Snatching the Peaches, Li Xinge's Troubles

Though Lü Fengxian had committed all of Xu Province's troops, the day they finished gathering would be far too late.

He sent the forces of the five prefectures bordering Eastern Ridge as his vanguard and launched his attack.

Nearly all of Eastern Ridge's elite forces were tied down by Yang Province.

Its border with Xu Province was virtually undefended.

Xu Province's iron cavalry drove straight in, and vast swaths of Eastern Ridge territory swiftly fell beneath their hooves.

In no time, Eastern Ridge faced enemies on both fronts, its territory shrinking rapidly.

Then news of Xu Province's attack reached Yang Province.

Inside the Yang Province Army's command tent.

"Lü Fengxian, you despicable, shameless wretch!"

Fu Yu, usually so gentle and refined, bristled from beard to brow as he cursed aloud.

"That Lü Fengxian has some nerve! When we were facing down the Eastern Ridge Barbarians at Yun Tian Pass, he did nothing. Now that we've broken through the pass and crippled them, he finally sends his troops. That little rat is plainly here to snatch the peaches!"

Huang Yuanzong, head of the Huang Family, looked livid.

Everyone in the tent seethed with outrage, their curses unceasing.

They had bled and sweated, fought tooth and nail, and were on the verge of swallowing all of Eastern Ridge Land. How could they stomach Xu Province taking a vast share of the spoils without lifting a finger?

"First Elder, we cannot stand by while those Xu Province thieves steal Yang Province's victories! We must march at once and drive them out of Eastern Ridge!" Yang Province Sima Wang Tianming demanded angrily.

"Yes! We must drive them out!"

"Eastern Ridge belongs to Yang Province alone!"

Li Xuantong sat in the seat of honor, his expression dark.

He listened to their furious words. Angry as