The frontier.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Fresh red bloodstains marked the snow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Scattered in patches.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Due to the winter cold, the corpses had not yet decayed after several days.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng had recently passed through this vige with his men, asking for some water to drink. Sometimes they woulde to exchange goods.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But now, the vige was deathly silent.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Not a sound could be heard.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Only the crunching of snow beneath Old Meng and his men''s feet.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This vige had been ughtered.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There were bodies of adults and infants, but no women.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This was the standard attack pattern of the Liao People.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They killed all the men and children, except for the women.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The women were taken to be used as breeding tools, to continue their lineage. Food and valuables were all looted.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
The Liao People didn''t farm. When winter came with heavy snow, and they had no food source, they woulde to raid the Chu Kingdom.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao People were innately ferocious, bloodthirsty, and merciless. At their strongest, they had once fought all the way to Jiangzhou, rivers of blood in their wake, terrifying the people of Chu.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They didn''t build, only savagely destroyed, killing indiscriminately.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If it weren''t for Old General Meng guarding the frontier, such tragedies would likely ur every few years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was also because of General Meng''s protection that the younger generation had forgotten those past atrocities.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The current emperor had probably forgotten too, after all, the Liao People had only reached Jiangzhou, not yet the capital.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing the infant corpses, Old General Meng couldn''t help but close his eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Without even waiting for his men to act, he personally picked up a baby, gently cradling it in his arms.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had a special fondness for children.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
An extreme fondness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When local children mischievously ran into the military camp, Old Meng would at most give them a mild scolding, and even send them off with some snacks.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
Children were the future hope of a family, and also the future and hope of a nation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He couldn''t bear to see children die like this. They had barely been in this world, they hadn''t grown up yet, and to die like this - it pained him beyond words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng had led troops in battle for many years, and could be said to have killed countless people, but he had never killed a child.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They buried all the bodies in the vige.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The old man he had spoken to just days ago was now frozen stiff.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There were no survivors; the Liao People were ruthless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng exhaled several breaths, forming white mist.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This winter, snow hade early. Their supplies weren''t enough tost the winter, so the Liao People would surelye to raid again.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was bitterly cold, his wrists ached slightly, and the wind cut like a knife against his face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everyone was silent.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old General Meng felt a sense of mncholy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The war seemed endless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao People appeared to be growing stronger.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Previously, they couldn''t carry out such swift raids, killing and leaving without a trace. It felt as if there might be a traitor among them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He felt that one day he too would die here.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Perhaps this ce would be his final resting ce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had a premonition of his death here.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His premonitions were usually urate.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chaos was frequent in the imperial court, and the Liao People were restlessly provoking them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was impossible to manage both fronts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Those loyal to the emperor and devoted to righteousness always died first.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How tragic.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng had even received news from the capital that some nonsensical female mystic had prophesied the end of the Meng family line, and everyone seemed to believe it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How pitiful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The snowfall intensified, quickly covering the bodies they had dragged out.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If those civil officials were here, they would probablypose a poem, praising the beauty of such a grand snowfall.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Misfortune neveres alone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With this snow, if they tried to march to the next vige, they might not make it in time.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao cavalry had the advantage of speed; even if they traveled through the snow, they might continue to leave behind corpses like this.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Cough, cough." Old Meng coughed a few times.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In this cold, opening one''s mouth meant inhaling icy air.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After burying the bodies, Old General Meng prepared to lead his troops forward.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The wind and snow were fierce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The soldiers had be somewhat numb.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Their bodies were numb from the cold, and their minds were growing numb too.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Because after seeing the corpses of their own kind, the initial shock had passed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They were learning to get used to it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Anyone could die.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Today it was these people, tomorrow it could be themselves.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In fact, they had already died many times over.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In their battles against the Liao People, they had narrowly escaped death numerous times.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Arge part of their survival was thanks to the Jiang Family, who continuously sent food and clothing to the frontier, stimting the local trade routes. With meager profits, they ensured the basic living conditions of the soldiers.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
After burying the dead, they quickly made a fire and cooked a meal. At least they could eat something hot to gain strength before continuing their pursuit.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This time, the Liao People were unusually vicious, ughtering vige after vige, as if deliberately luring Old Meng to kill them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng ate in silence. Sometimes, even knowing it was a trap, they had no choice but to walk into it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This was an open stratagem.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
I kill your people, if you don''t act, I''ll keep killing until youe.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was silently adjusting his emotions.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His own death didn''t matter much, everyone dies eventually.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was just worried about his wife, children, and grandchildren.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His son was honest and kind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His grandson was sincere and loyal.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They had been taught too well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Sometimes Old Meng felt the Chu Kingdom didn''t deserve his son and grandson.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
So when Shao Xia wrote asking to live at a girl''s house for three years, he agreed without hesitation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His family already had this old man selling his life for the country, constantly risking death. At least someone should be able to live.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His family had few descendants, and he worried and regretted that he might die before seeing his family line continue.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
People believed in spirits and gods.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He believed too.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Because every battle was a gamble with death. If not spirits and gods, what else could one believe in?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Surviving was always a matter of luck, snatching back a life from the hands of the spirits.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If history hadn''t changed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After this meal, General Meng would lead his troops to pursue the Liao People.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao People would set a trap, and with the betrayal of General Meng''s most trusted man, General Meng would die in battle.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The wind and snow would cover everything.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His body wouldn''t be dug out until two monthster.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This entire group would die.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But now, they were eating heartily.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They ate instant noodles, dried meat, and hard bread - quite a feast.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
They were also dressed warmly, with cotton padding in their clothes for instion.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This winter was very cold, but they were living slightly better than in previous years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As General Meng was eating, halfway through his meal.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Themunications officer came running.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"It''s born! It''s born!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What''s born?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"General, your grandson''s wife has given birth! She had twins, two boys at once!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Themunications officer, with frozen snot that he couldn''t sniffle back, blurted out in one breath.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng''s noodles ttered to the ground, half spilling onto his clothes, but he didn''t feel the heat.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His mouth still full of unchewed noodles, he swallowed hard.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Then he burst intoughter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As heughed, his eyes reddened.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was truly cold.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Today, he had personally cradled an infant''s corpse, carefully burying it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As he buried it, he had mumbled, "In your next life, may you be born into a good family, at least somewhere warmer. It''s too damn cold here."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His Meng family line would continue.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His grandson had fathered twins in one go.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had great-grandsons.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ha!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng let out a long breath.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Extra rations tonight, bring out all the food you have on you, let''s have a good meal. To honor the dead and celebrate new life," Old General Meng said, picking up the half-spilled bowl of noodles from the ground and addressing everyone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Extra rations. To honor the dead and celebrate new life."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"To honor the dead and celebrate new life."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"To honor the dead and celebrate new life."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The chant spread.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In the distant mountains, snow fell from the trees.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao People in ambush didn''t know what they were celebrating.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Suddenly, it seemed very lively and exciting.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The hidden Liao warriors grew impatient.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Tonight''s wind and snow were heavy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If the enemy didn''te, they would suffer through the night and fall ill too. A Liao life was still a life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They had received urate information that General Meng would surelye.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But he waste in arriving, and instead they heardughter and shouting, which made them restless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng was ecstatic.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Away from the crowd, he wailed, embracing his oldrade who had fought alongside him for years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Crying rather ungracefully in his arms.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As he cried, he suddenly felt the knife on his oldrade''s body.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Meng was incredulous.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His actions were faster than his thoughts. He pulled out the knife and plunged it into hisrade''s back.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Brother Yu Bei, why? Why have you betrayed me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
The snow fell heavily.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Liao People were still waiting.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Tonight, Old Meng wouldn''te. He was celebrating the birth of his great-grandsons, and then immediately lost his best friend. Heughed and cried, continuing to bury people.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The north wind blew, snowkes danced.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A tree branch snapped with a crack.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0