LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 33 - Back to the grasslands
In the camp of the Left Wise King of the Huns, he watched as over ten thousand soldiers attacked the city. Many had already climbed the walls, but they still couldn't take it.
The Left Wise King had lost his patience!
Why were the mere thirty thousand garrison troops at Peace Pass so formidable?
Despite the prolonged siege, they hadn't exhausted the garrison's forces.
"Take my order and summon another Grandmaster. I refuse to believe that Calvin Yang is invincible," the Left Wise King decided he couldn't delay any longer.
The Grand Chanyu had already sent several reprimands, ordering him to capture Peace Pass swiftly.
"Yes, sir!"
A messenger took the Left Wise King's order and hurried away.
...
Luo Capital, the imperial city of Great Wei!
Inside the palace, the old emperor was critically ill. The imperial physicians were using various ancient medicines to prolong his life.
In the Crown Prince's residence, Crown Prince Han Che listened expressionlessly to his subordinate's report.
"My second brother promoted that confidant again today?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The Second Prince has appointed General Wei Wu as the commander of the Imperial Guard to take over the palace and has ordered General Li to command the national army."
Crown Prince Han Che had not been appointed as regent. Instead, the Second Prince had been ordered by Emperor Wei Ming to act as regent.
This decree had shaken the entire court.
"And my other brothers?" Crown Prince Han Che asked calmly.
The Third, Sixth, and Ninth Princes were not to be underestimated and naturally wouldn't sit idly by.
"The other princes are all contacting court ministers and generals from various regions."
"Old fool, what are you trying to do?" Han Che looked towards the palace.
He couldn't fathom why his father had done this.
Originally, the Crown Prince was supposed to be regent, but the position had not fallen to him.
The Second Prince being appointed as regent had thrown the court into turmoil, with many ambitious individuals making their moves in the shadows.
The once peaceful court had become a place of intrigue and deception.
...
"Your Highness, the Northern Frontier Border is in urgent need. The Huns' five hundred thousand-strong army is at the gates, preparing to march south. The border generals have sent over a dozen pleas for reinforcements," the Minister of War reported.
Second Prince Han Feiyu waved his hand confidently and said, "There's no rush. I will send General Li to reinforce them."
The Minister of War wanted to speak, but the Minister of Revenue stopped him.
The Minister of Revenue shook his head slightly at him.
Minister of War Wang Cheng sighed inwardly. Power struggles, suppression of dissent, and promotion of cronies—this Second Prince had truly risen to power, bringing everyone along with him.
It wouldn't be long before his own position was replaced.
"How is the disaster relief in Jiangning County?" Han Feiyu asked the Minister of Revenue.
Minister of Revenue Jasper Zuo's heart sank. Was he planning to target him?
"Your Highness, the governor of Jiangnan has already opened the granaries for disaster relief," Jasper Zuo replied.
Han Feiyu nodded indifferently. It seemed the governor of Jiangnan couldn't be kept.
...
In a nondescript courtyard in bustling Luo Capital, three figures sat together in a basement.
"Third Brother, Sixth Brother, Second Brother's power is growing. Many court ministers and generals are already leaning towards him. If we don't unite, we'll be in big trouble."
"Any movement from Big Brother?"
"Big Brother remains motionless. Who knows what he's waiting for."
While the Second Prince was busy suppressing dissent and placing his people in key positions, the other princes were forming alliances and secretly amassing power.
The court of Great Wei was in turmoil, with the princes openly and covertly fighting for power. Everyone seemed to have forgotten that the Northern Frontier was ablaze with war.
...
The battle ceased at dusk, with smoke and fire lingering in the air and the setting sun like blood.
The wind in the Northern Frontier grew stronger.
There were no picturesque scenes of solitary smoke in the desert or the setting sun over a long river.
There were only swords and blood.
Behind Oliver Sheng lay countless corpses.
His tattered battle robe and blood-stained armor, along with his chiseled face, exuded determination.
His deep black eyes were full of sharpness.
The frail scholar was long gone.
Now, he was a tribuni at Peace Pass, a butcher with blood on his hands—Oliver Sheng!
...
As today's battle ended, ordinary soldiers were busy treating the wounded and handling the dead.
Less than half of the Huns' retreating soldiers made it back.
The defending soldiers also lost half their numbers.
Now, Peace Pass had only over ten thousand soldiers left to fight.
Calvin Yang looked at the Huns' camp beyond the pass, his expression grave.
He knew the court wouldn't send reinforcements. They had no more troops to spare.
Until a new heir to the throne emerged, the Northern Frontier Border had been abandoned.
The inland armies had become pawns in the princes' power struggle.
...
After descending the city walls, Oliver Sheng quickly washed up and joined the soldiers for dinner.
After dinner, they would set off.
The soldiers of the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion had all chosen to follow Oliver Sheng in a daring venture onto the grasslands.
"Brothers, this journey is perilous. Make sure to settle your affairs. We might not return," Oliver Sheng said to the fifty or sixty soldiers who had fought with him on the grasslands.
"Sergeant, we joined the army because we had no other path. We seek a future, and dying on the battlefield is an honorable death. What is there to fear?" Hunter Tang said.
"Right, what is there to fear? Either we die in battle, or we return in glory," Owen Hai added.
The others also looked resolute.
"Good, you are indeed my soldiers. This journey, either we die in battle, or we return in glory," Oliver Sheng shouted.
Leading his men, he arrived at the southern gate of the city.
General Calvin Yang was already waiting with his men.
"General!"
Oliver Sheng quickly stepped forward to salute.
"You've arrived!" Calvin Yang nodded.
"General, this is your saber." Oliver Sheng took the Black Gold Battle Saber from his waist and handed it to Calvin Yang.
Calvin Yang took the saber, caressed the blade, sheathed it, and then tossed it back to Oliver Sheng.
"Take it. It's yours now!" Calvin Yang said with a smile.
Oliver Sheng was stunned. As far as he knew, General Calvin Yang had carried this saber for many years.
Calvin Yang's subordinates, including Elliott Sun and Edward Zhao, were also surprised.
This Black Gold Battle Saber was extraordinary. They hadn't expected General Calvin Yang to give it to Oliver Sheng.
"What, you don't want it?"
"No, it's not that!" Oliver Sheng was a bit overwhelmed.
"A good saber is essential for killing enemies. I hope you can relieve the pressure on Peace Pass. If the city falls, countless families will be at the mercy of the Huns' cavalry," Calvin Yang said solemnly.
"I won't let you down!" Oliver Sheng hung the Black Gold Battle Saber at his waist.
"This spear was also made for you. It's decent and usable. I hope you can let it drink Hun blood," Calvin Yang handed a long spear to Oliver Sheng.
Oliver Sheng took the spear, feeling its weight. It was a good spear.
Calvin Yang also gave Oliver Sheng a set of armor.
"Here are a thousand elite cavalry, the last of Peace Pass's reserves. Now, I entrust them to you. I hope you lead them to shine on the grasslands."
Oliver Sheng looked at the thousand cavalry. Wasn't it supposed to be five hundred? Why had it increased?
"They are cavalry. Their strength lies in charging and killing on horseback. Using them to defend the city is a waste. Let them fulfill their purpose," Calvin Yang explained, seeing Oliver Sheng's confusion.
With the addition of five hundred cavalry, their strength had doubled, and Oliver Sheng felt confident.
"Mount up!"
Oliver Sheng led the way, mounting a white warhorse.
The others mounted their horses in unison.
Calvin Yang looked at the cavalry before him, "Soldiers, I await your triumphant return to celebrate your victory."
"March!"
Oliver Sheng led the cavalry out.
Including his previous subordinates, there were a total of over a thousand and sixty cavalry, leaving through the southern gate of Peace Pass.
Without grand speeches, they departed quietly, like ghosts in the night.
To bypass the Huns' scouts and reach the grasslands, they had to take a detour.
After a night of marching, the cavalry entered the boundless grasslands before dawn.
Looking at the vast grasslands, Oliver Sheng felt a surge of emotion. He had returned.
This time, he had brought a thousand cavalry.