◎Follow Me to War◎

Luo Wanqing led the troops racing forward at full speed. After two days of marching, just as they were about to reach Heyu Pass, Qingya called out to Luo Wanqing, saying in a low voice: “Madam, let’s have the soldiers rest now and enter the city tonight.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing reined in her horse and called for the soldiers to halt, setting up camp on the spot.

It was just past noon. The soldiers quickly set up camp and lit fires, beginning to prepare lunch. Luo Wanqing called Qingya into the command tent and asked quickly: “Why make camp here?”

“Madam may have forgotten,” Qingya reminded her in a lowered voice, “Heyu Pass is currently peaceful and stable.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately understood.

Their reason for leading troops to war was that the northern Rong had attacked first—this was what she had reported to the court and told the soldiers. But if the soldiers entered Heyu Pass directly now and stayed for a while, communicating with the local people, someone would inevitably realize what had happened.

Seeing that Luo Wanqing understood, Qingya continued: “Madam can first have the Supervision Department take control of Heyu Pass and gather intelligence. If all information is as previously stated, then after nightfall, we’ll have them open the city gates. We’ll lead the army straight through Heyu Pass without stopping and immediately advance to attack Pingcheng.”

Pingcheng was the first city beyond Heyu Pass. Heyu Pass’s walls were situated atop mountains, naturally fortified. Attacking downward from above at night, taking Pingcheng wouldn’t be difficult.

After Pingcheng came Chucheng and Zhoucheng. These three cities had no natural defenses, and the northern Rong knew these three cities were hard to defend, so from the beginning they stationed few troops there, always treating these three cities as a buffer zone for warfare. Their target was also only these three cities.

After taking these three cities, the northern Rong should already know of their attack. With Li Shengzhao, Cui Zigui, and others currently attacking the northern Rong royal court from behind, fighting on two fronts would be extremely disadvantageous for them. Combined with the officials Xie Heng had bribed, they would likely soon have plans for peace negotiations.

As long as they agreed to return the ten border cities and make way for Li Shengzhao and the others to return, everything would be stable.

But all this had to be done quickly.

They couldn’t give the northern Rong a chance to contact the Eastern Capital; otherwise, those trapped in Si Province would become the ones caught in a pincer attack.

While Luo Wanqing pondered, she listened to Qingya continue his analysis: “After the war begins, we’ll leave people at Heyu Pass to inform the military and civilians that opening the city gates at night was because of a northern Rong surprise attack. This way, whether it’s the military and civilians of Heyu Pass or the army we brought, their testimonies will match—that the northern Rong attacked first. But as for exactly when they attacked, as ordinary civilians and soldiers, it’s normal they wouldn’t know clearly.”

As Qingya spoke, he looked up at Luo Wanqing: “What does Madam think?”

“So…” Luo Wanqing thought, then looked up at Qingya, “We’re just deceiving them into risking their lives?”

Qingya smiled, but his gaze brooked no refusal: “Madam, if we don’t deceive them into risking their lives, we’ll be the ones who die.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. After thinking, she only said: “Go ahead and handle it.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing agree, Qingya felt relieved and left the tent to arrange matters.

Everything was settled by afternoon. Qingya brought Zhou Shan and other generals into the tent. The three Fang brothers and Sun Shangquan also followed. Luo Wanqing glanced at them, then looked up at Zhou Shan: “General Zhou, please explain the situation.”

“Pingcheng has thirty thousand northern Rong troops stationed there. Six years ago, when the ten cities fell, the Han people in the border cities were almost completely massacred. The northern Rong people mostly live nomadically and rarely settle, so Pingcheng is almost entirely military with no civilians. The situation in the cities behind isn’t clear, but there’s likely a mixed ethnic settlement with Han people in lowly positions. So once we enter Pingcheng and take the city, we shouldn’t need to worry about street fighting.”

Zhou Shan explained, then described the Great Xia situation: “We currently have one hundred thousand men, including sixty thousand from the Northern Four Armies, twenty thousand from the Southern Palace’s Sixteen Guards, and twenty thousand from Si Province’s forces. I propose organizing the Sixteen Guards’ twenty thousand into the vanguard, followed by Si Province forces, then the Northern Four Armies.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up, immediately understanding Zhou Shan’s meaning.

The most uncontrollable forces in the entire army were the Southern Palace’s Sixteen Guards, followed by Si Province’s local forces, so he wanted to place these two armies in the vanguard to die.

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Zhou Shan looked at her: “What does the Director think?”

“Organize by military type, treating all equally.” Luo Wanqing spoke calmly.

Zhou Shan’s expression changed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Luo Wanqing said, “Once they join my army, they are my people. General Zhou, this battle may begin with various ulterior motives, but once we pass Heyu Pass, we’re all people of Great Xia. If you do this, this battle won’t last long.”

Without giving anyone time to respond, she continued directly: “From today on, there’s no need to mention terms like Northern Four, Southern Palace, or Si Province in the army. The vanguard will be ten thousand men, led by me.”

“Director!”

Hearing this, Qingya immediately said, “You are the commanding general and cannot personally risk danger.”

“If something happens to me, you and General Zhou will lead the army.”

Luo Wanqing looked at Zhou Shan and Qingya, saying calmly: “I learned killing, not commanding. I’m suitable for charging at the front. Now, everyone should do what they’re best at. It’s decided. After dark, we muster the troops and depart.”

After speaking, Luo Wanqing confirmed everyone’s command assignments.

The one hundred thousand men were divided into five guards, led respectively by Fang Yuan, Fang Zhi, Fang Shun, Zhou Shan, and Sun Shangquan. Each guard controlled four battalions, each battalion had five companies, and each company had a thousand men.

Qingya stayed in the rear, responsible for logistics and overall strategy. Luo Wanqing would lead Fang Yuan and Fang Zhi’s guards to charge and attack the city.

Afterward, everyone checked weapons and siege equipment. Then Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and asked Qingya, “Can you prepare wine?”

Qingya was startled, then nodded: “We can have it sent from Heyu Pass.”

“Prepare wine then.”

Luo Wanqing looked down at the sand table: “Having a drink before dying can be considered satisfying.”

Heyu Pass wasn’t far. Qingya led people to fetch wine. By nightfall, everyone was ready, and Luo Wanqing mustered the troops in formation.

She looked at the faces below—some she recognized, some she didn’t, some were elderly, some still looked like children.

She held her wine cup, thinking for a long time before finally asking: “Have you all brought your name tags?”

Every warrior carried a name tag with their name written on it to facilitate counting after death.

Hearing this question, everyone’s hearts trembled, but under their officers’ leadership, they shouted: “Yes!”

“Good that you brought them.” Luo Wanqing smiled. “I brought mine too. Tonight, ten more li ahead is Heyu Pass. You all should know that six years ago, when the border fell, the Great Victory at Heyu Pass was Great Xia’s first victory report. Afterward, seeking peace, with Heyu Pass as the boundary, the Great Xia ceded the ten border cities. Do you know where the people of these ten border cities went after they were ceded?”

Everyone remained silent. Luo Wanqing said calmly: “Either they fled their homeland as refugees, or became slaves and servants, or became yellow earth and white bones in barren graves. But some people, separated by these ten border cities, are still waiting, waiting for these ten cities to return home. For these six years, the border has suffered constant harassment. Every autumn, the northern Rong invade and plunder. Last year alone, merchant caravans were attacked one hundred thirty-one times. I kept asking myself today whether this battle should be fought, but now, looking at all of you, I suddenly understand.”

Luo Wanqing smiled, scanning these faces as she spoke slowly: “Actually, you are all like me—grass and weeds, from humble origins. Our lives were meant to be wagered. If we don’t fight, I should have died in prison long ago, and you would forever remain as you are today! From the moment we joined the army, protecting our homes and defending our country became our duty. Scholars die in remonstrance, warriors die in battle. Real men who stand tall between heaven and earth should think of sealing Wolf Mountain, creating immortal achievements! Today, I lead the vanguard, taking you all beyond Heyu Pass to recover our territory, avenge blood feuds, welcome departed souls home, and bring our people back to the country. I ask you all—are you willing to follow?!”

No one spoke. Qingya watched everyone with alarm and suspicion.

Luo Wanqing had said, “Avenge blood feuds, recover territory”—anyone with insight might detect something amiss.

He watched everyone alertly, ready to immediately execute anyone who caused trouble.

However, after a long while, an elderly man tremblingly spoke: “Director Luo, are we to recover the ten border cities?”

Luo Wanqing looked up earnestly: “Yes.”

Hearing this, the man suddenly laughed loudly: “Good! Good! I’ll go! My daughter is still there. Director Luo, I’ll fight with you!”

“Fight!”

A young man with a Si Province accent shouted: “They come every autumn, taking our crops as taxes and robbing us. I’ve had enough!”

“Fight!”

“Director Luo, we’ll fight!”

Voices rose one after another, and everyone’s excitement immediately ignited. Luo Wanqing watched the passionate crowd, raised her wine cup, and called out: “Good! Then today we drink this wine as a witness. From today, I share life and death with you all. If you don’t retreat, I, Luo Wanqing, will never retreat a single step. On the battlefield, if we live, rewards will be given according to military merit. If we die, bring your brothers’ and sisters’ name tags back—twenty taels per person. I will deliver the compensation silver to their homes to comfort their families, telling them you fought for the country with supreme glory!”

“Good!”

Everyone became excited. Luo Wanqing raised her cup high: “Come!”

With that, she tilted her head back and drank it all, then threw the cup to the ground, walked outside, mounted her horse, and led everyone: “Let’s go!”

Everyone finished drinking in succession and mounted their horses to follow the army.

Qingya quietly watched Luo Wanqing leading the three Fang brothers, Sun Shangquan, Zhou Shan and others charging out, watching the pairs of bright eyes following at her side. He clearly realized—from this moment on, this army belonged neither to His Majesty, nor to Xie Heng, nor to Zhou Shan. It belonged to Luo Wanqing.

Qingya thought for a long while, chuckled softly, finally mounted his horse, and followed.

They advanced rapidly through the moonlight. When they reached Heyu Pass, the city gates were already open. Luo Wanqing led the army straight through. Passing the main road, she couldn’t help shouting: “Recover the border, raise our nation’s might!”

With this shout, everyone roared in unison.

The sound thundered through Heyu Pass and soon received a response.

Hearing that responding wave of voices, Luo Wanqing’s heart settled.

She finally confirmed she was going in the right direction.

No matter why this battle was initially fought, at this moment—or rather, actually from when she opened the Xuantian Box and learned that tens of thousands of people were waiting for the royal army to bring them home—she had harbored this wish.

Recover the ten border cities. Attack.

She seemed to have always had such fighting spirit in her bones, but she would always think about whether it was worth it, thinking about how precious each person’s life was.

But at this moment, when she received everyone’s response, she understood she wasn’t alone.

She understood the conspiracies and schemes of Xie Heng, Qingya, Li Guiyu, and others, but she thought she would never become such a person.

She led the army charging downward, with siege equipment pushed along behind them.

When the army was discovered, they were already approaching the city gates. Pingcheng hastily beat drums in alarm. Luo Wanqing rode her horse, leading Fang Zhi and Fang Yuan, holding reins in one hand and swinging an iron claw attached to a rope in the other.

This was a wall-climbing tool developed by the Supervision Department specifically for those with martial arts skills. She would first lead a group up the city walls—if they could open the city gates that would be best, if not, they would secure the walls to ensure scaling ladders could approach.

“Archers! Archers!”

Pingcheng’s defending general shouted in panic. Hasty arrow rain fell from the sky. Luo Wanqing charged through the arrow rain on horseback, raised her hand to swing the iron claw and hook it on the wall, then leaped into the air, climbed up high, drew her blade, and shouted: “Charge! Charge! Charge!”

She didn’t know if everyone could hear her. She only heard drums thundering behind her, clamor shaking the heavens. Her blood boiled as she fought and killed her way across the city walls.

This siege battle ended in just half a night. When the pursuit and street fighting concluded, it was already dawn the next day.

Luo Wanqing had never killed so many people in such a short time in her life. When morning light fell on her, she seemed like someone fished out of blood. Looking at the corpses strewn along the way and the soldiers coming and going, with warm sunlight shining on her, she stood silent for a long while before turning away.

She calmly handled all remaining matters. When she rested that evening, sitting at her desk, she suddenly very much wanted to say a few words to Xie Heng.

After thinking for a long while, she took out paper and brush, writing: “Pingcheng has been taken.”

After hesitating a moment, she continued writing: “I miss you very much.”

She had Zhusi deliver the letter.

Zhusi delivered the letter in the first half of the night. By dawn, Zhusi was already standing at the window as if waiting.

Luo Wanqing quickly went forward and saw Xie Heng’s handwriting: “Without roots, people cannot stand, without killing, the world cannot be good. Xiniang, there will always be an end.”

Below the letter were two small figures—the woman wore her Director’s official robes, the man wore Xie Heng’s Director’s robes, with the man kissing the woman’s face, accompanied by a line—

“I miss you very much, too.”

Looking at this drawing, Luo Wanqing couldn’t think of anything for a moment, only feeling her face burning. She instinctively wanted to burn the letter so others wouldn’t see it.

But thinking this was Xie Heng’s handwriting, she felt reluctant. After hesitating for a long while, she finally chose to fold it up and keep it on her person.

After thinking, she still felt indignant. She grabbed paper and wrote seriously: “Don’t draw such things again!”

After writing, she caught Zhusi, tied the letter properly, and instructed: “Rest a while, sleep, then hurry and deliver this to him!”

The two communicated through Zhusi this way, with Zhusi making a round trip every day.

Luo Wanqing described the battlefield situation in detail. Reading her heart, Xie Heng could feel her growth and transformation.

With Li Shengzhao’s surprise attack on the northern Rong’s rear, they had no mind to guard these ten cities. Luo Wanqing seized the opportunity, taking ten cities in succession, greatly boosting military morale.

On the first of the fifth month, the northern Rong sent envoys to negotiate with Luo Wanqing.

On the morning of the fourth of the fifth month, when Xie Heng woke, he saw Zhusi standing at the window.

He took down Luo Wanqing’s letter, again several thick pages filled with details of her negotiations with the northern Rong.

The final confirmation: “The ten border cities will be returned. They will make way for His Highness the Crown Prince and Cui Zigui to lead troops through. On the fifth of the fifth month, I’m coming back.”

Xie Heng looked at this letter and heard Zhuque running in urgently.

“Young Master,” Zhuque lowered his voice, speaking solemnly with some worry: “His Majesty has arrived.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “Using Young Master’s money to buy my people—perfect!”

Xie Heng: “Eating from someone makes your mouth soft, taking from someone makes your hands soft. Xiniang, do you remember clearly how much money you owe me?”

Luo Wanqing: “…”

Xie Heng: “Tsk, you’re trapped, little swindler.”