Chapter 644: Convergence and Choice

The first quarter of the Chou hour.

Luoyang inner city, the Bell and Drum Tower.

Torches swayed, illuminating every blood‑stained face inside the hall.

Yue Fei, Yue Yun, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui.

Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai, Ruan Xiao II, Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo, etc.

And Wang Ru, who had just rushed here from the secret passage.

And Chen Wen standing before the city defense map.

All the Variables gathered here.

"The outer city is seventy percent lost."

Wu Yong's voice was hoarse.

"Fighting forces number less than eight hundred; arrows are exhausted, supplies gone."

"Street fighting can last at most two more hours."

Yue Fei looked toward Chen Wen.

"Mr. Chen, speak plainly."

Chen Wen nodded.

"What the Iron Crow Army must eliminate is everyone here—all Variables who have deviated from its set script."

"If you die, Luoyang falls, the Yuan Dynasty unifies, and the script returns to its course."

"If you live, the script has a loophole, and the Iron Crow Army's rules will forever be incomplete."

"My sole purpose is to take all Variables away, to the Chen Dynasty east of the Light Curtain."

"There, you can survive, continue resisting, and become a spark for another Huaxia civilization to oppose the Iron Crow Army."

The hall fell silent.

Lin Chong spoke first.

"Mr. Chen, we understand what you say."

"But outside the city, thousands of brothers are still fighting desperately; if we withdraw now…"

"It's not a withdrawal, but a transfer."

Chen Wen interrupted.

"As long as you live, their sacrifice has meaning."

"If you die, their deaths are in vain, and the Iron Crow Army succeeds."

"This is a multiple‑choice question, but there is only one answer."

"But how can we leave?"

Yue Yun clenched his fists.

"The Yuan forces have surrounded us in three layers, with three defensive lines to the southwest, each manned by three hundred soldiers."

"If we break out, we will lose at least half of our people."

"So we need someone to hold the rear."

Chen Wen said calmly.

"But not you."

The hall doors were pushed open.

A one‑armed old colonel stumbled in.

Behind him followed more than a dozen ordinary soldiers, all wounded.

"Marshal Yue."

The old colonel, Liu Hong, dropped to one knee.

"I, the junior general, am willing to lead the still‑able brothers to carve a path for you all."

Yue Fei was moved.

"Colonel Liu, you—"

"Marshal Yue, gentlemen."

Liu Hong lifted his head; the blood and grime on his face could not hide the resolve in his eyes.

"We rough folk don't understand variables or scripts."

"But we know that Marshal Yue, Instructor Lin, Strategist Wu… you are different from us."

"You are the light that ought not to exist in this chaotic age."

"As long as you live, there is still hope for this world."

He looked at the soldiers behind him.

"Brothers, isn't that right?!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers roared in unison.

A young squad leader stepped forward.

"Marshal Yue, my mother said before she died that fighting alongside you is worthwhile."

"Today I stake my life here to protect your escape."

"As long as you… in the future, don't forget that on this land there are still people like us."

"That's enough."

Inside the hall, every Variable was shaken.

Wu Yong took a deep breath.

「Colonel Liu, do you all know what it means to hold the rear? 」

「We know. 」

Liu Hong grinned grimly.

「But we ordinary people, if we die, we die—it doesn't affect any 'script'。」

「But you cannot die. 」

「You must stay alive and bring our souls to the other side of the light curtain. 」

「Someday, if you can really fight your way back… remember to burn incense for us. 」

Yue Fei closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his eye sockets were red.

He helped Liu Hong up.

「Mr. Chen, how should we arrange things? 」

Chen Wen walked up to the map.

「Evacuees: all the 'variables' present, plus Wang Ru, twelve in total. 」

「Colonel Liu, gather the able-bodied ordinary soldiers and split them into three teams. 」

「One team will feint an attack on the north gate to draw the main Yuan force. 」

「The second team will strongly assault the southwest's first defense line, creating chaos. 」

「The third team, under your personal command, will set an ambush between the second and third defense lines to block pursuing troops. 」

「We twelve will slip through the southwest gap amidst the chaos. 」

「Li Seven's hidden outpost team is already waiting in the woods eighty li out, with horses ready. 」

「Time? 」 Yue Fei asked.

「We'll act at 1:30 AM and must break through the third defense line before 3:00 AM. 」

「Before dawn, reach the rendezvous point. 」

Chen Wen looked at the crowd.

「There are only enough horses for twelve riders. 」

「So—」

「Once we set out, no turning back, no stopping. 」

「No matter what happens behind us. 」

Lin Chong gritted his teeth.

「But Colonel Liu and his men—」

「That's their choice. 」

Chen Wen's voice was calm.

「It's also the only way to let all the 'variables' survive. 」

「If you all insist on staying and dying with them, you'll be letting them down. 」

Liu Hong laughed loudly.

「Instructor Lin, quit the nagging! 」

「We soldiers have long let go of worldly concerns. 」

「If you live, this deal of ours is worth it! 」

He turned and waved his hand.

「Those who can still move, follow me! 」

「Clear the way for Marshal Yue and the gentlemen! 」

Dozens of wounded soldiers followed him charging out of the hall.

Inside the hall, all fell silent.

Chen Wen looked at Yue Fei.

「Marshal Yue, make the decision. 」

Yue Fei took a deep breath.

His gaze swept over every face.

Yue Yun, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui.

Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai, Ruan Xiaoer, Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo.

Wang Ru.

Finally, the gaze fell on Chen Wen.

「Pass the order. 」

「All 'variables', immediately check your weapons and travel light. 」

「At 1:30 AM, we set out from here. 」

「Mr. Chen will take the vanguard; I will cover the rear. 」

「Remember—」

His voice was hoarse, yet each word rang like iron.

「No turning back. 」

「This is a military order. 」

Everyone solemnly clasped their fists.

Yes, sir!

Wu Yong quickly wrote several orders and handed them to the personal guards.

Pass it on: let each street-fighting unit launch a counterattack simultaneously at the third watch of the chou hour.

The bigger the momentum, the better.

Yes!

Chen Wen walked to the side of the palace gate.

He looked toward the northeast.

There, flames shot into the sky, and the fighting was in full swing.

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

Remember, you are not deserters.

You are the spark.

To survive is the greatest counterattack against the Iron Crow Army.

Outside the hall.

The night was as dark as ink.

The bloody corridor escorting the Variable's withdrawal.

Was about to open.

About to open.