While a large number of Xinghe Sect's masters and elite troops were fighting fiercely in Kaiyuan City, Ningguan City had already received information that Kaiyuan City had changed hands and the emperor had been captured.
The 100,000 Qinghe troops stationed on the northern border were tightly guarded by Xue Ding, the general guarding Ningguan. They wanted to make a sneak attack like the western front but suffered a big loss.
From the beginning to the end, Xue Ding never trusted these Qinghe troops. The Qinghe people wanted to attack Ningguan City but were defeated by the Ningguan cavalry. After paying the price of more than 20,000 people dying in battle, the Qinghe troops had to flee into Yingzhou in despair. .
In the General's Mansion in Ningguancheng, Xue Ding was sitting on a chair with a sad look on his face. The Taichu Dynasty had suffered such a big change, but he could do nothing.
Xue Kai hurriedly walked in, saluted and said: "Father, news just came that the Galaxy Sect has sent troops to rescue Kaiyuan City!"
Xue Ding was overjoyed when he heard this and said: "The Xinghe Sect did not disappoint my father. How many troops did they send?"
"The Xinghe Sect almost came out in full force this time. Tanlang Camp and Pojun Camp all attacked, and a large number of masters accompanied the army!" Xue Kai said with some excitement. If the Xinghe Sect's move is successful, it can solve the Taichu crisis.
Xue Ding frowned when he heard this, as if he thought of something bad.
Seeing Xue Ding's appearance, Xue Kai was a little confused and asked, "Isn't it a good thing for the Xinghe Sect to send troops? Why is father frowning?"
"The Xinghe Sect's full force deployment is indeed a blessing for me, Taichu, but this means that our Ningguan defenders are not authentic!" Xue Ding clenched his fists and said.
Xue Kai suddenly realized: "Father, are you talking about those Qinghe troops who were beaten away by us?"
"That's right, although those guys are no match for our Ningguan Cavalry, the Galaxy Sect is now empty of strength. If these guys rush to the Galaxy Sect, think about the consequences." Xue Ding's face was very ugly, and he said seriously.
Xue Kai didn't speak for a long time, and then his facial muscles trembled and he squeezed out a few words: "Life is in ruins..."
"These Qinghe people may not dare to go to the Xinghe Sect. After all, they don't know that the Xinghe Sect has already left." Xue Kai pondered for a moment and said.
"The Qinghe people have infiltrated into the Taichu Dynasty for so many years. I don't know how many spies are scattered in Yingzhou. I guess they only know more than us!" Xue Ding shook his head with a wry smile.
Xue Kai didn't know how to refute and was speechless for a moment.
Xue Ding gently closed his eyes and sighed and said: "This matter is our responsibility. The Xinghe Sect has treated me like Taichu, and I, Xue Ding, cannot let the Xinghe Sect be slaughtered."
"Father, what do you mean?" Xue Kai asked in surprise.
Xue Ding stood up, drew his sword, and said with blazing eyes: "My father is going to pursue the Qinghe Army!"
Xue Kai looked excited and quickly advised: "If we, the main force of the Ningguan garrison, attack, how will we resist Bei Chu? If Ningguan City is defeated, the Taichu Dynasty will most likely be destroyed!"
"Kaier, please be patient. My father will not take away the main force of Ningguan, but he will need 30,000 Ningguan cavalry!" Xue Ding stretched out his hand to signal Xue Kai not to get excited, and he said calmly.
"But if my father leads troops to help the Galaxy Sect, what will happen to our Ningguan military affairs? Ningguan City cannot live without my father!" Xue Kai said with a worried look on his face.
Xue Ding did not speak, but stared at Xue Kai with burning eyes, making Xue Kai feel a little embarrassed.
Xue Kai pointed at himself and said doubtfully: "Me?" Then he quickly waved his hand and said: "Father, no, the child cannot bear such a big responsibility!"
Xue Ding heard this and slapped the wooden table with an angry look on his face. The poor table made a shattering sound and a large section was broken off.
He was obviously really angry, raised his sword and glared at Xue Kai and reprimanded: "I, Xue Dingying, how could I give birth to such a useless son? I said you can do it, you can do it, don't keep whining here, otherwise I will I’ll kill you, since I already have a grandson named Ning Guan!”
Xue Kai smiled bitterly. Their old man turned into a soldier when his temper got worse, and no one could stop him.
"Okay, father, I will listen to you. I will do my best to defend Ningguan City!" Xue Kai had no choice but to agree.
Xue Ding then nodded with satisfaction and said: "There is no need to delay this matter. Go quickly and order all the troops for your father and set off immediately!"
Xue Kai took the order and left. Xue Ding sighed and murmured: "Taichu Dynasty, Xinghe Sect, I don't know if we can survive this difficulty. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, if I had known today, why would I do it in the first place?"
The Ningguan cavalry are indeed elite, and they were assembled in a short time. Xue Kai trotted all the way to Xue Ding and said: "Father, the 30,000 Ningguan cavalry are ready and ready to go at any time."
Xue Kai helped his father put on his armor, and he was wearing a general's armor. Xue Ding, a veteran general who had been in the military all his life, was about to lead the army again.
When Xue Ding was about to walk out, a middle-aged woman walked into the meeting hall. Although she was a little older, she could still see how beautiful she was when she was young. She was holding a little boy in her arms. The boy was about three years old. He was very cute.
When the boy saw Xue Ding, he immediately opened his arms and said in a milky voice: "Grandpa, give me a hug."
Xue Ding's majestic face immediately fell down, revealing a kind smile. He took the boy from the woman's arms and said with a smile, "Grandpa's little Ningguan, are you behaving well today?"
"But be good, grandpa, I want to ride a big horse!" Xiao Ningguan said with a heavy nod.
Xue Ding looked a little embarrassed and said: "Ning Guan, my grandpa is going to fight. I can't lie down in this armor. How about I take you to ride a big horse when grandpa comes back?"
Hearing this, Xue Ningguan touched the armor on Xue Ding's body with his small hands. His big eyes were full of curiosity and he said: "This clothes is so hard. Is this the clothes you wear for fighting? I also want to fight in the future. Grandpa, you can also give it to me." Can I have a set of clothes like this?"
When Xue Ding heard this, a bright smile immediately broke out on his old face. He raised Xiao Ning Guan high and said, "Okay, grandpa will order someone to make a special set for you when he comes back from the war. My Xiao Ning Guan will definitely be better than grandpa in fighting in the future." .”
Xue Ningguan chuckled in the air and said: "I will definitely be the most powerful in the future!"
"Old Xue, put Ning Guan down quickly, or your old bones will be broken by the child again." The woman frowned and stepped forward to grab the Xue Ning Guan raised by Xue Ding.
Xue Ding couldn't resist the woman and handed the child back to her.
After the woman hugged Xiaoning Pass, she said dissatisfiedly: "Old Xue, you are already a grandfather and you still want to lead troops to fight?"
"Madam, today is not as good as it used to be. Now that Taichu has experienced great changes, my husband has no choice but to go on an expedition today. I will eat your salary to relieve your worries. I, Mr. Xue, can't just watch Taichu die, right?" Xue Ding said helplessly.
When his wife wasn't paying attention, he glared at his nosy son. Xue Kai immediately turned his head away and pretended not to see it.
"Old Xue, can your old bones withstand the torment? If not, let Xue Kai go." Mrs. Xue held Xiao Ningguan in one hand and touched Xue Ding's breastplate with her other hand and said in a worried tone.
"My madam, don't you know how my husband is doing?" Xue Ding said with a smirk on his face.
Mrs. Xue spit hard and said angrily: "Bah, it's disrespectful to say this in front of a junior!"
Xue Ding burst out laughing. After a moment, he put away his smile and whispered into his wife's ear: "This trip is dangerous, so I can only go!"
The lady's eyes swept over Xue Ding and Xue Kai, and then she sighed and said: "Then you go, you must come back alive, we will wait for you in Ningguan City."
Xue Ding nodded firmly. He stepped forward to hug his wife and kissed his eldest grandson on the face. Xiao Ningguan stretched out his hand and pushed Xue Ding's face away with disgust and said, "Grandpa, Don't kiss me, my beard will irritate me!"
Xue Ding gently touched Xiao Ningguan's head again, then with a focused look in his eyes, he led Xue Kai outside the general's mansion. Mrs. Xue followed with Xiao Ningguan in her arms.
Thirty thousand Ningguan cavalry have been waiting in formation on the street for some time, but no cavalry showed any dissatisfaction. Everyone waited there quietly, not even the neighing of the horses was much.
When Xue Ding left the general's mansion, his servants immediately brought out his war horse. This horse was much taller and stronger than the war horse of Ningguan Cavalry. The eyes of the war horse were also very smart and seemed to be very understanding of human nature. This horse The horse was a spirit horse raised by the Xinghe Sect, and there was only one of it in Ningguan City.
Xue Ding stood on the stone steps in front of the door, scanning every cavalry in front of him, and then he shouted loudly: "My sons, this is Xue Ding, and you are all our Ningguan elites. Today I will lead the three of you." When Ten Thousand Iron Cavalry sets off for battle, you must want to know who the enemy is."
"Now I will tell you that our enemies are the Qinghe people who wanted to attack our Ningguan City two days ago. The Qinghe barbarians have betrayed Taichu. Those who offend our Taichu must be killed no matter how far away they are. We must catch up and defeat all these subordinates. Kill."
"In the past two days, more than 20,000 Qinghe troops of one hundred thousand were killed by our Ningguan garrison. What we have to do now is to catch up with the more than 70,000 Qinghe troops who escaped, and then make them regret coming to our Taichu territory. My sons, do you dare to follow me and go out to kill the enemy!"
When he said the last sentence, Xue Ding had already drawn his sword. He raised the sword high and spoke firmly.
A lieutenant general stood up and shouted loudly: "I am willing to go out with the general to kill the enemy!"
"kill!" With the word "kill".
Xue Ding glanced at his eldest grandson lovingly, then walked up to the spirit horse and shouted again: "Get on the horse!"
All the Ningguan cavalry, including Xue Ding, mounted their war horses. Xue Ding said to Xue Kai: "Don't rush in greedily and defend Ningguan City!"
Xue Kai nodded firmly.
Xue Ding looked at his wife affectionately again and said, "Madam, wait for me to come back."
Mrs. Xue's eyes immediately moistened when she heard this. She stared at Xue Ding and waved her hands gently. Xiao Ningguan also waved her hands like her grandma and said, "Grandpa, come back soon!"
Xue Ding laughed when he heard the child's voice.
Xue Ding led 30,000 Ningguan cavalry to follow the traces of the Qinghe Army all the way south until they reached the foot of Zidou Mountain.
