Shao Yunan had never imagined he would witness a war with cold weapons. When he came to Tiger Pass, he had speculated but thought he would return to the capital after seeing his father, especially since he had the little crown prince with him. However, plans changed. Both Wang Shijing and Jiang Moxi needed to stay, and Shao Yunan had to support them.

The brutality of war was not something movies, television, or books could fully convey. It was only by being there that Shao Yunan realized how mild his previous understanding had been. He acknowledged his limitations, since marrying Wang Shijing, it was Wang Shijing who had slaughtered their chickens and ducks. Shao Yunan had never done it himself as he couldn’t bear to see people die. Even the sight of the wounded made his scalp tingle and his legs weak.

However, Shao Yunan didn’t retreat to the rear. Nor did he overestimate his abilities by tending to the wounded. He shared his knowledge of first aid with the military doctors and helped in the kitchen. While the soldiers fought fiercely at the front, the supplies had to be replenished promptly. Both the soldiers and the wounded needed food and drink. During such times, no one noticed that the little crown prince and little Xingyi were missing. Shao Yunan sent the two babies and Wang Nizi to his space, but Wang Qing insisted on staying.

Tiger and the two gold were on the battlefield, while Wang Qing helped with the wounded. Shao Yunan admired the boy. The wounds weren’t just minor scrapes but real flesh-and-blood injuries, some with exposed bones, severed limbs, and intestines spilling out. Wang Qing was scared but told himself not to be afraid. Now, he could remain calm even when seeing severe injuries. The resilience of children in ancient times was remarkable.

Wang Shijing also went to the battlefield, and neither Dai Mingrong nor Dai Zhanxiao could dissuade him. Wang Shijing had once been a centurion of the vanguard army. He couldn’t stand by while his father-in-law and brother-in-law fought, so he joined the battle. Jiang Moxi was the only one who went to the rear, having fully taken over the Craftsmen Camp.

Shao Yunan took out all the spiritual milk he could find. Every day, he secretly added spring water or spiritual milk to the water tanks in the kitchen, ensuring that both the officers’ and soldiers’ meals were fortified. Although he couldn’t fight or tend to the wounded, this was the best he could do.

In this war, the Huhar Kingdom was extremely confident. The Great Khan of Huhar had even already planned how to burn, kill, and loot after invading Yan. The Huhar Kingdom intended to annihilate the entire Yan Dynasty and had issued a decree to massacre the cities. For any city they captured, all women would be made sex slaves, and all men and children would be killed. However, when the two armies of Huhar attacked Tiger Pass and Kuye Pass, they found that their plans were too optimistic. Reality gave them a harsh slap in the face.

The Huhar Kingdom attacked Tiger Pass and Kuye Pass with all their forces, knowing they could not let the Tiger Army and the Flying Eagle Army join forces. Yet, on the way to these passes, the Huhar troops were ambushed by surprise attack squads from the Tiger and Flying Eagle armies. The enemy appeared so suddenly that the Huhar scouts did not detect them and couldn’t understand how their movements were discovered.

The surprise attack squads retreated after their first strike, but just that one strike caused Huhar to lose nearly ten thousand soldiers. The weapons of the surprise squads were too fierce, their armor too strong, and one squad even had three terrifying tigers. They would first kill the horses and then the men. The battle occurred at night, and by the time the Huhar troops tried to fight back, the Yan troops had already disappeared.

On the way to Tiger Pass and Kuye Pass, the Huhar troops were ambushed several times by the surprise squads, always at night. The tigers’ roars scared the horses, and the mysterious shadows terrified the soldiers. The Huhar people did not realize that these attackers were not just any surprise squads but Yan newly formed special operations camp. With a scout’s long-range vision, the special operations camp could spot the Huhar troops from far away. Their machetes targeted Huhar’s superior horses, and their tough rattan armor was nearly impenetrable except by fire. The Huhar troops had no idea that fire was the only way to damage the rattan armor.

By the time the Huhar troops reached Tiger Pass and Kuye Pass, their morale was at rock bottom. Little did they know that their nightmare was just beginning.

“Boom!”

“Boom boom!”

In the Tiger Army’s camp, the faces of both generals and soldiers were pale with fear. The horses neighed anxiously, and on the city walls, General Dai Mingrong broke out in a cold sweat. Outside the walls, the Huhar troops fell into chaos. Amid the continuous “booms,” their horses and warriors were blown to pieces. Such a hellish scene, if not for the fact that the victims were Huhar troops, would have sent the Yan generals into a panic.

The Flying Eagle and Tiger armies had retreated into the city. In the craftsmen’s camp, Jiang Moxi was still working intently, unaffected by the explosions outside. Seeing him, others tried to suppress their fear and focus on their tasks. However, each “boom” made them glance outside, wondering what was happening—was it an earthquake or something else?

In the medical area, Wang Qing was helping a military doctor bandage a soldier’s broken leg. Each “boom” made his hands tremble. He knew what was causing the noise, but being there for the first time, he couldn’t control his instinctive reactions. Yet, compared to others, he was the calmest on the scene.

“What’s happening outside?”

“No idea. What’s that booming noise?”

“Is it an earthquake?”

“If it were an earthquake, wouldn’t the ground crack and the buildings shake?”

“The sound is really unsettling. Will the generals be alright?”

“Don’t jinx it! We have divine beasts protecting us, and with Loyal and Brave Duke and Madam Wang Shao leading, we’ll be fine!”

Wang Qing pressed his lips tightly, wanting to tell them that it was just the sound of landmines exploding.

“Great Marshal, what, what are those things?”

Dai Zhanxiao, trying to hide his large body behind the marshal, was terrified to the point of nausea.

“Ugh!”

Strategist Cao had already gone to vomit, unable to hold it in any longer.

“Ugh!”

More people began to vomit, Cao’s reaction triggering a chain reaction. Dai Zhanxiao couldn’t hold it in either and ran to vomit. The vomiting was not just from nausea but from extreme fear. Dai Mingrong also felt like vomiting but held it in, maintaining his composure as a commander.

After Dai Zhanxiao finished vomiting, he weakly crawled back and heard the marshal’s belated response: “Those are the things you buried.”

What?!

Dai Zhanxiao fell flat on his face, sweating profusely. The marshal had him bury something so terrifying?

The bombing ceased, leaving the Huhar troops in complete disarray. Those who survived, even the bravest, were scared out of their wits, praying for divine mercy.
Dai Mingrong raised his right hand: “Sound the drums—!”

Boom, boom, boom, the war drums began. Dai Zhanxiao, instantly revitalized, got up quickly, and the commanders took their positions. Dai Mingrong ordered: “Open the gates and engage the enemy—!”

A long horn sounded, and the horses thundered. For the first time in years, Yan’s soldiers opened the gates to launch an attack against the Huhar invaders.

Edited by: Jaisland

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