Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

At first sight of Black Ditch Fortress, Luo Yu’s head ached, and his jaw almost dropped to the floor.

He had assumed Black Ditch Fortress would be like Jiming Fortress—a small fortification protected by high walls on all sides. In reality, Black Ditch Fortress was merely a camp on an earthen slope enclosed by a wooden fence, with nothing around it.

This kind of wooden fence would collapse under a single charge from warhorses. How were they supposed to resist the Qiang cavalry?

There was simply no defensible position.

Walking into the camp, a wave of dejection and decadence hit him in the face. Defeated soldiers who had retreated from various fortresses huddled in twos and threes in the corners, either staring blankly or chatting idly. There was no sense of the tension that should accompany imminent warfare.

Luo Yu shook his head slightly. These people were all routed troops and weak soldiers; their spirit and energy had long been crushed. They didn’t look like border army soldiers at all.

In contrast, his own troops held their heads high and chests out, full of confidence. Even a new recruit like Little Wu subconsciously straightened his back.

Are you kidding? Jiming Fortress had annihilated nearly a hundred Qiang soldiers—a massive victory! Ask around the front line: which fortress had such battle achievements?

Sure enough, whispers came from all around.

“Look, those are the men who retreated from Jiming Fortress. I heard they killed the hundred or so Qiang soldiers besieging them to the last man.”

“Is that true? With just these few people, they killed over a hundred Qiang soldiers? Those Qiang riders kill people like cutting grass; they’re not easy to deal with.”

“I didn’t believe it either, but Centurion Xiao said it himself after returning to camp this morning.”

“Then it must be true. Centurion Xiao never lies. Damn, this group is really fierce.”

The gazes of awe made the garrison soldiers of Jiming Fortress even prouder. So this was how it felt to win a battle!

Besides the routed troops, there were also some soldiers with disciplined appearances in the camp. These should be the troops under the command of the two centurions. According to Luo Yu’s estimation, there should be over a hundred people in the camp now, which gave him a little sense of security.

Luo Yu and his group were assigned a row of side rooms. Everyone found a place to rest, while Shen Li and the refugees were settled in the innermost room.

As soon as they sat down, Luo Yu asked, “Brother Dong, what exactly is this ‘Slave Court’?”

On the way, Luo Yu had observed the group of refugees carefully. Apart from Shen Li, everyone else hung their heads dejectedly, like walking corpses. Shen Li, who was the same age as him, acted like a parent, taking care of the elderly one moment and the children the next.

He had also asked casually and found out these people weren’t her family, just fellow villagers she met on the escape route.

“Sigh, speaking of that place, it’s quite tragic.”

Dong Chuan sighed and explained:

“To the west of our Longxi are the Qiang people; to the north is the Kingdom of Shu. The Slave Court is located at the junction of our Great Qian, the Western Qiang, and the Kingdom of Shu, separated from the Longxi Border Pass by two or three hundred li of desert.

“It is said that many years ago, the Slave Court was also a small kingdom. Later, the Qiang people invaded, destroyed the country in one battle, and killed the royal family completely. Since then, it became an ownerless, chaotic land that no one governed or cared about.

“For all these years, whenever the Qiang people lacked slaves, they went there to grab people, dragging thousands upon thousands back to the grasslands. Over time, this place came to be called the Slave Court, where generations are born as slaves.

“Some people are attached to their homeland and unwilling to leave, while others flee to foreign lands to find a way to live. Our Longxi borders the Slave Court, so every year quite a few people escape here.”

Luo Yu was greatly shocked. To be born destined to be a slave—how tragic was that? For a moment, he somewhat admired Shen Li. A weak woman escaping so far… beneath that frail body must hide a tenacious heart.

“Is Brother Luo here?”

A soldier walked in, looking around tentatively.

“Lord Centurion wants you to go over!”

* * *

“You are Luo Yu?”

“Jiming Fortress Squad Leader Luo Yu greets Centurion Zhang!”

Sitting in the military tent was a middle-aged man. Without thinking, Luo Yu knew this was Centurion Zhang Lu. His face was dark and weathered—a typical man of the border pass. Vice Centurion Xiao Shaoyou, whom he had met once before, sat to the side, flashing a smile at Luo Yu.

“Shaoyou has already told me. You led troops to annihilate nearly a hundred Qiang cavalry at Jiming Fortress. It is truly a great merit.”

Zhang Lu looked at Luo Yu with appreciation. “Now the Qiang army is pressing on the border, and the war is tense. We need young talents like you to serve the country.”

“Thank you for the praise, Lord Centurion! This humble officer will do his utmost to resist the Qiang thieves!”

“Good, you have spirit!”

Zhang Lu changed the subject, “Tell me, how did Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui die?”

Luo Yu knew long ago this would be asked and thus answered in full detail:

“Replying to Lord Centurion: Standard Commander Wang Shuang secretly communicated with the Qiang thieves, intending to open Jiming Fortress and surrender. He was killed in a firefight with Vice Commander Zhang. As for Vice Commander Zhang Gui, he embezzled military pay, bullied soldiers, and committed all kinds of evil, inciting public anger. For the stability of Jiming Fortress, this humble officer had no choice but to kill him.”

“So, that’s what happened.”

Zhang Lu’s gaze narrowed slightly.

“Hehe, Wang Shuang collaborated with the enemy; he indeed deserved to die. As for Zhang Gui… you, a new recruit, killed a vice standard commander. Aren’t you afraid of bearing the crime?”

“This humble officer was also forced by circumstances. Furthermore, Zhang Gui’s actions were truly unpardonable. Not killing him would not have been enough to quell the anger in the army!”

Luo Yu continued with a solemn face, “If this humble officer’s action violated military law, I submit to Lord Centurion’s punishment!”

“Hehe, you are a meritorious official; how could I punish you?” Zhang Lu chuckled.

“Not only will I not punish you, but I’m also going to promote you!

“From now on, you are a standard commander! All the remnant troops that have retreated into Black Ditch Fortress are under your command!”

Luo Yu’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly cupped his fists and shouted, “This humble officer thanks Lord Centurion for the promotion!”

This was an unexpected joy. Going directly from squad leader to standard commander brought him one step closer to becoming a proper fifth-rank general for the Five-Year Pact.

Zhang Lu waved his hand.

“Don’t be in a rush to thank me. I have a military task to entrust to you.

“The higher-ups have ordered all outer perimeter troops to withdraw to Yunyang Pass. Centurion Xiao and I will also lead men back to the city. However, Black Ditch Fortress needs troops to stay behind and guard it, to buy time for the rear fortresses to withdraw.

“Since you defeated the Qiang soldiers and established great merit, you will guard Black Ditch Fortress. Do not disappoint me.”

Luo Yu was stunned. This was not a good assignment.

Before he could speak, Xiao Shaoyou said hesitantly, “The terrain of Black Ditch Fortress is too flat; there is no defensible barrier. Once the Qiang cavalry charges, it will be hard to hold.

“If we take our troops and leave, only sixty or seventy remnant soldiers will be left to guard Black Ditch Fortress. Is it appropriate to leave only this many?”

“What? As a soldier, are you afraid before the battle has even started?”

Zhang Lu looked at Luo Yu with a deep meaning in his eyes. “Standard Commander Luo, you aren’t planning to disobey orders, are you?”

“This humble officer accepts the order!”

With words spoken to this point, could Luo Yu refuse? But he was puzzled as to why hostility gradually crept into Zhang Lu’s tone.

“Truly daring!”

The corner of Zhang Lu’s mouth curled up slightly as he said coldly, “Military orders are like mountains; there is no room for carelessness.

“Ten days. Black Ditch Fortress must not be lost for ten days! If you hold Black Ditch Fortress, it will be a great merit, and this Centurion will personally request a reward for you from the higher-ups! But if you can’t hold it, this Centurion will have to deal with you according to military law—removal from office and beheading!”

The hostility grew thicker. Luo Yu couldn’t figure it out. Why did this guy suddenly want to put him to death? He hadn’t offended him.

Xiao Shaoyou was astonished and hurriedly said, “Sir, a mere few dozen men can’t stop a ten-day offensive by Qiang soldiers. Should we leave more troops?”

“What? Is no one listening to my military orders anymore?”

Zhang Lu glanced at Xiao Shaoyou, giving him no chance to plead.

With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked up to Luo Yu and whispered, “There is one thing I haven’t mentioned, and no one in the army knows. Today is a good time to tell you.

“Zhang Gui… is my cousin from the same clan.”

NOTES

Military orders are like mountains: A standard idiom meaning orders are absolute, immovable, and must be obeyed without question.

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