Divide your forces to meet the enemy and fight to the death.

Three days later, the Xiongnu army, as scheduled, split into three routes and rushed towards the border like a dark cloud pressing down on the city. Shen Qingci had already deployed his troops according to plan: one route was led by Deputy General Zhao Wu to meet the eastern Xiongnu; another route was handed over to Military Advisor Lin Yue to resist the western enemy; and he himself led the main force of the central army to guard the central plain and meet the 30,000 elite troops personally led by the Xiongnu Khan.

As dawn broke, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed across the central grasslands. Hun cavalry, clad in leather armor and wielding scimitars, surged forward like a tidal wave, raising dust clouds several meters high, blotting out the sun. Shen Qingci, clad in silver armor, stood beneath the commander's banner, his longsword drawn, its cold gleam sharp: "Soldiers, behind us lie our country and our people. Today, in this battle, we must fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the field. At Shen Qingci's command, the front rank of infantry swiftly formed a shield formation, their spears thrusting out like a forest; the archers in the rear drew their bows, holding their breath in anticipation. Once the Xiongnu cavalry were within range, he raised his hand and shouted, "Fire!"

In an instant, arrows rained down like meteors, and Xiongnu cavalrymen fell from their horses, many struck. But the enemy, outnumbered, quickly broke through the arrow barrage and rammed into the shield formation. With a deafening clang, scimitars struck shields, sparks flying. The infantry gritted their teeth, holding the shields tightly, their spears relentlessly piercing the chests of Xiongnu cavalrymen. Shen Qingci, longsword in hand, leaped into the enemy ranks. Wherever his sword flashed, Xiongnu soldiers fell. His silver armor was quickly stained with blood, yet his gaze remained sharp, his command unwavering.

The western front was also embroiled in fierce fighting. Lin Yue's forces were relatively weak, and the Xiongnu cavalry, with their superior mobility, repeatedly charged their formation. Just as their ranks were about to crumble, Lin Yue ordered the pre-prepared oil canisters to be lit, the flames instantly cutting off the Xiongnu's attack route. He then led his cavalry in a flanking maneuver, barely managing to stabilize the situation. On the eastern front, Zhao Wu, taking advantage of the terrain, lured the Xiongnu into a valley and then attacked them with rolling stones and logs. Although he inflicted heavy casualties, he was also tightly entangled by the enemy and unable to break free.

Su Yunqing was constantly busy at the medical station behind the main army headquarters. Wounded soldiers were being brought in one after another, some with severed limbs, others bleeding profusely. Suppressing her grief, her fingers flew across the wounds, cleaning, applying medicine, and bandaging—her movements swift and resolute. Seeing the soldiers' painful groans, she wiped their sweat and softly encouraged them, "Hold on, the soldiers at the front are waiting for you to return!"

Night fell, and the battlefield was stained with blood. Shen Qingci's central army had repelled three fierce attacks by the Xiongnu, but his soldiers had suffered more than half their casualties and were exhausted. Just then, a scout galloped in with the report: "General! Xiongnu reinforcements have arrived, and General Zhao on the eastern route is trapped. Requesting reinforcements!"

Shen Qingci's heart sank. He knew that dividing his forces at this moment was a risky move, but if Zhao Wu's troops were defeated, the eastern defense line would completely collapse. Just as he was about to give the order, he saw dust rising again in the distance. The main force of the Xiongnu had launched a general offensive under the cover of night. "Kill!" The roar of the Xiongnu Khan pierced the night, and the enemy troops pounced like hungry wolves.

Shen Qingci swung his sword and severed the arm of a Xiongnu soldier, shouting, "Hold the line! Order Lin Yue to abandon the secondary defense line on the west and lead the main force to reinforce!" As soon as he finished speaking, a cold arrow shot into his shoulder. He grunted, drew his sword, and killed the Xiongnu soldier who shot the arrow.

"General!" a guard cried out, trying to rush forward, but Shen Qingci stopped him: "It's alright!" He tore off a piece of his clothing to wrap his wound, then spurred his horse and charged again, "Follow me and fight our way back!"

Under the moonlight, a figure in silver armor, stained with blood, charged forward like a war god. Seeing this, the weary soldiers were rekindled in their fighting spirit and launched a counterattack. Amidst the flashing swords, Shen Qingci's mind flashed back to Su Yunqing's smile and the expectant eyes of the people. He had only one thought in his mind: to defend this land and never let the Xiongnu set foot on the border.

The fierce battle raged into the night, and just as the central army was about to collapse, a familiar bugle call sounded in the distance—Lin Yue had arrived with reinforcements from the west! The arrival of the reinforcements was like a shot in the arm, and Shen Qingci immediately ordered: "Attack from both sides and divide the enemy forces!"

The two armies, like two sharp blades, tore through the Xiongnu formation. Seeing the tide of battle turn, the Xiongnu Khan had no choice but to order a retreat. Shen Qingci did not pursue; he knew his soldiers were exhausted, and the most urgent task was to rescue Zhao Wu on the eastern front. Looking at his wounded soldiers beside him, and then at the busy figure in the direction of the medical station, he silently vowed: This war, no matter the cost, must be won!