The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

The 500,000-strong army of Panlong Valley has finally moved.

Under Zhao Kuo's almost frantic urging, this massive army, like a hornet's nest that had been poked, surged out of Panlong Valley in a chaotic rush towards Youzhou City, beginning their desperate assault.

Military orders were in disarray, and organizational structures were disrupted.

The soldiers didn't even have time to eat breakfast before the officers used whips and the backs of knives to urge them on their way.

Panic, like a plague, spread throughout the army.

They didn't know what had happened, only that Youzhou City was on fire and their supplies had been burned.

This means they will soon be hungry.

For an army, nothing is more terrible than running out of food.

As Zhao Kuo rode on his horse, looking at the chaotic scene before him, his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

He knew that once an army's morale collapsed and its troops were demoralized, its destruction was not far off.

But he had no choice.

His only hope now is that the fire in Youzhou City didn't burn completely, so that some of the grain can still be salvaged.

As long as there is food, he can keep the morale of the troops stable, and then... then hold the line and wait for reinforcements, awaiting the next instructions from the imperial court.

As for counterattacking the northern border and pacifying the north, he no longer dared to even think about it.

"Faster! Faster!"

He roared hoarsely, constantly urging the army to advance.

However, the more anxious he became, the more chaotic the scene became.

Infantry, cavalry, and supply wagons were all crammed onto the narrow road, pushing and shoving each other, causing congestion.

The army of 500,000 stretched for dozens of miles, like a clumsy giant python, struggling to move across the snow.

And right above them, several inconspicuous falcons were circling high in the sky.

In the falcon's eyes, the chaotic marching ranks below were clearly reflected.

……

On a high ground fifty miles away from Panlong Valley.

Xiao Jingchen held a telescope and coldly observed everything.

Beside him were 100,000 main force troops from the Northern Frontier and 300,000 troops from the Steppe Alliance, all ready for battle.

The 400,000-strong army, like lurking beasts, hid silently in the mountains and snowfields, their killing intent soaring to the heavens.

"Your Highness, the fish... has taken the bait."

Cang Jia had just returned from the direction of Youzhou City and said excitedly.

He still carried a strong smell of gunpowder and blood.

"Well done." Xiao Jingchen put down the telescope and nodded approvingly.

Cang Jia's night raid was even more successful than he had anticipated.

Not only did it completely destroy Zhao Kuo's logistics base, but more importantly, it forced him out of his sturdy shell.

"Pass down the order," Xiao Jingchen's voice was cold and clear. "Have Ulu and Huyan Zhuo lead 300,000 steppe cavalry to flank Zhao Kuo from both sides! Cut off Zhao Kuo's retreat completely!"

"I'm going to wrap all 500,000 of them up like dumplings!"

"yes!"

The messenger quickly left.

Soon, a low and desolate bugle call sounded from the direction of the grassland allied forces.

Three hundred thousand iron cavalry, like two giant pincers, began to slowly converge on the rear of Zhao Kuo's army.

"Cang Jia".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead 100,000 Northern Army troops to meet the enemy head-on!" Xiao Jingchen's gaze fell on the chaotic vanguard of Zhao Kuo's army. "Remember, don't rush into a decisive battle."

"I want you to peel back his formation layer by layer, like peeling an onion, and completely crush his morale!"

"Use our finest arrows to kill their officers!"

"Let's use our sharpest swords to cut down their banners!"

"I want to make them break down bit by bit amidst despair and chaos!"

"Understood, sir!" Cang Jia licked his lips, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "This is my specialty!"

Having said that, he mounted his horse, drew his sword, and pointed it forward.

"Northern army! Follow me... and kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

One hundred thousand Northern troops, like a flood bursting its banks, suddenly surged out from their concealed positions.

They marched in neat rows, their steps synchronized, and launched a tidal wave of attack on the chaotic enemy forces ahead.

……

The vanguard of Zhao Kuo's army was marching listlessly and full of complaints.

Suddenly, they heard thunderous hoofbeats and shouts of battle coming from ahead.

They looked up and saw a scene they would never forget.

A black tide appeared on the horizon.

Countless cavalrymen clad in black armor, wielding gleaming swords, charged toward them with unstoppable momentum.

Above their heads were countless large black banners with the character "Xiao" emblazoned with gold dragons, fluttering in the wind!

"Enemy attack! It's Xiao Jingchen's army!"

"My God! How did they get here!"

The vanguard troops immediately erupted into chaos.

Their morale was already low, and when they suddenly encountered the enemy's main force, they were terrified.

"Hold the line! Hold the line! Form ranks! Form ranks now!"

The vanguard general shouted at the top of his lungs, trying to organize an effective defense.

But it was too late.

Cang Jia's northern cavalry was like a red-hot dagger, stabbing fiercely into a block of cold butter.

They encountered almost no decent resistance.

The chaotic formation of the Youzhou army was instantly broken and torn apart.

The northern soldiers, wielding their Uzi steel swords, reaped the lives of their enemies as easily as slicing through melons and vegetables.

Their knives were too sharp.

The inferior iron armor of the Youzhou army was as fragile as paper in front of the Uzi steel blades.

Their arrows were incredibly powerful.

The Northern Army's archers, under the cover of cavalry, launched wave after wave of precise volleys at the densest concentrations of enemy troops.

With each volley of arrows, large numbers of Youzhou soldiers fell.

The battlefield instantly transformed into a blood and flesh grinder.

As Zhao Kuo stood in the central army, listening to the shouts and screams coming from the front, his heart sank deeper and deeper.

He knew that his worst fears had come true.

Xiao Jingchen never even considered engaging in any siege or defense battle with him.

His goal from the very beginning was to annihilate his 500,000-strong army in the wild.

This is a trap!

A deadly trap from the moment they stepped out of Panlong Valley, one from which they were destined to be unable to escape!

"Retreat... retreat to Panlong Valley immediately!" Zhao Kuo roared in despair.

However, when he looked back, he saw a scene that made him even more desperate.

Behind him, an endless cavalry force appeared out of nowhere.

The cavalrymen were dressed in various styles and carried a variety of banners, but they all had one thing in common: their eyes gleamed with a ferocious, beast-like light.

That's the army of the steppe people!

Three hundred thousand steppe cavalry have completely blocked all their escape routes!

A fierce tiger lies ahead, and a hungry wolf lurks behind.

Seeing this hopeless situation with no way out, Zhao Kuo's vision went black, and he fell straight off his horse.