Chapter 224: Troops Depart Jingcheng, Follow Me North!

Yu Ke had made his decision; he slowly raised his head.

His gaze, deep and piercing, scanned the three troop lines on the map.

First, Shizhou had become the focal point.

Three days ago, Han and Chu had joined forces, launching forty thousand troops whose dark clouds loomed over the city, advancing swiftly toward Shizhou.

There, only ten thousand Daqing defenders held out alone, their situation dire.

Second, the northern border of Yunzhou.

This region, bordering the North Wind Lands, faced the same threat of forty thousand troops.

Though Lu Family Army still maintained twenty thousand iron cavalry in the north, various reasons prevented them from withdrawing to reinforce.

Lastly, Jingyang.

Qianyuan had crossed Hexi with thirty thousand iron cavalry, joining forces with fifteen thousand elite troops under Zhou Xuan, merging into a force of forty-five thousand, racing toward Jingyang.

Within Jingzhou, defenders numbered only thirty thousand—facing such a vast enemy, it was like an egg striking a rock.

Three armies, totaling one point two million, pressed down like three mountains, weighing heavily on every heart.

Facing this desperate plight, all generals held their breath, eyes fixed on Yu Ke, awaiting his orders.

Feng Haiping rose first, voice firm:

"Shao Bao, issue your command!"

The other generals rose in unison, clasping fists and chanting:

"Please, Shao Bao, issue your command!"

In an instant,

every soldier of the Lu Family Army felt a surge of fierce battle spirit.

Fifteen years of silence had not dulled their resolve; instead, like a sharp blade, they had been honed to greater keenness.

The name Lu Family Army would once again echo across the land!

Within the palace!

Eunuchs and palace maids, shaken by this overwhelming aura, shrank instinctively—they had grown up in the palace and had never witnessed such a scene, their eyes filled with terror.

They pressed themselves against the walls, trembling with fear, daring not to make a sound.

Yu Ke surveyed the hall, nodded slightly, and began deploying troops without hesitation.

His eyes calm, he called out:

"Jia Fu!"

"Your servant is here!"

The black-faced giant Jia Fu stepped forward, voice trembling with barely contained excitement.

"Cheng Pu!"

"Your servant is here!"

A bald monk in half a cassock, wielding a great saber, stepped from the ranks with steady steps, his voice deep and powerful.

Yu Ke's gaze held calm resolve as he spoke slowly:

"Each of you will lead a thousand elite cavalry and depart immediately for Shizhou."

Jia Fu and Cheng Pu answered without hesitation:

"Yes, sir!"

Zhou Cheng watched closely, his heart stirred.

He knew both were fearless generals, but with only two thousand men against forty thousand, how could they possibly hold?

If Shizhou fell, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Yet!

Jia Fu and Cheng Pu showed not a trace of doubt.

For years, they had grown accustomed to obeying the Shao Bao's orders, for countless victories had proven his decisions correct.

They understood: at this moment, obedience and unwavering execution were the only answers.

Dou Gu frowned slightly, baffled—what was the Shao Bao's true intent?

Yu Ke ignored the confusion and continued issuing orders:

"Chai Zhong!"

A young general in white armor, strikingly vigorous, stepped forward with firm voice:

"Your servant is here!"

"Huang Song."

An elderly man, white-haired yet still imposing, stepped from the ranks, replying steadily:

"Your servant is here!"

Yu Ke stared at them both: "Each of you will lead a thousand elite cavalry and march to Jingyang."

"Yes, sir!"

Both answered in unison.

With the second order issued, the hall fell silent once more.

Though puzzled, years of experience taught them that Yu Ke's tactics often defied expectation—only later would their brilliance become clear.

Zhou Cheng frowned again, thinking.

Even if Huang Song was a veteran of the Lu Family Army, unmatched in archery, and Chai Zhong a rare fierce commander, how could two thousand men possibly hold Jingyang against forty-five thousand?

Zhou Jinyu was equally perplexed.

This deployment seemed hopeless, destined to lose both cities.

She wondered silently: what was Lu Chen planning?

Dou Gu's brow tightened as he strained to discern deeper strategic intent in the Shao Bao's orders.

He had always considered himself brilliant, and now he racked his mind, searching desperately for the key.

Yu Ke's gaze swept over Jia Fu, Cheng Pu, Chai Zhong, and Huang Song, then issued another command:

"You four will camp outside the city and provoke them daily."

The four responded instantly in unison, then departed to carry out their orders.

Zhou Cheng stared at the map, silently calculating troop deployments.

Four thousand had been dispatched; only ninety thousand remained within the capital.

Dou Gu's eyes suddenly brightened—he sensed a glimmer of insight, yet it remained elusive, like seeing through mist.

Zhou Jinyu was filled with confusion.

She could not understand why Yu Ke issued such orders; in her view, this was suicide.

Only a fool would make such a decision!

Was Lu Chen a fool?

Clearly, no.

She looked up at Lu Chen, hoping to find answers on his face.

"Lu Chen"'s expression remained calm.

Yu Ke paused in thought, searching through Lu Chen's memories.

He recalled one man.

"Tang He."

"Your servant is here!"

A middle-aged man of average build stepped forward, clad in chainmail, a prominent scar on his left cheek, his eyes steady and resolute.

He was the Lu Family Army's foremost defender of cities, once holding a garrison of three thousand against fifty thousand North Wind troops until reinforcements arrived.

He excelled in tunnel warfare and other siege tactics, and was skilled in relocating civilians, gathering supplies, burning farmland, manipulating public sentiment, demolishing buildings, and constructing fortifications.

More importantly, he was calm by nature.

Yu Ke looked at Tang He, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Qin Xiaowu!"

"Your servant is here!"

Qin the Fifth, who had just passed by Yuetangjiang leading his horse, stepped forward swiftly—efficient and loyal.

"Tang He, Qin Xiaowu—you two will defend the capital. Leave ten thousand troops and reestablish your command at the former Western Depot site."

"Yes, sir!"

Zhou Jinyu, hearing this, finally showed surprise, lowering her head slightly.

The Lu Family Army was not leaving ten thousand troops to guard the capital.

One does not allow others to snore beside one's bed.

Thus, the Lu Family Army could now storm the palace, effectively strangling Daqing's throat.

Yu Ke continued:

"Feng Haiping."

He looked at the man with hawk-like eyes, the current commander of the Lu Family Army.

"Your servant is here!"

Yu Ke smiled faintly, speaking slowly:

"Count the troops. The rest of the generals, follow me north—to strike at the Yellow Dragon Court."

As soon as these words were spoken!

Zhou Jinyu snapped her head up, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

Dou Gu also froze upon hearing it, but then he immediately grasped the crucial point.

A searing heat surged in his chest, and without thinking, he bowed low in submission.

(End of Chapter)