In the blink of an eye, Gu Yun and Shen Yi had arrived at the front line of the Northern Frontier. Meanwhile, they secretly transferred a part of the Black Iron Camp's three factions to join behind the North City Defense Army. The former commander of the North City Defense Army had died when the barbarians invaded. The crucial frontier area could not lack a veteran general, hence General Cai had been temporarily taking over this position.

Cai Fen truly was old, and he was getting older year by year. The last time Gu Yun joined forces with him to suppress bandits, he felt that his back was not so bent and his hands were not trembling this much.

In fact, how could it not? How many years could a man have in his life? How much blood could be spilled at will and not become cold? When one was in their twenties or thirties, they ventured on the battlefields, full of merit and fame. When they grew old and tired, even though the spirit cast in iron was still there, one could only start to waste their effort. Wasn't it the same as a person's beauty that could not last?

The battlefield in the Northern frontier had been in a deadlock, but unlike Jiangnan separated by Changjiang, although the Barbarians dared not make any big movements, there were many daily frictions. There would be a medium to small-scale battle between the Central Plains and Barbarians every three to five days. The whole army would have to be on standby throughout the night to patrol and dared not relax. Fortunately, Cai Fen's youngest pair of twins would soon be 20 years old. Most of his children were grown adults. The Cai family army had taken shape, for better or worse, they could share his burden and not let the old general exhaust himself to death.

Now, along the way, nine out of ten houses in the villages and towns in the vicinity of the Northern frontier were empty. This area was originally not flourishing, plus suffering from repeated war disasters and bandits, if they did not give up their houses, they would have to give up their lives.

"It had only calmed down a bit after the Barbarian envoy entered the capital for peace talk." Cai Fen coughed a few times then said, "The scouts reported that the barbarians are gathering Ziliujin for tribute as per the condition of the peace treaty. If that's the case, I think that the peace talks are not exactly insincere. Is Marshal coming for their Ziliujin tribute?"

The news of the Man envoy's imprisonment was blocked. Gu Yun's group traveled too fast, even if there were leaks, they had not yet arrived at the frontline. Cai Fen was still unaware of the incident of the peace talks.