The Barbarians Invade the Mountain and River City, Rivers of Blood Flow

Less than two hours after Sun Xiang left, a barbarian cavalry unit of three thousand men arrived. Seeing the ground littered with the corpses of their own kind, they were filled with extraordinary rage.

They immediately gave chase along the road.

Based on their past experiences fighting the Chifeng Army, these "two-legged sheep" couldn't have gone far.

But this time, they searched for a long while and found nothing. Furthermore, today was the great day their barbarian tribe was to take over Shanhe City, so they could not afford to delay too long.

One by one, they cursed at the heavens.

"These Yu dogs sure ran fast this time!"

"We can't delay any longer. The Third Prince is probably arriving soon. If we don't head back now, we'll miss the moment he enters the city."

"We'll let these two-legged sheep off this once. Damn it, let's see if they can run this fast next time!"

...

This three-thousand-strong barbarian force immediately turned their horses around and galloped wildly toward Shanhe City. By the time they arrived, they found the main barbarian army already entering the city in an orderly fashion.

In truth, they had still been delayed.

Not daring to make a fuss, they carefully merged into the barbarian ranks. Before long, they reached the entrance of Shanhe City's north gate.

If Shanhe City was the unshakeable fortress that blocked their march south, then its north gate was the bridgehead of that fortress.

Over the years, an unknown number of barbarian corpses had been buried beneath its walls; if gathered together, they would have long formed a mountain.

But now, this Shanhe City was theirs.

They could enter this north gate whenever they pleased.

At this moment, a crowd was gathered beneath the north gate. Looking over, one could see a handsome and elegant young man in the center of the group. With a face as flawless as jade and refined features, he gave off the distinct air of a dashing young nobleman.

This was none other than their barbarian Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai.

Tuoba Xiangtai stood with his hands clasped behind his back. In front of him was a stone stele.

The stele was ancient, its surface marred by numerous cracks, mottled and old, yet it was completely free of moss, indicating that someone frequently wiped it clean.

Carved into the front of the stele with vigorous, bold strokes were several large characters:

"Within Great Yu's borders, Barbarians are forbidden to pass!"

This had been erected by the Great Yu Dynasty many years ago.

And Great Yu had always upheld this maxim.

Over the years, although border markets had gradually been allowed to open, permitting barbarian merchants to travel south, the Great Yu army had always kept the barbarian forces blocked before this stele, unable to advance a single step.

But now...

Tuoba Xiangtai said indifferently, "Smash it!"

"Yes!"

The barbarian soldiers surged forward with fervent zeal.

Lacking iron hammers, they used the scimitars in their hands, hacking viciously at the stone stele.

The stele was sturdy, having stood tall through countless battles; mere scimitars could only scratch its surface.

But the barbarian soldiers were numerous!

If one scimitar wasn't enough, they used ten!

If ten weren't enough, they used a hundred!

If a hundred weren't enough, they would use ten thousand, a hundred thousand!

This time, their barbarian army numbered a full hundred thousand.

With the Chifeng Army gone from Great Yu's Shanhe City, and the city itself personally handed over as a dowry by Empress Xiao Mingzhao, they were free to do as they pleased within its walls.

If they wished, they could even tear down the walls of Shanhe City inch by inch.

These walls, soaked in the blood of countless brothers, friends, and family—if they pleased, they could grind every single brick into dust, into ash!

The crackling sounds of the stele being smashed grew increasingly intense.

The barbarian Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai, who had given the order, showed no change in expression. He remained as calm and breezy as ever, but the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter!

Only when the stele was on the verge of crumbling did he mount his horse and lead the barbarian army into the city!

Into Shanhe City!

Into this Shanhe City that had prevented them from advancing even a single step for hundreds of years.

Riding tall on his grand steed, though his face was calm, he could not help but feel a soaring arrogance. The moment his horse's hooves stepped into Shanhe City, he felt as if he were floating on the clouds.

"The barbarians are finally here! May our two nations forge an eternal bond of friendship!"

"With Her Majesty and the Third Prince's grand wedding, we too can share in the joy."

"Warmly celebrating the arrival of the barbarians to our Shanhe City!"

...

At the city gates, three or four hundred native residents of Shanhe City had gathered at some unknown point. They had been waiting all along and finally saw the arrival of the barbarians.

The barbarians had arrived. The sea of blood and deep enmity between the barbarians and Great Yu had been completely set aside due to Her Majesty's marriage. From now on, Shanhe City would no longer be a battleground of clashing blades, but a place of friendship between the two peoples.

They would never have to suffer the miseries of war again.

How could they not be excited?

"It's just hateful that the others are out of their minds, not knowing to come and welcome the barbarian army. Every single one of them is hiding at home behind closed doors."

"Hmph, so short-sighted!"

As the rice shop owner loudly cheered his welcome, he couldn't help but inwardly mock those who lacked vision, especially Sun Xiang.

He had even wanted to take him away!

Fortunately, he had been firm in his resolve and extremely sharp, not falling for Sun Xiang's deception. Otherwise, how could he be squeezing into the front row right now to personally welcome the barbarian tribe into the city!

"My Lord, My Lord, you must be the Third Prince, right?"

"We have been looking forward to your grand wedding with our Majesty for a long time!"

Naturally, the rice shop owner couldn't miss this opportunity to show off. He rushed to the very front, hoping to leave a good impression on the Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai.

Although he didn't know what use this good impression would be to him, leaving a good impression on a barbarian bigwig couldn't possibly be a bad thing.

"Noisy!"

A light cavalryman next to the Third Prince shouted coldly. He drew the precious blade from his waist and casually delivered a strike. The blade flashed brightly, and immediately after...

The rice shop owner's head fell to the ground!

"Kill all these noisy Yu dogs."

That light cavalryman was clearly a guard for the Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai. His status was not low, granting him the authority to issue commands.

Thus, upon his command, the surrounding barbarians sprang into action. Flashes of blades lit up continuously, and heads kept falling.

Those Yu people who had originally come to curry favor with the Third Prince all instantly turned deathly pale.

Wasn't the barbarian Third Prince going to marry Her Majesty? Weren't the barbarians and the Yu people going to be friends forever? Wasn't Shanhe City given to the barbarian Third Prince as a dowry?

The future was supposed to be filled with good days!

They wouldn't have to suffer from war anymore. They could peacefully enjoy this prosperous era within Shanhe City, witnessing the barbarians and the Yu people together building a magnificent golden age.

But...

Why were the barbarians drawing their blades against them?

The blades were so fast, so bright.

So fast that they couldn't even react, so bright that they couldn't keep their eyes open. They only felt one head after another flying up before their eyes, only felt countless splatters of blood flying through the air, until...

The edges of the blades closed in on themselves.

Screaming with all their might, kneeling on the ground begging desperately for mercy, crying out for their parents, yet none of it could help them escape those flashes of steel.

Until they fell straight down, devoid of any breath of life.

Beneath the north gate of Shanhe City, utter silence finally fell.

Only then did the Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai, say leisurely, "Stop. Do not be reckless. I have already formed a lifelong union with the Empress of Great Yu. From now on, our two nations are one family."

"In broad daylight, you must not lay a hand on the Yu people."

"Yes!"

The barbarian soldiers, having already returned to their ranks, voiced their compliance.

"Let us go. We shall go... take a look at the Mansion of the General Who Pacifies the North."

...