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

As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, its golden rays bathed the vast and desolate southern border road in a fiery crimson.

The endless official road stretched towards the distant mountains, dust flying and horses' hooves thundering. A well-armored and solemn army of the Great Qian Dynasty was marching south day and night.

The ranks stretched for miles, the soldiers' armor gleaming coldly in the setting sun, their steps firm and resounding. Every soldier was covered in dust, yet they stood tall and maintained strict discipline, with not a single one slacking off or dawdling.

In the center of the army, a white-haired, vigorous old general sat atop a white horse.

This person is none other than Su Mu, the Great Qian Dynasty's War God and the Grand Marshal who led the southern expedition.

Su Mu was dressed in dark red and gold armor. Although he was over a hundred years old, his back was still as straight as a pine tree, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle. The experience of many battles gave him a majestic aura that was not angry but imposing.

The white hair fluttered in the evening breeze, contrasting with the crimson armor, conveying both the vicissitudes of time and the heroic bearing of a general.

In this southern expedition to reinforce Duanyun Pass, Su Mu coordinated the entire army.

Three young generals were appointed as the vanguard, each leading a different unit of the vanguard.

The leader was none other than the sixth prince of the current dynasty, Xiao Yunchuan. The other two were the Xiao brothers, Xiao Yichun and Xiao Yidong, elite members of a collateral branch of the Xiao family.

Among the group, there were several elegant yet heroic figures who attracted particular attention.

Su Mu's granddaughter, Su Qingxue, was dressed in a light, silver-white outfit, with a long sword at her waist. She had a dashing figure and a cool, aloof look.

Following closely beside Su Qingxue were the Xiao sisters, Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi.

The two women walked side by side, dressed in green with their hair tied up, each carrying a sword. They possessed a calm demeanor and agile skills, both being rare female elites in the army. They were accompanying their master to the southern frontier to fight together on the battlefield.

The Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, did not accompany the army.

With the nation in peril and the Emperor of the Great Qian trapped in enemy territory, the court and the country were in turmoil. The court could not be without important officials from the imperial family to take charge.

Xiao Jingyu then remained in the capital, temporarily acting as emperor to oversee the country, presiding over all government affairs, stabilizing the court, appeasing civil and military officials, coordinating the rear's food and military supplies, and ensuring the stability of the frontline army and the overall situation.

Soldiers at the front fought valiantly to defend the border, while princes at the rear guarded the imperial court. Working together, they aimed to repel the Yan invaders and bring peace to the land of Daqian.

……

The army marched tirelessly day and night, enduring wind and rain and traveling without rest for several days, leaving the soldiers physically and mentally exhausted.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded, the evening breeze brought a chill to the mountains. The terrain along the official road ahead gradually leveled out, making it a suitable place for troops to rest and recuperate.

"If we continue to force our way forward, the soldiers will become exhausted and the horses will be weak, which will be detrimental to the subsequent march and battle."

"In my humble opinion, it would be best to set up camp here, rest for the night, and conserve our energy before setting off south again tomorrow morning. That would be the safest course of action."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu slowly reined in the white horse.

The horse stopped, kicking up a light dust.

He looked up at the setting sun in the west, watched the twilight deepen in the distance, and then glanced at the slightly tired but still orderly military formation stretching for miles behind him. A hint of compassion and composure flashed in his eyes.

After days of rapid marching, with no one in the entire army resting, they had indeed exhausted their physical strength.

In military operations, the worst thing to do is to exhaust the troops during the march or when they are exhausted before engaging the enemy. Only by resting and regrouping can the enemy be defeated in one battle.

After a moment's thought, Su Mu nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "What you say makes sense."

"The soldiers have been on a long march for days and are exhausted. They definitely need to rest and recharge."

"Pass down the order: the entire army shall remain in place, set up camp, prepare food, and rest well. At dawn tomorrow, we shall immediately break camp and set off to provide reinforcements without delay."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Xiao Yichun and Xiao Yidong immediately accepted the order, dismounted, and rushed to the ranks of the troops to convey the orders in an orderly manner.

The military order was relayed down the ranks, and the well-organized army quickly came to a halt.

Tens of thousands of soldiers moved skillfully and had a clear division of labor, each performing their duties such as setting up tents, moving supplies, gathering firewood, and feeding warhorses.

An hour later, rows of neat military tents were erected along the official road, with wisps of smoke rising and spreading into the twilight. The once bustling marching road gradually transformed into a peaceful and orderly temporary military camp.

The main camp of the central army was quickly set up.

……

The lights inside the tent were lit, dispelling the twilight.

Su Mu stood alone in front of the long table in the tent, on which a detailed map of the southern border was spread out, clearly marking the mountains, passes, counties, and terrain of both sides.

He bent down, his fingertips resting on the location of Duanyun Pass, carefully examining it. His brows furrowed as he secretly deduced the battle situation.

The main force of the Yan army is pressing in, intending to capture Duanyun Pass. Xiao Yunche is guarding the pass in the face of danger and is holding the line alone. I wonder what the situation is at the pass at this moment, and whether a major battle has already begun.

Can Xiao Yunche hold off the main force of the Yan army and defend Duanyun Pass?

Every second counts in the journey to provide reinforcements. He must plan the marching route and reinforcement formation in advance, and calculate the timing of arrival so that the army can join the battle immediately upon arrival and break the deadlock in one fell swoop.

The Sixth Prince, Xiao Yunchuan, stood quietly to one side of the tent, his posture upright and his aura calm, without uttering a word, silently guarding the place.

Knowing that his master should not be disturbed when he is strategizing, he stood quietly by his side, his eyes full of respect, waiting for Su Mu to finish his thoughts.

A moment later, the curtains fluttered slightly, and two tall figures entered side by side.

The brothers Xiao Yichun and Xiao Yidong stepped into the main tent, their clothes still covered in dust from the journey. With respectful expressions, they bowed and reported in unison, "Elder Su, the entire army is settled! The tents of each camp are set up, the food and water are all in place, the soldiers are already cooking, and the horses are all being fed and rested. Everything in the army is in good order, without any oversights."

Su Mu looked up upon hearing this, collected his thoughts, nodded slightly, and said calmly, "Very good. Let the soldiers rest and recuperate, eat their fill, and conserve their strength. We will set off at dawn tomorrow and head to Duanyun Pass at full speed."

"Yes," the two replied in unison.

Su Mu raised his hand, gesturing for the two brothers to step forward. His gaze swept over them as he slowly asked, "Have you two brothers ever set foot in the Southern Frontier, and even reached this Broken Cloud Pass?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichun and Xiao Yidong exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads slightly with a hint of melancholy on their faces.

Xiao Yichun cupped his hands and replied, "Replying to Elder Su, my brother and I have been stationed on the border of the East China Sea since we joined the army as young men. We have been defending the seas against pirates and protecting the peace of the sea frontier for many years. We have spent half our lives with the rivers and seas."

"We have never set foot in the mountains, passes, and important border towns of southern Xinjiang. We have only heard of Duanyun Pass but never seen it. We are completely unfamiliar with the terrain and defenses of this place."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yunchuan, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly, "Master, your disciple has been to Duanyun Pass!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Yunchuan is still young, yet he has been to the remote and dangerous Duanyun Pass?

With a hint of curiosity in his eyes, Su Mu asked gently, "You've been there? Tell me about it in detail."

Xiao Yunchuan scratched his head, a somewhat awkward smile on his face, and slowly explained, "Reporting to Master, that was two years ago."

"At that time, the affairs of the palace were peaceful and there was nothing of great importance. I stayed in the palace every day and missed my third brother Xiao Yunche very much."

Unable to bear the longing any longer, he quietly bid farewell to the palace and rode away alone, traveling south all the way to the border of Jingzhou.

"After arriving in Jingzhou, I followed my third brother to travel through the three border prefectures, traversing mountains and passes, including this Duanyun Pass."

"I stayed at the pass for several days and saw the terrain and layout of the pass with my own eyes."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu immediately perked up, leaning forward slightly with a solemn expression. He quickly pressed on, "Since you've come here in person, tell me, what is the terrain like at Duan Yun Pass? What are the city's defenses and garrison conditions like? If tens of thousands of Yan troops launch a strong attack on this pass, can Xiao Yunche hold out?"