Chapter 356: Troops Muster on the Battlefield
The border.
The war continued.
I don’t know why, but these barbarians always had looks of resentment whenever they were killed.
It was baffling.
It was you who wanted to attack us in the first place.
And yet, after losing and dying, you still hold grudges.
What right do you have to complain?
You provoke us first, then act aggrieved? To hell with your grievances.
The conditions at the border were harsh, very harsh, but the hearts of the soldiers remained fervent, and they were full of spirit every single day.
Fight, fight, fight.
On the first day of the New Year.
The enemy launched a fierce, desperate attack.
It was a bit unlucky; perhaps they didn’t celebrate the New Year.
Back home, people wouldn’t even sweep the trash on New Year’s.
But here, Lord Jiang said that seeing blood was also a shade of red, promising a prosperous and fiery year ahead.
Kill, kill, kill.
This army grew stronger and more imposing the more they fought.
When they first arrived, it was General Meng and the young General Meng.
Now, it was General Meng and Old General Meng.
Old Meng had retired on the spot.
A person cannot be idle; once idle, all sorts of ailments appear—chronic cold legs, a twisted waist, headaches, and aches all over.
He still wanted to go to the battlefield, but his body truly wouldn’t allow it.
He probably couldn’t even hold the reins while riding, and falling off the horse would be even worse.
In the past, he had relied on sheer willpower to endure, ignoring this illness or that ache, gritting his teeth to carry on.
There were even civil officials who impeached Old General Meng for clinging to power.
Clinging to power, my foot.
Not living in a big mansion, not holding his wife, guarding the border for decades as if it were just one day, exposed to the wind and sun every day, and constantly in life-threatening danger—if someone offered you this kind of ‘blessing,’ would you want it?
There was another reason why the Meng Family only had one heir: the husbands were always out fighting wars, so when could their wives get pregnant?
If a husband was away at war for six years and his wife gave birth to three children, I ask you, whose surname would the children take?
Some civil officials had come to the border, but they fled even faster than the enemy after staying for only a short while.
While roasting sweet potatoes in the camp, Old Meng could say with a clear conscience that he had done right by the world, the Emperor, and the ancestors of the Meng Family.
“Boom, boom, boom.”
The horn sounded again.
Another charge was launched.
Old Meng wanted to get up to take a look, but he couldn’t stand; his legs hurt, and he fell back onto the couch.
Forget it, forget it.
It was a young person’s world now, and he couldn’t keep up; he would just focus on recovering.
In truth, it was just a minor injury; in the past, he would have just toughed it out.
It wasn’t that it didn’t hurt, but he knew there was no one else, so he had to go himself.
Now, his body had suddenly become delicate; his body was quite cunning, knowing it could finally act up now.
General Meng and Lord Jiang galloped side-by-side on their warhorses.
Although he knew his brother-in-law, Jiang Feng, was more skilled in martial arts than him, Meng Shaoxia still said, “I will lead the charge in a moment; you stay in the back and command.”
Meng Shaoxia felt deep down that if it weren’t for him, Jiang Feng wouldn’t have needed to come.
He was the Princess’s own grandson; he could certainly have had a good life developing his career in the capital.
His brother-in-law had volunteered solely out of concern for him.
Even if something happened to him, his brother-in-law must not be harmed.
Besides, he felt that he only knew how to fight and wasn’t good at other things; if something were to happen to him, with Brother Feng looking after things, his family should be able to live in peace.
War was just that cruel; there was always a risk of losing one’s life.
There was no escaping it.
Moreover, Brother Feng still had a fiancée waiting for him; they hadn’t married yet.
He had a wife and children, so if he truly had to die, he could be the one to go first.
Of course, it would be best if he didn’t die.
Meng Shaoxia was glad he had come to replace his grandfather.
The grandfather who was omnipotent in his mind turned out to be a scrawny old man covered in scars once he took off his armor; at this age, an old man from an ordinary family would be enjoying his twilight years at home.
Yet his grandfather still had to go to the battlefield.
He had grown up rapidly.
It wasn’t about vying for troops or power; he simply hoped to stand on his own two feet as soon as possible, replace his grandfather, and let him rest.
His two children were very cute, and he hoped his grandfather could go back and hold them.
The wind at the border was strong.
Even the sound of their voices would be blown away by the wind.
“Fine. You must come back alive, otherwise I will have my sister remarry and have your two children change their surnames.”
Meng Shaoxia’s body twisted, and he almost fell off his horse.
Thinking about that scenario was a bit terrifying.
Considering how protective his father-in-law and mother-in-law were of their children, it was truly possible.
But A-Yu would certainly not be willing; she would just wait foolishly, so he had to go back.
“Giddyap!”
He spurred his horse and whipped it forward.
The cold wind was biting.
The final battle.
When that time comes, they would return in triumph.
The soldiers pressed forward, undeterred.
Today was the New Year, and they continued to fight; Lord Jiang said they would definitely be able to go home in the new year.
Watching the army move forward, Jiang Feng, who was in the middle of the ranks, thought that Miss Dong probably wouldn’t need to alter her wedding dress; the winter one would surely be wearable.
The Dong Family.
Minister Dong was frowning.
He watched his silly daughter excitedly talking about the wonders of the banquet.
Minister Dong thought to himself that, I’m afraid his daughter’s wedding dress would need to be altered again; the specifications might need to be raised even higher.
He dared not think about it, dared not think about it; what kind of luck did his daughter have?
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