Chapter 289 - 81: No Escape

Chapter 289: Chapter 81: No Escape

When Liang Qiang heard the news in the infirmary, he rushed over but didn’t even catch a glimpse of Chu Zhao’s departing figure.

He stood outside the camp in a daze.

"General Liang," a passing soldier greeted him.

The story of Liang Qiang, the sole survivor of the Left Wing Vanguard Camp, had already spread throughout the army. He had refused to surrender at the brink of life and death, nearly getting his left arm severed. The army admired warriors above all, so now, almost everyone knew of Liang Qiang.

"General Liang, is something wrong?" another soldier asked, taking the initiative. "Need any help?"

Liang Qiang snapped out of it and shook his head, smiling at the soldiers. "I’m just getting restless recovering from my injury. I’m always thinking about returning to the ranks."

The soldiers’ gazes filled with even greater admiration.

"You should focus on your recovery, Junhou. Come back when you’re fully healed." "Don’t rush it. Once you show up again, the Western Liang Soldiers will turn tail and run!"

The men all laughed and offered words of comfort.

Liang Qiang bantered with them for a moment before taking his leave. The smile vanished from his face the instant he turned away. He mounted his horse and returned to the infirmary.

"General Liang," a guard called out, "your father is here to see you."

’Father!’ A smile spread across Liang Qiang’s gloomy face as he quickened his pace and rushed inside. His father hadn’t visited since the incident. After all, the Vanguard Camp had been completely wiped out, and the Left Wing Army was being investigated for dereliction of duty.

Liang Ji was sitting in his tent studying a sand table. He looked up at the sound of movement and saw his son run in. He quickly stood, his eyes immediately falling on Liang Qiang’s arm.

"Dad, I’m fine," Liang Qiang said with a laugh.

Liang Ji walked over and carefully took hold of his son’s arm. "I heard. The wound was deep. It was nearly severed."

"But it wasn’t. A few more months of recovery and it’ll be good as new," Liang Qiang said, laughing. He started to shake his arm. "Even now, I can—"

Liang Ji quickly stopped him, chiding, "Don’t try to act tough. That’s not what being a hero is about."

’A hero...’ He knew exactly how he had become this so-called hero. Liang Qiang’s expression grew somber and he clenched his fists. ’Maybe I should tell Father—’

Liang Ji noticed the change in his son’s expression. He looked at his son’s youthful face, now tanner, thinner, and more haggard than when he was performing manual labor, to say nothing of the young noble he had once been in the Capital City. ’Even my own memory of him back then is getting hazy.’

’A hero... If one could live a peaceful, uneventful life, who would want to be a hero?’

"Ah Qiang," Liang Ji said, gently patting his son’s shoulder. "Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above the rest. Better days are ahead of you. I am proud of you, and the Liang Family is proud of you."

’Father is proud of me.’ Liang Qiang swallowed the words he was about to say. ’How can I disappoint him? It would be more than disappointment; it would fill him with fear and worry.’ He nodded, then shook his head. "Father, what I did was nothing. It’s one thing to become a hero through individual strength, but you are the one who forges heroes. With proper command, a single person can create countless heroes."

’Proper command? I hardly commanded at all,’ Liang Ji thought. ’In the beginning, I only had a single attendant. Later, when I earned commendations and was promoted, I was assigned advisors. The more advisors I had, the better my "command" became, and the higher my official rank rose. Then I was given even more assistants and advisors, and their strategies became even more formidable. In short, none of this brilliance has anything to do with me.’ Liang Ji’s gaze darkened. ’Perhaps I should tell my son—’

"Father, the Liang Family isn’t proud of me; it’s proud of you," Liang Qiang said with great solemnity, gripping his father’s arm. "Besides, I feel much safer in the army precisely because you’re here."

’He’s right. War is dangerous, life and death are uncertain. There are merits, but there are also crimes. Take this time, for instance. My son was the only one from the Left Wing Vanguard Army to survive by a stroke of luck. The others, even in death, would be punished. It was incredibly difficult to even report Liang Qiang’s meritorious deed; it was met with doubt and obstruction. It was I... no, my advisors, who pulled strings to secure his reward.’

’If Liang Qiang found out that I’m not actually a brilliant and competent commander, that I’m even controlled by others, he would be terrified. He wouldn’t be able to act bravely; he’d be distracted on the battlefield. That would be far too dangerous.’

’Everything would be over for the both of us.’

"Let’s not talk about these things," Liang Ji said, swallowing the words he had been about to speak. "As father and son, we must work together and keep striving. Besides, the current situation is very grim."

He changed the subject, glancing around before lowering his voice.

"The King of Zhongshan’s forces have surrounded the Capital City. The court is now at war with him."

"So that’s what’s happening," Liang Qiang blurted out. "No wonder she left—"

Liang Ji paused. "Who?"

"I saw some troops being mobilized within the army," Liang Qiang said evasively.

Liang Ji said, "They won’t be mobilizing too many troops from the Border Army. We still haven’t dealt with King Western Liang."

’So this is the King of Zhongshan’s chance.’

’Great Xia is truly facing threats from within and without.’

Seeing his father’s furrowed brow, Liang Qiang smiled. "Don’t worry, Father. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. Our duty is to slay our enemies and protect Great Xia. No matter who sits on the throne as Emperor, they will have to respect us. They won’t be able to manage without us."