The Empror's Trap

Ch 22 - War Begins

Northern Border.

Prince Dani sat in his residence, savoring a hearty beef stew.

The cold winds in the north cut to the bone once winter set in, and families gathered around stoves. To combat the chill, they'd perfected various stews, with beef stew becoming one of the region's signature dishes.

They didn't use native cattle from Camelot Empire. Instead, they used Western breeds introduced from the Holy Country. Local beasts of burden had denser muscle and tougher meat, so the Western cattle, raised specifically for meat, were far more popular in the north. Over time, beef stew had become a beloved specialty.

Dani popped a chunk of beef into his mouth, chewing with satisfaction.

Standing at nearly two meters tall, Dani hardly resembled a pampered imperial son. Muscular and imposing, his thick eyebrows added menace to his gaze, which could flash with terrifying fury. But he wasn't a brute. In fact, among the princes, he was one of the most versed in the classics. Many in the palace believed that if he hadn't been born into royalty, he could have become a great scholar-warrior.

Still, being a prince guaranteed a complicated life.@@@@

Having withdrawn from matters of court, he spent his days with good food, fine company, sparring with martial artists, and occasionally inviting scholars to drink and compose poetry. Life was carefree.... until now.

He'd just received an urgent message from the capital, ordering him to muster every soldier and resource at his disposal in preparation for General Balinos's arrival.

Prince Dani, known as The Northern Prince, understood immediately. He'd known about the fall of Hanyin City long before word reached the Imperial Court—he had personally urged the local official in charge of transmitting the message to travel swiftly and provided every possible convenience along the way.

Even better, Dani had sent out scouts with detailed maps of the terrain, pinpointing some enemy movements.

...

At last, the day of battle arrived.

Late at night, under a pitch-black sky, the fifty-thousand-strong Camelot force advanced through the rugged landscape.

The army's discipline was ironclad. They'd wrapped their weapons in coarse cloth to silence them. Their armor was smeared with ash and soot to avoid reflecting moonlight. Since Dani's men had already mapped the terrain, the troops moved in near-darkness, edging toward Hanyin City undetected.

Then they attacked.

Caught completely off-guard, the barbarians inside the city had no idea what was happening. Alchemical explosives lit the sky; countless cultivators scaled the walls and unleashed carnage.

The city fell in under two hours. Desperate to salvage the situation, the barbarian cavalry raced out in an attempt to break through using their powerful charge.

But Camelot's soldiers were prepared—rows of spear carriages rolled forward. Each carriage bristled with iron-tipped lances. Once positioned, they locked into place. The moment barbarian riders thundered forward, even their spiritual shields couldn't withstand the impact. Many cavalry were skewered instantly.

Then, as if to prove their loyalty, the nearby cities that had previously stayed quiet sprang into action...