In the dead of night, Zhu Zeng lay awake, deep in thought about the impending battle. Unable to sleep, he donned his clothes and stepped out of his tent. The snow had stopped falling, and the sky above was as black as spilled ink. The camp stretched for dozens of li, its end invisible to the naked eye.
In the profound silence, the sound of stringed instruments and flutes drifted from the direction of Xing Xun’s central command tent, oddly out of place in a camp poised for imminent battle. Though distant, the music was still discernible.
Zhu Zeng listened for a moment, his emotions mixed. He was grateful for having left Xing Xun’s camp in time to join Le Zhenggong, yet he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease. With battle looming, Xing Xun’s arrogance and nightly revelry were concerning. Moreover, Le Zhenggong seemed to be taking a cautious approach, apparently intent on preserving his strength.
Though Le Zhenggong hadn’t explicitly stated it, Zhu Zeng had noticed this tendency. The allied forces, while reportedly double the size of Wei Shao’s army, were led by two commanders – one overconfident, the other harboring ulterior motives. Against an ordinary opponent, their numerical advantage might have been enough. But their enemy was Wei Shao, the Northern hegemon.
Zhu Zeng had never met Wei Shao, but he was well aware of the man’s reputation. Wei Shao couldn’t have achieved his current status at the mere age of twenty-four or twenty-five if he were an easy opponent to defeat. No one’s territory came without a fight; even with the support of ancestral legacy, battles had to be won one by one.
Wei Shao was undoubtedly a formidable adversary. Zhu Zeng decided to find an opportunity to remind Le Zhenggong of this fact. Since they had committed to the Northern campaign, they must give it their all, seizing this chance to annihilate Wei Shao’s forces and prevent any possibility of his resurgence.
Having reached this conclusion, Zhu Zeng returned to his tent, extinguished the light, and climbed into bed.
As Zhu Zeng lay sleepless, concerned about the coming battle, another man in a nearby tent also found himself unable to rest. Zhang Yan, one of Le Zhenggong’s advisors, might not have possessed unparalleled strategic wisdom, but he had served Le Zhenggong for many years, offering valuable counsel. He had contributed significantly to several key battles in the conquest of Hanzhong, earning Le Zhenggong’s trust and favor.
However, Zhang Yan now felt his position was precarious. Zhu Zeng was rapidly supplanting him, seemingly becoming Le Zhenggong’s most valued advisor. From Zhang Yan’s perspective, he naturally hoped for Le Zhenggong’s victory in this Northern campaign. Yet he also knew that if they were to defeat Wei Shao, Zhu Zeng’s importance to their lord would become irreplaceable.
This thought filled him with anxiety.
Deep into the night, he sat reading a military treatise by candlelight. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps crunching through snow outside broke the silence. An attendant entered, reporting that a man claiming to be Rong Yan had arrived at the camp gate, requesting an audience.
Zhang Yan was taken aback. Rong Yan was an old acquaintance from his days as an official in Luoyang. Back then, Rong Yan had held the position of Minister of Justice but was forced to flee after offending Xing Xun. While they weren’t close friends, they had occasionally interacted due to a shared interest in seal carving. Zhang Yan had sympathized with Rong Yan’s predicament at the time.
After a moment’s deliberation, Zhang Yan instructed the attendant to bring Rong Yan in.
As Rong Yan entered the tent, he smiled and said, “Brother Yiliang, it’s been years since we parted in Luoyang. How have you been?”
Zhang Yan studied him warily, suspecting that Rong Yan might have come from Wei Shao’s camp. He hesitated, considering whether to have Rong Yan bound and taken to Le Zhenggong.
“Has my old friend come to reminisce, or does he intend to have me bound and presented to his lord for merit?” Rong Yan asked, his tone light but his meaning clear.
Zhang Yan’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Brother Changlu, you misunderstand!” he exclaimed. Given their past relationship, even though they now served different masters, he couldn’t bring himself to have Rong Yan arrested. “I assume you’re now in Wei Shao’s service. What brings you here in the dead of night, with our armies poised for battle?”
Rong Yan’s expression turned serious, and he bowed deeply to Zhang Yan.
Hastily helping him up, Zhang Yan protested, “Why such formality? You humble me!”
Rong Yan spoke in a low voice, “To be frank, I’ve come to offer my services to the Marquis of Hanzhong.”
Zhang Yan was stunned.
“What you don’t know is that years ago, when I fled to Wei Shao, I hoped to serve a great lord and fulfill my lifelong ambitions. Alas, Wei Shao’s reputation exceeds his abilities. He’s short-sighted and refuses to employ me properly. Even now, I’m merely a minor military advisor. That would be bearable, but now he’s foolishly pitting his 300,000 troops against the combined forces of Xing Xun and the Marquis of Hanzhong. It’s like throwing eggs at stones – pure self-destruction. As they say, the wise adapt to circumstances. Xing Xun is not an option, but the Marquis of Hanzhong is ascendant. Surely, he’s destined for greatness. I long to serve him, but I have no achievements to my name and no way to gain an audience. Fortunately, I learned that you, Brother Yiliang, are now indispensable to the Marquis. I’ve fled Wei Shao’s camp under cover of night, hoping you might introduce me, for the sake of our past acquaintance.”
He unrolled a piece of parchment on the table. “As a military advisor, I had access to the command tent. This is a copy of Wei Shao’s battle strategy map. It details the troop deployments and supply routes for Liyang, Fanjin, and Huangchi granaries. I offer this as proof of my sincerity!”
Zhang Yan examined the map, noting its detailed annotations. Delighted, he exclaimed, “Brother Changlu, you’ve finally found your true path! My lord is always eager for talented individuals. How could he turn you away?” He was about to lead Rong Yan to meet Le Zhenggong when Rong Yan held him back. At the tent entrance, Rong Yan peered out cautiously, then whispered in Zhang Yan’s ear, “I have another crucial piece of information. A few days ago, I overheard Wei Shao and his chief strategist Gong Sun Yang discussing someone named Zhu Zeng. I couldn’t hear everything because a guard approached, and I had to leave quickly. But it seems that after Zhu Zeng fled Luoyang, unable to remain with Xing Xun, he first went to Wei Shao before joining the Marquis of Hanzhong. I suspect he might be Wei Shao’s spy!”
Zhang Yan was first shocked, then elated. He grabbed Rong Yan’s sleeve. “Are you certain?”
Rong Yan replied solemnly, “I can’t be absolutely sure, as I didn’t hear their entire conversation. I was hesitant to mention it, but given its importance, I decided to tell you privately. You should keep this to yourself for now and observe Zhu Zeng’s actions. If I’m mistaken, we wouldn’t want to wrongly accuse an innocent man.”
Zhang Yan was even more excited than when he’d seen the map. He paced the tent several times, then seemed to reach a decision. Striking his left palm with his right fist, he declared, “As you say, this is too important to ignore! I must inform my lord immediately so he can be on guard against Wei Shao’s schemes!”
With that, he led Rong Yan secretly to the central command tent.
Le Zhenggong was roused from sleep. Zhang Yan presented Rong Yan, explaining his arrival with effusive praise.
Rong Yan stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
With battle imminent, both sides had been sending spies to gather intelligence. Le Zhenggong had already collected some fragmented reports about Wei Shao’s military dispositions. By candlelight, he carefully examined the map Rong Yan had brought, comparing it to his own intelligence. The matching details convinced him of its authenticity.
Rong Yan’s reasons for defecting also seemed logical and believable. Le Zhenggong was inclined to trust him.
However, when Zhang Yan relayed the information about Zhu Zeng, Le Zhenggong’s doubts were rekindled. After a long silence, his expression suddenly hardened. He threw the map to the ground, exclaiming, “Does Wei Shao take me for a three-year-old child? You’re clearly his agent, feigning defection to sow discord among us! Did you think such a ploy could deceive me?”
He called for his guards to bind Rong Yan and execute him at the camp gate.
Zhang Yan, horrified, frantically pleaded for Rong Yan’s life.
Le Zhenggong remained silent, his expression grim.
As Rong Yan was dragged away by Le Zhenggong’s personal guards, he made no attempt to defend himself. Instead, he laughed wildly all the way to the camp gate. Even with the executioner’s blade at his neck, he continued to laugh uncontrollably.
Le Zhenggong ordered him brought back and said coldly, “You laugh in the face of death! Do you think our military might is a joke? I respect men of iron will. Though you’re a spy, you’ve impressed me. If you confess honestly, I may spare your life!”
Rong Yan finally stopped laughing. He raised his head proudly and replied, “Since you don’t believe me, what more can I say? It’s a pity. I’d heard of your brilliant strategies and unparalleled talents. I believed you to be a once-in-a-generation leader. A man should aspire to great deeds, which is why I risked stealing Wei Shao’s map to offer my services. But you’re suspicious and paranoid, your reputation undeserved! You’re not even Wei Shao’s equal! If you want to kill me, do it. Do you think I fear death? I regret misjudging you!”
“My lord!” Zhang Yan interjected passionately. “I stake my life on Brother Changlu’s innocence! He only shared his suspicions with me and even tried to dissuade me from telling you, fearing we might wrongly accuse Zhu Zeng! I vouch for Brother Changlu!”
Le Zhenggong stared at Rong Yan for a moment. His scowl gradually faded, replaced by hearty laughter. He picked up the discarded map and gripped Rong Yan’s arms tightly. “I was merely testing you!” he exclaimed. “Changlu, you’re a true hero. Your spirit has won my admiration! From now on, I have another worthy minister. Heaven truly favors me!”
Rong Yan’s face finally broke into a smile. He bowed again in formal greeting. Le Zhenggong appointed him to an official position.
Zhang Yan, anxious, reminded Le Zhenggong, “My lord, we mustn’t delay regarding Zhu Zeng. We should summon him for questioning immediately!”
Le Zhenggong fell silent.
His decision to leave Luoyang and support Xing Xun’s northern campaign had been based entirely on Zhu Zeng’s advice. With the great battle imminent and Wei Shao at a disadvantage, the sudden appearance of a defector bringing news of Zhu Zeng being a spy was indeed suspicious. This was why he had tested Rong Yan earlier.
Now, though he believed in Rong Yan’s sincerity, he remained uncertain about the accusation against Zhu Zeng. Or perhaps he simply didn’t want to believe it.
“Changlu also said he didn’t hear Wei Shao and Gong Sun Yang’s entire conversation,” Le Zhenggong said. “There’s no need to alarm anyone yet. I’ll handle this matter myself.”
He instructed Rong Yan to keep a low profile for the next few days.
Though Zhang Yan was frustrated, eager to expose Zhu Zeng immediately, he dared not speak further. He withdrew along with Rong Yan.
The next day, Le Zhenggong summoned Zhu Zeng to his tent. He made no mention of the previous night’s events, discussing battle strategies as if nothing had happened, his manner jovial and relaxed.
Zhu Zeng, completely unaware that he was under suspicion, responded to Le Zhenggong’s questions about battle tactics by pointing out Xing Xun’s military shortcomings. He strongly advised against underestimating the enemy and urged Le Zhenggong to concentrate his forces for a decisive battle.
Le Zhenggong outwardly agreed while inwardly harboring doubts.
Several days passed this way. As the blizzard subsided, Le Zhenggong intensified battle preparations. Early one morning, he heard a commotion outside his tent.
Emerging, he saw Ding Qu, wielding a long halberd and accompanied by a group of followers, seemingly trying to force their way in. They were being blocked by Le Zhenggong’s son, Le Zhengjun, and his men.
Both sides were on the brink of violence.
Although Ding Qu was renowned for his invincible prowess, he was also arrogant and conceited. Since Xing Xun had declared himself emperor and granted Ding Qu a noble title, his behavior had become even more insufferable.
Days earlier, a conflict had arisen between the two armies when Ding Qu’s men forcibly took firewood from Le Zhenggong’s camp.
Given that Xing Xun had proclaimed himself emperor and Le Zhenggong had joined this campaign under his banner, they couldn’t afford an open confrontation. Upon hearing of the incident, Le Zhenggong had ordered his men not to resist, allowing Ding Qu to take the firewood.
However, the incident left a thorn in his heart.
Now, suppressing his anger, he ordered Le Zhengjun to stand down. “General Ding, what brings you here so early?”
Ding Qu strode up to Le Zhenggong, his manner arrogant. “I come by His Majesty’s command to claim a head!”
Le Zhenggong was slightly taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Ding Qu sneered, “Does the Marquis of Hanzhong think he can deceive His Majesty? Zhu Zeng offended His Majesty and fled to you. How dare you harbor him?”
Le Zhenggong had been cautious about using Zhu Zeng, knowing Xing Xun was nearby. He had never brought Zhu Zeng to any military banquets or meetings.
He wondered how Xing Xun had found out.
After a moment’s thought, he replied, “I see. Zhu Zeng regrets offending His Majesty and is deeply remorseful. I’ll have him write a letter begging for forgiveness to present to His Majesty. General, you may return for now.”
Ding Qu shook his halberd, making its iron rings clatter. “You’re just a mere feudal lord. How dare you disobey His Majesty’s orders?”
Le Zhenggong, commanding a formidable army, had come here to join forces against Wei Shao. He didn’t even regard Xing Xun highly, let alone Ding Qu.
He had already shown great restraint. Seeing Ding Qu’s increasing audacity, he sneered, “Such imposing authority, General! Your heroic reputation from the first battle at Hulao Ford against Wei Shao is known throughout the land. I admire you greatly.”
At the first battle of Hulao Ford, Ding Qu had been routed, barely escaping with his life. Though he attributed it to underestimating the enemy, it remained a great humiliation. It was only by desperately protecting Xing Xun’s escape later that he had somewhat salvaged his reputation.
Now, with Le Zhenggong publicly stripping away his facade, Ding Qu burned with shame and anger.
As he was about to lash out, he glanced around, realizing he was surrounded by Le Zhenggong’s men. After a moment’s consideration, he spat out a threat and stormed off amid the laughter of those present.
“Father! Why bother with such a shameless, dishonorable wretch? I was about to throw him out!” Le Zhengjun exclaimed, venting his frustration with a laugh.
Le Zhenggong instructed him to tighten the camp’s defenses against further trouble from Ding Qu, then returned to his tent.
Upon hearing that Ding Qu had come for his head, Zhu Zeng, shaken, hurried to thank Le Zhenggong for his protection.
Noticing Le Zhenggong’s silence and strange gaze, Zhu Zeng hesitated before asking, “My lord, are you worried about offending Xing Xun by protecting me?”
Le Zhenggong’s tone suddenly changed. “I’ve heard that before coming to me, you first went to Wei Shao?”
Zhu Zeng was startled. “My lord, that’s untrue!”
“Yet I’ve received secret intelligence claiming you’re a spy sent by Wei Shao to infiltrate my camp!”
Zhu Zeng was shocked and hastily protested his innocence.
Le Zhenggong listened to his defense with mixed feelings and ordered him to withdraw for now.
Zhu Zeng had no choice but to leave.
As soon as he left, Zhang Yan, Luo Xian, and others entered.
With the great battle imminent, they all advised Le Zhenggong not to antagonize Xing Xun over Zhu Zeng.
As Le Zhenggong hesitated, an urgent message arrived by swift courier.
He opened it, stunned.
It was from his eldest son, Le Zhengkai, left to defend Hanzhong.
The message reported that Yang Xin and Guo Quan had joined forces, taking a shortcut to attack Liangzhou. They had already passed Lushi and were advancing rapidly towards the Qingni Pass of Mount Hua. The defenses were in danger of failing, and Le Zhengkai urgently requested his father to return and reinforce them.
Zhang Yan paled. “My lord! We’ve been deceived! Zhu Zeng must indeed be Wei Shao’s spy! He persuaded you to join Xing Xun’s campaign here, ostensibly to unite against Wei Shao, but in reality to lure the tiger from the mountain, taking advantage of Hanzhong’s weakened defenses to strike at Liangzhou! Liangzhou is the foundation of your power, my lord. We cannot lose it!”
Le Zhenggong recalled how Zhu Zeng had been urging him to commit all his forces, without holding any in reserve. Suddenly everything became clear. All doubts vanished as he cursed, “That cunning Wei Shao! Such a vicious scheme! His plot made me kowtow to that old bandit Xing Xun while he coveted my territory behind my back!”
In a state of confusion, anger, and regret, he immediately ordered Zhu Zeng to be bound and executed at the camp gate. He then urgently summoned his commanders and advisors to discuss their next move.
As they debated heatedly, a report came from the camp gate: just as they were about to execute Zhu Zeng, a group of riders disguised as Xing Xun’s men had snatched him away. Initially thought to be from Xing Xun’s eastern camp, they were pursued, only to discover they were heading towards Wei Shao’s camp across the old Yellow River channel.
Fearing a trap, the pursuers had returned to report.
Le Zhenggong nearly coughed up blood in rage. He overturned the table before him with one hand and ordered an immediate attack on Wei Shao’s camp.
Zhang Yan and others barely managed to dissuade him, arguing that given Wei Shao’s cunning, he must be prepared. It would be unwise to attack rashly.
After a while, Le Zhenggong’s anger subsided. He paced the tent several times before saying, “You’re right. I’ll remember this grudge! We’ll settle it later! Relay my orders: break camp immediately and return to Hanzhong!”
…
Meanwhile, when Xing Xun learned that Le Zhenggong had taken in the fugitive Zhu Zeng, he was furious. He had sent Ding Qu to the western camp to demand Zhu Zeng’s surrender. Ding Qu had returned empty-handed and humiliated. Unable to swallow this insult, he exaggerated his account to Xing Xun, claiming that although Le Zhenggong nominally served His Majesty, he was arrogant and boastful. Even his son looked down on His Majesty, emboldened by their military contribution.
Displeased, Xing Xun immediately sent someone to summon Le Zhenggong for questioning. However, reports soon came of unusual activity in the western camp. He quickly sent men to investigate.
Shortly after, news arrived that Le Zhenggong had ordered his camp to withdraw towards Hanzhong, bypassing Xing Xun entirely.
Xing Xun flew into a rage and ordered Ding Qu to capture Le Zhenggong.
Having decided to return to defend his territory, Le Zhenggong no longer cared about Xing Xun’s orders. He dispatched Le Zhengjun with a deputy commander to firmly hold the boundary between the two camps, hastening their withdrawal.
As Ding Qu attempted to break through the barrier, Le Zhengjun, no weakling himself, refused to let him pass. A skirmish broke out, with weapons clashing.
The eastern and western camps of what had been an allied army were now at each other’s throats, blood staining the boundary fence.
When Xing Xun heard the news, his fury intensified. He smashed cups in rage and ordered his troops to form up and pursue Le Zhenggong for a fierce battle.
Zang Chang intervened, advising, “Your Majesty, haven’t you heard that matters have their priorities? Your northern campaign’s primary target is Wei Shao. The mission is not yet accomplished. If we fight the Western camp now, it will be an internal conflict that weakens both sides, allowing Wei Shao to reap the benefits! Let Le Zhenggong go if he wants to leave. After Your Majesty defeats Wei Shao, we can then turn our forces to conquer Hanzhong and capture Le Zhenggong to answer for his desertion!”
Others joined in, pleading with Xing Xun.
Finally persuaded, Xing Xun suppressed his hatred and ordered his troops to return to their positions, tightening defenses against a possible attack by Wei Shao.
…
That night, in his hasty retreat, Le Zhenggong set fire to the supplies and equipment he couldn’t take with him.
Overnight, the vast array of tents in the western camp vanished. Flames blazed across the snowy landscape.
Soldiers in Wei Shao’s camp across the old Yellow River channel could see it clearly with their naked eyes.
In Wei Shao’s central command tent, laughter roared.
Wei Shao sat in the center, with Gong Sun Yang, Li Dian, Li Chong, Zhang Jian, Wei Quan, and others seated around him. They all joked about the fire in the western camp opposite.
“Is Rong Yan safe?” Wei Shao asked after the laughter subsided. “He should return soon. Otherwise, in a few days when Le Zhenggong discovers that Yang Xin and Guo Quan only sent five thousand troops as a bluff, it might not go well for him.”
“Don’t worry, my lord,” Gong Sun Yang quickly replied. “I’ve already arranged it with him. He’s gained Le Zhenggong’s trust, so his life isn’t in immediate danger. If he left now, it would arouse Le Zhenggong’s suspicions and undo all our work. He’ll escape and return to our camp when the opportunity arises.”
Wei Shao nodded. “Rong Yan’s courage in this plan to deceive Le Zhenggong is truly commendable. Military Advisor, make sure to record his great merit for rewards after the war.”
Gong Sun Yang agreed.
Just then, a guard reported that Zhu Zeng had arrived.
Wei Shao ordered him brought in.
Zhu Zeng, tightly bound, entered the brightly lit central command tent amid the lingering laughter. He saw over a dozen people seated inside, with a tall purple sandalwood screen dividing the front and back of the tent.
The screen was painted with pine trees wreathed in clouds and a tiger roaring on a cliff. The striped beast crouched on a high ridge, its silent roar seeming to shake the forest. It looked ready to leap down at any moment, its fierce presence intimidating to behold.
On either side of the tiger screen stood shelves higher than a man, piled with various scrolls and documents.
In the center was a general’s table, with command batons and tiger tallies placed on either side.
Behind the table sat a young man, no more than twenty-four or twenty-five years old. He wore no helmet, his hair bound by a black gold crown. He was dressed in a scaled linked armor with a qilin pattern, draped with a commander’s cloak, and a jeweled sword at his waist, accentuating his dragon-like physique.
His face was handsome and resolute. He was slightly turned, engaged in animated conversation with a thin-faced man with three tufts of beard seated nearby, his demeanor relaxed and graceful.
Hearing Zhu Zeng’s arrival announced, the young man paused his conversation and turned, his gaze sweeping over.
Zhu Zeng guessed this young man must be Wei Shao.
He was stunned to find that the rumored Northern hegemon, Wei Shao, was such an outstanding figure with the bearing of a phoenix and the presence of a dragon.
He stared in amazement until the young man stopped talking and sat up straight, his gaze falling directly on Zhu Zeng.
Suddenly, Zhu Zeng felt an overwhelming aura of battlefield bloodshed emanating from him.
Startled, he dared not meet the eyes of the man behind the general’s table any longer.
His heart sank into despair.
He knew that Wei Shao’s elaborate scheme to frame him and cause Le Zhenggong to fall for the trap and withdraw his troops must have been motivated by hatred for his role in advising the expedition to aid Xing Xun.
Having fallen so unexpectedly into Wei Shao’s hands, he resigned himself to a cruel execution.
To his surprise, Wei Shao suddenly rose from behind the table, approached him, and personally untied the ropes binding him. With a smile, Wei Shao said, “I had to inconvenience you, Ziwing, to resolve this military predicament. Do you resent me for it?”
Zhu Zeng looked up to see Wei Shao smiling broadly, leaving him momentarily stunned.
Looking around, he saw everyone else in the tent smiling at him as well.
Wei Quan spoke up, “Our lord recognized your great talent and couldn’t bear to see you beheaded. That’s why he sent troops to rescue you.”
Zhu Zeng, as if awakening from a dream, was deeply moved. He immediately prostrated himself, saying, “I’m grateful for the Duke of Yan’s recognition and willingness to overlook my faults. I wish to join your service to repay your kindness in recognizing my worth!”
Wei Shao laughed heartily, his spirit soaring. He ordered wine to be brought to calm Zhu Zeng’s nerves. After introductions, he had an attendant escort Zhu Zeng out.
The others in the tent gradually left, until only Gong Sun Yang remained to discuss matters in Yanzhou.
While Xing Xun’s main army was engaged with Wei Shao here, he had sent Zhou Qun, who had previously attacked Yanzhou, to lead a large force to assault the region again.
Qiao Ping led the defense, launching a fierce counterattack that repelled Zhou Qun.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Xing Xun sent reinforcements for another offensive. Yanzhou then received aid from the Green-Eyed General’s troops.
After a brutal battle, not only was Yanzhou held, but Zhou Qun also lost his life in the chaos.
This news had only reached Wei Shao’s desk yesterday.
“My lord need not worry too much,” Gong Sun Yang said. “These two battles show that Yanzhou has been steadily strengthening its defenses over the past two or three years. It’s no longer the weak point it once was. With Bi Zhi’s assistance, it surely won’t fall. Now that the allied army is disintegrating and the weather is improving, victory is within reach. My lord should focus all efforts on dealing with Xing Xun.”
They continued discussing battle strategies late into the night.
Wei Shao personally escorted Gong Sun Yang back to his tent.
Returning to the central command tent, Wei Shao felt his emotions stirring. He turned and walked through the crunching snow towards the camp gate.
The sentries at the gate snapped to attention as he approached.
Wei Shao nodded slightly, then took off his cloak and draped it over the shoulders of a young soldier nearby, no more than sixteen or seventeen, his face still bearing traces of childhood. He patted the boy’s shoulder, then walked out of the gate alone, climbing a nearby snow-covered hillock.
Facing the vast plain of the old Yellow River channel, now swallowed by the night, he took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air.
At that moment, a surge of expansive ambition filled his chest, a sense that the world was his for the taking.
He slowly exhaled, then turned his gaze northward to the distant night sky, standing silently for a long while.
She must be close to giving birth now.
He might not make it back in time to welcome their child into the world with her.
But he would certainly present this upcoming victory as the best gift for her and their soon-to-be-born child.
…
The young soldier who had received the lord’s cloak stood amid the envious gazes of his comrades, barely containing his excitement. His eyes, filled with admiration, remained fixed on the distant figure atop the hillock, seemingly merged with the night.
To fight for our lord, even if it means dying on the battlefield, is worth it, the young man told himself silently.