These soldiers didn't just fight for survival; they fought because Jiho had given them hope, something the imperial family had stripped away with their greed and cruelty. The commoners had suffered too long under the weight of an empire that bled them dry—taxing them into ruin, sending them to die in wars while the nobles stayed behind, untouched and uncaring.
Hatred for the imperial family had festered for years, and Jiho had become their symbol of rebellion, their hero who fought for justice, not just power.
"Where is God?" Jiho asked, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "When this war is over, all of you will receive your final rewards."
She turned her horse, waving her arm high in the air. The soldiers responded with a thunderous cheer, "Yay!" Their voices echoed, filled with hope and resolve.
