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

It is about 30 miles north of Duanyun Pass.

The vast plain stretches for hundreds of miles. The terrain here is open and flat, without mountains or ravines to block the way. It is an excellent place to station troops and train soldiers, and also the most suitable battlefield for cavalry charges.

Half a month ago, when the King of Yan announced his intention to wage war against the Great Qian, the main force of the Yan Kingdom, numbering 150,000, quietly stationed itself here, set up camp, and prepared for battle.

Military tents stretching for dozens of miles rose from the ground, layer upon layer, densely packed, forming an endless sea of ​​dark brown tents, with banners standing tall and fluttering in the wind.

Military flags embroidered with black swallow and sparrow totems fluttered wildly in the wind. Amidst the howling wind, they carried a thick and chilling aura of killing intent, pressing heavily over the entire plain, their imposing momentum awe-inspiring and dominating the surrounding area.

150,000 armored soldiers of the Yan Kingdom lined up for drills, the clanging of their armor filling the air, the neighing of warhorses rising and falling, their footsteps resounding in unison, causing the ground beneath their feet to tremble slightly.

In stark contrast to the increasingly demoralized and restless atmosphere among the Daqian garrison inside Duanyun Pass, the Yan army camp here was brimming with fighting spirit and at the height of its vigor.

The Central Military Training Ground was bustling with activity, attracting the attention of everyone.

In the center of the arena, a tall and imposing figure sat atop a black horse, exuding an aura of authority and dominance.

This man was none other than Murong Di, a fierce general of the Yan state.

He was clad in a suit of jet-black, beast-faced, gleaming armor, the blades gleaming coldly, the edges sharp, and he exuded an aura of battle-hardened iron and bloodlust.

A three-foot-long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard black, concealing its sharpness, yet the slight chill emanating from it inspired awe.

Astride him was a magnificent, jet-black steed, exceptionally swift and spirited. Its four hooves stood firmly, its head held high, neighing proudly.

Murong Di stood upright, his posture like a pine tree, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His gaze swept over the densely packed Yan soldiers below, his eyes burning with stern authority and imposing majesty.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in unison on the training ground, completely silent. All eyes were fixed on him, filled with awe and anticipation, and no one dared to slack off in the slightest.

After a moment of silence, Murong Di's voice boomed like a bell, piercing through the howling wind and resounding throughout the entire training ground, each word deafening.

"Open your eyes wide and watch carefully! Today, I, the general, will personally demonstrate what true battlefield archery is!"

"In military training, rigid routines are all empty talk! On the real battlefield, the enemy never stands still and lets you shoot them; they are always moving swiftly and agilely!"

"If you don't understand dynamic sniping and can only aim rigidly at the target, you're doomed on the battlefield!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers below were greatly encouraged, and their eyes burned even brighter.

A quiet murmur arose from the crowd, filled with genuine admiration and respect.

"As expected of General Murong, the fiercest general of Yan! To witness your martial arts demonstration firsthand today has truly made this trip worthwhile!"

"Who doesn't know that General Murong is a martial arts prodigy, one in a hundred years for our Yan Kingdom! He is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his bravery surpasses that of the entire army!"

"I've heard that the general topped the martial arts rankings at the age of fifteen, possessing the strength of a martial arts champion. He rose to fame at a young age and has dominated the battlefield for over ten years without ever suffering a defeat!"

"Not only is his archery and horsemanship unparalleled, but his mastery of the 'Wild Blade on Horseback' is also divine. He is invincible in battle, and in the past, against the Northern Barbarians, he alone, with his horse and sword, killed seven enemy generals, earning a formidable reputation that shook the borderlands!"

"With General Murong commanding our 150,000 troops, Yan is certain to win this battle! What is there to fear from the mere garrison of Daqian!"

The exclamations of praise reached Murong Di's ears clearly.

He sat upright on his horse, a proud and smug smile subtly curving his cold and handsome face, his eyes gleaming even more fiercely.

As the commander-in-chief, he was well-versed in the art of military administration.

The morale and fighting spirit of an army are never just about military discipline, but also about the prestige of its commander.

Only when the soldiers under one's command genuinely respect and admire their commander, and firmly believe in the commander's unparalleled combat prowess and invincibility, will they be fearless and determined to follow him to the death when going into battle. They will be willing to charge into battle for their commander, forging ahead without hesitation, and will never have the thought of retreating or fleeing.

The current situation, with everyone united and morale high, is exactly the effect he wanted.

Murong Di, brimming with pride, raised his hand and shouted loudly, "Men! Bring me my Heaven-Shaking Longbow!"

Upon hearing this, the guard captain standing beside the horse dared not delay for a moment, quickly stepped forward, and respectfully presented a jet-black longbow with both hands.

This bow is named Zhentian. It is forged from cold iron mixed with thousand-year-old hardwood. The bow is heavy and tough, and the bowstring is sharp and taut. Ordinary martial artists cannot draw it to its full extent. Only a fierce general like Murong Di, who is born with superhuman strength and has mastered martial arts, can wield it with ease.

Murong Di took the Zhentian Longbow with one hand and held it in his hand. The heavy and solid feel of it gave him more confidence.

He raised his bow and hand, his gaze sweeping across the entire field once more, his voice resounding and powerful as he imparted the true essence of battlefield combat.

"Remember what I said today! Static aiming is the foundation, but on the battlefield, everything changes in an instant. Light, wind speed, enemy posture, and horse speed all affect archery!"

"Rigid aiming is ultimately inferior; superior archery lies in adapting to the situation, moving with the heart, and anticipating the enemy's movements!"

"Look carefully!"

With a shout, Murong Di suddenly exerted force with both legs, squeezing the horse's belly tightly!

"drive!"

The black steed neighed loudly in response, its four hooves flying, and it suddenly galloped off, running wildly across the wide training ground.

The warhorse sped faster and faster, the wind swept past, making his armor rustle and his robes flutter. His figure was agile and upright, as steady as Mount Tai. Even as the warhorse galloped at top speed, he remained completely still.

As he sped along, Murong Di moved with fluid grace, raising his hand to nock an arrow and drawing the bowstring taut!

hum...

The taut bowstring vibrated with a deep, sharp sound, and the gleaming arrow steadily locked onto the fast-moving wooden target in the distance of the training ground.

Without the slightest hesitation, the release was instantaneous!

The sound of the arrow piercing the air was deafening. Like a streak of black light, the arrow, carrying the force of thunder, swept across dozens of feet in an instant!

puff!

Absolutely accurate!

The arrow struck the bullseye in the very center of the moving target with tremendous force, piercing straight through the thick wooden target. With its momentum still intact, it flew out again, carrying splinters of wood, and crashed heavily into a thick wooden pillar behind the training ground!

Boom!

A deafening explosion shook the entire stadium!

The sturdy solid wood pillar was pierced directly by this arrow. The arrow tail trembled and was firmly embedded in the pillar. The domineering force and the accuracy of the archery were astonishing!

The entire training ground fell silent for a moment.

The next second, a thunderous roar of cheers suddenly erupted!

Tens of thousands of Yan soldiers were filled with patriotic fervor, raising their arms and shouting, their voices shaking the heavens and resounding across the land!

"General Murong is mighty!!"

"The general's skills are unparalleled! His horsemanship and archery are unmatched!"

"Such archery skills are simply divine, beyond belief!"

"With our general in command, our army will surely crush the Great Qian in this battle and raze Duanyun Pass to the ground!"

Everyone's eyes gleamed with fervor, their confidence and fighting spirit reaching their peak.

In their eyes, Murong Di's combat prowess was unparalleled, and no one could rival him.

In contrast, the Great Qian Dynasty has suffered from a decline in military generals and a lax military preparedness in recent years. The border garrison has been complacent and weak in combat. The troops stationed at Duanyun Pass are only tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers. How can they withstand Murong Di's unparalleled bravery and the iron hooves of 150,000 elite Yan troops?

"The Great Qian Dynasty is no longer as powerful as it once was. The three border prefectures are militarily weak, their morale is low, and they are easily defeated!"

"Our army of 150,000 is pressing in, their strength at its peak. A single spit from each of them could overwhelm the defenders of Duanyun Pass!"

"This battle is a foregone conclusion; our Yan state will surely win a great victory, and the recapture of our territory will be just around the corner!"

Hearing the enthusiastic cheers rising and falling below, and feeling the high morale of the entire army, the galloping warhorses slowly came to a stop.

Murong Dile tightened the reins, turned his horse around, and looked down at his enthusiastic soldiers. He felt a surge of pride and his face was filled with even more arrogance.

He raised his hand and gestured for silence, instantly quieting the noisy training ground. Everyone held their breath, waiting for his address.

"The way of mounted archery emphasizes anticipation, values ​​spontaneity, maintains a stable posture, and strikes swiftly."

Holding a longbow, Murong Di spoke solemnly and without reservation, sincerely imparting the essence of actual combat to all the soldiers. He recounted his years of experience in horse archery, power generation techniques, and predictive strategies accumulated on the battlefield.

From controlling the rhythm of galloping warhorses to accurately judging wind speed and distance, and predicting the trajectory of moving targets, the details are meticulous and easy to understand.

He was strict in disciplining his troops, but he also loved them like brothers and never hesitated to share his knowledge.

How much a soldier can learn and comprehend depends entirely on their individual talent and hard work; he cannot force them. However, as a general, he will impart all his knowledge to them and live up to the morale of the army.

At the height of his excitement, Murong Di's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he shouted loudly, "Again!"

He turned to the captain beside him and ordered in a deep voice, "Throw the three dynamic targets into the air!"

"yes!"

Two guards immediately stepped forward, each holding a specially made, lightweight target, and simultaneously hurled the targets high into the air!

Three dark figures soared into the air, tumbling and falling erratically, their trajectories unpredictable, making them far more difficult to lock onto and aim at than moving targets on the ground.

The soldiers' eyes were fixed on the sky, their breaths held, filled with anticipation.

On his warhorse, Murong Di appeared calm and collected. He raised his hand, nocked an arrow, and drew his bow—three actions performed in one fluid motion, as fast as lightning!

Three arrows were drawn simultaneously, the bowstring taut like a full moon, locking onto three elusive targets in the air!

"go!"

Three words fall, three arrows are fired simultaneously!

Three sharp whooshing sounds rang out almost simultaneously, as three dark arrow shadows pierced the sky, accurately tracking three flying targets!

Whoosh whoosh!

Three crisp sounds rang out in succession!

High in the sky, all three flying targets were pierced by arrows, each one hitting the bullseye perfectly!

Three arrows fired simultaneously, all three hitting their targets perfectly, in perfect unison!

"good!!"

On the training ground, a new wave of cheers erupted instantly, even more enthusiastic and surging than before!

All the soldiers were filled with excitement and their hearts were pounding. They felt that with such a divine general leading them, they would surely win this battle and advance without hesitation!

……

Beyond the fence of the training ground, there was a secluded high ground.

Two figures stood quietly, silently watching the grand martial arts performance unfolding in the arena.

The leader was dressed in simple white robes, with a slender and upright figure, gentle and handsome features, and no trace of the murderous aura of a military general. Instead, he exuded a refined and composed demeanor full of knowledge.

This man was none other than Gongsun Yu, the military advisor accompanying the Yan state's northern expeditionary force.

His gaze was calm as he quietly watched Murong Di, who was full of vigor and showing his sharp edge. There was no trace of the soldiers' fanatical admiration in his eyes, only a faint helpless smile.

Standing beside him was Tian Cheng, a captain in light armor with a capable expression, who was also one of the core deputy generals in the army.

Looking at the cheering crowd, Tian Cheng smiled and joked, "Strategist, General Murong has always been like this, fond of showing off and displaying his prowess. Today's martial arts demonstration has boosted the morale of the entire army by several points."

Gongsun Yu shook his head slightly and smiled faintly, "He has always loved to show off his skills and is very arrogant."

"That's true," Tian Cheng quickly added solemnly, "but the general is genuinely imparting his combat skills to the soldiers without reservation."

"If your soldiers can learn even one-tenth of your skills, they will be able to protect themselves and kill the enemy on the battlefield, becoming invincible. This will be of utmost benefit to our army."

Gongsun Yu nodded slightly, without denying it.

Murong Di was brave and skilled in military command, adept at boosting morale, and a rare and formidable general on the battlefield.

However, it is precisely because of excessive arrogance that one is prone to underestimating the enemy and becoming complacent, which is a major taboo in military strategy.

His gaze darkened slightly, his smile vanished, and he turned to Tian Cheng, asking in a deep voice, "Has His Majesty sent any message? When will the decree to attack Duanyun Pass be issued?"

This army of 150,000 has been stationed in the northern border for half a month, training day and night. Everything is ready and the army is sharp. They are just waiting for the Yan Emperor to issue an order to attack so that they can march south and launch a strong attack on Duanyun Pass.

The fact that the troops remained inactive for half a month was not because they dared not or could not fight, but because they were waiting for the imperial decree and the best opportunity to strike.

Upon hearing this, Tian Cheng frowned slightly and shook his head gently: "Reporting to the strategist, we have not yet received any message from His Majesty, nor have any messengers from the court arrived. It seems we must continue to wait and not act rashly."

Upon hearing this, a thoughtful look flashed across Gongsun Yu's eyes.

For fifteen years, the Yan Emperor has patiently plotted and schemed to recover the northern border and launch a southern campaign against Qian. Now that the situation is favorable and a large army is pressing in, he has yet to order an attack. There must be a deeper reason behind this.

Just as the two were deep in thought, trying to decipher the emperor's intentions, a hurried sound of footsteps came from afar!

A messenger, dressed in urgent armor, rushed to the two men, knelt on one knee, and, breathless, loudly reported:

"Report to Military Advisor! Report to Commander Tian! Top-secret intelligence has arrived from the direction of Duanyun Pass!"

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Yu and Tian Cheng's expressions instantly brightened, their eyes lit up, and their faces showed excitement!

After waiting for half a month and remaining in a stalemate for half a month, we finally received crucial news from Duanyun Pass!

Gongsun Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened, his refined demeanor vanished, replaced by the composure and ruthlessness of a strategist. He immediately spoke in a deep voice:

"This is of utmost importance. Follow me immediately to the central command tent to examine the intelligence and discuss military matters!"

"yes!"

Tian Cheng solemnly agreed, and the two of them stopped watching the martial arts demonstration on the training ground and turned around to walk quickly towards the central command tent.

The bustling training ground was still filled with deafening cheers, and Murong Di was still giving a passionate speech and training his troops. The entire army was immersed in a frenzy of fighting spirit and the belief that victory was certain.

After taking only a few steps, Gongsun Yu turned around and said, "Go, summon General Murong back to the camp!"