Legend of the Female General

Chapter 178: Where the Sword Points

The room fell silent for a moment before Li Kuang’s angry voice rang out: “Who let you in?”

He Yan looked up, glaring at him, forcing herself to suppress the trembling in her voice. “You killed her.”

“This is my family matter. What does it have to do with you?” Li Kuang seemed unwilling to see her. “Get out!”

Some of the soldiers around them looked uneasy, either avoiding He Yan’s gaze or lowering their heads in silence. No one spoke.

“Why should I get out?” He Yan said coldly. “Even if Miss Qiluo was your family matter, these women were rescued by me from the hands of the Wutuo People. Surely this is not your family matter, is it, Lord Li?” She suddenly raised her voice. “Are you going to kill them all too?”

Upon hearing this, some of the women on the ground began to sob softly.

Zhao Shiming, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, finally followed Wang Ba and the others into the room. Startled by the sight of a corpse lying on the floor, Zhao Shiming trembled as he asked, “What… what is this? What happened? Who is this?”

He Yan stepped forward, but Li Kuang shouted angrily, “Don’t touch her!” In the next moment, the white cloth had already been lifted.

The girl lying on the ground had blood spreading from her chest, staining her clothes red. She lay there, her expression calm, as lovely as a delicate flower. Just a few hours earlier, she had been smiling as she showed He Yan the flower wreath she had woven, speaking to others about her hopes for the future. Now, she could no longer cry or smile—she was just a cold corpse.

“Qiluo?” Zhao Shiming exclaimed in shock. “How could it be Qiluo? Did the Wutuo People sneak in? Lord Li? What is going on?”

If the Wutuo People had truly infiltrated, Li Kuang would not have been so calm. Rundu would have already descended into chaos. But… how else could this scene be explained?

Li Kuang stared fiercely at He Yan, who remained unmoved. She looked at him word by word and said, “We should ask Lord Li about that. It seems to me, Lord Li, that you wish to emulate Zhang Xun of the previous dynasty!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shiming gasped sharply.

Among Wang Ba, Shitou, and the others, only Jiang Jiao had received an education. The rest did not understand what He Yan meant, but Jiang Jiao’s expression changed slightly.

“Zhang Xun of the previous dynasty defended Suiyang City. When the city ran out of food, he killed his concubine to feed the soldiers. What are you doing, Lord Li? Do you wish to become the Zhang Xun of Great Wei? But there are still other ways to survive in Rundu City. Why resort to this?”

“What do you know!” Li Kuang could not help but rebuke. “She was just a woman! If it could save the people of the city, my own life would be a small sacrifice. She was merely a woman. Dying for Rundu City is no loss at all!”

He Yan looked at him. Li Kuang had once fought side by side with her, sharing life and death. Though they could not be called close friends, they were old acquaintances. He Yan had never doubted Li Kuang’s character. As a military commander, he was upright, brave, and fiercely loyal. Yet, to such a hero in the eyes of the world, “women” were nothing more than sacrifices—like cats, dogs, animals, or property. His most beloved concubine could be killed in an instant in the name of “righteousness,” becoming food to fill their stomachs.

This was even more terrifying than exchanging children to eat.She had already anticipated this possibility, yet that was a matter of the previous dynasty. The current situation had not yet reached such a desperate point, and Li Kuang was not Zhang Xun. He Yan still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking perhaps she had imagined human nature to be too terrifying. However... nothing could stop it.

Li Kuang still made the same choice.

Back in the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, when they read The Chronicles of Loyalty and Righteousness and came to this passage—Zhang Xun had lost Suiyang, and the enemy troops, unable to breach the city, camped outside, waiting for the defenders inside to starve. When the city’s food ran out, Zhang Xun killed his beloved concubine and forced the soldiers to eat her. Later, others killed their servants to serve as military rations.

“When the women in the city were exhausted, they turned to the elderly, men, and children. The number of people consumed reached twenty to thirty thousand.”

In the classroom, none of the young men made a sound; the atmosphere was silent. The teacher continued reading, “Before the battle, Suiyang had a population of forty thousand. When the city fell, only four hundred remained alive.”

They were all youths in their teens, born into wealthy and high-ranking families, and had never heard of such a tragic event. Cannibalism was shocking enough, but coupled with war, it was even more lamentable.

The teacher asked, “Do you think Zhang Xun’s actions were right or wrong?”

The young men spoke eagerly, each stating their views. In the end, they believed that given the circumstances, Zhang Xun’s actions were understandable.

The teacher said, “Killing people goes against human ethics. But it was not Zhang Xun’s intention. As the saying goes, ‘The crime of desperation is light, but the merit of restoration is great.’ The act of cannibalism was minor compared to the great achievement of defending the city.”

The young men nodded in agreement. They all believed that, though tragic, this very incident demonstrated Zhang Xun’s loyalty and integrity. After all, a concubine was a “private matter,” while defending the city was a “national matter.” By sacrificing his concubine to protect the nation, Zhang Xun was a loyal minister.

At the time, He Yan did not think so. She sat in the classroom, neither speaking nor agreeing with the young men’s opinions, only frowning with a grave expression.

The teacher noticed her disagreement and called her up with a smile, asking, “He Rufei, do you have a different view?”

Back then, at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, she was still the fool who ranked at the bottom in every exam. Being called upon made her uneasy. Yet, her heart was filled with indignation, and she finally mustered the courage to say, “Everyone says Zhang Xun was a loyal and righteous man, and that is true. But weren’t those who were eaten also innocent? I can understand his choice, but if it were me... I would never do such a thing.”

“Oh? What would you do?” the teacher asked with a smile.

“I would lead the remaining soldiers and engage the rebels in a decisive battle outside the city.” The youth stood in the classroom, sunlight streaming through the window and falling on her face, casting a resolute glow over her delicate, slightly childish features. “Those who wield a sword should understand where its blade points—whether toward the enemy ahead or the weak behind.”

“I would never draw my sword against the weak.”

The classroom fell silent for a moment before erupting into the laughter of the young men.

“The weak? What weak? He himself is the weak!”

“And Brother He’s swordsmanship is so terrible—can he even wield a sword? He must be dreaming.”

“How impressive! How is that possible? If someone with such poor skills in horsemanship and swordsmanship were sent to defend a city, I doubt the city would even need defending. Hahaha.”

Surrounded by their laughter, He Yan’s face flushed red. She pursed her lips and thought, “Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank. Who knows? One day, I might become a general galloping across the battlefield. When that day comes, I will protect those I wish to protect. I will never let unarmed civilians become military rations. If I am to do this, I will be the bravest general.”The teacher quieted the youths who had been mocking her and looked at He Yan, his eyes filled with approval. "You can think from the perspective of the common people, which shows you have compassion for the weak. That is very good."

He Yan sighed inwardly. It wasn’t that she had compassion for the weak. It was simply because the youths laughing in the hall were all men, and they naturally identified with "Zhang Xun." As a woman, she naturally stood from the perspective of the "beloved concubine."

From the perspective of "Zhang Xun," this act was noble and righteous. From the perspective of the "beloved concubine," it was nothing but an unjust disaster.

The joys and sorrows of people in this world are not always shared. It all comes down to one’s position and the choices one makes.

Just like at this moment.

He Yan said, "You are a loyal minister, but what crime has she committed?"

"You don’t need to say so much to me," Li Kuang said coldly. "Qiluo is my concubine, my person. How I deal with my people is my business. As for these women… ask them if they are willing? I have not forced them."

He Yan looked at the women sitting on the ground. One of them, her eyes red, kowtowed to He Yan and whispered, "Thank you, sir, for planning on our behalf. But… we have already been defiled by the Wutuo People, and our bodies are no longer pure. We cannot return home, nor do we have the face to live in this world. Now, we can still use these bodies to buy a glimmer of hope for Rundu, which is also our fortune. Perhaps this small act of merit can cleanse the filth from our bodies and accumulate blessings for our next life."

"What merit!" Before she could finish, He Yan cut her off.

Wang Ba and the others looked at He Yan in surprise. All along, He Yan had been exceptionally gentle in her dealings with them. Even when Wang Ba had provoked her in the past, she had never uttered a single curse word. Now, she was swearing, clearly furious.

"What do you mean by 'bodies no longer pure'? What do you mean by 'no face to live in this world'?" He Yan said angrily. "Is this your fault?" She looked at Li Kuang and the soldiers in the room who hung their heads. "Is this their fault?"

"If you think this is an act of merit, you are gravely mistaken! Commander Li," she turned to Li Kuang, "you are the city’s commander-in-chief. Let me tell you, these women were captured by the Wutuo People because the Wutuo People are cruel and lawless, and because you were incompetent. What fault do they have? I have never seen the injured at fault while the perpetrators walk free! What you are doing is exactly what the Wutuo People want. In their eyes, the people of Great Wei are fools. They commit atrocities, and innocent people naturally bear the blame for crimes they never committed!"

"How can there be such a ridiculous thing in the world? If being touched by the Wutuo People makes one impure, then from the moment they set foot on Great Wei’s soil, there would be no need to resist them. Great Wei’s land would also be impure—just give it to them! What’s the point of fighting?"

"You! Watch your words!" Li Kuang suppressed his anger."I won't!" He Yan stared at him fiercely, her eyes blazing like a fire that could burn everything around her to ashes. "You are a man, their commander. Yet you point your blade at your own women and your own people! What kind of logic is this? If you went out with me today to kill a few Wutuo people, to drink their blood and eat their flesh, I would still respect you as a man. But there is no such principle in this world—when men cannot win a battle, they sacrifice innocent and vulnerable women! That's called cowardice!"

"I've already said, they volunteered."

"Did they really volunteer?" He Yan's gaze was sharp. "Fine, let me ask them," she turned to the women. "Why do you think you cannot go on living? Is it because of what others have said? If others say something, you should refute it to their faces. If you're not good with words, use your fists. Is this your fault? Anyone who still uses this to humiliate you is the most despicable and shameless person—there's no need to spare any mercy. Your lives were saved by me. If you give up so easily, what does that make me?"

Her imposing demeanor silenced the women for a moment. After a while, one young girl burst into loud sobs, choking out, "I don't want to die, I'm scared..."

Li Kuang's face turned ashen.

"If you don't want to die, I'm here. No one can force you to die."

"How dare you say that?" Li Kuang retorted. "This is not Liangzhou Guard!"

He Yan's expression grew calm. She stepped forward, shielding the women behind her. "Lord Li, Qiluo is your concubine, she has been with you for years. She is not a commodity, not an item to be casually given away. It's true she belongs to you, but before that, she is first and foremost a person."

"Today, you cannot touch these women. If you insist on doing so," He Yan slowly drew the sword she had seized from the soldier at the door, "you'll have to get past my blade first."

"Do you think I wouldn't dare?" Li Kuang roared in anger, immediately drawing the sword at his waist. Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers and officers also drew their swords, pointing them at He Yan.

The room was filled with a tense, confrontational atmosphere.

Zhao Shiming anxiously interjected, "What's going on with you all? How can we turn against each other? Our priority is to fight the Wutuo people. Lord Li, I think Little He Lady makes a valid point. You can't... you can't treat people like this! If the common people outside see this and follow suit, what will Rundu become? Even if we manage to defend the city, do you want the whole world to curse us behind our backs?"

He also had his own selfish motives. Qiluo was Li Kuang's most beloved concubine, and Zhao Shiming had to admit she was beautiful and clever, quite endearing. If it were him, he could never bring himself to harm her. Yet Li Kuang spoke of killing her as if it were nothing. These military men... sigh! In the end, wouldn't officials like them have to set an example? At his age, having never even killed a chicken in his life, if he were forced to send his own family to their deaths, Zhao Shiming would rather die himself. So, he immediately sided with He Yan.

Li Kuang ignored Zhao Shiming—a county magistrate who couldn't even hold a sword was beneath his notice. What infuriated him was He Yan.No one expected He Yan to barge in so recklessly, immediately launching into accusations without explanation. Qiluo had followed him for many years—did he not feel heartache? Did he not hesitate when he struck? But the war had reached this point: if Rundu could not be held, everyone would die. Killing Qiluo in front of these deputy generals was also meant to make them understand the resolve to defend Rundu at all costs.

Among these deputy generals, many had interacted with Qiluo regularly. Seeing a living young woman killed before their eyes, they could not bear it. There were even those who pleaded for Qiluo’s sake. But Li Kuang believed that if Zhang Xun could do it back then, he could do it now. Even if he bore the world’s condemnation, it mattered little—merits and faults would be judged by later generations.

But this Wu Anlang, He Yan, had barged in just like that, standing before him, shielding those women, his bright gaze making Li Kuang feel ashamed for a moment.

Suddenly, he thought of He Rufei.

That Flying Goose General, when he was still a deputy general, would do everything in his power to rescue women captured by the enemy in every battle. In truth, these women often faced grim outcomes upon returning home, but He Rufei would always patiently comfort and encourage them. Li Kuang had never seen a man so considerate. But he thought, in this world, such naivety existed only in the Flying Goose General.

Yet today, another one had appeared before him.

Li Kuang’s expression turned cold and stern. “Wu Anlang, do you intend to fight me?”

“I apologize, but I cannot let them die here.”

One of the women, weeping, spoke up, looking at He Yan. “Sir, don’t waste your efforts for us. If our lives can buy Rundu’s safety, we are willing…”

“Rundu’s safety cannot be bought with your lives,” He Yan said coldly. “Safety gained by sacrificing women is no different from begging for the enemy’s mercy.”

“Lord Li, this is not the previous dynasty, and you are not Zhang Xun.”

Li Kuang was almost overcome with shame and anger. He knew every word the young man before him spoke was right, but he had no other path to take.

“With just you, you think you can fight me?” he sneered.

“What kind of nonsense is this?” Wang Ba spat contemptuously. “Killing women and still acting righteous? Even we bandits don’t kill women, the elderly, or children. As the saying goes, even thieves have their code. You soldiers who eat the emperor’s grain actually do things worse than beasts? Enough dawdling! We, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh of Liangzhou Guard, accept your challenge!”

He spoke as if they were in a Martial Arts Field arena, infuriating Li Kuang even more.

At that moment, someone else walked in—it was Chu Zhao. He looked at Li Kuang, first bowed in greeting, then smiled slightly. “Lord Li, this action of yours is inappropriate. His Majesty has always promoted ‘benevolent governance.’ Such cannibalistic acts violate human ethics. If word reaches His Majesty’s ears, I fear he would be displeased.”

He was clearly siding with He Yan. Chu Zhao represented Xu Xiang. With Liangzhou Guard on one side and Xu Xiang on the other, the pressure was immense. Li Kuang seethed with anger and frustration. What kind of background did this He Yan have, that one after another would follow him like this?

But the soldiers around him were watching. Gritting his teeth, he hardened his heart and said, “You are no match for me.”

He Yan smiled faintly, raising his sword before him. “Lord Li, why not give it a try?”The sword's edge gleamed coldly, a sudden chill filling the air. The tension in the room was like gunpowder ready to ignite. Just then, suddenly, the voices of soldiers came from outside: "Sir! Sir!"

Li Kuang was already consumed with rage, caught in an impossible situation. Hearing this, he roared angrily, "What are you shouting for?"

The next moment, the door to the room opened again, and someone walked in, their voice calm.

"Before lecturing the people of Liangzhou Guard, Lord Li, it seems you should have consulted me first."

That voice... He Yan froze, then abruptly turned around.

She saw a young man dressed in narrow-sleeved dark robes and dark armor step forward, positioning himself in front of her. It had only been a little over a month since they last met, yet it felt as if ten thousand years had passed. His appearance was strikingly handsome, his posture as graceful as a spring willow, and his expression as cool and detached as ever.

"Co-Commander Xiao!" Li Kuang could not hide his shock.

He never expected to see the Right Army Commander, Xiao Jue, here.

Xiao Jue did not look at He Yan, nor did he glance at Li Kuang. His gaze only swept lightly over the weeping women before he said calmly, "Those who wield a sword should understand even more clearly where its edge is pointed—whether toward the enemy ahead or the weak behind."

"You should not draw your sword against the weak."

He Yan suddenly raised her eyes.

In history, there was indeed a person named Zhang Xun. Originally, this was a fictional story, but after some thought, I decided to use Zhang Xun's real name. Interested friends can look him up. The earlier allusion to "using straw men to borrow arrows" also originated from Zhang Xun. He was an exceptionally remarkable figure. The views of the characters in the story do not represent the author's opinions. Everything must be considered within its historical context, and different perspectives can lead to different conclusions.

(End of Chapter)