The morning mist quietly dispersed, heralding the dawn of a new day.
"Report—"
A drawn-out cry rang out like the clang of metal at daybreak, shattering the silence of the military tent.
"The Lu Family Army did not pursue relentlessly. Instead, they withdrew after a single strike and vanished without a trace."
Inside the tent, candlelight flickered, shadows interweaving as they illuminated Tuoba Shuyi's Northern Wind noble features—high nose, deep-set eyes, and a pair of jade-green pupils.
He frowned.
"How severe were our casualties?"
"Reporting to the Sixth Prince, three thousand of our soldiers were killed," a general reported with lowered head.
"What about the enemy's casualties?"
Someone in the tent urgently pressed for an answer.
"The scouts report that the enemy suffered only a little over a hundred casualties."
The moment those words were spoken, an uproar erupted within the military tent, discussions rising one after another.
The Northern Wind higher-ups looked at one another, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Is this not utter fantasy!"
The military adviser's shocked voice was full of doubt. "How did the Great Qing army suddenly acquire such formidable combat power?"
Everyone discussed it heatedly. Even the generals who knew that the Great Qing army had launched a surprise attack were stunned at this moment.
Unbelievable!
Such a vast disparity in casualties was indeed unprecedented and shocking.
Great Qing's army had always been weak.
Yet as the scouts returned with another report, this unbelievable news was conclusively confirmed.
Tuoba Shuyi's expression darkened as he asked in a deep voice:
"Who exactly led the troops?"
"Lu Jiaxuan's second son, Lu Yu."
Only then did Tuoba Shuyi nod slightly, a trace of understanding flashing through his eyes.
Clearly, this name was not unfamiliar to him.
Someone in the tent sighed:
"So it was him... Lu Yu's martial arts are unfathomable. As a direct disciple of the Three Truths Sect, he alone can pierce through a formation of a hundred men."
"There are also quite a few elite disciples of the Three Truths Sect within the Lu Family Army. Their strength cannot be underestimated."
"Yes. If he takes action, perhaps only those Chan masters of Great Snow Mountain can contend with him."
The military tent fell silent as everyone digested this astonishing news.
Tuoba Shuyi swept his gaze around and said calmly:
"Lu Yu, along with those so-called Great Qing martial world Master Realm experts in Hulao Pass, are nothing to fear."
"The Khan has already invited Longshu, the Great Snow Mountain Chan master, to descend the mountain and lend his aid. He will arrive in a few days."
Those words immediately stirred surprise throughout the military tent.
"Chan Master Longshu has actually descended the mountain? This is the first time in fifty years."
"Even when the Khan performed the Fengshan rites back then, he could not invite this man."
"Haha, you do not know this. It is said Great Snow Mountain wants to spread its teachings in the south. They are originally Buddhism's Esoteric Sect, but now they wish to become Xianzong."
"So that is how it is!"
Tuoba Shuyi abruptly rose to his feet, his gaze focusing once more on the sand table.
The deputy general beside him anxiously advised:
"Your Highness, if our army encircles them from both flanks, there may still be a sliver of hope."
Tuoba Shuyi lightly waved his hand and said decisively:
"The opportunity has already been lost. Lu Jiaxuan had long prepared to retreat; by now, he has likely already withdrawn into the city."
"Pass down the order. The forward military town is to retreat at once."
"As you command, Your Highness!" The generals answered in unison.
Yet one deputy general still harbored doubts:
"Your Highness, could it be that Lu Jiaxuan had long seen through the Sixth Prince's scheme and deliberately opened the city gates to lure our army?"
Tuoba Shuyi paid him no heed.
He was proud at heart and did not believe anyone could see through him.
Those who had been confident they could see through him had all become withered bones in their graves.
He slowly took out a thick roster. As he opened it, rows upon rows of names came into view.
If any Great Qing soldiers had been present, they would surely have been shocked, for it recorded all of Great Qing's generals and court ministers, without a single omission.
His gaze traveled across the roster before finally settling on the name "Lu Jiaxuan."
Beneath it was a brief account of the man's life, with an annotation beside it: "More than capable of preserving what he has, insufficient in enterprise, not worth mentioning."
After Lu Jiaxuan came Lu Yu's name, with the note beside it: "Fit only to be a general."
Brief and precise, it had already revealed his opinion of Lu Yu.
He gently removed the pages containing the information on Lu Jiaxuan and Lu Yu, then inserted them one page farther forward.
In Tuoba Shuyi's eyes, the position of these pages in the booklet represented how much importance he attached to their subjects.
The farther forward a page was placed, the greater the importance.
Having finished all this, Tuoba Shuyi gradually calmed down. His eyes became resolute once more as he said indifferently.
"It does not matter. The general tide is still in my hands."
"So what if they win this battle? The battles to come will decide victory and defeat."
The generals in the tent.
Upon hearing this, all bowed in salute.
Yu Ke sat atop his horse.
Before he could learn the outcome of Lu Yu's battle, he felt the [Kun Void Cauldron] in his mind tremble slightly, as though an invisible force were drawing him in.
[Time for personal participation has ended.] [Early in the morning, Lu Yu returned in glory, clad in bloodstained armor. He had slain over two thousand enemies, and his great victory shook the hearts of all.] [Upon hearing this triumphant report, Lu Jiaxuan's heart surged with emotion, and he could barely contain his excitement. Such a great victory was truly unprecedented for the Lu Clan.] [The sacrifice of two hundred brave warriors had been exchanged for the defeat of two thousand enemy troops. The achievement was dazzling.] [He clapped his hands and laughed heartily, tightly grasping the hands of you two brothers as he sighed with boundless emotion: "With sons like you in my Lu Clan, what more could I ask for!"] [Lu Yu's admiration for you overflowed from his words. Turning to you, he asked: "Elder Brother, how did you know those cavalrymen on the flanks would stop rather than pursue their victory?"] [You smiled faintly and shook your head. "It was merely luck."] [News of the Lu Family Army's great victory and its slaughter of two thousand enemies reached Hulao Pass. The entire city was shaken, morale soared, and the soldiers were greatly encouraged.] [The defending general was overjoyed and personally held a banquet to celebrate the Lu Family Army's merits. He also specially submitted a memorial to the court seeking rewards for the Lu Clan, and praise rang out without end.] [After three rounds of wine, General Wang Yang's face was slightly flushed, and his words inadvertently revealed some of the court's secrets.] [He let out a long sigh. "Within the court, the struggle between the surrender faction and the war faction is growing increasingly fierce. The surrender faction is gradually gaining strength, and the situation is worrying."] [Hulao Pass has already become a wager concerning the fate of the nation.] [Once it falls, the surrender faction will seize complete control of the court. Only by holding fast can the war faction rally once more.] [Determination glinted in General Wang Yang's eyes. Faced with the enemy's slaughter of Great Qing's people, he swore he would rather die than surrender.] [This battle not only displayed the Lu Family Army's courage, but also made its reputation resound far and wide. Many local militiamen from other places joined the Lu Family Army.] [As the war continued, the events of that day were exposed one by one. With your father's deliberate promotion, Lu Chen's name was mentioned as well.]
Before you continue