After repelling another Tatar attack, Xie Yushu and her comrades, who had been fighting fiercely for a day and a night, were finally able to catch their breath.
Young men from the city spontaneously cleaned up the battlefield and helped carry people and the wounded.
After fighting for a day and a night, everyone was so exhausted that they collapsed on the spot. Even though they were starving, weak from hunger, and had chapped lips from thirst, no one wanted to move.
Xie Yushu was also lying on the ground, her eyes glazed over, her mind blank.
They don't even have the energy to worry about the next war.
Han Zhongyu staggered to her side, leaned against the city wall, and moved Xie Yushu's head to his body as a pillow. Neither of them spoke. Exhausted, the two fell asleep like that.
Knowing that the soldiers on the city wall were exhausted, several young men from the logistics department took the initiative to take on the responsibility of standing guard and keeping watch.
Before long, the cooks who brought the food came up with the food. Seeing that everyone was sleeping soundly, lying around, they didn't have the heart to disturb them. They carefully draped the extra quilts over the soldiers and then carried the food downstairs to keep it warm.
Fearing another sudden attack by the Tatars, and that their soldiers would have to fight again without even having a bite to eat, the cooks in the mess hall stood guard for two hours with trepidation, and then cruelly woke up the people sleeping on the city wall.
"grown ups!
Princess!
Brothers!
Wake up, everyone!
We have to eat first; we can't fight a war on an empty stomach!
"If the Tatars don't attack, you can eat and sleep, and when you wake up you'll still have energy!"
Although everyone was asleep, how could they really sleep so soundly on the battlefield? So, as soon as the cook made a sound, everyone opened their eyes, shook their heads, and woke themselves up as quickly as possible.
The cooks promptly brought out the food, served it to everyone, and handed it to them.
Each person still received three palm-sized steamed buns and a large bowl of cabbage and tofu soup.
Everyone enjoyed their meal!
After the meal, the cook brought over several large buckets of brown sugar ginger tea to warm everyone up.
After a hearty meal and a bowl of hot ginger tea, everyone felt warm and refreshed, and their energy levels were greatly restored.
Han Zhongyu gathered all the able-bodied people together and called out their names.
When they arrived, there were about 5,000 people. After four days of fierce fighting, only a little over 700 remained.
Of these 700-plus people, half were injured!
By this time, they had run out of arrows.
The city gate was in dire need of repair and was now held up by sandbags. No one dared to move the sandbags outside the city to retrieve arrows.
We can only pin our hopes on the Imperial Stud and see how many they've managed to produce.
Although everyone knew what it would mean if reinforcements didn't arrive, not a single person showed the slightest fear; instead, their eyes became even more determined and resolute.
The thought that they might not see the sun rise again filled Han Zhongyu with deep sorrow. But being on the battlefield, he dared not linger on the beautiful scenery of the past, nor dared to speak of the long future. At this moment, all he could say and do was to forge ahead and live in the face of death.
After these days of fighting side by side, these people before him no longer distinguished between the Han, Xie, and Xuanyuan families; they were now all brothers. Looking at their resolute eyes and weary faces, Han Zhongyu suppressed his surging emotions and calmly said...
"Brothers, you all know what we're about to face!"
We've all been fighting here for days, and none of our brothers have complained of pain or retreated.
You were not originally soldiers on the battlefield.
However, for the sake of the people of Daqi, you chose to come here without hesitation. You are all heroes of unwavering integrity!
They were all loyal and righteous men!
You are all outstanding, heroes of the Great Qi!
Brothers, I, Han Zhongyu, thank you all for staying with me to face the storms of bloodshed. Perhaps, many more of us will fall in the future.
This also includes myself, and Princess Jingde.
However, our bloodshed and death are to protect the millions of our fellow countrymen behind us!
When the Tatars broke into Hangu Pass, people from several villages died under their swords, including many women and children!
But now, the people behind us are safe and sound.
This is the meaning of our vow to stand here to the death!
Even if we all die here in the end, I believe that the people here, the mountains and forests here, and the blood-stained battle flags here will all be testaments to our unwavering commitment and sacrifice for righteousness!
Brothers! Are you willing to stand guard here until the very end?
"willing!
willing!
willing! "
"Alright, then let's fight them side by side again. You are all experts who can take on ten or even a hundred men at once. This time, let's show our might, show our attitude and determination not to give up an inch of land, and let them know that we, the people of Great Qi, are not to be bullied and trampled on at will!"
"kill!
kill!
kill! "
"Alright, everyone, let's all stay alert! If the Tatars dare to attack again tonight, we'll fight them to the death! Even if only one of us is left, we can't lose Tianshui City!"
"yes!"
"Everyone, disperse and get to your positions!"
Han Zhongyu's speech was both a morale booster and a farewell!
The atmosphere was somewhat somber, bringing tears to the eyes of the young maids, Nanxing, Chunyu, and Hongmei. They all gathered around Xie Yushu, and Qu Xiaodie couldn't help but hug Xie Yushu tightly, her voice noticeably nasal.
"I thought I was going to grow old with you and live off you for the rest of my life!"
I never imagined that I would die for my country at such a young age!
Ha! But dying for one's country sounds much more prestigious than dying, I have no regrets!
"When we get there, we'll still be sisters!"
"Master, in the next life, I still want to be your maid!"
Me too!
Me too!
Princess, please don't abandon me!
Xie Yushu couldn't help but shed tears and hugged them one by one.
"Okay, whether it's the next life or the life after that, we'll be sisters!"
I'm so sorry, I originally wanted to save up a dowry for you, to marry you off in a grand manner, and to watch you live a peaceful and happy life!
But it dragged you into the battlefield!
Nanxing and the others said with tearful voices
"Princess, please don't say that. Without you, we don't know where we would have ended up. These two years by your side have been the happiest days of our lives. We have no regrets, and we would not regret dying here!"
Qu Xiaodie also said
"Yes, when ordinary people die, they are simply buried in the yellow earth. But when we die here, it's called sacrificing ourselves for our country and giving up our lives for righteousness. Our descendants might even come to worship us every year. In the end, we've gained a lot of incense offerings for free. This life has been worthwhile!"
These were all our own choices, so don't blame yourself.
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