"The Lord Duke relocated the citizens within the borders to outside the territory. As an old man responding to the Lord Duke’s orders, I ended up here. Now, over twenty years have passed. Both my sons have enlisted in the army for the country, and you want our grain, our houses; I have not a word of objection." "But now, you want to leave and yet leave us behind?!" "General, General, there’s no such reason, I must go and see the Lord Duke!" The squad leader saw the crowd’s agitation and worried that public sentiment was getting out of control, had an unpleasant look on his face, and shouted, "I told you to shut up!" The old man, extremely sorrowful, shouted, "I was among those who quelled the rebellion at Longmen with the Lord Duke forty years ago, and a Fire Yellow Camp infantryman. Today you’re here to kill me!" The squad leader gritted his teeth and drew his sword, but suddenly heard a voice say, "Stop." The squad leader paused, seeing a battle general approaching. Clad in dark mountain pattern armor, with a blood-stained brocade battle robe, his eyes calm, the soldiers around him stiffened at his presence, instinctively saluting, and said, "General." Li Guanyi approached and asked, "What is the matter?" The squad leader hesitated and said, "It’s this old man, who suddenly started a commotion, saying we’re going to abandon them." The old man’s hair and beard bristled with anger, his voice tearful, "Without a word to the public, you begin gathering your things, kettles are wide open as if to reward the soldiers before a charge, are you planning to discard us?" "I know old guys like me can’t join the troops, but in the city there are many young and strong, all expanding the borders for the country, are you just leaving them behind? Give them a sword and blade, and maybe they’ll stand a better chance." The squad leader replied hatefully, "Don’t slander us with lies!" Li Guanyi looked around; the soldiers only knew that this general in dark mountain pattern armor was the warrior who twice charged into battle formations like a god, daring not to say anything, merely murmuring. Li Guanyi looked at the old man and said, "I would not do so." The old man looked at Li Guanyi, kneeling down immediately in great courtesy. All the civilians around him followed suit, kneeling. Li Guanyi helped the old man up, who revealed a scar on his chest, crying, "We’ve planned not to live, and have lived long enough." "In chaotic times, living past forty-nine is a blessing from the heavens, but there are so many young people. I know the Lord Duke’s plans, but after the army leaves, you’ll break out, yet we’ll be left here to be plundered by the raging Western Region troops." "Will the tens of thousands of civilians in this city be abandoned?" "They say they will return with reinforcements to find us, but once the city falls, it will be like a piece of meat thrown into the desert, attracting countless beasts. How can we survive, our bones likely to be picked clean by wolves." Li Guanyi listened to the old man’s lamentation, silent for a long time. Their homes dismantled to make rolling stones and logs, their grain requisitioned, knowing it was for the city’s safety, citizens complied without complaint. Until now, seeing the army’s departure, emotions erupted uncontrollably, the old man now in tears, Li Guanyi looked at them, knowing this was the rule of chaotic times. The history books would record, Duke Li’s army was besieged, then broke through. The valor of the soldiers would be praised; its strategic importance noted, not the citizens’ suffering, their properties lost and abandoned. Li Guanyi exhaled, looking at these ’discarded’, he suddenly spoke loudly: "You will not be abandoned." Read full story at novᴇlfire.net The old man looked up at him, Li Guanyi pulled out Duke Li’s letter from his chest, and seriously said, "The Duke has entrusted these forty-two cities to me, and as the Lord of Yemen Pass, I assure you, I will not abandon you." The old man widened his eyes. Li Guanyi stated, "I’ve said it, one word from me is irretrievable by four horses." "I will save all the civilians in the city." "As for properties and provisions?" Li Guanyi looked at the squad leader beside him, asking, "Where is the city’s treasury?" The squad leader stammered, and Li Guanyi’s eyebrows rose, the squad leader felt overwhelmed by a chilling aura, turning pale, replied, "At...at the end of this avenue..." Li Guanyi led the crowd towards it, and the squad leader shivered inside, hurriedly grabbing Li Guanyi’s sleeve: "It’s not convenient at this moment..." Li Guanyi, quick-witted, suddenly realized something, and sneered: "I am now the Lord of Yemen Pass City, what’s inconvenient?!" With a flick of his sleeve, the squad leader was flung away, and Li Guanyi led the civilians vigorously forward, a knowing Xuanjia Army followed without hesitation. Upon reaching the treasury, just as Li Guanyi anticipated, the door was already open. Dozens of robust mansion soldiers, clad in armor distinctly superior to standard armor, were moving gold, silver, and Copper Coins out, especially the jade held together. Seeing Li Guanyi and his company approach, they remained undisturbed, continuing their work. They tucked away the delicate items into their bosoms. A dark cloud formed in Li Guanyi’s eyes as he strode over. Two fair-skinned men, clearly unsullied by battle’s hardship, blocked him, saying, "General, it’s inconvenient here." "Inconvenient for what?" The attendant looked Li Guanyi up and down, smiling, "I know you are the one who charged into the formation, meritorious, but don’t you know the renown of my master?" "Even with merits, you need connections. Aren’t we about to break out of the city? The gold, silver, and jade here is just spoiling for the Western barbarian, my master couldn’t bear such waste, and sent me to take it away."