Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Pei Yaojun raised his eyes, "This subordinate wouldn't dare!"

"What is that?"

"Writing and killing are two different things. I would rather use my sword than my pen to relieve your worries, General!"

The sergeant stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"You speak beautifully, but I don't know if you really have backbone. Since you've written it, come with me to the main tent."

Pei Yaojun was led by the squad leader to the main tent. Outside the tent, Captain Zhan Yuan was waiting. He was not surprised to see that it was him.

"It really was you."

Before Pei Yaojun could grasp the meaning of those words, he was patted heavily on the shoulder.

"Come with me to see General Shentu."

When Pei Yaojun followed Zhan Yuan into the main tent, it was already full of people.

General Shentu sat in the main seat; he was broad-shouldered and burly, with a rugged face.

Seated on either side were deputy generals, brigadier generals, and guerrilla commanders, all clad in armor with solemn expressions.

In the center of the tent was a huge sand table, with mountains, rivers, cities, and passes clearly visible.

Pei Yaojun sat down in the corner, spread out the paper, picked up the pen, and prepared to take notes.

"The Northern Barbarians are ambitious wolves. They annexed the Western Rong for only a year, and now they are looking south again, launching a surprise attack on the border of our Great Wei. This battle is unavoidable."

The lieutenants spoke one after another, some advocating for holding the position, some advocating for an attack, and some saying that supplies had not yet arrived and that they should wait.

After arguing for a long time, no conclusion was reached.

The military meeting ended late at night.

General Shentu rubbed his temples, clearly dissatisfied with the arguments.

The officers left one after another, and Pei Yaojun organized the recorded documents and presented them to Shen Tu with both hands.

Shen Tu accepted it without a care, and was about to tell him to leave when Pei Yaojun suddenly spoke.

"General, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"explain."

Pei Yaojun pointed to a pass on the sand table.

"The Northern Di's surprise attack this time was not large in number and was concentrated on the front, while their flanks were relatively weak."

If we can outflank them from the flank and cut off their supply lines, the enemy in the front will retreat without a fight. However, we must move quickly to prevent their reinforcements from arriving in time.

After a moment of silence in the tent, Shentu looked at him scrutinizingly. "What's your name?"

"My name is Pei San."

Shentu stared at his drooping hair. "Lift your head up! What kind of man acts like cowering like that?"

Pei Yaojun had no choice but to look up, exposing his face to the flickering candlelight inside the tent.

Shen Tu narrowed his eyes and recalled, "Pei San, haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

"General, you flatter me. I am but a lowly servant; how could I possibly have the honor of meeting you?"

Pei Yaojun's expression was calm, not like he was lying.

Shentu stared at him for a few moments, then waved his hand, "Go down."

Pei Yaojun bowed and withdrew. Not long after, Shen Tu summoned Zhan Yuan, the captain in charge of Pei Yaojun's team.

"What is Pei San's background?"

Zhan Yuan clasped his hands and said, "Reporting to the general, the name on the register is Pei San, aged twenty-one."

He was arrogant when he first arrived and got into several fights, but now he's much more well-behaved.

"He was by no means mediocre. He could read and write, and his suggestions and strategies were methodical, unlike the average farm boy."

Zhan Yuan said solemnly, "I have checked, and he does not have any fugitive tattoos on his body."

"By the way, he's from the capital, a native of the capital."

"The capital? We ran all the way from the brocade-covered mountains to this godforsaken Iron Horse Pass just to eat military rations?"

Shen Tu looked at the neat handwriting on the military council record, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Interesting, let's use it for now."

The day after tomorrow, the Northern Di army will press on to the border.

Dark clouds loomed over the city outside the Iron Horse Pass, and war drums thundered.

In the recruit camp, the sergeant called out names one by one.

When Wang Hu was called upon, he glared fiercely at Pei Yaojun, grabbed his sword, and charged up the city wall.

One, two, three... all the soldiers in the same tent went, but Pei Yaojun's name was never called.

As the setting sun cast a blood-red glow, the first batch of wounded soldiers were carried down.

Wang Hu actually returned alive, his left arm was bruised, and he spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at Pei Yaojun's feet.

"Pah! Coward! I thought you were so capable, but you don't even dare to go into battle!"

Pei Yaojun was already filled with doubt and resentment, and Wang Hu's provocation made his anger surge.

Zhan Yuan was checking the casualty roster when he saw him barge in. He frowned and asked, "What do you want?"

"Why not let your subordinates go into battle to kill the enemy?" Pei Yaojun clenched his fists, his voice deep.

"Everyone else in the tent has left, but I'm the only one left behind. What does this mean?"

Zhan Yuan put down his pen and looked him over. "You can read. The general has kept you in the camp to keep records. You don't have to go to the front lines to risk your life. Others would kill for such a good job."

"I have no such ambition! I came to Tiema Pass to earn military merit and defend our territory, not to be a clerk!"

"You really want to go to the front lines?"

Pei Yaojun replied resolutely, "Yes! Even if we die, we should die on the battlefield, wrapped in a horse's hide!"

Zhan Yuan's lips curved into a smile, a smile that held a hint of appreciation mixed with a touch of helplessness.

"What are you talking about, dying or what? You're bad luck. Tomorrow you'll be going to defend the city with the vanguard."

He pulled out a wooden plaque and threw it over, saying, "Take this. I want to see you wearing this plaque when the retreat sounds."

Pei Yaojun caught the wooden plaque, its hard texture imprinting itself on his palm.

He bowed and turned to leave the tent.

Dusk completely engulfed Tiema Pass, and flames soared into the sky atop the distant city walls, the sounds of battle still echoing.

He gripped the wooden plaque tightly, finally feeling a sense of reality.

He wanted to go to the battlefield, kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions, be ennobled and appointed as a general, and return to the capital in glory to ask Wenying for her hand in marriage.

My heart has never changed.

The next day, the Northern Barbarians launched an even fiercer offensive.

Ladders were erected on the city walls, and a rain of arrows blotted out the sky.

Pei Yaojun gripped his long sword tightly and charged onto the city wall with the vanguard, all he could hear were screams and cries.

The first strike cleaved into the shoulder blade of the Northern Di soldier, splattering warm blood all over his face.

The man fell down with his eyes wide open. He was stunned for a moment, then was pushed forward by the person behind him.

"What are you standing there for! Kill them!"

The soldier's shouts startled him awake.

The second cut, the third cut... the blade chipped, his hand was split open, and blood mixed with sweat covered his hands.

He went from initial bewilderment and astonishment to developing a near-numb ruthlessness.

The ferocious faces of the Northern Di people kept flashing before his eyes. Pei Yaojun swung his sword, parried, and slashed, his movements going from clumsy to fluid.

Just like a wolf cub that grows up after being baptized by wind and snow, showing its sharp fangs and living for blood.

In the midst of the melee, a stray arrow shot from the side, aiming straight for the soldier beside him.

Without a second thought, Pei Yaojun turned and swung his sword to parry the arrow, which grazed his arm and tore open a bloody gash.

The two soldiers turned around, realizing they had almost lost their lives, and their faces turned ashen.

"What are you standing there for? Focus on killing the enemy!"

Pei Yaojun gritted his teeth and spat it out, then turned to face the onrushing Northern Di soldiers.

The battle raged from dawn till dusk. When the Northern Barbarians sounded the retreat, the city walls were piled high with corpses.

Pei Yaojun came down from the battlefield, his body soaked in blood and sweat, and the wound on his left arm was so deep that the bone was visible.

Compared to his comrades who were missing limbs and were forever left on the city walls, he was considered lucky.

…………