"Big brother!"
"Lord Lü!"
When the news of Lü Tu's awakening reached the crowd, everyone excitedly pushed their way in.
For some reason, perhaps because people are more vulnerable when they are injured, Lu Tu's eyes welled up with tears as he listened to the fervent calls from his side.
"Xiaoyu, help me up."
"My lord, your injuries are too severe to get out of bed."
People outside the door called out, "Brother, please rest quietly. We're glad you're awake."
Lu Tu stretched his limbs while lying on the bed and insisted, "I know my own body. Help me up."
Seeing his insistence, Nangong Huiyu had no choice but to comply. The Liu brothers, Liu Yang and Liu Hu, rushed in and lifted Lü Tu up from both sides.
Lu Tu laughed and said, "No need for that, I can walk."
"Big brother, where are you going?" Liu Yang noticed that Lu Tu's gaze was fixed on everyone, as if he was looking for someone.
Lu Tu shook his head slightly, went outside the door and cupped his hands to the villagers: "Fortunately, everyone came to our aid yesterday, otherwise Lu Tu would have lost his life." As he spoke, he was about to bow to the villagers.
This startled everyone present, who rushed forward to help him up, saying, "Lord Lü, you mustn't!"
"Yes, Lord Lü, it was you who fought bravely and led everyone to kill the enemy, we didn't do anything."
"If it weren't for Lord Lü and the other brothers' sacrifices, we wouldn't have been enough for the Wuhuan people to kill."
Xiao Zhong, who had been silent in the crowd, suddenly knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, and wailed, "Lord Lü, you have rendered great service, yet you remain humble despite your favor, and even dragged your injured body to express your gratitude to us. We are truly ashamed! From now on, my life belongs to Lord Lü!"
The other people shared the same thought, but unlike Xiao Zhong, they were able to summarize it. Upon hearing this, they were also deeply moved and knelt down in large numbers to thank Lu Tu for his heroic act of saving their lives.
"Our lives were saved by Lord Lü. From now on, I will not even believe the emperor's words, I will only believe Lord Lü!"
"Lord Lü, we're begging you, please rest in bed!"
Lu Tu said weakly, "Please rise, everyone. Since you call me elder brother, I will never allow the Gouwuhuan to ravage our homeland!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present burst into tears. Regardless of age or gender, they all buried their heads in their hands and wept bitterly. However, unlike before, these were tears of emotion and tears full of hope.
"Sir, this is a small token of our appreciation, please don't find it offensive!" At this moment, an old woman with bound feet squeezed through the crowd from the back and handed over a few eggs wrapped in a handkerchief.
"Right, right, I almost forgot." At this moment, everyone took out what they had brought. Those who were well-off had goat milk and goat meat, while those who were less well-off had one or two eggs and some millet. They piled it all up in Lu Tu's yard.
With the granary overflowing with grain, Lu Tu knew better than anyone what their situation was. No one would complain about having too much grain in their own possession, but even so, they still brought out their most valuable possessions to give to Lu Tu.
Looking at the warm and simple faces before him, he could hardly reconcile them with the vicious villagers he had seen just a few months ago. It was clear that all the sacrifices had been worthwhile.
Without any hesitation, Lü Tu clasped his hands in thanks to everyone again: "Lü Tu thanks all of you for your kindness."
"Sir, you don't need to be so polite with us. As long as you get better, we'll have the energy even if we have to eat coarse food!"
"Yes, sir, my husband was killed by the Wuhuan people two years ago. Ever since then, we haven't been able to sleep soundly at night. But since you joined the army, we no longer have to live in fear. You have ensured our safety. You are a great hero!"
Hearing these simple and heartfelt words, Lü Tu could no longer hold back, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly turned his head to the side and wiped it away on his shoulder.
"Everyone, please go back now. Work will continue and food will still be paid!"
"Yes, sir!"
After the villagers left, Liu Yang and Liu Hu, who were supporting Lü Tu, suddenly felt a weight on their hands. They quickly helped Lü Tu into the house, where the small house was filled with Lü Tu's core members.
After lying down on the bed, Lü Tu looked at Nie Yun, whose arm was in a sling, and asked, "Has the battlefield been cleaned up?"
"Reporting to my elder brother, we have killed 152 Wuhuan cavalrymen, captured 100 sets of armor, 80 warhorses, and a number of weapons and bows and arrows."
What about the number of casualties?
Upon hearing this, everyone, including Nie Yun, fell silent.
Lu Tu urged, "Speak!"
"78 brothers were killed in action and 45 were wounded. I have already gone to fetch Physician Zhang Miao from Wuchuan City. He should be here soon."
A casualty ratio of 1 to 2, and that was infantry against cavalry, would have been completely beyond military common sense in the era of cold weapons, yet it actually happened yesterday.
Despite having the advantage of favorable timing, location, and popular support, our side still paid a heavy price, demonstrating just how troublesome the Karasuma people were!
Lu Tu turned to Song Yuxi and said, "Yuxi, give 20 taels of silver to the family of each fallen brother as compensation, and 20 taels to the wounded brothers as well. We will cover the cost of their medicine."
"Please rest assured, my husband, I made all the arrangements last night."
Lu Tu was finally relieved after hearing this. Song Yuxi truly lived up to her reputation as a descendant of a military family; she handled these matters exceptionally well. It would be difficult for an ordinary peasant woman to be so willing to do such things.
"Nie Yun!"
"exist!"
"You are hereby appointed as a squad leader with 50 troops, and your monthly salary is 5 strings of cash!"
"Thank you, Brother Xie!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
