Li Hongyun found it hard to believe his own eyes, but after triple checking, he was convinced that this did not resemble the southeastern border of the Great Sheng Dynasty, but rather looked like the land beyond the passes.
"Could it be... the tiline has changed?
"Is this matter already many years in the future?
"According to historical records, General Deng, after pacifying the bandits in the southeast, was indeed transferred to defend the Northern Border, and likewise earned distinguished rits.
"But... what does this have to do with suppressing bandits in the southeast?"
Li Hongyun was sowhat puzzled.
Just then, he heard a commotion outside the military camp.
"No rcy for those who barge into the camp! Do you have a death wish?"
"Please pass along a ssage, just say an old acquaintance has co to visit, with an important matter to discuss with General Deng..."
"Who’s this beggar claiming connection to General Deng! Get out of here!"
Li Hongyun frowned, the voice sounding sowhat familiar.
He quickly took a few steps forward and saw two soldiers stopping a beggar-looking person, trying to drive him away.
"Let him go!"
Li Hongyun shouted.
The two soldiers were startled by his call and quickly said, "General, he..."
Li Hongyun’s face turned stern, "Stand down!"
Although Li Hongyun’s role was that of a "soldier," his status had been steadily climbing through battle after battle. By the ti of the Puning Port battle, he had already beco a Deputy General, and now his position was evidently even higher.
The two soldiers didn’t dare say another word and left with their heads down.
Li Hongyun approached the beggar and recognized him with surprise, "Mr. Xu! What happened to you?"
This disheveled and foul-slling beggar was none other than Mr. Xu, who used to be an aide to Governor Lin, whom he had once impersonated.
Mr. Xu wore a puzzled expression, "You recognize ? We seem to have... never t before."
Li Hongyun then rembered that Mr. Xu, as an aide character, had indeed never seen the soldier he was impersonating.
But that didn’t matter, Li Hongyun imdiately took Mr. Xu to find General Deng.
"Mr. Xu? How did you co to this state!"
General Deng Yuanjing was also exceedingly surprised to see the condition of Mr. Xu.
But in fact, Li Hongyun was even more astonished.
Because seeing General Deng and Mr. Xu’s states, he confird that this was indeed a matter of many years later, since the once energetic General Deng had turned grey at the temples, becoming a composed middle-aged man.
This undoubtedly confird Li Hongyun’s previous speculation, that this was the Northern Border of the Great Sheng Dynasty!
"Quick, take Mr. Xu to bathe and change clothes!" said General Deng.
Mr. Xu gestured with his hand, "No need, General Deng, I ca here just to see an old friend, and I won’t stay long.
"I heard General Deng was training troops in the Northern Border with remarkable success, and it reminded of an incident from many years ago. So, I wanted to see General Deng and deliver a ssage."
General Deng was sowhat puzzled, but still nodded, "Please speak, Mr. Xu."
Mr. Xu pondered for a mont then said, "General Deng, do you rember Lord Governor?"
General Deng spoke earnestly, "Lord Governor had shown great kindness and trust, how could I forget? It’s just unfortunate... with the fall of the Yan Party, Lord Governor was maliciously slandered by deceitful words, and though I intended to rescue him, I was too insignificant at that ti and ultimately helpless.
"Lord Governor died a wrongful death in prison, and I always deeply regret this..."
Mr. Xu said, "General Deng, in fact, Lord Governor had predicted his own end long ago.
"One day, Lord Governor received a secret letter. General Deng, do you know what was written in the letter?"
General Deng was silent for a mont, "Could it be... so warning of ’when the birds are over, the bow is put away’?"
This ti it was Mr. Xu who was surprised.
"It seems I’ve been sowhat redundant.
"A general of your standing, revered among n, who has established such rits, would hardly fail to understand this principle. Naturally, you don’t need my reminder.
"But still...
"I must say this. General Deng, this mont right now, is just like that mont back then.
"Once the border troubles are completely swept away, I fear General Deng will mostly follow the sa path as Lord Governor, dying in dejection."
General Deng was silent for a mont. He did not imdiately respond to Mr. Xu’s words but instead asked a question in return.
"Mr. Xu, back then, did you also say the sa thing to Lord Governor?"
Mr. Xu remained silent for a mont, "Yes."
General Deng’s face showed a relieved expression as he said, "Then, my answer is the sa as the Lord Governor’s."
Mr. Xu didn’t say anything more, but in his look towards General Deng there seed to be a bit more reluctance, and a bit more admiration.
"Since that’s the case, we shall part ways here.
"General Deng, the mountains are high and the rivers long, there may be no future eting.
"Please take good care of yourself!"
General Deng nodded, "You too, Mr. Xu, take good care of yourself!"
Watching Mr. Xu leave the military camp, General Deng did not try to detain him any longer. He only stared into the distant expanse of yellow sand, where it seed as if stars were trembling in his eyes – perhaps he was recalling a mont from the southeastern campaign against rebels years ago.
"Urgent report!
"General, the Northern Barbarians’ Atulun Tribe has raised an army of a hundred thousand and is invading!"
General Deng suddenly stood up, "Good, I was afraid they wouldn’t co! After this battle, we’ll ensure at least decades of peace for the Great Sheng Dynasty’s Northern Border!
"Prepare the army for war!"
General Deng swept his cloak with a flourish, and the soldiers began to hustle about their tasks.
Li Hongyun found himself in the bustling military camp, where he could see all kinds of new weaponry.
As early as the southeastern campaigns, General Deng had thoroughly improved the standard sword, rattan shields, and armor, equipping a large number of bird guns and fire lances, and had also refined and widely deployed the Wolf Whisker pikes specifically designed to counteract the barbarian swords.
Within just a few years of training, the southeastern Sheng Army transford from garrison soldiers who would flee at the sight of the enemy and couldn’t take a hit, into a formidable force that incurred minimal battle losses and struck terror into the hearts of their enemies.
By the ti they were at the Northern Border, the enemy was no longer re bandits but the Northern Barbarians, with a naturally different style of combat.
Li Hongyun saw many new types of war chariots, each fifteen feet long with compartnts that could carry more than ten soldiers. They were ard with flathrowers, bird guns, rattan shields, drill pipes, rockets, and various other weapons – so even had cannons on board.
Facing the charge of the Northern Barbarian cavalry, it took only an orderly formation of the chariots to comfortably withstand the impact.
After that, the bird guns and cannons, relying on the protection of the chariot formation, could inflict massive casualties on the enemy.
Besides this, there was also a formidable cavalry camp in the army, with riders all excellently equipped, carrying crossbows and firearms, coordinating with the infantry and charioteers to adapt to both offense and defense.
The army proceeded to march, everything in perfect order.
Li Hongyun watched as General Deng, who now commanded an army rarely seen in the world, mounted his warhorse. Yet, that departing figure seed to carry an indescribable loneliness.
Li Hongyun couldn’t help wanting to follow.
He wanted one last ti to play the part of an ordinary soldier and fight side by side with General Deng!
Unfortunately, his perspective swiftly rose, leaving behind the soldier’s body, soon reaching the sky above the troops.
Not far off, he could vaguely see dust billowing – this was the Northern Barbarian cavalry invading.
But there was no need for battle to know their fate.
After several invasions, each t with crushing defeat by General Deng and with heavy losses – even their leader, Atulun, nearly captured, they had no choice but to sign a pact. Henceforth, the Great Sheng Dynasty’s Northern Border had little major disturbance.
In Li Hongyun’s view, the two sides began to engage in battle.
Relying on the chariot formation, firearms, and cavalry, the Sheng Army sent the Northern Barbarian cavalry fleeing in disarray.
"Perhaps... this is what it ans for a good warrior to have no renowned conquests," Li Hongyun couldn’t help but reflect.
Of course, General Deng was certainly not a person of insignificance – as a great general whose na would be etched into history, his fa was considerable.
However, compared to those historical generals who would massacre entire armies and obliterate nations, General Deng’s accomplishnts didn’t seem quite as striking.
Only after Li Hongyun truly fought side by side with General Deng in the "Dark Sand" did he realize the caliber of this genius.
A good warrior has no renowned conquests; perhaps it was because General Deng was simply too invincible, so from south to north, from the Eastern Barbarians to the Northern Barbarians, he never really found a worthy opponent.
The viewpoint soared higher once more and then gradually beca enveloped in fog.
Li Hongyun realized that this last segnt was sowhat like an end-of-ga cutscene in a ga, sothing that could be completed without any particular action.
But the dialogue between Mr. Xu and General Deng indeed played a role in bringing a full-circle and highlighting effect.
"Goodbye, General Deng.
"Future generations will not forget you."
Li Hongyun felt a complex mix of emotions – there was so much he felt, yet he struggled to express it all at once.
Finally, a few lines of prompt appeared in his field of vision.
[Trial Illusion: Sealing nobility is not my intention]
[Victory!]
[Assessnt of Victory: Sealing nobility is not my intention, but may the seas be calm. n of the ga always must weigh pros and cons, be it wealth, power, or a reputation that outlives them. Everyone will ultimately make what they believe to be the right choice. So choices may not be understood by their contemporaries, might even be mocked as foolish or naive, but those who make these choices will be eternally rembered by history.]
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