Even before engaging the enemy, the front line collapsed on its own, crumbling like a fishing net leaking in all directions.

Then, in the blink of an eye, amidst the sounds of steel clashing against iron, the wild wind roared, blades rushing forward, and the Iron Cavalry pierced through the Zhen Army's fragile front line. Skewering bodies onto the tips of horse lances, heads severed by curved blades, flesh and blood trampled beneath iron hooves.

Yet, Huan Tianyuan stood up,

Despite being shot through the throat by arrows in an instant, turning him into a pincushion of arrows, his body dripping with blood, he still stood up.

Like a stubborn rock in a torrent, a reef against the tide.

Roaring with anger, like a tiger pouncing with a fierce leap, his strike pierced through the layers of armor on an Iron Cavalryman, knocking the rider off his horse, pinning him to the ground under a broken lance.

Yet the second cavalryman charged forward, swinging a blade toward his head.

Huan Tianyuan reached out to block, only to find that his severed arm was dangling from his shoulder like a broken branch, already shattered by a riding spear.

Thus, his head was chopped off with a single stroke.

Fool.

Huan Tianyuan opened his eyes.

An egg-faced old eunuch stood before him, glaring angrily at him.

Huan Tianyuan stared dumbly at the old eunuch before him, then lowered his head to look at the Dragon-Slaying Spear gripped in his hands.

Who am I... where am I... where am I going...

"Fool! Really think you're something! Just because you slew a Wild Dragon, you think you're unbeatable!"

The old eunuch roared angrily at him, spittle flying wildly,

"The Princess showed favor towards you! Gave you a chance to turn your life around, yet you don't cherish it!

If you're so keen on dying, then die in Ye Capital!"

Princess... Ye Capital...

Wait, was it that time...

"Brother Huan, what are you hesitating for."

Huan Tianyuan came back to his senses, finding the old eunuch gone, leaving only a middle-aged scholar in military attire standing at the city gate looking at him.

"Commander Ju... Did I choose wrong?"

Commander Ju shook his head,

"I don't know either, but it's natural for people to avoid disaster and seek survival. Now that the enemies are in chaos, the court relocating, what about the people?

If you wish to go to the Three Constellations, go on your own, no need to fight here for the empty fame of dragon slaying, wasting your skills for nothing."

Huan Tianyuan looked at him.

"Why don't you leave, Commander?"

Commander Ju smiled,

"My family has resided in Hebei for generations, my uncle, mother, brothers, and young son are still there, the enterprise painstakingly built through hardship generations cannot be abandoned lightly.

Moreover, to save the oppressed and destroy the wicked is to call it righteousness, relying on strength for arrogance calls for failure. Genzhou may be humble, but it still fields an army of one million; Ye Capital may be beleaguered, yet it can sustain supplies for ten years.

As long as we aristocratic families join forces, uniting the masses, supporting the state, how can mere Stone Dragon bandit troops harm us? We just need to sap the enemy's momentum, trap them outside the city, wait for the Heavenly Army to arrive, and the enemy will fall on their own."

Huan Tianyuan looked at him sorrowfully, watching the blood trickle from his nostrils and mouth.

"But the entire court seems to be full of those who evade their responsibilities, unwilling to heed your counsel or use your strategies, only wishing to surrender to the enemy and protect their own property, what should be done then?"

Commander Ju sighed, then laughed heroically,

"Then all we can do is fulfill our duty, leave it to Heavenly Destiny, die without living, and only remain loyal."

"Boom boom boom!"

Commander Ju patted Huan Tianyuan's shoulder,

"Drumbeat, go to battle."

"Boom boom boom!"

Then Huan Tianyuan opened his eyes, gripping the Step Spear to stand up, and followed hundreds of Iron Scale Elite Soldiers into battle.

Once out the northern gate of Vessel City, without marching but a few miles, a group of Colonels and Marquis Qu talked and strolled by idly.

Huan Tianyuan immediately stepped out, speaking loudly,

"Genzhou's Huan Tianyuan greets the Colonel!"

His voice was loud, he was tall and broad-shouldered, immediate drawing attention.

The Colonel also seemed bored, upon hearing Huan Tianyuan announce his name, their eyes lit up slightly with interest, and waved to stop the Commander from whipping forward to hit the man,

"So you're the Huan Tianyuan from Genzhou who slew the dragon? I've heard of your name, you're in our army too?"

Huan Tianyuan spoke loudly,

"Colonel, I have fought repeatedly against the Northern captives and know the ferocity of the enemies well!

The Enemy Army charges into battle, reaching us with no more than three arrow shots, too late to form ranks!

Please form a phalanx to repel, hide crossbow soldiers within, protect all Commanders in the midst!

Gradually approaching, attack together, the enemy will surely be broken!"

Huan Tianyuan actually just had a loud voice, didn't say anything particularly unconventional.

These soldiers of Zhenzhou were all armored, last time they charged up to a hundred paces before retreating following Shangguan's collapse, they were actually elite, naturally trained in phalanx formations, while those Marcus Qu all seemed to be showing disdain, as if they could handle it if given the chance.

It's just that some people truly didn't know the army could be utilized this way.

But since the Colonels were ordered to fight, although reluctant, they couldn't simply turn tail back, upon hearing this proposal allowing protection from all sides, their minds opened up at once.

"Good, good, good, proceed as he instructed immediately!"

Since the Colonel gave the command, the Commanders immediately followed through, forming thousands into hundred-man phalanxes, protecting the perimeter with Shield and Spear Soldiers, crossbowmen inside, forming solid, impenetrable mountain-like lines.

Once the formation settled, cavalry crested the hill and appeared on the horizon.

Bring it on.

Huan Tianyuan raised his large shield, tightening his grip on the broken spear, staring intently at the Knights atop the hill.

Bring it on, battle.

The Knight then raised his curved bow, shooting an arrow skyward.

"Screech—— screech——!"

The successive cries of eagles sounded, arrows continuously fired, then the earth began to tremble, billowing dust roaring forth from beyond the hills like a sandstorm.

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