MHNEB 30 (1/2)

Book 2: Generals die after a hundred battles; heroes return after ten years’ time.

Chapter 30: The First Companion <5> [Part 1 of 2]

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Because of the arrangement of Deputy General Wang, Hua Mulan did not suffer much at all. Instead, she had profited from misfortune and became an official soldier of the right army.

The left, right and central army hosts the most outstanding soldiers in the entire HeiShan camp. The central army consists of all the Xianbei nobles and the northern nobility clans. They carried their personal armours. They are the elite troop. It is not easy for anyone to enter the central army. Thus, the left and right armies had become a better choice for Hua Mulan, who is a Xianbei-ren. 

Hua Mulan was originally a recruit of the "Black Camp" of the right army. At this time, it is normal for her to be promoted to a sergeant of the right army and enjoy the food and salaries of a regular soldier in the army. 

Hua Mulan hated people with personalities like Deputy General Tu Gui, but unexpectedly, she was released soon after. Prior to that, she thought that she would be given a hard time if she was not sentenced to death. Tu Gui was generous enough to allow her to “follow” him in the future. She did not even have a chance to say “no”.

A-Dan ZhiQi and her teammates in the same team urged Hua Mulan not to disobey the commands of her superior officer. Finally, Hua Mulan accepted the promotion willingly, because of a single sentence that A-Dan ZhiQi said. 

"You will always be our companion. When you join the right army, our Black camp will become ‘guardians’ to protect all of you in the right army. Isn’t that a good thing? Just the mere thought of it excites me, it’s finally our turn to protect you! "

When she joined the right army, the only difference was that training was more strictly adhered to. Her strength, which was different from that of ordinary people, was gradually revealed. Of course, she had constantly remembered what her father had instructed her. So, what others see is only the tip of the iceberg, but even merely revealing the tip would cause many to admire her and treat her as a leadership figure.

Although Tu Gui recruited Hua Mulan, she treated him nonchalantly. During the several battles with the Rourans, he had only allowed Hua Mulan to shoot the enemies at the rear, and she was not allowed to charge ahead. 

Fortunately, Hua Mulan did not have to feel any feelings of awe from this "superior”. They maintained a superficial relationship. They were neither incompatible like fire and water as people thought nor did they turn their hostility into friendship to become as familiar with one another like a family. 

Although A-Dan ZhiQi's achievements are not as outstanding as Hua Mulan's, he has a good view of the overall situation and is brave and resourceful. Deputy General Wang has taken a fancy to his talents and sent him to join the right army’s garrison. He also officially became a soldier.  

The other men of the Black-16 were all transferred to the right army over time and had new companions. But after all, they were all in the right army. In their spare time, they would gather together to brag and chat with each other, complain about their new superiors for being sick in the head, or boast that the new captain’s cookery is better than A-Dan ZhiQi’s and etcetera. 

Hua Mulan almost thought that they are going to live on this way continuously. They would carry on with their interesting lives. She thought that when they recall the past, what would be recalled would be them chatting under the starry skies wrapped in their fur coats, or swapping pointers on martial arts moves in the free time. 

But there will always be a time when Hua Mulan will clearly realize that she is not in the military town that was her hometown. She was also not in an era of peace. 

She is experiencing war. 

And a war would seize every wonderful thing away. 

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"Why do I feel that there’s something wrong?” Tu Gui held the reins and summoned his scouts with a gentle voice. "Scouts, head to the front to have a look. Usually, at this time, the Rourans would have already had escape without leaving a shadow behind. Why are they still not far from us now?” 

A feeling of unease surged up in his heart. 

The Rourans are usually not brave or good in battling. They are used to the Rourans retreating after slightly harassing their troops. 

Now they have been chasing the Rourans for more than 80 li, the Rourans have yet to scatter to escape. 

Hua Mulan also felt a feeling of unease. 

The Rouran’s retreat this time seemed too uniform. If the reason for them retreating uniformly for a few dozen li is that the distance is not far enough, now that they have been chasing for such a long time, their formation is still so uniform……

It feels like they came here to walk a dog. 

The vanguard battalion of Man Gu had already rushed out and they charged so far ahead that not even a glimpse of their shadows could be seen. For Man Gu, his main mission is to catch up with all the enemies that can be seen and wipe them all out. 

The frontal leader, Man Gu, the main force leader, Tu Gui, and the rear guard, Deputy General Wang, are the three men who were ordered to battle this time. They are responsible for chasing away the Rourans who had intruded their borders this time. 

Since the beginning of winter, the harassment of the Rourans had become more frequent as the days passes. Even the Wei Army were used to their constant harassment. Once there is an intrusion, the whole army will be activated, and the left and right armies will attack alternative days. 

But this time, even generals who were not so smart like Tu Gui felt a little strange when they had chased the enemies for such a long distance. 

"Reporting to superior! The frontal troops met a GaoChe army with a population of about one thousand, and now is in a scuffle now!” 

"Reporting to superior! There is a Ruru troop on the right, consisting about 800 people, charging towards us now!”

"Reporting to superior! There is a Ruru troop on the left, consisting about 500 people, approaching us in less than 20 li!” 

The scouts, who headed out to scout the situation, returned. All of them looked like they ate dirt. 

This is obviously the enemy's trap. This time, it is not small troop harassment at all!

As the military strategists predicted, the Rourans can't always make such a fuss and constantly assign people to slowly nibble their strength away. Now, the Rouran troops had really come down. 

In a few days, it will be Your Majesty's "Heavenly son’s longevity day" (0). It could be seen that the Rourans want to give Great Wei a big slap. 

"Reporting to superior! The rear guards have been surrounded by the Ruru troops. It is not known which direction they came from. They have about 1500 people!” 

"Reporting to Lord General, we are surrounded!" The few calvaries that looked like specks of dust far away returned in the end, bringing more depressing news.

They chased the troop of the Rourans, and in the process of pursuing, the distance between them grew longer and longer. Man Gu and other soldiers who were good in fighting and battling had long rushed to the front. Most of the people who remained slightly at the rear were the long-ranged archers who are better at riding and shooting. Deputy General Wang led the garrison, and most of them wore heavy armour. Thus, they are left at the rear. 

Now there are a large troop of enemies in the front, and there is no way of retreat. Regardless of the front or the rear, there are large troops of enemies that are heading towards them. No matter how they looked at the situation, it felt like a dead end. 

"Damn, when have these Rurus became so smart!" Tu Gui only took 500 soldiers with him. After a while of deliberation, he immediately decided.

"Everyone, let’s break through the encirclement on the left!"

There are only 500 Rurus on the left. This is equal to the number of soldiers he commanded. His people and horses are good at riding and shooting. In any case, it is safest to break through from the left side.

"General! This subject think that we should retreat to the rear now to join forces with Deputy General Wang!”

When Hua Mulan heard that Tu Gui was about to escape, the disdain in her heart immediately surged. 

She was actually a soldier under such a general! Forced to become a weak coward!

Hua Mulan is the definitely the best shooter without a doubt amongst the troop. Wherever Tu Gui joins in a battle, she will be requested by him to join too. But what he could not imagine was that Hua Mulan, who usually never spoke, suddenly spoke. 

"Are you the leading general or am I the leading general? I said we should break out of the encirclement from the left. There’s no room for your interruption here!”

Tu Gui obviously felt that his face was lost, so he immediately took his horsewhip out and lashed at her. 

When Hua Mulan saw that whip was lashed to her, she immediately leapt off her saddle and rolled out. She took the opportunity to avoid the humiliating whip. Then, she knelt down by Tu Gui's feet and begged.

How could she not interrupt? Captain and Hu LiHun are part of the garrison!

She cannot abandon her companions, and she doesn’t care even if she loses face!

"General, our left side is a desert. We are not familiar with the terrain. If we break through blindly from the left side and we would easily enter the enemy's trap. Since the past, when being surrounded by enemies, sometimes what is seen might not be the truth. Perhaps what is seen is the safest is the left side, but it may be a trap left by the enemy!”

Hua Mulan tried her best to make her voice appear calm and not to show her eagerness to save her companions. "Although the frontal general, Man Gu, has been involved in a scuffle, everyone in their frontal battalion is a brave warrior that can defeat ten enemies, and there is no possibility of retreat…..."

"What we should do at this time is to return at once. First, we should get rid of the gradually shrinking pursuers. Second, there are more than 400 people in General Wang's place. Once we join them, we could have the strength to face them head-on in a battle. Only when the way back to the barracks is free of barriers can the reinforcements be sent at the fastest speed, and General Man Gu will have a chance of life! "

Tu Gui looked at Hua Mulan kneeling on the ground, and he is also confused. He has also experienced many battles in his life. His ability to survive from the battlefield to the present does not depend entirely on his valiancy. 

He intuitively felt that Hua Mulan was right, but the pressure from the battle of five hundred troops to one thousand enemies was not something that he could bear.

The number of soldiers brought by each general is limited. Once these soldiers die, the new soldiers to fill up the numbers would be recruits. No one is willing to lose so many soldiers and horses for no reason. After all, it is a matter of life and death.

Even if he retreated to the camp now, no one would be able to say anything about it. After being encircled by so many enemy troops, it is already considered capable if one manages to escape. 

Darkness filled the surroundings. The smell of withered grass and yellow sand mingled in the air and with a sense of chill. The ground seemed to be shaking violently. The horses kicked the gravel restlessly. The sound of the horse's hooves hitting the ground and the sound of the horses’ neigh, as well as the occasional collision of weapons on the soldiers' bodies, all made Tu Gui more confused.

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(0) Heavenly son’s longevity day: the emperor’s birthday

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Fleur's Corner:

Next update: 22/4. 

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