Every battle was a trial.
Each time Liang Qiang thought he could sweep all before him, reality proved cruel.
The higher his rank rose, the more perilous the missions he led.
This time was even more dangerous than before—they had fallen into an ambush.
When they charged in, they did not see the main force of the Chinu army. But when they turned around, Xiliang soldiers surrounded them on all sides.
Liang Qiang did not know how long they had been fighting—it felt like a lifetime, yet also like a single moment.
Of his five hundred troops, fewer than a hundred remained.
He, of course, was still alive.
Clashing weapons rang out; a Xiliang soldier attacking from behind swung his long blade toward Liang Qiang’s back, but it was blocked by a soldier beside him.
Liang Qiang did not even glance back, continuing to charge forward as the Xiliang soldier before him fell.
Another Xiliang soldier raised twin hammers to strike, but Liang Qiang seemed not to notice, cleaving the head off a fallen Xiliang soldier on the ground—meanwhile, the twin hammers smashed into a soldier who had appeared from nowhere—
That soldier drove his blade into the Xiliang soldier’s chest, and the two tangled together in a death struggle.
Liang Qiang pressed onward, surrounded by flying blood and flesh, as men fell one after another—his own men, Xiliang soldiers.
Finally, the last Xiliang soldier collapsed under Liang Qiang’s blade.
Liang Qiang turned and surveyed the field of corpses, then the few dozen survivors, each bearing wounds.
Before they could catch their breath, the sound of galloping hooves approached from the distance.
“We’ve been ambushed. There’s no escape,” Liang Qiang said, gripping his long blade, covered in blood, as he looked at the remnants around him. “Our only choice is to fight to the death.”
The soldiers looked at him but said nothing.
Liang Qiang was slightly taken aback—the scene felt strange—
Was it because his poor command had failed to detect the trap and led them all into danger?
Or because his skills were lacking, not only failing to kill more enemies but instead burdening the others?
As a military marquis, he truly did not command their respect—
How he had earned this rank and the court’s rewards would be clear to anyone who fought alongside him.
Liang Qiang’s face burned as if struck by a Xiliang soldier’s iron hammer.
“Liang Qiang may lack talent, but in this battle, I will not retreat or fear,” he declared loudly once more, watching the rising dust beyond the opposite trench. He raised his long blade before him. “—Liang will take the first step.”
The soldiers still did not cheer or respond. One soldier even swung his weapon, blocking Liang Qiang’s path.
“Marquis Liang,” he said, “this battle may not necessarily be lost.”
What did that mean? Liang Qiang froze, staring at the soldier. He knew this soldier well—he had always been at his side, shielding him from countless dangers.
But like the others who had protected and aided him in battle, his eyes were cold, his expression wooden, without a trace of warmth.
Liang Qiang understood well—these soldiers had not pledged their lives to him, but to someone else.
So in their eyes, Liang Qiang was not a person, but merely an object of transaction.
They held no affection for him, let alone respect or loyalty.
“You—” Liang Qiang’s voice was hoarse, “who are you really? Who ordered you to protect me?”
They would not answer that question.
“Marquis Liang, you need only know that your duty is to kill the enemy and serve the state,” the soldier replied.
Liang Qiang said, “I, Liang Qiang, have always intended to kill the enemy and serve the state, unafraid to die. From now on, fight alongside me, but do not worry about protecting me—focus only on killing the enemy—”
A strange smile flickered across the soldier’s face as he slowly shifted his weapon, placing it in front of Liang Qiang.He said: "Military Marquis, not only will you not die, but this battle will also make you renowned throughout the land, bringing promotions, titles, and a generalship."
Liang Qiang understood. The shame faded from his face, replaced by calm composure as he asked: "What do you need from me?"
......
......
Liang Qiang knew that everything he had gained didn't fall from the sky—it was loaned by others, requiring repayment.
He had been waiting, preparing, and wondering—what exactly was the price this person demanded?
Today, he finally learned.
The soldier moved his long blade again, resting it on Liang Qiang's arm, saying: "We want one of Military Marquis Liang's arms."
Liang Qiang's expression shifted slightly. With a clang, he raised his blade to knock away the soldier's weapon, stepping back and holding his blade horizontally in a defensive stance.
"If you want my life," he said, pointing forward, "I, Liang Qiang, can die on the battlefield at any time."
The soldier replied: "Military Marquis Liang, we only want one of your arms, not your life. Rest assured, we have people skilled in treating severed limbs."
Liang Qiang looked at him and said: "As a soldier, what am I without an arm? How can I continue to fight? Even if I live, I'd be as good as dead."
The soldier suddenly laughed: "As mentioned earlier, you won't die. Instead, you'll become famous, receive promotions and titles, become a general, and continue campaigning across the land. Others may not believe it, but you can't doubt it—didn't everything you have now come this way?"
So whether he had arms, whether he was brave, whether he could fight—none of it mattered. As long as he was human and could still breathe—
But would he still be human then?
Liang Qiang's face burned with shame again. Gripping his long blade tightly, he suddenly pointed forward: "The Chinu army is coming—"
They were still on the battlefield. During their brief conversation, the dust clouds from the approaching Western Liang cavalry had become visible.
Just from the dust, one could tell there were at least several hundred riders.
Liang Qiang looked at the soldiers around him and said: "I may not be your equal, but now we're outnumbered. Having me here, even as I am, is better than having a cripple—let's discuss this matter later. At this critical moment between life and death, we shouldn't be talking about such things."
This time, even if all these soldiers died for him, they couldn't protect his escape.
In this battle, everyone was doomed to die—what was the point of discussing past or future?
Seeing the menacing Western Liang soldiers approaching, the soldiers still showed no movement or change in expression. The soldier even took a bamboo whistle from his chest.
"Don't worry, Military Marquis Liang," he said. "Look."
Look at what? Liang Qiang was stunned, watching as the soldier brought the bamboo whistle to his lips and blew.
The sound of the bamboo whistle was peculiar, like a honking wild goose suddenly having its neck wrung.
But even stranger was how the charging Western Liang soldiers seemed to have their horses' legs broken mid-gallop. Accompanied by horses' whinnies, the rushing team came to an abrupt halt.
The sudden stop made men sway forward and back, made horses' hooves scramble chaotically, like boiling water. But no matter how turbulent it became, it was as if an invisible barrier stood before them—not a single drop splashed beyond.
Liang Qiang's face showed shock and disbelief.
How was this possible!
That person could bribe countless soldiers in the Border Commandery to die for him. That person could use money, favors, or threats to control so many soldiers.
But the Western Liang soldiers!
Those were Western Liang people!
Who could make the life-and-death battling Western Liang soldiers stop with just a bamboo whistle!
What kind of person could achieve this? How could anyone accomplish such a thing?
Even Young Master Liang, who grew up wealthy in the capital and was accustomed to power, couldn't fathom it.For a moment he suspected he was dreaming, hearing only his own ragged gasps until voices broke through.
"Commandant Liang, do you believe it now? In this battle you led us to break the siege, unexpectedly stormed the Chinu army's main camp, fought covered in blood, defeated superior numbers while losing an arm! Such valor, Commandant Liang - even missing one arm cannot prevent you from becoming a renowned general who'll shake the world!"
"Commandant Liang, are you willing?"
As the question hung in the air, a curved blade slowly rose, glinting in the winter's bitter cold.
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