Re-entering the Grasslands

Inside the Xiongnu Left Virtuous King's encampment, watching over ten thousand soldiers attack the city, many soldiers had already climbed the city walls, yet they still couldn't take them.

The Left Virtuous King had lost his patience!

Why were the mere thirty thousand defenders of Anning Pass so formidable?

After so long, they hadn't managed to deplete the Anning Pass defenders' fighting strength.

"Carry my order and summon another Grandmaster expert. I refuse to believe that Yang Ye is invincible," the Left Virtuous King did not wish to drag this out any longer.

From the Great Chanyu, several condemnatory orders had already arrived, commanding him to quickly take Anning Pass.

"Yes!"

A messenger officer received the Left Virtuous King's order and hurried away.

Great Wei Imperial City, Luojing!

Inside the imperial palace, the old emperor was critically ill. The medical masters from the Imperial Academy were constantly using various ancient medicines to prolong the old emperor's life.

Inside the Crown Prince's manor, Crown Prince Han Che listened to his subordinate's report with a blank expression.

"Has my second brother promoted that confidant of his again today?"

"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Second Prince has promoted General Wei Wu to Commander of the Imperial Guards, taking control of the palace, and has ordered Marquis Li, Great General Li, to command all the troops in the nation."

Crown Prince Han Che was not appointed as the regent; instead, it was the Second Prince who was ordered by Emperor Wei Ming to act as regent.

This order sent shockwaves throughout the entire court.

"What about my other brothers?" Crown Prince Han Che asked indifferently.

The Third Prince, the Sixth Prince, and the Ninth Prince were also not to be trifled with and naturally would not sit idly by.

"The princes are all contacting ministers in the court and generals in various regions."

"You old bastard, what exactly do you want to do?" Han Che looked towards the imperial palace.

He couldn't fathom why his father would do this.

He was supposed to be the regent as the Crown Prince, but that duty didn't fall to him.

The Second Prince was ordered to be the regent, which caused the political situation to become turbulent, and many ambitious individuals began to make their moves in secret.

The once peaceful court became unpredictable and treacherous.

"Your Highness, the northern border is in urgent need of aid. Fifty thousand Xiongnu troops are attacking the pass, preparing to march south. The border generals have sent over a dozen letters requesting reinforcements from the court." The Minister of War spoke.

The Second Prince, Han Feiyu, waved his hand, speaking with an air of confident victory, "There's no rush for this matter. I will send Great General Li to lead the troops to reinforce them."

The Minister of War wanted to speak further, but he was pulled back by the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue subtly shook his head at him.

Minister of War Wang Cheng sighed inwardly. Power struggles, suppressing dissent, promoting cronies – this Second Prince truly seized power and elevated his associates.

Perhaps soon, his position would also be replaced.

"How is the disaster relief in Jiangning Prefecture proceeding?" the Second Prince Han Feiyu asked the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue, Zuo Tang, felt his heart sink. Was he planning to make a move against him?

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Governor of Jiangnan Prefecture is already opening the granaries to distribute relief supplies," the Minister of Revenue, Zuo Tang, replied.

The Second Prince nodded calmly. It seemed the Governor of Jiangnan Prefecture could not be kept.

In a bustling Luojing, beneath an inconspicuous courtyard, in a basement.

Three figures sat together.

"Third Brother, Sixth Brother, Second Brother's influence is growing stronger by the day. Many ministers and generals in the court are already leaning towards him. If we don't unite, I fear disaster will befall us."

"Has Big Brother made any moves?"

"Big Brother remains completely still. I don't know what he's waiting for."

While the Second Prince was busy suppressing dissent and installing his own people in key positions in the court, the other princes were busy forming factions and accumulating strength in secret.

The Great Wei court was in turmoil, with the princes engaged in overt and covert struggles. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the northern frontier, which was now engulfed in flames.

The war ceased at dusk. The smoke of battle lingered, and the setting sun bled like blood.

The wind from the northern frontier grew stronger.

There were no beautiful sights of "lone smoke rising straight into the sky over the desert, and the long river reflecting the setting sun."

Instead, there were swords and blood.

Behind Sheng Huai'an lay rows of fallen bodies.

Their battle robes were torn, their armor stained with blood, and their chiseled faces bore expressions of unwavering resolve.

His pair of black, deep pupils were filled with sharpness.

That frail scholar was completely dead.

The man before them now was the Battalion Commander of Anning Pass, one who had slain countless enemies.

The Blood Hand Butcher—Sheng Huai'an!

As the day's battle drew to a close, ordinary soldiers busied themselves with tending to the wounded and clearing the bodies.

Less than half of the Xiongnu soldiers who had retreated had actually made it back.

The defenders of the pass had also suffered losses, with half of their forces gone.

Currently, Anning Pass had only a little over ten thousand soldiers fit for battle.

Yang Ye gazed at the Xiongnu encampment outside the pass, his expression grave.

He knew the imperial court would not send a large army for reinforcement; they had no more aid coming.

Until a new successor to the throne was chosen, the northern border had been abandoned.

The armies in the interior had become mere pawns in the power struggles of the princes.

After descending from the city walls, Sheng Huai'an quickly washed up and joined the soldiers for dinner.

After dinner, they were scheduled to depart.

The soldiers of the Seventh Battalion's Tenth Captaincy had all chosen to follow Sheng Huai'an's lead and venture out onto the grasslands.

"Brothers, this journey is perilous. Make sure you've settled any outstanding matters. We might not return from this," Sheng Huai'an said, looking at the fifty to sixty soldiers who had fought alongside him on the grasslands.

"Captain, we joined the army because we had no other path, seeking a future. To die on the battlefield would be a worthy end. What is there to fear on this journey?" Tang Yunshan spoke up.

"Indeed, what is there to fear? We either die in battle or return in glory," Hai Dahe added.

The others also had determined looks in their eyes.

"Good, worthy of being my soldiers. This journey, we either die in battle or return in glory," Sheng Huai'an declared loudly.

He led his subordinates to the southern gate of the city.

General Yang Ye was already there, waiting with his men.

"General!"

Sheng Huai'an hurried forward to pay his respects.

"You've arrived!" Yang Ye nodded.

"General, this is your war blade." Sheng Huai'an removed the Black Gold War Blade from his waist and returned it to Yang Ye.

Yang Ye accepted the Black Gold War Blade, caressed its blade, sheathed it, and then tossed it back to Sheng Huai'an.

"Keep it. It's yours now!" Yang Ye said with a smile.

Sheng Huai'an received the Black Gold War Blade, momentarily stunned. As far as he knew, General Yang Ye had carried this war blade for many years.

Sun Hao, Zhao Yong'an, and the others behind Yang Ye were also very surprised.

This Black Gold War Blade was no ordinary weapon. They hadn't expected General Yang Ye to give it to Sheng Huai'an.

"What, you don't want it?"

"No, it's not that!" Sheng Huai'an was a bit overwhelmed.

"Having a suitable blade makes it easier to kill the enemy. I hope you can alleviate the pressure on Anning Pass. If the city falls, countless families will be at the mercy of the Xiongnu cavalry," Yang Ye said solemnly.

"I will not fail this trust!" Sheng Huai'an fastened the Black Gold War Blade to his waist.

"This spear was also crafted for you at my request. It's decent, usable. I hope you'll let it taste Xiongnu blood," Yang Ye handed a long spear to Sheng Huai'an.

Sheng Huai'an took the spear and immediately felt its weight. It was a fine spear.

Yang Ye also provided Sheng Huai'an with a set of armor.

"Here are a thousand elite cavalrymen, the last of our reserves at Anning Pass. I am entrusting them to you now, hoping you will lead them to charge across the grasslands and shine brightly."

Sheng Huai'an looked at the thousand cavalrymen. Weren't they supposed to be five hundred initially? How had the number increased?

"They are cavalry. Their strength lies in fighting on horseback; it would be a waste to use them for defending the city. Let them fulfill their purpose," Yang Ye explained, noticing Sheng Huai'an's confusion.

With an additional five hundred cavalry, their strength had doubled, and Sheng Huai'an felt full of confidence.

"Mount up!"

Sheng Huai'an took the lead, striding forward and mounting a white warhorse.

The others mounted their horses in unison.

Yang Ye watched the cavalry before him: "Soldiers, I await your triumphant return and will celebrate your victory."

"Set forth!"

Sheng Huai'an led the cavalry and began their departure.

Along with his former subordinates, a total of just over 1,060 riders exited the south gate of Anning Pass.

Without any grand pronouncements, they departed quietly, like phantoms in the night.

For a thousand iron cavalry to bypass the Xiongnu scouts' eyes across the vast grasslands, they had to take a detour.

After a night of marching, before dawn, the troop of iron cavalry entered the boundless grasslands.

Looking at the vast expanse of the prairie, Sheng Huai'an felt a sense of emotion; he was here again.

This time, he brought a thousand iron cavalry.