Chapter 18: The Lu Family Army has run away, a man's heart is like iron until death

Kunxu Realm, Hulao Pass.

Standing proudly on the Nanmen city wall was a middle-aged general named Xue Hai, the banner of the Hexi volunteer army, with over six thousand men under his command, also a leader among the volunteer armies.

His ancestors were the Fubo General who shook the four directions during the founding of the Great Daqing; his family was loyal and heroic, with three generations of descendants all having military achievements.

At this moment, Xue Hai's gaze pierced through the layers of beacon fire.

The shouts of battle below the city shook the sky, and the pass would be breached within half a day.

"We can't hold on anymore!"

Xue Hai's heart was heavy.

"Lu Family Army, why haven't they arrived yet?"

"Where are the others?"

He muttered to himself, his voice revealing worry.

Without timely reinforcements, Hulao Pass would likely be lost.

Standing behind Xue Hai was his only son, Xue Zhen, whose young face was filled with panic and fear.

"Father, could Lu Jiaxuan have already..." Xue Zhen's voice trembled slightly; he dared not utter the word "fled."

Xue Hai turned around and stared at his son.

"Impossible." He shook his head.

"I have been friends with Lu Jiaxuan for many years and know his character well. Even if he were to die, he would definitely die on the battlefield; he would never abandon the city and flee."

However.

The Northern Wind army below the city surged in like a tide, their dense figures climbing the city walls like locusts.

Every impact of the siege troops below made the sturdy city gates tremble slightly, as if they might collapse at any moment.

Witnessing this scene, the panic in Xue Zhen's heart was ignited, becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

He clenched his fists tightly, his voice carrying a tremor and a sob: "Father, are we... are we really going to stay here and wait for death? I'm not even twenty-five years old yet!"

His eyes were filled with fear and unwillingness.

Xue Hai was silent for a moment.

He was over fifty years old, considered an advanced age, and had experienced countless storms and wars, having long since put life and death aside.

However.

Facing his son's eyes.

As a father, his heart was bitter.

"Zhen'er." Xue Hai looked at Xue Zhen kneeling on the ground, his tone full of helplessness.

"Father, I haven't even married or established a career yet. If I die here, the Xue family will have no descendants. How can I face the ancestors of the Xue family?"

"By now, we have done our best; the fate of Hulao Pass may truly be exhausted..." Xue Zhen continued.

"Those volunteer armies from Poyang Lake have long planned to retreat; there is no need for us to be buried here with Wang Yang."

Xue Hai's originally straight back seemed to be crushed.

"But, the century-old reputation of my Xue family cannot be shamed? The Xue family cannot have deserters, do you know that?"

"Father, don't worry, no one will know. Once Wang Yang dies in battle, who will still pursue our whereabouts?"

Xue Zhen said urgently, "In this chaotic world, there is only success and failure."

"As long as we live, there is hope for a comeback. As long as the green hills remain, as long as we can rise again, future generations will naturally have great scholars to argue and clear our names."

Xue Hai sighed deeply, as if he had aged significantly in an instant.

He spat out with difficulty.

"Fine."

Following his father's agreement, a look of relief appeared on Xue Zhen's face, and he smiled.

He quickly stood up and looked outside Hulao Pass.

On the battlefield, corpses were piled like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers.

A strong sense of unwillingness and resentment surged in Xue Zhen's heart.

He was originally a young master of a noble family, born in a mountain of treasure, raised in brocade, and traveled among prosperity.

He should have had the company of beautiful wives and concubines, enjoying the prosperity and beauty of the world.

How could he be buried in the sand of the north?

He was unwilling to be buried here with these so-called "mud-legged" people.

At this moment.

At this time, the Ximen of the city suddenly opened wide, and the heavy iron gates roared.

This caused the guards at the Nanmen to exclaim in surprise.

This sudden change also caused the Northern Wind soldiers who were fiercely attacking to freeze for a moment, and their offensive slowed down.

Seeing this scene at the Nanmen, Xue Zhen could not help but laugh loudly.

"Father, did you see? Lu Jiaxuan's Lu Family Army is nothing more than this."

"Aren't they running away too?"

The Lu family had been Metropolitan Graduates for two generations and were local powerhouses; Xue Zhen did not believe the Lu family would abandon such glory and wealth.

"Let's go, Father." Xue Zhen urged.

Xue Hai still could not believe it; Lu Jiaxuan was definitely not that kind of person.

However, the city gates were wide open!

The facts were before him; the Lu Family Army had actually run away.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

When the news arrived, the defending general Wang Yang could not believe it.

"It can't be, he wouldn't?"

He had suspected Xue Hai, he had suspected everyone, but he had never suspected Lu Jiaxuan.

This news was a huge blow to him, and Wang Yang almost could not stand steady.

Unthinkable!

The first to flee was actually the Lu Family Army.

And the other volunteer armies were also shocked; some were filled with hatred, others sneered repeatedly.

But without exception, they were all shocked and puzzled by the Lu Family Army's flight.

This move directly caused the morale at several city gates to fluctuate.

Even!

Tuoba Shuyi, who was commanding from afar, felt surprised; they chose to attack the Nanmen and feint at the Ximen precisely because the Lu Family Army at the Ximen was fearless and had the strongest combat effectiveness.

It was the hardest nut to crack.

The Nanmen had the most volunteer armies and was the easiest place to breach, with the weakest willpower.

Unexpected!

The Ximen opened wide, and the Lu Family Army was the first to abandon the city and flee.

In Tuoba Shuyi's eyes, Lu Jiaxuan was a man who viewed death as returning home.

Since the last time he lured the enemy, this was another surprise beyond his expectations.

Inside the main tent, the original atmosphere was broken, and mocking sounds rose one after another.

"What Lu Family Army, they are nothing but cowards."

"Hahaha, the Daqing people are truly spineless."

Tuoba Shuyi stood up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"No." He said in a deep voice.

Just look!

Outside the Ximen, the Lu Family Army began to deploy, a murderous aura present.

Eight thousand Lu Family Army soldiers surged out like a flood, their banners snapping in the cold wind.

The banners fluttered, with a dignified 'Lu' character embroidered on them.

Three riders rode out.

Lu Jiaxuan was in the middle, with Lu Yu and Lu Chen on the sides.

Lu Jiaxuan sat on horseback, looking back at the eight thousand soldiers; every person's face showed a resolute expression, with absolutely no fear.

"Good!"

They were all good men who did not fear life or death.

He said loudly:

"Brothers, the time to achieve great things has arrived!"

"Twenty years of humiliation and loss, twenty years of broken mountains and rivers."

"A man's heart is like iron until death; I, Lu Jiaxuan, will never leave again."

The eight thousand Lu Family Army soldiers responded in unison, their momentum shaking the sky.

Seeing this scene, Tuoba Shuyi's doubts vanished completely.

He shook his head secretly.

Inside the tent, there were more mocking sounds.

"Lu Jiaxuan is just a mediocre talent; infantry leaving the city to face our grassland sons, and the Iron Pagoda personally trained by His Highness."

"Isn't this seeking death, leaving the city undefended, haha."

Tuoba Shuyi waved his horse whip.

"Iron Pagoda, take the order, start the charge from the Ximen."

"It should end; take Hulao Pass, head south to capture the dragon."

Cheers rang out in the tent, and there was a burning light in everyone's eyes.

Heading south to capture the dragon—this was the highest honor for the sons of the Northern Wind.

Twenty years ago, when they breached the capital, they still remembered it vividly; now they would also head south like their fathers.

To go to the Jiangnan water towns and taste the gentle women.

"Is Lu Jiaxuan crazy? Isn't this sending himself to death!", Xue Hai said anxiously.

Xue Hai could not help but look at the eight thousand Lu Family Army soldiers with their mighty momentum, his eyes shocked.

The Lu family actually left the city to meet the enemy!

The Northern Wind's Iron Pagoda was simply not something human power could resist.

Xue Hai sneered and said, "This Lu Jiaxuan, his behavior is no different from self-destruction."

Xue Zhen whispered: "Father, this is a god-given opportunity; we should take this chance to leave."

Xue Hai sighed again.

Lu Yu stared ahead at the Iron Pagoda surging like a black iron tide.

His gaze turned to the Nanmen of Hulao Pass.

Just look!

The Xue family volunteer army fled in panic, and many people took this opportunity to escape the battlefield.

"Brother, you really are as wise as a god; these volunteer armies cannot be relied upon."

Lu Yu nodded slightly: "No matter, it's just eight thousand against one hundred thousand!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 19 =====