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

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the pungent smell of burnt blood from the battlefield remained strong and piercing.

The moment Su Mu's cold military order fell, the dozens of dark cannons lined up in formation trembled and roared once again!

Rumble!!!

A new wave of even more ferocious and intense artillery fire rained down!

Compared to the initial tentative bombardment, this round of bombardment was unrestrained and unleashed with full force.

Heavy cannonballs flew from the barrels, carrying crimson flames and sharp roars that tore through the sky, like falling fire from the heavens, densely raining down on the panicked and collapsing Yan army formation.

The continuous explosions shook the earth violently, causing rocks to fall from the cliffs on both sides of the valley, and the violent blasts of sand lifted high into the sky, obscuring the sun and moon.

This artillery barrage gave the Yan army no chance to catch their breath.

The Yan army's infantry formations, which had not yet completely collapsed at the front, were instantly engulfed by artillery fire.

The moment the shell hit the ground, a terrifying shockwave suddenly exploded in a ring, leaving nothing but barren land within a radius of several meters.

The hard earth was blasted into craters of varying depths, and scorched soil mixed with gravel and armor fragments flew everywhere.

The intense heat of the gunpowder flames instantly engulfed their bodies, the heavy iron armor quickly heated up and deformed under the high temperature, and the soldiers' uniforms instantly burst into flames.

The piercing, desperate screams pierced through the roar, echoing across the battlefield.

Some soldiers were thrown dozens of feet away by the blast wave, their bodies shattered in mid-air, and they landed lifeless, leaving only broken and twisted bodies.

Some soldiers were pierced through the body by flying shrapnel, their bodies riddled with holes and bleeding profusely. They lay in pools of blood, struggling desperately, watching their comrades die one after another, their hearts filled with endless despair.

Even worse, some were blown to pieces from the center, their flesh and blood mingling with the soil, leaving no intact corpse.

The hastily rebuilt shield array was completely destroyed in this round of bombardment.

The layers upon layers of tightly arranged heavy iron shields, once the bulwark of the Yan army that had swept across the battlefield and resisted thousands of troops, were now as fragile as paper in the face of the absolute power of the cannons.

With each impact of a shell and each sweep of explosions, dozens of heavy shields shattered, sending iron filings flying everywhere. The soldiers holding the shields were shaken so badly that their internal organs were ruptured, and they collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood.

The defensive line crumbled inch by inch, the military formation shattered piece by piece, corpses littered the ground, and blood soaked the yellow earth.

In just a few breaths, the Yan army's front line had become a living hell, and the tragic scene was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.

Chaos spread throughout the army, and fear, like a deadly poison, seeped into the hearts of every Yan soldier.

In the midst of the crisis, a furious shout suddenly rang out, forcefully drowning out the deafening roar of cannons and cries of agony!

"Don't panic! Everyone form ranks! Immediately begin defense! Hold the line!!"

Murong Di's eyes were bloodshot, his hair was disheveled, and his armor was covered in dust and bloodstains.

Seeing his army suffer repeated defeats and countless casualties, the Yan general was extremely anxious.

He gripped the cold iron spear tightly in his hand, veins bulging on his arm, and roared with all his might, directing the entire army to form shields and defend.

Seeing the soldiers fleeing in panic and the formation completely collapsing, he could no longer restrain himself. He spurred his horse and charged to the front line to stabilize the morale of the troops and defend the position to the death.

At this moment, the artillery fire was raging fiercely, with stray bullets flying and explosions occurring indiscriminately. The front line was already a place of certain death.

Upon seeing this, Gongsun Yu, the strategist of the Yan army who was watching from the rear, suddenly changed his expression and was greatly alarmed.

He knew that the Great Qian Cannon was incredibly powerful, with a wide-ranging impact, and that the explosions were unpredictable and unstoppable.

Ordinary soldiers on the front lines face a life-or-death situation. If the Yan army commander Murong Di were to rush forward rashly and be caught in the artillery fire, seriously wounded, or even killed, then this army of tens of thousands would be leaderless and completely annihilated on this spot, with no chance of turning the tide!

Upon realizing this, Gongsun Yu immediately turned his head and shouted sharply to Tian Cheng beside him:

"General Tian! Quickly! Stop General Murong immediately! We must not let him put himself in danger!"

Tian Cheng was also terrified at this moment. Upon hearing this, he dared not hesitate for a moment, and immediately spurred his horse forward, shouting loudly:

"General! You must not advance! It's dangerous! Retreat immediately!"

The horses galloped swiftly, the wind whistling as Tian Cheng spurred his horse to catch up with the unstoppable Murong Di. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the reins tightly, forcefully bringing the galloping warhorse to a halt.

"General! The front lines are ablaze with artillery fire, and the danger is immense. As the commander-in-chief, you must not go to such a perilous place! Preserve your life so you can fight again!"

Murong Di struggled fiercely, his eyes bloodshot: "Let me go! The entire army has been routed. If I retreat, who will defend the pass to the death! How can we hand Duan Yun Pass back to the Great Qian Dynasty so easily!"

No matter how much he screamed and struggled, Tian Cheng refused to let go, desperately blocking him behind the central army, preventing him from stepping into the certain death zone covered by artillery fire.

Meanwhile, under Murong Di's forceful reprimands and the suppression of the remaining officers, the panicked Yan army barely managed to regroup and form a thick shield formation once again, layer upon layer, attempting to withstand the bombardment of the Daqian cannons with the strongest defense and hold the line.

All the Yan soldiers gritted their teeth, holding their heavy shields tightly, with a last glimmer of hope remaining in their hearts.

They did not believe that there were truly invincible weapons of war, nor did they believe that human strength was ultimately no match for foreign objects!

But in the next instant, a new round of shells crashed down!

Rumble!!!

Another deafening roar!

The intense heat of the explosion slammed into the shield formation of the Yan army.

There was no earth-shattering collision, no tense resistance or pulling, only a devastating crushing!

Countless heavy iron shields shattered instantly, sending fragments of iron flying everywhere!

The seemingly impregnable shield wall crumbled and crumbled under the power of artillery!

The violent shockwave pierced through layers of shields and armor, slamming heavily onto the soldiers' bodies.

The dozens of shield-bearing soldiers in the front row were instantly shaken, coughing up blood, their bones breaking, their bodies going limp and collapsing, instantly losing their breath.

Soldiers in the back row were injured by flying shards, their bodies covered in blood, and their screams echoed incessantly.

The round of gunfire ended, and the dust settled.

In just a short while, the Yan army suffered nearly 10,000 casualties from the relentless bombing!

Corpses were piled up everywhere, and blood flowed down the terrain, soaking the entire position.

The Yan soldiers who had survived by sheer luck were covered in blood and dust. They watched as their comrades, who had been with them day and night, turned into corpses in an instant. They saw their desperately constructed defenses crumble at the slightest sign of hope and fighting spirit.

Utter despair instantly enveloped the entire army!

It is unknown who first let out a desperate scream, which completely ignited everyone's fear.

"This isn't a weapon! It's sorcery! It's the sorcery of the Great Qian Dynasty! We can't stop it at all!!"

"It's useless! All defenses are futile! We're just standing here to die!"

"We can't get close at all! We can only take the hits! It's so hopeless! Run! Run for your life!"

Desperate cries rose and fell, instantly spreading throughout the entire Yan army.

The morale of the troops, which had been barely stabilized, completely collapsed!

The vanguard battalion was the first to collapse. Countless soldiers disregarded military discipline and orders, throwing away their swords, spears, and shields, abandoning their armor and weapons, and fleeing in a frenzy.

Their faces were deathly pale, their souls nearly leaving their bodies; all they wanted was to escape this inferno of gunfire.

Once the vanguard battalion collapsed, it was like a domino effect, with the chain reaction spreading instantly throughout the entire army.

Upon seeing this, none of the Yan soldiers in the central and rear armies dared to defend their positions.

Everyone was filled with endless fear, and they all turned and ran wildly, fleeing frantically towards Duanyun Pass behind them.

Tens of thousands of Yan soldiers were routed!

"Hold on tight! No one's allowed to escape!!"

"All troops, form ranks! Hold your ground to the death! Anyone who dares to desert will be executed without mercy!!"

Murong Di's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared fiercely, holding a spear, using all his strength to shout and stop him. His bloodshot eyes were full of resentment and rage.

But by this time, the Yan soldiers had already been terrified by the artillery fire.

The fear of death is deeply ingrained in everyone's heart. Military orders and military law become worthless in the face of extreme life-or-death crises.

No one looked back, no one stopped; everyone was focused on running wildly, rushing towards Duanyun Pass, desperate to survive and escape this terrifying battlefield.

No matter how Murong Di roared and shouted, the rout of the army could not be stopped. The defeat was inevitable and irreversible!

Opposite them, within the Great Qian army formation.

Tens of thousands of Daqian soldiers looked at the one-sided battle situation before them, and saw the Yan army fleeing in disarray and in complete disarray. All the pent-up frustration and indignation in their hearts were released, replaced by extreme excitement and ecstasy!

Two hours ago, the Yan army's iron cavalry broke through the pass, staining Duanyun Pass with blood. The Daqian defenders fought valiantly but suffered heavy casualties. In the end, they had no choice but to lose the pass and watch helplessly as their home and country's strategic pass fell into enemy hands. The entire army was filled with grief and indignation, and their morale was extremely low.

No one could have imagined that the situation would be completely reversed in just a few hours!

With the unparalleled artillery brought by Su Mu, they tore apart the defenses of tens of thousands of Yan troops, causing the enemy to collapse and flee in disarray!

The young and fierce general Zhou Lin, his eyes bloodshot, gripped his spear tightly, unable to conceal the surging passion in his heart, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:

"Who could have imagined! Just two hours ago, our army suffered a crushing defeat and lost Duanyun Pass! Now, we have turned the tide, pursued the Yan bandits, and are about to recapture the pass! To witness such a battle in one's lifetime is truly magnificent!"

The soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty around him raised their arms and shouted, their cheers rising and falling, echoing across the fields!

"A resounding victory! Our army has won a great victory!"

"Old Su is mighty! The artillery is mighty!"

"Retake Duanyun Pass! Slay the Yan traitors!"

A deafening cheer echoed through the valley, and the morale of the entire Daqian army soared to the heavens!

Xiao Yunche stood at the front of the formation, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his deep eyes fixed on the chaotic and fleeing Yan army, and on Murong Di's figure.

His eyes churned with intense bloodlust and extreme hatred, and a chilling aura of murderous intent erupted from his body.

When Duanyun Pass fell, countless brothers who guarded the border were stained with blood on the battlefield and buried in the yellow earth!

Countless comrades fought and died on the battlefield! He has endured this deep-seated hatred to this day, keeping it etched in his heart!

Today, the situation has reversed, the enemy has fled, and the opportunity for revenge has finally arrived!

He clenched his fists, his chest filled with a surging fighting spirit, waiting only for the order to lead his troops in a charge, to personally kill the enemy, and to avenge the fallen border soldiers!

Xiao Yunchuan, Xiao Yichun, Xiao Yidong, and other core generals also had burning eyes, gripped their weapons tightly, and were filled with fighting spirit.

All eyes were fixed on the routed Yan army ahead, holding their breath and waiting for Su Mu's order to attack.

They knew that the tide had turned and the decisive blow was about to be delivered!

In the center of the battlefield, smoke billowed everywhere.

Su Mu stood calmly before the formation, his posture outstanding and his eyes piercing!

He coldly surveyed the Yan army ahead, who were fleeing in disarray, their armor and weapons discarded. His eyes were devoid of any emotion, only a chilling indifference.

The enemy's morale was completely shattered, their formation had collapsed, and they were at their last gasp; the tide had turned completely against them!

The time is ripe!

Su Mu slowly raised his hand and grasped the Dragon-Slaying Saber he carried on his back!

Clang!

A crisp, sharp metallic clang pierced the sky!

A burst of icy light suddenly erupted, and a chilling blade aura swept across the land, causing the surrounding sandstorm to abruptly stop and the world to become desolate!

The Dragon-Slaying Saber is drawn from its sheath, its sharpness unparalleled, awe-inspiring and terrifying!

Holding the peerless treasured sword, Su Mu took a step in mid-air, his figure gracefully soaring into the air, and landed steadily on the back of the magnificent white Akhal-Teke horse.

The horse raised its head and neighed, its voice shaking the heavens, exuding unparalleled power!

Facing the swirling sandstorm and watching the defeated and fleeing Yan army, Su Mu raised the Dragon-Slaying Saber high, his voice like thunder, resounding throughout the heavens and the entire battlefield!

"Great Qian soldiers, heed my command!"

"All troops, charge! Kill the enemy!"

"Kill the Yan army! Reclaim our great Qian lands! Recapture Duanyun Pass!!"

The resounding military orders, each word carrying immense weight, shook the mountains and rivers, and resonated throughout the land!

"kill!!!"

A deafening battle cry erupted instantly!

The pent-up fighting spirit of tens of thousands of Daqian soldiers erupted completely!

Xiao Yunche had been waiting for a long time. Upon hearing this, he instantly mounted his horse, grabbed his spear, and darted out, leading his group of former border generals. He took the lead and charged straight into the enemy formation!

Generals such as Xiao Yunchuan, Shen Luotang, Wang Yang, and Zhou Lin followed closely behind!

The thunderous hooves trampled the yellow earth!

Tens of thousands of iron cavalry charged out, their armor gleaming, their swords and spears gleaming in the sun, their overwhelming killing intent soaring into the sky!

The vanguard cavalry of the Great Qian army moved with incredible speed, like a surging torrent of steel, instantly plunging into the chaotic ranks of the fleeing Yan army!

At this moment, the Yan army had lost all will to fight, their formation was in chaos, and their morale was low. They could not even form the most basic defensive formation.

Faced with the Daqian elite troops, whose morale was high, whose fighting spirit was boiling, and who were fully equipped for the charge, they were like lambs to the slaughter, powerless to resist!

The Great Qian cavalry charged into the enemy ranks, slaughtering indiscriminately!

A cold glint flashed, swords and spears rose and fell, and blood splattered everywhere!

One by one, the panicked Yan soldiers were knocked away by the iron cavalry, slashed to death by long swords, and pierced through the chest by long spears!

The soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty were all fearless and vented their pent-up hatred for lost territory and grudges against their comrades. Every strike was fierce and ruthless, and every move was deadly!

Some Yan soldiers, in their panic, tried to fight back with their swords, but their minds were shattered, their hands and feet trembled, and their moves were chaotic and disorganized. As soon as they engaged in combat, the Daqian soldiers chopped off their heads with a single blow, and they fell to the ground dead, blood gushing out.

Some soldiers were so frightened that they dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy, but on the battlefield, the defeated are not spared!

The soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty fought relentlessly to reclaim their lost territories and pay tribute to the dead, wiping out all the remaining enemies.

There were also a large number of routed Yan soldiers huddled together, with pursuers in front and the lingering effects of artillery fire behind. With nowhere to escape, they could only flee in panic, pushing and trampling each other, resulting in countless deaths and injuries!

The entire battlefield is completely one-sided!

The Yan army suffered a crushing defeat, retreating in disarray with corpses strewn across the battlefield.

Countless remnants of the army fled in disarray, desperately trying to escape into Duanyun Pass. Their former arrogance and domineering attitude when invading the territory of Daqian had vanished, leaving only endless disarray and fear!

The sounds of fighting, screams, hoofbeats, and clashing weapons mingled together, echoing throughout the mountains and rivers!

In the rear, Gongsun Yu, standing on his horse in the central army of the Yan army, looked at the completely defeated and hopeless battle before him. His face was pale, and his eyes were full of bitterness and despair.

Having fought on the battlefield for many years and being proficient in strategy and tactics, he had never seen such an unsolvable battle situation.

It wasn't that the soldiers were cowardly, nor that the command was flawed, but rather that the enemy possessed terrifying weaponry that was beyond all comprehension of the world at that time!

Once the artillery is unleashed, no formation can withstand it, and no defense can stand against it. In the end, human strength is no match for the power of nature!

Continuing to fight to the death will only lead to the complete annihilation of tens of thousands of Yan soldiers, leaving no survivors!

With this thought in mind, Gongsun Yu made a decision instantly.

The only course of action now is to cut our losses and withdraw our troops decisively!

First, lead the remaining troops to retreat from Duanyun Pass and defend the Yan Kingdom's homeland. Then, quickly send the earth-shattering news that Daqian possesses such terrifying and unparalleled weapons as cannons back to the Yan Kingdom's capital, inform the Yan Emperor, and let the court decide on the subsequent strategy for the conquest!

Otherwise, all of Yan's subsequent invasion plans against Daqian will be self-destructive!

Having made up his mind, Gongsun Yu immediately spurred his horse and rushed to Murong Di's side. Looking at his commander, whose face was full of resentment and whose eyes were bloodshot, he earnestly advised him in a deep voice:

"General! The situation is hopeless! Our army has suffered a crushing defeat and has no strength left to fight! Continuing to hold out will only lead to the annihilation of the entire army!"

"There is no time to lose! Immediately order a retreat! Preserve the remaining forces, withdraw from Duanyun Pass, return to Yan territory, and then devise a plan!"

Murong Di gazed at the horrific battlefield before him, at the sight of his soldiers dying in disarray and fleeing in a frenzy, and his heart swelled with rage and resentment!

He commanded tens of thousands of elite troops and occupied strategic passes, which allowed him to advance unimpeded and crush the Daqian garrison. He never imagined that he would suffer such a crushing defeat!

Frustration, anger, resentment, disbelief—a myriad of emotions swirled within him, nearly crushing him!

But looking at the corpses scattered everywhere and the rout of the army, and watching the Great Qian cavalry slaughter and advance step by step, all the struggles and resentment eventually turned into a powerless desolation.

He had to admit: they had been utterly defeated in this battle!

After a long while, Murong Di closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently, and with all his might, in a hoarse voice, issued the most humiliating order to withdraw his troops!

"The entire army...withdraw from Duanyun Pass!!"