Chapter 20

Tuoba Shuyi’s gaze was deep, fixed on the nearest outpost beyond the West Gate on the sand table.

That was one of his planned positions.

Should the Lu family army attempt a surprise strike here, he would remain unmoved.

Ambush troops had long been hidden on both flanks; the seemingly weak flaw was deliberately planted as bait.

A faint cold smile appeared on his lips.

He had tested Lu Jiaxuan repeatedly and knew him to be a cautious general, strong in defense but unlikely to launch a reckless surprise attack.

This flaw!

Was meant to lure the enemy into shifting their main force at a critical moment, feigning an attack on the North Gate to smash through the weakest South Gate.

Yet!

This was merely a casual move on the board, possibly never used at all.

But fate is unpredictable—today, an unexpected turn occurred.

Lu Jiaxuan, this cautious general, had made a mistake—he had launched a surprise strike here.

Tuoba Shuyi felt a flicker of surprise.

He had already laid his trap, waiting for the enemy to walk into it.

Yet!

The city gate stood wide open, yet not a single guard remained outside—this sight was deeply suspicious.

One of his deputies spoke up: “Sixth Prince, heaven has granted us a golden opportunity. Hulao Pass is hard to take, yet now it is handed to us.”

“The Qing people are desperate. Our troops must press forward now.”

Laughter erupted among them; for years, the Qing army had either fled their cities or collapsed at the first blow.

Such strange maneuvers had long been commonplace to the northern Xuan state.

Tuoba Shuyi laughed heartily.

The tent was filled with his loyal men—he felt at ease.

Yet, doubt still lingered in his heart.

What hidden variables lay behind this seemingly divine opportunity?

No.

Lu Jiaxuan’s caution made this impossible.

“Do not rush to pursue. Encircle from both flanks.”

Tuoba Shuyi ordered in a low, commanding tone, radiating undeniable authority.

“A’etu, lead three thousand light cavalry to encircle from the side. Proceed with utmost caution.”

“Do not attack without my order.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” A towering man bowed respectfully and accepted the command.

No one questioned Tuoba Shuyi’s orders; over the years, his extraordinary wisdom and military prowess had earned their admiration and trust.

He had crushed three northern states in months and taken nine cities in a hundred days.

He had long since shaken the world.

His military talent rivaled that of the founding ancestor of the Northern Wind Xuan state.

His military talent was no less than that of the founding ancestor of the Northern Wind Xuan Kingdom.

…

…

Lu Jiaxuan, just beyond the city gate, still felt uneasy inside.

Though outwardly calm, his hand gripping the reins was slick with fine sweat.

As a seasoned veteran of countless battles, he knew this risky stratagem was like walking on a razor’s edge—any misstep meant utter ruin.

As a battle-hardened veteran, he knew this risky strategy was like walking on a razor’s edge—slight misstep and total ruin.

When Lu Jiaxuan turned his gaze to Lu Chen, standing beside him,

he saw a different scene.

Lu Chen sat steadily on his horse, head slightly raised, eyes fixed on the still-darkening sky.

Above the morning mist, a few stars still glimmered.

The vast plain made the heavens seem high and the clouds thin.

Lu Chen, lost in thought, appeared serene and composed.

As if the battle before him had nothing to do with him—he was merely strolling calmly through this world.

The boy’s composure!

Seeing this, Lu Jiaxuan couldn’t help a self-deprecating smile.

He, a battle-hardened general, was less calm than a child barely twenty.

He had endured countless battles, yet still could not match the calm composure of a child under twenty.

What he did not know was that Lu Chen’s mind was elsewhere.

He gazed at the sky, pondering the reality of the Kunxu world.

Was the Kunxu world truly real?

He looked up at the heavens, trying to pierce the endless void, seeking whether beyond that height lay another world.

For a moment, he was lost in thought.

Lu Jiaxuan, miles away, faintly sensed the clamor of battle—the shouts of men, the neighing of horses, the sudden blaze of firelight.

It jolted the guards at Hulao Pass’s gate awake.

Inside a large camp near the South Gate, lanterns flickered, casting shadows of tents.

In a large camp by the South Gate, lanterns flickered, casting shadows of the tents.

A sharp, excited cry shattered the quiet of dawn.

A sharp, urgent report shattered the stillness of dawn.

This was a key stronghold jointly held by three rebel armies and Wang Yang’s troops, where four factions intertwined, each with hidden agendas.

The guard rushed into the tent, face flushed with urgency.

Deep within the Zhao army camp, a broad-shouldered black-faced giant lay snoring loudly on a spacious bed.

His round belly and bloated face made him resemble a small mountain sprawled across the bed.

“What’s all this noise?!”

He sat up abruptly, like a beast startled awake, his movement so violent it overturned a wine jar beside the table—wine splashed everywhere, shards scattered with a sharp crash.

He bolted upright like a startled beast, his movement so violent it overturned the wine jar beside the table, spilling liquor across the floor, shards scattering with a crisp shatter.

“Your Majesty, urgent news!”

Hearing this, the black-faced giant’s voice, loud as a bell, carried a hint of alarm.

“Did those horse-riding devils break into the city?”

On the bed, a red-clad beauty stirred awake, rising lazily from the giant’s arms.

Her figure was graceful, revealing large areas of snow-white skin, stirring heated glances from the guards.

“Your Majesty, it is not the Northern Xuan state attacking.”

The guard answered quickly.

“It is Lu Jiaxuan from the West Gate—he led his son in a surprise strike against the Northern Wind’s forward lines.”

At this, the black-faced giant exhaled in relief, his large, fan-like hand gently patting his thinning hair.

“Lu Jiaxuan, that old fool, really doesn’t care if he dies.” He sneered, eyes filled with contempt.

“Daring to strike out—just don’t drag us down.”

He waved his hand, impatiently ordering the guard away.

“Forget it. Let him do as he pleases—as long as it doesn’t interfere with our plan.”

“Our Zhao family has no wish to die for Wang Yang—but Lu Jiaxuan mustn’t die either—he’s still useful.”

With that, he pulled the beautiful woman beside him close again.

“Beauty, let’s continue what we started last night, hehe.”

“Your Majesty, you’re so naughty—be gentle with me this time.”

The departing guard, hearing the soft, sultry voice, felt a flush of heat in his belly but dared not look again.

Other rebel encampments also sensed the change at the West Gate, each harboring their own schemes.

Among them, Wang Yang was the most frantic—he hurried to the West Gate, searching everywhere for Lu Jiaxuan.

The Lu family army, though numbering only four thousand, was the elite force of Hulao Pass, far surpassing other rebel troops in combat strength.

Lu Jiaxuan, this border general and Metropolitan Graduate, was, in Wang Yang’s eyes, far more reliable than any other rebel commander.

He was the product of Qing’s four-century tradition of nurturing scholars.

That was why Wang Yang had entrusted the West Gate to the Lu family alone, sending not a single officer to oversee them.

At this critical moment, he could not afford to lose such a rare general.

At this critical moment, he could not afford to lose such a rare general.

…

“Report!”

"Report!"

A scout rushed into the main tent.

“It has been confirmed: Lu Jiaxuan’s second son, Lu Yu, led two thousand elite soldiers in a surprise attack on our forward positions.”

As report after report arrived from the scouts.

Inside the main tent, Tuoba Shuyi sat upon the commander’s seat.

“Your Highness, shall we send A Etu to encircle and crush them?”

Tuoba Shuyi shook his head and smiled confidently.

“The morning mist has not yet lifted, and the city gates remain open—this is clearly Lu Jiaxuan’s ploy, meant to lure our troops out of camp so they can be surrounded and annihilated.”

The other generals nodded in agreement.

“Then what should we do?”

Tuoba Shuyi pondered for a moment.

“Our forces should adopt a fighting retreat strategy, changing our encirclement plan into one of reinforcement.”

“As long as they dare to pursue, we can swiftly mobilize ten thousand elite troops to cut off their rear and storm the city from the West Gate in advance, throwing their formation into chaos.”

The generals nodded and departed to carry out their orders.

This arrangement was indeed extremely sound.

(End of Chapter)