[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dark-and-dawn-light-years":3,"chapter-dark-and-dawn-light-years-dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-189":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dark and Dawn Light-Years",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2264789,4420,"Chapter 189: Willing to Die for the Cause","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-189",189,"\u003Cp>Listening to Li Lin’s words, Xu Xingchang knew—he had no chance left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A superior who ensures his soldiers are fed may not be universally beloved, but at least no one will oppose him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could never kill Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was impossible… Li Lin was appointed by County Magistrate Huang, and among the three thousand present, many favored the Huang family—otherwise Huang Yan would never have placed Li Lin as Inspector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the soldiers below grow increasingly excited, Li Lin felt deeply satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then turned to Xu Xingchang beside him: “There are many errors in the ledgers. Fix them yourselves. Don’t make these mistakes again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several commanders instinctively exhaled in relief, then nodded vigorously in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang looked at these commanders and smiled helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dismissed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After shouting the order, Li Lin rose from his command seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said to Xu Xingchang: “Tomorrow I will deploy one battalion (five hundred men) to Beiliu County. For now, you will oversee camp affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li Lin now commanded three thousand government troops, he could not take them all with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Fumian Garrison fell, Yulin County and its surroundings had effectively become a pass—he must leave most soldiers behind to guard the entire county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Huang Yan had distributed the regional troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang bowed deeply, clasping his hands: “I shall ensure this place is properly managed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin patted his shoulder, then walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang and the commanders saw Li Lin off from the camp, watching as he led five hundred militia away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One commander asked: “Do you think the new Inspector’s words are genuine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which part?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That he won’t embezzle our pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there really a superior who doesn’t steal or embezzle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe the Inspector’s words are true,” suddenly said one commander seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All others turned to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang asked: “How can you be so certain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know the Inspector’s character well, but just now, outside, I watched those five hundred militia—they looked healthier, better fed and better rested than our own government troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt… he had no hope this time either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already forty, yet still Deputy Inspector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The older he grew, the slimmer his chances of promotion became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he would remain in this rank forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Xu Xingchang, the other commanders were clearly much happier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them never dreamed of promotion—they only wanted to make money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Lin paid their full salaries without embezzlement, they were willing to follow this County Wei .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time moved to the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned to the camp with five hundred militia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the youngest commander and asked: “May I ask your surname?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tao De.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced at the man’s face instinctively and smiled: “Good name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Inspector.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin said: “Take your men and march with me. I’ll wait outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin went outside the camp and waited two incense sticks’ time, after which Tao De emerged with his five hundred soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another fifty cavalry were also transferred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they were light cavalry—not armored heavy cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Qi did have heavy cavalry, but… their numbers were few, as most horse-raising lands had been seized by the Northern Di.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao De approached Li Lin and said: “All troops are assembled. Inspector, please inspect them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced casually and said: “As long as they’re all here, fine. Order the cavalry to ride around Beiliu County first, scout for any signs. The infantry will follow behind us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifty light cavalry immediately set off, kicking up dust as they vanished into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin then led nearly a thousand soldiers on foot toward Beiliu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking about two hours, nearing noon, the cavalry scouts returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavalry captain dismounted, sprinted to Li Lin, and bowed: “Inspector, Beiliu County is deserted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stood up, sighed—he had expected this—and asked: “Truly no one seen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The city gates stood wide open. We entered but found no living souls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All bones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… there aren’t many bones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought for a moment, then told Tao De and Su Huafang: “Order everyone to hasten the march. Reach Beiliu County within one hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both immediately spurred their troops into a forced march.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour later, the army arrived at Beiliu County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place was silent. The gates were open, yet no one entered or left—not even a single militia patrolled the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send two or three hundred men inside,” Li Lin told Su Huafang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang immediately led men into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned to Tao De: “Set up camp outside the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone sprang into action. Li Lin himself found a spot to sit, waiting quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more than half an hour, Su Huafang returned with his men: “County Wei , the city is truly empty. But there aren’t many bones—it wasn’t overrun by the Wild Spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded slightly, then asked: “Did you check the Zhenjun Temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We did. The altar inside the temple is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thought again: “It seems the enemy moved the entire population of this county—including the altar and the Zhenjun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beiliu County had tens of thousands of people. Is that possible?” Su Huafang asked instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao De sighed: “Nothing is impossible. Sixty years ago… the Di swept from the north to the Central Plains. In less than half a year, they captured and relocated nearly three hundred thousand people to the north. Over thirty thousand died on the march alone. At the time… the Northern Di army numbered no more than twenty thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The events of sixty years ago were a humiliation every Qi citizen could never forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible to erase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at the sky and said: “Su Huafang, have men carry bronze gongs, strike them while shouting: ‘Yulin County militia has come to rescue you. If you’re alive, come out.’ Some may be hiding in secret chambers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could anyone still be alive?” Su Huafang asked, puzzled. “Even if they are, the Wild Spirits must have eaten them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hard to say. Some may have ways to protect themselves,” Li Lin said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang nodded and led soldiers back into Beiliu County—they should find gongs there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned to Tao De: “Send scouts along the road toward Fumian. If they really abducted tens of thousands, their march must be slow. It’s only been a few days—they can’t have left Jinxian yet. If you spot the enemy, send the signal immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao De stood: “County Wei , I’ll go myself this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” Li Lin agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavalry set off again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the camp was fully erected. Li Lin sat motionless on his command seat, as still as a mountain, radiating the aura of a general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within Beiliu County, faint gong sounds mingled with shouts echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evening arrived. Su Huafang emerged, followed by a large crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the militia, there were many others: a few dressed in silk, most in tattered clothes—clearly servants of the wealthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people trailed timidly behind the militia, arriving before the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man stepped forward from the crowd, bowed to Li Lin, and asked: “General, are you from Yulin County… and will you take us there to settle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rescued people immediately sighed in relief, then burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chaos erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a soldier suddenly pointed southwest: “Inspector, the scouts have sent the signal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked—yes, a thin wisp of white smoke rose in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it vanished quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like smoke, yet only they knew it was their coded signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at Su Huafang: “You command two hundred militia to protect these people in camp. At dawn tomorrow, lead them back to Yulin County.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang replied: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin rose and shouted: “All others, follow me to rescue them! Tens of thousands of common folk are in enemy hands. If we succeed, promotion and wealth will be trivial—I swear by heaven, I will not claim even a single copper coin of battle reward from any of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, hundreds of weapons were raised high, gleaming with cold light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We vow to die for the Superintendent!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roars shook the heavens and earth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1392,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8414c47e8eead9c699ca9818329d3bc44bdb827c14233aea9b9ef6c80f87fa4f","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-190","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-188",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]