In the north, Yandang City.

"They are still not moving?" Chagan Wuli frowned, his face gloomy, and kept tapping the wooden table, which made a dull sound, making the already suppressed atmosphere even more trembling.

The knocks seemed to be knocking on the heart of each of them, making them feel extremely depressed.

The air in the tent seemed to freeze; everyone's breathing became heavy and rapid, and their hearts were filled with unspeakable anxiety and uneasiness.

"Yes, Khan, the rebel army seems to have fallen silent." The tribal leader at the side shook his head, his heart also full of doubts.

However, compared to Chagan Wuli's doubts, in addition to doubts, there was also a hint of worry in his heart.

Although Chagan Uli had already explained the plan in advance, the trembling and torment before the war could not be eliminated by just a few simple words.

Now, rumors are spreading throughout the camp, and the morale of the troops is low. Everyone knows that the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the entire North, but this heavy pressure makes everyone feel extremely tormented.

At this time, they had experienced the scene that Daqian had faced before when facing the rebel army. When it came to winning people's hearts, Lin Zhongyun was really good at it.

"Lin Zhongyun's plan is indeed far-reaching. He is good at attacking our minds and making us lose our composure while waiting." Chagan Wuli said in a deep voice, with a hint of calmness and determination in his eyes, "But we must not be swayed by his plan. We must remain calm and have firm confidence."

The tribal leader nodded, but his heart was still full of worry.

Although they understood that this depressing atmosphere was created by Lin Zhongyun, they must not act rashly at this time. However, what could they do even if they understood it?
Knowing is one thing, but being able to do it is another.

Even though they have analyzed the interests involved clearly to everyone, many people are still trembling.

Outside the tent, the soldiers gathered in twos and threes, talking in low voices, their eyes filled with uneasiness and anxiety.

Everyone was thinking about the same question: When would the rebels launch their attack? Could they hold on to Yandang City?

Under such circumstances, if the rebels really launched an attack, the consequences would be disastrous.

"General, can we really hold on?" a young soldier couldn't help but ask, with a tremor in his voice.

"Can you hold it?"

Chagan Uli murmured something, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. His eyes suddenly became blurred and confused at this moment.

Now, even he didn't know whether what he did was right. As for whether he could defend the last bottom line of his Northern Barbarians, he actually had no idea.

In fact, he now felt extremely regretful.

If he had known that Lin Zhongyun was so difficult and hard to deal with, he would not have led his troops south. In that case, he would not have angered Lin Zhongyun and let the Northern Barbarians face the disaster of genocide today.

He couldn't help but look back at the vast grassland on the distant horizon, his heart filled with endless nostalgia. All he did was just to change the situation of the Northern Barbarians who had been suffering from wind, snow and hunger for thousands of years.

What's wrong with him?

This is what he should and must do as the Khan of the Northern Barbarians.

He understood that he was not wrong, and Lin Zhongyun was not wrong either.
They are both right from their respective standpoints, but unfortunately their standpoints are different.

Gradually, he calmed down, his eyes became firm, and he pointed to the grassland behind him and said word by word: "The question now is not whether we can hold it, but whether we must hold it."

"We have nowhere to retreat now. Behind us are our homes and our loved ones. As warriors of the Northern Barbarians, we should defend our homeland and our country."

Chagan Uli's voice was like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's heart.

He knew that at this time, a strong voice must be heard to stabilize the army and inspire their fighting spirit. His eyes swept over every general and soldier present, with a firm light flashing in his eyes.

"Pass the order down, everyone immediately enter combat readiness and be sure to remain highly alert." Chagan Wuli said in a deep voice, with endless power and determination in his voice. "Also, the military advisor has sent a secret order, just wait for the rebels to attack the city and fall into our encirclement."

The generals nodded and began to divide their work and prepare to deal with the coming storm.

Although they were still filled with anxiety and uneasiness, everyone knew that this was a challenge they had to face.

Chagan Uli watched the crowd gradually disperse, his heart filled with determination to fight to the end.

"We have nowhere to retreat." Chagan Uli whispered to himself again, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

As the night was about to break, there was silence inside and outside the tent, except for the torches in the distance swaying gently in the cold wind, just like the miserable situation of the northern barbarians today.

Chagan Uli stood outside the tent, gazing deeply into the distant sky, his heart filled with complex emotions.

At this moment, he closed his eyes and prayed silently for victory tomorrow.

This was his first time praying, and it was such an extremely pious prayer. He had never been so nervous and prayed to God before he ascended the throne of Khan.

Recalling his lofty ambitions when he was young, he was full of vigor and vitality at that time. With unparalleled courage and wisdom, he ascended the throne of the Great Khan of the Northern Barbarians step by step. He once believed that with his own strength and determination, he could lead the Northern Barbarians to glory.

However, now he is facing an unprecedented crisis, and his heart is filled with endless anxiety and uneasiness.

Chagan Wuli's hands trembled slightly. He knew that this battle would determine the fate of the entire Northern Barbarians.

He is no longer the fearless young warrior, but a leader who shoulders the fate of countless people. Every decision he makes will affect the future of the entire Northern Barbarians.

"God, please bless us Northern Barbarians to get through this difficult time." Chagan Wuli prayed silently in his heart, with endless piety and supplication in his voice, "I will not hesitate even if I lose the position of Khan."

No one could have imagined that a great hero like Chagan Uli would actually start praying before the war. How rare and how sad it is.

He once viewed prayer as an act of cowardice, but now he has become the weakling he described himself as.

At this moment, perhaps God was moved by his piety, the night gradually faded, and a hint of dawn appeared faintly in the eastern sky.

That ray of dawn was so unusual, so dazzling, and the light was like a meteor streaking across the sky...

"That's..." Chagan Wuli was excited about this 'miracle from heaven' one second ago, but the next second he was terrified, his pupils trembling as he stared at the meteors streaking across the sky, which were rapidly growing larger in his field of vision. "Khan, be careful!"

At this moment, a loud bang sounded in his ears, and the next second he was knocked to the ground, with gravel and dust flying around him.

"Buzzing..."

Amid a ringing in his ears, Chagan Uli struggled to stand up. Only then did he realize that the dawn light was not the rising sun, but the flint representing annihilation and death.

Under the dim sky, fire stones filled the sky like a meteor shower, cutting through the darkness and bombarding Yandang City with destructive force.

Each flint was like the wrath of heaven, mercilessly smashing into the ground, stirring up countless dust and gravel. The flint dragged a long tail of fire in the air, illuminating the entire night sky like day.

"Boom--" The moment the first flint fell to the ground, the huge explosion was deafening and the ground shook violently, as if the whole earth was shaking.

The flint hit the city wall, and the solid stones were instantly blown into pieces. The fragments flew everywhere, stirring up dust all over the sky.

The defenders on the city wall were knocked to the ground by the sudden attack, and some were even thrown to the ground, with blood splattered everywhere.

"Boom--" Flint fell one after another, and each explosion brought great destruction and shock.

Huge holes were smashed into the ground one after another, and the surrounding buildings were reduced to ruins in the explosion. Dust and rubble flew in the air, covering the sky and the sun, as if the whole world was plunged into chaos.

Under the light of the fire, the faces of those once extremely elite Northern Barbarian soldiers now only had expressions of extreme fear and despair.

The miserable wails continued to ring out, accompanied by a huge roar, echoing in the sky above Yandang City.

Chagan Wuli witnessed all this, his heart filled with endless fear and despair, and he was completely stunned on the spot. His eyes wandered between the firelight and the dust, as if he couldn't believe the tragic scene before him.

He knew that this was Lin Zhongyun's attack, and he had to persevere in this battle. However, at this moment, facing this sudden and devastating blow, he felt extremely helpless and panicked.

"Everyone, go down the city immediately and find shelter." Chagan Uli shouted loudly, his voice was so hysterical.

At this moment, everyone looked sideways and realized that the once heroic and brave Khan was now panicking. His constantly shaking hands were the iron proof of it.

The soldiers were a little at a loss for a moment. They had never seen Chagan Uli behave so out of control.

However, Chagan Uli soon realized his gaffe, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. He knew that as the Khan, he had to stabilize the morale of the army at this critical moment.

"Calm down! Everyone, calm down!" Chagan Wuli shouted again, with endless strength and determination in his voice, "Act according to the plan, quickly evacuate the tower and find shelter! We must hold on!"

"This battle is not for this Khan, nor for the Northern Barbarians, but for your tribe, for your family, and for our common home."

“So, we have to persevere!!!”

Under his mobilization, the soldiers quickly calmed down and began to withdraw from the tower in an orderly manner. Although they were still filled with fear and anxiety, everyone knew that staying would only mean death.

"Quick! Retreat quickly!" Chagan Uli gave orders while personally helping the injured soldiers evacuate.

As the soldiers gradually evacuated the city walls, order in Yandang City was gradually restored.

Although the roar of flint continued, everyone quickly found shelter under Chagan Wuli's command to avoid the flint flying all over the sky.

At this time, the flames of war were still roaring outside. The houses made of huge stones made a creaking sound under the bombardment of flint, stirring up a cloud of dust.

At this time, all the generals came in covered in dust and dirt, and everyone looked extremely embarrassed.

"This damn rebel army, I didn't expect that such a big force would come this time." A tribal leader said angrily with a look of resentment on his face.

"Yes, with such a roar, if we hadn't been prepared in advance, I don't know how many brothers would have died." Another tribal leader said with a look of relief.

"Yes, this military advisor is really good at predicting things, otherwise we would be in great trouble." Someone echoed.

"Khan, the rebel army will probably attack the city right after the bombardment. How about I lead a team of troops to attack from behind and kill them by surprise?" Someone shouted mercilessly with a fierce look in his eyes.

There was a lot of noise in the tent, with the generals talking to each other, and the atmosphere was extremely tense and chaotic.

Chagan Wuli stood in the middle, frowning and having a splitting headache. He knew that now was not the time to argue, and they had to quickly come up with a response plan.

He was not worried about the situation outside for the time being. After all, under such a bombardment of flint, his northern barbarians would not dare to guard the city tower, and the rebel army would certainly not dare to attack the city.

After all, those flints in the sky have no eyes and cannot tell whether they are friend or foe.

However, this Flint Offensive is just the beginning. That thief Lin must have other tricks waiting for them, so they must not take it lightly.

"Quiet!" Chagan Wuli slammed the table, his voice carrying endless majesty and power. Upon hearing his words, the generals immediately quieted down, all eyes focused on him.

"Now is not the time to argue. We must respond calmly." Chagan Wuli said in a deep voice, with a firm light flashing in his eyes. "Are the rolling stones behind us ready?"

"Reporting to the Khan, the rolling stones are all ready. As soon as the flint attack stops, we will immediately push up to the city wall and fill the gap." A general responded immediately, with endless determination in his voice.

"very good."

Chagan Wuli nodded with satisfaction. "We must now remain on high alert and make sure that no corner is overlooked. Once the flint attack stops, everyone will move immediately and quickly push the rolling stones onto the city wall to repair the destroyed defenses."

"Khan, should I lead a team of troops to attack them from behind and catch them off guard?" The previous general proposed again, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes.

"No." Chagan Wuli shook his head decisively. "The enemy's flint attack is still going on. We can't take any risks. Our first priority is to defend the city wall and ensure the safety of the city."

……

At the same time, Juxu City and several other cities were attacked by the rebels at the same time... (End of this chapter)