Chapter 946

"Uncle Xia!" Tian Tong exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Liao looked at Tian Tong and then slowly stood up.

Being able to call this person 'Uncle', Tian Tong naturally knew him.

Wearing a suit of armor—and not that of an ordinary soldier, but a general's armor—proved that this person's status was not ordinary.

Coupled with the fact that he was an elder.

Respect for one's elders was paramount; Zhang Liao naturally dared not be arrogant, which was why he stood up.

"You know him?" Zhang Liao looked at Tian Tong.

Tian Tong hurriedly nodded and said with some excitement, "General, this was a close friend of my father during his lifetime."

Zhang Liao suddenly thought of one person.

Liangzhou had produced fierce generals since ancient times; besides the 'Three Brights of Liangzhou', a batch of extremely outstanding generals had emerged.

Among them, Tian Tong's father, Tian Yan, was one.

And since Tian Tong said the person behind him was his father's friend and also surnamed Xia.

Then it must be the former Commandant of Wuhuan, Xia Yu.

Tian Yan and Xia Yu had both served under the Commandant Protecting the Qiang, Duan Jiong, in their early years.

The two served as generals under Duan Jiong, following him to suppress the Western Qiang with fierce combat, and were later promoted.

After Duan Jiong died, Xia Yu served as the Commandant of Wuhuan.

Tian Yan, meanwhile, served as the General of the Household who Breaks the Xianbei.

In the sixth year of Xiping, three separate armies were dispatched for the battle against the Xianbei.

Xia Yu led one of those routes.

However, just like Tian Yan.

Xia Yu's army was also completely wiped out, all ambushed by the Xianbei; only Xia Yu and a few dozen personal guards managed to escape by luck.

Upon learning Xia Yu's identity, Zhang Liao turned and bowed to him: "Junior Zhang Liao, greets Old General Xia."

Now with a full head of white hair and, like Tian Yan, demoted to a commoner, Xia Yu shook his head and smiled: "General Zhang, there is no need for such formalities. This old man is now but a criminal, unworthy of such respect from General Zhang."

Xia Yu stepped aside to avoid Zhang Liao's salute.

Zhang Liao straightened his back and shook his head, saying: "The Old General is a senior who has fought the Western Qiang for many years, protecting the peace of the region; you naturally deserve this salute from a junior."

Xia Yu gave a bitter laugh: "What 'protecting the peace'? This old man is but a criminal; what face do I have to claim I protected the peace?"

"Old Tian, however, truly makes this old man envious."

"That old fellow was able to die in battle at Yunwu; dying so tragically can be considered fulfilling his long-cherished wish from back then."

Beside them, Tian Tong's eyes reddened slightly.

Though that was true, what child or grandchild would want to see their father die on the battlefield?

That battle in the sixth year of Xiping had tormented his father all these years.

Although the truth of the matter could not be blamed on his father, his father had blamed himself for a full six years.

He spent every day in self-reproach.

To be able to die at Yunwu, and to die defending against foreign enemies.

Tian Tong saw the faint smile on his father's lips before he died.

"Gongda, this was your father's wish; you should be happy for him." Xia Yu noticed Tian Tong's sadness.

Tian Tong nodded and said: "Uncle Xia, this junior understands."

"Before my father died, he also leaped down with a smile."

Xia Yu took a deep breath, his eyes showing envy as he said: "Yes, in that battle back then, we were the sinners."

"Sixty thousand men..."

"Gone just like that."

Xia Yu clenched his fists, looking slightly toward the north, his gaze filled with unwillingness, resentment, and guilt.

When Xia Yu withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhang Liao, the complex emotions in his eyes gradually faded.

"General Zhang, to be honest, this old man has an uninvited request."

Xia Yu said to Zhang Liao: "Old Tian being able to die at Yunwu was dying in his proper place; it was his heart's desire and his best final destination, which is also what this old man envies most."

"This old man is now aged; keeping this useless body will only result in rotting away on a sickbed."

"When we were young, Old Tian and I never yielded to one another; I cannot let him be one step ahead of me after we die."

"Therefore, this old man would like to ask General Zhang to take me along."

"Just as a small soldier will do; I only ask to kill enemies on the battlefield and be wrapped in horse hide."

To be honest, when Xia Yu revealed his relationship with Tian Yan, Zhang Liao had already guessed what Xia Yu wanted to do.

Facing Xia Yu's request, Zhang Liao did not refuse.

"To have the Old General's guidance is this junior's honor; how could I refuse?"

Zhang Liao bowed and said: "If the Marquis finds out, he will surely be happy as well."

"But serving as a mere cavalryman is certainly out of the question; not only would it insult the Old General's name, but if the Marquis knew, he would surely blame me. Why not have the Old General stay in my army?"

"I am about to lead troops to fight the Huangzhong Volunteer Cavalry and some tribes of the Western Qiang. The Old General has been in Liangzhou for many years and is naturally experienced; I can consult the Old General at any time."

Xia Yu nodded hurriedly: "Good, good, very good!"

"This old man has long heard that General Duan's subordinates are all fierce generals and talented men; seeing it today, it is indeed true. With fierce generals like you under General Duan, why worry about not being able to pacify Liangzhou and give the people of Liangzhou a place to live and work in peace?"

"This old man thanks General Zhang and General Duan here."

Lushui.

This place was only a few dozen miles from Zhangye County.

The river flowing south from Xiutu Lake in Mobei split into three tributaries, flowing into Wuwei County, Luanniao County, and Cangsong County respectively.

At this moment, the more than one thousand Huangzhong Volunteer Cavalry led by Beigong Boyu and over one thousand Xiutu cavalry were stationed on the east bank of this Lushui tributary, passing through Wuwei Commandery.

Sitting next to a sea buckthorn bush on the riverbank, Beigong Boyu was wiping the blood off his long sword.

The Xiutu cavalry and the Huangzhong Volunteer Cavalry were all watering their horses on the riverbank, washing away the dust covering the horses.

Xiutu Ye, carrying a wine skin, came to Beigong Boyu's side, sat down, and unscrewed the sheepskin wine skin, taking a large gulp.

The milky-white wine dripped from Xiutu Ye's beard onto his exposed, hairy chest.

After wiping it with his sleeve, Xiutu Ye handed the wine skin to Beigong Boyu.

"We are just fighting and retreating like this; will that guy surnamed Zhang chase after us?"

Beigong Boyu took the wine skin from Xiutu Ye's hand, took a sip, and sprayed it onto the precious sword in his hand.

As the rag wiped across it, the blade reflected a blinding light once more.

Beigong Boyu smiled slightly and said: "We have dealt with each other so many times; don't you understand that Han general by now?"

"Like master, like men."

"How could there be cowards under Duan Yu?"

Xiutu Ye rolled his eyes and said with a sneer: "The Xiutu have never lacked warriors."

This was not a lie.

Compared to the Han people, whether it was the Qiang tribe, the Xiutu, or tribes like Rile and Liqian, they never lacked warriors.

The living environment of the tribes was harsh; from the day they were born, they were destined to fight the heavens, fight the earth, and fight men.

Only in this way could they survive.

But the backwardness of the tribes and their small numbers meant they could only survive on lands outside the Han territory.

Beigong Boyu smiled and said: "But courage and warriors alone are useless. To defeat the Han, one cannot rely solely on brute force."

"Especially if one wants to defeat Duan Yu."

Hearing the two words 'Duan Yu', Xiutu Ye twitched his lips, and the corners of his eyes trembled slightly.

This name was now enough to stop children from crying at night in Liangzhou, especially among the various tribes.

In the battle last year, dozens of Western Qiang tribes were almost wiped out by Duan Yu, their courage completely shattered.

One hundred thousand heads were still piled up in Jianwei City, having become a heap of white bones.

Seeing Xiutu Ye's expression, Beigong Boyu laughed softly: "What, just hearing this name makes you feel fear?"

"Weren't you just saying that the Xiutu never lack warriors?"

"Hmph." Xiutu Ye snorted coldly, turned his head away, and said: "If I were afraid, I wouldn't have allied with you."

Is it not fear?