In the twenty-first year of Jiaqing in the Great Hua Kingdom, the entire nation rejoiced.
The ten-year-long war in the northern territories that had plagued the Great Hua Kingdom was finally over.
Among the Great Hua Kingdom's grand army, a man named Li Xuan, like a god of war, led a thousand soldiers to break through the encirclement and charge directly into the enemy's main camp.
After slaying the highest commander of the Liudao Kingdom, the allied armies of the Great Hua Kingdom annihilated and killed all the invading forces of the Liudao Kingdom. The fifty prefectures of the northern territories were finally liberated.
The defeat of the Liudao Kingdom's army forced them to unconditionally declare surrender. Afterward, they dispatched envoys to sign a series of peace treaties, naturally at a great cost.
Li Xuan's name became unrivaled in the Great Hua Kingdom.
With the end of the northern war, the King of the Great Hua Kingdom was overjoyed. The meritorious officials were rewarded one by one. Li Xuan, who had the greatest contribution and received the king's commendation, was directly promoted from a one-star commander to a six-star deputy general.
The Great Hua Kingdom's military ranks were divided into soldiers, sergeants, one-star to five-star commanders. Above five-star, six-star was deputy general. Below seven-star was junior general, eight-star was middle general, nine-star was senior general, and ten-star was marshal.
In the vast Great Hua Kingdom, there were no more than ten marshals. A sergeant could command a hundred soldiers, and a one-star commander commanded a thousand.
The fact that Li Xuan could be promoted from a one-star commander to a six-star deputy general showed the Great Hua Kingdom's king's emphasis on the northern war. Of course, it also depended on the achievements Li Xuan himself had made.
Li Xuan, naturally, was the third son of the Li family from the Li Mansion in a small southern town. After being conscripted into the army, although Li Xuan was physically weak, he had practiced martial arts since childhood and quickly integrated into military life.
Through countless battles, Li Xuan transformed from a new recruit into a one-star commander. Of the three hundred and nine youths from Qingyun Town who had come out with Li Xuan, forty-one had died in battle, and seventy-two were severely wounded.
If it weren't for Li Xuan's selfless rescue, at least half of these three hundred and nine youths would have perished on the battlefield.
"General, the King has ordered you to proceed to the capital for enfeoffment in a month. The entire northern army is now under your command," Li Meng said, looking at Li Xuan standing on the city wall, with a fervent and respectful bow.
Li Meng was also one of those saved by Li Xuan on the battlefield. At that time, Li Meng was severely wounded, and even the physicians declared him beyond survival, yet Li Xuan had stayed by his side, day and night, without closing his eyes.
After recovering, Li Meng became exceptionally loyal to Li Xuan.
"It has been two months since the great war ended. They should all be resting in peace by now," Li Xuan said, a hint of guilt on his resolute face.
Of the companions who had set out together, forty-one incomplete corpses had returned. How many families would now face sorrow.
"Replying to the general, their bodies were transported back a month ago. I believe they have all been laid to rest," Li Meng replied with a nod.
"After visiting the capital, summon them to return and pay respects together," Li Xuan said with a slight nod upon hearing this.
"Yes!" Li Meng immediately bowed in assent.
...
"Broken Brush, what exactly is this Soul Realm? The Master's consciousness entered it and underwent such a tremendous change," Zhenyu Cang Ling Pagoda asked before the Heavenly Dao Brush.
"The spiritual soul and the soul are born together. If the young master wishes to elevate the spiritual soul to a higher level, the soul naturally must also improve. These experiences are tempering the strength of the young master's soul. Furthermore, the Soul Realm varies from person to person. I cannot speak with certainty about the direction of the young master's situation."
The Heavenly Dao Brush paused before continuing, "However, from what I can see now, everything seems to be going quite well."
Great Hua Kingdom, Northern Border City.
"Is the news accurate?" Inside the City Lord's mansion, upon hearing the scout's report, Li Xuan frowned slightly. Li Meng and another middle-aged man, around forty years old, standing beside him, also wore expressions of anger.
"Replying to the general, the armies of the four nations of Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue have reached Saimaguan Pass. The surrounding troops can be preliminarily estimated at eight million. The number of follow-up reinforcements is still being investigated," the scout below reported, cupping his fists.
"General Li, our current garrison in the northern territory is only two million. If we engage in direct confrontation, the losses will likely be heavy. These four small nations clearly intend to exploit our Great Hua Kingdom's exhaustion after the battle with the Liudao Kingdom, otherwise they wouldn't attack so boldly. The current situation is rather difficult to break," the middle-aged man standing behind Li Xuan said.
"General Wang, you should still call me Li Xuan. Without your promotion and guidance, I wouldn't have been able to adapt to military life so quickly. Moreover, you are a seven-star junior general, and by title, you are one rank higher than me," Li Xuan said respectfully to the middle-aged man. He then stood up and pondered for a moment before continuing, "With the eight million troops of the four nations of Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue pressing down, a direct confrontation is indeed not very wise. General Wang, do you have any suggestions?"
"The King has ordered the entire northern army to be under your command, General Li. I dare not presume upon my official rank. Furthermore, you have achieved what you have through your own hard work. If you lacked the ability to command troops, how could you have established the Li Family Army and successfully infiltrated the Liudao Kingdom's stronghold?"
"In the current situation, I'm afraid I can't offer any advice. If you want to secure the northern territories, there will undoubtedly be significant losses. If you want to preserve the soldiers, the only option is to retreat." General Wang said.
Li Xuan frowned and shook his head, "If we retreat, morale will inevitably be low. The four nations of Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue will not necessarily let go of this opportunity. Moreover, the northern territories have just been reclaimed, how can we hand them over again so readily? Very well, these four wolves—Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue—I, Li Xuan, would like to see how much confidence they truly possess!"
"Li Meng!" Li Xuan commanded sternly.
"Here!" Li Meng responded loudly, straightening his body.
"Assemble the Li Family Army and follow me to meet the enemy!" Li Xuan said in a deep voice. He then cupped his fists to General Wang and said, "I request General Wang to defend Northern Border City and protect the citizens within the city!"
"But the Li Family Army only has a hundred thousand soldiers, you..." Seeing Li Xuan's determined expression, General Wang sighed slightly. "Very well, since your mind is made up, I will not obstruct you. Rest assured, I will defend Northern Border City and the people of Great Hua Kingdom with my life!"
"Thank you, General Wang." Li Xuan bowed to General Wang again, then stood up and looked at Li Meng, who immediately strode out of the hall. A horn sounded, and the Li Family Army quickly gathered.
Saimaguan Pass, a natural fortress.
Five armies faced each other. Outside Saimaguan Pass, a middle-aged man rode out from the front of the four armies. These four were the marshals of the four nations of Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue.
"Li Xuan, your northern territory only has two million troops now. Do you still intend to resist stubbornly? I, this marshal, recognize your talent. If you choose to surrender, I can spare your life!" the Marshal of Qi said, looking at Li Xuan.
"To make me surrender, ask my spear first if it agrees!" Li Xuan snorted in response, facing the alliance of eight million troops from the four nations of Qi, Yan, Zhao, and Yue without fear.
"Stubborn and ignorant! Arrogant brat, do you truly believe that because you narrowly defeated the Liudao Kingdom, you are invincible? Today, I will take your head!" the Marshal of Qi rebuked furiously.
Li Xuan slowly withdrew his gaze, waved his spear, and said, "Those who offend my Great Hua shall be punished, no matter how far away they are!"
"Kill!"