Volume One, Chapter Four: Luo Yi Arrives, Returning to Defend Xizhou
Hundreds of cavalry thundered across the mountains and fields without pause. After nearly a night of relentless travel, both men and horses were famished and exhausted, unable to continue. They had no choice but to rest on the spot.
Lu Yunduan dismounted, surveying the terrain. The mountains and wilds here were suitable for concealment and evading pursuit.
Li Jingtao, Cao Xiu, and Yang Xiuwen approached Lu Yunduan’s side.
“General, where should we head now?” they asked.
“Gentlemen, do you know where exactly we are, and how far from Xizhou this place lies?” Lu Yunduan inquired.
He was utterly unfamiliar with this region, having never been here before.
Without hesitation, Cao Xiu answered, “General, this is the border of Dongzhou, known as Wuman Mountain. It’s over a hundred li from Xizhou.”
Lu Yunduan was struck with confusion. Though they had escaped the capital, he hadn’t anticipated being so far from Xizhou.
At this moment, he was torn—should they return to Xizhou, or press on to Dongzhou?
If they returned now, relying solely on the single city of Xizhou would be like a lone boat in the vast sea—weak and vulnerable, unlikely to withstand the four-sided assault of the Dali Dynasty.
But if they allied with other feudal lords or marquises to jointly oppose Dali, then overthrowing the great Dali would be as easy as turning one’s hand.
Yet if they did not return, the situation in Xizhou would likely destabilize. Xizhou faced the formidable Beidi enemy, and the imperial court must have already dispatched troops there. With the commander absent, morale would falter.
At present, Lu Yunduan’s prestige in the army was insufficient to command the unwavering loyalty of all Xizhou’s soldiers and civilians. If Xizhou surrendered to Dali, he would be caught in a deadly pincer attack.
That would be true peril.
In his worry, Lu Yunduan thought of the three generals beside him. Their standing in the Xizhou army rivaled that of his father. As long as they remained, Xizhou would not capitulate.
But what if they betrayed him as well?
What then?
Lu Yunduan wished to test their loyalty one final time. Folding his hands in a solemn gesture, he spoke earnestly.
“Three generals, I have a request and hope you will consent.”
They quickly responded, “General, there is no need for such formality. Whatever orders you give, we vow to carry out to the death.”
Lu Yunduan continued, “I have a plan, but to ensure its success, I require your assistance.”
Though they did not know the details of his plan, as soldiers their duty was obedience.
“Tell us what is required, General,” they said.
Seeing their loyalty, Lu Yunduan’s doubts melted away.
“I need you three to ride hard and reach Xizhou ahead of the Dali army, seizing command of its military and civil affairs to block the enemy’s advance.”
Entrusting them with the supreme military and political authority of Xizhou?
This declaration startled them, making them think the general was testing their loyalty. Fearful, they all knelt at once.
“General, we dare not covet the supreme command of Xizhou.”
[Fear Value +100]
[Fear Value +100]
[Fear Value +100]
In the ancient art of great achievements, kindness and authority must go hand in hand.
Though Lu Yunduan truly intended to entrust them with Xizhou’s power, his words also carried a warning.
Satisfied with their response, he smiled broadly.
“Three generals, I do not doubt your loyalty. I am about to head to Dongzhou and cannot return for the time being, so I ask that you defend Xizhou.”
He approached them, helping each to their feet, reaffirming his trust.
They rejoiced unexpectedly at his confidence.
“General, entrusted as you are, we will guard Xizhou even with our lives, awaiting your return.”
“I now hand you the military token of Xizhou. From this moment, lead your hundred-strong cavalry to Xizhou. You need only hold it for a hundred days. After that, whether Xizhou falls or not, you will be heroes.”
[Loyalty +100]
[Loyalty +100]
[Loyalty +100]
Lu Yunduan handed over the tokens. They accepted them, mounted their horses, and led the Xizhou forces toward the city.
As the three generals departed, Lu Yunduan knew he was dangerously outnumbered. Should Dali’s army strike, he risked defeat.
What he needed now was shadow guards.
“System, do you have any suitable guardian spirits to recommend?”
[System searching…]
[Shadow Guards: Luo Yi and his Eighteen Yanyun Riders.]
The Eighteen Yanyun Riders—these were the fiercest bodyguards.
“I’ll take them.”
[Since this is the host’s first purchase of guardian spirits, a 70% discount applies. 2,500 Emotion Points.]
Seeing the price—2,500 Emotion Points even after the discount—he was shocked.
“Why so expensive?”
[You think it’s expensive because you haven’t worked hard enough.]
That phrase sounded familiar. Wasn’t that something Jiaqi had said in his previous life? So harsh.
Lu Yunduan checked his Emotion Points. Precisely 2,500. He suspected the system was playing a trick.
“Fine, I’ll buy it.”
A beep sounded in his ear. Moments later, the distant valley echoed with the pounding of hooves and thunderous war drums.
“Luo Yi and the Eighteen Yanyun Riders have arrived.”
Eighteen warhorses charged at him fiercely. The riders atop them were fearsome demons.
They wore cold weather garments, curved swords at their waists, masked faces, black headscarves, and northern horse boots equipped with daggers. Each carried a great bow on their back, eighteen arrows, and a uniform crescent moon blade.
The horses halted before Lu Yunduan. All nineteen dismounted and knelt before him.
From Lu Yunduan’s body emerged a shadowy figure.
The man clasped his hands and spoke with a voice like rolling thunder.
“I am Luo Yi, with the Eighteen Yanyun Riders, reporting for duty.”
Lu Yunduan was ecstatic. Luo Yi was a renowned general from the end of the Sui and start of the Tang dynasty, and his Eighteen Yanyun Riders were terrifyingly formidable.
“General Luo, please rise. Soldiers, stand up quickly.”
As they rose, it felt as though heaven and earth trembled.
Each was at least as powerful as Gan Ning.
Having them was like gaining an army of a hundred thousand elite troops.
With such strength, Lu Yunduan need not worry about his safety on the journey to Dongzhou.
After resting briefly, it was time to leave the valley.
This place lay on the border of Dongzhou. Exiting the valley would reveal Yongning City, the vital link between Dongzhou and the capital. Capturing Yongning would easily sever Dongzhou’s connection to the capital.
Then, all would think he had returned to Xizhou, leaving other territories neglected. At that time, he could strengthen his power. When he next appeared in the capital, it would be to reign supreme over the world.
At Shangfang Village, a frontier hamlet near Yongning City, Gan Ning led the vanguard straight to the village. Lu Yunduan rode in the center, with the Eighteen Yanyun Riders at the rear, forming a long, straight snake formation.
“I’m so hungry…”
“So thirsty…”
As they marched, complaints grew louder. The troops, forced to travel through the night with insufficient supplies, were starving. Even the horses were too weak to go on.