Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 625 - 577: The Rear-guard Dare-to-Die Army

Chapter 625: Chapter 577: The Rear-guard Dare-to-Die Army

"I know that everyone staying here, some are volunteers, but some were chosen by drawing lots,"

At this moment, beneath the Great Wall in the Lingwu Army’s defensive area, Bai Dushu stood on the city wall, looking down at the three thousand soldiers who had stayed behind with him.

Bai Dushu didn’t know if his Calamity power had increased, but he hadn’t done anything, yet he could feel the fear filling some people’s hearts.

To say nothing of real danger arriving, even a slight rustle of wind or movement in the grass could make some turn and run immediately.

The reason he had chosen to stay was because Kaihuang had not yet officially granted him a rank, after all, he had merely been a Deputy Team Leader of Marshal Changsun’s personal troops.

Even if he led the soldiers to withstand the Tujue’s assault, it wouldn’t be enough to rise quickly through the military ranks.

But Bai Dushu knew that if he stayed behind with three thousand men, giving the Lingwu Army two days and nights, it wasn’t to say he would rise high quickly, but he was certain to receive the rank of a Sixth Rank general.

Hadn’t he left his hometown just to carve out a future of his own?

At this moment, Bai Dushu looked down at the three thousand soldiers and smiled faintly.

"I know, among you, some are reluctant, some originally didn’t want to stay,"

"I also understand what’s in your hearts," he continued. "Despite the outside world saying how the Lingwu Army are the elite of the elite, that we fear no Tujue!

"But I know more that human hearts are made of flesh. Facing bloody war, facing Tujue forces many times our number... It’s very normal to be afraid," he said.

"Thus, here, I, Bai, do not force anyone to stay. From now on, those who don’t wish to stay, step back, after which I will allow you to leave!"

The moment these words were spoken, all three thousand men below were shocked.

Some worried this was Bai Dushu’s cunning, fearing the moment they stepped back, he would command archers to shoot down those soldiers who wished to leave.

Others felt that even the original three thousand might not hold off the Tujue for two days and nights, and if they really let some go, then when the battle came, they would be even more doomed.

For a time, everyone looked toward Bai Dushu, their expressions complex.

"When I’ve said I would let you leave, I will let you leave, and won’t deceive you," he continued. "After all, this battle isn’t just for ourselves but also to cover the retreat of other brothers in the Lingwu Army and even the nearby civilians!"

"This battle was meant for us to hold the western line of the Great Wall and for the Shuofang Army to hold the eastern line. But the Shuofang Army, afraid of death, fled the field, not only sneaking away themselves but not even telling the surrounding civilians."

"I know many of you have homes right on the Longyun Path. Do you choose to watch as the Tujue’s iron hooves trample over your homeland, as the Tujue’s butcher knives fall on your loved ones, or will you be cowards like the Shuofang Army?" he challenged.

"I, Bai, am not from Longyun Path, I can even tell you straight, I hail from Longwang Road, am of the Demon Clan!"

This statement caused an uproar.

Everyone knew that Bai Dushu seemed to have a good relationship with Zhang San, but no one knew he was of the Demon Clan.

"What do the lives and deaths of the people of Longyun Path have to do with me, Bai? But why do I stay? I will tell you straight—I want to establish a reputation for myself, I’m not staying with the intention of certain death but with the intention of certain victory!"

"I aim to secure a place for a member of the Demon Clan within the Great Sui court, so I must not only build a reputation but also survive! What about you? Do you have ambition? Do you have ties? You clearly have more to lose here than I, now tell me, do you choose to leave like cowards or to be heroes?"

At that moment, among the three thousand, many felt their blood boiling within them.

Many even moved forward.

At the same time, Hu Jing’an also arrived atop the city wall, walking over to stand beside Bai Dushu.

"I, too, am from the Demon Clan, and I also come from the Northeast. Bai Dushu is my fiancé, I believe in him. I believe he can hold off the Tujue in this battle and can lead all those willing to stay to fight to the very end. Therefore, I will also stay by his side, and by yours, to battle the Tujue people!"

At that moment, a heroic passion was ignited among the three thousand people.

Originally, many had been chosen by drawing lots, but now, many were firmly resolved to stay.

However, some still chose to leave.

Some, because of their attachments, chose to stay to withstand the Tujue and protect what they held dear in their hearts.

Some, because of their attachments, chose to leave, since their families would much rather see them alive.

In the end, out of the three thousand, only fifteen hundred chose to stay while the other half chose to leave.

But for Bai Dushu, this was already quite good.

Because previously, he felt that among those who harbored no fear and were unwilling to retreat, barely a tenth had remained, but now having half of them was quite good indeed.

Subsequently, Bai Dushu asked these people to leave behind their weapons and bows and assigned them another task.

The fifteen hundred people, upon hearing there was still a task, all grimaced.

Bai Dushu sternly said, "Gentlemen, Changsun Wuji is now acting as the Military Envoy. He is not as easygoing as the Military Envoy Changsun. He just ascended to power and it’s time for him to establish his authority. If I simply let you go, and later you tell him, would he believe you?"

The crowd was left speechless.

It was clear they had initially been drafted to become the rear guard of the Dare-to-Die Army, but then they were called back.

Indeed, no one would believe such a story.

"Thus, follow my instructions and complete this task well, and then you can return. When you see Changsun Wuji, just convey the task I gave you and what I said to him," he continued.

"The task for you all is not difficult. Everyone return to the original camp of the Lingwu Army and fortify the camp walls. Then transport timber, stones, and other materials into the camp."

"I give you all one day and one night. Prepare as much as you can. The more you prepare, the greater our chances of holding off the Tujue when we later fall back! Understand?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd finally understood Bai Dushu’s intentions.

After these people had left, Hu Jing’an stepped closer to Bai Dushu and asked in a low voice, "Do we have a chance in this battle?"

Bai Dushu smiled and replied, "I don’t really know."

Bai Dushu was uncertain whether the remaining fifteen hundred could hold out for two days and two nights.

But Bai Dushu felt that they must try every possible means to stall the enemy for two days and two nights.

At this moment, Bai Dushu suddenly thought, if it were Zhang San, how would he deploy these fifteen hundred people?

Wait... what if Zhang San were to cover the rear?