Inspection by the Captain

Ten days passed in a flash. On the eleventh morning, a dozen horses galloped toward Black Gorge Fort, led by Captain Zhang Lu and Deputy Captain Xiao Shaoyou.

"What are we doing here to look at dead men? Qiang cavalry are roaming everywhere. I say we should return to the city sooner."

Zhang Lu was clearly displeased. Last night, Xiao Shaoyou had dragged him out of the city with troops to inspect the situation at Black Gorge Fort. According to their agreement, he should have come to retrieve the defenders and return them to Yunyang Pass after ten days.

But in Zhang Lu's view, Black Gorge Fort must have been flattened, and Luo Yu would be nothing but a pile of bones in the sand. Making this long journey was nothing but trouble.

"Captain, what if Black Gorge Fort is still holding?"

"Think a new recruit and a bunch of broken soldiers could hold Black Gorge Fort?"

Zhang Lu said coldly, "Really think he could get lucky twice like at Cockcrow Fort?"

Xiao Shaoyou didn't respond. He knew Zhang Lu was hoping for the complete destruction of Black Gorge Fort to avenge his brother, but he himself had hope for Luo Yu.

Because from Yunyang Pass all the way here, they hadn't encountered any Qiang soldiers. What did that mean? It meant Black Gorge Fort hadn't fallen!

As they approached the outer perimeter of Black Gorge Fort, Xiao Shaoyou was the first to exclaim:

"Look, the military banners! Black Gorge Fort hasn't fallen!"

The lonely fort stood at the mountain pass, not flattened into ruins. The Qian army banners fluttered in the cold wind.

"What's going on?"

Zhang Lu's brow furrowed deeply. "Did the Qiang soldiers not attack? That shouldn't be."

"Your humble servant Luo Yu, saluting Captain!"

Just as the cavalry entered the fort, Luo Yu's voice rang out.

All the defenders were already lined up neatly, including Shen Li's group of refugees waiting in the corner, as if they were specifically waiting for Zhang Lu. In the open space of the fort, there were two piles of something covered with tarpaulins, emitting a faint foul smell.

Xiao Shaoyou let out a long sigh of relief. They were still alive!

"So, did the Qiang soldiers not come?"

Zhang Lu was quite disappointed. "Seems Brother Luo is really a lucky general. The Qiang soldiers avoid you."

"The enemy has already been here."

Luo Yu said calmly. "A hundred and fifty Qiang cavalry arrived at the outskirts of Black Gorge Fort five days ago and launched an attack."

"Five days ago? Why can't we see a single enemy?"

Not just Zhang Lu, but everyone else was confused. Black Gorge Fort was intact, showing no signs of battle. And a hundred and fifty Qiang cavalry would have been enough to flatten the place.

"Headman Luo, you're not trying to say you repelled the Qiang soldiers, are you? False reporting of military achievements is a serious offense!"

"Your subordinate dares not. The Qiang soldiers are right here!"

Luo Yu waved his hand lightly, and Dong Chuan and Meng Hu grabbed the tarpaulin and pulled hard.

The cover fell, revealing dozens of neatly arranged Qiang soldier corpses, the stench of blood filling the air.

Zhang Lu's pupils constricted, everyone was stunned.

There really were Qiang soldiers! And they were all killed!

Xiao Shaoyou's eyes gleamed. He really did it!

Luo Yu shouted loudly:

"The defenders of Black Gorge Fort have annihilated the enemy. Please inspect, Captain!"

"Please inspect!"

All the soldiers shouted in unison, shaking Zhang Lu's eardrums. His face instantly turned ashen, while Xiao Shaoyou openly gave Luo Yu a thumbs up.

At the same time, Xiao Shaoyou felt a bit surprised. Why did he feel that the soldiers in the fort seemed like different people compared to ten days ago.

"Good, good!"

Zhang Lu gritted his teeth and forced a smile.

"Headman Luo is really impressive. When we return to Yunyang Pass, I'll definitely report your military achievements!"

"Thank you, Captain!"

"Don't thank me yet. What about these refugees?"

Zhang Lu's eyes rolled around, then put on a stern face and shouted:

"This is a military camp! If you bring refugees into the camp and delay military affairs, can you bear the responsibility!

Don't think you're so great just because you've achieved some military success. This place doesn't allow you to do as you please!"

The soldiers standing in the field were immediately indignant, defending Luo Yu. Especially Meng Hu, Dong Chuan, and others, their fists clenched.

This Zhang Lu, his praise was insincere, but he kept ranting about trivial matters, spitting everywhere. Even a fool could see that Zhang Lu was deliberately trying to embarrass Luo Yu.

"Reporting to Captain!"

Luo Yu remained unperturbed.

"In this battle, several civilian women bravely lured the Qiang soldiers into our ambush, all making significant contributions!

If Captain Zhang thinks they shouldn't stay in the camp, please give the order immediately. Your subordinate will drive them away right away!"

Zhang Lu was caught off guard, speechless.

You said they made contributions, and now if I order you to drive them away, wouldn't that make me look bad?

Zhang Lu's face turned white with anger, but when his gaze fell on those civilian women, his expression suddenly brightened, his tone becoming much softer, even with a hint of a smile:

"Since they made contributions, they can stay in the camp for now. Everyone, pack your belongings and prepare to withdraw to Yunyang Pass!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers set off on the journey back to Yunyang Pass. According to Xiao Shaoyou, the front lines weren't going well, and Yunyang Pass needed to withdraw all the garrison troops from the outer forts to strengthen the defense of Yunyang Pass.

It was about a hundred miles from Black Gorge Fort to Yunyang Pass. The soldiers marched for a whole day, and it wasn't until nightfall that they made camp in the wilderness.

Don't think it was just a day's journey. Luo Yu's men had suffered quite a bit of abuse. Zhang Lu's men were bossing them around, making them carry all the military rations and supplies, and occasionally cursing them as useless, nearly making Meng Hu's short temper snap.

Luo Yu sat alone in his tent. He didn't have time to deal with his men's grievances. His attention was entirely on the secret letter found on Wali Ge's body, frowning in thought.

The letter writer would open Yunyang Pass's city gates on New Year's Eve, working with the Qiang soldiers to breach the city's defenses. And this person would find opportunities to eliminate other generals in the city, creating chaos.

Luo Yu was a border man, naturally understanding the strategic importance of Yunyang Pass. Once Yunyang Pass fell, the Qiang soldiers' hooves could charge straight into Quezhou's heartland, bringing widespread suffering and endless warfare.

The problem was he didn't know who wrote the letter, or who the generals in Yunyang Pass were. He was completely in the dark.

It would be impossible to catch the traitor on his own, but who could he rely on?

The only acquaintance, Xiao Shaoyou?

No, his military experience told him never to trust anyone lightly. At least the current Xiao Shaoyou wasn't trustworthy yet.

"Brother Yu, something's wrong!"

Dong Chuan and Meng Hu rushed in urgently:

"Zhang Lu's men have captured all the civilian women following us. They probably have no good intentions!"

"Captured the women?"

Luo Yu slipped the secret letter into his chest without showing it, his brow slightly furrowed, not particularly surprised.

Meng Hu cursed:

"What would a bunch of soldiers do with captured women? Nothing but dirty deeds! How despicable!

Head, we should gather our brothers and chop them up!"

"Brother Hu, calm down!" Dong Chuan said urgently. "Zhang Lu is a captain. If we offend him…"

"What, is a captain allowed to rape civilians? Brother Dong, you're just thinking too much."

Meng Hu glared:

"Don't forget, in the battle at Black Gorge Fort, they risked their lives to help us lure the enemy. Now we're going to be cowards?

We've endured their insults on this journey, but bullying civilians is unacceptable! What if those women were our family?

We need to be true to our conscience!"

"Brother Yu, how can you still be so calm? Say something."

After arguing for a long time, they noticed Luo Yu had been sitting there watching them with interest, saying nothing.

"Do you think Zhang Lu is just driven by lust?"

Luo Yu stood up slowly, a smile on his lips.

"He's targeting us. If we rush in to save them now, we'll be accused of rebellion and arrested."

"What do we do then? We don't save them?"

"Of course we save them."

Luo Yu's eyes turned cold.

"You two do as I say…"