In the imperial capital of the Great Han Dynasty, within the inner courtyard of the imperial palace, an imperial attendant hastily rushed towards the imperial study.

  "A memorial to Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from the northern military camp eight hundred miles away."

  "Three Shangshu, Gu Dao Yuan Marshal and the Crown Prince pay homage."

  Half an hour later, four senior officials and Crown Prince Liu Zhengqi of the Eastern Palace gathered in the Imperial Study.

  "My dear sirs, do you know why I have summoned you all here?" Emperor Xian of Han asked.

  Although it has only been a little over a year, Emperor Xian of Han already appears slightly older. This past year he has been extremely unsettled, ever since learning that the Xiongnu and the Roman Empire have allied to plot against the Han Dynasty's territory, he has been weighed down by his worries, gloomy and unhappy.

  Everyone looked at each other, silent and speechless. The news of the four major families was so well-informed that as soon as the urgent letter from the northern camp arrived in the capital, they had already received the news through different channels. Although they didn't know what the content was like yet, it seemed there was no good news, otherwise Emperor Hanxian wouldn't have summoned them to come and discuss with such urgency.

  If there is still someone who does not know the reason, then it can only be Crown Prince Liu Zhengyi.

  "My son does not know, please enlighten me, Your Majesty." Liu Zhengqi stepped forward and bowed.

  The Han Emperor took out a scroll and threw it at Fang Lin Tian, saying: "The Xiongnu's Golden Wolf Army has finally made its move."

  Fang Ling Tian took it and unfolded it, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he said: "The Xiongnu people have already gathered an army of over 80,000 in the northern great camp, and new troops are arriving every day. Just a month ago, the flag of the Golden Wolf Army appeared."

  "Jinlang Army? So Modu plans to launch a strong attack from the northern camp." Tang Zonghan took over the document and roughly browsed through it, saying.

  Fang Ling Tian nodded and said, "The Golden Wolf Army is the most proud army of the Xiongnu people, and it is also the trump card of the Khan's troops. On the vast grasslands, no troops have ever dared to impersonate their flag. Since even they have been deployed, it means that Modu has already arrived at the front line in person. If we don't make a response strategy as soon as possible, then the northern camp... is in danger."

  "Mr. Fang, are you suggesting that we send reinforcements?" Liu Zhengqi's gaze rose from the document, inquiring.

  "Not bad, don't delay, the sooner the better." Fang Ling Tian said in a deep voice. The Northern Great Camp was the most powerful army in the Great Han military, and it was also the main force of the Fang family. Both publicly and privately, they couldn't afford to have any carelessness or negligence.

  "May I ask, Your Excellency, where will the reinforcements be drawn from?" Gu Dao spoke up after entering, having remained silent until this moment.

  His status was prestigious, but compared to the masters of the three great families who had been passed down for hundreds of years, he was somewhat inferior. He was only a commander-in-chief of the Western Camp who fought against the Caesars and showed unparalleled war talent back then.

  If it were a solo battle, even Fang Ling Tian would privately admit that he was inferior to Gu Dao Yan. Before Xu Haifeng's unexpected rise, Gu Dao Yan was indeed the number one general of the Great Han Empire, and it was only because of today's Han Xian Emperor that he was allowed to join the meeting as an exception.

  Fang Ling Tian looked at him and asked in return: "In your esteemed opinion as the Commander-in-Chief, where should we withdraw troops from?"

  "The commander thinks that except for the Western Great Camp's Tianying Army Corps, which cannot be withdrawn, the other three major army corps can be mobilized."

  The Han Xian Emperor's expression changed slightly, and he asked: "Tell me more about your family."

  "Your servant has received the order. In my opinion, we can dispatch 50,000 troops each from the Huanglong Army in the capital and the Canglang Army in the northwest to rush to the northern border. If there are 200,000 troops gathered at the northern border camp, no matter what, we will have the capital to fight against the Xiongnu. Furthermore, order the Qilin Army to dispatch 30,000 troops to go north and prepare to reinforce at any time."

  The troops mentioned in his speech are all the five major legions, indicating that in his heart, apart from these five major legions, other troops are not worth mentioning when facing the Xiongnu people.

  Everyone present understood this principle.

  Although Fang Ling Tian and the other three family heads did not show any expression, they were secretly shocked. In fact, the Xiongnu people's reinforcement of troops to the northern camp was no longer a secret.

  After the beginning of spring, the Huns began to mobilize their troops one after another. At first, they were still sneaking around, but later on, they became more and more brazen. Fang Lingtian and others had already discussed countermeasures, but after racking their brains, the conclusion they came up with coincidentally matched the strategy that Gu Daozi casually mentioned at this time.

  They already knew about the Cheng family's rebellion, so why would Gu Dao still propose the most reasonable suggestion at this time?

  Liu Zhengqi nodded secretly, took a step forward and said: "Your Majesty, the strategy proposed by Gu Yuan is in line with my thoughts. At this time when the Xiongnu are invading our borders, I am willing to lead the army personally and go to the northern border to do my best for Your Majesty."

  "Hmm..." Emperor Han Xian was greatly comforted in his old age, among the many princes, perhaps only Liu Zhengyi had such courage and audacity.

  "Impossible." Su Dongpo immediately opposed: "How can the Crown Prince leave the capital lightly?"

  "Yes." Fang Lingtian agreed, "Although the Crown Prince's presence on the front lines has a great effect in boosting morale, it also has its drawbacks."

  "Oh... let's hear what Fang Qiang has to say." Emperor Han Xian smiled and stroked his beard.

  "Your Highness's status is revered, if you are in the northern camp, how can the commander-in-chief take care of himself?" Fang Ling Tian said.

  "Although the Minister Fang is at ease, I have already joined the army and should only follow orders. I will not dare to act on my own or disobey military orders." Liu Zhengqi guaranteed with a solemn oath.

  "Your Majesty," said Fang Ling Tian, shaking his head and sighing, "I'm not worried that you won't obey orders."

  Liu Zhengqi was greatly surprised and asked: "Then what is Fang Shangshu worried about?"

  Fang Ling Tian looked at him with a glance, wanting to speak but stopping himself, as if there was something difficult to express.

  Liu Zhengqi was about to urge, when he heard Gu Daoxu laugh and say: "Your Highness, Fang Shangshu is worried that if you appear on the battlefield in Beijiang, it will make it difficult for Fang Lingchen to command."

  Seeing Liu Zhengqi wanting to explain again, he continued to explain: "Because I was worried that Your Highness would lose, so General Fang had to arrange a large number of troops to escort you. On the battlefield, every moment is changing, and every military force is precious."

  In fact, there is another meaning that has not been said. If Liu Zhengqi goes to Beijiang, he will inevitably become a burden that cannot be lost. When the military strength is not as good as the enemy's, bringing such a burden is even more devastating.

  What's more, if Liu Zhengqi really lost in Beijiang, even if Fang Lichen won this war, he might not be able to make up for his mistakes.

  These words would naturally be understood by Tian, but the commander of the Northern Border Garrison was his own third brother, so it wasn't suitable for him to say such things.

  "In those years, didn't the Emperor himself lead the expedition? Why didn't General Yuan stop him?" Liu Zhengqi retorted, his heart still not convinced.

  Gu Dao Yun heard this and revealed a hint of bitter smile, saying helplessly: "At that time it was I who was strong and the enemy weak, but now it is the enemy who is strong and I who am weak, how can they be mentioned on the same day?"

  Fang Ling Tian and others sighed, unable to speak a word.

  In the past, when the two great empires clashed, the Great Han had to mobilize the strength of five legions just to protect its territory from being lost, and was still unable to counterattack. Now, the Tianying Legion must be stationed in the west to defend against the Caesar's army, so it cannot move. Without this strong support, no one dares to say that they can win for sure.

  In Emperor Han Xian's heart, he also did not wish for his most outstanding son to personally go to the battlefield. Upon hearing this, he waved his hand and said: "Alright, it is settled then, Fang Ke."

  "I am present."

  "Follow the plan of General Gu and let you decide on the specific personnel. As for the commander of the reinforcements from the Huanglong Army, it will be...". He paused for a moment, then made up his mind: "Let Deputy Commander Liu Zhengqian take charge."

  "Yes, I obey your order."

  Liu Zhengqi was reluctant in his heart, but since the emperor had already made up his mind, he could only give up.

  A group of people bid farewell to Emperor Han Xian and left the palace. Gu Dao Yan went his separate way, while the three family heads gathered together for a private discussion.

  "Fang Lao Ge, don't you think that Gu Lao Tou's behavior is a bit strange?" Tang Zong Han asked with doubt.

  Fang Ling Tian nodded and said: "If it weren't for the fact that the one who told me this news was Feng Er, and considering what the Cheng family has been up to these past few years, which is indeed suspicious, I wouldn't have dared to believe it."

  "Lao Fang, what on earth are they up to? Could it be..." Su Dongshun said, pausing involuntarily at this point.

  "What's going on...?" Tang Zonghan asked back.

  "For over a decade, the Cheng family has been interfering with military affairs, and Cheng Yinghao has even risen to the position of deputy commander of the Wolf Army. I'm worried that the Wolf Army is unstable." Su Dongsheng said hesitantly.

  Fang Ling Tian and Tang Zong Han exchanged a glance, and a chill ran down their spines. If things were really as they seemed, then the Great Han Empire was indeed in grave danger, teetering on the brink of collapse like a candle in the wind.

  "It's impossible." Fang Ling Tian shook his head and said categorically, "Li Bohu, the great leader of the Wolf Army, also comes from a noble family, has been favored by the emperor for generations, and is as close to my three brothers as hands and feet. We once fought together against the Xiongnu iron cavalry, and he would never do such a thing as betraying his country for personal glory."

  "That's for the best, but the commander of the reinforcements from the Wolf Army will have to think carefully about it." Tang Zonghan nodded and said.

  "How's the situation with Haifeng?"

  Fang Ling Tian knew that Su Dong Po was actually inquiring about the movements of the Roman army. So he directly said: "Just yesterday, I received a letter from Xiang Ming, and the Romans do not know why, until now, they have not yet gathered their great army, without two months' time, they will not dare to offend."

  "Alas, unfortunately, His Majesty has already been suspicious of us, otherwise..." Tang Zonghan shook his head and sighed.

  Fang Lingtian and Su Dongshun couldn't help but smile wryly. The three major families were sending their younger generations to Wulong City, which seemed secretive but could not escape the scrutiny of Emperor Hanxian. If it didn't arouse his suspicion, that would be a huge surprise.

  Especially Xǔ Hǎifēng, as soon as he arrived in Lín'ān City, he couldn't wait to change the city's name to Wòlóng. Such actions were truly despicable. Hàn Xiàn Emperor was already forced into a corner and had no choice but to let him believe that the news Xǔ Hǎifēng brought back from the Xiongnu was simply absurd.

  "If..." Su Dongshun hesitated for a moment, sighed and said: "Forty years ago..."

  "If it weren't for that incident, the Great Han might have changed dynasties long ago, and perhaps our three major families would no longer exist." Fang Ling Tian said coldly.

  *sigh*...

  As they faded into the distance with a long sigh, their solitary figures under the sunset had an unspeakable desolation.

  Half a month later, a fast horse came to Wulong City. The knight on the horse handed over the documents in his arms to the post station and immediately fainted from exhaustion.