Expectations!

The heat was unbearable, but everyone kept moving towards Lian Pass.

The troops felt like they were getting cooked as the sun shined brightly without mercy.

"Lieutenant, what will we be assigned to do when we reach Lian Pass?"

"Charles you should relax your shoulders, being so stiff is bad for you. We will know our task once we arrive, The commander of Lian Pass will issue our orders. For now just be ready to obey any orders from them."

Realizing how tense he was Charles tried to calm himself down while his face started to turn red. He had been trying to keep the image of a confident leader but instead embarrassed himself in front of Lieutenant Liu Xuan. The lieutenant smiled as he looked at Charles, a young soldier that Commander Yue had placed her trust upon. The boy was still a newbie, but with his strength, he could be useful on the battlefield. But putting him on the frontlines as a leader? What a tasteless joke.

"Charles."

"Yes, Lieutenant!"

"You're in your position now because Commander Yue believes that you will be able to do well. I hope you know what that means."

"I think I understand Lieutenant. I shall do my best to live up to her expectations!"

'That is if you can even survive.' The lieutenant thought as he continued his smile.

"Good, I too hope that you will do well."

Charles entirely oblivious to what Lieutenant Liu Xuan was thinking nodded and smiled. With the lieutenant's words, his spirits had been lifted.

After walking through the long road, they could finally see Lian Pass. The pass was in between to tall, steep hills and in the middle was a tall and thick wall which blocked the entire valley. The gate of the wall was the only opening to get to the other side, but that seemed impossible with all the soldiers guarding the walls. The number of soldiers on the wall and below it were numerous, it felt like an entire city's population had been moved to Lian Pass.

"Lieutenant, What's with all the soldiers? Does the State have enough men spare here?"

"No. But in this case, we have enough as Ou Gen, and the other generals believe that Lian Pass will be the main target on this side of the border. So every soldier that was stationed around here was moved to guard the gate."

As the Lieutenant was explaining a soldier equipped with good quality armor on a horse approached them.

"Excuse me Lieutenant Liu Xuan! I am a messenger of General Jo of Lian Pass. He seeks your presence immediately!"

"My, that old man can't let me rest for a minute. Lead the way." Lieutenant sighed as both he and the soldier sped off to the gate on their horses.

Seeing that the Lieutenant had sped off Charles wondered what would they need the Lieutenant so urgently. But seeing that he couldn't come up with any answers, he glanced back at his men behind him were exhausted but still had enough energy to keep moving.

"We are almost at Lian Pass so keep your spirits up!" Charles shouted as he raised his arm into the air trying to boost his men's morale.

"We are almost there!"

"Ah, I can't wait to lay down!"

"Come on let's just keep walking and get this over with!"

"Don't collapse yet! The damn pass is close!"

"My legs are gonna break, but I'll keep walking if the commander does!"

"Does anyone still have any water left?!"

The troops shouted among each other as they did their best to keep on moving.

Finally after passing a few more trees did they reach Lian Pass! The place was hectic as soldiers kept moving crates of supplies around and some of them are even doing drills to keep themselves busy! Charles had found a spot where there wasn't anybody and let his troops rest. Everyone dropped onto the ground exhausted, and some had even fallen asleep! They couldn't even be bothered to set up the tents. The other soldiers around them frowned as they saw their behavior but didn't say anything.

"You guys rest here, don't do anything for now and wait till I get back! I'll be going to report that we arrived!" Charles shouted his orders, and everyone just nodded.

Charles walked towards the gate but was stopped by a soldier who was well equipped with iron armor.

"State your name and rank soldier as well as your reason for coming."

"I am Charles, I'm a commander of a 100 man army. I'm here to report that my men have arrived and are waiting for orders."

"You're a 100-man Commander? Don't make me laugh kid, get out of here before I have to use force!"

"What?! But I Am a 100-man Commander! Let me through!"

"Tch, brat I'm already kind enough to warn you. Don't test my patience!" The soldier said as he cracked his knuckles to intimidate him.

"I already said that I am a 100-man Commander! What makes you think that I can't be one?!" Charles frowned and gritted his teeth.

The soldier finally snapped and swung his fist at Charles. But before Charles could even try to dodge it the punch connected with his stomach causing intense pain to flow throughout his body from his stomach as he body bent forward and held his stomach with his arms. The soldier smiled seeing Charles in pain and kicked Charles causing him to fall to the dirt.

"I already warned you, idiot! Now fuck off!" The soldier shouted and spat on Charles who was on the ground in pain.

Charles winced in pain as he held his stomach, his body was stinging from the pain, but he tried to endure it. The soldiers around them smiled and laughed at the sight of Charles on the ground.

"Real nice of you to be beating up a kid!"

"Man that kid is dumb as a brick."

"He must be delusional or something."

"If his a commander then I'm a prince of a foreign country!"

"Hey, the kid looks foreign too!"

"No wonder!"

"Someone get that foreign pig out of here!"

"Don't stain the dirt!"

Insults and laughter rained down as Charles tried to stand back up. His whole body was shaking from the pain, but Charles gritted his teeth hard and gripped his hands until they were white. He looked at the soldier who had hit him and saw the man grinning from ear to ear.

"Look the kid can stand! What a miracle! Come everyone let us clap for the boy!" The soldier shouted as he started clapping.

"Yeah what a true man let us clap for you!"

"Haha! The boy truly has strength!"

"Please teach us in your way!"

"Wow, amazing!"

Everyone started clapping and shouted sarcastic remarks at Charles who was breathing heavily.

"So that is the boy you were talking about Liu Xuan. I think I see your point now. I should speak to commander Yue about her eye for people." An old man in shining silver armor approached.

Every soldier suddenly stopped and stood at attention as though their commander had just ordered them to. Charles still clutching his stomach looked at the old man and saw that Lieutenant Liu Xuan was right behind him.

"Charles, look at the state your in. I leave you for an hour, and you've already gotten beaten up. I hope this won't affect your performance in battle." The lieutenant spoke with his smile still on his face as though he was happy.

But to Charles those words that the Lieutenant spoke felt uncomfortable. As though a thousand needles were pointed at his neck.

"Liu Xuan, I will leave this matter to you but remember not to let this affect our performance on the battlefield. I require that everything is in order." The old man spoke while looking at Charles. The look he gave Charles was not that of pity but was disgust.

"The rest of you leave, I hope that this will not happen again or there will be consequences." Liu Xuan spoke, and everyone started leaving with fear in their steps.

Charles looked at the ground with embarrassment. Charles was beaten so quickly even though he had said that he would do his best, To think that the soldiers were so much stronger than he was!

"You have to get rid of that mentality that you are strong Charles. You're on the frontlines now, the people here have been tempered by the battlefield multiple times. I trust that your smart enough to learn from this. If not then Commander Yue's image would be hurt by your inability to be good enough. I trust that you understand this. Now then return to your men and rest until you hear the horns go off. I hope that you will not disappoint me any further." The lieutenant continued to smile and walked away from Charles who was still in shock.

"If I'm as weak as what the Lieutenant is implying then, am I going to die on the battlefield?"