all is arranged.”

At this moment, Lu Jiaxuan’s eyes remained fixed on Lu Chen’s paper, the ink still wet.

“Disperse the troops for field warfare, grouping in tens and fives, spread like scattered stars.”

“Fight to the death.”

He whispered them aloud, a flicker of shock in his eyes.

Lu Jiaxuan, a general steeped in military strategy and seasoned by countless battles, knew the vast gulf between theoretical discourse and real combat.

Yet as he carefully read Lu Chen’s strategy, he was deeply shaken.

Though some ideas seemed naive, the overall plan was highly practical and feasible.

He eagerly picked up the paper, gently blew on the ink to dry it, and carefully stored it away.

The more he looked, the more he felt this could not have been written by a mere boy.

This was clearly the work of a seasoned general who had fought the Northern Xuan State for years.

Only when Lu Yu urged him did he snap back to reality.

In the flickering candlelight, Lu Jiaxuan gazed at this composed young man, sleeves rolled, brush laid down, a profound, indescribable pride rising in his heart.

He burst into loud, unrestrained laughter:

“Of course! No wonder he’s my Lu family’s son!”

As previously planned, in the thick morning fog,

two thousand Lu family soldiers followed Lu Yu out of the city in silence.

Lu Chen and Lu Jiaxuan waited behind to provide support.

The city gate slowly opened, the bridge lowered, as if inviting the enemy into a trap.

Yu Ke thought: if someone were to play the qin atop the city gate,

this plan would be perfect.

Standing on horseback, Yu Ke gazed toward the distant encampments west of the gate, then turned to his white-haired father beside him, silently praying:

May all go well.

…

…

Inside the Northern Xuan State’s tent,

Tuoba Shuyi sat alone, dismissed his attendants, and quietly read the military text in his hands.

Unlike other imperial brothers, he brought no concubines or wine when he marched south, no leisurely sightseeing.

After entering the camp, he disciplined himself strictly, avoided women, drank not a drop of alcohol, always keeping his mind sharp and clear.

His bed was no different from that of ordinary soldiers.

He ate and slept as they did, with no privilege.

The military text in his hands was one of the most famous in Daqing history; though Daqing had lost its former glory, now like fish on a chopping block,

Tuoba Shuyi knew he must learn from it.

“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.”

At that moment, urgent footsteps sounded outside the tent, followed by a loud report:

“Report! Intelligence from the west of Hulao Pass!”

Tuoba Shuyi slowly raised his head, eyes sharp as an eagle, and asked in a low voice: “They dared to leave the city?”

He grew puzzled—was it the garrison or the rebel forces who dared to sortie?

He quickly dismissed the possibility; in his view, both the garrison and rebels had been terrified into submission and would never dare attack.

The Lu family army from the west?

Tuoba Shuyi knew of the Lu family army—though only four thousand strong, their combat power was not to be underestimated.

Yet he held no respect for General Lu Jiaxuan.

Mediocre talent.

Lu Jiaxuan could defend, but lacked offensive ability—he posed no real threat.

“The Lu family army…”

Tuoba Shuyi murmured, a flicker of contempt in his eyes.

Such a force was no concern.

"Report!"

"The western gate of Hulao Pass is wide open."

Tuoba Shu yi stood up abruptly

"What? The city gate is open!"

(End of chapter)