novelSusiti Chapter 53: Eight Sui Dynasty Heroes with Stories
Chapter 53: Eight Sui Dynasty Heroes with Stories
Yang You is not too young, especially as a member of the royal family, his mind should be more mature than his peers.
Today's performance, however, was too focused on balance, lacking boldness and vigor, and even more so, it lacked appreciation and the ability to win over truly talented individuals.
This disappointed him somewhat.
Perhaps it's time to change some teachers for this child; otherwise, he might go astray on this path.
Lu Xiao remained standing in the main hall, listening to Yang Guang arrange for other ministers to assist Yang You in handling the affairs left behind.
I just felt that this court session was long and boring, no different from usual.
With everything arranged, the court assembly was finally drawing to a close.
After the court session ended, Lü Xiao yawned, stretched, and sauntered out of the main hall.
"Big brother!"
"My lord!"
Yuwen Chenglong and Pei Yuanqing hurriedly went to greet them.
"Let's go, let's select some men."
Lu Xiao calculated that he needed to get this done as soon as possible before setting off on his expedition the day after tomorrow.
Soon, the three arrived at the Right Wing Guard camp in the Eastern Capital.
The commander of this garrison in the capital was none other than Yu Juluo, one of the Nine Elders of the Sui Dynasty, a veteran general known for his bravery and his love for his soldiers.
Upon entering the camp gate, Yuwen Chenglong, the number one henchman, immediately rushed forward and loudly announced to the guards:
"Listen! My lord is acting on His Majesty's orders to assemble an elite force to launch a northern expedition against the Eastern Turks!"
I've come to your camp to select eight hundred fine young men! Go immediately and inform General Yu!
The captain dared not delay. He glanced at the imposing Lü Xiao and quickly turned and ran to the central command tent to report.
At this moment, Yu Juluo was taking a nap in the large tent.
Upon hearing that someone was coming to select soldiers, and that only eight hundred men were to be chosen to fight the Eastern Turks.
The old man sat up abruptly, his white beard bristling with anger.
"Damn it! This is utterly ridiculous! Are you treating the lives of my Sui soldiers like dirt?!" Yu Juluo roared in fury.
These soldiers may not be his personal guards, but they are all fine men of the Sui Dynasty.
How could he stand by and watch them be sent to their deaths in such an absurd way?
"General, you should go and see him."
"I want to see who doesn't value human life."
Yu Juluo got up, grabbed the large sword from the weapon rack, and walked outside.
Once outside the camp, he immediately spotted Lü Xiao and his two companions.
"Old general, we meet again."
When Lü Xiao saw Yu Juluo, a smile appeared on his face, and he took the initiative to bow.
He had no liking for the corrupt and scheming officials from powerful families in the court, but he admired Yu Juluo, a loyal and courageous veteran who had fought for the country his entire life.
But it was genuine admiration; it was a mutual respect between martial artists.
"Okay, wait a minute."
Yu Juluo abandoned Lü Xiao and kept looking around outside the camp.
He wanted to see which brat dared to treat human lives so lightly.
"General, what are you looking for? Let me take a look."
Lu Xiao also stood curiously next to Yu Juluo, looking around with him.
Before long, the messenger came running up, panting.
Yu Juluo was running too fast; he couldn't catch up even if he wanted to.
"Old, old general, it's them who came to demand our people."
"Um?"
Yu Juluo was stunned. So it was Lü Xiao who wanted to select eight hundred men to go to the grasslands to fight the Eastern Turks?
Yes!
Given this kid's temperament and style, he's really capable of doing it!
He dared to gamble his life in a martial arts competition involving hundreds of nations.
It seems logical for him to risk the lives of eight hundred soldiers for a momentous achievement.
"Hehe, old general, His Majesty has already approved it. I don't want more, just eight hundred."
Lu Xiao chuckled. With Yu Juluo around, he could better understand the background of the person he was choosing.
Yu Julu stared at Lü Xiao for a long time, his angry expression gradually turning into a solemn one.
"Come into the tent and speak!"
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the main tent.
The group followed them into the central command tent.
Yu Julu dismissed his attendants, leaving only the few of them, and then asked in a deep voice:
"Zilie, tell me the truth, why do you insist on eight hundred men?"
"The grasslands are vast, and the Turks are powerful. This journey... is fraught with peril!"
How could you risk the lives of eight hundred fine young men to gamble with your vague and unattainable miracles?
"Old General, how do you know that this trip will surely lead to our deaths?"
"Or was it not that eight hundred elite soldiers performed an unparalleled feat, achieving lasting fame?"
Lu Xiao's smile faded, and he spoke seriously.
He had no ill intentions towards Yu Juluo; on the contrary, Yu Juluo cared deeply for the lives of his soldiers and loved them like his own children, which earned him his utmost respect.
"Sigh..." Yu Julu sighed, slowly stood up, and looked at Lü Xiao with complicated emotions.
"I understand your ambitions, my lord."
Which general in this world wouldn't want to emulate the General of the Flying Cavalry, achieving unparalleled feats like sealing the wolf's lair and leaving a lasting mark on history?
Having lived to this age and weathered many storms, he sees things more clearly than anyone else.
At this moment, Lü Xiao is even younger than Huo Qubing, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
If we can truly sweep across the northern desert with eight hundred elite soldiers and capture the Turkic Khan alive.
Then he would no longer be the second Huo Qubing, but a being who surpassed that legend!
This temptation is hard for any young military commander to resist.
However, it's too difficult, as difficult as climbing to the sky.
"I understand the old general's concerns," Lü Xiao said solemnly and sincerely.
"As the saying goes, one should not fight a battle unprepared. I dare not boast that I will bring back all eight hundred brothers without losing a single one."
He paused, meeting Yu Juluo's scrutinizing gaze, and said, word by word:
"This junior hereby assures the old general that he will do his utmost to protect them."
When we return, at least 70% of our sons will be brought back alive by our descendants.
This can be considered a solemn promise he made to the old general who loved his soldiers like his own children.
"Okay, I'll go find it for you."
Yu Julu finally relented.
In fact, besides feeling sorry for the soldiers, he also had his own reasons for dealing with Lü Xiao to this extent.
He hoped that his attitude would make the young and impetuous Marquis Wen more cautious and truly care about the lives of these Sui Dynasty soldiers.
After all, His Majesty's decree had been issued, and he could not disobey it.
"Thank you for your kindness, General!" Lü Xiao bowed in thanks, then added, "Please try to select those who have few family ties and are all alone."
He was confident about his mission, but on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and life and death are unpredictable.
Those who have no attachments are perhaps the most suitable candidates to carry out this perilous mission.
"There are such people, and many of them."
Yu Juluo's voice lowered, carrying an indescribable heaviness.
He gestured to his lieutenant to bring a thick roster.
Lü Xiao took it and flipped through a few pages to read it carefully.
The register contains detailed records, including names, origins, and ages.
The few pages he randomly flipped through all contained words like "both parents deceased," "no relatives left," and "alone."
"General, these soldiers..." Lü Xiao closed the roster and looked up at Yu Juluo.
"These people... these children..."
Yu Juluo's throat tightened slightly, and he raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye with the rough back of his hand.
My thoughts seemed to be pulled back to that snowy winter many years ago, when corpses littered the fields.