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

The central military tent of the Yan state was solemn and imposing.

The heavy black curtains hung down, isolating the deafening noise of the drills outside, and the inside of the tent was quiet and still.

The ground was covered with thick animal hide carpets, and the four walls were hung with maps of the mountains and rivers within the three prefectures of Daqian and a general map of the border defense deployment of Pingzhou. The dense lines marked the terrain, passes, and garrison distribution inside and outside Duanyun Pass, revealing the strictness and solemnity of this important military location.

At this moment, the white-robed strategist Gongsun Yu leaned forward, lightly pinching the letter with his fingertips, and quickly read through all the words in the letter.

As his gaze swept over the last line of text, his originally calm and gentle brows and eyes suddenly relaxed, and the corners of his lips, which had been tense for many days, slowly lifted into an undisguised smile. A bright light burst forth in his eyes, and the gloom that had been suppressed and dormant for days was swept away.

Seeing this, Tian Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Strategist, how is the situation?"

"What did the spy's letter say?"

"Good! Good! Heaven is truly helping our Yan Kingdom!" Gongsun Yu breathed a long sigh of relief, praising repeatedly, his tone filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy, his voice much lighter than usual.

"After a stalemate of half a month, an opportunity to break the deadlock has finally emerged."

"In this way, our Yan army will no longer need to waste time waiting. We can immediately reorganize our troops, report to the court, and launch a fierce attack on Duanyun Pass. The southward campaign against Qian will be just around the corner!"

Upon hearing this, Captain Tian Cheng, who was standing to the side, had a slight change in expression, his face full of doubt.

He had only seen the messenger hurriedly deliver the secret letter, but he did not know the specific contents of the letter. Seeing the strategist so overjoyed and confident that the opportunity to fight had arrived, he was full of doubts and was about to ask the reason to find out what kind of news had come from Duanyun Pass.

Just then, a series of steady and rapid footsteps came from outside the tent, the clanging of armor clashing against each other growing louder as they approached, each step imposing.

A moment later, a tall and imposing figure lifted the curtain and entered, carrying with him the lingering dust of the training ground and an aura of iron-blooded fierceness, striding into the central command tent.

It was Murong Di, the commander-in-chief of the Yan state, who had just finished military exercises.

He had just received a summons from inside the tent, and knowing that there was an urgent secret report from the front, he immediately put aside all matters of training troops and rushed over without stopping.

He kept wondering what kind of news it would be.

Murong Di's gaze immediately fell on the smiling Gongsun Yu, his eyebrows slightly raised, his voice steady and resonant:

"What makes you so delighted, strategist? I've heard a series of good news from inside the tent. What could be so important that you're so confident and say we can send troops to break through the pass?"

Seeing this, Gongsun Yu didn't say anything more. He immediately raised his hand and handed the top-secret letter to Murong Di, his eyes smiling.

"General, your arrival is just in time! Quickly take a look; it's incredibly good news from Duanyun Pass!"

"After half a month of lying low, the best opportunity for battle has finally arrived. The Great Qian garrison has already thrown itself into disarray!"

Murong Di strode forward, took the letter, and his gaze suddenly focused as he quickly read through the densely packed words, word by word.

The letter clearly states that the spies planted by the Yan Kingdom in the Daqian army at Duanyun Pass have reported back that rumors have been rampant in the pass recently, causing the army's morale to completely collapse. The soldiers at the grassroots level of Daqian are filled with fear and suspicion, and everyone is questioning the Third Prince Xiao Yunche's decision to defend the pass. War-weariness, fear of war, and cowardice towards the enemy have spread throughout the army.

The once elite troops, who were guarding the border and ready for battle, have now lost their fighting spirit, their morale is low, and they are no longer as disciplined as they once were.

The closer he looked, the brighter the joy in Murong Di's eyes became. His face, which had been tense for many days, completely relaxed, and his fighting spirit surged between his brows. The frustration of holding back for days was swept away.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

After reading the secret letter, Murong Di couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh loudly, his voice echoing throughout the tent, filled with boundless pride.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for!"

"Xiao Yunche is truly all talk and no action. After sitting in charge of Duanyun Pass for half a month, he still couldn't maintain morale or stop the rumors. The collapse of the Great Qian garrison and the resulting distrust between superiors and subordinates are its biggest weaknesses!"

He gripped the letter tightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, his tone filled with barely suppressed urgency and fighting spirit.

"The opportunity has arrived; it's a rare chance!"

"There's no need to lie low any longer. Our 150,000 elite troops are in high spirits. Immediately send an urgent report to the court. Launch a full-scale attack now, and we will surely break through Duanyun Pass, crush the Daqian garrison, and flatten the northern border of Pingzhou!"

The oppressive feeling of being unable to move and only able to train troops every day for days has completely dissipated. Murong Di is already eager to lead his army out to fight against the Great Qian army head-on, make achievements, conquer the land of Great Qian, and wash away the humiliation of fifteen years ago.

The atmosphere inside the tent was instantly enthusiastic and high-spirited, filled with the belief that victory was assured.

Just as Gongsun Yu nodded in agreement and was preparing to discuss the specific troop deployment and finalize the siege tactics with Murong Di, Tian Cheng, who had been standing silently and pondering quietly, suddenly raised his hand slightly, his brows furrowed, and spoke solemnly.

"General, strategist, may I ask a question...?"

"This matter may not be so safe; I have a feeling there's something fishy going on!"

The words landed crisply and abruptly, instantly silencing the lively and bustling tent.

Murong Di, who was full of vigor, paused in his smile and turned to look at Tian Cheng with a surprised expression.

Gongsun Yu, who had been so confident, was slightly taken aback. His smile faded, his gaze hardened, and he looked at Tian Cheng, asking in a deep voice:

"Why do you say that, Commandant Tian? The secret report was personally relayed by our spies who have infiltrated the pass. The intelligence is accurate and without error. How can you say it's a scam?"

Tian Chengwei stepped forward, his posture upright and his expression serious, showing no sign of casualness. He slowly and clearly expressed his concerns.

"The general and the strategist both know that Xiao Yunche, the third prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, is by no means an ordinary person."

"This person is mature for his age, extremely shrewd, wise and composed, and extremely good at concealing his intentions and making plans. He is also well-versed in military strategy and battlefield tactics."

"For the past half month, we have been secretly spreading rumors to deliberately disrupt the morale of the Daqian army. It is impossible for Xiao Yunche to be unaware of this."

"With his intelligence and shrewdness, he knew that rampant rumors and wavering morale were major taboos in the army, and he must have known that if left unchecked, morale would collapse and the army would be defeated without a fight."

"Such a simple principle is known to ordinary generals, so it's impossible for Xiao Yunche not to know it."

"Now that he knows, he will definitely use every means to suppress the rumors, stabilize morale, and appease the soldiers. He will never allow morale to completely collapse."

Tian Cheng's gaze was firm, and his words were carefully chosen.

"But now the news sent back by the spies is that the morale of the army inside the pass has completely collapsed, the soldiers are in great disarray, and chaos is everywhere."

"This situation, which is too smooth, seems too deliberate, and suspicious at every turn. This humble general believes that this may not be the true state of the Great Qian garrison, but rather a deliberate illusion created by Xiao Yunche!"

"He most likely deliberately allowed the rumors to spread, feigning low morale and weak defenses, in order to mislead our army, lure us into underestimating the enemy and launching a preemptive attack."

"This is likely a trap he set to lure the enemy, or even... a counter-espionage scheme!"

This calm and meticulous analysis slowly echoed in the silent central command tent.

Every sentence was logical and insightful, revealing the hidden dangers beneath the seemingly perfect fighter jet.

Upon hearing this, Murong Di's eagerness and joy vanished completely, replaced by a look of astonishment and deep thought.

He has always been fierce and brave, skilled in battlefield combat and charging into enemy lines. He is arrogant and confident, and easily swayed by a seemingly insurmountable situation. Therefore, he only saw the excellent opportunity for battle but did not think deeply about the unusual aspects of it.

After Tian Cheng's prompting, he instantly calmed down considerably, pondered deeply, and slowly nodded:

"Are you saying that the news sent back by our Yan spies was not false, but a deliberate illusion created by Xiao Yunche to let us discover it, in order to deceive our army?"

"That is exactly what I meant," Tian Cheng said solemnly, bowing respectfully. "It's not that the intelligence from the spies was false, but rather that the scenes described in the intelligence were all deliberately disguised by the enemy."

"The more easily a victory seems to be won, the more danger lurks on the battlefield."

"Xiao Yunche is a man of deep thoughts and extremely skilled at planning, so we must be wary! I hope that the general and the strategist will act cautiously and not underestimate the enemy or rush into their trap."

After listening to this detailed analysis, Gongsun Yu, standing to the side, was not only surprised but also showed genuine admiration.

He originally thought that Tian Cheng was just a brave and skilled military general who obeyed military orders. He had been fighting with the army for many years and was good at fighting on the battlefield, but not good at political maneuvering or careful thinking.

Unexpectedly, this general, who had fought on the battlefield for many years, was able to shed his recklessness and maintain such extreme calmness when the entire army was overwhelmed by the good news and everyone was eager for battle. He saw through appearances, discerned hidden dangers, and thought so meticulously that he saw through the treachery on the battlefield and the scheming of people's hearts.

That's truly rare!

A hint of appreciation flashed in Gongsun Yu's eyes. He slowly gave Tian Cheng a thumbs-up and sincerely praised, "Excellent! What a meticulous and thoughtful Commandant Tian!"

"General Murong and I were so focused on seeing an opportunity that we were overjoyed that we were almost misled by appearances and underestimated the enemy, which led to our failure."

"But you, despite being in the military, are able to remain calm and focused, see through illusions, think things through thoroughly, and every word you say hits the nail on the head. What you say is absolutely right!"

"Xiao Yunche is exceptionally intelligent and skilled at using deception and luring the enemy deep into his territory. This matter is indeed very likely a scheme to mislead the enemy and a counter-espionage tactic."

"If our army launches a full-scale attack without careful consideration, it is highly likely that we will fall right into their trap and suffer losses instead!"

After being guided by the two men, Murong Di had completely calmed down.

He suppressed his fighting spirit, his brows furrowed, his expression solemn, no longer showing any impatience to rush into battle. He turned to Gongsun Yu and asked in a deep voice:

"Strategist, you are well-versed in political intrigue and deception. In your opinion, how should we handle the current situation?"

Silence returned to the tent; the atmosphere was heavy with military tension and solemn.

Gongsun Yu stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth in the tent. His steps were unhurried, his eyes were deep, and he quickly analyzed the situation before him, thinking of a way to break the deadlock.

He thought that since the Emperor of Yan's decree had not yet arrived and the order to attack had not been given, the army was already in a state of waiting and lying in wait, and did not rashly send out troops.

The best course of action right now is to remain calm and composed, verify the truth, and see through the illusions.

A moment later, Gongsun Yu stopped in his tracks, his gaze resolute, and he made a plan in a deep voice.

"Given the current situation, it is difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and the reality is unknown. Under no circumstances should we rashly deploy troops."

"Since we suspect the chaos within the pass is a deliberate feint by Xiao Yunche to lure the enemy, then we must immediately verify its authenticity, investigate the true morale and defensive status of Duan Yun Pass, and expose its true scheme!"

He turned to look at Tian Cheng beside him, his gaze sharp and his tone solemn:

"Commander Tian, ​​you are in charge of the army's covert communications. Can you immediately make contact with our spies and agents who have infiltrated Duanyun Pass? Do you have a secret, secure, and reliable method of communication?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Cheng immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and replied with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation, "Strategist, absolutely!"

"Our Yan Kingdom has been secretly operating in Pingzhou for fifteen years, laying down layers of covert agents inside and outside Duanyun Pass. We have a unique and clandestine communication method that allows us to transmit messages remotely without leaving the pass or entering the city, and without directly facing the guards' patrols. It is safe, secretive, and will never expose the identity of our spies. It is absolutely reliable!"

"Excellent!" Gongsun Yu's eyes flashed, and he decisively ordered, "Without delay, you immediately contact your spies inside the pass, conduct thorough inquiries, and verify information from multiple sources to thoroughly investigate the current morale, the soldiers' condition, and the strength of the defenses at Duanyun Pass. You must clearly verify whether the current collapse of morale is a genuine state of chaos or a deliberate fabrication by Xiao Yunche!"

"While the imperial edict has not yet been issued and the army has not yet begun its campaign, let us investigate all potential threats, ascertain all strengths and weaknesses, and eliminate all traps and schemes!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Tian Cheng solemnly accepted the order and dared not delay for even a moment. He immediately turned around and was about to leave the central command tent to contact his secret agents and verify intelligence.

Just then, a series of hurried and frantic footsteps suddenly rushed in from outside the tent!

A military captain, without even having time to announce his arrival through the tent flap, rushed in, his breath ragged, drenched in sweat, his face flushed, and his eyes brimming with extreme excitement and elation. He ran swiftly to the three men, bowed deeply, and reported in a trembling voice:

"General Qi Bing! Military Advisor Qi Bing! Great news! Incredible good news!!"

"A group of mysterious people have arrived at the gate of the army camp. They... they claim to be from the Yan Kingdom, and that they have personally escorted the captured Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty to the gate of our army camp!"

boom!

These few words resounded like thunder within the central command tent!

In an instant, Gongsun Yu, Murong Di, and Tian Cheng, who had been calm and thoughtful with solemn expressions, all trembled. Their pupils suddenly contracted, and all the calmness, prudence, and solemnity on their faces froze. They stood there dumbfounded!

The three faced each other, their eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and astonishment.

Before the true nature of the army's morale collapse could be ascertained, a shocking and unexpected piece of news suddenly arrived!

Emperor Daqian!

The emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, who resided in the deep palace and ruled over a vast empire, was actually taken to the Yan army camp by the people of Yan, a situation that affected the entire Great Qian Dynasty and the border war.

After a few breaths of stunned silence, Gongsun Yu was the first to recover from his extreme shock. His expression changed drastically, and he stopped talking about verifying intelligence and probing the truth. He made a decisive decision and shouted in a deep voice!

"General, this matter is of utmost importance. We must leave the camp immediately! We must personally welcome him and see for ourselves!"

At this moment, the chaotic state of morale within the army, where reality and illusion are indistinguishable, is no longer the most important aspect of the game.

The Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty is trapped in the enemy camp. This unexpected and powerful move, which has shaken the balance of power between the two countries, may change the current course of the war!