After a night of chaos and warfare, Lu City’s governor Li Zhang Yi was killed instantly by an arrow through his heart, shot from a hundred zhang away by the mysterious black-masked man. Li Shuang naturally led the Long Feng Camp warriors to occupy Lu City.
Though the battle was over, Li Shuang’s work was far from complete.
The citizens of Lu City were in a panic, and the governor’s death left the city administration headless. Li Shuang immediately appointed one of Li Zhang Yi’s civil officials as temporary governor.
With Long Feng Camp’s mighty force now within Lu City, whoever served as governor would have to obey Li Shuang’s commands. However, Li Shuang’s focus wasn’t on power struggles.
After handling the city’s affairs during the day, and at night, Li Shuang climbed the city wall to survey the distance. Dozens of li away, the Xi Rong army hadn’t withdrawn despite Commander Ashina Du’s sudden death. Across the vast northern plains, one could still see wisps of cooking smoke rising from their dark mass of military camps.
Li Shuang’s expression was grave as she silently patted the rough stone of the watchtower before her.
Beside her, Luo Teng clicked his tongue: “Damn it, General, from the looks of it, the Xi Rong still aren’t planning to withdraw!”
After pondering for a moment, Qin Lan said gravely: “With winter’s cold and grain shortages, since the Xi Rong has already amassed their forces at Lu City’s borders, they’re determined to seize our grain. As for Ashina Du…” He paused, recalling the image of the black-armored man holding Ashina Du’s head. Qin Lan admitted he felt hostility toward the black-armored man, but he couldn’t deny that the man’s actions yesterday had been truly earth-shattering.
“Though Ashina Du died suddenly and the Xi Rong temporarily withdrew to regroup, they won’t retreat so easily. I fear within two days, they’ll have appointed another commander to serve the Xi Rong.”
Luo Teng snorted, “Damn it when all’s said and done, we’ll still have to face them head-on.”
“Not necessarily through confrontation.” Qin Lan’s eyes shifted slightly as he gazed at the enemy camp. “This subordinate has a plan.”
Li Shuang turned to look at Qin Lan. Having followed her for many years, she knew his thinking and approach well: “I know what you want to say.” She continued, “You want to take advantage of the Xi Rong’s lack of a commander to withdraw the citizens and our Long Feng Camp army, leaving behind a garrison force and some grain for the Xi Rong. This would buy us time until reinforcements arrive from other prefectures, allowing us to properly confront the Xi Rong army.”
Having had her thoughts laid bare, Qin Lan lowered his gaze, his eyes carrying hints of tenderness: “Your subordinate’s thoughts are exactly as the General says.”
Li Shuang fell silent.
Seeing Li Shuang seriously considering this strategy, Luo Teng’s brows shot up in anger: “This won’t do! Wouldn’t this mean handing over the city we just defended back to the Xi Rong? No! We can’t give our Great Jin’s territory to these wolves!”
Qin Lan pointed to the distance: “Just look—the Xi Rong’s main force has already arrived, far exceeding all our previous estimates. Our only option is to delay them until we can join with our main army for a counterattack.”
Luo Teng wanted to argue further, but looking at the expanse of Xi Rong campfires in the distance, he bit his tongue.
They couldn’t… truly sacrifice all the Long Feng Camp soldiers and Lu City’s citizens just to defend this city.
He heaved a heavy sigh.
Li Shuang’s hand suddenly tightened on the city wall: “I will consider it, but tonight, we must evacuate Lu City’s citizens first.” As she turned to descend the wall, Qin Lan stopped her: “General, your subordinate will handle these matters appropriately. You… should rest and take care of yourself.”
Li Shuang knew she couldn’t fall.
She nodded and walked toward the temporary tent below the city wall. Just as she was about to enter, Li Shuang suddenly felt a shadow pass overhead. When she looked up, there was nothing on the high city wall—the garrison soldiers stood straight-backed, their gazes fixed unwavering in the distance, showing no signs of disturbance.
Li Shuang rubbed her eyes, feeling truly exhausted.
However, Li Shuang’s sleep that night was restless. The fate of the nation, the dawn of the common people—how to choose, what decisions to make? Every word she spoke now, every decision she confirmed, affected Great Jin’s destiny.
She could only hope… that her decisions would lead to a better future for Great Jin.
The next morning, Li Shuang awoke to receive two unexpected pieces of news. First, a scout rushed in to report: “General, the Xi Rong indeed appointed another commander last night!”
Before Li Shuang’s heart could sink, the scout continued: “But that commander is also dead.”
“What?” Li Shuang couldn’t quite process it: “What?”
What did they mean by “also dead”?
“The Xi Rong had just appointed a new commander last night, but at dawn today, a long pole was erected halfway between the Xi Rong army and Lu City, with the commander’s head mounted on top. The Xi Rong camp is now in chaos…”
Li Shuang: “…” She was somewhat dazed, “I’ll go look.”
“General, the Xi Rong soldiers have already retrieved their commander’s head. Only the pole and the rope that held the head remain fluttering.”
Li Shuang was stunned.
She never expected that after such a restless night of inner struggle, she would wake to such news.
As Li Shuang donned her armor and walked out, she asked: “Who killed him?” Even as she spoke, without waiting for the messenger’s response, the image of the black-armored man appeared in her mind.
Her steps faltered slightly as Qin Lan and Luo Teng approached. Qin Lan’s expression was contained, showing no fluctuation, while Luo Teng was beaming with joy: “General! That Xi Rong commander has been killed again! Haha! Heaven has eyes! Serves these wolves right!”
“General.” Qin Lan called to Li Shuang. She nodded in acknowledgment and then asked: “Where is Jin An?”
At this question, Qin Lan remembered that when they returned from the forest that night, they had intended to question Jin An about the black-armored man. But with the Xi Rong invasion, both he and Li Shuang had been too busy to attend to the child.
Now with the newly appointed Xi Rong commander killed overnight, one couldn’t help but think of the black-armored man with his mysterious martial arts. And thinking of the black-armored man naturally led to Jin An.
Qin Lan furrowed his brows: “Your subordinate will go inquire now.”
Li Shuang climbed the city tower and gazed into the distance. Under the vast sky, on the desolate earth stood a lonely wooden pole, its rope fluttering in the northern wind. Though it was just such a simple scene, to Li Shuang it seemed like a banner inscribed with “Death to Those Who Pass,” protecting Lu City.
Shortly after, Qin Lan brought Jin An.
The small child’s gaze was clear, staring directly at Li Shuang as always.
Li Shuang crouched down to meet his eyes: “Jin An, you know I bear you no ill will. With your special abilities, I want to keep you by my side. In the future, whether it’s me or the court, we will entrust you with important duties.”
When Li Shuang mentioned keeping him by her side, Jin An’s eyes brightened. But Li Shuang patted his shoulder, her gaze earnest and intense: “Therefore, I want you to be completely honest with me. Can you do that?”
Jin An nodded: “Everything of mine is yours.”
Um… although that response sounded a bit strange, never mind—this child often said odd things anyway.
“I only have one question for you today: do you have any connection to the man wearing the black mask?”