Please call me Your Majesty!

Chapter 296 This is called turning a funeral into a celebration
Actually, if we really want to be pedantic, there are still many loopholes in the Bawutu language.

But at a time like this, nobody cares about these details.

The centurions exchanged glances, all understanding the ambiguity in his words, yet they all tacitly remained silent.

After all, the outcome was still good.

Seeing the satisfied look in Tuoba Lie's eyes, Ba Wutu's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The morale, which had been particularly low due to the last-minute change of head coach, has finally begun to recover.

Outside the tents, weary soldiers huddled around the campfire, some humming folk songs from their hometowns. The neighing of warhorses mingled with the wind, adding a touch of life to the cold night.

Tuoba Lie's goal can be considered to have been achieved.

A barely perceptible smile curved his lips. Although he had obtained the position of head coach through some underhanded means, he was not a completely useless and incompetent person.

The Northern Di King's preparations for this southern expedition, both in terms of military strategy and tactics, were undeniably thorough.

In such a harsh environment, he was able to rise to the position of commander of ten thousand, partly due to the king's secret favor, but also because he did indeed have certain abilities in this area.

Otherwise, even if Tuoba Lie was the king's brother-in-law, he could not possibly take over the position of commander-in-chief of the three armies at this time.

That is precisely why Tuoba Lie was so eager to prove himself.

He stared at the location of Xueyuan Pass on the map, as if he wanted to burn a hole in it with his gaze, where the wolf flag of the Northern Barbarians should have already been planted.

Tuoba Lie wanted to prove himself to the king, and also wanted others to understand that he was not just a smooth talker.

Strictly speaking, Bautu's retreat without achieving any significant results can be considered a defeat.

However, Tuoba Lie knew that under the current circumstances, this could not possibly be a defeat, but only a victory.

He suddenly burst into laughter, the sound shaking the dust off the tent ceiling.

"Good!" Tuoba Lie's excited voice could almost lift the tent off: "General Ba Wutu is indeed the mainstay of our Northern Di. Not only did he defeat the Southern Barbarian army at Xueyuan Pass, but he also saw through their tricks in time and protected our Northern Di soldiers from being harmed by the enemy's conspiracy."

He stood up as he spoke, his heavy armor clanging loudly. His tall figure was projected onto the tent, like a god of war.

"Your wisdom is like the most majestic eagle on the grassland, capable of crossing all mountains and powerful enemies."

Ba Wutu knelt on one knee, his heart pounding. He felt that Tuoba Lie's words had a hidden meaning.

"I will remember your achievements. After the war ends, I will report these achievements to the king so that he may know of the heroic deeds of my Northern Di generals."

Tuoba Lie slammed his hand heavily on Bawutu's shoulder, the force causing Bawutu to stagger. Suddenly, a horn sounded outside the tent, long and desolate, as if echoing these words.

"Thank you, Commander. I am able to be where I am today entirely because of your kindness and support. Without you, I would not be where I am today." Bawutu spoke with great enthusiasm and his voice was so loud that the soldiers outside the tent could hear him clearly.

His kneeling posture was as perfect as a sculpture, but in his heart he had already cursed Tuoba Lie's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Staring at the wolf-skin carpet on the floor, counting the tips of the hairs stained black with blood, each one seemed to mock his plight.

Don't be fooled by Tuoba Lie's sweet words; he was just making empty promises.

All credit can only be awarded after the war is over.

If they win this battle, they can directly break through Xueyuan Pass and seize the fertile lands of the Great Zhou.

These commanders of ten thousand were all great contributors to the expansion of territory. At that point, what would these small achievements of the present matter?
It makes absolutely no difference whether it's there or not!

Tuoba Lie's hand was still on his shoulder, the force of which reminded him of the feeling of being bitten on the shoulder by a wolf when he was a child, and he couldn't help but swallow.

If they were defeated, and he didn't even take down the city walls, how could he claim credit for it?

Bawutu suddenly felt like laughing; the scene was as absurd as a satirical fable circulating on the grasslands.

So no matter what, his performance was practically a waste of time.

The only advantage was that, despite his defeat and retreat, Tuoba Lie not only did not punish him, but also praised him in front of everyone.

Tuoba Lie finally withdrew his hand, and as he turned around, his armor made a crisp clanging sound.
Of course, no matter what he thought in his heart, Bautu would not show it at all on the surface.

When he looked up, every muscle on his face was in the perfect position, displaying an expression of overwhelming gratitude.

A hand silently slipped into the gap in the armor, grabbed a lump of flesh, and squeezed it with all its might.

The intense pain immediately brought tears to his eyes, as if he were truly unable to repay the kindness shown to him by Tuoba Lie, and was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

A perfectly timed tear rolled down his cheek, accompanied by a choked sob that even Batu himself believed it.

As Tuoba Lie turned around, Bawutu quickly wiped away the tear.
Tuoba Lie was very satisfied with his performance, and a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

Ba Wutu's subtle actions might go unnoticed by others, but they couldn't escape his notice. However, this was precisely the effect Tuoba Lie desired.

“General Bawutu, there’s no need for this. This is what I should do. Our king is a just and impartial ruler. He will not overlook any warrior who has contributed to the Northern Di.” Tuoba Lie’s voice was particularly loud in the wind, as if it could penetrate the entire camp.

"This humble general is willing to die for the King and the Commander!" Having already suffered a loss, Batu certainly knew what he should do at this moment.

Even if he wanted to strangle that bastard Tuoba Lie, he had to cooperate with him now, otherwise all the pretense of being a coward would have been for nothing.
The other captains understood, stood up, knelt on one knee, and shouted excitedly, "We are willing to die for the King and the Commander!"

The clanging of armor echoed throughout, like a meticulously choreographed drama. Someone deliberately banged their sword, making a sharp, jarring sound in the tense atmosphere.

This is the military, a place where power is inherently very sensitive.

Regardless of what you think in your heart, or how strange you feel about the current scene.

At this time, if I don't stand up and show my loyalty, wouldn't that mean I have ulterior motives?
If someone tries to frame me and spreads this information, that would be a capital offense.

Seeing the submissive demeanor of these commanders, Tuoba Lie was even more pleased with Ba Wutu.

A meaningful smile played at the corners of his lips, his fingers unconsciously tracing the uneven texture of the armrest. Even without winning a battle, or even with the small merit of boosting morale.

The fact that he could make these proud and arrogant commanders bow down to him was already a kind of progress.

Tuoba Lie's gaze swept over the bowed heads of the crowd. No one dared to move; everyone remained kneeling, like cast-iron statues. He noticed the bulging veins on the back of some people's necks. He was pleased to see those once unruly spines now bent into a respectful arc.

Tuoba Lie tapped the armrest with increasingly slower rhythm, each tap sounding like a death knell.

Of course, I didn't expect that this one incident alone would make these people completely submit to me. These things need to be done gradually. Once or twice won't have much of an impact, but if it happens repeatedly, these people will naturally become truly respectful to me.

Tuoba Lie suddenly stood up, his armor clattering, like a hungry wolf poised to pounce.

"Generals, please rise. Neither His Majesty nor I have ever doubted your loyalty."

His voice suddenly softened, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present. A slight tremor ran through someone's knees as they left the ground, quickly masked by deliberately suppressed breathing.

"However..." Tuoba Lie changed the subject, his gaze falling in the direction of Xueyuan Pass.

The temperature inside the tent seemed to drop suddenly, and everyone held their breath in unison.

"His Majesty has placed great trust in us, and we should repay that trust with our military achievements. Now, a mere pass has blocked the path of our Northern Di warriors, which is utterly unacceptable."

With each word he spoke, he tapped his finger on the map. The marks left by his fingernails left deep indentations on the parchment.

After speaking, Tuoba Lie turned around, strode to the commander's chair in the central tent, sat down with an imposing air, and said menacingly, "Which general is willing to share the King's burdens and solve this big problem of Xueyuan Pass?"

The heavy chair creaked under its own weight, as if foreshadowing some ominous sign.

The generals, who had been so confident just moments before, all lowered their heads immediately, and not one of them dared to speak.

The tent suddenly became eerily quiet, with only the crackling of the embers in the brazier.

……

Tuoba Lie gritted his teeth inwardly. His gaze was like a knife, sweeping over every lowered head, but he found that no one dared to meet his eyes.

They all spoke eloquently, but when it came to actually needing their help, not a single one of them stepped forward.

Suddenly, the neighing of warhorses came from outside the tent, accompanied by the clattering of chains dragging on the ground. The sound was particularly jarring in the heavy atmosphere.

Tuoba Lie subconsciously looked at Ba Wutu. Regardless of the truth, at least on the surface he had fought well.

Bautu felt that sharp gaze, and the muscles in his back tensed instantly. The wool lining of his armor was soaked with cold sweat.

He shuddered and quickly forced an extremely awkward smile: "General, it's not that I don't want to share your burdens, it's just that my troops have just fought a great battle. Although the warriors are willing to fight for the king, they still need to rest, don't they?"

If anyone present had believed his words, they would have been incredibly stupid and would never be alive today to be in this position.

In a corner, a centurion couldn't help but purse his lips, then quickly lowered his head to hide it. An eerie silence filled the tent, like the calm before a storm.

Bawutu was a commander of ten thousand men, with a full ten thousand Northern Di cavalry under his command.

When he attacked the city just now, he probably used less than two thousand men.

Someone furtively glanced up and caught a glimpse of the almost nonexistent signs of battle on Bautu's armor. The gleaming plates reflected a blinding light in the firelight, as if silently mocking something.

Moreover, they could see very clearly that this guy hadn't even brought his own personal guards; he had only brought less than two hundred men to deal with the situation.

Most importantly, during the siege, his personal guards were mostly just cheering from the rear; very few of them actually participated in the attack.

If this level of attack is tiring, then he might as well quit being a commander of ten thousand.

Bautu felt several gazes piercing him, like needles sticking out of his back. He hurriedly pretended to adjust his wrist guards, actually using the action to hide his slightly trembling fingers.

Tuoba Lie suddenly let out a cold laugh, the sound like an ice blade scraping against an iron plate, sending chills down everyone's spines. He wasn't targeting Ba Wutu: "What, is there no one willing to share the King's burdens?"

He's already fought one battle, and if he doesn't want to continue attacking, there's not much anyone else can say.

The hourglass in the corner of the tent made a soft, tinkling sound, the sound of the sand flowing seemed exceptionally clear at that moment. Time seemed to stretch out, each second becoming unbearable.

Bawutu's eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea came to him.

He then feigned a sigh and said, "It's a pity that my soldiers are exhausted and need rest; otherwise, I really would like to continue the attack."

As he said this, he deliberately made his voice sound somewhat regretful, but he secretly observed Tuoba Lie's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

This statement sounds a bit like someone who's gotten a good deal but is still acting innocent, and many people are dissatisfied with Bautu.

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze, and the flickering flames in the brazier reflected on the somber faces of the men. Some unconsciously tightened their grip on the hilts of their swords.

You certainly have reasons not to fight, but when the commander-in-chief is mustering troops, instead of keeping a low profile and remaining inconspicuous, you dare to make sarcastic and mocking remarks about them.

The faces of the several commanders immediately darkened.

Batu felt several hostile gazes directed at him, but he only slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

Tuoba Lie squinted, noticing the veins bulging on the forehead of the commander on his left, while the one on his right clenched his teeth tightly. The temperature inside the tent seemed to drop sharply.

"Hmph! What a boastful tone."

The speaker was a burly man with a face full of scars, who looked as if he were looking at someone who could be eaten.

"So it seems General Bawutu does indeed have a way to conquer Xueyuan Pass? Since your main force hasn't moved yet, why not just send another unit?"

A centurion responded in a sarcastic tone, his eyes fixed on Bautu's throat as if searching for the best angle to attack.

"I never realized General Bautu possessed such military strategy. I admire him!"

A sarcastic compliment came from the corner, the speaker deliberately emphasizing the word "admiration," the wolf head emblem on his armor appearing particularly ferocious in the firelight.

Even Tuoba Lie looked at Ba Wutu with dissatisfaction.

I thought to myself, "Do you even have a brain?"

After gaining an advantage, they didn't know how to restrain themselves and even dared to mock others.

(End of this chapter)