Wu Hou looked at the charred corpse dragged to the entrance of the tent and contemplated for a while before saying, "Da Ying, go and fetch General Gao."
There was a soldier behind Wu Hou who responded, "Yes."
General Gao, whose full name was Gao Tie Chong, was originally a scholar. Later, he joined the military and became Wu Hou's chief strategist. He was known for his reclusive nature and was rarely seen in public. He was the mastermind behind the current military campaign, which involved the four generals working together to lay a siege.
A while later, a person from a small tent to the left of Wu Hou's brought out a small wheelchair. Seated in the chair was a person with a large hat, and a green veil hung from the brim, concealing their face.
When this person arrived in front of Wu Hou, they said, "Lord, I am Gao Tie Chong. Please give your orders."
Wu Hou replied, "General Gao, take a look at this."
The charred corpse was in a terrible state, emitting a foul odor. Gao Tie Chong, with some effort, descended from his wheelchair. One of his aides helped him to the corpse. He crouched down, lifted the veil from his face with his left hand, and with his right hand, he used a knife to inspect the corpse. He then cut open the mouth and examined it closely. He said, "Heavens! It's a snake person!"
A snake person? I was bewildered by this revelation. Wu Hou asked, "General Gao, are you sure? Could there be a mistake?"
Gao Tie Chong replied, "I assure you, Lord, there is no mistake. Over fifty years ago, when the late emperor was still the crown prince, he traveled the world and captured a half-snake, half-human monster in the Southern Wilderness. At that time, the Celestial Seer accompanied the late emperor, and upon returning, he wrote a book called 'Imperial Travels and Observations.' In it, there was an image of that snake person. According to the previous generation's elder who accompanied the late emperor, such creatures were occasionally seen in remote mountains, capable of swallowing large animals whole. They might be descendants of ancient, extraordinary creatures."
Wu Hou chuckled, "What a curious thing to encounter at this time, and to face off against General Chu, the renowned hero of the vanguard camp. This snake person has certainly had a stroke of bad luck."
While Wu Hou's praise made me feel somewhat elated, I couldn't help but remain uneasy. The snake person didn't seem like a mere wild beast; it could ambush me, wield a long spear, and appeared more human-like. If there were not just one or two but a dozen or more of them attacking simultaneously, a small group of soldiers might not be sufficient to fend them off.
After bidding farewell to Wu Hou, I still felt somewhat uneasy. Qilie was waiting outside of Wu Hou's camp. When he saw me coming out, he asked, "What did Lord Wu Hou say?"
I replied, "Lord Wu Hou doesn't seem to be too concerned. Well, it's quite late now. Let's all go back and rest."
Qilie chuckled, "Of course. Tonight is General Chu's spring night, and it was wasted on that monster. Let's go back."
Everyone burst into laughter. I wasn't as strict in my military leadership as Wu Hou. Perhaps it was because of my young age, and some of the squad leaders were in their thirties. It wouldn't be wise for me to be overly harsh with them. While they would never disrespect me on the battlefield, they didn't always regard me as a seasoned commander in their daily interactions. However, there was one exception, the woman...
Thinking of that woman, my mind became clouded once again. I said, "Let's go back to sleep, and let's not participate in the city slaughter tomorrow."
Qilie hesitated for a moment, then quickly agreed, "Exactly. Let's take a good rest tomorrow. We've been slaughtering the city for three days; it's time for everyone to take a break."
Tan Qing chimed in, "The citizens of Gaoying City are truly brave. They are starving, barely able to stand, and they still fought us in the alleys. Yesterday, I led my nine brothers into a wealthy household, and there were only five men and two women left. They held out for half an hour and refused to surrender, not even the women. It's a shame; one of the young women was very beautiful, but I shot an arrow through her neck."
He was about to continue talking incessantly when I suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
They all froze, looking at me with a bewildered expression. I didn't say anything more because there was nothing more to say. For the soldiers, sacking a city after a victory was considered a reward, and I had joined them in sacking a few cities when I followed Wu Hou to capture the first few cities. But now, I had grown weary of the bloodshed, and I even felt guilty for my own bloody hands.
Could I share those sentiments with them?
I mounted my horse and rode in silence. The sky was already getting bright, with a hint of daylight in the east, but the moment just before dawn was the darkest.
When I arrived at my quarters, they had all returned to their tents. Because I was the only one staying outside the camp, I was alone in the room, which was immaculately clean. Suddenly, a profound sense of loneliness gripped me.
The previous occupant of this room had likely become a corpse, incinerated into mere dry bones in the public square. Life was so fragile.
After sitting for a while, I found myself sleepless. I lit an oil lamp and gazed at the clean room. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over me.
The former occupant of this room must have turned into a corpse, burned to ashes in the public square. Life was so fragile.
I walked out of the room. The camp was well-lit, and I could hear the sounds of revelry. The soldiers from the vanguard camp, who hadn't slept for three days and nights during the city's siege, were indulging in various activities—killing, frolicking with women, gambling. It had almost become a norm after capturing a city.
I walked toward the camp, feeling restless and disconnected.
Today, it's the First Battalion's turn for sentry duty at the entrance. The First Battalion's Centurion, Lu Gongxing, is twenty-seven years old this year. He was my senior at the military academy and currently serves as the Vanguard Battalion's officer in charge. The Vanguard Battalion's structure has always been this way, with the officer in charge serving as the First Battalion's Centurion, following the tradition set by Wu Hou. According to Wu Hou's orders, no officer is allowed to stay behind on the battlefield, including himself. He frequently charges to the front lines.
Lu Gongxing is the son of General Hu Wei Bo, Lu Xiang, and comes from a prestigious family. However, he doesn't belong to Pu Anli's group, and he gets along well with us lower-ranking officers, many of whom come from common backgrounds. He's considered the leader of the faction that balances within the Vanguard Battalion. After the soldiers on guard saw me approaching, they straightened up and saluted. One of them said, "General Chu, good day."
I returned the salute and asked, "Has Centurion Lu gone to sleep?"
The soldier replied, "Not yet. He's still discussing matters with General Deyang."
I entered the tent, and the sounds of women crying and men laughing occasionally drifted in from the surroundings. After capturing the city, as per tradition, the women were chosen by the Central Army and the most beautiful ones were taken into their ranks. The rest were divided among the other battalions. Wu Hou wasn't particularly interested in women, but Emperor Jun had issued an order requiring beautiful women and treasures to be presented after a successful campaign. Perhaps these female entertainers were prepared for Emperor Jun.
Somehow, I thought of that expressionless woman who played the pipa.
She had escaped the horrors of the city's sacking, but entering the palace might not offer much better prospects.
My heart ached slightly.
I'd never felt this way before. I shook my head.
Ahead was Lu Gongxing's tent. Unlike me, he didn't seek isolation and lived with his subordinates. I called out at the entrance, "Is Centurion Lu here?"
Lu Gongxing stepped out, smiled at me, and said, "General Chu, you've got quite the tolerance for alcohol. I'm still feeling a bit dizzy. You didn't have a drop. Come on in."
I couldn't help but smile bitterly. I didn't have the kind of upbringing Lu Gongxing had, and anyone encountering such a monstrous creature would find the effects of alcohol waning quickly.
Inside, Deyang was holding a cup of wine, his face slightly flushed. A very beautiful woman stood at his side, likely one of the spoils of war. Without showing any discomfort, I raised my eyebrows slightly. However, Deyang was enthusiastic, "General Chu, you're here. Come, have a drink."
I took a seat, and the woman brought a cup of wine. Lu Gongxing asked, "What brings General Chu here today?"
I put the wine cup down on the table and said, "Lu Centurion, do you know what a snake person is?"
As soon as I uttered those words, Deyang's eyes widened, and he asked, "Is it a human-like creature with snake-like qualities?"
I replied, "Yes."
Lu Gongxing said, "You know about it too? General Deyang and I were discussing this matter."
I was surprised and asked, "You both know about it too?"
Lu Gongxing explained, "During the day, a few of my brothers in the camp encountered one, and more than a dozen people surrounded it. It managed to escape and even injured two of our men."
I inquired, "Where did you encounter it?"
Lu Gongxing replied, "It was in the west of the city."
The west of the city was under the jurisdiction of Loyal Baron Shen Xiping. Shen Xiping, along with Lu Jingyu, was renowned as the "Twin Stars" in the military and were acknowledged as the two most valiant generals under General Wu. While Lu Jingyu excelled in both intelligence and valor, Shen Xiping was like a blazing fire and a fierce wind, earning the nickname "Fire Tiger." He wasn't particularly skilled in siege warfare but was unmatched in open-field battles. Wu Hou had once commented that in offensive warfare, Lu slightly fell short of Shen, but in defensive warfare, Shen couldn't compare to Lu. However, when leading a hundred soldiers to face the enemy, Shen Xiping's charging skills were unrivaled. In the current campaign, Shen Xiping was leading the right-wing army to attack the west of the city. Wu Hou was concerned that Shen Xiping might not follow orders, so he had strictly forbidden him from acting recklessly. His troops were primarily stationed outside the city walls, with minimal engagement inside. It appeared that the long inactivity had made his soldiers particularly ruthless during the city's sack.
Lu Gongxing said, "General Chu, how did you encounter the snake person?"
I recounted my encounter with the snake person. Upon hearing it, Lu Gongxing's expression grew serious. I added, "I've reported it to General Wu, but he doesn't seem very concerned."
Lu Gongxing pondered for a while and then turned to General Deyang, saying, "General Deyang, please stay for a while. I'll go with General Chu to the west of the city."
As we left the tent, Lu Gongxing had his subordinates prepare two horses, and we made our way to the western gate. The sun was beginning to rise. In this area, apart from the captured women and craftsmen, there were no civilians left. The noise from the soldiers of the Vanguard units was deafening. I asked, "General Lu, is this snake person really as concerning as it seems?"
Lu Gongxing gazed at the sky. In the east, the dawn was breaking, and a crescent moon was still visible in the sky, although it was fading. He looked up and said, "Our ancestors had a close relationship with the Celestial Scholar. Before he transcended, he left a manuscript at our home, which I had a chance to read in my childhood. Most of it contained the Celestial Scholar's travel accounts, which broadened my horizons."
I wasn't sure why Lu Gongxing was sharing this with me. I hadn't read many books. The traditional technique of making books using paper had been lost. Nowadays, most books were made of parchment. Creating parchment involved meticulously scraping and bleaching the hides of cattle and sheep. A single book's thickness might require the hides of five or six sheep, equivalent to a month's supply of meat for an average family. Consequently, many people had never seen a book before.
Lu Gongxing mentioned this, not to boast about having many books, but I couldn't help feeling a bit uncomfortable.
He continued, "The Celestial Scholar's writings in that book contain detailed information about the snake people. Furthermore, he mentioned that when he was traveling with the Crown Prince across the southern border and captured a snake person, it took two hundred Imperial Guards and one hundred guards from the Azure Moon Palace to subdue it. Even with such a force, it was an arduous task. The strength of the snake people is astonishing. It injured over a dozen men before they managed to capture it. The Celestial Scholar once advised the Crown Prince that if they could domesticate a snake-person army of ten thousand, they might become invincible. However, at that time, the realm was relatively peaceful, and snake people were a rare sight. The previous Emperor didn't take this idea seriously."
I remarked, "It does seem rather impractical. Those snake people are fierce and difficult to tame. Besides, they're so scarce that trying to assemble an army of ten thousand would be exceedingly challenging."
Lu Gongxing replied, "Regardless, General Deyang told me that during the occupation of the city, he saw shadows on rooftops and suspected they might be snake people. Now, it appears that there are snake people in the city, and you mentioned there's more than one. In the wilderness, there may be even more."
I said, "Well, even if there are many, what's the worst that could happen? After all, we're about to withdraw our troops, so what's the big deal?"
Lu Gongxing only said, "It's better to be prepared." He shook his reins and urged his horse forward.
Everywhere we looked, there were dilapidated buildings, rubble, and bloodstains. Now and then, we came across partially decomposed corpses, likely left behind by those who were too lazy to clean up after the city was sacked. The corpses near the camp were relatively well-managed, but this area was farther away, and the logistics corps responsible for cleaning up the mess was evidently less diligent. I watched Lu Gongxing's back, feeling a sudden chill. This commander of the Vanguard unit, who I had worked with for two years, suddenly felt like a stranger to me.
I shook my reins as well and followed him.
If Lu Jingyu appeared as an enduring iceberg, the moment you entered his territory, you'd feel an aura of strict discipline and sternness. In contrast, Shen Xiping resembled a raging wildfire in the wilderness, unstoppable and fierce. His right-wing troops maintained strict discipline on the battlefield. Each squad was overseen by a squad leader, and if one soldier retreated, the entire squad would be executed in front of the formation. Therefore, during several charges, the right-wing troops always advanced with unwavering determination. However, after the battles, the discipline of Shen Xiping's troops deteriorated, and on the sixth day of the city's sack, right-wing soldiers could still be seen randomly attacking people in the abandoned city.
Upon arriving at the right-wing camp near the western gate, the noise inside was deafening, louder than a marketplace. There were no guards posted at the gate. As we entered the camp, we saw drunken soldiers stumbling around in all directions. During its heyday, High Roc City was renowned for producing a unique wine made from a fruit called wood bamboo. Wood bamboo was a fruit native to the southern regions of the Empire, resembling loquats but larger. It ripened in autumn and winter, and its flavor surpassed that of loquats. However, it had a very short shelf life, deteriorating within three days. The Emperor specifically requested that the Azure Moon Palace provide one hundred catties of wood bamboo as an annual tribute. The fruit was more common in the southern regions and not particularly valuable. However, when transported to Foggy Cloud City, the price of one catty of wood bamboo was nearly equivalent to that of a catty of gold. Wood bamboo wine was highly sought after in Foggy Cloud City, often used by the nobility for entertaining guests. Some of the traders from the southern regions had made a fortune by trading wood bamboo wine. During High Roc City's prime, there were thirty wineries in the city, with the largest nineteen located in the western section. When the Celestial Scholar accompanied the Crown Prince here, he composed a line that read, "The scent of wood bamboo wine welcomes the rain; the entire city revels in intoxication."
The previous night, General Wu hosted a banquet, and the wine served was wood bamboo wine. Even some of the captive craftsmen were from the wineries.
We dismounted and secured our horses to a nearby hitching post. Lu Gongxing looked around at the chaos. He grabbed a soldier who was staggering around and asked, "I'm Lu Gongxing, the Commander of the Vanguard Unit, as well as the Centurion of the First Company. Can you tell me where Loyal Baron's Central Army is located?"
The soldier, who was drunk, couldn't pronounce his words clearly and slurred, "You mean General Shen? He's over there."
He pointed in the direction of a nearby tent where a group of officers were seated around a large round table, indulging in gambling. They were wearing soft armor, and most of them had women in their arms while holding gourds filled with wine.
Lu Gongxing and I secured our horses and approached the group. When we arrived at the edge of the gathering,
Upon hearing my name, the man pushed aside the woman in his arms and stood up, saying, "Ah, you're General Chu, aren't you? Ha! I'm General Tian Wei of the Central Army in the Right Wing. Your name has become famous throughout the army, but you don't look very impressive."
I noticed that Lu Gongxing looked a bit displeased. General Tian Wei's words didn't show much respect. I said, "General Tian, we need to find General Shen. Is there any way we can locate him?"
Tian Wei chuckled and replied, "The General is not receiving guests right now, unless you have an order from the Marquis."
Lu Gongxing and I exchanged glances. We had only come to ask a question, so why would we have an order? Trying to obtain an order for such a matter would likely result in a futile endeavor.
At that moment, an officer sitting below Tian Wei grew impatient and said, "Tian Hu, it's your turn. If you don't roll, you forfeit the game."
Tian Wei responded, "Coming, coming." He no longer paid attention to us, instead, he reached out to embrace the woman standing beside him. With his other hand, he grabbed a handful of dice.
They were playing a popular Imperial game called "Three Dice Gambling." It was a well-established form of gambling, with each side of each die bearing one to six small pits, and one of these pits was colored red. When three dice were rolled inside a bowl, if all three showed the same number, it was called "Three of a Kind." The highest roll was "Three Sixes," which was also known as the "Supreme Three of a Kind." There were various other combinations with intricate names that were hard to remember unless you were a seasoned gambler. This type of gambling was quite popular among the military for its simplicity and ease of carrying the required equipment. They were using bone dice, and these dice looked new, gleaming white.
Lu Gongxing was about to say something when Tian Wei swiftly rolled the dice into the bowl and yelled, "Supreme Three of a Kind! Supreme Three of a Kind!"
The three dice tumbled in the bowl for a while, but they showed mixed numbers. I didn't know what the actual total was, but seeing the other officers cheer simultaneously, I assumed it must have been a very small total, likely leading to a substantial loss.
One of the officers laughed, "Tian Hu, your luck is truly terrible today."
Muttering to himself, Tian Wei said, "Indeed, let's change our luck."
He placed the woman's hand, whom he had been embracing, on the table. With astonishing speed, he drew a knife. Before I could even shout in alarm, he had already severed the woman's left hand. She let out a piercing scream, and blood sprayed all over Tian Wei's face. Wiping the blood from his face, Tian Wei pushed the woman aside and threw the severed hand to a nearby engineer, shouting, "Xue Gongzheng, make three new dice!"
Unbelievably, the dice they were using were made from human bones!
I was infuriated, and I shouted, "General Tian!"
Tian Wei glanced at me and sneered, "General Chu, do you have any advice?"
If I didn't do this, she would likely die soon due to excessive bleeding. However, I was certain that by doing so, I was putting Tian Wei in an awkward position. But I wasn't thinking about any of that; I was just mechanically tending to her. It was as though this could bring some peace to my troubled mind.
After I finished bandaging her, I had just stood up when a flash of steel passed before my eyes.
The blade was incredibly fast, and I was utterly defenseless. I reached for my waist to draw my Hundred Blossoms Saber, but before my hand reached the hilt, the blade had already vanished. The woman's head, however, had rolled to the ground.
I turned around, and Tian Wei was wiping the blood from his blade. A single drop of blood, gleaming blue on the blade, rolled like a bead, while his eyes were filled with cold mockery.
I clutched my knife and said, "General Tian, prepare yourself."
I was seething with anger, but my words sounded surprisingly calm.
Tian Wei smiled and said, "Alright, for some fun, let's draw up a life-or-death pact."
I shouted, "Let's do it!"
The people around us began to clamor, forming a large crowd. Lu Gongxing couldn't have foreseen that the situation would escalate to this point and said, "General Chu, please, don't act so impulsively..."
I said, "Commander Lu, please be my guarantor."
Lu Gongxing's face also showed a hint of anger, and he exclaimed, "General Chu, you are being insolent!"
He had never spoken so sternly before, and I froze, looking at him. Lu Gongxing turned to Tian Wei and said, "General Tian, I apologize for General Chu's disrespect." He then turned to me and said, "General Chu, as the Hundred Captain of the Fifth Vanguard Battalion, please apologize to General Tian."
By addressing my position, he was trying to exert authority over me. Although I felt a thousand grievances, I took a step forward, bowed, and said, "General Tian, please forgive me for my rudeness. I was out of line."
Unlike someone like Pu Anli, who had powerful connections, I couldn't afford to be disrespectful to superiors.
Tian Wei wore a smirk on his face and replied, "General Chu, don't worry too much. Women are originally just playthings. Don't treat them like humans. Commander Lu, would you like to join the game too?"
Lu Gongxing declined, saying, "No, General Tian. We came to ask if you have encountered creatures with the upper bodies of humans and the lower bodies of snakes."
This was our true purpose, which we had only just revealed. At the moment, Tian Wei was still being polite and replied, "Commander Lu, have you encountered them as well?"
We were all taken aback, almost simultaneously asking, "Have you seen them?"
Tian Wei casually remarked, "It's not that big of a deal. We saw one yesterday trying to escape the city, and we chased after it for half a day. It's probably some strange creature kept in the city; the people from the south are peculiar."
His response was nonchalant, but it weighed heavily on our hearts.
It seemed that the snake people in the city were not an isolated few. These creatures were likely not as simple as they seemed. They had already begun using weapons, which was almost like behaving as individuals.
As we left the west of the city, I still felt somewhat resentful. Lu Gongxing asked, "General Chu, are you still upset with me?"
I replied, "Commander Lu, you're my superior, and I dare not express any resentment. It's just that when the Great Emperor first established his reign, he issued explicit orders not to kill prisoners. If we don't treat captives as humans, how can we win the hearts of the people? Although this rebellion has been quelled, if such events occur again, we may find it difficult to get people to surrender."
Lu Gongxing sighed and said, "I'm well aware of that. However, General Wu Hou also has his reasons. The empire is currently plagued with rumors, and in an era like this, it's the strong who gain respect. General Chu, you're unmatched on the battlefield, but to be honest, you appear somewhat weak in peacetime."
I remained silent for a while. Lu Gongxing's words echoed the criticism I had received from General Wu Hou. Perhaps there was inherent weakness in my character. While I could fearlessly sacrifice myself in battle, my true nature emerged in times of peace.
Maybe this meant I couldn't become a great military leader. In fact, General Lu Jingyu served as a warning.
Lu Gongxing said, "You should return now. I will report this matter to the Marquis, and hopefully, it will catch his attention."
I looked at the sky and said, "It's still early. I'll wait outside for you."
Lu Gongxing replied, "Alright. I can't help but feel that these snake people are not insignificant creatures."
I said, "Even if the snake people are powerful, I doubt they could create much turmoil. Are you worried the Republic Army is training snake people?"
Lu Gongxing said, "Yes. There are not just one or two snake people in the city, and they are already using weapons. If they are training a snake people army somewhere outside the city, I'm not sure how we could deal with it."
I chuckled, "Even if they were training them, I doubt they'd have much success. Those snake people are so fierce; I doubt anyone could tame them."
At that moment, we arrived outside General Wu Hou's tent. Lu Gongxing dismounted and said, "General Chu, please wait here for a moment."
General Wu Hou had very strict military orders. Lower-ranking officers were not allowed to summon or enter the central tent. Yesterday, in a moment of urgency, I had requested an audience with General Wu Hou, who might have been intoxicated at the time, and he hadn't reprimanded me. But if I went in again for the same matter, he would likely be irritated.
After half a day, Lu Gongxing returned, looking dejected. I asked, "What happened?"
Lu Gongxing said, "General Wu Hou is drinking, and when I reported the matter, he simply took it lightly."
I said, "You think I'm weak, and I admit it. Now I think you're somewhat paranoid. Hehe."
Lu Gongxing didn't usually put on airs, and although he was the Commander of the Vanguard Battalion, he always saw himself as a mere Company Commander. When we were together, we often made jokes. But this time, he only sighed and said, "I hope it's just my paranoia."
I glanced at the sky; the sun was right in the center, marking noon. I hadn't rested since last night. I yawned and said, "I'm exhausted. Commander Lu, aren't you going to rest?"
Lu Gongxing also yawned and said, "Alright. I was filled with alcohol last night, and I haven't slept a wink since. I should get some rest."
Once we reached the barracks, he said, "I'm off to sleep. Will you go back to your little house?"
I said, "Yes."
Lu Gongxing chuckled, "You can certainly endure loneliness. Can you even fit inside that little house of yours?"
I replied, "No matter what you say about me, I find this place too noisy."
I returned the horse to Lu Gongxing and made my way back to the small house. It was now the afternoon. The surroundings had become somewhat quieter. Even though the Imperial soldiers were resilient, after three days of non-stop slaughter, many of them were tired. At this moment, I could only sporadically hear cries in the distance, like the sounds of sharp fragments.
I'm not sure how long I had slept, but when I woke up, I felt ravenous. I reached into my bag and took out a few dry biscuits, as well as the gourd filled with water. Outside the window, the sky had darkened, signaling the end of another day.
Five days of citywide slaughter, and there were two more to go. That was my first thought. Perhaps it was due to my disgust at the endless killing; I couldn't stop the massacre, so I could only hope for it to end sooner.
I stepped out of the small house, and outside, the evening sun burned like fire. In the southern lands, the night fell late, unlike the capital where it grew dark quickly. The setting sun hung low in the west, coloring the clouds with a blood-like hue. Under the evening sun, the broken ramparts on the city walls appeared as mere shadows, adding to the desolation.
I stretched and walked up to the city wall, munching on dry biscuits. Despite the vast wealth that had been looted from the city, food was still scarce, and we had no choice but to rely on dry rations for sustenance. I also had some respect for the Republican Army defending the city. They had endured many hardships to hold out for so long under these challenging conditions.
The South Gate was guarded by the Central Army. I walked along the rubble-strewn path, heading for the city wall. Looking down, I saw the area around the gate filled with countless neatly arranged tents. Only the Left Army under Lu Jingyu could match the Central Army in terms of discipline and order.
I chose a relatively clean spot on the wall, sitting down, and took a sip of water. The hard biscuits softened in my mouth when moistened. Though they were only slightly salty, they still provided a comfortable sense of satiety. I nibbled on the biscuit slowly, watching the sun gradually disappear.
The Emperor was known as the Sun King, but his radiance seemed to fall only on the high-ranking officials and the beauties in his harem. I thought to myself with a hint of irony. For ordinary commoners, praising the Emperor's boundless grace was too insincere. But if you wanted to remain loyal to the Emperor, did you have to become as unfeeling and ruthless as General Wu Hou? For those unwilling to do so, was there any other choice? In that case, the rebellion led by Cangyue Gong could also be seen in a more understanding light.
I paused in my biscuit-eating. Was this kind of thinking disloyal? My heart raced intensely. Perhaps, if I were in Cangyue Gong's position, I might have rebelled as well.
I glanced at the remaining piece of biscuit in my hand; I had bitten it down to just a small fragment. I sighed and put it in my mouth, chewing on the hard and dry biscuit crumbs that felt like gravel. I removed the stopper from the gourd filled with water and took a sip.
The sky had darkened considerably. Half of the sun had dipped below the horizon, causing the crimson hue in the sky to intensify, making it look like the heavens and the earth were shrouded in rolling smoke and mist.
As I was drinking water, a tumultuous noise erupted from the camp below the city. What was happening?
I was startled and hastily closed the gourd before strapping it to my waist and dashed down from the city wall.
Once I reached the city's edge, I saw a horse galloping towards the central military tent like the wind. A crowd of soldiers was huddled at the entrance to the camp. I ran towards them and asked, "What's happening?"
A young officer glanced at me. Wary of being mistaken for the enemy as I had been attacked by Pu Anli's subordinates earlier, I was still wearing my soft armor. The young officer examined me and asked, "Who are you?"
I pulled out my identification badge and replied, "I'm Chu Xiu Hong, the Centurion of the Vanguard Fifth Company. What's going on?"
The young officer saluted me and said, "Ah, General Chu, your name has become widely known these past few days."
I was somewhat impatient but didn't want to be impolite when someone was complimenting me. I asked, "Thank you. Now, what's happening?"
He explained, "In the southwest, there's a massive dust cloud, like a large army approaching."
"What?" I exclaimed, shocked. The southwest region was an uninhabited mountainous area, inhabited only by some sporadic hunters living at the foot of the mountains. When General Wu Hou planned the siege of the city, scouts had been sent to verify the absence of any ambush forces. Moreover, we had besieged the city for so many days; if the Republican Army had any ambush units, they would have shown themselves long ago, not now. If it wasn't the Republican Army, then where had this force come from?
At that moment, a horn sounded from the central military tent, signaling an urgent assembly. When this horn sounded, all troops needed to return to their original positions, and senior officers were required to enter the central military tent for deliberations.
I had no time to continue my conversation with the young officer. I rushed back to the Vanguard camp.
As I reached the camp's entrance, I encountered Lu Gongxing galloping out on horseback. He didn't have time to greet me and sped past. I entered the camp, and the members of the Vanguard units who had been outside were hurriedly returning. I found my tent, and Qi Lie was inside, frantically organizing various items strewn about. He appeared to have been gambling not long ago, and a woman sat beside him, looking frightened. Qi Lie was still quite young, but it seemed he had also started capturing women.
Qi Lie saw me and exclaimed, "General, you're here."
I replied, "Hurry and get ready. A large army is approaching."
He, too, was startled and asked, "What? Who are they?"
I responded, "I don't know. Quickly gather our comrades."
Qi Lie said, "Okay." He nudged the woman beside him and said, "Quick, go to the supply camp and wait there for a while. If everything's fine, I'll come get you."
In previous campaigns, all captured craftsmen had been detained in the central military camp, while female prisoners were held in various battalions. Although the female prisoners were relatively harmless, they still needed to be watched, so any urgent orders were sent to the supply camp. This rule had been established by General Wen Hou, and although I had initially thought it was overly meticulous, I now saw the wisdom in it.
I left the tent and found that dozens of our comrades from the Vanguard were already standing outside. The Vanguard consisted of 83 members in total. The entire army had experienced over 4,000 casualties during this campaign, with the Vanguard alone losing approximately 500 soldiers. We had initially comprised 2,000 men, so these losses had significantly weakened us. After we returned from this campaign, new recruits would be added, but for now, we had to make do. I glanced at the section leaders at the front; however, three of them were missing, including the renowned sharpshooter, Tan Qing.
In the Vanguard, each of the ten companies had horses and carried long spears, but they each had different roles. Seven companies were for offensive action; they used large axes during the siege, leading charges at the forefront. The eighth and ninth companies were shield units, and the remaining company, which Tan Qing led, was the archer unit. In open-field battles, they began by using long-range arrows while being protected by the shield units, and once they got closer, the primary force came from the first seven companies. Nevertheless, Tan Qing's archer unit was comprised of exceptional archers, each capable of hitting the bullseye from a hundred paces. This was one of the reasons why we were the first to enter the city.
I looked at these soldiers. Days of siege had left each of them with bloodshot eyes, and their armor was disheveled. I couldn't blame them; even I was wearing soft armor instead of iron armor.
At that moment, a clamor announced the arrival of a group, and it turned out to be the three companies of Tan Qing. While Tan Qing's company was at full strength, the other two had suffered heavy casualties, with a total of only 24 men. Their reduced numbers likely occurred while they were away from the main camp. Upon seeing me, Tan Qing called out, "General Chu, we heard a report of an incoming attack. Is that true?"
I responded, "I'm not sure; there's just a large group heading this way. Let's wait for orders."
After a short wait, a deep voice came from outside, yelling, "Attention, soldiers of the Vanguard! Wu Hou has given his orders. Mount your horses and prepare to ascend the city walls. The entire army is moving up." The town crier was Lei Baihui, known for his commanding voice in the army, and everyone referred to him as "Lei Gu" rather than his actual name.
The camp became noisy, and we weren't sure what was happening. Lei Gu ran off to relay the orders to the next battalion. That's when we heard General Lu Gongxing's voice, "The entire battalion will proceed in an orderly manner, and no one shall make a noise."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an air of authority. The camp fell silent, and our battalion ascended the city walls in orderly fashion.
I whispered to Qi Lie, "Little Lie, go to my tent."
Qi Lie winked at me and replied, "You mean that woman, right? General Chu, you really don't know how to cherish beauty; she's just one person."
My expression darkened as I said, "I want you to bring my armor. That woman died that day."
He was taken aback, opened his mouth as if to ask how she died, but seeing my icy expression, he refrained and quickly headed towards my tent.
Due to the sudden nature of this gathering, many soldiers had disorganized armor. We tied our horses below the city walls and, once on the walls, began adjusting our armor. When I reached the wall, I gazed toward the southwest. It was already dark, and I couldn't see anything. Despite the numerous torches on the walls, they didn't illuminate much in the distance.
Qi Lie returned with my armor, and I put it on. Faintly, I could already hear a rumbling sound.
Lei Gu galloped along the walls, shouting, "Attention, all units. Unsheathe your weapons, stay alert, and don't make any mistakes."
I leaned against the wall. Around me, the torchlight made each person appear eerie, their neglected armor showed signs of both bloodstains and rust, giving off a dim reflection. It felt like a surreal dream.
I wondered about the identity of the approaching army in the dark night. If they were truly enemies, the city's defenses were in shambles, and the supplies were running low, much like the situation the Republic's forces had been in during their siege. This uncertainty seemed to grip everyone with a sense of unease.
The approaching force was now about five miles from the city. Although their nature was concealed in darkness, the earth seemed to tremble beneath their advance. As I strained my eyes to see into the obscurity, someone behind me suddenly said, "Lord Jun Hou!"
I turned to see General Wu Hou and his two personal guards ascending the city walls. We all knelt and said, "Lord Jun Hou."
Wu Hou glanced at us and waved his hand, saying, "Rise."
His face now carried a sense of ferocity. He looked at the kneeling General Lu Gongxing and asked, "General Lu, how well-prepared is the Vanguard Battalion?"
Lu Gongxing responded, "The Vanguard Battalion currently has 1,473 men, and all are present here."
Wu Hou nodded and looked down below before grunting and saying, "No matter who they are, I'll let them experience the might of our Imperial Army cavalry."
My heart twisted. It seemed that Wu Hou was determined to engage this unknown army in open battle.
This is correct. Although the terrain in Southern Jiang is uneven and not suitable for cavalry maneuvers, when we're inside the city and adopt a defensive stance, the city is already filled with rubble and broken walls due to our previous assault. It becomes somewhat useless, and it's better to engage in open battle. It's just that this force happened to launch their attack immediately after we broke through the city. Their timing was perfectly executed, employing a brilliant tactic of catching us off guard in military strategy. How did they manage to get their timing so precise?
At this moment, Wu Hou's personal guards set up a tent on the city walls. His staff officers and strategists entered it. I noticed that the high-ranking military advisor, Gao Tiechong, was not among them.
While Wu Hou's staff was setting up, Lei Gu galloped over. He dismounted and knelt in front of Wu Hou's temporary tent, saying, "Reporting to Lord Jun Hou, I have relayed the orders to all gates, and the troops are prepared and on alert."
From inside the tent, Wu Hou responded, "Good. You may rest for now."
Before Lei Gu could leave, a scout from the reconnaissance battalion rushed up to the tent, gasping for breath, and reported, "Lord Jun Hou, the enemy has set up camp two miles from the city, and the Vanguard continues to advance."
Indeed, even from the city walls, we could feel the ground shaking. This commotion likely involved over a hundred thousand soldiers.
As these ominous thoughts passed through my mind, I couldn't help but recall a passage from the "Seven Essentials of Marching" by the Martial Saint Qin, which said, "Arrogant soldiers should not be used for attack, and weary soldiers should not be used for defense." Wu Hou's army had marched out with only one hundred thousand troops and had suffered minimal losses during their advance, with only four thousand casualties, which was commendable for a complete campaign. However, their current strength was no longer even close to one hundred thousand. If the enemy had a force of one hundred thousand soldiers, and we could be considered both weary and arrogant, the outcome was uncertain.
Looking around, I noticed that everyone bore a solemn expression but wasn't overly alarmed.
That's a good thing, I thought. If everyone shared my pessimistic thoughts, perhaps we wouldn't even need to engage in battle; the outcome would already be decided.
I clenched my teeth. Regardless of the situation, at this stage, even if we are arrogant, we must push forward with determination.
My hand reached for the Bai Bi knife at my waist, and for some reason, I remembered those two lines: "Only the knife has a hundred uses, only the mind is unyielding."