Chapter 141: A Show of Force, A Humbling Reality Check

Jiang Pingchuan gazed intently at the markings on the ground. These traces were long old, indicating that before their arrival, Long Heng’s troops had not yet passed this point. At the crossroads, the forces had split into two paths, advancing toward the borderlands.

Now, they had reached the junction of the upper and lower routes. Logically, Jiang Pingchuan, who had encountered the Barbarian King's soldiers on the upper route and eliminated them after Wang Man’s appearance prematurely exposed the enemy, should have cleared that path.

Yet, Long Heng’s group had not arrived here. Jiang Pingchuan vaguely sensed that perhaps Long Heng had also been ambushed by the Barbarian King’s soldiers on the lower route, though the exact situation remained unknown.

“Should I go check it out?” Old Gong stood beside Jiang Pingchuan and suggested. Jiang Pingchuan glanced at the ground and shook his head. Long Heng, along with Shaha and Duolun and their four hundred thousand troops, should handle whatever lay ahead without issue.

Jiang Pingchuan cast a glance at Wang Man, who stood nearby lost in thought, and frowned. Wang Man noticed Jiang Pingchuan looking at him and walked over directly.

“Brother Pingchuan, these tracks are at least a month old. The surrounding soil is undisturbed, yet where could the Barbarian King’s soldiers have come from, to pass through the very place we intend to march? There are only our footprints here, no others,” Wang Man said, pointing to the ground before Jiang Pingchuan.

Jiang Pingchuan looked at Wang Man with a knowing smile. “What if the Barbarian King’s troops have been lying in ambush on our route for over a month?”

Wang Man pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement, falling silent. Jiang Pingchuan returned the look but said nothing further.

“What shall we do next?” Old Gong asked, eyes fixed on the distant wisp of smoke rising ahead. Not far off lay the city where the Lan Dynasty’s border defense army was stationed. The frontier city sat on the western edge of the Changfeng Continent, adjacent to the Barbarian King’s northwestern territory.

The Barbarian King’s forces could bypass the border city when advancing from other directions toward the royal capital, but to launch a full-scale assault, they needed to breach the western frontier city. Only then could their entire army sweep toward the capital in overwhelming force.

“Send word to Marshal Iron Bull that reinforcements have arrived,” Jiang Pingchuan said calmly, gazing ahead. Old Gong nodded and gestured to a cavalryman behind him, giving a few orders. The rider and his squad galloped swiftly toward the Iron Bull patrol camp.

Beyond the patrol camp lay the border city itself. Now that Jiang Pingchuan had arrived, the expectation was that Iron Bull would send troops out to welcome them.

“Order the march to slow down and await further instructions,” Jiang Pingchuan said to the cavalryman behind him. The rider acknowledged and cracked his whip, passing the command down along the line.

Jiang Pingchuan mounted his steed, Tingyun, and leisurely rode toward the patrol camp. Here at the borderlands, he did not feel desolation but a strange sense of belonging—as though this place had been waiting for him for a very long time.

Behind him, Wang Man and Old Gong chatted about the delicacies of the frontier. Wang Man, who had lived near the border, was well acquainted with the local cuisine.

Their lively conversation reached Jiang Pingchuan’s ears, though most of the delicacies Wang Man mentioned came from the northwest—territory under the Barbarian King’s rule.

Jiang Pingchuan harbored many doubts but did not rule out that, before the war erupted, the borderlands and the northwest had maintained regular exchanges.

Gradually, in Jiang Pingchuan’s view appeared a cluster of tents, and not far behind them, a massive city. Though still some distance away, Jiang Pingchuan could already sense the imposing aura emanating from the city.

From his perspective, the border city was unadorned—no ornate carvings, just a simple fortress. Approaching the patrol camp, Jiang Pingchuan noticed that the cavalry he had dispatched had left only their horses outside; the soldiers themselves had vanished.

Jiang Pingchuan quietly approached the vast patrol camp.

Before long, a young man emerged from a tent directly opposite Jiang Pingchuan. His armor was disheveled, and he staggered forward with a peculiar gait. Behind him followed a group of soldiers who showed no fighting spirit, lounging with an air of indifference.

With a smirk, the youth staggered before Jiang Pingchuan, shaking his shoulders and clicking his tongue incessantly, reaching out to touch Jiang Pingchuan’s white robe.

Wang Man swiftly caught the youth’s wrist. The youth glared at Wang Man and tried to pull free but found himself firmly held, unable to move.

“Let go, damn it! You want to die?” the youth snarled, glaring fiercely at Wang Man.

Wang Man’s expression darkened as he glanced at Jiang Pingchuan. Jiang Pingchuan nodded imperceptibly, signaling Wang Man to release the youth.

Wang Man snorted and reluctantly let go. The youth sneered, mocking Wang Man’s plain, coarse cloth shirt, deeming him an easy target.

The youth grinned proudly at Jiang Pingchuan. Wang Man looked on disappointedly, lowering his head silently.

“Kid, you think you can…” the youth began.

“Bang! Ouch!” Jiang Pingchuan suddenly lifted his foot and kicked the youth away. The youth’s soldiers behind him were knocked down as well.

The youth fell hard to the ground, groaning angrily as he got up but dared not approach Jiang Pingchuan again, evidently afraid of another kick.

Jiang Pingchuan’s unexpected strike stunned everyone—Old Gong and even Wang Man exchanged surprised glances, then smiled faintly.

The soldiers, seeing their leader tossed aside, quickly drew their weapons and formed a circle around Jiang Pingchuan and his companions. Jiang Pingchuan smiled calmly at the youth standing smugly behind them.

“What’s your name? Bring out the patrol camp’s commander,” Jiang Pingchuan frowned. He hadn’t expected such a brat at the border, even before entering the city. It seemed that besides the urgent war situation, this riffraff also needed to be dealt with.

The youth looked astonished at Jiang Pingchuan’s demand, then pointed comically at himself, eyes wide. Soon, he burst into laughter, clicking his tongue and gesturing mockingly at Jiang Pingchuan.

“I’m Tie Shilin, son of the frontier marshal Iron Bull. I’m the commander of this patrol camp. So, kid, are you here to beg for mercy? Hahaha!” Tie Shilin said, grinning broadly.

Jiang Pingchuan understood immediately—this unruly youth was the son of the frontier marshal, Iron Bull. No wonder he was so arrogant; he had a powerful father to clean up his messes.

“Do you know who I am?” Jiang Pingchuan asked coldly.

Tie Shilin suddenly adopted a serious expression, pointed at Jiang Pingchuan, nodded, and puckered his lips as if trying hard to recall something.

“Heh heh, I know you. You’re that mountain village rustic Jiang Pingchuan who was ordered to march out. You’re the first person I can remember. Hahaha!” Tie Shilin said seriously, then broke out into loud laughter again.

Jiang Pingchuan frowned tightly, then slowly relaxed, a faint smile forming on his lips.

Old Gong behind Jiang Pingchuan watched Tie Shilin with cold eyes, tightly clenching his fists. Surprisingly, Wang Man appeared far calmer, as if already anticipating Jiang Pingchuan’s next move, quietly waiting for the show to begin.

“Heh heh, hand over my men,” Jiang Pingchuan said, extending his hand toward Tie Shilin while glancing at the dozen horses scattered beside the camp.

Tie Shilin put his hand to his ear, leaning to one side with a confused look. Then he laughed again.

“What did you say? I can’t hear you. Say it louder!” Tie Shilin mocked Jiang Pingchuan.

Jiang Pingchuan smiled. Tie Shilin turned to whisper something in Old Gong’s ear. Old Gong smiled faintly, nodded, and began to step out.

The soldiers behind hastily pointed their spears at Old Gong to block his way. Old Gong sneered, moved swiftly, and slipped through their encirclement. Wang Man watched Old Gong’s retreating figure, eyes inadvertently resting on his back.

“Kid, do you know what you’re doing? You’re challenging my authority. Seize them!” Tie Shilin said disdainfully, stepping out of the ring himself, clearly displeased. The soldiers tightened their circle, spears aimed at Wang Man and Jiang Pingchuan.

Suddenly, Old Gong blew a loud whistle toward the sky. The sharp, melodious sound echoed through the camp.

Tie Shilin frowned, watching Old Gong foolishly blow the whistle, then approach the encirclement again.

Tie Shilin burst into hearty laughter once more, thoroughly enjoying himself, even tears at the corners of his eyes as he mocked Jiang Pingchuan. But then his laughter slowly faded, suddenly stopping as his eyes widened, staring at the swirling sandstorm rising before him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Where the sky had been clear, a torrent of yellow-brown sand erupted violently, shaking the ground. The thunderous sound of countless hooves thundered into the camp.

From the swirling sand emerged an endless cavalry force. They rapidly surrounded the patrol camp, circling it relentlessly. The pounding hooves struck like hammers on Tie Shilin’s heart.

Tie Shilin’s face fell, staring at the two hundred thousand cavalry before him. Just moments ago, there had only been a dozen soldiers. Why had they arrived so quickly despite Jiang Pingchuan’s order to leave the troops ten miles away? Everything, every plan, had collapsed utterly. Tie Shilin was stunned.

The camp’s thousand-plus soldiers dropped their weapons in terror, watching the encircling cavalry who were supposed to be their reinforcements.

But now, they all felt the steel blades were pointed at them.

Jiang Pingchuan smiled and calmly approached Tie Shilin, who looked utterly bewildered.

“What do you want? Don’t touch me!” Tie Shilin said nervously.

Jiang Pingchuan stepped forward. Tie Shilin collapsed to the ground, gasping, too frightened to meet Jiang Pingchuan’s gaze.

Wang Man knelt before Tie Shilin, looking pityingly at him.

“I’ve seen many fools, but you’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever met.”

“Hahaha…”