At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

The sun reached its zenith, and the autumn sun hung high in the sky.

The clear sunlight shone down on the city of Jingzhou.

The majestic city stands against the mountain, its walls, made of mottled and thick blue bricks, silently guarding the southwestern border of the Great Qian Dynasty, weathered by the passage of time.

Since Xiao Yunche took charge of the three realms, Jingzhou City has always been peaceful and stable, with orderly markets, and the military and civilians living in peace and tranquility, presenting a picture of a peaceful and idyllic life.

However, the Jingzhou government office today is no longer the tranquil place it once was.

Xiao Yunche, still dressed in his dark-colored outfit, stood tall and straight in the main hall of the government office, his brows and eyes cold and his aura imposing and dignified.

Upon learning of the upheaval in Kyoto and the abduction of the emperor, he had already abandoned all interest in martial arts and his entire being exuded the iron-blooded aura of guarding the territory.

Wang Yang and Shen Luotang stood on the left and right sides, respectively, both with solemn and serious expressions, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

"Pass on my orders!"

Xiao Yunche spoke in a deep voice, his clear voice resounding throughout the main hall, carrying the undeniable majesty of a prince and the spirit of a general.

"Immediately dispatch a messenger on horseback, traveling eight hundred li to summon the prefects of Pingzhou and Suizhou, the generals guarding each city, and all civil and military officials within their jurisdictions to the Jingzhou government office for a meeting without delay!"

"Order the three border checkpoints to conduct thorough inspections of merchants and travelers, seal off all suspicious routes, investigate all unfamiliar traces, and launch a full-scale manhunt for Yan spies who have infiltrated the country, as well as to locate the Yan people who have fled the capital!"

"Effective immediately, martial law is declared throughout the three prefectures. All city garrisons must return to their posts immediately, reorganize their forces, inventory supplies and equipment, double the guard at all checkpoints, and maintain round-the-clock shifts, ready for battle!"

The military orders were clear and decisive, passed down from one level to the next, and were well-organized, ensuring that the defense, patrols, and searches of the three prefectures were all properly arranged.

Upon hearing this, the guards on duty responded with a resounding shout: "As Your Highness commands!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several guards turned and strode out, mounted their horses, and galloped out of the government office, carrying military orders to various directions.

Xiao Yunche stood in the hall, his gaze fixed on the clear sky outside the window, his heart churning with unspoken emotions.

The emperor's abduction by the Yan people was by no means a rash act on a whim.

After lying low for many years, the Yan state suddenly made such a shocking move, which must have been a long-planned and premeditated scheme.

Kidnapping the emperor was just the beginning; the ultimate goal was to ignite war between the two countries and take the opportunity to march south and annex the territory of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The three prefectures of Ping, Jing, and Sui, which he guarded, were adjacent to the Northern Yan and located at the forefront of the southwestern border, making them the first place to be hit by the Yan army's southward invasion.

He must seize the initiative, deploy defenses in advance, and stabilize the defenses of the three states, and must not allow the Yan state's treacherous scheme to succeed.

……

No sooner had the military order been issued than a series of hurried and disorderly footsteps broke the brief silence outside the government office.

A bodyguard, looking flustered, rushed into the main hall, knelt on one knee, and reported in a rapid, loud voice:

"Your Highness! Urgent report from Pingzhou!"

"The captain under the command of the general garrisoning Pingzhou has rushed here overnight and is currently requesting an audience outside the residence, claiming that he has extremely urgent military information that needs to be reported to Your Highness immediately!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao Yunche's eyes suddenly narrowed, his brows instantly turned frosty, and his heart sank.

Urgent military intelligence from Pingtung!

A strong sense of unease instantly welled up in my heart.

He guarded the southwest for three years and had a thorough understanding of the terrain and defenses of the three prefectures.

The three prefectures are interconnected, with orderly offense and defense, each fulfilling its own responsibilities, forming the most solid barrier in the southwest of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Pingzhou, which is adjacent to the territory of Northern Yan, has a long border and numerous passes. It is the first gateway for Daqian to face Yan State and the first major town that Yan army must conquer when it marches south. It has the most dangerous terrain and the greatest pressure.

Jingzhou stands in the center, connecting Pingzhou and Suizhou. It is well-connected and convenient for dispatching troops. It is the core of military command for the three prefectures, coordinating the overall situation and serving as the central hub of the three regions.

Suizhou, located in the rear, is rich in water and soil, with thousands of acres of fertile land and abundant grain and fodder. It stores all the grain and supplies for the tens of thousands of garrison troops of the three prefectures, making it the lifeline and foundation of the border army.

The three regions are interdependent and indispensable. If Pingzhou is lost, Jingzhou will face the enemy directly, Suizhou's food supplies will be in imminent danger, and the entire southwestern defense line will collapse instantly.

He had just ordered the entire territory to be defended when an urgent military report came from Pingzhou, indicating that the situation was certainly not optimistic!

Xiao Yunche's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Send it immediately!"

"yes!"

The guards stood up in response, immediately turned around, and quickly went out to summon him.

In a short while, a figure clad in dusty armor and covered in the grime of travel strode into the main hall.

The newcomer was a young captain. His armor was worn at the edges, his shoes were covered in mud, his hair was disheveled, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat. He had obviously been traveling at breakneck speed, day and night, without a moment's rest, and looked extremely anxious.

Upon entering the hall, the captain immediately knelt heavily on one knee, gave the highest military salute, and loudly and urgently reported:

"This humble officer, a captain under the command of the garrison commander of Pingzhou, pays his respects to His Highness the Third Prince!"

"The military situation is extremely urgent; we implore Your Highness to make a decision!"

"Stand up and answer me, tell me in detail!" Xiao Yunche's gaze was sharp as an eagle's as he stared directly at the newcomer, his tone steady and powerful.

The captain rose at the sound of his voice, not daring to delay even a moment, and reported in a very fast voice: "Your Highness, for the past half month, there have been frequent sightings of elite Yan troops outside Duanyun Pass in Pingzhou! They have appeared more than ten times!"

"The Yan soldiers are all small cavalry units, moving stealthily and swiftly, never directly attacking the pass to provoke us. They only patrol and spy within ten miles outside the pass, probing our defenses, checkpoints, and troop deployments, testing our strength and weaknesses!"

"Duanyun Pass is the first and most formidable pass in Pingzhou. Its strategic location makes it of utmost importance."

"General Wu noticed something strange about the situation. The Yan people's actions were suspicious and far from ordinary border harassment. He feared that the enemy was secretly plotting something, so he hurriedly dispatched me to report to Your Highness and request that Your Highness decide on a countermeasure!"

These words, word by word, reached the ears of Xiao Yunche, Wang Yang, and Shen Luotang.

The already heavy atmosphere instantly became even more solemn.

The three exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with understanding and seriousness.

The intentions of the Yan people in this action are crystal clear!

The so-called frequent probing and spying on the border is not a normal border friction, but a real pre-war test!

After the Yan Kingdom abducted the Emperor of Daqian, it anticipated that the Daqian court would be in turmoil and the army's morale would be unstable. So it took the lead in creating disturbances on the border, repeatedly spying on the defense of the passes, the strength of the troops, and the reactions of the garrison, to find out the strength and weakness of the southwestern defense line. After finding out the loopholes in the defense and grasping the accurate military situation, it was time to launch a large-scale invasion!

Wang Yang stroked his long, white beard, his expression extremely solemn, and slowly spoke: "Your Highness, the Yan people harbor wolfish ambitions and have been plotting for a long time!"

"These frequent probing attacks are a harbinger of war, an attempt to ascertain our military strength and prepare for a major southward offensive. This is extremely dangerous and we must not be careless. We must defend against them with all our might!"

Shen Luotang, standing to the side, also had a solemn face and serious eyes, and immediately spoke up:

"Your Highness, the flames of war between Yan and Qian are imminent, and battle is about to begin!"

"Our 40,000 troops from the three provinces alone are simply insufficient to withstand the entire military force of the Yan Kingdom!"

"The most urgent task is to immediately report to the court, fully explaining the situation of the Yan people harassing the border and plotting an attack. We request that the Third Prince quickly dispatch a large army to reinforce the southwestern border. Otherwise, when the main force of the Yan army presses in, our army will be weak and our defenses will be too vast to defend both ends, and we will be caught off guard and fall into a passive and dangerous situation!"

Wang Yang nodded repeatedly, expressing his deep agreement.

"Miss Shen is absolutely right! It is always wise to plan ahead."

"The three prefectures have vast territories and numerous passes. The 40,000 garrison troops are scattered and deployed, and their strength is already stretched thin. If the enemy attacks from multiple directions, they will inevitably be overwhelmed. We earnestly request the court to send reinforcements; this is the only prudent plan at present!"

Xiao Yunche stood in the hall, his eyes deep and thoughtful, having already thoroughly grasped the advantages and disadvantages of the situation.

People generally believed that after the great defeat of the Yan state in the Battle of Daqian fifteen years ago, the state was severely weakened and its national strength was greatly reduced. After years of lying low and not daring to make any rash moves, it was no longer a threat.

The Daqian court has long neglected border defenses and failed to protect the northern borders. It has only deployed 40,000 troops in the three southwestern prefectures to guard the vast territory.

But only he, who was stationed on the border, knew best that although the Yan Kingdom had seemingly been lying low and recuperating in recent years, it had actually been secretly strengthening its military, accumulating national strength, and training its troops.

It is obvious that they have never given up their ambition to invade and annex the Great Qian Dynasty.

Now that the Yan Kingdom has successfully kidnapped the emperor, it holds tremendous leverage and has already tested the strength of the border, making preparations for a full-scale war.

In contrast, the defense lines of the three states of Daqian were scattered, the garrison was weak, and the battle lines were long. The passes of each state were far apart. Once the war broke out, it would be difficult for the garrison to quickly rush to the aid of each other and coordinate their efforts. They would be easily defeated one by one by the Yan army.

Only by submitting a memorial to the capital, requesting the court to immediately dispatch a large army, can the war situation on the southwestern border be stabilized.

He was certain that his third uncle, Xiao Jingyu, who was acting as regent in a time of crisis, was mindful of the world and had a keen understanding of the overall situation. He must know the importance of the southwestern border and would surely send troops to its aid immediately.

Even Su Mu, the centenarian war god who is stationed in the capital and is unparalleled in battle, is very likely to personally lead the expedition to the southwestern front!

Thoughts flashed by, and Xiao Yunche no longer hesitated. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the captain below and ordered in a deep voice, "You must immediately ride back to Duanyun Pass and report back to General Wu!"

"Immediately dispatch 5,000 elite troops to garrison Duanyun Pass, reinforce the pass's defenses, maintain round-the-clock guard duty, and closely monitor the movements of the Yan army outside the pass!"

"Remember! Strictly adhere to military discipline; maintain a defensive posture and avoid battle!"

"No matter how the Yan army spyes and provokes us, not a single soldier is allowed to leave the pass to engage in battle without my order. Any unauthorized conflict is strictly prohibited. We must await reinforcements from the imperial court and my instructions!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" The captain clasped his hands in a deep bow to receive the order, not daring to delay for a moment. He turned and strode away, rushing back to report.

After everyone in the hall left, only Xiao Yunche, Wang Yang, and Shen Luotang remained in the main hall.

The situation is critical and there is no time to lose.

Xiao Yunche immediately turned to the side, solemnly cupped his hands to Wang Yang, and spoke earnestly and seriously.

"Sir, the situation on the border is critical. There are undercurrents at Duanyun Pass, and Pingzhou is the first to bear the brunt."

"Yun Che earnestly requests that you make the trip to Pingzhou immediately to assist General Wu in guarding the border, coordinating defenses, and stabilizing morale. Thank you for your trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yang did not hesitate at all. He immediately stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and looked solemn and resolute, as if it were his duty.

"Your Highness, rest assured. With the nation in peril and the borders in dire straits, I will do my utmost!"

"I will immediately proceed to Pingzhou to assist General Wu in guarding the passes and ensuring that the Yan people do not cross the line!"

After saying this, Wang Yang said no more, turned around and strode out of the main hall with steady steps, and immediately set off for the front line in Pingzhou.

Soon, only Xiao Yunche and Shen Luotang remained in the main hall of the government office.

An autumn breeze swept through the hall, bringing a touch of coolness. The situation was urgent, and not a moment could be wasted.

Xiao Yunche turned to look at Shen Luotang beside him and said in a deep voice, "Luotang, come with me to the study."

"Immediately grind ink and prepare paper. I will personally write a secret letter and send it urgently to the capital, informing my third uncle of the Yan people's probing and probing activities, and their intention to launch a large-scale invasion. I implore the court to dispatch a large army to reinforce the three southwestern borders as soon as possible!"

Shen Luotang's eyes were firm, and she bowed without hesitation, replying, "Yes, sir!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately followed.

With the nation in peril and the Yan invaders eyeing them covetously, border war was imminent.

Xiao Yunche gazed towards the study, his eyes flashing with sharpness, and he secretly made a vow in his heart.

He was not concerned with the fate of a foolish emperor, nor with the honor or disgrace of the royal family.

All for the sake of the safety of the land and rivers of Daqian, and for the peace and tranquility of the people on the border!

This time, he will defend the southwestern border to the death, wait for reinforcements to arrive, and fight the Yan people to the bitter end!