Chapter Eleven: The Gentle Breeze atop the Mountain

At this moment, the setting sun burned crimson like blood. Over ten thousand garrison soldiers stood in strict formation within the Qiansang military encampment, quietly awaiting something.

The assembled generals followed Li Guang into the command tent. Half an hour passed, yet not a whisper of news emerged. During this interval, two more military dispatches were delivered into the tent—one from Shangdu town to the left-north, the other from Duoke town to the right-north. The reports were similar: the Xiongnu had invaded, with over five thousand mounted archers, pillaging and burning as they advanced.

Had Qin Cheng seen these three reports, he would have realized that the current situation in Shanggu Commandery matched precisely what he had once analyzed with Le Yi. The Xiongnu had split their forces into three prongs, advancing from three directions. The left column was the very army that had previously invaded Dai Commandery; the right, the force that had attacked Yuyang. Instead of retreating north after their raids, both wings had swung around to encircle Qiansang from either side, while the central force of over five thousand, led by the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu himself, pressed down directly from the north.

Shanggu Commandery had long been fortified with numerous watchtowers and beacon platforms. At any Xiongnu incursion, the beacons would sound the alarm, relaying information swiftly to Qiansang, while the fortresses served as shelters for the local populace and garrison. This defensive strategy was instituted by Li Guang upon his appointment as governor after the siege of Mayi, echoing tactics dating back to Li Mu's campaigns against the Xiongnu during the Warring States period.

Yet unlike past incursions, this invasion was unprecedented—the Xiongnu attacked Shanggu not only from the north but also from both flanks, their armies having breached Dai and Yuyang before converging. Such a three-pronged assault caught everyone off guard, plunging Shanggu into a perilous situation. The garrison soldier who had first arrived was from within Shangdu, battered and disheveled after enduring the initial surprise. The two who followed, like him, were dispatched from the county seats, having raced to the commandery after seeing the warning beacons.

The question now was how to deploy the troops—an issue that tested Li Guang to his very core.

After half an hour, Li Guang finally emerged from the command tent and mounted the platform. He swept his gaze over the ten thousand soldiers assembled before him, his expression grave.

A tense, killing air hung over Qiansang camp. Occasionally, a bird would startle from the woods, crying in alarm as it beat its wings and fled.

All eyes fixed upon Li Guang, ablaze with indignation, hatred, fervor, anticipation, and excitement.

“The Xiongnu have sent over fifteen thousand horsemen, attacking Shanggu from three directions. The situation is dire. Now, by my order: except for a detachment of infantry who will remain to defend the commandery, all other officers and men shall follow me out to engage the Xiongnu! At the third quarter of the hour of the Tiger, breakfast will be prepared; at the fourth, we march! Begin immediate preparations throughout the camp!”

“Yes, sir!”

With this, the ten thousand soldiers, long awaiting this moment, roared in unison.

…

Once the meeting dissolved, Qiansang camp erupted into a frenzy of preparations for the campaign.

As for Qin Cheng and the other newly promoted officers, there was no need to wait until morning; they began their new posts that very night. Fortuitously, Qin Cheng had only received a double promotion and was not transferred to another unit, so his formalities were much simpler. By the time he returned to the barracks, the moon hung high in the night sky.

Approaching his quarters, he saw nine garrison soldiers standing in the moonlight, forming a line with impeccable military posture. Standing at the head was Dong Chu.

Qin Cheng strode up to the group and halted before them.

These nine were none other than the soldiers from his own squad. Qin Cheng knew that, according to custom, on the first day of a new leader’s appointment, the squad would assemble outside the barracks to receive his address.

Before coming to this world, every time Qin Cheng took on new followers or absorbed a defeated foe’s men, he would always gather them for a talk. If nothing else, it was to make sure everyone knew who was in charge.

As he stood before them, the nine soldiers saluted in unison and called out, “Squad Leader!”

Qin Cheng returned their salute, but did not speak immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze on each man from left to right. He knew them all well; they had lived together in the same barracks for nearly a year. Some had been friendly, some had quarreled with him, and some—like Dong Chu—had once bullied him. Yet from this moment, they were his men—his first subordinates in this era, the foundation of his new life.

As Qin Cheng’s cold gaze swept across their faces, though the darkness concealed his eyes, each man felt the stern aura radiating from him, and none dared meet his look. Even yesterday, they had called him “coward.”

None felt more conflicted than Dong Chu. But Qin Cheng had no interest in his inner turmoil; in fact, he already understood it well. A mediocre, bullied “coward” had overnight become an untouchable hero, a man to be feared and respected—who could accept such a reversal without some resentment?

“If anyone doubts my ability and thinks I’m unfit to be squad leader, step forward now. I’ll give you a chance to knock me down,” Qin Cheng said, returning to stand before the squad with a faint smile, the earlier chill gone in an instant.

His smile put everyone at ease; the pressure he’d exuded vanished. Some who had harbored doubts even felt a sudden urge to step forward.

“Hand-to-hand, broadsword, even archery—I welcome a challenge in any discipline. If anyone can best me, I’ll relinquish my position as squad leader.” His smile was gentle and sincere, almost harmless.

But at these words, the squad was taken aback. A moment ago, some had thought that, based on their experience with him, Qin Cheng could never beat them. Yet hearing him list all three skills, they suddenly remembered: in two of these, he was already the camp champion!

This “coward,” this weakling, was no longer the mediocre Qin Cheng they’d known. He had changed. The man who once couldn’t win a single bout now stood before them as the pride of the camp!

“Well? No one?” Qin Cheng pressed. When no one answered, he let his smile fade, his expression growing stern once more. A heavy atmosphere descended.

“So, you all acknowledge that I am the strongest soldier among you?” he asked coldly.

None replied; none dared meet his eyes. All gazes dropped to the ground. To them, this Qin Cheng was a stranger, a man transformed.

“Are you all struck dumb? Answer me—yes or no?” Qin Cheng suddenly roared.

“Yes!” Startled by his outburst, the squad replied at once.

“Good. It seems my orders as squad leader still carry weight, don’t they?” His voice was icy, sending a chill through every heart.

“Yes!” all nine responded in unison. At this point, who would dare say otherwise? Who could challenge a man they could not defeat?

“With battle upon us, as your squad leader, I am bound to serve you. If any of you have unresolved troubles at home, inform me tonight and I will report on your behalf. But once we march, you must leave all concerns behind—our sole duty is to slay the enemy and win honor. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Relieved to see his expression soften, the squad answered promptly.

“Dismissed!” Qin Cheng commanded, then fell silent, remaining in place.

“Yes, sir!” The squad dispersed to their quarters, none speaking a word, for each realized their foreheads were slick with sweat.

Qin Cheng followed them inside, entering last.

…

When war truly arrived, Qin Cheng felt an unexpected calm. Before coming to this world, he had spent countless nights like this. Each time he set a plan for action and prepared to lead his brothers into battle at dawn, he would lock himself alone in a room beforehand, silently smoking, saying nothing.

No one ever knew what passed through his mind in those moments.

After his squad had gone to sleep, Qin Cheng quietly left the barracks. As he stepped outside, Wu Daliang, who had not moved all evening, turned his head to watch the door.

The camp was deserted save for the sentries. The burning bonfires cast a lonely glow over the vast, silent grounds. Qin Cheng walked alone beneath the cool night breeze, his shadow stretched long behind him.

He climbed a small hill within the camp and sat down, gazing up at the star-strewn sky.

This was the sixth consecutive night he had come here. The hilltop was overgrown with wild grass, save for one bare patch at the summit. Around him stood several leafless trees, their thin branches swaying slightly in the breeze.

He sat there, motionless, for who knows how long. At length, Qin Cheng stirred, turning to face the south and kneeling to kowtow three times.

“Mother, your unworthy son asks you to take care of yourself…”