Chapter 91: Temporary Conscription

Before he could finish speaking, a blur passed before his eyes, and the Commander’s long spear was already pressed against his throat. He was startled and took two steps back, but the spear’s tip surged forward, clinging to him like a shadow.

In truth, the spearhead was still three inches from his throat, but the biting cold of its flickering edge was already grazing his skin. Pressed by this powerful killing intent, Young Master Sun felt as if he could barely draw a breath.

"Say one more word, and I will cut off your head and present it to Governor Sun!"

Young Master Sun’s face turned ashen, and the rest of his words were swallowed back into his stomach.

Since even he had wilted, the other retainers and guards of the Sun estate certainly dared not intervene. The progress at the scene accelerated; the two horses pulling the cart became three, then five. With the power suddenly surging, those ten crates of military supplies soon climbed the muddy slope.

As for the other crates from the Sun estate, everyone joined forces to push them aside, either dragging them down the slope or tossing them into the water.

The Commander saw the civilians pilfering the Sun estate’s property, but he paid it no mind at all.

With a crisis at hand, catching thieves and maintaining order were unimportant; letting the group escape quickly was the key.

Once the road was clear again, the crowd let out a cheer, and he turned his horse around, preparing to head to the rear.

It was at this very moment that a commotion erupted from the far back of the group, with civilians crying out and running for their lives toward the front.

The pursuing troops had arrived.

Everyone’s expression changed, and they scrambled to climb the slope.

Several who lost their footing fell directly into the river.

Commander Xiao shouted, "Those who still have the strength to fight, come out! Pick up your weapons and join us in holding the rear! There will be heavy rewards upon entering the pass!"

He shouted three times, his voice shaking the wilderness.

Liu Sanjiu, who was in the crowd, could not help but look back, seemingly moved. But his wife immediately grabbed his arm and cried, "Don't even think about it, you still have children!"

If the man died, how difficult would it be for a widow and orphans in a foreign land? Thinking of this, Liu Sanjiu had to abandon the idea.

He looked back with guilt, picked up his child, and ran forward.

Among the desperate, fleeing crowd, more than a dozen men stopped one after another. Some turned back immediately; others hesitated for a moment but still approached.

Commander Xiao pointed to the Sun family’s crates that had just been opened and said, "You have been temporarily conscripted. If you can return alive today, you will receive promotions, extra rations, and land! Now, choose a weapon that suits you and pick a horse! Those who can shoot arrows, get on the slope or up the trees—prepare!"

The men began picking out weapons.

There were weak-looking men among them, but they understood in their hearts that if the Great Wind Army could not hold, the group ahead would suffer, and their own families would be slaughtered.

In this battle, no one could remain an outsider; it was better to take a big gamble.

If they made it through this pass, they would have a good life in this foreign land from now on.

In fact, this was not considered mountainous terrain; it was only because the water level had dropped during the dry season, exposing a large stretch of the riverbed. The group was walking on the riverbed, which was actually three or four zhang (ten meters) below the riverbank above.

This was a shortcut to the territory of Panlongcheng, and only the Great Wind Army, well-versed in the terrain and the seasons, knew of it. Otherwise, the refugee group would have had to bypass the stone forest above, adding a full three hours to the journey.

Three hours was enough to rewrite the outcome of a battle.

Yet the enemy had still caught up; the fall of Weicheng had happened faster than imagined.

The archers climbed onto the riverbank one after another, preparing to loose arrows from their high vantage point.

The rest donned light armor and gripped their weapons. One of them said loudly, "Let’s move the carts back to block the road and hinder the enemy’s advance."

The Sun family’s crates, filled with household goods, had been abandoned by the roadside along with the carts.

Previously, they had blocked the path of the civilians; now, they could certainly block the path of the pursuing troops—they were effective defensive fortifications.

Commander Xiao’s eyes showed approval: "Good idea. What is your name?"

"My surname is He." The man smiled, revealing white teeth. "He Lingchuan."

He had already decided that since the worst possible outcome was merely waking up, what was there to worry about in a dream? He might as well let go and play his part.

Following the refugee tide to flee—even if he could survive, what would be the point?

"The rear guard knows the terrain and will surely retreat here. The cart formation must leave a gap for entry and exit." Commander Xiao jumped off his horse and stepped into the mud with the others, stumbling as they moved the carts back to the middle of the slope.

This was heavy labor; the horses couldn't pull them, and it was even harder for men. The Great Wind Army had to chant work songs to exert force in unison before they could drag the carts over.

No one complained, because the harder it was for them to move now, the two or three times harder it would be for the enemy to move them later.

To create more trouble for the enemy, they dug the mud pits under the carts deeper so that the resistance would be greater when they were dragged.

He Lingchuan followed right beside Commander Xiao. The heavy rain plastered his clothes to his body, and as he exerted force, the muscles in his shoulders and neck bulged, outlining severe lines.

The two of them alone were able to drag a large cart.

The two went to move two more large crates and placed them on the cart. Before they could even straighten their backs, Commander Xiao asked He Lingchuan, "You aren't from Weicheng, are you?"

He Lingchuan was startled, but his face looked confused: "Huh?"

"Your accent isn't right, and your attire isn't right." Commander Xiao tilted his head toward the hillside. "People from Weicheng are generally small in stature."

Several archers were lying on the hillside; He Lingchuan looked up and saw that they were indeed all small and thin.

"No." A wrong answer could mean death, so He Lingchuan replied immediately, "I am originally from Tusu!"

Tusu City had been captured ten years ago, and it was perfectly reasonable for refugees to have fled to Weicheng.

He Lingchuan followed up by asking, "Will we have reinforcements?"

Otherwise, holding this position was just waiting for death.

"Yes." Commander Xiao said decisively, "At most, one hour!"

His voice was loud, and the surrounding soldiers felt their spirits lift.

They only needed to hold for one hour to wait for reinforcements!

Everyone was rummaging through the Sun family’s crates, hoping to find some useful supplies. However, most of the military supplies had already been moved, leaving only one crate of weapons.

Of course, a lot of gold and silver had also fallen out of the scattered crates, and the newly conscripted men felt a bit greedy whenever they walked past them.

He Lingchuan personally saw one man hide a gold plate inside his chest.

Commander Xiao saw it too, but he did not stop him, only reminding them, "These worldly possessions are too heavy and will affect your agility. As long as you survive, you can pick whatever you want from here!"

Smiles immediately appeared on everyone’s faces.

He Lingchuan opened a crate, looked at the contents, and was stunned: "Is this Governor Sun a glutton? Why does he have to pack and take everything?"

Commander Xiao walked over, took a look, and couldn't help but laugh: "It's useful! Although it's not military supplies, it really is useful. Let's set it up now."

He Lingchuan looked at the gold, silver, and valuables scattered all over the ground in the large crates, his eyes rolling: "I have another idea, how about..."

Commander Xiao adopted this idea of his as well.

And so, the group spent quite some time on the arrangements.

More and more refugees were fleeing from the rear, all escaping up the slope through the gap in the cart formation.

Two quarters of an hour later, the sounds of battle drew closer.

Commander Xiao and the others stood guard on the middle of the slope, fully focused. Rain lashed against their faces, but not one of them felt cold.

(End of chapter)