The Demon Lords

Chapter 458 57 North_3

My brothers, I know it pains you to see our brothers-in-arms suffering, and it pains me too. Direct Thief! Don't forget who distributed your food, armor, and horses. If I were to abuse my power for personal gain, wouldn't I have amassed much more wealth easily?

But now we cannot retreat, not even a single step, nor can we evade their spearhead. The Qian people are testing us. They are also wary. It is true that they have no reinforcements coming, but they also dare not truly launch a large-scale northern invasion; they fear those two Lords might turn back and strike again.

We don't know when those two Lords will strike, but we must do our own part. What do we soldiers rely on?

Only the blades, spears, arrows, and horses in our hands! Whatever we have risked our lives to fight for, we must not lose a single bit of it.

If we show cowardice, if we retreat, if we start to 'plan for the long term,' it's tantamount to giving the Qian people a calming pill. Who's to say the Qian people wouldn't then dare to dispatch a large army to try a northern invasion?

Therefore, right now, however many Qian people come, we will take them all on. Even if it means mutual destruction, even if we exhaust all our resources, we cannot retreat. In all things, what matters most is that single breath of fighting spirit. This spirit, we have to maintain, and we absolutely must maintain it!"

Hui Wenzu faced northward, in the direction of Yanjing, and said,

"To speak frankly, rather than saying we are protecting His Majesty this time, it's more accurate to say we are protecting Great Yan.

Our ancestors fought to the death, enabling our Great Yan to enjoy a century of peace. During these hundred years, it's not that we haven't fought wars, but no enemy force has ever truly penetrated deep into the territory of our Great Yan, and our Great Yan has never lost an inch of land!

If we cannot hold out, when we die and go to the netherworld, we will truly have no face to meet our ancestors.

Gentlemen, this is what I, Hui Wenzu, mean. We've ridiculed the Qian people for a hundred years, always laughing that the Qian people have no guts, laughing that they lack balls.

Now, the time has come to show our true strength. Let's show these Qian people what true men are made of!"

There was no applause, nor any shouts of agreement.

Instead, everyone's expression appeared rather composed.

These were all slacker soldiers, hardened by their time in the army, not some hot-blooded greenhorns who could be stirred into a frenzy with just a few words.

What they valued was not what you said, but what you were prepared to do.

At this moment, Liang Guohong looked up at the clouds in the sky. His mouth opened and then closed again before he slowly said,

"This leg of mine is useless. I had originally thought of leaving this small legacy of mine for my son. But I know my own son's capabilities; that son of mine, he could manage as a Captain, a Commander, or something similar, that's fine. When there's no fighting, being a Regional Commander and skimming some profits wouldn't be a big issue for him either. In that regard, he takes after me. HAHAHA.

But now, it's about leading several thousand of our brothers to fight the Qian people. That boy of mine is not up to the task.

Let it be so. You all can divide the men still under my command. I can't ride a horse anymore anyway. It's a good opportunity to go to Nanwang City and train those conscripted lads from good families. In such a short time, I don't expect to train them into elites. Instilling a bit more killing intent in them will suffice."

Hui Wenzu, standing beside him, smiled, his chubby face full of gratification.

Liang Guohong turned his head to look at Hui Wenzu and said,

"Lord Hui, there's something I've wanted to say for a long time."

"Please speak, I'm listening."

"The way you smile is truly nauseating."

Hui Wenzu's smile grew even brighter as he responded,

"Actually, when I first saw that your leg was useless, I was quite pleased myself."

——————

A recommendation for a friend's book: "I Have Passed Through 999 Heavenly Tribulations."

Zhen Hetu, who transmigrated to the Divine Continent, sees everything with a game-like interface.

The first thing he always checks isn't anything else but his own attribute: Luck!