Fighting Bloody Battles To Defend The Border, The Love-Brained Empress Ordered The Troops To Withdraw? - Chapter 13

Aside from uncovering the cause behind the previous attack, Li Yunfei knew there was something even more urgent—tightening the defenses.

Yet this was no easy task.

Despite being the top commander of Shanhe City in name, Li Yunfei wasn’t granted full autonomy. He operated under the oversight of both a Military Inspector and a Censor, while also having to balance authority with the city’s governor.

This arrangement, a long-standing tradition of the imperial court, was meant to ensure checks and balances among its officials. Li Yunfei could only comply.

In practice, this meant he only had direct command over the elite city guard—tens of thousands of soldiers he could fully trust.

To mobilize the rest of the forces stationed in Shanhe City, he needed explicit approval from the governor and the inspector.

Fortunately, those two had never actively interfered.

Still, the number of troops he could deploy freely felt insufficient. Every resource was being stretched to its limit.

Shaking his head, he muttered, “No point in dwelling on it. We’ll find a way.”

Drawing from his knowledge of military strategies—especially those from future eras that he’d gained since his time-travel—Li Yunfei restructured the defense system.

Thanks to this, both the city itself and the surrounding countryside saw their security greatly improved.

Five more days slipped by.

Though the grain convoys had yet to arrive, Duan Peng came rushing in with urgent news.

“General, the barbarians are back.”

Li Yunfei’s eyes lit up. “Perfect timing.”

Without hesitation, he reached for the Fangtian Huaji beside him. Skipping the time-consuming task of donning armor, he marched outside.

As he did, Duan Peng continued his report.

“This time they came faster, but because of the updated defense plans you set in place, our forces were able to stop them at the villages.”

“Your name alone seems to terrify them, General. The moment they saw our troops, they turned tail and ran.”

“They fled from a village not far outside the city.”

By then, Li Yunfei had already mounted his steed. Although this horse wasn’t nearly as fine as the Zhaoye Jade Lion he once had, it was still a capable mount.

He spurred it forward with a sharp motion, the horse neighing as it charged ahead.

“Since you dared to approach, don’t expect to walk away,” he said coldly.

To Li Yunfei, the villages around Shanhe City were not just settlements—they were strongholds, lines in the sand. If the enemy came probing, they would not be allowed to retreat unscathed.

Duan Peng followed behind with two thousand elite cavalry, charging out of the city’s northern gate at full speed.

It didn’t take long before they spotted the barbarian raiding party—disheartened, slowing down as they retreated.

“Sixth Prince,” one of the barbarian guards said, “the other princes raided successfully and returned with spoils. Only we came back empty-handed. His Majesty will surely question your capability.”

The young man on horseback, dressed in fine armor and with a princely air, furrowed his brows.

“I know,” Tuoba Hao muttered. “Father won’t be pleased, but what choice did I have?”

“Li Yunfei responded too quickly. He’s already repositioned his troops. If we charge blindly, we’re throwing our lives away—and then what use is my claim to the throne?”

Just as he was speaking, frantic cries echoed from behind.

Tuoba Hao turned around—and his heart sank.

Charging toward them at breakneck speed was a unit of Han cavalry, with a commander at the front who was instantly recognizable—even without his usual white battle robes.

Li Yunfei.

Tuoba Hao’s face twisted with alarm. “Damn it! He’s already here!”

Panicking, he gave a sharp order to his troops: “Delay him! Hold him back!”

He had no intention of engaging. All he wanted now was to survive.

But sacrificing a small group of barbarians to slow Li Yunfei down had predictable results—slaughter.

The defenders of Shanhe City swept through them like a storm. Swords slashed through flesh, and heads thudded to the ground one after another.

In less than fifteen minutes, over a thousand barbarians lay dead.

Meanwhile, Tuoba Hao had already fled nearly a mile away with his personal guard. He finally allowed himself to exhale, glancing back.

The sight made his bl00d boil—bodies everywhere, the ground soaked in red.

He didn’t care about the lives of his men, but they were still under his command. Worse, all the other princes had succeeded in their raids, while he had not only failed but suffered humiliating losses.

His father would be furious.

The shame would haunt him—and damage his standing in the succession struggle.

Anger surged through him. He pulled on the reins and stopped.

Facing Li Yunfei from a distance, he shouted with venom in his voice: “So what if you’ve killed a few of my men, Li Yunfei?”

“Let me tell you, His Majesty has already granted me Shanhe City as part of my marriage alliance! Sooner or later, this city will belong to me.”

“You killed my soldiers today—tomorrow, I’ll make the Han people pay tenfold, a hundredfold!”

But before he could finish, a rider broke from Li Yunfei’s formation, charging straight at him like a shooting star.

Tuoba Hao realized it too late.

As he scrambled to make his horse gallop faster, the gap between them closed in a flash.

His face went pale.

Just when he thought he had reached top speed, he heard the whistle of wind behind him.

In that instant of horror, he twisted around just in time to see a sharp arrow hurtling toward him.

It grazed his head, snapping his headband and sending his hair flying loose. The impact knocked him off his horse.

Luckily, his guards dragged him up right away, and he galloped off again in terror, never daring to look back.

That was the last he shouted anything at Li Yunfei.

Still, the effect on morale was visible.

They’d won—decisively. Li Yunfei’s arrow had nearly taken Tuoba Hao’s life.

But instead of cheering, the soldiers returned in silence.

Duan Peng’s expression was somber.

“General,” he asked softly, “is it true His Majesty intends to give Shanhe City away?”

Li Yunfei didn’t answer right away.

Then he replied with quiet resolve, “As long as I live, Shanhe City will remain standing—and so will its people.”

Not a word about the city itself. But his meaning was clear.

He ordered the battlefield cleaned up and led the troops back, loaded with captured weapons and supplies.

Just as he arrived at the general’s residence, a messenger rushed to report.

“General! We’ve discovered the person responsible for letting the barbarians slip into the villages earlier…”