I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Not long after, the two brothers left together, still glaring at each other with mutual dissatisfaction.

If it weren't for the Northern Mang Empress keeping a close eye on them, they probably would have already started shoving each other.

Looking at the two of them, Zhuge Jin, who was holding a feather fan, couldn't help but slowly shake his head and chuckle.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the Northern Mang Empress turned her head and saw the smile on his lips.

Zhuge Yu's smile froze on his face, and he was startled!

The next moment, he quickly bowed and kowtowed, showing utmost respect.

The Northern Mang Empress said nothing and returned to her seat.

Seeing this, Zhuge Yu breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

But then the Northern Mang Empress's voice suddenly rang out, extremely cold, catching him completely off guard.

"Strategist, what were you laughing at just now?"

This statement came out.

Zhuge Yu broke out in a cold sweat.

What are you laughing at?

He didn't even know what he was laughing at.

They were probably laughing at the two princes for not behaving like princes at all, acting like children.

But he dared not say these words to her face. After all, he was the Empress's younger brother and a prince of Northern Mang.

Does he have several heads? How dare he laugh at a prince?

Even the Northern Barbarians dared not laugh at him, let alone the fact that he was a man from the Central Plains.

It's over! It's over!

"No, I didn't laugh, I didn't laugh at anything..." Zhuge Yu lowered his head and couldn't help but stammer, not daring to look directly at the Northern Mang Empress.

boom!

The next moment, an incredibly powerful gale arose.

Zhuge Jin felt short of breath. When he came to his senses, the Northern Mang Empress had already grabbed his neck with one hand, and his feet were dangling in the air outside the city wall.

Below is a city wall that is over ten zhang high!

If you fall, you'll definitely be smashed into a pile of minced meat.

Extreme fear instantly engulfed Zhuge Yu's entire body, causing every muscle in his body to tremble uncontrollably.

He could barely hold onto the feather fan, which fluttered and fell off the city wall, just like his fate, leading to his end.

The Northern Mang Empress stood tall and straight, her phoenix eyes extremely cold, like ice that had stood for millennia.

"Don't think you can laugh at my brother just because you have a little bit of cleverness!"

"I can appoint you as the Grand Preceptor of Northern Mang, and I can crush you with a flick of my wrist!"

"Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant!"

Zhuge Yu was out of breath, his face flushed red, and veins bulged on his forehead. He managed to squeeze out a few words.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty ...

In the end, Zhuge Yu almost died.

boom!

He threw Zhuge Yu hard onto the city wall, where he tumbled several times before finally stopping when he hit the crenellations.

The Northern Mang Empress gave Zhuge Yu one last look, as if he were a dead man, before turning her back and coldly gazing at the hundred-mile-long blood-red plain outside the city.

Zhuge Yu was thrown to the ground, his head bleeding profusely, but he dared not wipe it away. He scrambled to his feet as fast as he could, knelt behind the Northern Mang Empress, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"I know I'm wrong, I know I'm wrong..."

Rumors circulate that although the Northern Mang Empress is a woman, she is an unparalleled martial arts master and is expected to become the world's youngest grandmaster!

Seeing it for myself today, I can confirm that it truly lives up to its reputation!

"Do you know why I didn't order the two princes to lead troops to attack Qingling Pass just now?"

The cold voice of the Northern Mang Empress rang out, and Zhuge Yu knew that this was his chance to atone for his sins.

If the answer is not good, the Empress of Northern Mang will turn on you in an instant.

Being thrown off the city wall and smashed into a pile of minced meat is a foregone conclusion.

His mind raced; the only thing that could save his life now was his own wisdom.

Why not let the two princes lead troops to attack Qingling Pass?

It certainly wasn't because the two princes were arguing with each other that they shortened the time to capture Qingling Pass to just one day.

There must be other, more important reasons, otherwise the Northern Mang Empress wouldn't have asked him this question.

The more anxious you are, the less likely you are to think of anything.

Zhuge Yu clenched his fist and slammed it hard against his head.

At one point, it happened!

Zhuge Yu quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I believe it's because after capturing Qingling Pass, it's no longer a flat plain, but a treacherous mountain road of nearly two hundred miles, where our Northern Barbarian cavalry cannot exert any advantage at all."

"His Majesty deliberately abandoned the easily attainable victory at Qingling Pass and retreated to Wuyang City, precisely to set the battlefield on the only remaining ten-odd miles of flat land between Wuyang City and Qingling Pass—this is the advantage of terrain!"

"Given the marching speed of the reinforcements led by the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, by the time they reach Qingling Pass, it will already be winter, and the river will be frozen over. Our Northern Barbarian cavalry will be able to move freely across it. This is the opportune moment!"

"After a long march, the Great Zhou army will surely be exhausted when they reach Qingling Pass, while our army, having rested and reorganized for many days in Wuyang City, is well-rested and ready to meet you. This is the advantage of human resources!"

"In this battle, we have the advantage of favorable timing, terrain, and popular support; our army is destined for victory. Your Majesty is truly a military genius!"

Zhuge Yu's explanation, while containing elements of flattery, was mostly to the point.

Even the Empress of Northern Mang couldn't help but smile after hearing his words.

It wasn't that she was happy that Zhuge Yu was flattering her, but rather that she genuinely admired her own strategy for this battle.

She had the perfect timing, the right place, and the right people!

She wanted to see how she would lose this battle.

Having defeated the reinforcements personally led by Qin Li, the eldest prince of the Great Zhou, there was no longer any significant force within the Great Zhou to resist the southward advance of the Northern Mang cavalry.

This battle will be the final battle!

……

Qin Li has brought out the great hero Su Chen and has made the most of him.

On his way to the border, Qin Li sent Qin Li to deal with any bandits, local officials who oppressed the people, or those who were notorious for their evil deeds!

In no time, Su Chen's name resounded throughout the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, becoming a household name!

Even the Northern Barbarians knew Su Chen's name and regarded him as their number one target to eliminate!

Su Chen is the heart and soul of the Great Zhou army!

This approach yields significant results.

People from all over the country who were not very enthusiastic about joining the army before are now shouting that they want to enlist, fight the enemy, make meritorious contributions, and defend their homeland!

Most importantly, the defeated soldiers scattered along the border and General Su's former troops, upon hearing of Su Chen's deeds, all chose to follow him.

In an instant, countless people joined the army, determined to fight to the death against the Northern Barbarians under Su Chen's leadership!

However, Qin Li's joy didn't last long before he received bad news.

The Northern Mang army suddenly halted its previously fierce offensive and chose to garrison in Wuyang City, remaining secluded and refusing to venture out!

Upon hearing the news, Qin Li exclaimed that there was a master in Northern Mang, and a master among masters!

"Expert? What kind of expert?"

Wei Hongying leaned closer and asked curiously.

Qin Li didn't explain much, but simply asked, "Where is our advance force?"

"We'll reach Qingling Pass in two more days!"

Wei Hongying replied.

Upon hearing this, Qin Li nodded.

After pondering for a moment, he decisively issued the order: "By my command, the vanguard shall halt its advance and remain in place. No one shall advance without my order. Anyone who disobeys shall be executed!"

"Why?"

Wei Hongying was greatly puzzled.

Even his voice couldn't help but rise two decibels.

Along the way, the army hurried as fast as it could, traveling day and night, until both men and horses were exhausted.

We'll soon be able to enter Qingling Pass to rest, have a hot meal, and get a good night's sleep.

Why did Qin Li suddenly issue such a military order?

The army halted its advance and camped in place.

That was in the middle of nowhere, in the mountains.

How can the army rest and recuperate there?

If we don't rest and recuperate, how can we fight against the Northern Barbarians?

Qin Li had nothing to hide from Wei Hongying and told her the true intentions of the Northern Barbarians.

Upon hearing this, Wei Hongying suddenly realized what had happened, exclaiming that she had almost been tricked, and couldn't help but give Qin Li a thumbs up in praise.

After saying that, she was about to lead her men to quickly convey Qin Li's military orders.

A moment's delay would have meant utter ruin.

Unexpectedly, Qin Li called out to her, "Wait a minute!"

"What is it, Your Highness? Is there anything else?"

Wei Hongying stopped in her tracks, turned around, and asked.

Qin Li had Zhou Biao bring over a sword and handed it to Wei Hongying. "Su Chen is also in the vanguard. That kid is inherently rebellious and unruly. He certainly won't obey my orders. Take this sword with you and make sure he stays put and doesn't enter the pass!"

"good……"