Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The camp of Luzi is not comparable to that of Wei Wujie; these past few days can simply be described as bleak. While they indulge in feasting and drinking, here we struggle to have enough food for two meals a day. As the food we can gather dwindles, it seems we are on the verge of starvation. We also have to take care of several local elders, trying to ensure they have access to the Mess Hall.
The Wei Army camp is not without its own shortages; they have to travel a long way down the mountain to fetch drinking water. There is a small river less than a mile from the mountain path, and they send people down every day to carry water back.
After receiving this news, Shisan suggested that if things get desperate, they should negotiate with the others to exchange well water from their courtyard for some food. However, Li Xin firmly rejected this idea, arguing that they must not show weakness. If the other side learns that they are running out of food, there would be no need for an attack; they could just wait for half a month, and the outcome would be obvious without any battle. After a heated debate, the two decided to consult Luzi for a decision.
In truth, while we can see them fetching water down the mountain, they can also see us searching for food up here. Rather than pretending ignorance, it would be more practical to face reality. Given this situation, Luzi agreed to try communicating with Wei Wujie tomorrow. If they are willing to trade goods for food, that would be ideal. If not, then things will remain as they are.
The reason for waiting until tomorrow is that tonight marks the third night of their confinement. With Luzi's approval, Shisan understood that even if he was anxious, it was impossible to approach the enemy camp at night. So he left Li Xin and Luzi and returned to borrow some sleep to conserve food. Once asleep, he wouldn't feel hungry; that's what the elders always said.
Li Xin sat down on the spot and poured himself a cup from the teapot. After taking a sip, he realized it wasn't tea; suddenly understanding that this thing only made him hungrier with each drink. He put down the teacup with a heavy sigh and stared blankly at the glowing fire. What are we doing? From being ambushed on the mountain to fleeing up here, those damned reinforcements seem either lost or never came at all. If it weren't for them, how could we have ended up like caged birds in Wei Wujie's territory? Damn it! Where are those fools who haven't arrived yet?
"Luzi! There's something I really don't understand! You say we've been cautious every step of the way to get here, yet every time there's a chance you don't take it. Now that we want to leave, we can't! What do we do? We don't mind dying as long as you can survive and return home. But if we leave you behind here, we won't rest in peace!"
Luzi looked out at the vast darkness beyond the window; that was the direction of Qin State. However! Sigh! Some things shouldn't be said lightly! "Shisan! You've really gone through a lot for us. Regardless of what happens, thank you for everything you've done for me over these years."
Hearing his tone change, Li Xin immediately forgot his earlier grievances. What was he saying? This sounds too melancholic! He scrutinized Luzi closely in the firelight but couldn't detect anything unusual. He wanted to ask what was going on but held back. What needs to be known will naturally be revealed; asking about what shouldn't be known is pointless.
Luzi noticed Li Xin's face turning red and managed not to laugh out loud. "It's not that I don't want to tell you; it's just that we really can't go back!"
Isn't that obvious!? The outside is completely surrounded; of course we can't go back! Now with our supplies exhausted and tomorrow when Wei Wujie's troops arrive, it will be total destruction. But listening to this sounds like there's something more implied; Li Xin pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out what aspect Luzi was referring to.
Luzi sighed softly. "Sigh! It's not that our reinforcements haven't arrived; it's that they will never come!"
Hearing this, Li Xin almost toppled over. The brothers had managed to hold on until now because they heard Luzi mention reinforcements. If someone else had said it, they might have questioned it, but if Luzi said it, then it was definitely true! How could it be that with the situation being what it was, reinforcements weren't coming!?
"This is bad! Are you saying there are no reinforcements at all?"
Luzi shook his head with a bitter smile. "Do you remember Meng Wu? If I'm not mistaken, he's the one responsible for leading the team here to rescue us!"
Li Xin was aware of Meng Wu's situation in Qi State. He had almost been dismembered by five horses, and if it weren't for Luzi's risky rescue, he would probably still be in captivity. But it didn't make sense; hadn't the misunderstandings been cleared up back then? "How could it be him!? He wouldn't hold that grudge against you, would he? The key is that we really didn't do anything wrong! It's one thing to joke around among brothers, but if it escalated to that level, wouldn't that just ruin everything? Besides, you..."
Luzi waved his hand to silence him; how could Meng Wu be so narrow-minded? Even if he had been responsible for that incident, when faced with personal versus national interests, Meng Wu would still choose the latter without hesitation. "Forget it! Let's not bring this up again!"
Knowing that there were no reinforcements coming, Li Xin was now extremely anxious. "Then why isn't he coming to save you?"
He couldn't say more because it was too sensitive. Only members of the Royal Family had the power to prevent Meng Wu from coming. Was there any need to ask? As for work negligence caused by personal grudges, that didn't exist in Qin State! Luzi only realized this about the reinforcements after heading up the mountain. But at this point, there was no room for him to maneuver because everything had led to this outcome.
A single connection could lead to many!
When Luzi discovered the crux of the problem, he suddenly understood how Wei Wujie knew he was in Chu State. If it weren't for someone deliberately leaking information, the Wei Army wouldn't have risked a long-distance march into another country to hunt him down. He should have seen some signs when Chunshen Jun's rescue team was intercepted on their way; however, he had overlooked this gap due to momentary carelessness. If he had thought returning home would ensure safety back then, the answer now was a resounding no.
Now the Border General of Chu State, Yang Huaide, was probably waiting for someone’s arrival before launching an attack. Even if he managed to escape Yang Huaide's encirclement, he would likely be captured upon entering Qin State's territory. As for what would happen next? That would naturally be left to Wei Wujie who would arrive afterward. And Li Xin, Shisan, and the group of brothers fighting alongside him would soon be silenced; in today's world, losing a few dozen lives was no different from stepping on a bunch of ants!
Abandoning pawns! We suddenly became a group of soldiers who could never turn back!
Thinking of this made Luzi feel a heavy weight in his heart. He stood up and walked into the yard, looking up at the starry sky. The Big Dipper always pointed towards home, but we could never return!
Following Luzi for so many years, it would be a lie to say there were no feelings. Li Xin soon realized that there might be some changes happening domestically, but he dared not speak of it. Silently trailing behind this commander who never backed down, he looked up at the stars in the sky and suddenly felt lost, unable to find his direction.
Comment 0 Comment Count