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

The bowstring vibrated violently, its buzzing sound piercing the vast twilight!

The jet-black, sharp, armor-piercing heavy arrows were released from the bowstring, carrying a powerful gust of wind that tore through the air, like a black thunderbolt that instantly ripped apart the open field between the two armies!

The arrows were incredibly fast, arriving in an instant, carrying an indomitable and chilling killing intent as they charged straight toward the prison cart in front of the formation!

On the vast wilderness beyond the pass, Murong Di, who had just calmed himself down and was on high alert, suddenly felt an extreme sense of fear flash across his eyes the moment the arrow pierced the air!

Just a second ago, he was certain that Xiao Yunche's target was him, and he was on high alert, focusing his attention on defending his vital points.

But in just a moment, he keenly noticed the deviation in the arrow's trajectory!

This arrow was swift and decisive, as powerful as thunder. It was not aimed at the Yan commander-in-chief who was surrounded by guards, but at Emperor Xiao Jinghuan of the Great Qian Dynasty, who was in a prison cart and had no defense whatsoever!

"not good!"

In the blink of an eye, Murong Di was greatly shocked and roared in a hoarse voice!

Despite all his calculations, he never expected Xiao Yunche to be so insane, willing to personally attack his own father, completely severing the ties between the ruler and his subject and ending the hostage threat!

The arrows were now within arm's reach, less than a few feet from the prison cart. There was no time to call for reinforcements or raise shields to block them!

In this critical moment, Murong Di reacted with extreme urgency.

His eyes were bloodshot. Without thinking, he suddenly exerted force in his wrist, and the iron spear he was holding was suddenly swept out horizontally. The veins on his arm bulged, and he used all his strength to push hard against the wooden bars of the prison cart next to him!

"boom!"

The spear shaft slammed heavily against the cold iron prison cart, the immense force instantly impacting it.

However, the ability to leverage external forces is ultimately limited.

This forceful push ultimately failed to completely move the prison van, only managing to shift the heavy van slightly to the side by half an inch on the gravel ground!

It was this mere half-inch difference between life and death that changed Xiao Jinghuan's fate!

The next instant, the sharp sound of something cutting through the air came to a stop!

"Pfft!"

A dull yet piercing sound suddenly rang out!

The incredibly sharp armor-piercing arrow avoided the vital spot in Xiao Jinghuan's heart, but pierced through Xiao Jinghuan's left shoulder with perfect accuracy!

The cold arrow pierced through flesh and tore through bones, carrying immense force as it emerged from his back. Blood gushed out instantly, staining the magnificent yet tattered dragon robe crimson, dripping continuously down the fabric and crashing into the dust on the ground.

"Ugh!"

A sharp, piercing pain shot through him, and Xiao Jinghuan, caught off guard, shuddered violently, letting out a agonizing cry. He staggered and crashed into the iron bars of the prison cart, his fingers gripping the cold metal frame tightly, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Blood gushed out, instantly soaking half of his body; it was a shocking and extremely gruesome sight!

The world fell into a deathly silence in an instant!

On the city wall of Duanyun Pass, the pupils of tens of thousands of Daqian soldiers suddenly contracted, their breathing stopped abruptly, their bodies stiffened, and their minds went blank!

The autumn wind howled past, but it could not dispel the extreme shock and horror.

Everyone stared intently at the scene of the prison van outside the pass, their eyes wide open, their faces filled with disbelief, and their hearts were filled with a tremendous shock!

No one expected it, and no one dared to imagine it!

The Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, whom they revered like a god and swore to serve to the death, was actually shot through the shoulder by Xiao Yunche, the third prince of the dynasty and the commander-in-chief guarding the border!

He personally shot and killed his father!

This scene overturned everyone's understanding and shattered everyone's mind!

The Yan army formation outside the pass was also in an uproar. The 100,000 soldiers were instantly agitated. Their original confidence in victory was completely disrupted by this crazy and resolute scene!

Tian Cheng's face turned deathly pale, his mind reeling. Without a moment's hesitation, he abruptly dismounted and galloped wildly toward the prison cart ahead, his steps frantic and chaotic.

Only one thought remained in his mind...

Oh no, something terrible has happened!

Xiao Jinghuan was a key pawn that the Prince of Yan had meticulously planned and painstakingly captured. He was the biggest bargaining chip for controlling the three armies of Daqian and manipulating the situation in the southern border region, and his value was immeasurable!

This person absolutely cannot die!

If the Emperor of Daqian were to perish here today, even if the Yan army were to eventually break through Duanyun Pass and win this war in the southern border, he and Murong Di, as the frontline commanders, would certainly not escape severe punishment from the Prince of Yan. At best, they would be dismissed from their posts; at worst, they would be punished and beheaded!

Upon realizing this, Tian Cheng felt a chill run down his spine and was filled with unease.

Behind the prison cart, Gongsun Yu, who had been calmly observing from the sidelines, suddenly changed color, his mind in turmoil. He shouted urgently, "Army physician! Quickly, go forward and treat the Emperor of Daqian! Hurry!!"

Several military doctors, carrying medicine kits and on standby, dared not delay and scrambled out of the ranks, rushing towards the prison cart.

Inside the prison cart, Li Fuquan, who served him closely, was already terrified and pale as a ghost.

Seeing his emperor with a gaping hole in his shoulder, blood gushing out, and barely breathing, he instantly broke down in tears, collapsing onto the iron bars and crying out in anguish, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, hold on! How are you! Please don't die, Your Majesty!"

The heart-wrenching cries echoed across the wilderness, adding to the tragic chaos.

In the chaos, Murong Di forcibly suppressed his shock, his eyes flashing with a sharp intensity, and he roared, "All front-line shield bearers, form ranks! Encircle the prison wagons! Beware of arrows from the city walls!!"

He was filled with shock, anger, and dread.

Who can guarantee that Xiao Yunche won't shoot a second or third arrow to completely kill Xiao Jinghuan and eliminate future troubles!

As soon as the order was given, hundreds of heavily armored shield soldiers in the front ranks of the Yan Kingdom sprang into action. Holding thick, black iron shields, they quickly formed a dense, impenetrable steel barrier in front of the prison cart, protecting Xiao Jinghuan behind them and preventing any possibility of him being shot a second time.

In the cold wind, Xiao Jinghuan, who had a severe wound through his shoulder, was unable to support himself and swayed precariously, coughing incessantly.

"Cough cough...cough..."

Each cough aggravated his severe shoulder injury, causing excruciating pain from the torn tendons and bones. His body convulsed, blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and his face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. He looked utterly wretched and miserable.

Tian Cheng rushed to the prison cart, pried open the iron bars, and anxiously checked the injuries. The moment he saw where the arrow had pierced through, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly settled down, and he let out a long sigh of relief. His back was already completely soaked with cold sweat.

He quickly turned around and loudly reported back to Murong Di, who was standing at attention not far away:

"General! Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"

"The arrow pierced his left shoulder, avoiding his heart, throat, and all other vital organs!"

"Although the injuries are severe and the blood loss is considerable, the Emperor's life is not in immediate danger! If the General hadn't pushed the prison cart aside by half an inch in his haste, this arrow would have pierced His Majesty's heart, and he would surely have died on the spot!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Di's tense body relaxed slightly, but the chill and apprehension in his heart grew stronger, almost completely engulfing him.

He stared intently at the towering figure atop Duanyun Pass, his eyes swirling with shock, anger, fear, and disbelief.

He had fought for half his life, facing countless powerful enemies. He had seen fierce generals who were not afraid of death and cunning strategists, but he had never seen a ruthless person like Xiao Yunche!

In order to defend the city, stabilize the morale of the army, and win the battle, this man was able to kill his own father, the emperor, without hesitation!

For the greater good of the nation, he was willing to abandon his blood relatives, his sovereign and father, and sever all ties!

At this moment, Murong Di completely saw through Xiao Yunche's trump card.

This person has no father, no ruler, no personal feelings, and no weaknesses!

In his eyes, there was never a captured emperor, only the vast land of the Great Qian Dynasty, the responsibility of guarding it on his shoulders, and the thousands of soldiers behind him!

His supposedly foolproof psychological warfare strategy, which he was so proud of and thought he had a sure-fire victory, turned out to be so vulnerable and laughable in the face of Xiao Yunche's extreme decisiveness!

Thinking back to how he had mocked, manipulated, and threatened others in front of the enemy, Murong Di felt a burning pain on his face. He felt like a clown trying to attract attention and jumping around in vain. All his plans had failed and all his preparations had been wasted!

Atop the city walls, deathly silence still lingered.

Tens of thousands of Daqian soldiers stood there dumbfounded, all their eyes fixed on Xiao Yunche, their shock lingering for a long time.

They were terrified, shocked, and bewildered, but there was not a trace of blame or resentment.

Everyone finally understood His Highness's intention!

Your Highness's arrow was not a regicide or a rebellious act, but a breakthrough and a severing of the shackles!

The emperor's capture was the army's greatest weakness, its greatest burden, and its greatest constraint!

As long as Xiao Jinghuan remains in the hands of the Yan people, they will be hesitant and restrained, fearing to act rashly or retreat if they fight, thus incurring the infamy of murdering their emperor. Their morale will never be at peace, and their fighting strength will never be fully unleashed!

Xiao Yunche's decisive arrow, seemingly treasonous, actually severed the shackles that had been weighing on the entire army!

They sacrificed the life of a tyrannical emperor to save tens of thousands of soldiers, the southern border cities, and the entire Great Qian dynasty!

At this moment, all the confusion, worries, and fears in the hearts of the soldiers vanished!

The army's morale was shattered in a single day!

Xiao Yunche coldly surveyed the chaotic Yan army below, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers beside him who still looked shocked. His voice was firm and resounding, each word echoing across the city wall and reaching the ears of every soldier!

"Brothers!"

"You must be wondering why I personally shot and killed the reigning emperor, my own father!"

"Today, I will tell everyone the truth!"

His tone was frank and unyielding, without the slightest concealment; every word resonated with conviction, and he spoke with a clear conscience: "The current emperor, Xiao Jinghuan, is indulging in sensual pleasures, favoring treacherous concubines, and blindly trusting sycophantic officials. The court is utterly corrupt, and his oppressive policies disturb the people and wreak havoc on the government!"

"He was ambitious, stubborn, and disregarded the safety of the nation and the suffering of the people. He made several wrong decisions, depleting the national treasury and causing heavy losses to his soldiers. He was already a tyrannical ruler who brought chaos to the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Such a foolish and incompetent ruler, who has ruined the country and its people, is not worthy of the loyalty of our thousands of soldiers, nor is he worthy of the destruction of our vast land!"

"His current predicament, trapped in enemy territory and a prisoner, is not due to bad luck, but rather a deserved punishment, a consequence of his own actions!"

His words, spoken frankly and truthfully, instantly calmed the turmoil in the hearts of all the soldiers.

Xiao Yunche continued to shout, reassuring the entire army and boosting morale: "Gentlemen, there is no need to be alarmed! There is no need to worry!"

"Our Great Qian Dynasty is not currently leaderless or in chaos!"

"The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, was appointed by the late Emperor's dying wish and recommended by the officials to reside in the capital, preside over the court, and stabilize the overall situation!"

"Furthermore, the War God Su Mu, wielding immense military power, guards the capital region, deterring all surrounding nations and stabilizing the morale of the court and the army! All officials in the court are of one mind and perform their duties diligently, ensuring a stable court and a peaceful nation, free from rebellion and turmoil!"

"That's not all! I had already sent word to the capital that the imperial reinforcements are traveling day and night to the southern border and will arrive at Duanyun Pass soon to join forces with us to defend against the enemy!"

"Today, all we need to do is defend the city gates and fight fiercely to hold off the main force of the Yan army! Once reinforcements arrive, we can launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, annihilating the invading Yan army and displaying the might of our Great Qian Dynasty!"

The powerful words, like a reassuring pill, struck the hearts of all the soldiers!

The morale of the troops, which had been crumbling and wavering, rapidly coalesced, reshaped, and rose again at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Yes!

If even princes can set aside personal feelings for their biological fathers and sever the shackles between ruler and subject for the sake of the country, what reason do they, as soldiers guarding the border, wearing armor and bearing the weight of their country, have to be timid and hesitant?

The ruler is a foolish one, and the country is a family and a nation!

What they are protecting is not just a single ruler, but the vast land and the common people!

"Defend the city gates to the death! Repel the enemy with our lives!"

Someone roared first, and the next second, tens of thousands of soldiers raised their arms and shouted in unison!

The roar surged into the sky once more, powerful and earth-shaking!

The previously low morale was swept away, replaced by an indomitable and fearless fighting spirit!

The morale of the troops has been completely rebuilt, and their fighting spirit has reached its peak!

On the city wall, Xiao Yunche's gaze was sharp as he looked down at Murong Di, who was furious and had a livid face. A cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips as his voice rang out, carrying an extreme sense of crushing power and ridicule!

"Murong Di! Thank you, Yan State, for intervening and trapping the tyrannical ruler for my Great Qian, and for clearing away obstacles to the state!"

"My arrow today has crippled the tyrant's fighting ability, leaving him with a sliver of life. I'll trouble you to look after him!"

"If he's still alive, then I'll trouble you to finish him off and put an end to this corrupt and incompetent ruler! From this day forward, our Great Qian Dynasty will have no more Xiao Jinghuan!"

These words completely shattered Murong Di's last line of defense!

humiliation!

Utter humiliation!

After scheming and meticulous planning, and holding unparalleled advantages, he not only failed to shake the opponent in the slightest, but also helped the opponent stabilize their morale and clear obstacles, becoming the biggest joke of the whole event!

Murong Di's chest heaved violently, his murderous aura surged, his eyes turned bloodshot, and his heart burned with rage!

He had fought on the battlefield for many years, and never before had he felt so frustrated, so humiliated, or so furious!

Seeing his commander's furious expression, Tian Cheng cautiously stepped forward and whispered, "General, Xiao Yunche has completely disregarded the emperor's life and death. Our hostages have become completely ineffective and have no further leverage. Now... what should we do?"

Murong Di gritted his teeth, the last trace of forbearance in his eyes shattered completely, and his overwhelming fighting spirit and rage erupted!

He suddenly raised his hand, let out a sharp snort, his voice icy and piercing, carrying a do-or-die determination!

"The chips are worthless; psychological warfare is useless!"

"Since negotiation is useless and coercion is ineffective, there's no need to waste any more words!"

"All troops, listen to my command!"

"Take Xiao Jinghuan back to the rear medical camp, treat him with all your might, and keep him under strict guard!"

"The three armies shall array themselves and attack the city immediately!"

"Today, I will spare no expense to raze Duanyun Pass to the ground!!"

At a single command, a thunderous bugle call suddenly resounded across the vast southern frontier!

"Woo! Woo! Woo!"

The desolate and urgent siege horn pierced the twilight sky, penetrated the howling wind, and resounded throughout the ranks of 100,000 Yan soldiers!

The deep, resonant war drums followed closely behind, thundering loudly!

"Knock knock knock! Knock knock knock!"

The drumbeats were rapid, dense, heavy, and powerful, each one striking the heart and igniting a sense of violence!

The 100,000 Yan troops outside the pass moved instantly!

The long spears stood tall, waving wildly like battle flags at sea. The dark mass of armored soldiers marched forward, their footsteps so synchronized that they shook the earth.

Murong Di rode his horse across the center of the army, holding a long spear, pointing directly at the towering Duanyun Pass, and shouted at the top of his lungs as he fiercely gave the order!

"All troops, launch an attack! A full-scale assault on Duanyun Pass!!"