"Bang!"
The head of the Qiang soldier was casually tossed at Zhang Gui's feet as Luo Yu smirked:
"Captain Zhang, according to our agreement, is young Wu free of guilt now?"
The expressions of the surrounding soldiers shifted completely. Though they had heard of Luo Yu killing several Qiang soldiers, many thought that the tales were mere exaggerations since they hadn't witnessed it themselves.
But today, Luo Yu had faced cavalry on foot and, in front of the troops, had cleanly severed a Qiang soldier's head with a single stroke.
No one could match his skills.
The morale of the entire fort had been lifted significantly.
Zhang Gui's face darkened as he huffed and turned away, teeth grinding as he muttered:
"Kid, we'll see about this!"
"Haha, indeed impressive!"
Wang Shuang's booming laughter rang out at just the right moment: "Let certain people understand what it means to be hidden and yet powerful! Hahaha!"
Zhang Gui, having just stormed off, was practically seething with rage.
Wang Shuang then donned a more serious expression, walking up to Luo Yu:
"Good work; you didn't embarrass me. Come to my quarters tonight; I have something to discuss."
"Yes, Commander!"
As he watched Wang Shuang's retreating figure, Luo Yu felt a pang of confusion. What could the company leader possibly want with him?
"Commander, it was young Wu who embarrassed you!"
Young Wu suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, red-eyed, and repeatedly bowed his head:
"Your grace saved my life; I will never forget this kindness! I'll follow Brother Yu faithfully from now on, whatever he asks, I will do!"
"Yeah! We'll follow Brother Yu! We'll listen to you!"
Meng Hu and the other three new recruits also knelt, gazing at Luo Yu with a blend of gratitude and admiration.
They were used to seeing veterans bully new recruits, and how squad leaders and section leaders would freely insult and beat their subordinates. It seemed to them that Luo Yu had no reason to protect young Wu; if Zhang Gui wanted to punish him, so be it.
But Luo Yu risked confrontation with the deputy leader to protect young Wu, even willing to stake his life to battle with the Qiang soldiers. What loyalty and righteousness!
Since Luo Yu stood up for young Wu today, he would likely do the same for them in the future. What more could they want than to follow a squad leader like him? Conversely, if Luo Yu hadn't saved young Wu, they might not have expressed it openly, but they would have felt disheartened.
"Hey, what are you all doing? Get up, all of you!"
Luo Yu disliked kneeling and fussing; after some effort, he pulled them all to their feet.
His reasons for standing up for young Wu were straightforward:
Many were afraid in battle; why did Zhang Gui single out young Wu? Because the true target was himself—young Wu had inadvertently drawn the short straw and suffered an unjust fate.
Moreover, the defenders needed a morale boost. If the fort were breached, it would all be over, and Luo Yu would be at risk as well.
"Have you all thought this through?"
Luo Yu scanned the five youthful faces: Meng Hu, young Wu, and the three other new recruits.
"I've offended Zhang Gui now; he will certainly make things difficult for me. Today I saved young Wu, but next time luck may not be on my side. Following me could lead to trouble."
"We're not afraid!" Meng Hu said fiercely. "As long as we're with Brother Yu, we're at ease!"
"Right! We're not afraid!"
"Very well."
Luo Yu smiled warmly:
"I can't promise you wealth or high positions, but I guarantee that I will help you survive and leave Jiming Fort alive!"
Those few words lit up their eyes; in the current situation, what could be more important than survival?
...
"Commander, you wanted to see me?"
Inside the dim wooden room, two candles flickered, and the cold wind seeping through the window caused the flames to dance.
Luo Yu stood respectfully inside, still bewildered about why Wang Shuang had summoned him.
"Ah, I've been waiting for you a long time."
Wang Shuang sized Luo Yu up from head to toe; Luo Yu felt uneasy under his scrutiny. Was this guy going to reveal some special interest?
"I have to admit, when I first heard you killed three Qiang soldiers, I was skeptical. I know too well how fierce those Qiang are, but your performance over the past few days has made me reconsider. Today, facing cavalry on foot, you took down an enemy and revived the morale of our soldiers. Well done!"
"Thank you, Commander. It's merely my duty!"
Wang Shuang suddenly crossed his legs, leaning forward with a meaningful tone:
"Your first mission was led by Wu Mazi, and if I'm not mistaken, he intended to steal your military credit. You turned the tables and killed him, right?"
Wang Shuang's gaze sharpened, as if trying to see through Luo Yu.
Luo Yu's heart skipped a beat. Damn it, if Zhang Gui figured it out, it was one thing, but how did Wang Shuang know too? Killing a comrade was a serious offense!
"Hehe, don't be nervous."
Wang Shuang waved his hand dismissively, and casually continued:
"I know Wu Mazi well; he often used his connection to Zhang Gui to do despicable things. Had he lived, he would have taken credit for three human heads himself. Stealing credit is already a great crime, so killing him isn't a big deal."
Luo Yu felt relieved. Thankfully, Wang Shuang and Zhang Gui were at odds; otherwise, he might have faced dire consequences.
Wang Shuang's expression grew serious:
"Zhang Gui thinks he can do as he pleases because he has a few loyal subordinates. Don't be afraid if he comes after you; I will support you. We are in desperate need of capable people right now; rest assured, I will make good use of you. You've only been promoted to squad leader for a short while; in a bit, I plan on promoting you to section leader. Work well with me, and you won't be wronged."
His tone was filled with temptation.
"Thank you for your trust, Commander!"
Luo Yu raised an eyebrow. After some contemplation, he quietly asked:
"Commander, do you have something you need me to do?"
Luo Yu had a keen sense of self-awareness. Despite his skills, he wasn't at a level that would warrant such attention from Wang Shuang; there definitely was more to it!
"Haha, I knew I didn't misjudge you! You're not only skilled; you're also clever. I love people like you!"
Wang Shuang displayed a profound appreciation before looking thoughtful, resting his chin in hand.
"I have a troublesome matter here, regarding the lives of all the brothers in the fort, and you are the only one who can help me with this."
"Me? What is it?"
Luo Yu's curiosity peaked—how could he help with the lives of everyone in the fort?
Wang Shuang mysteriously closed the door, then took out a letter from his bosom and placed it on the table:
"Yesterday, one of Zhang Gui's confidants was secretly attempting to send a message to the Qiang. I captured him; see for yourself."
Luo Yu gasped, quickly grabbing the letter and scanning it. His expression suddenly shifted:
"Zhang Gui is colluding with the enemy!"
The letter explicitly stated that Zhang Gui intended to open the fortified gates at night to assist the Qiang in taking Jiming Fort!
"Exactly!"
Wang Shuang gritted his teeth as he spat out:
"The Qiang soldiers have besieged us for days, our rations are depleted, the eastern and western forts have fallen, and our defenders are either dead or wounded. With no hope for reinforcements, this fool is looking to betray us to save his own skin. Damn it! How did such a cowardly traitor end up in our border army?"
A cold glimmer flashed in Luo Yu's eyes:
"Commander, what can I do?"
Wang Shuang clenched his fists:
"Zhang Gui has numerous insiders in the fort. If I were to show the letter to accuse him, he would certainly stir chaos and throw the fort into disarray—exactly what the Qiang soldiers would want. The best course of action is to either kill him or subdue him. Without a leader, those followers wouldn't be able to stir up trouble, allowing Jiming Fort to remain safe!"
Luo Yu nodded as he listened but hesitated to raise his concerns:
"Commander, why do you choose me to do this?"
"Zhang Gui is quite strong; an ordinary person wouldn't be able to get close. You have the skills to handle him. Besides, I don't trust anyone else. This matter concerns dozens of brothers' lives, and I can't afford any risks. But you have a conflict with Zhang Gui, so you are trustworthy."
Wang Shuang regarded Luo Yu with a sober expression:
"Though you're young, I see your loyalty and reliability. If you can accomplish this task, you will be promoted to deputy leader of the fort!"
Deputy leader! Wang Shuang was offering quite an enticing reward.
Luo Yu pondered for a long while before slowly raising his head:
"When do we move?"
"If Zhang Gui doesn't hear from his confidants in a timely manner, he will grow suspicious. If he becomes desperate, trouble will ensue. So this needs to be done as soon as possible."
Wang Shuang's gaze was icy:
"Tonight!"