pappabearbooks Chapter 54 Yang Guang: This cotton-padded coat is more than just leaky!
Chapter 54 Yang Guang: This cotton-padded coat is more than just leaky!
Back when Emperor Yang Jian was in power, the Sui Dynasty once sent an army of 200,000 to conquer Goguryeo in the east.
The result was a crushing defeat, and the lives of over 100,000 loyal souls were forever lost in the icy wilderness of Liaodong.
These children are the orphans left behind by the soldiers who died in that great war.
Yu Juluo felt deeply guilty for watching his father and brothers go to war but failing to bring them back.
He then spent all his wealth to gather them together and raise them to adulthood.
He also taught them martial arts, which was a way of giving their fathers and brothers an explanation.
Today, most of them serve in this camp.
"General, rest assured, Goguryeo's crushing defeat will never be repeated."
Lu Xiao held the list tightly in his hand and said solemnly.
"I believe you."
Yu Juluo trusted Yang Lin's judgment; although Lü Xiao was impulsive, he trusted his character.
Soon, all eight hundred people had been gathered.
At first glance, all you could see were strong, fit young men.
So many years have passed, and they have grown up from children, thus taking over their father's business.
"My lads!" Yu Juluo took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and his voice boomed like a bell.
"This is none other than Marquis Wen, the Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition, personally appointed by His Majesty, Lü Xiao Lü Zilie!"
From this day forward, you are officially under the command of Marquis Wen, and will accompany him on his northern expedition against the Eastern Turks. Do you understand?
Yu Juluo looked at the eight hundred soldiers, his eyes glistening with tears.
Although he wasn't her biological son, she raised him single-handedly.
He even personally taught them martial arts, and now that he has to watch them go to the battlefield, he is truly reluctant to part with them.
"promise!"
Eight hundred people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!
They had long heard of Lü Xiao's sweeping victories in the martial arts competition among a hundred kingdoms and held this young and valiant marquis in high esteem.
Now I can follow under his command and participate in such an earth-shattering expedition.
Far from being afraid, they were all filled with excitement.
"General, the men have been chosen. I will now take them back to prepare." Lü Xiao bowed to Yu Juluo.
"Once I capture Shibi Khan and return victorious, I will come to drink and celebrate this triumphant return with the old general!"
Yu Juluo nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times, before finally just waving his hand: "Go, be careful."
He watched as Lü Xiao led his eight hundred men, lined up neatly, and filed out of the camp.
The sunlight cast long shadows on them, just as he had when he watched their fathers go off to war.
I just hope that this time the outcome will be different.
After leaving the camp, Lü Xiao arranged for Pei Yuanqing to lead the eight hundred men first.
Despite his young age, Pei Yuanqing lived and ate with the soldiers alone at Shanma Pass.
"My lord, what about me?"
As Yang Guang's appointed vanguard officer, Yuwen Chenglong could not lag behind Pei Yuanqing.
"You... are a bit like a chicken bone (meaning something that's neither fish nor fodder)."
Pei Yuanqing was obedient, so Lü Xiao made arrangements with peace of mind.
Yuwen Chenglong is a bit strange; he really doesn't dare to entrust him with important responsibilities.
"Hahaha, you're useless, you're just useless!"
Pei Yuanqing laughed loudly from the side, "The Marquis is absolutely right."
"My lord," Yuwen Chenglong pulled Lü Xiao aside and whispered, "You've just taken up your post in Dongdu, and you must be short of money. Here's some of my offering to you."
Although he's incompetent, his family is rich.
Didn't my father, Yuwen Huaji, use all that money he embezzled to pave roads?
"Well, my family is lacking quite a bit."
Lu Xiao didn't want to ask for an exorbitant price, but since he had met a benefactor, he had to take advantage of him.
"Don't be afraid to have too much!"
Yuwen Chenglong was even worried that Lü Xiao wouldn't accept it.
"You really are good material to be a vanguard officer."
Lu Xiao patted Yuwen Chenglong on the shoulder, his satisfaction evident.
If there were more people like this who were willing to give money and were also sensible, then Lu Xiao wouldn't be far from becoming the richest man in the Sui Dynasty!
With manpower and money in hand, Lü Xiao was in high spirits.
Upon returning to the Marquis of Wen's residence, he specifically instructed the steward to bring more of the finest fresh meat and pile it up in the courtyard.
"Big cat, dinner's ready!"
I saw a small mountain of fresh chunks of meat, still streaked with blood.
Big Tiger was taken aback for a moment, then let out a low growl of confusion: "Awooo?"
The sun must have risen in the west today, why are they giving us so much food?
Is this such a large portion a last meal before someone's execution?
"Eat! Eat your fill!" Lu Xiao walked over, squatted down, and vigorously rubbed the big tiger's fluffy head, which felt wonderful.
"Now that we've eaten our fill and rested our spirits, we're ready to go into battle and raid the wolf's den in the north!"
"Aww~"
As if he understood, Da Hu buried himself in his work and began to work hard.
Silent all night.
The next morning, as dawn broke.
Lu Xiao had already gotten up and changed into his signature armor.
He wore a purple-gold crown with three forks to tie his hair, a red brocade robe with a hundred flowers from Sichuan, a beast-faced chainmail armor, and a lion-shaped belt around his waist.
Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, he saw a man who was heroic and imposing, exuding an aura of dominance.
He pushed open the gate and strode out with great spirit.
"Taoist!"
A clear and familiar female voice rang out.
Just then, Yang Ruyi arrived at the gate of the mansion and immediately spotted Lü Xiao, who was about to leave and was fully armed.
Under the sunlight, the armor shimmered, the Red Hare was exceptionally swift, and the halberd in his hand gleamed with a chilling light.
The young general on horseback looked majestic and awe-inspiring, like a god descending to earth, which made her stare in a daze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.
"Your Highness."
At this moment, Lü Xiao was in a great mood. He was finally going to war and could get away from this clingy person.
"This was embroidered for you by me, keep it safe."
Yang Ruyi took out a peace charm, raised her hand, and handed it to Lü Xiao.
We hope that Lü Xiao's expedition goes smoothly and that he returns safely to Dongdu.
Compared to the last one, this time the amulet is more exquisite.
Clearly, Yang Ruyi had put a lot of effort into this during this period.
Lu Xiao carefully put it away and said, "Thank you, Princess."
He had too many amulets; a while ago, Yang Yu'er sent him another one.
If you really wanted to tie it, it could wrap around your waist all the way.
However, he still tied them around his waist, one on the left and one on the right, for Yang Yu'er and Yang Ruyi respectively.
Upon arriving outside the city, Lü Xiao met up with Yang Guang and the others, and the group set off northward.
"Zilie, did Ruyi see you off?"
Since the journey was long, Yang Guang chatted with Lü Xiao.
"I gave it to you, and also a peace charm."
As he spoke, Lü Xiao patted the amulet at his waist.
Seeing that Yang Guang kept staring at the peace charm, Lü Xiao asked, puzzled:
"Your Majesty, didn't the princess prepare one for you?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Guang came to his senses.
Peace talisman?
He didn't!
Yang Ruyi was truly a waste of her resources; not only did she not come to see her father off, but she went to see Lü Xiao off instead.
The problem is, you're giving gifts, but how can you be so biased?
If you have time to embroider a good luck charm for Lü Xiao, why can't you prepare one for your own father?
This little cotton-padded jacket isn't just leaky, it's practically riddled with a huge hole!
Even so, Yang Guang still spoke with immense pride.
"I've given it to you. I've put it under my clothes to prevent it from getting dirty with dust."
…………
Brothers, it'll be past midnight from now on, so let's do some free "power generation" for love!
You can also leave a review; no need to type, just a five-star rating will suffice.
May you have a smooth and successful 26 years, good health, and great wealth!