How come I'm invincible?

Chapter 110 Laugh your mother's laughing! I don't want a single soldier; I'll personally go and chop off Tudan's head.
The atmosphere in the imperial court was oppressive, filled with a sense of panic.

Holding the military report, the emperor's face was ashen. Even with the fastest horse, it would take two days to travel from the border to the capital. At this moment, all he knew was the situation of the battle two days ago.

Tudan's military tactics were swift and unpredictable, his movements as swift as the wind.

That is why the emperor was more eager than ever to know the true situation of the border defenses.

An old minister stepped forward shakily. “Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to immediately dispatch troops to reinforce the border defenses. Of all the civil and military officials, only General Qin Li has dealt with Tudan before and knows his military tactics well. If we send him there, he will surely be able to keep the enemy out of the country.”

The emperor knew perfectly well that the court officials were largely intimidated by Tudan, and the only one who could truly stand against him was Qin Li.

However, Qin Li is currently stationed in the south, and if he were to be transferred at this time, the journey would be too long and it might not be able to meet the urgent needs.

Another minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the invasion of Mengye Kingdom by Tudan may not be intended to destroy the kingdom, but rather because during the previous arena competition, General Lin Fan severely injured his son, Tuliming. If we could..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

The Grand Tutor, who had been silent all along, suddenly changed his expression, strode forward, and interrupted loudly, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the most urgent task at present is to immediately mobilize the troops of the three major camps of Bo'an, Guiyun, and Jinhe to rush to the aid of the border. No matter what, we must keep the Mongol barbarians out of the country."

"At the same time, envoys should be sent to the front line to meet with Tudan and find out his true intentions. This move can also buy time for the court to mobilize troops."

How could the Grand Tutor not know what the minister had left unsaid?
At this critical moment, it must be stopped immediately.

If someone were to suggest that Lin Fan quell Tu Dan's anger, such a foolish plan would be worthy of being dragged out and beheaded.

Once he utters these words, His Majesty will surely be furious, and then even the Heavenly King himself will be powerless to save him.

The emperor nodded. "My dear minister, who do you think should be the commander-in-chief this time?"

The Grand Tutor calmly replied, "Your Majesty, Qin Xiang is capable of undertaking this important task."

"Qin Xiang".

"The minister is here."

"I hereby appoint you as the General Who Pacifies the Barbarians. You must hold off Tudan at the border," the Emperor said in a deep voice.

"Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly not fail in his mission," Qin Xiang said solemnly.

He had been burning with rage over the humiliation of losing in the ring, and now was the perfect opportunity to avenge himself.

He might not be as good as Tudan in a one-on-one fight, but he was confident that he was by no means inferior when it came to military strategy and tactics.

War is ultimately not a matter of one person's courage. No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, it is futile when facing an army of thousands.

The next day, early morning court.

With the border war raging, the imperial court was in full swing. The morning court session could not be interrupted. In the court, civil and military officials, and even the emperor, could only stare blankly, waiting for news from the border.

Another messenger arrived in haste, bringing border intelligence like snowflakes, one after another.

"Report! Urgent report from the border."

The emperor, seated on the dragon throne, looked grave. "Speak quickly."

"Your Majesty, the border defenses have collapsed across the board. General Zhao Defang has fallen into Tudan's trap and... has died for his country. A breach has been torn in the border defenses, and Tudan has personally led an army of 50,000 southwards to besiege Jizhou City. He has also divided his forces into two routes to launch a fierce attack on Ganzhou and Xuanfu. All the strongholds along the border... have fallen," the messenger reported urgently.

After he finished speaking, the Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence.

No one expected the battle situation to take such a sharp turn for the worse.

The emperor said incredulously, "Zhao Defang died for his country, Jizhou was besieged, and Ganzhou and Xuanfu were attacked. How long has it been? Are my important border defenses made of paper?"

Inside the hall, the officials whispered among themselves, discussing the matter animatedly.

"Jizhou is the gateway to the north. If it is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Tudan's military tactics are so ruthless and swift!?"

"Qin Xiang is still on his way, and the three major battalions have not yet fully assembled, yet the battle situation has already deteriorated to this extent... Can he really hold out?"

Faced with the emperor's questioning, all the officials fell silent for a moment.

Civil officials are adept at impeaching political enemies, but when it comes to military affairs, they can only look at each other blankly, their eyes filled with confusion.

The Duke stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, this is not the time to punish. Tudan has divided his troops to attack, and the situation is dangerous. If Jizhou, Ganzhou and Xuanfu are captured, things will be very bad. Although I am old, I implore Your Majesty to allow me to lead troops to stop them.”

The emperor waved his hand and said, "The Duke is already old; how can I let you risk your life again?"

"Your Majesty." The Duke wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the Emperor.

The Grand Tutor stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the only way to resolve the border issue is to have Commander Qin Li lead the army into battle."

Faced with matters of national importance, the Grand Tutor would naturally not resort to underhanded tactics that could lead to defeat in the war. Otherwise, if the Mengye Kingdom discovered this, it seemed that they could continue to advance and capture the capital in one fell swoop. He was currently the high and mighty Grand Tutor, but once the capital was breached, he, the dignified Grand Tutor, would become a slave of a conquered nation.

Playing is playing, and fighting is fighting.

We can't afford to lose the country.

At least not now.

The emperor knew that this matter concerned the safety of the nation, so he immediately made a decision: "Guards, quickly convey my decree, ordering Qin Li to immediately lead the army to expel Meng Ye's army from our territory!"

In this critical situation, the emperor naturally thought of Lin Fan, but then changed his mind and suppressed the idea.

While his beloved minister was indeed exceptionally brave, warfare required the ability to command troops and the application of military strategy; personal martial prowess alone could not sway the course of a battle.

Moreover, he was unwilling to put his beloved minister in danger.

Countless people in the court want to get rid of him as soon as possible. If the supplies are delayed, his generals will outwardly comply but inwardly disobey, thus missing the opportunity to win the battle. The responsibility for the defeat will fall entirely on Lin Fan's shoulders.

Therefore, he had to protect Lin Fan's safety.

He has now been promoted to Grand General of Divine Martial Arts and Commander of the Divine Martial Arts Division.

Upon his arrival in the capital, the emperor intended to personally supervise his study of military strategy and tactics, as well as the art of commanding troops.

Within five years, he will surely become a true pillar of the nation.

Even after I pass away, the country will still have a pillar supporting it.

……

at this time.

The urgent border reports over the past two days have made the local people sense something unusual.

After the court sessions, it was inevitable that some officials would discuss the war at home, and the news would spread like wildfire.

People were discussing it on the streets and in the alleys.

"The army of Mengye Kingdom is marching south. The border defenses can't hold them back anymore. Could this lead to a major disaster?"

"What's there to be afraid of? We have Governor Qin and the Divine Martial General, who has been appointed by His Majesty as the greatest warrior in the world."

"War is not something that can be won by individuals."

"Damn it, those barbarians are absolutely audacious! They actually dared to attack our superior nation. They must have eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard."

The people are still quite satisfied with the current government.

At the feet of the emperor.

Although there were instances of powerful people oppressing ordinary citizens, their lives were still relatively good; they had enough to eat and wear, and they had places to seek justice.

……

a few days later.

All the civil and military officials lowered their heads and remained silent. Some secretly glanced at the emperor and saw that His Majesty's face was terribly gloomy and his hand holding the report was trembling slightly.

The emperor stared intently at the eunuch kneeling in the hall, reporting back, and practically spat out the words through clenched teeth.

"Say it again?"

The eunuch said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Commander Qin said that supplies must be sent before the army moves. He earnestly requests Your Majesty to allocate military funds first to boost morale."

The emperor was breathing heavily, coughing, and his face was flushed. "At such a critical moment, he dares to make demands of me? Four million taels of silver for military pay every year, how dare he even ask for that?"

The officials in the court remained indifferent.

It's obvious that a significant portion of those four million taels each year is being wasted.

Many years ago, two million taels of silver was enough for military pay, but in recent years, military pay has been increasing and has reached a full four million taels of silver.

Some time ago, Qin Li even demanded an increase in military pay, raising it directly to six million taels.

What a terrifying number.

If they continue to rise, they could potentially drag the imperial court down.

However, there was no other way. On the southern border guarded by Qin Li, there was a country that was eyeing the imperial court covetously. They frequently crossed the sea to invade, committing all kinds of atrocities such as burning, killing, and looting. Relying on their familiarity with sea transport, they could come and go freely, so the imperial court had never been able to launch an effective counterattack and could only passively defend itself.

Sudden.

"Report..."

Another messenger arrived in haste.

Upon hearing the report, the officials felt a sudden chill; they hoped it wasn't bad news.

"Speak," the emperor said solemnly.

The messenger said, "Your Majesty, Ganzhou has fallen. This army has joined forces with the army led by Tudan and completely surrounded Jizhou, cutting off its food supplies. It is now completely besieged. If no more troops are sent, the food supplies in Jizhou can only last for about ten days at most, after which they will truly run out of ammunition and food."

This statement came out.

The imperial court was in an uproar; everyone's heart pounded with fear.

Has the situation become that dangerous?
The emperor asked, "Where is Qin Xiang's army?"

The messenger said, "Your Majesty, I am unaware of the situation. This was two days ago. I truly do not know the current state of the battle."

The Grand Tutor said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to stop the barbarians' advance. Give them the military pay and have Qin Li break camp immediately to provide support."

To the Grand Tutor, all he could say was, "Qin Li, you are truly ruthless. In the midst of a national crisis, you actually took the opportunity to make a fortune. Do you know that no one in the court can replace you, so you act so recklessly?"
But upon closer reflection, it does make sense.

Most of the generals in the court who could lead troops were Qin Li's men, and Qin Li was the only one who could fight and win battles. The main reason why the emperor could not touch Qin Li was that if Qin Li were touched, the court would really have no military generals to use.

The neighboring countries were not afraid of the emperor, but of Qin etiquette.

If they find out that Qin Li has been captured.

They will definitely swarm in, like wolves and tigers, and devour the vast territory.

"Give it to him, allocate him military pay." The emperor forced these words out of his throat.

……

The southern coast at this time.

Qin Li's mansion was magnificent and resplendent. Although it was not as large as the imperial palace, its level of luxury was no less.

Inside the hall, dancers twirled gracefully, and the aroma of fine wine filled the air.

Qin Li leisurely watched the song and dance with his trusted generals, appearing completely relaxed.

As the dance ended, the dancers took their seats next to the surrounding soldiers. These soldiers were all Qin Li's confidants and were used to this kind of life, enjoying the service of beautiful women.

"General, the court has ordered us to send troops to resist the Tudan in the north. Are we really not going to set off?" a general asked.

Qin Li laughed and said, "Move what? How can we move them? Without military pay, who among our soldiers would be willing to move?"

He naturally knew Tudan's strength and his ability to lead troops. In such a large court, only he could challenge Tudan; otherwise, anyone else would be a fool.

Another subordinate said, "The governor is right. The court is living in peace and prosperity today because of the governor. If it weren't for the governor's presence, do you think those wolves and tigers around us would raise an army to invade? If you ask me, the emperor should have agreed to the governor's proposal of six million taels of military pay some time ago."

Qin Li smiled. Now that he held military power, he could be considered a veritable local emperor in this area. He really hoped that Tudan would advance unstoppable and launch a massive invasion of the border.

In that case, it won't be him who's anxious, but the emperor.

He wanted the emperor to understand how important he, Qin Li, was to the court, and that without him, the emperor's position would be unstable.

Another general, carrying a bowl of food, said, “Take this chicken tongue dish for example. One plate requires more than thirty chickens, and they are specially fed chickens. One plate must cost at least ten taels. Our governor is stationed here by the court to guard the border and resist foreign invasion, so that they can live comfortably in the capital. If they are not paid enough, who would want to stay here?”

"It makes sense."

"Said it right."

The soldiers present echoed this sentiment.

"General, the young master has already led his troops to the border. Could something go wrong?" a general asked.

When his son Qin Xiang was mentioned, Qin Li's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. This boy had defied his wishes and disobeyed his arrangements, choosing instead to stay in the capital and serve the emperor. He was truly loyal to the emperor and loved his country.

Sometimes he gets so angry that he doesn't know what to say.

Qin Li said, "If Mengye Kingdom had sent another general, this kid would indeed have been more than capable, but this time it was Tudan who personally led the troops, and this kid is still far from being up to par."

One of the generals said, "General, if Tudan can reach the capital in one fell swoop, then you can lead your troops to drive Tudan away, and then you can directly enter the capital to capture the king. You can then transform yourself, don the dragon robe, and ascend the throne. The brothers can also..."

"If you've had too much to drink, don't talk nonsense." Qin Li's gaze sharpened, startling the general into immediately shutting up.

The generals present were all hoping that Governor Qin would ascend the throne and become king, so that they too could be ennobled and appointed prime ministers. They were all prepared to risk their entire families' lives by following Qin Li's example.

With just one order, they would immediately rebel.

Of course, one must seize the opportunity to rebel.

At least for now, this is the best opportunity.

……

Beijing.

Lin Fan returned with everyone.

Besides the original group, he brought quite a few people back this time. Song Qing was transferred to his side, and his family also accompanied him.

He also selected some capable constables from Yong'an and Anzhou, giving them a chance to rise to prominence and leading them into the city to establish the Shenwu Division.

The constables who came with Lin Fan were all extremely excited.

They knew this was the biggest opportunity of their lives, and if they couldn't even seize it, then even their ancestors would rise from their coffins and slap them a few times.

at this time.

Lin Fan noticed that the topic of conversation among the people of the capital seemed to be the situation on the border.

He stopped a member of the public and asked what was going on.

When he learned that it was Mengye Kingdom's Tudan who led a large army south and breached the border defenses, and that the war was urgent, he coldly told Ning Yu to make arrangements for everyone first, as he was going to the palace.

He tightened the reins, and the horse galloped away.

At the palace gates, the imperial guards stood ramrod straight, exchanging words among themselves.

"It seems the situation at the border is quite serious; the morning court session is still ongoing."

"I think it's serious. During this period, three groups of messengers appeared, and the intelligence came one after another."

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

"This is the fourth batch, right?"

They mistook Lin Fan for a messenger.

But upon seeing the person's attire, they realized he wasn't a messenger and immediately stopped him, asking, "Who goes there?"

Lin Fan took out a gold medal and said, "General Lin Fan, the Divine Martial General, wishes to see His Majesty."

The two imperial guards quickly stepped aside. Who in the capital didn't know General Lin Fan, the Divine Martial General? He was a favorite of the Emperor, rising from a minor official in Anzhou to become a Divine Martial General, holding the highest rank of official. This was something most officials wouldn't even dare to dream of.

In the imperial court.

The officials were still discussing the intelligence coming from the front lines, and the emperor's mood grew increasingly somber, filled with an indescribable sense of oppression and tension.

Suddenly, a eunuch's voice came from outside the hall.

"The Divine General has arrived!!!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards the outside of the hall and saw Lin Fan hurriedly enter the hall. Without glancing at anyone present, he came into the hall and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Tudan of Mengye Kingdom has led his troops to invade our border. I beg Your Majesty's permission to go to the border and twist Tudan's head off."

As soon as these words came out.

The officials in the hall were stunned, staring at Lin Fan as if he were a fool.

No, are you playing house?
You think Tudan's head is going to just stand there and let you twist it off?

Of course, they didn't mock him, but given the current situation, His Majesty was furious. Anyone who dared to provoke Lin Fan would be incurring His Majesty's wrath and would surely be the one to suffer.

The emperor composed himself and forced a smile, asking, "My dear minister, when did you return?"

"Your Majesty, I have just returned. Upon arriving in the capital, I heard the people mention this matter. Your Majesty, please grant me permission to go to the border." No one can stop Lin Fan from going if he wants to. Of course, the proper procedures must be followed; that's the rule, and he is a very law-abiding person.

The emperor, unhurried and smiling, asked, "My dear minister, are you familiar with military strategy?"

"No." "Then, my dear minister, are you skilled in leading troops into battle and familiar with military affairs?"

"will not."

Lin Fan said "no" twice, which amused the officials, who lowered their heads and laughed. They thought this Divine Martial General was really interesting. Did he think that being named Divine Martial General and having the title of General meant he could fight wars?

The emperor said, "My dear minister, I know you want to help me solve my problems, but war is not child's play. You don't know this or that, so how can I let you lead the troops?"

He shook his head. It seemed that once the border defense matter was over, he would have to speed up Lin Aiqing's study of military books. Now he agreed to increase Qin Li's military pay and distribute the pay.

This border matter can also be resolved.

There was still a long time ahead, and he wasn't in a hurry to be threatened. He needed to remain calm, composed, and patient. He believed that his beloved minister would not let him down.

Lin Fan said loudly, "Your Majesty, I don't need a single soldier. I can cut off his head with just this goose feather knife bestowed by Your Majesty. If all goes well, I will directly storm the capital of Mengye Kingdom and bring back their damned King Meng."

"Hahaha..." Finally, an official couldn't help but laugh out loud. "General Lin, you're really joking. Do you know how terrifying the battlefield is? Do you know how many elite soldiers and generals the Mengye Kingdom has recruited?"

Lin Fan glared at the official and cursed, "Shut up and laugh your ass off! Laugh again and I'll smash your dog's head in!"

The official, who was being pointed at and angrily scolded by Lin Fan, had his smile abruptly cut off, replaced by anger. However, he was powerless to do anything about it and could only turn his head away indignantly.

In the imperial court, only this man surnamed Lin dared to insult their officials in such a way.

But they were all sensible and understood that His Majesty was protecting the other party, so even if they were scolded or beaten, it would be for nothing.

"Minister Lin, please do not be angry." The Emperor said, "I have already sent Governor Qin to lead troops to deal with this matter. Before long, the barbarians will surely retreat. You can stay in the city and focus on building up the Divine Martial Division. I understand your sincere intentions."

He hoped his minister could remain calm.

For now, let's first establish the Divine Martial Division to reorganize the court officials. As for leading troops into battle, we can wait until we've learned military strategy and become familiar with military affairs before making any decisions.

The emperor now truly cherishes Lin Fan and is unwilling to let him take any risks. If something were to happen on the border, he would regret it immensely.

"Your Majesty, what are the requirements of this Commander Qin when he sends out troops?" Lin Fan asked.

The emperor shook his head, not intending to speak, but the Grand Tutor spoke up: "Governor Qin demands that Your Majesty provide six million taels of military funds before he will send troops."

Upon hearing this, the emperor glared at the Grand Tutor, his eyes conveying a warning, but the Grand Tutor lowered his head as if admitting that he had spoken too quickly.

The emperor understood perfectly well the meaning behind the Grand Tutor's words.

It's nothing more than wanting my beloved Minister Lin to have a problem with Governor Qin, thereby stirring up conflict so that the Grand Tutor can reap the benefits.

really.

"Damn it, Qin Li is truly a bastard. At a time like this, he actually dares to bargain with His Majesty. Six million taels of military pay, does he even know what six million taels of military pay means?"

"Damn it!" Lin Fan was truly furious. "Your Majesty, such a request cannot be agreed to. I will immediately set off for the border, capture Tudan, and bring him back to the capital for Your Majesty's judgment."

After saying that, Lin Fan turned and left. He couldn't stand seeing someone who had given him so many benefits being threatened at a crucial moment, yet powerless to do anything about it and forced to agree to the other party's demands.

What does this person take Lin Fan for?
Was he treated as an incompetent husband?
Could they only watch helplessly as the emperor was casually violated by Qin Li?

Others can tolerate it, but he absolutely cannot.

"My dear minister, my dear minister..." The emperor suddenly stood up and shouted, but Lin Fan, who was determined, simply ignored him. "Quickly, go and stop my dear minister. Don't let him act recklessly."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The eunuch immediately ran out, but not long after, he returned to the palace, clutching his backside and looking aggrieved. "Your Majesty," he said, "this servant couldn't stop the General. He even kicked me in the backside and said that all of you civil and military officials in the court are utterly useless. You actually tolerate Your Majesty's grievances and stand there with your tails between your legs. You're just a bunch of good-for-nothings."

As soon as these words came out.

The court was silent, and the officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mudd?

Are you really that arrogant?

"Nonsense! Chase after him!" The emperor was deeply moved, but had no time to be so. He angrily ordered his men to give chase, but as soon as Lin Fan left the palace, he rode off on horseback without even taking any provisions, galloping all the way to the border.

After a long time.

"Your Majesty, General Lin has already ridden out of the city at top speed and disappeared without a trace. It's definitely impossible to catch up with him."

The eunuch, who had been kicked in the buttocks, gave his report helplessly.

Upon hearing this, the emperor slumped onto his dragon throne, his mouth slightly agape. He hadn't expected his beloved minister to be so impulsive; he clearly couldn't bear to see him suffer any injustice.

But he really wanted to tell his beloved minister, "I can endure being wronged. If you really don't want me to suffer, then you should study military strategy and military affairs properly from now on."

But now... my beloved minister has gone directly.

No.

This must not be allowed.

"Quickly, summon the commander of the Imperial Guards and have him lead a hundred men to pursue them immediately. Even if they reach the border, they must bring my beloved minister back to me!" the emperor roared.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, as the court session ended, the news spread throughout the capital like a storm.

When the people learned that General Shenwu had left the capital alone to go to the border, and that he was going to bring Tudan back to the emperor, they were all stunned.

It was like listening to gibberish.

Civil officials are very adept at spreading rumors.

Under deliberate dissemination.

The situation then turned into a situation where the Divine Martial General swore in the court that if he did not bring Tudan back, he would bring back his head.

Some say that the Divine Martial General is just a brute with no brains, who can't even write his own name. It is unfair for His Majesty to appoint him to such a high position, and it is irresponsible to entrust him with important matters of the court.

The people were skeptical about this.

After all, the general had just won glory for their country not long ago, and now he was being belittled to nothing. They felt something was off.

However, under the influence of a group of scholars, many ordinary people actually believed this claim.

In their minds, General Lin Fan was left with a bad impression of being unreliable, impulsive, and brainless.

The Duke's Mansion.

"Huh? Where did my master go?" Ning Yu stared at her grandfather, her eyes wide with utter bewilderment.

The Duke said helplessly, "He went to the border to capture Tudan for His Majesty. How could your master do such a thing..."

"Yes, that's right. My master is so mean. He didn't even take his favorite disciple with him for this kind of thing. No way, I have to go too. Maybe I can catch up with my master. When I bring Tudan back with my master, my name Ning Yu will be recorded in the history books from now on."

"I, Ning Yu, together with General Shenwu, will capture Tudan of Mengye Kingdom."

Ning Yu didn't think her master's behavior was impulsive. Since she became his disciple, she seemed to have never seen her master do anything he wasn't sure of.

The Duke frowned and said, "You silly girl, why are you always so unrealistic, just like your master? That's war, not child's play or bandit suppression. Thousands of troops are marching across the land, and no one can come out alive."

“Grandpa, you don’t understand my master,” Ning Yu said. “My master is no ordinary person; you don’t understand.”

The Duke looked at his granddaughter, and although he had a lot to say, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Alright, alright, I don't understand, but do you know that the soldiers of Mengye Kingdom are all strong and robust, capable of fighting two against one? Tudan's troops are all elite soldiers he trained. Not to mention anything else, there are a thousand fully armored cavalrymen alone. Once these thousand men charge, they can enter a ten-thousand-strong army formation as if it were empty. No matter how strong your master is, can he withstand such a charge?"

Seeing his granddaughter trust Lin Fan so much, the Duke was at a loss for words.

Even with Tudan's formidable personal strength, he could not withstand the armored cavalry.

Thirty people couldn't stop them.

Three hundred people couldn't stop them.

Then three thousand, thirty thousand, three hundred thousand...

No matter how powerful you are individually, when facing an army of thousands, you will only end up with your head separated from your body.

several days.

Thick smoke rose from the city of Ganzhou, and the city's garrison had been captured. The one who took Ganzhou was Tudan's confidant, Hogg.

At this time, there were soldiers guarding the city wall. These soldiers were all from Mengye Kingdom. They were strong and healthy. After entering the city, they burned, killed, and looted. However, General Hogg did not give them much time to vent their anger. He hurriedly led his troops to cut off the rear of Jizhou and formed a closed encirclement.

Only a hundred people were left to guard the place.

Lin Fan arrived on foot; his horse had long since exhausted itself, so he could only rely on his own two feet to run the entire way.

When they arrived at the city gate, they were covered in dust from their journey, but now was not the time to think about it. When the soldiers of Mengye Kingdom on the city wall saw Lin Fan, they couldn't help but laugh, "Come and see, here comes someone to die."

The Mengye Kingdom soldiers who arrived laughed heartily. Having just won a victory, they were now acting arrogantly and completely disregarded Lin Fan.

The soldiers in this country are too weak.

Lin Fan remained expressionless, simply lowering his body slightly, clenching his right fist, pulling it back, gathering power in his fist, and without taking a running start or using any leverage, roared and threw a punch.

boom--! ! !
A deafening roar erupted.

The sturdy city gate collapsed with a crash, raising a cloud of dust. The laughter of the soldiers on the city wall abruptly stopped, and some soldiers who were burning, killing, and looting in the streets heard the commotion and stared blankly at the city gate.

A woman, being dragged by the ankle by the barbarians, stared in astonishment.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!"

The soldiers of Mengye Kingdom roared.

The centurion who remained here was eating meat heartily. The general went to meet with General Tudan, leaving him with a hundred men to stay in the city, plunder local food, and provide support at any time. Unexpectedly, someone broke in.

"Kill him! Kill him!" the centurion shouted.

Lin Fan was furious at the situation before him. "Damn it! I never intended to act recklessly in your Mengye Kingdom, yet you dare to retaliate. You're courting death!"

He pulled out the iron rod from his back, and the sound of it cutting through the air rang out as arrows shot towards him. He was perfectly capable of taking the arrows head-on without even trying to block them.

But he didn't want to ruin the clothes.

He swung the stick, making a clanging sound, and blocked all the incoming arrows.

"This..." The centurion was shocked when he saw this. He had only ever seen his general and Tulim do this.

But whether the other party can do it or not is not important.

"kill……"

Facing the menacing soldiers of Mengye Kingdom surging in from all directions, Lin Fan remained calm. When a soldier raised his curved sword and brought it down on his head, he simply swung his club.

Bang.

The soldier was sent flying backward, his body unable to withstand the force of the blow, and it shattered, spraying blood all over the ground.

Lin Fan didn't give them a chance to take the initiative; instead, he charged straight at them with his stick.

His movements were simple and brutal, without any fancy moves; he just swung the stick, swung the stick, and swung the stick again. Every time he swung the stick, someone died.

The sounds of bones breaking and screams echoed continuously throughout the city.

The efficiency of killing is simply too high.

Often, the soldiers of Mengye Kingdom would only exchange a glance with Lin Fan before they were met with a blow from a club, which would shatter the opponent's weapon.

"Ah! The devil! The devil!"

Some soldiers were terrified by what they saw.

This was a one-sided massacre, with no room for resistance. In the ensuing panic, all they wanted to do was escape.

Lin Fan glanced at him, picked up a curved blade from the ground with his toe, and kicked it out. The curved blade turned into a sharp arrow and pierced through the opponent's body.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the soldiers left behind in Ganzhou were ruthlessly slaughtered by Lin Fan on the spot. The ground was littered with limbs and fragments, and the heavy stench of blood permeated the air, mingling with the smoke of gunpowder in the city, making people nauseous.

Lin Fan stood amidst the pile of corpses, looking down at the few drops of blood stained the corner of his clothes. He frowned slightly; he had been very careful, yet he still had some.

He looked at the centurion who stood there, dumbfounded.

Taking steps, I walked step by step towards the other person.

Bang!

The centurion felt the oppressive aura emanating from Lin Fan. His weapon fell to the ground, his pupils dilated, and his eyes were filled with fear and awe for Lin Fan.

"Tell me, where is Tudan?" Lin Fan asked.

"who are you?"

Snapped--!
Lin Fan raised his hand and slapped him across the face. "Tell me, where is Tudan?"

He was unfamiliar with this place and didn't know the way, so he would definitely need someone to guide him. After killing everyone, he would have to leave one alive.

"They're...they're besieging Jizhou," the centurion stammered.

Lin Fan grabbed the other person and said, "Lead the way, don't dawdle."

Without saying a single unnecessary word, he left.

After Lin Fan left, the surviving people of Ganzhou City came out in a tense and frightened manner. When they saw the corpses of the Mengye Kingdom soldiers in front of them, they looked at each other in dismay.

I wonder who that person was?

But they witnessed with their own eyes that the young man, wielding an iron rod, was like a god of war incarnate, slaughtering the barbarians without giving them a chance to resist, killing them all on the spot.

Jizhou.

Tudan's army was stationed outside and had already besieged Jizhou. Inside the tent, Tudan's trusted soldiers were overjoyed, never expecting things to go so smoothly so far.

"General, what a brilliant move to trap him like a turtle in a jar! Qin Xiang is truly naive. He really thought that by defeating us and eliminating our worries, we were just waiting for him to enter the city. Now he is trapped in Jizhou, and our supply lines have been cut off. With so many mouths to feed, let's see what he can give his soldiers." Hogg laughed loudly, seemingly already imagining the scene of his army pressing into the Central Plains.

Sitting there, Tudan was a robust man, even more so than Tuliming. Especially when he wore armor, he resembled a tank, and the sense of oppression he exuded was unimaginable.

Even ordinary people wouldn't think that anyone in the world could be his match.

Tudan said, "You young upstart, I have never taken you seriously. The only thing I need to wait for now is Qin Li. As long as I can take down Qin Li in one fell swoop, no one in the vast Central Plains will be my match."

The thought of Tulim being crippled fueled his rage.

They directly sent troops to teach the Central Plains dynasty a lesson, but who could have imagined that it would go so smoothly, directly breaking through the border outposts, capturing Ganzhou, and even besieging Jizhou.

If they could capture Jizhou, they would completely open the door for the invasion of the Central Plains dynasty. Such an opportunity was rare and naturally could not be let go.

"General, the messenger has already arrived in the capital. King Meng must have already mobilized his troops. When the army marches south, the territory of Mengye Kingdom will be completely expanded."

Hogg exclaimed excitedly.

Tudan nodded. It would be extremely difficult to swallow the Central Plains Dynasty whole, since the main force there hadn't arrived yet. But as long as they could take Jizhou, then Mengye Kingdom would be like a sharp blade hanging over the head of the Central Plains Dynasty. There was no rush to take action, but they could do so at any time.

"Hahaha, the generals of the Central Plains Dynasty are all good-for-nothings. I doubt they have ever read any military books. In the battle of Yu Qinli, Mengye Kingdom was severely weakened and has only just recovered now."

"Up to this point, I have always felt that the generals of the Central Plains Dynasty are all extraordinary and that we should not rashly send troops. Now, in the heat of the moment, we have impulsively marched into battle, and the results have been so great."

Before taking action, Tudan was genuinely wary of the Central Plains dynasty and dared not act rashly.

After learning that his son had been deposed, he originally only wanted to cause some trouble and let the Central Plains dynasty know that this matter had made this general very angry. Who would have thought that it would be so easily broken? Since that's the case, how can we stop? Naturally, we should take the border defense in one fell swoop.

"Let's go, gather our forces, and challenge them in front of the city. Let's see how long they can hold out."

"Yes, General."

Within Jizhou.

Qin Xiang looked at the soldiers before him with a very solemn expression. The current situation was extremely unfavorable for them.

"General, the city's food supplies will only last for three days," a soldier said worriedly.

When they run out of ammunition and food, there's no need for Mengye Kingdom to send troops; they'll fall into chaos on their own. Morale is currently very low, people are filled with anxiety, and they have absolutely no will to fight.

Qin Xiang knew he couldn't panic. "Gather all the remaining grain from the city's inhabitants. Except for the elderly, women, and children, they can all be used as soldiers. We must wait for reinforcements to arrive no matter what."

"General, there is no more food left to plunder from the people in the city," the soldier said.

Qin Xiang remained silent, only tapping the table repeatedly.

He was originally a reinforcement force, gathering the troops of Bo'an, Guiyun, and Jinhe, totaling more than 30,000 men. Who would have thought that Mengye Kingdom would use a trick, seemingly defeating them, but unexpectedly using a roundabout tactic to burn their supplies. As a result, when the more than 30,000 men entered the city, they not only failed to provide any help, but also wasted even more food.

The food that was originally enough to last seven or eight days.

Now it has been reduced to three days.

"How could Ganzhou have fallen? Couldn't it have held out a little longer?" Qin Xiang became angrier the more he thought about it. Once Ganzhou fell, the Mengye Kingdom's army bypassed the enemy and encircled Jizhou, putting him in a very passive position.

Just now.

"General, Tudan's army has assembled in front of the city and is challenging us to battle."

Qin Xiang took a deep breath. "Let's go. No matter what, we have to hold on for me."

When Qin Xiang arrived at the city wall, he looked at the vast, dark army of tens of thousands in the distance and his heart trembled. Tudan was only ordering him not to attack, and he could not go out of the city to fight. He could only stay in the city and defend.

(End of this chapter)