Chapter 1405: Sacrifice for the Nation

Chapter 1405: Chapter 1081: Sacrifice for the Nation

The sky is vast, the wilderness is boundless.

The wind sweeps over the grassland, stirring up wave after wave of green. The fragrance of grass and earth fills the air, originally incredibly fresh. Yet at this moment, the wind carries a dense, almost tangible scent of blood, so pungent it makes one nauseous.

Even so, Shang Ruyi forcefully swallowed the rising bile in her throat, and then choked down a bite of hard bread that she had chewed to pieces.

Beside her, Wo Xue immediately offered a water pouch: “Princess, have some water.”

Shang Ruyi took it and gulped down two mouthfuls, finally washing down the dry bread with water. She choked so hard her eyes rolled back, Wo Xue hurriedly reached out and gently patted her back, smoothing things down for her. Finally, she caught her breath and waved her hand: “Eat yours, don’t mind me.”

Wo Xue nodded, but still only held the bread in her hand, looking at her without speaking.

On the other side, Lu Xiao was much more relaxed, drinking water while eating bread, as if the dry bread that could scratch a throat was no different from a delicacy to her. After eating, she even washed her hands with water from the pouch, smoothing her hair and tidying her head.

But even though she cared about her grooming, after these days of turmoil, she couldn’t look good. Everyone here had a gray and dirty face, messy hair, and bloodshot eyes. Wo Xue had several injuries on her face, but she didn’t care. These minor injuries were even too lazy to receive any medication, just letting the wounds bleed and scab, leaving two scars on her forehead and chin.

Of course, this was considered fortunate.

Around them, on the mountain peaks on both sides of the valley, soldiers were exhausted. Some held bread, eating and falling asleep directly. Others couldn’t eat at all, their bodies covered in wounds, with blood flowing down their injuries and soaking into the ground, dyeing the mountain top with mottled bloodstains as if the earth itself was wounded.

But below the valley was a scene too miserable to witness.

Hu Yang Valley is an extremely narrow gorge, named because initially only a sheep could pass through it. Later, after being washed by rain and tread by travelers, it widened slightly, but wasn’t a smooth road. However, it remains a crucial passage. Those who pass through this gorge can smoothly enter Fukou Pass. Although not a strategically vital point of contention for armies historically, it has played an extremely important role in several major battles throughout time.

Now, Shang Ruyi has stationed people in this valley, with guards inside and using Thunder Stones and rolling logs on the valley heights to assist in the battle. Since three days ago, they had already repelled several enemy assaults; however, their casualties were also considerable. Shang Ruyi brought well-trained heavy cavalry, but after the initial clash on the wide grassland outside the Hu Yang Valley where the heavy cavalry charge showed its prowess, defending the valley discarded their cavalry advantage. If not for the situation of Hu Yang Valley being easy to defend with difficult access, they wouldn’t have managed to stand for these three days.

Of course, the opponent didn’t fare well either.

During the initial encounter, over three hundred heavy cavalry delivered a heavy blow to them. Shang Ruyi estimated at least eight hundred enemies were killed, and thereafter, after three days of intense battle, the opponent hadn’t progressed any further. Both sides had losses, and the distant camp outside the valley was deathly silent.

Shang Ruyi stood up and walked to the northeastern corner of the mountain top, looking across at the opponent.

Due to these days of fierce fighting, they almost cut down all the pine trees on the mountain top, threw down the big stones, leaving the mountain peaks bare and able to see very far without any obstructions. However, given they hardly closed their eyes in recent days, along with dizziness, her vision was somewhat blurred, only able to indistinctly glimpse the outline of the opposing camp.

Flags flutter and encampments are secure.

Having gone out with Yu Wenye a few times before, along with the influence of following her father since childhood, she has some understanding of military camps. She can tell that the opponent’s military camp is tidy and strict. Despite no significant gain in their attacks these days, there is no sign of defeat or disorder.

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would hardly believe that such a large force is actually commanded by a female general.

“So remarkable…”

While she was softly sighing, a soft and charming voice came from behind her: “What do you mean by remarkable?”

Shang Ruyi turned around, only to see Lu Xiao slowly walking up. Naturally, she didn’t participate in the battle, but these days climbing mountains, climbing trees, and crawling everywhere, she’s become very disheveled, yet still has an indescribable charm. Even the loose strand of hair hanging down from her head carries a kind of messy yet leisurely beauty.

Shang Ruyi smiled slightly, saying: “I was speaking of the opposing general.”

When mentioning that unnamed yet awe-inspiring female general, standing before two armies like a proud plum blossom in the cold, Lu Xiao’s eyebrows unconsciously furrowed for a moment, before relaxing again, saying with a smile: “In this world, there can’t only be you as a capable woman.”

Shang Ruyi said: “I never said there’s only me.”

Speaking, she sighed, moved to sit beside a large stone — this stone is connected to the ground, dug deep but unable to be removed. Wo Xue had washed the stone clean, and placed a cushion over it for her to lean against. After sitting down, Shang Ruyi looked into the distance again, murmuring: “I wonder where Xiao Yuansui found such a remarkable person.”

Lu Xiao’s eyebrows furrowed once more.

Shang Ruyi turned to look at her again: “If possible, I really want you to help me inquire about it.”

Lu Xiao replied: “If you truly wish to know, why not let me go?”

Shang Ruyi shook her head with a smile: “Not now.”

“…”

“Although my people are few, properly arranging them is a skill itself. If you go and casually say a few words, the opponent would fully know where my weaknesses lie. I fear I might not even hold out tonight.”

“…”

“Therefore, forgive me, but you have to stay here a few more days at least.”

“…”

“But you can be assured, if I really lose, I definitely won’t vent my anger by killing you. When the time comes, you can go and find Xiao Yuansui if you wish.”

Speaking lightly of life and death, Lu Xiao’s expression also grew somewhat solemn, silent for a while, finally saying: “The matters here aren’t originally related to you. You only mean to pass through here to Luoyang to find Prince Qin, why risk your life here?”

“…”

“Clearly, you aren’t such a person.”

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi turned her head, looking at her, seeming to smile yet not, saying: “Oh? What kind of person am I not, and what kind of person am I?”

Lu Xiao looked at her for a moment and said: “You might sacrifice for love, but you won’t sacrifice for the country.”