Starting from the border troops, I've worked my way up to become a Martial Emperor.

Chapter 138: Lure the snake out of its hole

Lu Yuan and Xiao Hua continued on their way, seeing a lot of northern barbarian scenery along the way. The people in the city were doing better, but life on the grasslands was indeed tough, with many families huddled together in tents.

The cattle and sheep crowded together, preparing for winter.

Even so, although it was only late autumn, snow had already begun to fall on the wasteland.

On the way, they also encountered a supply team that was resupplying the border. The oxcart was stuck in a snow pit, and the soldiers were pushing it with difficulty.

The long procession stretched for miles.

When we arrived at Guhe Pass, the snow was so deep that it was up to our ankles.

Several days have passed.

Looking at the city wall in front of him, Lu Yuan felt helpless. No wonder tens of thousands of troops, relying on the fortress, still had to go out of the city to fight. The entire city wall was made of yellow earth, no more than three or four meters high and one meter wide, and there were gaps in some places.

This is not even as good as an ordinary fortress.

Xiao Hua was equally surprised.

"Creak!"

After a piercing sound, the city gate opened, and Xiao He walked out.

This person had a bluish complexion and was quite tall.

Upon seeing Xiao Hua and Lu Yuan, he knelt on one knee and said, "Greetings, Your Highness, and the Crown Princess."

"Rise," Xiao Hua's cold voice rang out.

Lu Yuan then said in a deep voice, "Why is this fortress so dilapidated?"

"Your Highness, Guhe Pass has been plagued by war for some time now. The fortress has been damaged for over ten years, and due to various reasons, it has not been repaired."

"This was built by the soldiers in their spare time two years ago, and it's only good for shielding us from the cold wind," Xiao He said with a bitter expression.

Lu Yuan glanced around and saw that the area inside the pass was filled with endless camps, without any civilians or buildings.

"Let's go inside first and talk about it," Lu Yuan said.

Xiao He quickly led the way, and finally stopped outside the largest tent.

This was specially prepared for Xiao Hua.

Upon entering, a wave of heat hit you.

The stove has been lit, and a map is placed in the very center.

Lu Yuan and Xiao Hua sat down.

Xiao He also summoned six generals, all of whom were commanders of ten thousand men in the military camp.

Each one was as strong as a bear or tiger.

After entering, he first bowed, and then sat cross-legged in the tent.

After everyone had arrived, Lu Yuan said calmly, "How far are the Shengman people from us now?"

Xiao He pointed to a place on the map and said.

"They are now less than a hundred miles away from us, but according to my speculation, they are probably waiting for winter to launch their attack. They obviously know that we won't last long," Xiao He said helplessly.

Lu Yuan then understood why the Prime Minister had said that the matter needed to be resolved before winter officially began.

This was clearly a signal for him to take the initiative and attack.

If you only defend, you'll be worn down and killed.

"What about the situation in the Barbarian Camel Tribe?"

"This is bad. The Barbarian Camel Tribe can gather 100,000 cavalry. Although they are not elite cavalry, they should not be underestimated. The Barbarian Camel Chieftain is very strong, and he has several experts at the Divine Origin Realm under his command. This time, they have caused quite a stir."

What we fear most now is an attack from behind, which is why we are so hesitant. In fact, a single barbarian tribe is not so scary.

"The main problem is that the nearby tribes are all in cahoots with him. If we take action against the Man Tuo tribe, it will alert other tribes within the Northern Barbarian territory, and they will all become hostile to the imperial court, which will trigger an even bigger reaction," Xiao He said in a deep voice.

As Lu Yuan listened to his explanation, he stroked his chin and fell into deep thought. He had planned to first defeat the Mantuo tribe and then deal with the barbarians outside, but things were more complicated than he had imagined.

Since that's the case, then we can only resort to the most rudimentary method: fight the barbarians first.

But then, his eyes lit up, a glint of light flashing within them.

If the Mantuo tribe attacks us first, wouldn't that give us an excuse?

Surely the other tribes won't say anything then.

Then, turning his gaze to Xiao He, he asked, "How many tribes near Guhe Pass are there that don't obey orders?"

"The largest tribe is the Mantuo tribe, and there are two others: the Manhun tribe and the Mane tribe. These three tribes can gather an army of 200,000. They were originally intended to guard Guhe Pass, but now they are disobeying orders and the Mantuo tribe is in charge."

Determined to split apart, they were arguably the largest separatist force north of the capital.

Xiao He quickly replied.

Lu Yuan nodded, then took out a battle formation diagram from his person and handed it to Xiao He: "Take this and have your soldiers practice it immediately. The 40,000 cavalry stationed near the Barbarian Camel Tribe must also be proficient in the formation."

"Yes, sir!" Xiao He replied hastily.

He got up and prepared to go down and give instructions.

Lu Yuan waved his hand, signaling him not to rush.

Then he said, "Come closer."

Xiao He immediately came over, and then Lu Yuan began to give instructions on his plan.

After hearing this, Xiao He's expression changed drastically. He said, "Your Highness, if we cannot defeat the Barbarian Camel Tribe within the planned timeframe, we will be attacked from both sides. It's too dangerous."

Then, his gaze fell on Xiao Hua, who was standing to the side.

The other person had no expression on their face, but slowly said, "When I came to Guhe Pass, my mother told me to listen to the King of Qin. Just do whatever he arranges. There can't be a worse outcome than this. I'll take care of anything that happens."

Hearing her say that, Lu Yuan felt a warmth in his heart.

Then, looking at Xiao He, he said, "In my opinion, the Barbarian Camel Tribe is the biggest enemy this time. If we don't suppress them first, how can we feel at ease to fight the Barbarians? If we really go to war, the Barbarian Camel Tribe will take the opportunity to attack us after we leave the pass, which will be a devastating blow to us."

We can't gamble. The only way to survive this time is to take action first.

"Once we subdue them and acquire the supplies and troops of the Barbarian Camel Tribe, we should have no problem fighting the uncivilized barbarians."

Xiao He nodded and said through gritted teeth, "This subordinate will take care of it immediately."

Then he led his men out of the camp.

After everyone had left, Xiao Hua finally asked, "What exactly is your plan?"

"Let's lure the snake out of its hole and test the Mantuo tribe. After three days, I will pretend to lead a large army out of the border. A portion of the Mantuo tribe's stationed troops will also be transferred away, pretending to rush to their aid. Then we'll see how the Mantuo tribe reacts."

If they don't send troops, fine. But if they take the initiative to attack, it means that these people have long been planning to take advantage of us after we start fighting the barbarians. At that time, I will lead a large army to wipe them out.

If we do this, the other regional warlords will have nothing to say.

After all, this battle was initiated by the Barbarian Camel Tribe.

We are cavalry, so we are mobile enough to circle around the three tribes in ten days.

Once they are subdued, the barbarians will be much easier to deal with.

Lu Yuan rattled off the plan in one breath.

Xiao Hua's face showed surprise, then she said softly, "But there's a crucial point here: a swift victory, overwhelming the Barbarian Camel Tribe with absolute strength. Can we really do that?"

She was somewhat uncertain.

Lu Yuan placed his hands on the table, a confident look on his face, and looked at Xiao Hua, saying, "Speaking of which, you haven't seen my true strength yet. This time, I'll show you. We now have an army of 100,000 men, and once the military formation drills are completed..."

"I might not be confident in dealing with the Imperial Guards of Dayong, or even the Beast Cavalry, but the cavalry of the Barbarian Camel Tribe aren't even elite cavalry. With just a few skilled warriors in command, what makes them a match for me!"

His voice was slow, yet it conveyed a sense of determination.

For a moment, Xiao Hua was stunned. She really had no concept of how powerful Lu Yuan was. She was still in the Icefield Fortress. Although she later learned that Lu Yuan had become a general.

But he was only a patrol officer of the Great Yong Dynasty, and Lu Yuan was too young.

They didn't think the other side was that strong. After all, even though they had made great military achievements in the Great Yong Dynasty, they were only involved in small-scale battles and were just one of the many, not the leader.

However, she had a very strong bias towards Lu Yuan, since he had already said so.

Xiao Hua nodded immediately.

"Alright, no need to think about it anymore. Next, we not only need to resolve the issue of the Northern Barbarians, but also deal with the border matters at the same time. The Northern Barbarian cavalry is the best in the world. I think the mounts of these elite cavalrymen can travel hundreds of miles a day."

"It would be such a waste not to give it my all." After saying that, he walked outside.

Xiao Hua followed behind.

As soon as I stepped out of the tent, I saw that the army had already started to move.

Xiao He then drove them, leading their warhorses, toward the training ground.

This brought a look of satisfaction to Lu Yuan's face.

Putting aside other aspects, Xiao He's execution ability is quite good.

A fourth-rank military formation, once successfully trained, would be a devastating blow to ordinary tribes.

In Lu Yuan's plan, after resolving this battle, he would have to deal with internal matters upon returning to the capital.

We should win over some of these regional warlords and suppress others.

Although the Northern Barbarians are currently weak, to be honest, they are still a formidable force to other regional powers.

As long as they are not allowed to unite.

We can then defeat them one by one.

At that time, the Northern Barbarians would no longer need to fear waging war against other countries.

For the next few days, Lu Yuan stayed in the camp, occasionally going outside to survey the terrain.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning, Lu Yuan and Xiao Hua were having breakfast in their tent.

"Splash!"

Xiao He lifted the curtain and walked in, bringing with him a blast of wind and snow.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan, he clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the army's drills and formations are complete, and there are no problems with their arrangement on the battlefield."

"Where is the army stationed in the Barbarian Camel Tribe?" Lu Yuan asked, looking up.

"The drills are already complete. We sent people to prepare them a couple of days ago. They're ready to go into battle without any problems," Xiao He said quickly.

Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"What's going on with the Shengman?"

"Thirty scouts were dispatched to keep watch around their camp, but there was nothing unusual. This time, these barbarians are starting to use their brains and will not launch an attack within half a month."

It's obvious they're trying to wear us down; their supply train is constantly transporting supplies over there.

Judging by the scale, it will take at least ten days to complete.

Lu Yuan nodded: "That's good. Let's proceed according to plan from now on. Remember my words: if the Barbarian Camel Tribe provokes us, we shouldn't tolerate it. We can exchange insults, but we can't make the first move."

If they dare to resort to violence, then we should have no qualms.

"Yes, sir!"

After Xiao He responded, he withdrew, and at this moment Lu Yuan also walked out of the camp.

At this time, the army of 60,000 had already assembled.

After mounting his warhorse, he addressed his troops, "Leave the pass."

Then, he led his army and began heading towards the area beyond the pass.

However, they didn't go very far, before reaching the observation range of the barbarian scouts, and then they went around to the side. The scouts they sent out were densely packed, in order to shield them from the observation of scouts from all other forces.

To this end, they even went so far as to dispatch experts at the Innate Realm to patrol the area.

At the same time, after receiving the message, 30,000 of the 40,000 troops stationed near the Mantuo tribe were also transferred away. They left in a great hurry.

It seems something big has happened.

In a short time, the Man Tuo tribe, the Man Hun tribe, the Man E tribe, and several other tribes began to pay attention to Guhe Pass, and at the same time, they were eager to make a move.

After all, the army stationed at Guhe Pass was like a nail driven into the three tribes. If they could destroy this army, the three tribes would completely occupy the corner north of the imperial city.

It was evening.

Inside the main camp of the Northern Barbarian tribe, General Hunza, who was in charge of the army, was eating roasted meat in his tent. He called out to his deputy outside, "Any new news from the Northern Barbarians? I heard they've crossed the border?"

"Hmm, but it stopped moving soon. Too many scouts were released, and our people couldn't get close. But what we can be sure of is that the main force is not coming this way."

"I have already ordered my men to prepare an ambush along their likely route. If they dare to come, we will surely cripple them." The lieutenant sat down to the side, picked up a bowl of wine, and drank it down in large gulps.

"Hmm, well done. According to our scouts, the Northern Barbarians are running out of food. Their internal situation is too complicated, and many of them are disobedient. If we can hold out until winter, and wait another half month, these Northern Barbarian cavalry will be on the ground, hahaha." Hunza grinned and said.

He was wearing gray armor with animal hide peeking out from the edges. Although rough, it offered good protection and warmth.

"The general is right," the lieutenant replied hastily.

"Continue to send people to observe. As long as they don't come over within the next two weeks, we don't need to pay any attention to them." After Hunza finished speaking, he raised his wine cup and took a sip with his deputy.

A look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Meanwhile, within the Barbarian Camel Tribe, the chieftain sat in the main hall.

This is a huge temple built of massive stones.

The chieftain of the camel tribe was over two meters tall. Even when sitting still, he resembled a bear, with extremely fierce eyes.

Looking down, I noticed that both chieftains from the Manhun and Mane tribes were there.

The chieftain of the camel tribe slowly said, "The scouts just reported that the main force of the imperial army has already left the pass. There are a total of 60,000 troops. Of the 40,000 troops stationed around my tribe, 30,000 have also left."

This is an opportunity for us, what do you mean by that?

The chieftain of the Manhun tribe kept his head down and remained silent, while the chieftain of the Mane tribe had a gloomy face, like a piece of withered wood.

"I know what you're thinking. You're just worried that the court will retaliate after our surprise attack. But winter is just around the corner. After we defeat their army..."

The imperial court absolutely does not have the strength to organize another large army.

Another point is that I have contacted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and they have agreed to trade with us this winter.

One winter is enough to further enhance our strength.

At that time, the area around Guhe Pass will be completely stable.

If the imperial court were to launch another military campaign, it would have to consider the other regional military governors.

We now control one of the thirteen northern barbarian vassal states.

If his court dares to attack us, don't others know the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold"? In the past two years, his court has considered suppressing us.

But every time, it was blocked by everyone working together.

After the Guhe Pass section came into our hands, it became a contiguous area. Among the thirteen regional military governorates, we weren't the largest, but we were definitely among the top tier.

The words of the chieftain of the camel tribe caused a slight glint to appear in the eyes of the two men below.

After a moment, the chieftain of the Crocodile tribe said hoarsely, "If we take action at this time, won't people think we're disregarding the bigger picture? After all, the imperial court is waging war against the barbarians."

"Is reputation that important? In this world, strength matters. Once we take over the territory and develop it, other vassal states will want our help. Even if they don't want to support me, they still have to think about themselves," the chieftain of the Barbarian Camel tribe said without any scruples.

After pondering for a moment, Chief Manhun gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, let's do it this way. The sooner the better. Tonight, we'll charge over and wipe out the 10,000 imperial troops stationed near the Mantuo tribe. Tomorrow, I'll go back with Man'e to gather the army, and the three of us will meet at Guhe Pass."

"Haha, that's more like it. I've already assembled the army, and I'm just waiting for your decision. Let's charge now!" The chieftain of the camel tribe laughed, the orange flames casting long shadows on him.

This makes it appear even more ferocious.

"Crack!" The wine bowl slammed to the ground.

He stood up and shouted outside, "Assemble the army and march!"

After he finished speaking, the chieftain of the camel tribe strode out of the hall, followed by the other two.

Outside, a massive army appeared in the square, dressed in leather armor and carrying torches; each of them had a fierce and valiant appearance.

It exuded a murderous intent.

After glancing around, the chieftain of the camel tribe shouted, "Let's go! Our destination is Guhe Pass. Slaughter all the imperial troops!"

He commanded a million tents, millions of people, and an army of one hundred thousand capable of fighting.

Facing 40,000 troops from the imperial court might be a bit of a challenge, but against 10,000, there wouldn't be much to worry about.

He picked up his weapon and mounted his horse.

The other two clan leaders followed behind, heading towards the imperial army's camp.

The warhorses galloped, their roar like thunder in the night.

At the same time, a well-equipped scout team was observing from a distance.

They were not from Lu Yuan's camp, but rather scouts dispatched by the Northern Barbarian court.

Every time a war broke out, the imperial court would send out similar teams to monitor the battlefield situation and the actions of the generals.

It's not that the Xiao family doesn't trust Lu Yuan; it's just the rule.

All generals who went on expeditions were observed, and the location of the expedition was kept secret from the commanding generals.

They won't know the details.

At this moment, seeing the barbarian tribe send out their troops, the centurion leading the scouts changed his expression drastically: "Send a message to the imperial court, turn on the glare mirrors to reflect the situation on the field."

He was unaware of Lu Yuan's arrangements; all he saw was that most of the troops defending the Barbarian Camel Tribe had been transferred away.

Meanwhile, the enemy's main force charged out.

Therefore, a chill ran through him, and he thought the army was doomed.

With enemies on both sides, how could the imperial court possibly withstand the attack?

As the dazzling mirror was activated, a huge mirror in the Northern Barbarian Military Hall instantly lit up. Although it was late at night, the eunuchs guarding the place did not dare to hesitate for a moment and immediately walked out and headed towards the inner palace.

A moment later, Xiao Shi, along with the Grand Clan Minister, the Prime Minister, and others, entered.

They looked at their reflection in the mirror, their faces showing seriousness.

Sitting at the head of the table, Xiao said expressionlessly, "I just received news that the King of Qin has led a large army out of the pass to prepare for a surprise attack on the barbarians. The troops stationed around the barbarian camel tribe have also been conscripted, numbering 30,000."

Now, the Mantuo tribe has officially raised its flag in rebellion and is heading towards the imperial camp.

The forces of the Manhun and Mane tribes also seem to have moved. The three groups combined number 200,000, and their target is Guhe Pass.

As she spoke, the image of the barbarian army marching rapidly appeared on the glare mirror; the endless cavalry was heading towards the imperial army's encampment.

high speed.

Grand Marshal Fu Chuan said with a grim expression, "It's not the King of Qin's fault. The barbarian army has been slow to move, and we don't have enough food to keep them at bay."

The only option is to launch a preemptive strike before winter arrives. To quickly determine the victor, 60,000 men alone are insufficient; even I don't have a better solution.

"Yes, this is an unsolvable situation. I suggest that the Crown Princess and the Prince of Qin retreat. With the experts from the Prajna Temple accompanying them, there shouldn't be any major problems if they leave," the Grand Master of Ceremonies said softly.

His voice, however, carried a bitter tone.

"These regional military governors again. If they are not eliminated, they will remain a major threat to our lives," Xiao Mie said in a deep voice.

Madam Xiao gazed at the dazzling mirror, then took out the communication stone. No matter what, as long as Lu Yuan and her daughter's lives could be saved, that was enough. As for the rest, they could only be discussed later.

But after this battle, the area around Guhe Pass would no longer belong to the imperial court.

However, Lu Yuan appeared confident and prepared. He led his army and, under the cover of moonlight, concealed himself near the camp of the barbarian camel tribe.

They observed the camel herd rushing towards the camp.

A smile appeared on his lips.

We've been preparing for this for so long, worried that the barbarian tribe wouldn't take the bait. Now that they've made their move, there's no point in being polite.

At this moment, he was followed by 80,000 elite cavalry, plus 10,000 in the camp, making a total of 90,000 men. He was certain that he could defeat the 100,000 men of the Barbarian Camel Tribe today.

Xiao Hua stood to the side, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Yuan. At this moment, his image in her eyes became even more towering.

The people of the Barbarian Camel Tribe actually came.

Xiao He was also very excited.

He turned to Lu Yuan and said, "Your Highness, they really have come out. Fortunately, we planned to deal with the Barbarian Camel Tribe in advance. Otherwise, if we had really started a war with the Barbarians, that would have been a real disaster."

As she spoke, her eyes burned with passion as she looked at Lu Yuan.

When the other party first arrived, Xiao He didn't really care. The reason he was willing to cooperate was because Xiao Hua was there to oversee things.

Now, however, I have a new understanding of this young man in front of me.

If the plan succeeds, this time not only will the three tribes of the Barbarian Camel surrender and hand over all their territories, but it will also be able to stop the attack of the Wild Barbarians.

At least this winter, we don't have to worry about anything happening behind the Imperial City.

When Lu Yuan heard Xiao He's voice in his ear, he didn't speak, but simply said, "It's time to make a move."

As they spoke, everyone looked ahead.

The army of the Mantuo tribe has been discovered to be approaching the imperial army's camp.

Xiao He immediately raised his hand, and in an instant, the army behind him was ready for battle.

Lu Yuan then turned to Xiao Hua and said, "You wait here. The beast riders will protect you. You mustn't wander off. The battlefield is dangerous; even divine energy can't guarantee safety. Understand?"

His words were unusually serious. Xiao Hua looked at Lu Yuan and nodded. At this moment, she did not refute him. Instead, she was very obedient. She was a woman who understood the big picture.

She understood that at this moment, she couldn't distract Lu Yuan.

After seeing her agree, Lu Yuan glanced back at the army, which was already in charge formation, and said calmly, "Charge!"

The next moment, he charged out first, his python robe fluttering in the wind, and the Green Dragon Crescent Blade suddenly flashed from his palm.

It left a streak of blue light in the night sky.

Ninety thousand troops followed closely behind, their horses' hooves striking the ground with a thunderous sound.

As the formation gradually unfolded...

A wisp of black mist rose from beneath the feet of the army.

Each soldier was entangled in this mist.

At the same time, the system's voice sounded in Lu Yuan's mind.

[Host's formation activated. All allied troops double their speed and defense.]

Then, the army suddenly accelerated, like a torrent, and crashed into the barbarian camel tribe.