Chapter 126 Spreading Rumors This battle requires the combined strength of everyone to win...

Tens of thousands of troops wound their way along the official road, like a giant steel dragon slowly swimming.

The midday sun shone on the soldiers' armor, reflecting a cold, sharp light. From a distance, the entire column seemed shrouded in a layer of silvery-white mist. The metallic scraping of armor, the synchronized footsteps, and the occasional neighing of warhorses blended into a chilling, menacing atmosphere.

Lu Zhiyun sat astride his warhorse beneath the central army banner, his back ramrod straight, like a sword drawn from its sheath. He was forty-five, his face resolute and chiseled, deep wrinkles etched between his brows—the marks of over twenty years of military service. His eyes, though not large, were piercing and focused, now gazing towards Songyang with the sharpness of a hawk.

"Report—"

A scout rode up and reined in Lu Zhiyun's horse. "Reporting to the general, the vanguard has reached within 30 li of Songyang and has not encountered any enemy."

Lu Zhiyun nodded slightly and waved for the scouts to retreat. His deputy, Zhao Dele, immediately stepped forward and whispered, "General, it seems the rebels are holed up in the city and dare not engage our army in open battle."

"not necessarily."

Lu Zhiyun's voice was deep and powerful: "Pass down the order: the entire army is on high alert. Do not underestimate the enemy."

"Yes!" Zhao De clasped his hands in acceptance, turned around and loudly relayed the military order.

Lu Zhiyun's gaze swept over the marching army.

This Lu family army was an elite force he had personally trained; every soldier had undergone rigorous selection and training. They marched in perfect formation, completely silent, with only the occasional crisp sound of armor and weapons clashing together.

This discipline was not maintained by harsh laws and punishments, but rather stemmed from the soldiers' respect and trust in their commander.

The Lu family army's reputation is well-deserved. Three years ago, when they quelled a rebellion on the border, they defeated 30,000 with only 10,000 men. Last year, when they suppressed bandits, they achieved the feat of annihilating the enemy army.

The plaque inscribed with "Iron-Blooded Loyal Soul" was personally bestowed by the old emperor and hangs in the main hall of the Lu residence.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhiyun subconsciously touched the secret edict on his chest. It was written in the new emperor's own hand: "The rebels in Songyang are spreading heresies and misleading the public. They must be completely wiped out to serve as a warning to others." The handwriting was strong and clear, showing the emperor's emphasis on this matter.

However, Lu Zhiyun's brows furrowed even more deeply. He pulled out two completely different intelligence reports from his pocket and compared them again. One was a military report from the imperial court, describing the Songyang rebels as a rabble, a bunch of vagrants and bandits, claiming they were inciting the people and plotting treason. The other was what he had secretly investigated with his trusted confidants—the people of Songyang County lived in peace and prosperity, and the market was thriving, even more orderly than many prefectures and counties directly under the imperial court.

"General, there's a river ahead. Should we let the soldiers rest for a bit?" Zhao De's voice interrupted Lu Zhiyun's thoughts.

Lu Zhiyun looked up at the sky and nodded, saying, "Order the entire army to rest by the river for one hour. Send out double the number of sentries and do not let your guard down."

Military orders are absolute, and the tens of thousands of troops immediately halted in an orderly fashion. The soldiers dispersed along the riverbank according to their unit assignments; some fetched water, some checked their equipment, and some took a short rest, but not a single one made a sound. This discipline brought Lu Zhiyun a sense of relief, but his doubts lingered.

He walked alone to a protruding rock by the river and gazed in the direction of Songyang. That was his destination, and also the source of his confusion.

He couldn't help but recall a county he had passed through before, where the county magistrate, along with the county clerk, registrar, and other officials, waited outside the city gate. Their official robes were neat, but their expressions betrayed their fear. Upon seeing Lu Zhiyun approaching on horseback, the county magistrate hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply to the ground: "This humble official welcomes the general! The provisions and supplies are all prepared; please inspect them, general."

He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the sacks piled to the side—rice, fodder, and cured meat, enough for the army's daily needs. Without showing any emotion, he simply said, "Thank you for your trouble."

The magistrate, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, smiled apologetically and said, "General, you are fighting for the country, and I will do my best to provide for you. However... the harvest in this county has been poor in recent years, and the granaries are truly limited..."

Lu Zhiyun didn't reply, his gaze passing over the magistrate and looking into the city gate. The streets were deserted, shops were closed, and only a few people peeked out, but upon seeing the military flag, they immediately retreated and slammed their doors shut. The entire county was eerily silent, as if everyone was holding their breath.

"Why do the people avoid the army like the plague?" Lu Zhiyun suddenly asked.

The magistrate stiffened and forced a dry laugh, "General, you jest... We are just country folk who have never seen the world. Naturally, we are afraid of the might of the army."

Lu Zhiyun stared at him until the magistrate's smile froze before slowly shifting his gaze. He was all too familiar with that expression—not reverence, but fear. Local officials feared both retaliation from the rebels and the imperial army's potential plundering of the prefectures and counties under the pretext of collusion with bandits. Caught in the middle, they could only tremble with fear, daring neither to offend the court nor to provoke the rebels.

"General, the camp is set up. Shall we proceed into the city to rest?" Zhao De stepped forward to ask.

Lu Zhiyun shook his head: "There's no need to disturb the people. The entire army should be stationed outside the city."

Upon hearing this, the county magistrate visibly breathed a sigh of relief and bowed even lower: "General, you are so considerate of the people's plight. On behalf of all the people of the county, I thank you!"

But just as Lu Zhiyun turned around, he heard the county magistrate whisper to the county magistrate, "Sir, there's no more food in the city..."

The magistrate glared at him fiercely, and the county clerk immediately fell silent.

Lu Zhiyun paused, but did not turn around.

Lu Zhiyun was seen lost in thought, standing alone.

"General."

Lieutenant Zhao De followed and handed over a water bag. "You've seemed preoccupied since you set out. Are you worried about the rebels?"

Lu Zhiyun took the water pouch, took a sip, and said calmly, "Dezi, how many years have you been following me?"

"General, I joined the army at the age of sixteen, and it has been twenty-three years since then," Zhao De replied respectfully.

"Then you should remember how the local people welcomed our royal army seven years ago when we pacified the southern barbarians?"

A glint of recollection flashed in Zhao De's eyes: "I remember, the people brought food and drink and lined the streets to welcome us. The chieftains of the Southern Barbarians oppressed the people, and they were living in misery. When our army arrived, the people saw us as their saviors."

Lu Zhiyun nodded, his gaze becoming profound: "And what has been the attitude of the people we've encountered along the way towards the imperial army over the past half month?"

Zhao De hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The people... mostly show signs of fear and avoidance."

“Exactly.” Lu Zhiyun sighed. “The imperial army should be the protectors of the people, but now they have become the objects of their fear. This is illogical.”

Zhao De didn't dare to reply, and just stood aside with his head down.

Lu Zhiyun took out another document from his bosom; it was a proclamation, signed by Zhuge Liang. He had already read it thoroughly, but he still couldn't resist unfolding it again.

"...The court is corrupt, officials are greedy, taxes are heavy, and the people are suffering..." The words seemed to leap into view as if they were alive. "...The Songyang Righteous Army, acting on the will of Heaven and in accordance with the hearts of the people, vows to eradicate the treacherous officials and restore peace to the world..."

"Spreading heresy and misleading the public!" Lu Zhiyun muttered, yet he couldn't deny that some of the situations described in the article strikingly matched what he had seen along the way. The emaciated farmers, the barren fields, the closed shops... all silently corroborated the accusations in the manifesto.

Zhao De hesitated, then said, "Scouts report that there are several great generals among the rebels in Songyang, whose military prowess is unparalleled. If Songyang County didn't have such brilliant generals to assist them, how could a group of refugees possess such fighting strength?"

This was precisely Lu Zhiyun's greatest worry. What was the deal with those suddenly appearing famous generals? The unknown was the greatest fear, and even for Lu Zhiyun, a veteran of countless battles, it was no exception.

"Pass down the order," Lu Zhiyun suddenly turned around, his voice regaining its general's authority, "The entire army must set off ahead of schedule and be able to camp ten miles outside Songyang City before nightfall. Send out more scouts; I need to know the rebels' every move."

"Yes, sir!" Zhao De clasped his hands in acceptance and hurriedly left.

Lu Zhiyun stood alone on the rock, letting the river wind flutter his battle robes. He had dealt with many peasant rebellions, and each time the emperor would casually order them to kill the rebels.

He accepted the order without hesitation at the time, because in his heart, loyalty to the emperor was patriotism, and obeying the emperor's orders was his duty. But now, what he saw and heard along the way has carved a crack in his firm belief.

The army marched off again, the atmosphere thick with tension. Lu Zhiyun rode his horse in the center of the army, his gaze fixed resolutely ahead. Regardless of the rebels' reliance on any means, regardless of his doubts, he had to fulfill his duty as a general—to lead his soldiers into battle.

The clanging of armor and the fluttering of battle flags filled the air. Lu Zhiyun didn't know how this campaign would end, but he knew it might be the most unique battle of his thirty-year military career. It wasn't just about victory or defeat, but also about the beliefs he had upheld throughout his life.

Regardless of victory or defeat, he is destined for only one ending.

Songyang County is now in sight.

The fatigue of the long journey was etched on the face of every soldier.

They walked in silence, their armor heavy, their steps dragging, sweat streaming down their faces, soaking through their coarse cloth linings. The sun scorched the earth, and the dust on the official road, crushed by countless pairs of military boots, rose in a thin mist of ash that stung their throats, leaving them so dry they could no longer utter a sound.

No one complained—at least not loudly. The Lu family army was extremely strict in its discipline; anyone who whispered to each other during a march would be whipped twenty times; anyone who undermined morale would be beheaded.

Even so, whispers continued to flow quietly in the queue, like an unstoppable undercurrent.

"I heard... that no grain is being requisitioned in Songyang," a young soldier said in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard by the patrolling captain.

"Nonsense." An older veteran next to him spat. "If they don't requisition grain, what will they eat?"

“It’s true.” Another thin soldier interjected, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. “I have a cousin who fled to Songyang County. A few days ago, he sent a message back saying that one mu of land there has enough grain to feed many people…” He paused, his voice lowering, “He said that land has been distributed and taxes reduced there, so the people have food to eat.”

There was a brief moment of silence in the group.

"Ha, spreading rumors and misleading the public." The old soldier sneered, but his eyes flickered. "The imperial court said that it was a tactic used by the rebels to bewitch people."

The young soldier didn't speak again, just walked with his head down, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the water pouch at his waist—it was already empty. His throat was parched and sore, but he had already drunk all the water he was all allotted, so he could only endure it. He thought of his hometown, of the severe drought last year, when the imperial tax collectors still came to his door demanding grain, and the last of his family's grain was confiscated. His mother was so hungry that she became swollen and ultimately did not survive the winter.

"...Could what the manifesto says be true?" he suddenly asked.

Even if there's only a sliver of hope, he'll seize it.

The veteran glared at him sharply: "Shut up! Do you want to lose your head?"

The contents of the manifesto had already been circulating quietly within the army. The article was so sharp, every word like a knife, cutting into people's hearts—

"The imperial court is tyrannical, taxes are like tigers, the people are displaced, and corpses of the starving are everywhere... The Songyang Righteous Army, acting in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people, vows to abolish the oppressive government and restore the people's basic needs..."

No one dared to discuss it openly, but those words, like seeds, quietly took root in the parched hearts of the soldiers.

The group continued onward, a heavy silence thick with an indescribable sense of oppression. Some secretly rubbed their aching legs, others touched letters hidden in their bosoms, and still others gazed unfocusedly toward Songyang County in the distance, lost in thought.

Most of them were just sons of farmers, craftsmen, and poor families, conscripted into the army, put on this armor, and picked up spears to kill another group of people just like them.

No one knows whether they will be able to return home alive after this battle.

No one knew whether what awaited them in Songyang was the swords of the rebels, or... a bowl of rice that would truly fill their stomachs.

The imperial army was closing in step by step, but Jiang Ge and Zhuge Liang remained unhurried.

Jiang Ge even had the leisure to inspect Bai Qi and his troops' training at the drill ground. Dust billowed across the ground, and battle cries shook the heavens. Bai Qi was personally training the infantry, their elite troops standing in a formidable array, gleaming coldly under the blazing sun. Every slash carried the force of conquering cities and fortresses, every thrust contained the power to pierce gold and split stone.

You should know that they were just refugees before.

The city that Huo Qubing captured in a surprise attack became the spark that ignited the fighting spirit of his generals.

If it weren't for the imperial army pressing in, these generals would likely already be itching for battle. If they weren't in Songyang County, they might not even have had the chance to meet, let alone compete.

The fighting spirit burning in Bai Qi's eagle eyes was almost tangible, while Qin Shubao kept wiping his maces, the maces gleaming with a chilling light in the sunlight.

They had been waiting for this for a long time.

I stayed in Songyang County for too long, and I couldn't unleash my full potential against the opponents I encountered. It wasn't satisfying.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, a smile on his face, seemingly having anticipated the impending conflict.

"Magistrate Jiang!" Yuchi Jingde was the first to clasp his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell, "I am willing to lead three thousand elite troops to launch a night raid on the enemy camp and behead their commander!"

"Jingde is brave and fierce, but this battle is no small matter," Qin Shubao said in a deep voice. "I am willing to lead the iron cavalry to charge into the enemy lines and take the central army directly!"

Bai Qi snorted coldly: "A mere thousand men dare to boast of defeating the enemy? If I were to command the troops, I would ensure that the imperial army would never return!"

Huo Qubing stood aside, not saying a word, but the fighting spirit in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Jiang Ge's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Zhuge Liang.

"Prime Minister, what do you think?"

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and waved his feather fan lightly: "All of you generals are heroes and outstanding figures, however..."

He paused, his gaze deep.

"This battle is crucial to the future situation and cannot be decided by one person alone."

The generals were all taken aback upon hearing this.

"Then what is your opinion, Prime Minister?" Bai Qi narrowed his eyes.

Zhuge Liang slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sharp and piercing.

"We need the combined strength of everyone to win this battle."

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Author's note: I'm trying my best, but I still feel very sad every time I write these kinds of scenes. [crying emoji]