Western Gate Incident, a Youth's Steadiness

Tuoba Shuyi's gaze was profound as he stared at the nearest stronghold outside the Western Gate on the sand table.

That was one of the points in his layout.

If the Lu Family Army attempted a surprise attack there, he would remain perfectly composed.

Ambushers had long been lying in wait on both flanks. That seemingly weak opening was, in truth, bait he had deliberately set.

A cold smile surfaced at the corner of his lips.

After repeatedly probing Lu Jiaxuan, he knew the man was a cautious commander, more than capable of holding ground but never one to rashly launch a surprise attack.

This opening!

It was meant to shift the army at a critical moment, to pull the firewood from beneath the cauldron—feint at the North Gate, then smash through the weakest South Gate in one stroke.

However!

That was merely a casual move on the chessboard, one that might not even be used in the end.

Yet the world was full of surprises. An accident had occurred today.

Lu Jiaxuan, that cautious commander, had actually made a mistake and launched a surprise attack on this place.

Tuoba Shuyi could not help feeling slightly surprised.

He had long laid his trap, waiting only for the enemy to walk into the net themselves.

However!

The city gates stood wide open, yet there was not a single defending general outside. The sight was exceedingly suspicious.

The deputy generals in the tent had already advised, "Sixth Prince, Heaven has handed us a perfect opportunity. Hulao Pass is difficult to take, yet now it has delivered itself to our doorstep."

"The Great Qing dogs have been driven to leap over the wall. Our army should press forward while the momentum is with us."

Everyone burst into laughter. For all these years, the Great Qing army had either abandoned cities and fled or proved utterly incapable of withstanding a blow.

Northern Xuan Kingdom had long grown accustomed to these strange and baffling antics.

Tuoba Shuyi laughed aloud.

Everyone in the tent was one of his trusted confidants, so naturally, he was at ease.

Yet doubts still lingered in his heart.

What sort of hidden twist lay behind this seemingly Heaven-sent opportunity?

Something was wrong.

With Lu Jiaxuan's caution, this was impossible.

"Do not rush to pursue them yet. Encircle them from both sides."

Tuoba Shuyi gave the order in a deep voice, carrying an authority that brooked no challenge.

"A'etu, lead three thousand light cavalry and sweep in from the flank. Be extremely careful."

"Without my command, do not attack."

"Yes, Your Highness!" A burly man respectfully accepted the order.

No one questioned Tuoba Shuyi's commands. Over the years, through his extraordinary wisdom and skill at leading troops into battle,

he had earned everyone's admiration and trust.

He had destroyed the three northern kingdoms in several months and taken nine cities in succession within a hundred days.

His name had long shaken the realm.

In military talent, he was no inferior to the founding ancestor of North Wind Profound Kingdom.

None dared refuse to be convinced.

Not far outside the city gates, Lu Jiaxuan still felt uneasy inside.

Though he looked calm on the surface, fine beads of sweat seeped into the palm gripping his reins.

As a veteran who had spent years on the battlefield, he knew this risky plan was like walking upon a blade's edge. One misstep, and there would be no return from eternal damnation.

Then he looked at Lu Chen.

When Lu Jiaxuan turned his gaze toward Lu Chen, who stood beside him,

he saw an entirely different sight.

Lu Chen sat steadily atop his horse, raising his head slightly as he looked toward the sky, which had yet to fully brighten.

Above the morning mist, several stars still hung in the heavens.

The plains stretched wide, making the sky seem high and the clouds pale.

As Lu Chen drifted into a slight daze, he appeared utterly calm and composed.

It was as though the battle before him had nothing to do with him, as though he were merely strolling idly between Heaven and earth.

Such steadiness in one so young!

At the sight, Lu Jiaxuan could not help mocking himself with a smile.

He had fought through countless battles, yet he was not as calm and unhurried as a youth barely twenty.

In truth!

What he did not know was that Lu Chen was thinking of something else entirely.

He looked at the sky, but in his heart, he was pondering whether this Kun Void World was real.

Was this so-called Kun Void World real or false?

He raised his head toward the firmament, trying to peer through the boundless void and discover how high the heavens truly were—whether another world existed beyond them.

For a moment, he became lost in thought.

From several li away, Lu Jiaxuan vaguely sensed the cries of men and neighing of horses as the two armies clashed, while firelight flared brightly.

It startled the guards at Hulao Pass's gates awake.

Within a great camp near the South Gate, lamplight swayed, illuminating the outlines of the tents.

"Report!"

An urgent, excited report shattered the stillness before dawn.

South Gate.

This was a vital position jointly guarded by the three rebel armies and Wang Yang's garrison. Forces from all sides were intertwined here, each harboring their own thoughts.

A guard hurried into the tent, his face filled with anxiety.

Deep within the Zhao Family Army's camp, a dark-faced man slept soundly upon a broad bed, his snores rumbling like thunder.

Fat-headed and big-eared, with a round belly, he lay sprawled across the bed like a small mountain.

"What is all this noise!"

He abruptly sat up like a startled beast. The sheer force of his movement knocked over a wine jar beside the table. Wine splashed everywhere, while shards scattered across the ground with a crisp crash.

Bang!

"Heavenly King, there is an urgent matter to report."

Upon hearing this, the dark-faced man's voice carried a trace of panic, booming like a bell.

"Have those horse-bastards broken into the city?"

A red-clad beauty on the bed was also awakened. Lazily, she rose from the man's embrace.

Her figure was exquisite, much of her snowy-white skin exposed, making the guards' eyes burn.

"Reporting to Heavenly King Zhao, it is not Northern Xuan Kingdom attacking the city."

The guard hurriedly answered.

"It is Lu Jiaxuan of the Western Gate, leading his son in a surprise attack against North Wind's forward battle formation."

Hearing this, the dark-faced man let out a breath of relief. His fan-sized hand lightly rubbed the sparse hair atop his head.

"Lu Jiaxuan, that old bastard truly does not value his life." He sneered, disdain flashing through his eyes.

"He even dares take the initiative to attack. So long as he does not drag us down, that is enough."

He waved his hand and impatiently dismissed the guard.

"Forget it, forget it. Leave him be. So long as he does not affect our great plan, it is fine."

"Our Zhao Clan does not want to die alongside Wang Yang. But Lu Jiaxuan must not die either; he still has his uses."

With that, he wrapped his arms around the alluring woman beside him again.

"Beauty, let us continue what we were doing last night. Heh heh."

"Heavenly King, you are so awful. This time, you must be gentler with me."

The guard who had not yet gone far heard that sweet, soft voice and felt heat stir in his belly, yet he did not dare look again.

The remaining rebel encampments also noticed the changes at the Western Gate, each making their own calculations.

Among them, Wang Yang was the most frantic. He hurried to the Western Gate and searched everywhere for Lu Jiaxuan.

Though the Lu Family Army numbered only four thousand, it was Hulao Pass's elite force, its fighting strength far surpassing that of the other rebel armies.

Lu Jiaxuan had served in the frontier army and was also a jinshi. In Wang Yang's eyes, he was far more reliable than the other rebel forces.

He was the product of Great Qing Kingdom nurturing scholars for four hundred years.

That was why Wang Yang had confidently entrusted the Western Gate to the Lu Family Army, without even sending a single man to supervise them.

At such a critical juncture, he absolutely did not wish to lose such a rare great general.

"Report!"

A scout rushed into the main tent.

"It has been confirmed. Lu Jiaxuan's second son, Lu Yu, has led two thousand elite warriors in a surprise attack on our army's forward position."

As report after report came from the scouts,

Tuoba Shuyi sat in the commander's seat within the main tent.

"Sixth Prince, should we have A'etu encircle and annihilate them?"

Tuoba Shuyi shook his head and smiled confidently.

"The morning mist has not yet dispersed, and the city gates stand open. This is plainly Lu Jiaxuan's scheme, intended to lure our army out of the camp and then gather forces to annihilate us."

The other generals nodded as well.

"Then what should we do?"

Tuoba Shuyi considered for a moment.

"Our army can fight while retreating, changing the original encirclement plan into one of receiving them in."

"So long as they dare pursue us, we can seize the chance to gather ten thousand elite troops, cut off their retreat, and launch an early assault on the city through the Western Gate, throwing their formation into chaos."

The generals nodded and accepted their orders before departing.

Such an arrangement was indeed exceptionally sound.