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

The passageway inside Duanyun Pass has now been transformed into a complete hell on earth.

The narrow pass is inherently cramped and interconnected, serving as the only vital passage for entering and exiting Duanyun Pass.

Previously, the Yan army had suffered a crushing defeat, and tens of thousands of remnants of the army were scrambling to escape into the pass. Behind them, the iron cavalry of the Daqian army were pursuing them relentlessly, while in front, soldiers were crowding and colliding, completely blocking the narrow passage.

After the fighting and defeat, the entire passage was a scene of utter devastation and devastation.

The thick loess road surface was completely soaked with blood. Layers of blood pooled in the depressions, forming dark red blood pools. Stepping on it was sticky and slippery, with blood on every step.

Corpses were piled up everywhere, on both sides of the road, at the foot of the city wall, and at the corners of the passageway.

There were Yan soldiers with their heads separated from their bodies and their limbs mutilated, their armor broken and their battle clothes torn, their bodies covered in blood and flesh.

There were surviving soldiers trampled to death by warhorses, their bodies collapsed and deformed, their deaths tragic.

Countless corpses, shattered and burned by the shockwaves of artillery fire, lay charred and reddish, a horrifying sight.

The corpses were piled up in layers, almost blocking half of the narrow passageway.

Broken swords and spears, shattered shields, bent arrows, and scattered pieces of armor were scattered all over the ground, mixed with blood and bits of flesh, emitting a strong, pungent smell of blood and burnt flesh that lingered for a long time.

The remaining Daqian cavalry, wielding sharp blades, weaved through piles of corpses, mopping up the last remaining Yan army remnants who were putting up a stubborn resistance.

Those Yan soldiers who had miraculously survived had already abandoned their armor and weapons, their hearts broken, or were huddled in corners, trembling and begging for mercy on their knees.

Or they dragged their broken bodies, using their last bit of strength to run wildly towards the outside of the pass, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

The soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty were filled with murderous intent, advancing step by step. Whenever they encountered a stubborn enemy, they would cut them down with a single stroke, showing no mercy.

The area inside Duanyun Pass, which was once occupied by the Yan army, is now completely shrouded in the might of the Daqian army, with its fierce and murderous aura reaching the heavens.

Xiao Yichun's armor was stained with blood, and his warhorse trod on the blood-soaked ground. His posture was sharp and his fighting spirit was surging.

He personally led a team of elite light cavalry, and had already wiped out the last remaining enemy within the pass. Seeing a large number of Yan army remnants rushing out of the pass in panic and scattering in all directions, his fighting spirit grew even stronger.

At this moment, the morale of the entire army is soaring, making it the perfect time to press the attack and annihilate the remaining enemy forces!

Xiao Yichun's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He held his spear horizontally and shouted sternly, "All troops, form ranks! Follow me out of the pass and pursue the remaining bandits! We must annihilate all the fleeing Yan traitors!"

The light cavalry behind him responded with a roar, their hooves pounding, ready to charge out of Duanyun Pass and pursue the enemy for thousands of miles at their commander's command!

Just as Xiao Yichun reined in his horse, raised his spear, and prepared to lead his troops out of the pass to pursue, a calm and composed yet extremely authoritative voice suddenly came from the city wall behind them, steadily suppressing the sounds of battle throughout the entire battlefield.

"Don't pursue a desperate enemy."

These four simple words, crystal clear, pierced through the sounds of wind, fighting, and horses' hooves, reaching everyone's ears.

Xiao Yichun abruptly stopped, then abruptly tightened the reins, causing the restless warhorse to rear up before settling back down steadily.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at the white-clad figure standing on the city wall.

Su Mu stood with his hands behind his back on the city wall of Duanyun Pass. His robes fluttered in the wind, his figure was as upright as a mountain, and his eyes were calm and distant as he looked down at the entire battlefield below. He was unhurried and had an unparalleled demeanor.

Although Xiao Yichun was unwilling, he dared not disobey. He immediately dismounted, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully, his tone tinged with confusion: "Elder Su! Our army has won a great victory, and our morale is at its peak. The remnants of the Yan army are routed and fleeing in disarray. This is the perfect opportunity to pursue them and inflict a heavy blow on the enemy. Why don't we pursue them?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Daqian soldiers who were preparing to give chase all turned their heads, their eyes filled with doubt.

In everyone's eyes, it would be a great pity to give up the pursuit at this moment and let the remnants of the Yan army escape.

Su Mu slowly walked down the stone steps of the city tower and came to the front of the battle. His gaze swept across the vast plains beyond the pass, and he slowly shook his head. His voice was steady and powerful: "Yi Chun, in military campaigns, the worst thing is to be blinded by temporary victory and act rashly."

"Although our army has recaptured Duanyun Pass and defeated the main force of the Yan army, our foundation is not yet solid and the pass is not yet fortified."

"Duanyun Pass is a vital strategic pass on the border. Its gain or loss will affect the entire war situation. At this moment, the most important thing is to reorganize the troops, repair the fortifications, strengthen the city's defenses, and rebuild the border barrier of our Great Qian Dynasty."

His gaze was profound, and every word he uttered was a profound military strategist's wisdom:

"Although the Yan army was defeated, it was not completely wiped out. Murong Di and Gongsun Yu still had tens of thousands of remnants remaining."

"If our army blindly goes out of the pass to pursue and kill, the soldiers will be exhausted from the long march and their formation will inevitably break down."

"At that time, if the Yan army gathers its remaining troops, sets up an ambush, and launches a counterattack, our army will be unstable and will inevitably suffer unnecessary heavy casualties."

"More importantly, we still do not know where the main force of the elephant army of Mengshan in Nanzhao is."

Su Mu's gaze darkened slightly, his eyes revealing a cautious seriousness:

"The Nanzhao elephant army is powerful and lurks in the shadows, and has not yet made a real move."

"If our army ventures out of the pass alone into the wilderness, and is subsequently surrounded by the remnants of the Yan army and the Nanzhao elephant corps, our army will be completely trapped in a passive and dangerous situation, with no way to advance or retreat! This is a cardinal sin in military strategy and must never be violated!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and instantly understood.

Others only saw the great victory before them and thought only of taking advantage of the victory to kill the enemy. Only Su Mu had a panoramic view of the situation and thought deeply. Even when he was winning a great victory, he remained absolutely calm and understood the endless dangers hidden in the battle.

In reality, Su Mu had already calculated everything clearly. This great war between the two countries and the tug-of-war on the border would not end overnight.

The allied forces of Yan and Nanzhao had been planning this for a long time. They were strong and well-prepared. Today's defeat only resulted in the loss of their vanguard. Their main force remained intact and their foundation was still in place.

While artillery is undoubtedly powerful and invincible, making it a peerless weapon for winning battles, the number of shells is limited. They are all meticulously crafted and hard-won, and cannot be squandered. They must be used in the most critical battles and at the most fatal moments.

Furthermore, he had long heard of the fighting prowess of the Nanzhao war elephant legion.

Heavy war elephants are massive, with thick hides and are impervious to ordinary swords, spears, and arrows. Their charging momentum is unmatched, and once they engage in head-on battles on open plains, they are extremely effective against both infantry and cavalry.

Currently, with unclear intelligence about the enemy, unknown enemy troop deployments, and uncertain dangers, a hasty advance that exhausts our troops and leads us into a perilous area could easily fall into the enemy's trap.

As the commander-in-chief of the army, he would never gamble with the lives of his soldiers for a moment of bravery, nor would he fight reckless battles that he was not confident of winning.

The key to long-term victory lies in firmly guarding key passes, consolidating the foundation, waiting for the right opportunity, and planning carefully before acting.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichun instantly realized what was happening, his face filled with remorse, and he bowed deeply and respectfully.

"Your subordinate has learned a great deal! Elder Su is a man of profound wisdom and foresight. We were short-sighted and blinded by our immediate victory, nearly making a grave mistake and acting rashly!"

"It's alright." Su Mu smiled calmly, and then began to issue military orders in an orderly manner, deploying military affairs item by item.

"Yichun, you shall immediately lead your troops to guard the four gates of Duanyun Pass, dividing them into shifts for duty and strictly checking both inside and outside the pass to prevent anyone from leaving without authorization, thus securing the first line of defense for the city!"

"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!" Xiao Yichun accepted the order and immediately turned around to mobilize his troops to set up defenses at the four gates.

Immediately afterwards, Su Mu turned to look at Xiao Yunche, who stood solemnly beside him, and ordered in a deep voice, "Yunche, you are most familiar with the defense layout of Duanyun Pass, its city walls, fortresses, and outposts."

"You must immediately lead your former border troops to occupy all the high points and key fortresses on the city walls, closely monitor the movements of the remaining Yan troops outside the pass, remain vigilant at all times, and not relax your guard in the slightest!"

"Although the Yan army was defeated in this battle, it still has 70,000 to 80,000 troops remaining, and its strength should not be underestimated."

"A defeated army is most prone to counterattack; we must not be careless for even a moment!"

Xiao Yunche's eyes were resolute. He bowed and clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice firm and powerful: "This subordinate understands! We will defend the pass to the death, maintain strict vigilance, and not let any unusual movement slip by!"

After saying this, he turned and rode away, leading a group of his old subordinates who were familiar with the defenses to quickly rush to the key points of the city walls, crenellations, arrow towers, and bunkers, where they set up defenses layer by layer and were ready for battle.

Finally, Su Mu's gaze fell on Xiao Yunchuan and Xiao Yidong, and he ordered in a deep voice: "Yunchuan, Yidong, you two lead the remaining soldiers to immediately clean up the battlefield, collect the corpses, sort out the weapons and supplies, and tally the casualties and spoils of this battle."

"Then the entire army retreated into the pass, chose a place to set up camp, rest and recuperate!"

"I will obey General Su's orders!"

Xiao Yunchuan and Xiao Yidong accepted the order in unison, quickly mobilized the army, and carried out the post-war cleanup in an orderly manner.

In the short time that followed the recapture of Duanyun Pass, the Daqian army was in perfect order, with each soldier fulfilling their duties. The entire army was well-organized and proceeded steadily, showing no signs of complacency or slackness after a great victory, and demonstrating the demeanor of a strong army.

……

Two miles outside Duanyun Pass lies a vast wilderness.

The fleeing remnants of the Yan army finally stopped their escape and hastily regrouped their scattered troops.

The ground was littered with fallen weapons, tattered armor, and scattered flags. The soldiers were ragged, covered in blood and dirt, their faces filled with fear and exhaustion, their morale at rock bottom.

Murong Dile stood on the open field, his armor covered in dust and bloodstains, his figure desolate and forlorn.

He slowly turned his head and looked back at the Broken Cloud Pass standing behind him.

On the majestic city gate tower, which had been through bloody battles and changed hands several times, the Azure Dragon Battle Flag, which had recently fallen and represented the majesty of the Great Qian territory, was now flying high and fluttering in the fierce wind!

The green flags fluttered, exuding a majestic and awe-inspiring presence, dazzling and deeply stinging the eyes of every Yan soldier.

Just then, a scout captain rode up at full speed, knelt down, and reported in a deep voice: "Reporting to the General! Reconnaissance reports from the rear indicate that the Daqian army has not left the pass to pursue them. They are all remaining inside the Duanyun Pass, holding their ground and showing no signs of pursuit!"

"Not sending troops to pursue?"

Murong Di's brows furrowed suddenly, his eyes filled with surprise and resentment. He murmured to himself, "A great victory is imminent, yet they abandon pursuit and choose to defend? Such a mindset is too strange..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tian Cheng, covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled, rode forward. Gazing at the towering Duanyun Pass in the distance, he let out a long sigh, his face filled with shock and lingering fear: "General, only now do I truly understand this man! This Su Mu is far too terrifying!"

"If it were an ordinary general, he would inevitably become arrogant after a great victory and would definitely lead his troops to pursue and attack relentlessly to expand the gains."

"Yet he was able to forcibly restrain his greed even at the height of his victory, firmly guarding the pass and not taking the slightest risk. Such composure and caution are rare in this world!"

Gongsun Yu, standing to the side, had a solemn expression. He stared at the direction of Duanyun Pass for a long time, his eyes filled with deep apprehension. He slowly said, "It's not that he didn't want to pursue; it's that he saw further ahead than anyone else."

"Su Mu is meticulous and has a flawless mind. He must have guessed that although our army was defeated, our main force was not destroyed and there was a possibility of an ambush and counterattack. More likely, he was wary of the Nanzhao elephant army that had not moved in the dark, so he dared not venture out of the dangerous place rashly."

He sighed deeply, his tone extremely solemn.

"This enemy is terrifying beyond measure! Not only does he wield a peerless divine weapon capable of destroying the world and possess overwhelming combat power, but he also employs tactics with composure, meticulousness, and careful planning, making him virtually invincible."

"With Su Mu stationed at the border of the Great Qian Kingdom, our Yan Kingdom's grand invasion plan will likely face numerous difficulties and have little chance of success!"

Upon hearing this, Murong Di and the remaining Yan army generals around him were all shocked and gasped in shock.

All eyes turned to the distant Duanyun Pass city tower, where the Great Qian Azure Dragon Banner fluttered. Their eyes were filled with extreme fear, deep apprehension, and an unyielding resentment.

"Damn it!" a Yan general gritted his teeth and growled, filled with resentment. "Our army expended countless provisions and manpower, suffered tens of thousands of elite casualties, and fought for several days to finally capture Duanyun Pass! It all happened in just a few hours, and the enemy recaptured it in one fell swoop! All our efforts have been in vain!"

"Tens of thousands of comrades-in-arms shed their blood on the battlefield, suffering heavy casualties, only to gain not an inch of land and lose their troops in vain. It's truly frustrating!"

"But what can we do? That terrifying artillery fire rained down from the sky, there was no way to counter it, no way to defend against it. A head-on confrontation would only result in the annihilation of the entire army, with everyone perishing here!"

Sighs of helplessness and whispers of resentment rose and fell among the Yan army, spreading a strong sense of defeat.

As Murong Di listened to the discussions among his soldiers, he felt a mix of emotions: resentment, unwillingness, shame, and fear. These feelings pressed down on his chest, making him feel suffocated.

He had fought for half his life and rarely suffered a defeat, but he had never experienced such a humiliating and utterly crushing defeat.

It wasn't that the soldiers were reckless or that their strategies were inferior; rather, it was that the enemy possessed terrifying weapons that transcended this era and completely overturned the rules of the battlefield.

No matter how brave the manpower, how well-trained the army, or how deep the strategy, under the crushing force of unstoppable artillery fire, all efforts are ultimately futile and the enemy is easily defeated.

The crushing defeat is a foregone conclusion, undeniable and irreversible.

He looked up towards Yanjing, his heart filled with sorrow, and sighed softly, "This battle was a disastrous defeat. We suffered heavy losses, lost key passes, and... how can I explain this to His Majesty?"

Gongsun Yu saw the distress and guilt in Murong Di's heart, and quickly stepped forward to gently comfort him: "General, there is no need to blame yourself too much."

"This defeat was not due to the general's poor command, nor was it due to the soldiers' cowardice. It was because the enemy's weapons were too strange and domineering. For our army, this crushing defeat may not be a bad thing."

"Fortunately, it was only a front-line clash; although there were losses, our main force is still intact."

"Now that we have glimpsed the true nature of the Great Qian Dynasty and know that it possesses an unstoppable weapon of destruction, we can be alerted in time and take precautions in advance. Upon returning to the capital, we can immediately report to His Majesty and the whole country can devise a countermeasure."

"If we wait until our army is deep in the heart of the Great Qian Empire, isolated and trapped, before encountering such terrifying divine weapons, then the entire army will be annihilated, the foundation of the nation will be shaken, and that will be a true catastrophe!"

His words were all reasonable and soothed Murong Di's guilt.

He remained silent for a long time, finally nodding helplessly and sighing wearily, "Things have come to this point, there is no other way but to immediately gather the remaining troops, return to Yanjing, and truthfully report to His Majesty the fact that the Great Qian Dynasty possesses unparalleled artillery and overwhelming military power, awaiting the court's decision on subsequent military plans!"

But just as the words fell to the ground!

In the distance, on the city tower of Duanyun Pass, countless dark and cold cannon muzzles suddenly appeared!

One after another, the newly erected cannons, dark and cold, with a chilling glint, emerged from the crenellations and defensive holes of the city walls, all pointing in unison at the remnants of the Yan army on the open fields outside the pass!

The cold muzzle of the cannon locked onto the entire Yan army formation from afar, instantly enveloping the entire area with a silent, destructive pressure!

"not good!!"

A sharp-eyed Yan soldier suddenly saw the scene on the city wall and was instantly terrified, screaming in panic!

"The Great Qian's divine weapons! All those black cannon muzzles are aimed at us!!"

This roar was like a thunderclap that exploded in the Yan army's formation!

All the Yan soldiers felt their scalps tingle and their hair stand on end!

The horrific scenes of previous artillery fire, flying blood and flesh, and the hellish slaughterhouse instantly flooded everyone's minds, and the extreme fear of death swept over the entire army!

"Run! They're about to fire!!"

"Run!!"

Extreme panic instantly ignited the entire army!

The Yan army, which had just regrouped and stabilized somewhat, was thrown into chaos once again!

The soldiers completely collapsed. No one cared about military discipline or formation anymore. Everyone turned around and ran wildly, scattering and fleeing in all directions, abandoning their helmets and armor, in a disheveled and chaotic state.

Even the main generals, including Murong Di, Tian Cheng, and Gongsun Yu, turned pale and were terrified, not daring to linger for even a moment!

They knew all too well the terrifying power of artillery and dared not gamble that the other side was just bluffing!

"Retreat! Full speed retreat!!"

Murong Di roared and suddenly turned his horse around, galloping away to escape.

Tian Cheng, Gongsun Yu, and other generals followed closely behind. The Yan army generals and commanders, like ordinary remnants of the army, fled in panic on horseback, looking extremely disheveled!

On the open field, tens of thousands of Yan soldiers abandoned their helmets and armor and fled in all directions, like frightened birds and stray dogs, no longer displaying the majesty and imposing presence of the great coalition forces!

On the city tower of Duanyun Pass.

As the soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty looked down at the Yan army outside the pass, fleeing in a disheveled and panicked manner, they could no longer contain their joy and burst into laughter!

"Hahaha! Look at these Yan bandits! They're completely terrified by our cannons!"

"They fled in utter panic, practically begging for mercy; they've tasted the bitterness of defeat!"

"Old Su's move was truly brilliant! Without firing a single shot, the mere intimidation of the cannons terrified tens of thousands of enemy soldiers into fleeing for their lives—a truly psychological blow! Exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating!"

Laughter filled the air, echoing across the border region, a triumphant and triumphant feeling!

Standing atop the highest point of the city wall, Su Mu gazed at the remnants of the Yan army who had scattered and fled beyond the pass, utterly devoid of fighting spirit. A calm and relaxed smile finally appeared on his usually aloof face.

Subduing the enemy without fighting, deterring the enemy army, securing the pass, and intimidating powerful enemies—the gains from this battle far exceed those from actual combat.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, his smile faded, and he solemnly instructed the generals beside him:

"Pass down the order: all commanders, immediately proceed to the central command tent for a meeting to discuss subsequent border defense deployments and strategies for countering the enemy!"