Vol 9 Chapter 69 (1/2)

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 69: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE BATTLE OUTSIDE XINYE CITY (4)

Li Dian POV

I carefully looked at Lu Xiang and saw that she was staring fixedly at her elder brother’s corpse and wondered what she was thinking about.

Could she be thinking about her memories with her elder brother? Or about their promise to sleep together tonight? I do not know. All I can see if tears continuously streaming down her cheeks as she mumbled “big brother” over and over again.

At the same time, Zhao Yun on the other side continued her scolding incessantly, though she did not seem like a crude person at all despite all that, as she looked at us. She then made her way to Lu Kuang’s horse–

“Zhao Yun! What are you–” I yelled, fearing what she might do but things did not go as I thought they would.

*Tatatata*

She merely slapped the horse’s rump and sent it back along with Lu Kuang’s corpse back to our side. She then raised her hand and stopped the yelling from her side.

“You lot should be grateful to me for leaving an intact corpse.” Zhao Yun spat out at us.

Though her words were poisonous, she did not seem arrogant or outrageous and seemed to be merely showing respect for the dead. This was probably just her showing her dignity and pride. If it were not for the circ.u.mstances we were under, I would have given her full marks.

*Tatata*

“Big brother.”

I do not know if it was the horse’s will but it stopped right beside Lu Xiang. Lu Xiang lightly called out to her elder brother’s corpse but she did not leap over like she had been doing the past few days and merely reached out with trembling hands to touch her elder brother’s stiff and stubbly face.

I would like to say that death is ever-present but it’s clearly better for me to stay silent under these circ.u.mstances. Besides, I cannot say that I was not responsible for what happened at all.

All I can do now is to stare ferociously at Zhao Yun and her lieutenant, and wait for an opportune moment to order my troops to charge. I do not know if Lu Xiang can still fight but even if she is unable to, I still must command the troops to do so.

Battles are not about individuals after all. The death of a commander in a pre-battle duel can impact troop morale but it’s still possible to win with a numerical advantage.

Though I cannot do anything for Lu Kuang, I have to fight this battle. And so, Zhao Yun and I stared at each other, waiting for a single moment. Once again, I am forced to admit that I am her lesser.

She could have called her side to charge at her just now and ride on the morale boost from her win, trampling us down, but yet she did not do so. Instead, she gave us time to grieve for our lost general.

In the skies, there were only dark clouds. No birds could be heard and only a light breeze could be felt.

Just then, a strong wind kicked up sand into the air.

— Now!

“Charge!” I yelled as I pointed my spear to the heavens. In the next instant, the thunderous yells of 10,000 men filled my ears and our side charged for Xinye city like ferocious beasts.

“Kill!” Zhao Yun’s lieutenant yelled as she pointed her spear at our side and charged forth.

As I looked at where the 2 sides would meet and saw that my own personal troops had already made it halfway, I felt that it was time for me to join the charge as well. I turned and looked at Lu Xiang who also looked back at me, and saw that she was still looking lost as she held her elder brother.

“Are you alright?!” I yelled at her to which she nodded.

“Hundred-man general.” Lu Xiang called out in a tearful voice to

an officer in her personal troop.

“Here!”

She frowned and replaced her elder brother’s corpse on the horse before looking seriously at him as she said, “Take the reins and lead the horse back to Fan city with some of your men. Protect big brother, don’t let him get wet or dirty. *s.h.i.+ku*”

Lu Xiang inevitably teared when she said this but she tightened the grip on her spear and looked at me. Looks like she’s ready now.

I nodded at her and yelled, “Troops! Continue charging! Charge!”

I raised my spear and sung my reins sending my horse galloping into the fray with Lu Xiang close behind. At this time, both sides have already met in battle.

“Hei!” I yelled as I swept my spear out at incoming enemies.

“Yaa!” I looked at the side and saw that Lu Xiang was already engaging multiple enemies fiercely with her spear, sending men flying in every direction.

Though she said she would not pay attention to what had happened to her elder brother for now, it’s understandable for her to vent a little at this time. It will be impossible to fully suppress her rage after all. At the same time, this sort of zeal can perhaps be beneficial, seeing that our personal troops have penetrated enemy lines in just 1 charge.

“Haa!” I swept aside the surrounding enemies and looked into the distance and found that Zhao Yun’s troops were having difficulty holding their ground.

This was certain to happen. Their numbers are fewer for one and they are lightly geared in comparison to us as well. All of our troops are equipped with heavy plate and there is no way that light infantry can possibly prevail against heavy infantry. What could they be thinking?

Un?