Big Brother, Are You Okay?

"Big brother, are you okay?"

"The grandfather said bad people hurt you, Yang'er came to see you."

Yang'er rushed into the military tent and anxiously pounced on Luo Yu's side, looking left and right, his eyes full of worry:

"Big brother helped us defeat the Qiang bandits and protected the neighbors. Aunt Zhang and others all say you're a good person. Why do bad people want to hurt you? Those people are really too bad, big brother, are you okay?"

"No worries, I'm fine."

"How can you be fine? Look, you're bleeding! Does it hurt?"

Yang'er's eyes were red, having seen the bandage on the wound, with blood seeping through.

"Big brother is a grown-up, I'm not afraid of pain. I'm really fine."

The innocent voice made Luo Yu's heart soften, quickly hugging the child and rubbing his head.

Yang'er was skeptical, then took out the wooden sword Luo Yu had made for him and swung it fiercely: "Whoever dares to hurt big brother, Yang'er will help you chase them away. Grandfather says I'm a grown-up too!"

Old Li carried a wooden box, looking apologetic:

"Knowing that Centurion has important military duties, we shouldn't disturb you, but this child was so worried when he heard you were hurt, crying and begging to see you. The old man couldn't resist, so I brought him here."

"No worries."

Luo Yu reached out to pinch the little face: "It's freezing outside in the northwest wind. Waiting for an hour, didn't you get cold?"

The child's cheeks were red from the cold, his nose running.

"Yang'er isn't cold. No matter how cold it is, I have to see big brother!"

"Ah!"

Yang'er suddenly jumped up, running to his grandfather:

"I also brought you mutton soup. Grandfather said it can replenish blood and qi. Big brother must drink more mutton soup after being hurt!"

Yang'er took out a bowl of mutton soup from the wooden box and carefully handed it to Luo Yu, looking guilty:

"Waited too long, it's cold now. Should we go back and get a fresh bowl?"

"As long as Yang'er brings it, I'll drink it."

Luo Yu drank the mutton soup in one go, finding actual pieces of mutton inside, feeling deeply moved.

Every time he said he was eating mutton noodles with Xiao Shaoyou, it was actually just plain mutton soup without meat. Old Li used very little mutton each day for stewing, as ordinary soldiers couldn't afford mutton. Just having a bit of mutton-flavored soup was already very satisfying. But today's bowl had so much meat, which was quite costly for a regular vendor.

Luo Yu played with Yang'er for quite a while before Old Li finally pulled his reluctant grandson away. As they left, Yang'er waved his arms vigorously:

"Big brother, Yang'er will come see you again in a few days!"

"Alright!"

Luo Yu smiled, a genuine smile.

After being in the military for so long, most people he encountered were scheming and deceitful, he couldn't tell who was friend or foe. Even Xiao Shaoyou had once set a trap for him.

But Yang'er was different. The innocent child simply saw him as a big brother, wanting to be close to him. This warmth was something he cherished.

"So you can smile too."

Shen Li muttered behind him: "I thought you always kept that icy face."

"None of your business!"

Luo Yu glared at her:

"Go brew your wine!"

"Go!"

"Clatter!"

"Charge!"

On the training ground, dozens of cavalrymen galloped, each holding a spear. The field was already filled with countless straw dummies. The cavalrymen charged back and forth, practicing their horseback combat skills.

With the twenty horses from Han Shuo, Luo Yu now had fifty horses, making him one of the wealthiest centurions in the city. His original hundred and thirty brothers were practicing horseback riding every day. Now Luo Yu had selected fifty of the strongest men to become cavalry, intensively training their horseback combat skills.

Morning training focused on the three-man formation for infantry, while afternoons were spent on horseback riding, spear work, and cavalry combat. These past two weeks had been tough on them.

Ten soldiers sat tall on their horses, each holding a spear, forming a line. The training ground was already prepared with ten straw dummies bound with sandbags.

Luo Yu shouted coldly:

"Small cavalry units can use the three-man formation, but for large cavalry engagements, formation is crucial. Scattered cavalry charges against a well-aligned front line will surely lose. Charging recklessly without considering your comrades in battle will only lead to death. Starting today, you need to practice coordination for large cavalry units.

See those ten straw dummies? Imagine them as Qiang bandits. You must hit them all in one strike.

But remember, I'm not asking you to just stab through the straw dummies. I want ten of you to move in perfect unison, striking the enemy simultaneously. Only then can you break through enemy lines in battle.

Understood?"

"Understood!"

Everyone shouted in unison, the ten cavalrymen looking more serious.

After so many days of training, their riding skills were barely adequate, but coordinating ten people was still challenging.

"Go!"

At Luo Yu's command, the ten men pulled their reins simultaneously, their horses galloping forward. Each man used their peripheral vision to keep pace with their comrades.

But with different horses, different weights, and varying levels of riding skill, how could they maintain perfect alignment? Dong Chuan, Meng Hu, Lü Qingyun, and Xiao Wu all tried their best to control their speed, barely forming a crooked line.

As the straw dummies approached, the ten men simultaneously gathered their strength, thrusting their spears forward, shouting:

"Charge!"

"Thud thud thud!"

The ten straw dummies fell one after another. While not perfectly synchronized, it was still acceptable.

Meng Hu was overjoyed, excitedly looking at Luo Yu:

"Boss, how was that? Pretty good, right?"

"Pretty good my ass!"

Instead of praise, Luo Yu scolded them:

"With that performance, you'll only die in battle! First time, I'll forgive you. If it's still like this tomorrow, you won't eat!

Keep practicing! You're all just thinking about your bellies!"

Amidst the curses, everyone remounted their horses and began another round of brutal training.

Xiao Shaoyou finally spoke from the side:

"Your cavalry is already quite disciplined. Achieving this in twenty days is impressive. You're being too harsh, aren't you?"

"Harsh? What good is being nice?"

Luo Yu said coldly: "In battle, will being nice make Qiang soldiers show mercy? No, it will only harm them! Being strict now gives them more ways to survive in battle."

"You're ruthless."

Xiao Shaoyou gave a thumbs up: "Your training methods are professional. I always thought you were just smart and skilled, but I didn't expect you to understand cavalry tactics. Impressive."

"My strength exceeds your imagination."

Luo Yu wasn't modest at all, continuing: "Not finding the traitor makes me uneasy. If Yunyang Pass is really breached, I don't want these brothers to die pointlessly under Qiang sabers."

"Only ten days until New Year's Eve."

Xiao Shaoyou frowned: "The city is completely quiet, and the Qiang show no signs of attacking. Do you really think this traitor will reveal himself?"

"Exactly."

Luo Yu nodded confidently: "If he wants to control most of the city's troops before opening the gates, he must find a way to deal with the other generals.

Just wait patiently."

"Boss! Boss!"

Pang Fei suddenly ran over:

"Invitation! General Jun sent an invitation."

"Invitation? With the enemy at our doorstep, he's still entertaining?"

Xiao Shaoyou frowned, opening the invitation and scanning it, his eyes narrowing:

"Interesting."

"What is it?"

"General Jun's concubine gave birth to a son. Five days from now, he's hosting a banquet at Drunken Immortal Tower for all the officers in the city, including you and me."

"Oh?"

Luo Yu's eyes instantly focused:

"Could it be him?"