As the heavy city gates were cleaved open by battle-axes, both inside and outside the city, voices rang out. However, one was cheers, while the other was filled with despair.
The last stronghold of the rebels had fallen to our forces, marking the beginning of the end for the Republican Army.
I pulled a massive axe from the gate, and splinters of wood struck my face. Yet, I felt no joy as one might after a victorious battle; instead, there was an indescribable emptiness in my heart.
Stones and tiles rained down. The city's defenders had likely realized the inevitable and stopped resisting. After three months of siege, the city's provisions were nearly depleted, leaving them too weak to hurl stones.
I rushed through the city gates, and my iron armor clanged loudly.
Two defenders, holding long spears, charged at me. Though they were still full of vigor, the three-month siege had reduced High Eagle City to desperation, leading to hunger and weakened fighting skills. I swung my massive axe, with the force of thunder, cleaving through them. The sound of my axe slicing through their armor rang out, and the two soldiers were instantly decapitated.
At this moment, a massive contingent had opened the city gates and surged inside. On the city walls, the remaining defenders cried out in despair. Though they had been fearless during the siege, when death was imminent, they panicked.
I killed two more enemies who dared to approach. Then, my escort brought my warhorse. I mounted it, discarding my axe and taking up my iron spear. Among the vast throng of troops, a messenger caught up to me, shouting all the way, "General Wu commands the city's massacre."
Although my heart had turned cold from the battles, I couldn't help but shudder. Was High Eagle City, once one of the Twelve Imperial Cities, to meet its end today?
My soldiers, however, seemed eager for this act of butchery. To them, the massacre promised riches, women, and a means to release their pent-up frustrations through violence.
Since I had joined General Wu in his southern campaign, we had already razed eight cities. These cities had resisted to the end, and with General Wu's ferocity, their fate was sealed. I didn't want to kill so many people, and each death weighed on me, especially when some of my adversaries had been my former classmates from the Imperial Military Academy. They had fallen one by one, and it deepened the emptiness within me.
War, it seemed, was always about survival of the fittest.
My guard, Qi Lie, brought my horse to me, saying, "General, you should go now."
I looked at him from beneath my helmet. At nineteen, he might not fully understand the value of life. I didn't say anything, as the massacre after capturing a city was an exciting reward for my troops, and I didn't want to dampen their spirits.
"You lead the way; I feel a bit tired and want to rest."
"General Chu, didn't you lead us in the charge earlier?"
I turned and looked at him coldly, replying, "I won't be going."
Qi Lie seemed taken aback, "Alright, I'll go." He led my horse, raised his spear, and shouted, "Brothers, follow me."
Of the hundred men under my command, we had lost over twenty in the past few battles. These eighty-plus men had been part of the vanguard for the Imperial Army, and killing had become their pastime. They cheered and followed Qi Lie into the city. I watched the tidal wave of Imperial troops flood the streets and alleys of High Eagle City, setting fires here and there, and listened to the cries of women and children. My eyes became moist.
Was this what war was? In military school, our instructors had taught us that it was the greatest art to subdue the enemy without fighting. However, through my years in the ranks, I had experienced over a dozen battlefields, and each time, I charged up to the walls covered in blood and fire, leaving behind the limbs and lives of others.
I mounted my horse, ready to return to the camp. On the city walls, some Republican soldiers who had surrendered hobbled down, and a group of Imperial troops herded them like sheep. One Republican soldier, perhaps wounded in the leg, stumbled and fell on the steps. An Imperial soldier cursed, raised his blade, and struck the Republican in the back. The soldier's blood had nearly dried up, and not much flowed from the wound.
"Do not kill prisoners." This was one of the decrees left by the first emperor when he founded the dynasty. But after two centuries, few remembered this decree.
The Republican prisoner had not yet died. He raised his hands and let out a pitiful cry, which seemed to incite the soldier with the blade. He struck the Republican again, and the man's body nearly split in half, but little blood flowed.
I averted my gaze, unwilling to witness such slaughter.
As I took a few steps, I heard someone shout, "Bold!"
I was startled and looked up to find three horsemen approaching. One of them, who appeared to be an attendant, pointed at me with his long spear and said, "How dare you be so disrespectful!"
I halted my horse. The central figure was none other than General Wu himself! I had crashed into General Wu.
I dismounted and knelt on one knee, saying, "Lord General Wu, I am Chu Xiuhong, a hundred-man captain of the Vanguard Division."
General Wu was not wearing a mask, and his expression showed no anger. He asked, "You're the first one to charge into the city, Chu Xiuhong? Why aren't you joining the others in the massacre?"
"My lord, I've just charged in, and I'm fatigued. I thought I'd take a short rest."
General Wu smiled, "You find my order to massacre the city too cruel, do you?"
I was taken aback. General Wu, known for his bravery, had somehow seen through my thoughts with just a few words. I replied, "I dare not, my lord."
General Wu said sternly, "Traitors and rebels must be exterminated. I ordered the massacre not out of cruelty, but as a deterrent for potential future traitors."
I found my courage and said, "My lord, the civilians in the city are not soldiers. At the founding of the empire, it was decreed that surrendering troops should not be killed, which won the hearts of the people."
"Do you think I'm not winning their hearts?"
General Wu's face darkened, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I dared not say more but stated, "I would never dare to question your orders. However, I would dare to suggest that, in your wisdom, there may be a deeper meaning to your commands. It's possible that, as a kind-hearted man, I have allowed my sentimentality to cloud my judgment."
General Wu laughed, "Kind-hearted man. Haha! The first rule of march in Military Saint Tian's 'Seven Requirements for a March' already mentions the importance of not having sentimentality. You were valiant during the charge, but now you act like an old woman."
He unhooked
Back at the camp, the supply officer was
The Republican
The Emperor of this generation held the title
Even though I had charged into battle countless times, I still wondered if deep down, I was standing on the side of the Republicans. This thought scared me, as if my disloyalty would be visible on my face.
With these random thoughts swirling in my head, I put away my armor. Normally, these tasks should be handled by my adjutant, Pray Lief, but I didn't like having another man, even a fellow soldier, handling my clothes, be it armor or any other attire. So, I took care of it myself. It was somewhat unusual for a junior officer, a centurion like me, to be involved in these activities. I was considered a commoner, despite my rank, as opposed to the nobles.
At this moment, the supply officer walked in and began to supervise the packing. He gave the orders for the camp to be dismantled, and soon we would be moving into the city. Even though these tasks were technically his responsibility, I said, "I'll help out."
Doing these miscellaneous tasks helped me forget about the emptiness inside me.
The supply officer's role primarily involved collecting and loading the supplies. Warlord's army was disciplined and well-organized, with every twenty tents grouped together for a cart. This practice ensured that during battles, when soldiers had to rush into action, they wouldn't leave their valuables behind. The typical soldier didn't have many possessions, but I carried my armor, as did my fellow soldiers. Pray Lief often heard rumors that I was quite down-to-earth, considering my rank, with a centurion being considered a junior officer in the military hierarchy.
Suddenly, the tent flaps were lifted, revealing the supply officer. He saw me and said, "Oh, General Chu, Warlord has issued the order to withdraw from the camp and enter the city."
These tasks were usually handled by the supply division. However, I said, "I'll help as well."
I felt like engaging in menial tasks could help alleviate the hollowness inside me.
The supply officer's duty was to organize and move the camp. Warlord was a strict leader, and each time we were in a campaign, twenty tents were combined into one cart. As a result, many soldiers, especially the younger ones, wished to transfer to the front-line regiment. However, they didn't realize, or perhaps they didn't care to think about it, that the front-line regiment, led by Warlord, had the highest casualty rate. Warlord often issued the first order for the siege of the city to the front-line regiment because it had the highest casualties, and his soldiers had the most experience. Many of my fellow soldiers were so young and eager to prove themselves, they longed to be in the front-line regiment.
People often said I was an unconventional general for a centurion, but I didn't mind these comments.
At this moment, a soldier called out, "General Chu, what's that?"
He pointed towards a distant figure on a rooftop. The person was about thirty feet away, standing on the roof.
In a city like High Hawk City, most houses were old and made of bricks and tiles. It was very unusual for a person to stand on one of those rooftops. It could be a Republican straggler, and in the chaos of the city, he may not have had an easy time escaping.
The supply officer, who had overheard the call, also looked in that direction and shouted, "Shut up, it's none of your business; hurry and load the carts." The soldier stuck out his tongue and stopped talking.
Having loaded the supply carts, I decided to follow the sound. The noise grew louder, mixed with cries of distress. This wasn't the usual sound of a city being sacked.
I dashed around a corner and reached the front of a large courtyard. It was already filled with people, and the cries were coming from inside. I saw Pray Lief also among the crowd. I approached him and asked, "What's going on?"
Seeing me, Pray Lief responded, "General, there are about a dozen Republican stragglers inside the courtyard. They dug a pit and captured a few of our brothers."
Just then, a voice from inside the courtyard yelled, "You all, make way, or I'll kill them!"
The people in the courtyard moved aside, and from their expressions, it was clear that they wanted to help but didn't dare to act. The stragglers were holding long knives and pointing at the captives inside the pit. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, was threatening to strike them.
One by one, the Republican leader shouted, "You...!"
Before he could finish his sentence, he let out a scream.
As the courtyard fell silent, Warlord approached. All of us made way for him. I stayed to the side as well. I saw Warlord leading his horse.
The massacre was
Free rein. Those four words carried
Why is it that people have a greater interest in destruction than in construction?
As night fell,
I lay in a small room. The room's original
These legends had been substantiated by the discovered books.
I ran my hand over the books. These two volumes were likely over two
How much knowledge have we forgotten that once held great value? As I closed the books, I couldn't help but wonder.
At that moment, there was a commotion at the door. I couldn't help but frown. I didn't like living in a place surrounded by corpses. The small room I occupied had been almost entirely emptied. Who could be coming here now?
Someone was knocking at the door insistently.
I gripped my sword, the Centurion Blade Warlord had given me, and moved to the door. The supply officer knew where I was staying, but he was busy with the logistics, so it was unlikely him.
I called out, "Who is it?"
From outside, I heard Pray Lief's voice, "General, it's me."
I opened the door, and Pray Lief entered with enthusiasm, saying, "General, we've brought you something."
I couldn't hide my surprise. Although the sack appeared clean from the outside, I suspected it might contain some bloodstained gold or silver. I asked hurriedly, "How did you know I was staying here?"
Pray Lief winked and replied, "I heard it from Sir De Yang."
De Yang was the supply officer, and perhaps these boys had bribed him. I didn't want to say more, and they laughed as they left. As Pray Lief was going out, he closed the door.
I went back to my room, thinking about getting rid of the package. I was already anticipating the sight of bloodstained trophies. Once, during the siege of a city, I saw an Imperial soldier desperately trying to pull a golden bracelet off a girl's wrist. Since it was hard to remove, he ended up hacking her hand off. That girl's severed, bloodied hand haunted my dreams for a long time.
"You can distribute these among yourselves," I said.
But these two soldiers must not have wanted anyone else to have a share. Without asking, they lifted a large sack onto my bed, being careful with it. I was surprised when they did so, and I had a hunch that the sack contained something beautiful. It was probably why Pray Lief had said, "This can't be divided."
I undid the sack, and as I expected, I found a young woman tied up like a rice dumpling.
She was terrified, like a small animal cornered by a predator. I chuckled and attempted to console her. But she recoiled from me as if I was a threat.
"Don't be afraid," I said, realizing how creepy I sounded. Her gaze toward me was full of hatred.
I extended my hand to untie her, but she flinched and pulled away. I forced a smile, saying, "I mean no harm. You can leave."
But she seemed to think I had misunderstood her intentions, speaking cautiously, "You're letting me go?"
I sheathed my sword and said, "I said something you might not understand."
She seemed surprised and cautiously opened the door, saying, "So, you're really letting me go?"
I grabbed a robe from the bed and threw it to her. It was the standard attire for Imperial soldiers, and her current appearance would likely get her into trouble if anyone spotted her outside.
She took the robe and looked at me with a puzzled expression. I turned away and said, "Are you hesitating to leave?"
She put on the robe, making her look like an ordinary soldier in the Imperial army. She gazed at me and, for some reason, I felt a sense of detachment as I watched her walk out the door.
In war, showing kindness to the enemy is tantamount to seeking one's own death. However, when the war was over, was it necessary to have no kindness at all? I took off the Centurion Blade that Warlord had given me and studied it closely. On the scabbard, the characters "
I sighed
Although my house was secluded, the barracks were just a hundred steps away. It was a time of slaughter, with blood and burning smells everywhere, even though this area around the barracks was relatively clean. The stench still hung in the air, making people nauseous. I walked amidst the rubble, occasionally glimpsing severed
With my hands behind my back, I walked past the barracks. Most of the soldiers were probably off slaughtering the city. Gao Gui City had been in operation for nearly two hundred years and had a population of around three hundred thousand. While they had suffered losses in the war, there were still fifty to sixty thousand refugees who had fled to
The barracks were empty now, looking like an abandoned camp. During the slaughter, only a small number
However, since the day I joined the army, I detested this kind of killing.
As I pondered, a strong wind suddenly rushed at me from behind
Without turning
The assailant missed, but was already preparing for another strike. I used my right foot to kick his spear away, catching the weapon in midair. Without hesitation, I drew my sword, the Bai Bi Dao. Another spear thrust came from the side, but by then, I was completely focused. It was child's play to deal with this attack. I grabbed the lower half of the attacker's spear with my left hand and swiftly maneuvered him, slashing my sword toward his arms.
This was the spear-breaking technique taught to us by Instructor Wu Zhao, known as the "First Spear in the Military Academy." Using this move on horseback was challenging, but on foot, it was a piece of cake. There were also ways to counter a spear, but those two men were probably just low-ranking soldiers with limited knowledge of spear techniques. Aside from being momentarily caught off guard, it was effortless to deal with them now.
Just as my sword was about to strike, I noticed their attire out of the corner of my eye. They were two Imperial soldiers. I was both angry and amused. No wonder I was ambushed at the camp gate earlier. Still, I didn't release my grip on the spear and shouted, "Stop!"
The soldier I had disarmed earlier had picked up his fallen spear. When he heard me shout, he froze. I swiftly reclaimed the long spear and sheathed my sword with a fluid motion. I said, "I am Chu Xiu Hong, the Centurion of the Frontline Fifth Battalion. Do you see it clearly?"
The two soldiers were taken aback, and after a moment, one of them said, "You... You are General Chu, the first to enter the city? Why aren't you wearing armor?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my identification token, saying, "The battle is over; there's no need for armor now. Whose subordinates are you?"
They inspected my identification token and immediately knelt on the ground. One of them said, "We are subordinates of General Pu from the Third Battalion. It was our turn to stand guard today. When we saw General Chu approaching alone, we thought he might be a remnant of the Republican army, so we didn't mean to offend you."
Upon hearing the name "General Pu," I couldn't help but frown. General Pu in their words was my classmate at the military academy, Pu Anli, who was currently a Centurion in the Third Battalion, the same rank as me. He came from a noble family, being the son of Marquis Pu Zhi. We had a history of unpleasant clashes back in school, and even though we were now colleagues, we rarely interacted. In the Frontline Battalion, the aristocratic youths formed two factions while the commoner-born Centurions, like me, remained neutral. Nevertheless, personal grudges aside, we had collaborated effectively during the siege, and my ability to enter the city first was partly thanks to his unit that had kept the Republican army at bay near the city gate.
I asked, "Where is General Pu now?"
They both looked at each other and said, "General Pū has gone with his other brothers to chase a woman. General Chǔ, if you see General Pū, please tell him to let us switch our watch earlier."
I looked at them and said, "Alright. Just make sure you're vigilant and don't attack fellow soldiers without verifying their identity."
They nodded in agreement. As I walked away, I couldn't help but sympathize with their situation. Without wearing armor, it was difficult to distinguish allies from enemies in the current chaotic environment of the city.
I was about to turn around when I suddenly remembered the woman they mentioned. I asked, "Who is the woman General Pū is chasing?"
One of the soldiers replied, "It was a short person wearing a military uniform who hurriedly left the city not long ago. General Pū shouted at her, and she ran away. Turns out, she was a woman who must have stolen a military uniform to escape. General Pū took about ten of our brothers from the camp to chase after her."
It had to be the same woman! I could almost be certain. I asked, "Where did they go?"
The soldier pointed to the left. Without waiting for further details, I headed in that direction.
To the left, there was a path leading to the city wall. After running for a while, I heard a commotion ahead, and a loud voice said, "Little girl, stop running; you've run out of options."
It was the voice of General Pū. They were on the city wall. I hurried towards the city wall. The blood-soaked stone steps caused me to slip, but I paid no attention. I was only concerned about the woman who was now my responsibility. If she fell into someone else's hands, it would be my fault.
When I reached the city wall, I saw General Pū holding the woman by her hair. She was struggling desperately but couldn't escape his grip. I called out, "General Pū, please let her go."
General Pū turned to look at me and said mockingly, "Oh, it's the brave General Chǔ. Your nose must have sensed a woman's scent from afar. Don't worry, after we're done, I'll make sure to show you a good time."
After a short sprint, I was quite out of breath. I suppressed my panting and said, "General Pū, I'm sorry, but this woman belongs to me. Please release her."
"Yours?" He looked at the woman in his grasp and reluctantly let go. While we weren't on good terms, he had to give me that courtesy. He mocked his subordinates, "Turns out we're chasing General Chǔ's woman. Brothers, consider this our exercise today. Haha!"
He let go of the woman's hair, and I approached her. I asked, "Are you okay?"
She stood up, smoothed her hair with her fingers, and defiantly said, "I'm not yours!"
I was taken aback. Was she out of her mind? Did she want to be captured by General Pū? But before I could say anything, General Pū put his hand on my shoulder and asked, "General Chǔ, is this woman really yours?"
She replied loudly, "No! I'm a free citizen of the Republic, not anyone's property!"
I said, "Are you out of your mind?" Before I could say more, General Pū abruptly pushed me aside and said, "General Chǔ, enough is enough. If you want a woman, find another one. This one is ours."
He pushed me so hard that I almost stumbled. His subordinates burst into laughter, which infuriated me. After regaining my balance, I said, "General Pū, she was given to me by General Qíliè. I wouldn't lie about it."
General Pū turned and patted the sword at his waist, saying, "Chǔ Xiūhóng, I've given you enough face. If you don't know your place, don't blame me for being impolite."
My anger flared up, and I unsheathed my sword, saying, "General Pū, there are many things I can tolerate, but I won't let you take her."
General Pū turned to me and asked, "General Chǔ, are you challenging me to a duel?"
In the Empire, dueling was legal as long as both parties agreed. However, in the military, dueling was discouraged to maintain discipline. The military code dictated that regardless of the reason, the loser and their subordinates would be demoted by one rank if a duel took place. This discouraged unnecessary conflicts within the ranks.
In a moment of impulse, I unsheathed my sword, which was tantamount to a challenge. But I couldn't just sheathe my sword now. I said, "General Pū, I don't want to duel you. I just hope you can give me some face."
He sneered, "I've given you face already. Now, if I don't duel with you, my men will think I'm afraid of you. Where will my face go? Brothers, clear a space and get General Chǔ some armor. Look at him; he's like a scholar."
His subordinates laughed heartily. I was annoyed by their attitude. After clearing some space, I said, "General Pū, is this duel really necessary?"
General Pū replied, "It's not that I want to duel with you; you want to duel with me. Now, let's not waste time."
His subordinates moved aside, making room on the city wall, while two soldiers held the woman in place, and she watched us. I approached General Pū, and he attacked first.
The previous attack was his, and now it was my turn. I confronted him, and he seemed as if he didn't react. My sword met his in a clash of steel. Our blades sparked. His sword wasn't as good as my Bai Bi sword, but he could hold his own. My arm felt numb, and my whole body shook.
He was unexpectedly strong!
I was surprised. While I knew General Pū had exceptional strength, I believed I could match him. Yet his strength seemed overwhelming. Perhaps his experience in battle had honed it. Despite my regular training, I fell short compared to him.
He continued to press forward, and I jumped back several steps, feeling a bit apprehensive.
He must have a weakness!
I needed to find an opening in his defense. If I lost, not only would I lose my position as a centurion, but General Qíliè's group would also be demoted. I had to win for the sake of my over eighty subordinates.
As General Pū approached, I was ready to confront him. When he lunged at me, it was my turn to strike.
Last time, he attacked, and this time, I would attack.
As I moved closer, I noticed his moves and waited for him to strike. When he came forward, I stopped his sword with my own.
A loud clash rang out, and my blade met his. Although General Pū's sword wasn't as good as my Bai Bi sword, he could hold his ground. However, my arm felt numb, and my whole body shook.
His strength was beyond my expectations.