The snake people's two consecutive attacks have been repelled by us, and the army has gained some confidence. Plus, we've discovered the snake people's weakness, so the city walls, even in broad daylight, are now lined with torches.
However, the death of Shen Xiping still hangs over us like an ominous omen.
In today's city defense battle, the Vanguard Battalion suffered heavy losses. Although we achieved some results in the pursuit that followed, post-battle statistics showed that the Empire's casualties were about 60% to the snake people's 40%. In other words, we lost six Empire soldiers for every four snake people we defeated. Under normal circumstances, this would be considered a significant defeat in a city defense scenario. But the military is filled with a sense of jubilation, as if we've won a major battle. Many mid-to-high-ranking officers from the Right Army have come to request a night assault on the snake people, but Warlord Wu refused all such requests. However, he did order Shen Xiping's body to be returned to the camp, and the entire army is to mourn him along the way.
Shen Xiping's body was carried by several surviving officers of the Dragon Scale Army. The acting commander of the Right Army, Luan Peng, led the way. Warlord Wu himself followed closely. They brought Shen Xiping's body to his original camp within the Right Army. For a war general to fall in battle is not uncommon, and Shen Xiping himself was aware of the potential outcome. As we silently watched Shen Xiping's body being carried away, we all mourned the loss of this renowned valiant general.
The Empire does not hold elaborate funerals, especially for military personnel. However, the Empire believes that a person's soul resides in the head. If the head is severed, the soul cannot find rest. Therefore, Shen Xiping's body was not buried, and Warlord Wu did not specify when it would be interred. Perhaps Warlord Wu hopes to reclaim Shen Xiping's head and bring it back to the Imperial Capital, but against the relentless onslaught of the snake people, this hope seems like a mere illusion.
As Shen Xiping's body was carried into the defense zone of the Right Army in the west of the city, a mournful cry rose from the ranks.
Shen Xiping's troops, if compared to the tactics of General Lu Jingyu, were almost emblematic of a military with lax discipline, and even other Imperial forces, when faced with the troops under Shen Xiping's command, found themselves in a difficult position. Strangely enough, whenever Shen Xiping's loose and undisciplined troops went into battle, they immediately exhibited ironclad discipline, no less strict than General Lu Jingyu's troops.
Perhaps the art of military command is not set in stone, I thought with a touch of emotion. Personally, I lean towards General Lu Jingyu's strategies for commanding troops, but this doesn't diminish my respect for Shen Xiping.
Someday, I too will become a renowned general. As I watched Shen Xiping's body recede into the distance, I made a silent vow in my heart.
In today's city defense battle, the Vanguard Battalion played a pivotal role. The Vanguard Battalion didn't suffer heavy losses this time; they only lost around twenty soldiers. In my battalion, aside from Wang Dong, two more soldiers lost their lives. Of course, they couldn't enjoy the same level of honor as Shen Xiping. Our fellow soldiers carried them and buried them in an empty spot within the city.
This has become the graveyard for those who died in battle. Nearby, many ashes of Republic soldiers and civilians killed during the city's fall were hastily buried, while in the center lie the fallen Imperial soldiers.
Shen Xiping's remains at least have the chance to return home, but you can't even bring your remains back to your hometown.
I poured a jug of wine onto the grave, but my heart couldn't help but ache.
In front of the graves, there are some crude wooden boards with the names of the deceased written on them. In a few years, these wooden boards will also rot, and at that time, no one will know who's buried inside.
I set the empty wine jug aside and knelt down with the remaining fifty-four men. Several other centurions from the Vanguard Battalion were also laying their fallen comrades to rest. I'm not sure who started it, but someone began singing the Imperial mourning song, "The Nation's Grief," and almost everyone joined in.
In the graveyard, it sounded like a distant rumble of thunder. This was the song of "The Nation's Grief":
In death's embrace, we return to Shanyang Hill, Where the mountains rise majestically, and the skies are vast and wide, The mountains have wood, the nation has its sorrow, O souls, return, and gaze upon your homeland.
This song was composed by Nating Tian, the first hero of the Empire and later honored as the Saint of War, at the "National Grief Stele" on Huabiao Mountain in the Imperial Capital. It has since become the Imperial military's funeral song. The melody is sorrowful and grand, even though it only consists of a few simple notes, it feels like an unstoppable force. However, as I sang "O souls, return, and gaze upon your homeland," I couldn't help but sense the hidden depth of pain within the lyrics.
Behind the countless victories of Nating Tian, the Saint of War, did there not also lie the bones of countless soldiers? In his twilight years, did he not feel guilty for those fallen in battle? The country changed, and a new emperor came to power, yet it came at the cost of tens of thousands of commoners and soldiers dying. What did those people gain from it? Even if the Great Emperor founded the nation with peace and prosperity, and the people lived in comfort, was it really necessary to pay such a hefty price for it?
My heart ached deeply.
Looking into the distance, with the twilight settling in, another day was coming to a close.
※ ※ ※
Upon returning to my own tent to change the bandage around my waist, I reached the entrance of the main camp when I heard someone call out, "General Chu!"
It was Zhang Longyou.
I turned my head and saw him wearing the attire of a staff officer, and he had quite the air of a mid-level officer about him. His rank as a staff officer was higher than mine, and in just one day, he went from being one of the soldiers in my camp to being my superior. Despite my good nature, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy. I decided to pretend I hadn't heard and continued walking. However, Zhang Longyou had already approached me and offered a deep salute, saying, "General Chu, Zhang Longyou pays his respects."
His salute was overly formal, more like the kind offered by a subordinate to a superior. It startled me a bit, and I responded, "Mr. Zhang, please, you outrank me now. I should be saluting you."
Zhang Longyou said, "Longyou dare not forget General Chu's great kindness. Without you, I would have been executed by Lord Deyang yesterday, and I wouldn't be here today."
I was shocked once again. While his rank as a staff officer was on par with Lord Deyang's, he was already part of the staff officers, so it wouldn't be difficult for him to find trouble with Lord Deyang. I said, "Don't blame Lord Deyang..."
He smiled and reassured me, saying, "Of course, I won't blame Lord Deyang. Please rest assured, General."
Though he asked me to be at ease, I couldn't help but be a little wary. I asked, "Mr. Zhang, are you coming back to collect your belongings?" I had initially asked him to move his things to my camp, but he hadn't done it yet, and he was about to leave for Lord Wuhou's camp.
Zhang Longyou replied, "I need to move some alchemical equipment and medicines."
"Has Lord Wuhou assigned you a bodyguard yet?"
He said, "Not yet, but Lord Wuhou mentioned that he would arrange a bodyguard for me tomorrow."
I suggested, "I'll accompany you to pick up your things." Despite his protests, I turned to Qilie and said, "Little Qilie, return to camp and boil some water for me. I'll accompany Mr. Zhang for a while."
Zhang Longyou requested, "General Chu, you don't have to address me as Mr. Zhang. Please call me Zhang Longyou."
I laughed and replied, "Of course, I wouldn't dare."
Deyang's supply camp and the Vanguard Battalion camp were located within the same large camp. As we entered the supply camp, the cries of women could be heard. These women had been taken captive and were temporarily detained here. They were imprisoned in large wooden cages and appeared disheveled with vacant expressions. In reality, these women were selected for their beauty; only beautiful women could have survived until now.
Walking past these women, I felt a sense of unease but pretended not to hear anything. Zhang Longyou also seemed to feel a similar discomfort and murmured, "The ones who suffer most in the battles between armies are the common people."
He said this under his breath, and I was taken aback. I was about to respond, but he had already hurriedly walked ahead.
His original tent was riddled with holes from the fire. As Zhang Longyou walked up to his tent, a soldier from the supply camp exclaimed, "Zhang Dai, why are you back?" When he noticed me following behind Zhang Longyou, he was taken aback. Zhang Longyou simply smiled and said, "Just here to pick up some things." Another soldier nearby whispered, "Don't say anything. He's a staff officer for Lord Wuhou, on the same level as Lord Deyang."
The two soldiers looked at me with a touch of reverence as they saw me enter the damaged tent with Zhang Longyou. They probably assumed that since my rank was lower than Zhang Longyou's, I was here to assist him. In fact, a centurion had a slightly lower rank than a staff officer, but the Vanguard Battalion was a unique unit, where only Lord Wuhou himself could issue commands.
Once we entered Zhang Longyou's original tent, a soldier who had been half-lying on a bed sat up and said, "Zhang...Mr. Zhang..."
He must have overheard the conversation outside during his brief awakening. Zhang Longyou reassured him, saying, "Xiao Zhu, there's nothing to worry about. I'm here to pick up some things. You can go back to sleep."
Xiao Zhu didn't dare to lie back down and stood off to the side. The twists and turns of life were indeed strange. Just a few days ago, Zhang Longyou was probably being bossed around in this tent, and now, due to Lord Wuhou's recognition, it seemed he had gained some authority and dignity.
Zhang Longyou didn't have much to take with him, just some odd-looking furnaces and pots and two bags of sand. I picked up one of the furnaces, and I could see the bottom was blackened from fire, with a cracked pot sitting nearby. After getting everything sorted, I lifted the furnace and said, "Are we all set?"
Zhang Longyou was busy carrying the two bags on his back and said, "Yes, we're ready. There's nothing else."
There were several small carts in the supply camp. I borrowed one and loaded our belongings onto it. We walked side by side, pulling the cart, as we left the supply camp. I suddenly felt a bit foolish. It appeared that Zhang Longyou wasn't the type to harm Lord Deyang, and even if he harbored any ill intentions, he probably wouldn't take any action. I was just being paranoid. However, since I had promised to help him with his belongings, I couldn't simply back out halfway. I said, "Mr. Zhang..."
Zhang Longyou replied, "Here you go again, General Chu. Please, don't call me 'Mr.'"
I said, "Alright, Zhang Longyou. What do you need those furnaces for?"
Zhang Longyou explained, "Those are alchemical furnaces. I am a disciple of the Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School."
The Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School is one of the two major schools in which True Returning Disciple, who is now one of the two National Teachers, is a member. The previous Heavenly Secrets Master's school, the Clear Void Breath Control School, didn't believe in alchemical practices. They thought that the crucible should be the human body, and refining the Great Elixir within oneself was the right path. Hence, they were known as the "Clear Void Breath Control School." True Returning Disciple's school, on the other hand, completely opposed Heavenly Secrets Master's beliefs. They believed that refining elixirs through alchemical processes could allow a person to ascend to immortality in broad daylight. Over the years, though the two schools' National Teachers didn't engage in public disputes like commoners, they secretly competed against each other. In the past century, the Clear Void Breath Control School's practitioners, though they didn't achieve immortality, lived to old age, often being seen as lucky people. In contrast, the practitioners of the Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School seldom lived past forty, and few people believed in their practices anymore. The Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School was waning in influence, while the Clear Void Breath Control School was gaining dominance in the court. If it weren't for the current Emperor's need to have True Returning Disciple concoct elixirs to strengthen his essence and energy, the Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School might have disappeared entirely.
I asked, "My apologies, but I didn't know you were associated with a sect. Why did you join the military?"
Zhang Longyou explained, "The elixirs I craft require a specific type of cinnabar that's scarce in the northern regions. It's mostly found in the South. When I heard that you were embarking on a southern campaign, I came along."
I chuckled and said, "Elixirs? Trying to become an immortal?"
Zhang Longyou shook his head, "I don't believe in all that. My master once intended for me to become the next head of the school, but I declined."
I asked, "If you don't believe in it, why did you join the Upper Clear Daoist Alchemy School?"
Zhang Longyou replied, "I'm fascinated by the Daoist alchemy furnaces. I believe they contain ancient mysteries that we're yet to fully comprehend. It's like we know the 'what' but not the 'why.' I want to explore this field further, and who knows," he said with a gleam in his eyes, a hint of excitement, "maybe someday Zhang Longyou will make history through this pursuit."
Although it might have been impolite to laugh out loud, I couldn't help it and let out a hearty laugh. He didn't seem to mind, but I felt a bit awkward and changed the subject, saying, "What were you doing yesterday? You made quite a loud noise."
Zhang Longyou explained, "Oh, that incident. I was trying to refine the Five Elements Elixir. I accidentally let the open flame into the Unfinished Furnace, and it caused a big explosion."
I furrowed my brow and asked, "Was it that loud?"
Zhang Longyou replied, "The Five Elements Elixir should be nurtured within the furnace, and because I didn't seal it properly, the open flame got inside. The result was an explosion, which damaged the furnace. Fortunately, I had only refined twenty Five Elements Elixirs. The furnace cracked but didn't explode. Otherwise, I wouldn't need Lord Deyang to kill me; I'd have been blown up on the spot."
"Can the Five Elements Elixir really kill people?"
Zhang Longyou nodded, saying, "Yes, it can. I had an uncle who was killed by the Five Elements Elixir in a similar incident. He was refining five hundred pills in a single furnace, and it blew half the room apart."
I stopped in my tracks and asked, "The Five Elements Elixir has such immense power? How is it made? Is it easy to make?"
Zhang Longyou noticed my pause, and there was a loud clatter from the small cart in the process. Anxiously, he said, "Be careful, be careful with my alchemical furnaces."
I said, "Please, tell me, what is it made of?"
Zhang Longyou looked a bit puzzled and asked, "Are you planning to make alchemical pills too?"
I was becoming anxious. Zhang Longyou was acting quite cryptically. I said, "No, I'm not interested in making pills. Please, tell me, how long does it take to refine that Five Elements Elixir?"
"Seven days," he replied.
I nearly stumbled to the ground. Seven days? In seven days, the snake people might have already breached the city walls. Feeling a bit disheartened, I said, "That won't work."
Zhang Longyou asked, "Are you planning to use it on the battlefield?"
Despite being called "dullards" by his companions, Zhang Longyou displayed a keen sense of perception. I replied, "Yes, if just twenty pills have such a powerful effect, I thought that having more might be extremely useful on the battlefield. However, you mentioned it takes seven days, which is too long."
Zhang Longyou asked, "Are you looking for the type of pills that ignite upon contact with fire? Those don't require refinement; they are premade."
His words surprised me. I felt a mix of relief and excitement. I placed the small cart on the ground and said, "How are they made? Tell me quickly."
Zhang Longyou shouted, "Be careful with my alchemical furnaces!" He steadied the cart and explained, "I've prepared them myself. You only need to grind sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal into a fine powder. You mix one part charcoal, six parts sulfur, and six parts saltpeter together. However, be careful when grinding; it shouldn't come into contact with any iron tools."
I said, "That's fantastic. Please help me prepare a batch."
Zhang Longyou's tent was quite simple, and he didn't dare to grind the ingredients inside. Instead, he gave me one pound each of sulfur and saltpeter and said, "You can grind the charcoal powder yourself. Be cautious, though. This type of medicine is potent. If it comes into contact with open flames, it can ignite."
I held the two heavy bags of powdered ingredients and said, "Zhang Longyou, or should I say Mr. Zhang, if this medicine proves to be effective, you'll earn another accolade."
He replied, "Don't get your hopes up. These are just powders, and they could easily scatter in the wind. They might not be very useful."
I smiled and said, "I have a plan for them."
As I left his tent, I turned back and asked, "Have you given this medicine a name?"
Zhang Longyou was still holding the alchemical furnace. He looked up and said, "This type of medicine can ignite, so I call it gunpowder."
Upon returning to the Vanguard Camp, as soon as I entered, Qilie said, "General Chu, you've returned. General Lu is looking for you."
I placed the two bags of powdered ingredients to the side and asked, "Is something urgent?"
Qilie replied, "It seems there's an important matter to discuss. He instructed that as soon as you return, you should go to his tent."
I wondered what the pressing matter could be. A sense of unease crept in, and I headed out of the tent. Before leaving, I turned back to Qilie and said, "Little Lie, find some charcoal for me, grind it into powder, as fine as you can make it. Get about a pound."
Qilie seemed a bit puzzled and asked, "What do you need it for?"
I didn't explain and just walked toward Lu Gongxing's tent.
I couldn't help but wonder what Lu Gongxing had in mind. With the snake people potentially launching another attack at any moment, the Vanguard Camp was tasked with the defense of the central position under the command of General Wuhou. Perhaps Lu Gongxing was preparing a plan for our next move.
When I arrived at Lu Gongxing's tent, I could hear Puan Li shouting, "No! The Vanguard Camp will fight to the death; we cannot retreat!"
His voice was loud but filled with frustration. I was surprised and pulled back the curtain to enter.
Lu Gongxing's tent was similarly spacious, filled with sixteen captains, including Lu Gongxing himself, which made it a bit crowded. Puan Li stood with his face red and appeared somewhat agitated.
When Lu Gongxing noticed my arrival, he nodded but continued addressing Puan Li, saying, "General Puan, we must act strategically and not show weakness to the enemy. Our supplies are already limited, and if we remain trapped in this city, we can only wait for our demise. I believe that for now, it's best to withdraw, ceding the abandoned city to the snake people. Afterward, we can regroup and engage them again."
I quietly asked Captain Qian Wenyi, also a commoner by birth, "What's happening?"
Qian Wenyi whispered, "Lu Commander is considering reporting to General Wuhou, requesting a retreat, and wants to gauge the opinions of all the captains in the Vanguard Camp."
Although I had no say in matters of military strategy, I couldn't help but feel that in our current situation, avoiding a battle with the snake people was the wisest course of action. So, I voiced my support for a withdrawal.
Puan Li argued, "While supplies are a concern, we can dispatch troops to secure provisions from outside the city. Currently, we can still defend ourselves within the city. If we don't defeat the snake people before retreating, they might follow us and lead to the total destruction of our forces."
Although Puan Li was rough and unrefined, his words held some truth. If we left Gaoke City, and the snake people pursued us, we might face a difficult battle.
Lu Gongxing said, "General Puan's point has merit, but I've already devised a plan. The snake people are afraid of fire, so if our rear forces set up fire barriers, they won't dare to approach. Alright, fellow generals, let's have a show of hands to decide. Who agrees to face the snake people in the city, and who wants to fight them now?"
Puan Li raised his hand and said, "Brothers, retreating now will tarnish the Vanguard Camp's reputation for victory. If we return without a fight, how will we face our senior commanders?"
His words had a persuasive effect, and five or six more hands were raised. However, with a total of seventeen people, they remained the minority. Lu Gongxing then said, "So be it, the majority supports a retreat. I will report to General Wuhou that the Vanguard Camp agrees to withdraw."
Puan Li looked somewhat disgruntled as he sat down. At this moment, Captain Laoguo Ji from the Thirteenth Camp said, "Commander Lu, I don't agree to engage in a protracted battle with the snake people in the city, but I also don't agree to an immediate withdrawal."
Lu Gongxing furrowed his brows and asked, "General Laoguo, do you have a different suggestion?"
Laoguo Ji was one of my senior schoolmates from the five previous classes. In their class, they had four outstanding graduates known as the "four elements" – Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind. While the "Fire," "Water," and "Wind" had noble backgrounds and advanced through the ranks within the court after graduation, they had all become mid-level commanders in the Wuhou military. However, the top-ranked Laoguo Ji, due to his humble origins, was still a captain despite his maturity and wisdom. Among the twenty captains in the Vanguard Camp, the common saying was that the only two suitable for higher responsibilities, apart from Lu Gongxing, were Laoguo Ji and me. Laoguo Ji was renowned for his prudence, and now his opinion would certainly be taken into account.
Laoguo Ji said, "Commander Lu, I also believe that it's unnecessary to vie with the snake people for this city's fate. It's unwise. However, at this point, as General Puan said, we cannot withdraw. Besides, retreating at this juncture would be difficult to explain to the people of our homeland. Furthermore, the snake people could pursue us, which would be quite troublesome. This situation requires a more considered approach."
I couldn't help but smile at his use of the term "considered approach." There was no time for careful deliberation now. Lu Gongxing said, "Alright, let's see how many agree to a withdrawal at this moment."
A few seconds later, ten hands went up, including mine. Lu Gongxing then declared, "Very well, ten in favor of withdrawal, six against, and one for a more considered approach. From today, the Vanguard Camp agrees to withdraw. I will report to General Wuhou. Everyone, return and rest, and be prepared at any time to defend against the snake people's attack."
Puan Li stood up and walked out of the tent with his group. At the entrance, he turned back to us, spat on the ground, and said, "Cowards! Puan Li, a young man of valor, is ashamed to be associated with the likes of you!"
Although his rank was below Lu Gongxing's, his father was a renowned general, so Lu Gongxing refrained from commenting further. As everyone left, I prepared to exit the tent, but Lu Gongxing called me back, saying, "General Chu, please stay."
Once the others had dispersed, Lu Gongxing said, "General Chu, accompany me to meet with Wuhou."
I expressed my concern, "General Lu, I'm only a captain and have no authority to request an audience with Wuhou."
Lu Gongxing reassured me, saying, "It's alright, just accompany me."
We fetched two horses and walked side by side out of the camp, heading toward Wuhou's central army camp. Out of the blue, Lu Gongxing said, "Thank you for supporting me, General Chu. I thought you might oppose the withdrawal."
I replied, "If we had a reasonable chance of victory, I would agree that we should defeat them before withdrawing. However, it seems that even if the snake people fear fire, using fire as an attack against them would be extremely challenging."
In my mind, I was still thinking about the gunpowder that Zhang Longyou had. If the snake people were indeed afraid of fire, gunpowder might be their Achilles' heel. But I hadn't tested it, and given my lowly rank, I didn't dare to interfere in military matters.
Lu Gongxing looked up at the sky and said, "Puan Li's thinking is overly simplistic. It seems that once he discovered the snake people fear fire, he believed we held a winning hand. However, South Sichuan's rainy season is approaching."
The rainy season!
These words hit me like a heavy hammer on my heart. Indeed, South Sichuan was different from the capital; after the start of spring, there was a lot of rain. Since we deployed troops in winter, we hadn't encountered much rain on our way to besiege Gaoke City. The city had been under siege for two months, and we hadn't seen much rain. But once the rainy season began, it was known for constant overcast and rain, lasting for two to three months. During that time, how could we use fire attacks? We might not even be able to set up fire barriers when retreating. It's no wonder Lu Gongxing is considering a withdrawal. Now, it's our last opportunity for the entire army to retreat.
I asked, "Why don't you just tell them the truth?"
He sighed and replied, "Given the current morale, it's not easy to address this issue again. I can tell from Wuhou's expression that he's contemplating a withdrawal as well. However, I don't know if he's willing to let go of the empty reputation of 'a hundred victories' and retreat early. Otherwise, it might become impossible to withdraw at all."
I fell silent. Indeed, the situation was approaching like a torrential downpour, and I was unsure of the next steps. The little confidence I had in gunpowder seemed to have disappeared.
Once we reached the central camp, I waited outside while Lu Gongxing went in to report to Wuhou. When he returned, he looked disheartened. I asked, "What did Wuhou say?"
He sighed and replied, "Wuhou disagrees with a withdrawal."
I said, "Yes. For Wuhou, the fact that General Shen Xiping's head is still under enemy control – how can he explain this to the nation?"
Lu Gongxing let out a deep sigh and said, "That's probably it. But if we don't withdraw now, more people will likely die. Those soldiers who perish on the battlefield won't even have their names recorded. How can their families ever find closure?"
He mounted his horse and moved on in silence. The setting sun was in the sky, while the clouds gathered densely.
I was wearing leather armor that felt a bit stiff, especially since it was still early spring, and the weather was somewhat chilly. However, it didn't hinder my movements.
I wrapped a long rope around the battlements and let one end hang down. I said, "Watch it."
Qi Lie whispered, "General Chu, are you really going? Is your injury okay?"
I pressed my waist and replied, "I'm fine."
I had used some Forget Sorrow Powder from the medical officer around my waist. He had warned against overusing it, but it was effective for pain relief. Aside from a slight stiffness around my waist, I didn't feel any major discomfort.
If we couldn't retrieve General Shen Xiping's head, Wuhou might prefer to have the whole army wiped out rather than retreat. Though reluctant, I also understood that at most, we'd be besieged in this city. Attempting to counterattack the snake people and defeat them seemed nearly impossible. This was probably the only option to give Wuhou a way out.
It was the only way to allow nearly 100,000 Imperial Army soldiers to return to the capital.
Qi Lie said, "I'm going too."
I frowned and said, "Don't be reckless. This is a life-or-death mission. You'll only get in the way."
Since this was a light expedition, I only carried my Bai Bi Dao (百辟刀), and the recently prepared gunpowder. I hadn't had a chance to test it, so I wasn't sure if it would work. I held onto the rope, checking its strength. With both hands gripping the rope, I started descending from the city wall.
It was a crescent moon, and the night was too dark to see anything clearly. Several torches were lit on the city walls, with soldiers patrolling. Even though the snake people never launched night attacks, Wuhou couldn't afford to be complacent. This area belonged to the vanguard camp's defensive zone, and tonight, it was the Fifth Camp's turn for night patrol.
As I descended the wall, I suddenly felt disoriented. I looked at Qi Lie, who had the expression of someone who believed I was a goner. I scolded, "Qi Lie, stop looking at me as if I'm already dead."
Qi Lie forced a weak smile and said, "General, be careful."
There was about a three-foot wide strip of land between the moat and the city wall. During a recent snake people attack in broad daylight, the base of the city wall had become pockmarked and filled with stones. I let the rope drop down and stood on the muddy ground. With a powerful push of my foot, I propelled myself outwards like a pebble on the end of a long rope, while simultaneously letting the rope unwind from my hands. As I crossed over the moat, I released the rope, and I landed on the ground without making a sound.
At any other time, I might have taken pride in my agility, but I didn't indulge in self-praise now. I glanced back, and the rope had been pulled back by Qi Lie, who must have known that I had successfully crossed the moat. However, to someone observing, the long rope looked like a snake slithering up the city wall.
Qi Lie and I had agreed that I'd return before daybreak, regardless of the mission's outcome. He would shoot the rope over with an arrow to help me climb back up. I hadn't told him what to do if I didn't return.
I hoped luck would be on my side. I looked up at the sky; the crescent moon was nearing the horizon, and the night was deep. This kind of weather was perfect for covert operations. Nevertheless, there was probably nobody in the Imperial Army daring enough to venture near the snake people's camp right now.
The snake people's main camp lay two miles away. During their daytime assaults, they set up a temporary camp about seven to eight hundred paces from the city. When I passed by this camp, it was a chaotic mess. Shen Xiping's Right Army was somewhat undisciplined, but it wasn't usually this disorderly.
Two miles wasn't a very long distance. Beyond this area, lay a large forest. The flat land in front of High Roc City was rare in Southern Chu, and it was why the first generation of city lords chose this site to build the city. If someone attacked, they could be seen from a distance. In Southern Chu, some cities were surrounded by thick forests on all sides, and we had ambushed them several times. Often, we reached the city's edge without them noticing. As I approached the forest, I looked back at High Roc City. Under the dim light of the stars and moon, I could only see a faint silhouette, making it appear serene and peaceful. For some reason, a sudden sadness welled up inside me.
Could it be that I wouldn't return?
I lowered my head and continued walking forward.
For some inexplicable reason, when I felt this sadness, my thoughts didn't turn to my parents or the comrades in the army, but to that woman.
The woman who had played the pipa at the Wuhou Banquet.
Within the forest, the moonlight dimmed even further, and it was nearly impossible to see anything. The path ahead was just a faint whitish streak, and I proceeded cautiously, stumbling slightly here and there. After a while, I noticed some light up ahead.
The night was alive with the buzzing of early insects, like a boiling pot. I cleared away some branches, and suddenly, I heard soft sounds coming from behind me.
There were people!
I leaped and grabbed a thick tree branch above my head, flipping myself onto the branch. A series of movements, all soundless, and I even felt a bit proud of myself.
As soon as I crouched on the branch, someone whispered, "What was that?"
Almost in response to his voice, a bird near me flew away with a "whoosh." Despite his hushed tone, I instantly recognized the voice; it was Qin Quan, the scout officer of the Dragon Scale Army.
Someone nearby muttered, "It's a night owl."
I couldn't tell whose voice it was, but it was probably someone from the Dragon Scale Army.
Were they here to steal Shen Xiping's head as well? I secretly hoped they would succeed, so I wouldn't have to take the risk.
Qin Quan suddenly said, "Why is there a fire in the snake people's camp?"
I suddenly recalled. It hadn't even crossed my mind before; I just assumed there would be campfires. But snake people are afraid of fire, so why would there be the glow of flames?
Even high above their heads, I felt a sense of concern.
The other person said, "Never mind that; let's keep moving."
They had already quietly continued forward.
There were five of them in total, with Qin Quan and the other person leading the way, and the other three following closely behind.
Should I warn them?
I was still hesitating when they arrived at the edge of the snake people's camp. I was about to catch up with them when suddenly two dark shapes dropped behind them.
They were snake people!
Qin Quan and his group immediately noticed, and when the two people behind turned around, the two snake people who had jumped from the trees had already wrapped their hands around their necks.
Even from this distance, I could hear the agonizing sounds they made, but it quickly turned into the sound of bones breaking. I could almost see it in my mind's eye; the snake people's green bodies were like thick ropes tightly constricting their necks, inch by inch, until their necks snapped.
These must be the snake people's patrol guards. A shiver ran down my spine as if a caterpillar had crawled on my back. These snake people had even sent out patrol guards, were they like tamed beasts? They looked almost human.
Qin Quan was leading, and he pulled out his knife with a "swish," charging toward the snake people. Perhaps he wanted to rescue the people under the two snake people. The snake people also carried knives. When Qin Quan reached them, one of the snake people's knives came down forcefully. Qin Quan seemed afraid to use his knife and decided to dodge instead. He leaped to the side, grabbing a tree branch above his head, and with a swift kick, he flipped himself up and stood on the branch.
The movement was quite similar to what I had done earlier, but the branch he grabbed was lower than mine, making it faster. It seemed that Qin Quan intended to escape via the tree branches on top of the snake people's heads.
Indeed, there was no escape route; the only option was to fight to survive.
The snake person, taken aback by Qin Quan's unexpected move, hesitated momentarily and didn't advance. Meanwhile, a few more snake people rushed out of the camp. The other two Dragon Scale soldiers had lagged behind slightly and, just as they caught up, one of them was struck by a snake person's blade, which nearly sliced from his shoulder to his waist, causing him to scream in agony. Hearing the cries, Qin Quan hesitated as he attempted to spring from the tree branch. However, he was just a bit slower; the snake person leaped to his feet and swung a knife toward Qin Quan's back.
The snake person was already about three times the height of an average person when standing upright. With his hand clutching a branch, he was even taller than Qin Quan. Qin Quan had slowed down slightly, and the blade struck him in the back just as he was about to use the branch to propel himself backward. He was hit like a stone, falling heavily to the ground.
The snake person landed on the ground, still about the same height as an average person. It approached Qin Quan, seized his feet, and even though Qin Quan's back had been sliced open, he continued to struggle. The snake person's large, broad knife sliced through Qin Quan's soft armor and into his back, almost like unwrapping a package. The snake person's left hand reached inside Qin Quan's body, feeling around. At this point, Qin Quan was only convulsing, and the snake person retrieved a round object from his body, which it immediately shoved into its mouth.
My head felt a sudden, loud buzzing.
The snake person had actually eaten Qin Quan's heart! In the faint moonlight filtering through the trees, you could see the dark liquid running down the corners of its mouth.
In High Eagle City, I knew that snake people would eat humans, and even the Republicans resorted to cannibalism in the end. However, I had never seen someone eat a human in such a gruesome manner. I bit my lips, fighting to suppress a scream.
The snake person chewed for a while, then, dragging Qin Quan's lifeless body, moved away.
Five Dragon Scale soldiers, without even putting up a fight, were all annihilated in the blink of an eye.
The snake people, dragging five mutilated corpses, left without a sound, and the only thing that lingered was the faint scent of blood in the air.
At this moment, there wasn't a single snake person in the vicinity. Perhaps they assumed that with Qin Quan and his comrades killed, there would be no further intruders, and their vigilance had waned.
Dawn was breaking, and I had to act quickly; otherwise, my chances would be lost. This opportunity had been earned with the lives of Qin Quan and his five companions.
I clenched my teeth, turned around, and leaped off the branch, proceeding forward.
I dared not follow the path as Qin Quan had, instead, I kept close to the trees, trying to make no noise with each step.
The snake people's camp was disordered, lacking fences, yet their tents resembled those of the Imperial Army. As I approached, I realized that the torchlight was meager; these were just small bonfires, and I couldn't discern their purpose.
Perhaps the snake people feared intense fires, but in the morning, when Zhang Longyou had set one of them on fire, the flames, although significant, had been far from the other snake people. So, what had frightened them away?
Although I couldn't comprehend this enigma, I needed to put it aside for now.
Before the snake people's tents, there wasn't a trace of a single snake person's silhouette. The entire camp appeared lifeless, as though the few patrolling snake people who had entered earlier had been swallowed up, leaving no trace behind.
Should I go inside?
Qin Quan and his comrades' recent deaths still haunted me, causing hesitation. The snake people's tents seemed peaceful from the outside, but I couldn't fathom what awaited me inside.
Dawn was approaching, a glimmer of light appearing on the horizon, but the moon had dipped low, and the sky overhead was growing darker. It was the darkest moment just before dawn.
In the snake people's camp, there was a deathly silence.
Based on experience, such eerie quietude could mean exceptionally strict military discipline or an empty encampment.
Of course, I couldn't believe that the snake people had entirely vacated, but this level of silence was disconcerting. I proceeded with extreme caution, striving to make no sound.
In the center of the main camp, there was a flagpole bearing Shen Xiping's severed head. The flagpole was towering and mounted on a substantial frame. I couldn't fathom how the snake people had constructed such a thing. At the top of the flagpole, a large banner fluttered in the wind, but the dark sky obscured its details.
I examined my surroundings; there wasn't a single sound. I reached out under the flagpole and felt a thick rope, presumably the one holding up the flag. Since the flag billowed in the wind, the rope was taut.
Carefully, I withdrew my Bai Bi knife and placed it against the rope. With a gentle nudge, the rope snapped.
However, it wasn't Shen Xiping's head that fell, but the flag itself, fluttering down with the wind.
I stood there dumbfounded, cursing my own stupidity. It wasn't a single rope holding both the head and the flag; I had cut the rope that secured the flag. I leaped into action, grabbing the descending flag's rope, which was pulled taut, and yanked it down.
Little did I know that grabbing it would be the wrong move. The pulley at the top of the flagpole emitted a piercing, creaking sound, almost like a terrible orchestra playing in the dead of night. I haphazardly fastened the rope back onto the flagpole, and the silent snake people camp that had been still moments ago suddenly erupted in commotion, mixed with some crude Imperial language, with someone shouting, "Someone's trying to take the flag!"
I couldn't help but laugh. Why did I need the bizarre snake people flag? Besides, it was too unwieldy, and I couldn't escape their camp with it. But before my laughter could escape, a long spear "whooshed" through the air, heading straight for my face.
What an exceptional throwing spear!
I was surprised. Shen Xiping's throwing spears naturally had great force, but an average snake person soldier had thrown a spear with such power.
I dodged the spearhead and grabbed the shaft, ready to yank it back. However, there was an unusual force on the spear, and my pull was too strong; the spear slipped from my hand, striking the stone base of the flagpole. Sparks flew as the spear's tip embedded itself in the stone, nearly half of it sinking into the rock.
Snake people emerged one after another from their tents, crawling out like snakes. While the snake people lacked any human semblance, watching them emerge from their tents sent shivers down my spine.
At this point, the snake people had formed a circle around the flagpole. Several snake people brandishing long spears charged at me, the one who had thrown the spear earlier found another long spear, and now seven or eight snake people were rushing me.
I was cornered.
That was my first thought. If they captured me, would they also extract my heart, as they had done to Qin Quan?
As I pondered this, a spear lunged toward my chest, while several snake people approached from behind.
I had no way out.
I refused to accept my fate lying down and thought I'd at least take a few of them with me. I handed my Bai Bi knife to my left hand, grabbed the head of the spear with my right, and took a few steps closer to the approaching snake person. I had the spear clamped under my arm, and my left hand twirled the knife before I swung it down.
That snake person clearly hadn't anticipated my audacious move; this was akin to a desperate gambit. Its hands still gripped the spear, the very spear I had wound around, which could spell doom for me if it pulled the spear back toward itself, adding even more force to my strike.
Snake people may not be the smartest, but they would likely have known that much.
At this moment, I was in close proximity to that snake person, close enough to see a trickle of blood from the corner of its mouth; who knew what it had been eating. I roared and swung my knife toward its head.
This might be my final blow. Killing it with this strike would surely result in the other snake people behind me impaling me from behind. But at this point, I didn't care; it was a kill or be killed situation.
The snake person's eyes remained cold as ever. Suddenly, I felt my body lift off the ground; the snake person was raising the spear.
I was hanging from the spearhead, suspended in mid-air, my Bai Bi knife having just swung wildly, and the other spears behind me already on their way.
The strength of that snake person was truly astonishing.
I knew that if I hung from the spearhead like this, it would be an open invitation for them to finish me off. Just then, the spear was raised high above the snake person's head, but suddenly, it slackened, and I started plummeting down. It seemed that the snake person had exhausted its strength.
If I hit the ground, I was as good as dead. My eyes darted down, and I saw that the spears used against me earlier hadn't been retracted yet. I spotted my chance and let go. I landed on the intersection of the spears that had been crisscrossed. The snake people were taken aback.
I felt myself being lifted again and knew I had to act fast. I sprang back to my feet, and before they could react, I jumped towards the flagpole.
The flagpole wasn't far, but in my frenzied state, I couldn't make an accurate jump, missing by a foot or two. It looked like I was going to sail past it on the left. I extended my right hand, desperately trying to grab the flagpole. Suddenly, my fingertips brushed against the rope I had randomly tied around the flagpole earlier. I grabbed it, and with a swift movement, I wound it around my wrist. My body was about to pass the flagpole on the left, but I extended my right hand and caught the rope. My body swung back.
I clenched the Bai Bi knife in my mouth, and as my body swung back, I grabbed the flagpole with my left hand. This thick flagpole felt exceptionally sturdy. I gripped it firmly with my left hand while using my right to tighten the rope I had wound around my wrist.
Finally, I managed to pull myself up onto the flagpole.
I used both my hands and feet to climb desperately upwards. I heard shouts from below, and above, the flagpole made a creaking sound because the rope had loosened.
The flag on the pole must have been quite heavy because as I climbed, it felt like it was pulling me upwards, making my ascent a bit easier.
When I reached the middle of the flagpole, the flag hung ominously over my head, flapping loudly in the wind. I grabbed it, and with my left hand, I retrieved the knife from my mouth. I intended to cut the rope, but then I heard another round of shouts from below. When I turned to look, I saw a sea of snake people below, all of them raising their heads, staring up at me blankly. There were too many to count.
In the daytime, it might have been just somewhat intimidating, but now, it seemed even more eerie.