Army Approaches

Night fell, and the sky outside Yunyang Pass was lit up with flames, illuminating half the sky.

Four thousand Xiqiang soldiers had set up camp ten miles outside the city. The tents were scattered like stars, the lights forming a long dragon, and cavalry patrols roamed everywhere, creating a scene of death and destruction.

In the main tent, a stout middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, staring at a map. A scar ran across his right cheek, looking terrifying in the candlelight.

Wanyan Chang, the fearsome Xiqiang general who had twice breached Yunyang Pass, leading troops to raid the interior. The previous two Yunyang Pass commanders had died at his hands. The scar on his face was said to have been inflicted by a common soldier during his first attack on Yunyang Pass. Since then, he had massacred the city each time he broke through, venting his anger.

The people of Yunyang Pass feared his name like a tiger.

A subordinate general respectfully asked:

"General, our army has completed camp setup, all siege weapons and supplies have been transported to the front line, and we've sealed off all exits to the west of Yunyang Pass, ensuring the enemy can't send scouts out.

According to intelligence, no reinforcements will reach Yunyang Pass in the short term.

Should we begin the siege tomorrow?"

"Siege? Why would we siege?"

Wanyan Chang smiled slightly:

"Since there are no reinforcements, it's just an isolated city. We can besiege it for one or two months. Besides, don't we have an inside man? The city gates of Yunyang Pass will open sooner or later.

Our steppe warriors are skilled with bows and horses, they're all top-notch warriors. We shouldn't waste them on siege battles."

"Hehe, this is all thanks to General's reputation."

The subordinate general flattered him:

"Our army hasn't even arrived yet, but the Qian army generals have already sent surrender letters. This battle is too easy."

"They're just rats, how dare they resist our great Xiqiang army."

Wanyan Chang sneered:

"After we break Yunyang Pass this time, we should plunder thoroughly. Tell the soldiers, half a month of no rest!"

"Thank you, General!"

The generals were all excited. "No rest" meant no military orders would be enforced, allowing them free rein to rape, plunder, kill, and loot to their heart's content!

"One more thing, wasn't the one who shot Lai Erhua today called Luo Yu? This name sounds familiar."

Wanyan Chang frowned:

"Two hundred-man squads were completely wiped out at Cockcrow Fort and Black Gorge Fort a few days ago, wasn't it this person who did it?"

The two arrows on the city walls were too accurate, even making Wanyan Chang pause for a moment. That's why he paid special attention to this name, seeing it as a challenge to Xiqiang's military prestige.

"Cough, yes."

The subordinate general replied awkwardly:

"We lost over two hundred brothers and two hundred-man commanders to this person. It's said he joined the army just over a month ago and is now a hundred-man commander."

"What? A new recruit who joined the army a month ago? So he rose to power by stepping on our Xiqiang soldiers? Are you saying you can't even deal with a new recruit now?"

The rebuke made several people lower their heads in fear, hurriedly apologizing: "Please forgive us, General. Next time this subordinate will personally kill this bandit!"

"This boy is a bit strange, we should be careful."

Wanyan Chang's gaze hardened, speaking coldly:

"Send a letter to the city, find a chance to eliminate this person. Don't let him be a thorn in our side!"

"Understood!"

"Wah, big brother, the wooden sword you made is so beautiful, Yang'er really likes it!"

"Wah, the patterns on the hilt are so nice, there's a sun, a moon, and a character. Big brother, what's this character?"

Still at the lamb soup stand, Luo Yu had made a wooden sword for Yang'er as promised, with the hilt patterns carved to resemble Dawn's design.

Luo Yu pointed lightly at the character on the hilt:

"This character reads 'Yang', it's your name, growing towards the sun."

A seven or eight-year-old boy is exactly the age when he loves knives and swords, hugging the small wooden sword and jumping around in joy, extremely excited. Grandpa Old Li's eyes reddened beside him, it was the first time he had seen his grandson so happy since his son died in battle.

"Didn't expect Captain Luo to have such skillful hands."

Xiao Shaoyou teased: "When will you make one for me?"

"Make it yourself, don't come to me!"

Luo Yu couldn't understand when Xiao Shaoyou started joking with him, and now he was addicted to it.

But being with him felt relaxed and natural, like having a comrade-in-arms from a previous life.

"To be fair, your two arrows the other day were excellent. One boosted morale, and the other earned you fifty more soldiers' salaries, killing two birds with one stone."

Xiao Shaoyou crossed his legs, tapping his fingers on the table:

"In no time, you became a celebrity in Yunyang Pass. Look, so much food, all thanks to you."

On the table weren't just two bowls of lamb soup from Old Li, but also pickled cucumbers from Aunt Zhang next door, and rice wine made by Aunt Wang across the street... The table was piled high.

Luo Yu's two arrows made him famous. The people of Yunyang Pass were simple - if you repelled the enemy, you were protecting us, and we should thank you. In the past two days, when the people in the streets saw Luo Yu, they would come up to greet him, and the more enthusiastic ones would even give him food, making him feel quite embarrassed.

At the time, he wasn't thinking about protecting the people at all, purely to get more soldiers' salaries from Kong.

"Eat, eat, so much food still can't shut your mouth."

Luo Yu rolled his eyes:

"Let's talk about serious matters. How's the investigation into the traitor going?"

"Difficult, no leads."

Xiao Shaoyou's expression darkened:

"I've already compared handwriting, none of the officers above the rank of colonel in Yunyang Pass match. The so-called secret letter must have been written by someone else on behalf of the traitor, no way to investigate."

"Then the only lead is broken."

Luo Yu analyzed systematically:

"When the Xiqiang army approached, I observed the expressions of the three commanders. General Kong advocated fighting, even at the cost of many lives, he can be ruled out.

Li Chengxiao and Jun Yi's reactions were similar, nothing unusual. But a few days ago when Li Chengxiao came to see me, he mentioned Valig."

"Valig? The one with the secret letter found on him?"

Xiao Shaoyou's eyes suddenly turned cold:

"Why would Li Chengxiao mention Valig for no reason? Could he have been testing you?"

"Can't be certain yet. Could be just casual talk, or he might be checking if we found the secret letter."

Luo Yu's gaze was intense:

"At least from what we know now, he's more suspicious."

"Just based on this, we can't accuse him of treason."

Xiao Shaoyou frowned:

"In my opinion, if we can't find any leads, we should report to General Kong. At least the city's defenders should prepare early to prevent a Xiqiang sneak attack on New Year's Eve. We can't do anything with just our two units."

"Agreed."

Luo Yu nodded slightly, then his gaze drifted to the street, his brows instantly furrowing.

"What's wrong?"

"Look there."

A group of men were passing by on the street, all ragged, but strangely, they were all strong and sturdy, unlike other refugees who were thin and gaunt.

"A strange bunch."

Xiao Shaoyou sneered:

"Other refugees have eyes full of fear and numbness. Look at them, their eyes are determined, and they keep looking around, like thieves."

Their eyes met, and both simultaneously said a few words:

"Xiqiang spies!"

"Old Li."

Xiao Shaoyou's lips curled up:

"Could you go to the camp and pass us a message?"