A Hundred Riders Out of the Border City

"Not leaving?"

Xiao Shaoyou struggled to pat his shoulder: "I know Yang'er's death hurts you, but don't I feel the same? The Qiang have entered the city, three gates have fallen, the situation is beyond recovery. Staying in the city means certain death.

We can't hold it."

"Let them leave."

Luo Yu's expression was calm: "I'll stay."

"Why?"

Xiao Shaoyou frowned: "What can you do alone? Are you going to defeat four thousand Qiang soldiers by yourself?"

"I don't have that ability, but I'll do my best."

Luo Yu looked back at the retreating column:

"You can leave, I won't blame you. But if anyone wants to stay with me, I thank you."

"Luo Yu, you're being foolish!"

Xiao Shaoyou finally lost his temper:

"The city gates are broken, we're outnumbered. What do you have to fight with? This is just acting on impulse! You're risking your brothers' lives!

I won't agree to you staying. Everyone must leave!

Only by surviving do we have a chance to retake Yunyang Pass and avenge the dead!"

Luo Yu's voice rose sharply:

"Have you thought about how many people will die in Yunyang Pass if we retreat? How many will die inland when the Qiang enter? The scenes of civilians being slaughtered will keep happening. Have you thought about it?"

Before this, his goal was to become a general, complete the five-year promise. Influenced by his mercenary memories, he had been cold and ruthless.

But now he wanted to protect the civilians.

Yang'er was dead. How many other children like Le'er and Hu'er were in the city? How many young men like himself would face Qiang slaughter?

Run away?

No!

"I know! I watched my parents die in front of me, how could I not know!"

Xiao Shaoyou clenched his fists, shouting:

"But in this chaotic world, civilians are like grass for cattle. This is how it is! Do you think I want to see so many civilians killed? Do you think I don't want to defend Yunyang Pass?

Tell me, how can we defend it? With just these few hundred men, we can't stop the Qiang even if we all die.

Tell me!"

The scene fell silent, the battle cries echoing across the city seemed to disappear. They only heard the two young centurions arguing.

Han Shuo finally broke the silence:

"At this moment, stop arguing. I agree with Shaoyou. The Qiang are fierce and skilled, we can't defeat them.

Retreat, gather the scattered troops, and wait for reinforcements. That's our best choice."

Han Shuo had fought many battles, he knew what the right decision was.

"Who says we can't hold it!"

Luo Yu looked impulsive but his thinking was clear:

"The Qiang are busy taking Yunyang Pass, their main force is in the city. But as their commander, Wanyan Chang must stay outside to command. I bet he doesn't have many guards.

Capture the king first. If we kill him, the Qiang will retreat!"

"You're crazy!"

Xiao Shaoyou stomped his feet:

"Even if his guards are few, there must be a thousand cavalry. You want to raid him with cavalry, but we can't even gather two hundred cavalry. Do you want to charge a thousand-strong Qiang cavalry with two hundred riders?"

"Why not!"

Luo Yu shouted: "Dark clouds are gathering, cold winds are rising. It's about to rain heavily. When it rains, it will be darker, torches will go out, the battlefield will be chaotic. How will the Qiang know we only have two hundred men?

They're human, we're human. They have long spears and sabers, do we have firewood sticks?

We're all men, why not fight them!"

Xiao Shaoyou paused, no longer arguing, but carefully considering every word Luo Yu said.

"If you ask me why I want to stay, I'll tell you the truth!"

Luo Yu looked around:

"Today we abandon Yunyang Pass, yes, we can survive. But what about tomorrow? What about the next time we face this situation? Keep retreating? Keep running?

One city after another, we'll eventually abandon Quezhou, abandon all of Longxi. If we're afraid, we'll keep being afraid! If we run, we'll keep running! Then all three provinces of Longxi will be scorched earth, families will be dead bodies.

Today a hundred die, tomorrow a thousand, ten thousand!

I'm cold, I'm ruthless, but I don't want to see that day!

We're soldiers, border soldiers! How can we keep retreating!"

In his previous life as a mercenary, he had seen too many dead bodies. Blood-covered corpses wouldn't affect his emotions, but seeing hundreds of innocent civilians' bodies piled together, he couldn't bear it.

These people needed protection.

"If we don't talk about grand principles, let's talk about a small one!"

Luo Yu gestured down the street:

"Look, look at the bodies! Wang Auntie, Zhang Auntie, they treated us well, treated you like their own sons. Now they're killed, we just leave? Do we deserve it?

If these were your families, would you retreat?

I want to avenge them, it's that simple!"

Silence, deathly silence.

Suddenly a thunderclap split the sky, deafening. The rain began to fall, wetting the soldiers' armor and weapons, their horses and sabers.

The rough men's faces were red, chests heaving, eyes uncertain if they were filled with rain or tears.

Luo Yu mounted his horse with his spear, shouting coldly:

"Who wants to come with me, mount up. Who wants to live, protect the civilians and retreat inland.

No one can guarantee survival, but I Luo Yu will die fighting!"

One man, one horse, riding away.

The scene remained silent, no one spoke. Luo Yu's not-so-muscular back looked incredibly resolute.

The first to speak was Shen Li, holding Little Axe, almost shouting in tears:

"Are you all men? Say something!"

"Damn it, let's fight these bastards!"

Meng Hu came to his senses, red-eyed, pulling on his reins:

"Damn, wait for me, Brother Yu!"

"I'll come too! Wait for me!"

Dong Chuan, Xiao Wu, and the veterans who first joined Luo Yu all turned and chased after the retreating figure.

Then Lü Qingyun mounted his horse, saluting Xiao Shaoyou and Han Shuo:

"Slave lives aren't worth much. We'd rather die fighting than starve in the wilderness.

Brothers, see you in the next life!"

"Go!"

"Nothing to lose!"

The shouts rose, all of Luo Yu's cavalry left, riding away.

Xiao Shaoyou and Han Shuo's cavalry were restless, looking at their leaders with anticipation.

"What are you looking at!"

Xiao Shaoyou shouted:

"Mount up, charge!"

"Agreed!"

A roar, the cavalry left, the street instantly empty, leaving only the infantry behind.

Han Shuo stared blankly:

"Fought half my life, never seen this scene before. All crazy."

"Luo Yu is right, this battle can be fought, it's just high risk for high reward."

Xiao Shaoyou clenched his fists:

"Captain Han, you have high prestige. Find other centurions and datus, gather as many troops as possible. I'll mobilize all able-bodied civilians to fight.

We'll concentrate all our forces in the city streets. Every street, every house will be a battlefield, dragging the Qiang into the city.

If Luo Yu succeeds, we win!"

"Agreed!"

Han Shuo grinned:

"Since you're all crazy, I'll go crazy with you!"

...

The rain grew heavier, the city filled with battle cries. The Qiang swords kept taking heads. A cavalry unit suddenly charged through the battlefield, breaking out of the west gate.

The unit wasn't large, but their killing aura rose to the sky.

The rain pattered on their faces. Luo Yu expressionless, spear raised forward:

"Follow me!"

"Charge!"

The shouts echoed to the heavens.

A hundred riders out of the border city, into the enemy ranks in the rain!