We Are All Like Straws

The rain stopped.

The sky cleared.

In the Great Dry Calendar, Year 9 Jingfeng, New Year's Day

Countless soldiers and civilians stood in pools of blood, their eyes vacant. The grisly scene of severed limbs and mangled bodies filled them with sorrow, while the air was thick with the nauseating stench of blood.

No one had imagined Yunyang Pass would spend New Year's Eve like this.

In one night, the city was filled with corpses.

Family and comrades, separated by life and death.

But they were still alive, the "Dry" military banner still flying high. They began to clean up the battlefield and bury their dead loved ones. Many instinctively looked at the city wall, where a young yet resolute figure stood facing the rising sun.

Luo Yu.

He killed the enemy commander in the rain!

He gave hope to all the civilians in the city.

"We won, we really won."

Han Shuo couldn't believe his eyes:

"Damn, I rarely go crazy, but I actually bet right this time."

After fighting for so many years, losing more than winning, winning this battle seemed like an incredible miracle to him.

"Captain, do you know General Wu Chengliang?"

Luo Yu's casual question made Han Shuo's excitement freeze. He turned back in shock, his expression showing surprise and a hint of unease.

"Don't deny it, you can't fool me."

Luo Yu walked toward Han Shuo:

"For the past month, you've been strict with me and occasionally made things difficult, but in reality, you've been very kind to me. From supplies, food to horses, there's never been any withholding.

And last night, when you discovered Kong Xian's plot to betray, the best choice would have been to flee with your troops. There was no reason to risk death to save me.

You were too good to me."

"This is something you could see through, indeed very clever."

Han Shuo laughed bitterly: "But why would you connect it to the Great General?"

Luo Yu said calmly: "Captain and I have no blood relation. If not for someone's request, there would be no need for you to be so good to me. Thinking about it, it could only be him.

I found out that you've been in the military for eighteen years, and eighteen years ago, Wu Chengliang happened to be fighting in Longxi. Too much of a coincidence, right?"

"I admire your attention to detail."

Han Shuo's gaze sharpened. After hesitating for a moment, he finally revealed the truth:

"Eighteen years ago, I joined the Great General's ranks. At that time, he was just a brigade general. Seeing I was brave and willing to fight, he took me as his personal guard and saved my life.

Later, when the Great General left Longxi to fight elsewhere, I stayed in Quezhou because of my attachment to the land.

Two months ago, the Great General suddenly came to Yunyang Pass, met me in private, and asked me to secretly take care of a young man named Luo Yu, but to do it subtly without letting you notice. If you were in a life-or-death situation, I was to definitely save you."

Luo Yu felt a mix of emotions - he had guessed right, and at the same time, he felt warmth. His "cheap old man" said he could rely on himself, but he still left a backup plan.

"I'm curious, what relationship do you have with the Great General that would make him personally come to Longxi?"

Han Shuo suddenly smiled, his gaze strange:

"There aren't many people in this world who dare to call the Great General by his name.

Of course, you don't have to tell me. Since the Great General asked me to protect you, I, Han Shuo, will risk my life to keep you safe."

Luo Yu smiled slightly. It seemed his "cheap old man" had a group of loyal subordinates, at least Han Shuo could be completely trusted.

"You should go see Shaoyou."

Han Shuo glanced to the side and walked away.

Luo Yu suddenly turned his head. Xiao Shaoyou was sitting in a corner, covered in blood, his eyes filled with an indescribable sense of loneliness and confusion.

After the Qiang soldiers retreated, he led people searching for Kong Xian throughout the city, finally finding him in an old house and killing him himself.

But after killing him, Xiao Shaoyou didn't feel much satisfaction. He just sat there alone, motionless for two hours.

Luo Yu sat down beside him:

"Such a small matter, and you're already depressed?"

"Not that bad, just feeling down."

Xiao Shaoyou said quietly:

"In the past, I always thought that families like the Li family and Jun family, who maintained their own armies, weren't good things, only caring about their family interests. Kong Xian, though not particularly capable, was at least a general who followed the court's orders and was doing his best to defend the city.

But now I realize, whether it's the Li family or Kong Xian, they're all for themselves. Whether it's private armies or court troops, no one can be trusted.

Yunyang Pass has been fighting for so long, and not a single reinforcement has come. Kong Xian was right, who cares about our lives?

We soldiers are nothing but their pawns, pawns for gaining benefits."

Luo Yu looked at the city full of corpses:

"You've always talked about the chaos in the world, the seven warring states, and how people are like straws. But aren't we also straws in the eyes of noble families and court officials?"

"Yes, we are all straws."

Xiao Shaoyou leaned against the city wall and stood up, his eyes gradually turning fierce and determined:

"To avoid being someone else's pawn, to survive in this chaotic world, we must take control!

As long as we have troops and power, no one can use us!"

"You're right. Whether it's noble families or the court, they'll only see us as pawns to be used.

To avoid being someone else's pawn, we need our own power! Our own territory!"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Luo Yu's eyes, and he also felt relieved.

Xiao Shaoyou was capable and had strategy, lacking only the tempering of character. From this moment on, he should have transformed.

Xiao Shaoyou slowly clenched his fist:

"Better to be a centurion than a scholar!"

...

It had been seven or eight days since that bloody New Year's Eve battle. Wanyan Chang's death had broken the Qiang army's morale, forcing them to retreat far away. Now there wasn't even the shadow of a Qiang soldier outside the city walls.

Kong Xian, Jun Yi, and Li Chengxiao were all dead. Yunyang Pass was in a state of leaderlessness, but somehow, Luo Yu had become the de facto leader.

Whether it was Han Shuo, Xiao Shaoyou, or other datus and centurions, they all came to him for big and small matters. Even the civilians in the city were grateful to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu inexplicably took on this responsibility, organizing people to repair the city walls, fortify the defenses, and bury the bodies of fallen comrades.

On the morning of the eighth day, Jun family's troops seemed to receive some signal and lined up outside the city early, several hundred soldiers standing neatly in formation.

A cavalry unit appeared on the main road, numbering no less than a thousand, all armored and armed with spears, their expressions cold. "Jun" banners fluttered in the wind.

Luo Yu watched from the city wall: "Tsk tsk, this cavalry has quite the presence."

"Quite the show."

Xiao Shaoyou asked in confusion: "I wonder who's coming."

"Rumble~"

The cavalry stopped at the city gate, guards on both sides. In the middle was a magnificent carriage, also adorned with the Jun banner. The golden and silver embroidered "Jun" character told everyone that the person inside was of noble status.

The carriage curtain lifted slightly, and a man in black robes slowly descended. From afar, strange patterns could be seen embroidered on his robe, though unclear.

The man inside the carriage stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the city wall. His gaze met Luo Yu's first, making Luo Yu's heart inexplicably tremble.

"Boom!"

The soldiers on both sides knelt in unison, raising their fists:

"Welcome, Young Master!"

The momentum and spectacle were quite impressive.

"It's him."

Xiao Shaoyou's eyes showed surprise.

"Who?"

"Jun family's second son, Jun Muzhu."