Standing with a Sword

Introduction

Volume 1 Jianghu Chapter 1 Strict

The sky grew darker, and the air felt increasingly oppressive.
At the foot of the mountain lay a dark camp, with military flags fluttering and sentries standing guard. Faint rumbles of thunder echoed in the wind, accompanied by a dull sound. The banners flapped, and the sounds of soldiers training could be faintly heard.
In the distance, a black dot appeared on the horizon, getting closer, with the crisp sound of hooves echoing from the ground.
The black dot gradually became clearer; it was a galloping horse. The rider on the horse kept waving his whip, urging the steed onward, and from the horse's speed, it was clear he had been riding for quite some time.
When he reached about fifty paces from the camp gate, the sentry could see clearly that the newcomer was dressed in the attire of the current dynasty, exuding the air of a civil official, but he didn’t look like an ordinary clerk, as he also carried a yellow silk-wrapped bundle on his back. The guard's instincts heightened his alertness, and he shouted, Halt!
You insolent fool, I come bearing the imperial edict to meet your commander Li Yi. Open the camp gate quickly and kneel to welcome the imperial will! the rider shouted angrily.
The guard was taken aback and quickly called over another sentry, giving a few instructions. The sentry hurried off to report to the main tent. The guard himself rushed down from the watchtower, directing several soldiers to open the camp gate.
The rider also reined in his horse, watching the camp from outside.
After a moment, a group of officers dressed in military attire emerged from the direction of the main tent, with the foremost being Li Yi, dressed in general's garb.
Upon hearing there was an imperial edict, Li Yi was greatly surprised and quickly led the officers to stride out of the camp gate.
The attendants brought out a table for offerings, lit incense, and everyone knelt on the ground with the general, preparing to listen to the imperial decree.
Only then did the rider dismount, taking out a scroll wrapped in yellow silk from the bundle on his back, walking to the offering table, and unfolding it to read aloud.
By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees: Li Yi, the commander of the third camp at the border, has failed in his duties and shall be executed. Thus it is!
Li Yi was taken aback, about to explain himself, when the envoy suddenly drew a dagger from the decree, swift as the wind, and stabbed it into Li Yi's chest just as he stood up. He then burst into laughter and retreated far away.
From the moment Li Yi stood up to the envoy's retreat, it was but a fleeting moment; the envoy's movements were not those of a civil official but rather a martial arts master.
With the envoy's laughter, a thunderous sound of hooves came from afar, revealing a troop of Khitan cavalry.
Li Yi clutched his bleeding wound, pointing at the envoy, You... you... you're a fake!
He couldn't catch his breath and died with resentment.
The surrounding soldiers were stunned by this sudden turn of events, and by the time they reacted, the Khitan cavalry was already within a stone's throw.
In the blink of an eye, the Khitan cavalry charged into the camp, and the soldiers in the rear, still unaware of what had happened, were trampled underfoot by the cavalry.
A bloody battle ensued. But with the camp gate breached, the commander dead, and the morale shattered, and with the Khitan well-prepared, the third camp at the foot of the western mountain was almost completely destroyed in the time it took to eat a meal. Soldiers lay dead and wounded everywhere, corpses strewn across the ground.
Since the war with the Khitan began, such a devastating defeat had never occurred. A camp that housed ten thousand troops was thus destroyed. Among the entire army, including the officers, over eleven thousand people, only a few hundred managed to escape.
Meanwhile, on a distant hill, several riders quietly observed the situation at the western camp.
A scholar-dressed man rode forward and clasped his hands to a Khitan general, saying, My lord, it seems my calculations have succeeded halfway.
Hahaha, Shijie, your brilliant plan is indeed different. Even if this grand scheme fails, we have already caused the southern barbarians to lose a ten-thousand-man troop and a camp, which is enough to break even, the Khitan general laughed heartily.
My lord, are you saying that the other troop will fail? Do you doubt my abilities? the scholar named Shijie retorted, feeling quite displeased.
The general glanced at the somewhat unhappy strategist, sighed deeply, and said bitterly, Shijie, it's not that I underestimate your wisdom; the recent complete victory has already proven your capabilities.
Oh, then could it be..., Shijie hesitated and asked.
The Khitan general looked at the distant bloody battlefield, where Khitan soldiers had already begun to clean up. This time, the Khitan had used a clever strategy to seize the camp, capturing countless supplies and eliminating over ten thousand enemies, while their own losses were less than a thousand. No wonder the Khitan general said this victory was a complete victory.
Shijie, have you ever heard of a southern army called the 'Wolf Army' when you were studying in the south? the Khitan general turned to Shijie and asked.
Shijie looked at the general's serious expression and replied with confusion, No, isn't that army in another camp we are supposed to deal with?
The Khitan general said, Exactly. You just arrived on the battlefield and achieved such a great victory in less than three days. You must have some understanding of these southern generals, right?
Shijie replied earnestly, I, Shijie, have received great kindness from my lord since childhood, and I was sent to the southern dynasty to study its culture and gather intelligence. I dare not be negligent, and I have diligently investigated the temperaments and dispositions of these generals before the battle.
Looking at the soldiers cleaning the battlefield in the distance, Shijie continued, Take Li Yi, for instance; his military discipline is impeccable, and he is loyal to the southern dynasty, but his weakness lies in this. A general on the battlefield does not have to obey the orders of the emperor, yet Li Yi opened the camp gate to personally welcome a mere envoy, showing respect, and led all the troops to kneel in greeting. Such behavior is unacceptable in the midst of two armies.
Pausing for a moment, he added, The commander of the fourth camp, Yao Qun, is nothing but a fool. If it weren't for his connections in the court, he wouldn't even be able to become a squad leader. Moreover, most of the soldiers under him look down on him, and he can't even command them properly. How could such a person see through my carefully crafted plan? Furthermore, the fourth camp is filled with prisoner soldiers, numbering only about four thousand. How could they possibly stand against my ten thousand cavalry?
The Khitan general looked at Shijie's impassioned face and sighed inwardly, saying, Shijie, you just arrived in the army and are unfamiliar with the battlefield situation. You have not yet experienced true combat. In the southern dynasty, we mainly rely on the officials of the southern court to gather intelligence, so it is normal for you to be unaware of the Wolf Army. But you must not underestimate them!
Oh! Shijie was intrigued by the Khitan general's words and retorted, If the Wolf Army is so formidable, why is there not a single mention of them in the intelligence from the southern dynasty?
The Khitan general turned to look at the confused Shijie and called out, Sakan!
Yes, a subordinate rode out from the back, dismounted, and respectfully reported, My lord, the Wolf Army is composed of prisoner soldiers, so they have not been mentioned in the reports of achievements.
Shijie was taken aback, Could it be that the Wolf Army is actually this prisoner army?
Sakan replied, Exactly.
The Khitan general turned to Sakan and said, Sakan, you have faced the Wolf Army; tell Shijie about their situation.
Yes, Sakan said, The Wolf Army is originally composed of prisoners sent by the southern dynasty, and they have always been undisciplined and lawless. Even the commander stationed at the border does not take them seriously. In past battles, they were mostly used as cannon fodder. However, in recent years, the southern dynasty has been peaceful, and the number of prisoners has gradually decreased. The prisoner army has not expanded and remains at around twenty thousand. After countless battles, the prisoner army has slowly reached this scale, now only having over four thousand left.
Shijie was quite puzzled and asked, Then why is the prisoner army called the Wolf Army?
Sakan continued, The Wolf Army is famous for two reasons: first, they do not obey orders; no commander of the Wolf Army has stayed in the army for more than three months; second, every member of the Wolf Army is fierce and ruthless. Five years ago, the prisoner army had over twenty thousand men, but four years ago, it had already been reduced to five thousand. Yet even now, the Wolf Army participates in countless battles and still has over four thousand men.
Wow, Shijie gasped, Could it be that the Wolf Army is so brave?
Sakan said, The Wolf Army now has an equal number of infantry and cavalry. A year ago, my lord sent us to lead five thousand elite cavalry to contain the Wolf Army, but as soon as we engaged, the Wolf Army fought fiercely against us.
Shijie said, So the Wolf Army is made up of aggressive individuals; it shouldn't be too hard to deal with.
Sakan replied, The five thousand elite cavalry we led are the most elite 'Tiger Guards' in our army, each capable of taking on ten men, dominating the battlefield, and no one can defeat them.
Shijie suddenly interrupted Sakan, asking, Wait, could it be that the southern dynasty's great victory last year, where the border commander Sun Xiao defeated our Tiger Guards and was promoted three ranks, was led by the Wolf Army?
Sakan said, No, the commander of the Wolf Army at that time was not Sun Xiao.
Shijie asked in surprise, Then how come the southern dynasty's court report said it was Sun Xiao?
This is because you have not heard of the Wolf Army, the Khitan general interjected.
Shijie, quick-witted, immediately realized, Could it be that the Wolf Army's achievements were not rewarded at all? Why do they fight so fiercely?
Hahaha, prisoners only need to stay in the prisoner camp for five years to be freed from their prisoner status and return to their hometown. However, surviving in the battlefield for five years is no easy feat, the Khitan general sighed deeply.
Shijie had already sensed something and cautiously asked, My lord, since the Wolf Army is so formidable, why didn't you remind me when I was offering strategies?
The Khitan general smiled, You are sharp-minded and have studied in the southern dynasty for many years, but you are overconfident and talk about strategies without real experience. If I don't let you face setbacks a few times, how will you know that there are greater talents beyond your own?
Shijie still felt unconvinced when suddenly an urgent report came, Report— a scout galloped in, dismounted, and knelt on one knee to report, My lord, the fourth camp is on high alert. The ten-thousand-man troop attempting to ambush the fourth camp was discovered ten miles away. General Hubi, who was disguised as an envoy, has not returned, and the army was ambushed by two hundred scouts, suffering over six hundred casualties. The enemy has not been harmed.
The Khitan general asked urgently, What? Hubi has no news yet?
Reporting to my lord, General Hubi signaled two quarters ago that the operation had failed and he could not escape. He still has not returned, the scout respectfully answered.
You may leave! the general waved his hand. The scout turned and left.
Turning back, he asked, Shijie, what do you think?
Shijie was now more cautious and thought for a moment before saying, My lord, the Wolf Army is so well-prepared that it cannot be the style of that fool Yao Qun. It can be concluded that there must be a highly skilled individual orchestrating things from within the Wolf Army.
The Khitan general looked at Shijie and nodded, Indeed, there is a highly skilled individual in the Wolf Army, someone so formidable that others fear him. The prisoner army is called the 'Wolf Army' because of this person, who has caused our soldiers to suffer heavy losses. For five years, we have been unable to advance an inch, and even our 'Tiger Guards,' which we have trained for ten years and are invincible on the battlefield, lost half their numbers in a single battle. Our entire army has come to fear the Wolf Army; otherwise, how could a mere two hundred scouts dare to ambush our ten-thousand-man army, inflicting over six hundred casualties and retreating unscathed?
Shijie asked in shock, Is there really such a person? Who is he?
The Khitan general sighed and replied, We have never taken the prisoner army seriously. In the past, we treated battles as mere formalities, and both sides suffered casualties. Until recent years, the Wolf Army has rarely suffered significant losses, while our army has suffered heavy casualties. We had no choice but to send our most elite Tiger Guards to contain the Wolf Army, but five thousand men were completely annihilated in that battle. Since then, our army has not dared to provoke them lightly. In battle, we have only used long spears and large shields, prioritizing defense and never taking the initiative to attack. Such military might is truly enviable!
Shijie laughed, My lord has yet to clarify who this person is and why he is hiding among the prisoners.
Sakan took over the conversation, It's not that my lord is hiding it; in fact, even we do not know who this person is.
Shijie fell silent for a moment, dismounted, knelt on the ground, and respectfully said, My lord, I miscalculated and caused General Hubi's life. I request punishment!
The Khitan general looked down at Shijie kneeling on the ground and said, You have just arrived and have already contributed to our army by seizing the southern dynasty's third camp and defeating ten thousand enemies, boosting the morale of the army. Such merit cannot be punished. He paused and added, Moreover, my intention was also to let you face setbacks against the Wolf Army and learn a lesson, hoping you will remember this experience.
Shijie bowed his head and said, I will remember the lesson.
The Khitan general continued, Do not belittle yourself; although the Wolf Army is formidable, the southern barbarian court is unaware. By next month, these people should be leaving the army to return home, so you need not worry too much. You may rise!
Shijie stood up and replied, Yes. However, he kept muttering in his heart about who could be so formidable that even the Khitan king admired him without leaving a trace t
Du Kai said, Boss, what kind of technique did you teach me? It's so powerful that it leaves no complete corpse behind when killing? And every time I use it, I feel this urge to kill?
The young man gritted his teeth and said, I have a deep-seated grudge against the county lord, a hatred that can't coexist. The knife techniques I learned in the midst of a thousand troops fighting are all for the day I can execute his entire family, dismember them and scatter their ashes. So, my swordsmanship is driven by killing intent; the stronger the killing intent, the fiercer the moves.
Seeing the situation was not good, Du Kai quickly changed the subject and asked, Boss, did the Khitan send a general disguised as an envoy? Is there some kind of conspiracy? Should we strengthen our defenses?
You only thought of that now? You're really slow, aren't you? I came here before you and Hu Bi dueled, commanding the watch. Otherwise, how could we have lost the lives of over a dozen brothers? the boss said bitterly.
Go collect the bodies of our brothers and give them a proper burial. Brother Du, you handle Sun Xiao, I'm heading back.
After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the nearby tents.
Before his figure vanished, the boss called back, Brother Du, don't forget the feeling of just sparring with Hu Bi!
It was only after the boss's figure disappeared that Du Kai directed everyone to clean up.
Watching his brothers busy at work, Du Kai looked down at his own hands, drew out his knife, and pondered for a moment, as if he were going over the moves he had exchanged with Hu Bi again. When he raised his head again, his face was filled with newfound confidence.
After instructing his subordinates to handle things here, Du Kai adjusted his armor and walked towards the central military tent.
In the fourth camp, the military flags fluttered in the wind. In the crisp breeze, a dark wolf's head, baring its fangs to the sky, swayed with the flag, appearing and disappearing. Under the flag, a group of soldiers exuded a fierce killing intent.