CALID Chapter 98

Frontline

When Zhao Chun returned to his own tent, he saw his guards lying in various positions on the ground with the lamps illuminating the scene. His heart tightened as he was about to shout, but instantly, his neck was constricted by a wire, and someone behind him kicked his knees, causing him to kneel down. His hands were tied behind his back, and the wire tightened around his neck, making it difficult for him to breathe or make a sound.

The person who ambushed him walked up to him, and Zhao Chun widened his eyes in astonishment.

Duan Xu’s face was pale, and he staggered a bit, as if the surprise attack had drained him of some strength. He squatted in front of Zhao Chun, supporting his shoulders and smiling innocently, “General Zhao, long time no see. You’ve become even more formidable. Duan Xu is truly impressed.”

Zhao Chun remembered Duan Xu’s nickname, “Smiling Yama,” and couldn’t help but shudder. How could Duan Xu suddenly appear at the frontline border?

“In just one month, Qingzhou fell, half of Fengzhou was lost. If it weren’t for our Daliang soldiers holding on, you wouldn’t even be able to keep Qizhou and Youzhou! What is Youzhou? It’s the throat! What is Qizhou? It’s the granary! What are you thinking? Do you think the northern battlefield is child’s play? Do you think you can conquer five provinces in a year and a half like me? You’re the commander of an army. How many lives are at stake because of you? The soldiers on the northern bank have fought countless battles with me. How foolish your orders are, they know better than you. Have you listened to their words? You want to establish your authority, but they are being sent to their deaths by you!”

“The Guihe Army suffered a 30% casualty, the Tabai Army suffered a 30% casualty, the Chengjie Army suffered a 20% casualty. My younger brother…” Duan Xu’s eyes turned red, his fingers deeply digging into Zhao Chun’s shoulders, he said each word slowly, “My younger brother, who hasn’t even turned fourteen this year, has been by my side for six years, and I couldn’t bear to let him go to the most dangerous places to fight! But he…he’s going to die because of your foolishness! Shot through the heart! Without him, you would have lost even Youzhou! Do you know you’re useless? Even if you died crashing into the Golden Palace, you shouldn’t have accepted the imperial decree!”

The garrison in Youzhou attacked actively under Zhao Chun’s orders, fell into the ambush set by the Danzhi Army, and was sneak attacked by cavalry led by Xue Chenying from the rear. With a thousand men, they killed ten times their number of enemies, allowing the Daliang army to break through and retreat to defend the city. However, the thousand men he led, along with himself, all perished, none returned.

Duan Xu grabbed Zhao Chun’s collar, looking at his face gradually turning purple due to lack of oxygen, and smiled, “You think you belong to the emperor, so no matter how recklessly you act, the emperor won’t kill you or even blame you? Unfortunately, the emperor won’t kill you, but I dare to.”

Zhao Chun widened his eyes, choked and sobbed, shaking his head as if he wanted to scream, but he saw Duan Xu grab both ends of the wire around his neck mercilessly tightening it.

His neck twisted, and he fell to the ground.

“General Zhao, General Zhao!”

Outside the camp, someone was calling Zhao Chun’s name. Lifting the tent curtain and stepping in was Ding Jin, who glanced at the fallen Zhao Chun and then met eyes with Duan Xu. His pupils contracted. There seemed to be a captain outside who wanted to come in with him. Ding Jin shouted, “No entry! Go and summon Shi Commander. Where are Generals Chang and Sun brought by General Zhao?”

“They’re in the western camp.”

“Keep an eye on them and report every moment.”

“Yes.”

The captain outside took the order and left. Ding Jin walked up to Duan Xu, knelt down on one knee, and bowed, calling out, “General Duan!”

Duan Xu patted Ding Jin’s shoulder. Ding Jin raised his head, his eyes already reddened, a person who was usually cold and sarcastic. Duan Xu smiled gently and extended his hand, saying, “Help me up.”

Ding Jin was taken aback, only now noticing Duan Xu’s weakness, and was even more surprised by the corpses lying around. He helped Duan Xu up and let him sit on a nearby chair. As soon as Duan Xu sat down, Shi Biao walked in, lifting the tent curtain with an unfriendly expression. He grumbled, “Someone’s looking for me…”

When he saw Duan Xu, his eyes widened. Ding Jin rushed up and covered his mouth, saying, “Don’t make a sound.”

Shi Biao shook off Ding Jin’s hand and rushed forward directly, saying, “General Duan! General Duan, you finally came! Damn it, Zhao Chun didn’t even fight against the Danzhi people, he’s dumber than a donkey! Every time we say a few words, he accuses us of insubordination. We’re in a miserable state! Even…even Chenying…”

Duan Xu’s face darkened.

Shi Biao noticed Duan Xu’s pale complexion and became even more resentful, saying, “General Duan, what’s wrong with your body? Were you assassinated by the old emperor? We…we’ll wipe out the Danzhi and not go back! Screw them!”

“Shi Biao!” Duan Xu and Ding Jin shouted simultaneously.

Shi Biao was angrily silenced by them. After his passionate speech, he finally noticed Zhao Chun lying dead on the ground. His eyes widened with anger, almost wanting to kick Zhao Chun a couple of times. Standing up, he said, “General Duan, tell us what to do, we’ll follow your lead!”

Duan Xu glanced at the corpse on the ground and said, “Zhao Chun, due to consecutive failures in battles on the northern bank, took his own life out of guilt. Those few people he brought…”

He looked at Ding Jin and said, “Die in battle on the front lines.”

Ding Jin bowed to take the order, “Yes.”

“Deal with Zhao Chun and the guards’ bodies on the ground, then summon a trustworthy captain,” Duan Xu said to Ding Jin, then turned to Shi Biao and said, “Open the geographical map, let’s analyse the situation and discuss countermeasures.”

Ding Jin and Shi Biao each took their orders, and inside the tent, the candlelight flickered, casting light on Duan Xu’s tired expression. His hand remained tightly clenched into a fist, never loosening.

Shi Biao spread out the map, and Duan Xu, leaning on the table, slowly walked over. Shi Biao reported the situation on the front lines to him one by one. Duan Xu had originally anticipated that Danzhi was only pretending to seek peace. Before leaving the front lines, he had made arrangements and instructed the garrisons everywhere that if Danzhi counterattacked, they should hold their ground first and wear down Danzhi.

But Zhao Chun’s arrival completely disrupted Duan Xu’s arrangements. Eager to make achievements, he ordered the army to take the initiative, attacking with their own weaknesses and attacking the enemy’s strengths. After several battles, the front lines were full of gaps, with heavy losses.

Fortunately, Yuzhou was still safe.

It was saved by Chenying with his life.

Duan Xu closed his eyes, clenching his fist tightly. The pain in his fingertips piercing his flesh made him open his eyes again and reorganize the battlefield. He was discussing with Shi Biao when Ding Jin entered with some people.

“General Duan, this time… besides our soldiers, I also brought someone else over,” Ding Jin said, stepping aside to let them through, and Duan Xu saw the person behind him.

Under the flickering candlelight, the figure was tall, with a grim scar crossing his entire face, but his eyes were filled with sorrow.

Duan Xu fell silent for a moment before calling out, “Han Lingqiu.”

Han Lingqiu took a few steps forward, his throat choked up, and he whispered, “I heard about the danger in Yuzhou and rushed over, but I was still a step too late… I couldn’t save Chenying.”

The boy who called him “Big Brother Han” for four months, almost like his apprentice, died in front of him.

Just one step, if he had gone half an hour earlier, he could have saved him.

He took out a blood-stained token from his pocket and handed it to Duan Xu, saying, “Chenying asked me to give this to you before he died. He said… he did not break his promise, he kept your wish.”

Duan Xu looked at the blood-stained Tabai Army token, and in a daze, he remembered when Chenying was still a Tabai Army general, he said that his wish in the future was to protect him and He Simu. He had thought it was just childish talk.

But Chenying had meant it.

Even after death, the obsession still couldn’t be resolved, turning into a wandering spirit, appearing on the Ghost Registry.

Duan Xu held the token, his body swayed, and he bent down, coughing up blood. There was a gasp around him, and Han Lingqiu supported him. Duan Xu held Han Lingqiu’s hand, looked up at him, and said, “Take this token.”

Han Lingqiu was stunned.

“The Tabai Army general died in battle, entrusted the token to Chenying, and Chenying entrusted it to you. You were once a Tabai Army general, and now you still are.”

Han Lingqiu’s eyes were red, and he whispered, “You know that I…”

“I believe in you,” Duan Xu said.

Han Lingqiu was silent for a moment, then took the Tabai Army token from Duan Xu’s hand and bowed. “Yes, General Duan.”

Duan Xu patted his shoulder, wiped the blood from his mouth, and pointed to the map. “Look at the map.”

“Now Qingzhou is lost, and half of Fengzhou is lost. Although Youzhou is still there, the previous battle was heavy, and the enemy’s offensive is fierce. Let Meng Wan dispatch ten thousand soldiers to support, passing through Qizhou, and ask Zhao Xing for half a year’s provisions. Feign retreat in Fengzhou and Qingzhou, lure the Danzi army to the east side valley of Heyu Mountain, and Wu Shengliu will flank them from behind, aiming for total annihilation. If we can annihilate them, we can reclaim the lost territories while the troops in Fengzhou are depleted.”

The candlelight cast a warm hue on Duan Xu’s pale face as he arranged the plan on the map, instructing Ding Jin and Shi Biao to inform the stationed troops in various places.

“Don’t spread the news of Zhao Chun’s death for now. Wait until Wu Shengliu successfully surrounds them. Adapt to the situation in recent times. Ding Jin, you’ll handle the overall situation, but orders will be issued through Shi Biao’s mouth. The situation in the southern capital is complex recently, Ding Jin, you have family there, so be careful. The soldiers in the northern bank are all familiar with each other, and they’ll understand my arrangements. They’ll naturally listen to you guys.”

Hearing this, Shi Biao was somewhat surprised and asked, “General Duan, aren’t you staying?”

Duan Xu lowered his eyes tiredly and rubbed his temples. “I have no appointment. Coming to the frontline privately is already a capital offense. Today’s matters here must not be revealed. I have to return to the southern capital and ask the emperor to reappoint me as a general.”

Shi Biao was very angry and was about to repeat those rebellious words, but then he heard Duan Xu say, “I don’t want to engage in fratricide with the court. Many of the soldiers’ hometowns are also on the southern bank.”

After a pause, he smiled bitterly, “My family is also on the southern bank.”

When Duan Xu returned to the Southern Capital, it was snowing heavily, with snow accumulating ankle-deep, and the sky was dim. Upon his arrival in the capital, he immediately submitted the prepared letter of request for battle to the Ministry of Rites to be delivered to the emperor. Then, he returned to the Duan Mansion.

Before returning to the Southern Capital, he had heard rumours about “Duan Xu” suffering from leprosy and shutting himself away, so he wrapped himself tightly. When he entered the mansion, the steward almost didn’t recognize him. When the steward saw him remove his veil and hood, he was overwhelmed with tears of joy and hurried back to inform Young Master Duan Chengzhang that his son had returned.

As Duan Xu walked into the courtyard, he saw Duan Chengzhang standing under the eaves, leaning on a cane, looking at him with a grim expression. He tapped the ground with his cane and said in a stern voice, “So you remember to come back.”

Duan Xu’s face was as pale as the snow, and he sighed, rubbing his temples. “Father, I’m very tired. Let’s talk later.”

“Kneel!” Duan Chengzhang roared.

Duan Xu looked up at Duan Chengzhang, who was angrily tapping the ground with his cane. “Are you trying to kill me with anger? Kneel down!”

After a moment of silence, Duan Xu lifted his robe and took a step back, kneeling in the snow facing Duan Chengzhang.

Duan Chengzhang said in a deep voice, “Where have you been during this time?”

“Sorry, I can’t say,” Duan Xu replied bluntly.

“Why didn’t Fang Xianye die back then?”

Duan Xu looked at Duan Chengzhang, seeming to have no strength to disguise anymore, and said calmly, “You tried to kill him twice. It was I who saved him. I brought him to the Southern Capital, let him follow Duke Pei, and it was I who staged the act with him at the border. For the past ten years, we’ve been cooperating. He knows everything I’ve done, and Luo Xian is also under our control. So, is there anything else you want to know, father?”

Enraged, Duan Chengzhang walked into the snow and started hitting Duan Xu’s back with his cane, but he was stopped by Madam Duan. She said, “Chengzhang! Ultimately, it’s our fault for what happened to him!”

Duan Xu didn’t evade, silently enduring it. He thought it was surprising that his mother would come out of the Buddha hall, indicating that the situation at home must have been really chaotic before.

Duan Chengzhang was pulled back under the eaves by Madam Duan, and she tried to pull Duan Xu, but Duan Chengzhang stopped her. Pointing his cane at Duan Xu, he said, “So you’ve been pretending to be obedient all this time, just deceiving us? Why would you do this? After ten years, you haven’t revealed a single word. Are you still my son?”

Duan Xu looked up at Duan Chengzhang and chuckled softly. “If you knew, it would hurt even more.”

“Ridiculous nonsense! Now that I know, doesn’t it hurt just as much?” Duan Chengzhang shouted angrily.

Duan Xu fell silent for a moment, the smile in his eyes gradually turning cold.

“If you had known earlier, not only would it hurt emotionally, but you would have also stopped me. Now that you know… it’s just emotional pain,” he said.