UCTOOT CH71.1

Zhao Shirui’s troops advanced smoothly after entering the Cha River, conquering everything in their path. The logistics unit followed closely behind to prepare meals, repair equipment, and clear corpses from the battlefield. Military matters were as urgent as a raging fire, leaving no time to process grief. The logistics unit had suffered heavy casualties, but military duties could not be delayed. Shi Shu helped a stumbling Song Sinan back to rest before returning to continue clearing the battlefield.

Shi Shu numbly transported the corpses away. It wasn’t until dusk approached that he returned to the logistics camp. Song Sinan was lying on the bed with a damp cloth draped across his forehead.

Shi Shu walked in, unsure of how to comfort him. “Song Sinan, I heard the vanguard wiped out Beimin’s elite forces. Your brother is amazing.”

Song Sinan opened his eyes and suddenly looked at him. “Ten thousand vanguard troops, a snowy night raid. It was Staff Officer Xie’s idea.”

“He…”

In that moment, Shi Shu was at a loss for words. He knew all of this was Xie Wuchi’s master plan. But the ferocity in Song Sinan’s eyes only lasted for a fleeting second. “Throughout the history of warfare, vanguard forces rarely penetrate that deep into enemy defense lines, because they will be attacked from both sides and driven into a desperate corner. But my brother still went. Only the ‘Vengeance Army’ has the guts and courage to fight this battle. Others might be greedy for life and afraid of death, but the Vengeance Army isn’t. Neither am I.”

Shi Shu reached out to pat his shoulder, but Song Sinan murmured to himself, “My brother is a hero. He died a worthy death. I don’t blame Staff Officer Xie… I don’t blame General Zhao… He died a worthy death… Hahaha, I want them all to die too! Now, it’s all up to me…”

“Song Sinan…”

“If we can reclaim our homeland, it doesn’t matter how many people die. I’m not afraid of death… Neither was my brother… Then let my brother and all of us use our hot blood to melt the freezing ice of the Cha River…”

Shouts rang out from beyond the door. Shi Shu withdrew his hand, turned, and walked out of the tent.

Beneath the city walls of Dasheng Prefecture, the siege was in full swing, and supplies were continuously being transported to the front lines. Shi Shu and Du Zihan climbed a nearby hillside. The air was filled with piercing screams and the roaring battle cries of the charge. The biting north wind tangled the hair on Shi Shu’s forehead as his gaze locked onto the chaotic slaughter unfolding before him.

No game was more real than reality. Waves of people surged forward one after another, pushing the siege chariots slowly toward the city walls. Arrows and falling stones rained down around them like snow. Fire and blades flew through the air; lives hung by a thread. Whenever someone collapsed limply to the ground, a new wave of men instantly rushed in to take his place, relentlessly pushing the chariots, scaling ladders, battering rams, barricades, watchtowers, and folding bridges forward in a fearless, suicidal charge.

The smell of sulfur and gunpowder filled the air, punctuated by furious roars and agonizing screams. Peering through the gaps in the leaves, Shi Shu saw a siege unit under Zhao Shirui’s command loading artillery with explosive shells, hurling them toward the parapets of Dasheng Prefecture. Every now and then, a figure plummeted from the towering city walls, dozens of meters high. Perhaps it was the distance, but as Shi Shu stared at the scene, he felt a creeping sense of numbness.

The iron cavalry of Beimin was invincible on the open field, but they were not skilled at defending cities—they were built for high offense and low defense. For twenty years, no one had anticipated that Dajing would dare launch an attack. The city’s defenses had fallen into disrepair, and it happened to be Beimin’s most important annual festival. Caught entirely off guard by such a fierce assault, their formations quickly descended into chaos.

Zhao Shirui was capitalizing on this element of surprise, refusing to give the enemy a single moment to breathe. He sent wave after wave of soldiers in relentless assaults and even appeared on the front lines himself.

Shi Shu said, “The casualties for the attackers are so much higher than for the defenders, aren’t they? Do they really have to force it like this? So many people have already died…”

Du Zihan held onto a tree branch. “The dead are dragged away to fill the moat. It’s the dead of winter, so the moat is frozen. They throw planks and straw over the bodies, scatter some dirt… and they cross over.”

Shi Shu looked out at the freezing, snow-covered landscape. “Right time, right place, right conditions. Xie Wuchi wants military merit, and even the heavens are helping him.”

“Sigh.”

Shi Shu returned to the encampment with him. They had been assaulting the city for several days, fighting almost day and night without rest. Shi Shu slept in his clothes at night. That morning, the entire army finally received exhilarating news.

The snow had lightened. The faint morning light scattered softly across the icy roads. Shi Shu looked at the wide-open city gates, feeling little emotion. He was clearing the battlefield with the logistics team when someone with a flushed face ran over to him frantically. “Second Young Master! Lord Xie is looking for you. Hurry, go, go!”

Shi Shu rubbed his cold hands together. “Oh, is there good news?”

“We’ve retaken Dasheng Prefecture, the birthplace of Dajing’s prosperity! Of course it’s incredible news! Come with me, Second Young Master!”

Shi Shu washed his hands and followed the man up the city tower, silently thinking, That’s good. Now that the city gates have been breached, Xie Wuchi has time. We should finish the conversation we started.

Shi Shu walked all the way up the city tower, passing prisoners and corpses along the way. The very first thing the Langdi Army did upon entering the city was seize control of the defenses and slaughter the Beimin forces stationed within the city walls. People were currently clearing the scene. Shi Shu paused for a moment, stepping around a pool of blood before continuing upward.

The highest point of the city tower had already been occupied. The flags had been swapped, and the new banners fluttered wildly in the north wind. As Shi Shu inadvertently glanced down, he saw that the city was already engulfed in the flames of war. Beimin soldiers were fleeing through the streets and alleys, but the Langdi Army was clearly offering no quarter. Cavalry charged through on horseback, slashing wildly. Any civilians who happened to be in the way were trampled to death beneath iron hooves.

The city was filled with agonizing screams and desperate pleas. “Please let us go!” “We are Dajing citizens too!” “If you’re Dajing citizens, why didn’t you flee south?” “They’re looting! They’re looting!” “Don’t kill us…”

Shi Shu averted his eyes, his throat bobbing. He nearly missed a step.

The man leading him asked, “Second Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.”

“Please sit here for a moment, Second Young Master. Wait right here.”

Not far away, several figures stood atop the tower of the conquered city, looking down at the surroundings. It was obvious they were the masters who now held the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in their hands.

Zhao Shirui’s armor was drenched in blood. His trusted generals stood by his side. To his right stood a young man wearing a pale green crane cloak. He was impeccably clean, without a single drop of blood on him. His refined, upright demeanor stood in stark contrast to the blood-soaked tower as he quietly observed the fleeing Beimin forces below.

Xie Wuchi.

A soldier rushed up to report: “Report! General, Military Commissioner Feng has learned of your unprovoked, surprise attack on Beimin. He furiously condemned you for starting a border conflict and initiating a war without an imperial edict, thereby forging a deep blood feud with the powerful Beimin. He says the flames of war will now burn endlessly. He demands that you immediately strip your armor and plead guilty!”

Zhao Shirui scoffed. “Heh, plead guilty?”

Xie Wuchi said in a level voice, “Do not worry, General Zhao. I have already sent an 800-li expedited letter to the Prince of Han, reporting our victory. The Prince will certainly advocate for war and present our case to His Majesty. There are other pro-war bureaucrats in the eastern capital who will echo our sentiments and do everything in their power to protect you.”

Zhao Shirui turned to look at him. “Staff Officer Xie, the alliance between you and me is akin to pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth. It is about time those old doves stepping down.”

Listening to them, Shi Shu recalled what Xie Wuchi had told him earlier.

The peace faction, represented by figures like Fu Wen and Feng Zhongshan, had long since divided all the court’s benefits among themselves. The only way for the young, ambitious faction to rise up and replace them was to achieve a shocking, indisputable military victory to win over Emperor Taikang’s heart.

This snowy night raid on Dasheng Prefecture was their stepping stone.

After this battle, the court’s power dynamics would shuffle. A new division of interests was about to begin.

Zhao Shirui furrowed his brows, pondering deeply. “It’s just that Beimin will not take this surprise attack lying down. The border conflict has been ignited, and we’ll likely be fighting for decades to come. His Majesty…”

Xie Wuchi smiled faintly, his tone completely undisturbed. “Dasheng Prefecture is the place where Dajing’s founding emperor raised his army. It possesses extraordinary symbolic significance. Reclaiming Dasheng is akin to reconnecting the dragon vein. This is an indisputable military triumph. Anyone who dares to reprimand you will be labeled a traitor. Besides, Beimin has been restless and plotting to march south for a long time. A border war was inevitable within the next few years. Seizing the initiative now is actually a tremendous advantage.”

Zhao Shirui was convinced. “Lord Xie’s words are truly enlightening.”

Xie Wuchi added, “Furthermore, transporting supplies in the dead of winter is incredibly difficult, making it the hardest time to start a war. Now that we have seized a vital strategic location, the dynamic of offense and defense has been reversed. General, this military merit is as secure as an object in your own pocket.”

Zhao Shirui laughed heartily before his expression turned stern once more.

Another soldier came to report: “General! The remaining Beimin forces have been captured and subdued. May I ask how we should handle the city?”

Zhao Shirui looked down at the hilt of his blade. “After days of sieging the city, our provisions and supplies have long been exhausted, and the soldiers have endured immense hardship. Allow the troops to loot the city for three days. Let them seize the spoils of war and vent their fury.”

Shi Shu’s heart skipped a beat. Loot for three days? Seize spoils? Vent their fury? The soldiers hate Beimin and have been repressed for too long, so they need to release their hatred? Then what will they…

The soldier spoke again, “There are still quite a few civilians in the city.”

Zhao Shirui turned to Xie Wuchi. “Lord Xie, what are your thoughts?”

Xie Wuchi’s expression was calm as he shifted his gaze down below the city tower, where the victorious Langdi Army was already preparing to celebrate. The high-pressure lives of men constantly shadowed by death and hatred made theirs the profession most susceptible to psychological collapse. After such a long, bloody, agonizing battle, their suppressed pain and resentment were on the verge of tearing them apart.

Xie Wuchi said, “The provisions and supplies in Dasheng Prefecture have been burned. There will be no more food supplied this winter. Keeping the population alive will only consume our rations. The enemy’s heads are tied to our military merit. If we can expand our merit, that would be the best possible outcome.”

Zhao Shirui let out three booming laughs. “My thoughts exactly.”

With eagle-like eyes, Zhao Shirui stared at the newly reclaimed city. Reflected in his pupils were the crowds of people fleeing in terror and crying out in despair. He uttered two words:

“Massacre the city.”

The world went entirely silent in Shi Shu’s ears. The snow fell on his body, but he couldn’t feel the cold; he only felt stiff. The army began to move and disperse. After taking over the city’s defenses, the commanding officers headed toward the administrative offices of Dasheng Prefecture to establish their headquarters. With the city secured, Zhao Shirui walked down the main thoroughfare, surrounded by his trusted generals and guards.

Before leaving, Zhao Shirui specifically noted, “I heard there is a Jinlan Villa in Dasheng Prefecture that is exceptionally beautiful. Have it cleaned up for Lord Xie to reside in!”

As the crowd dispersed, Xie Wuchi pulled his gaze away from the city walls. He turned around and saw Shi Shu waiting nearby. “You’re here.”

His voice was very gentle. Shi Shu walked alongside him and asked, “Did you get what you wanted?”

Xie Wuchi answered a different question: “I shouldn’t have let you enter the city so early.”

Shi Shu looked at him. “What will this military merit get you?”

“If His Majesty decides to advocate for war, the entire cabinet will be replaced. I will become one of the primary spokespersons for the pro-war faction in the imperial court.”

Shi Shu hummed in response. He had always avoided interfering with or judging others, because growing up, he was only taught one thing: Focus on being yourself.

This mindset was why he never criticized Xie Wuchi or forced his own moral compass onto him. As long as they could get along, they got along—even after he learned about Xie Wuchi’s attitude toward sexual relationships.

But right now, Shi Shu turned to look at him. “Massacre the city? There must be tens of thousands of people in there. There have to be countless innocent civilians.”

Xie Wuchi’s eyes were calm. “Sustaining war with war. Winter rations are scarce. Zhao Shirui is a ruthless military man; he won’t let useless people live. In ancient times, it was very common for armies to massacre and pillage cities.”

Shi Shu had his own thoughts, but he didn’t say much out loud. For a fleeting moment, he wanted to ask, Could you have stopped him?

But the world seemed to follow its own rules, just as war did. His words might be able to sway Xie Wuchi, but they couldn’t sway a legion of resentful, blood-soaked soldiers.

Walking down the street alongside Xie Wuchi, Shi Shu looked up at the falling snow and casually brought up a topic: “How exactly did Zhang Tong die?”

Xie Wuchi looked at him, his expression gentle. “Shi Shu, you know I don’t like lying to you.”

The suspicion in Shi Shu’s heart became increasingly clear. “Tell me then.”

Xie Wuchi said, “When I first transmigrated here, I kept analyzing the reason this world existed. It felt too much like a game. The first person I met was Zhang Tong. He was already terminally ill, nearing the end of his life. I had always assumed I was the only transmigrator, so I was surprised to find someone else.”

“I am highly guarded and rarely trust in cooperation. He happened to be dying anyway and held no other value. I wanted to figure out how the existence of a companion would affect me—whether it would trigger a quest system or something similar.”

Shi Shu asked, “And then?”

Xie Wuchi replied, “In certain types of games, attacking a companion results in immediate elimination. I couldn’t act rashly. So, I used gentle methods to make him commit suicide.”

Even though Shi Shu had mentally prepared himself, the fingers hidden in his sleeves began to tremble. “Gentle methods?”

“Zhang Tong had depression. Du Zihan was constantly trying to save him and keep him alive. But for someone whose core is weak, no matter how much the outside world tries to redeem them, they will always remain trapped in their own despair. You should have understood me back at Xiangnan Temple. The human heart leaves traces to follow. Manipulating someone’s mind and controlling their joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness is not difficult.”

Shi Shu felt a chill run through his body. “And then?”

Xie Wuchi said, “Zhang Tong committed suicide. It had absolutely no effect on me, nor did it activate any system. However, he did surprise me in one regard. It wasn’t until I saw Du Zihan at the post station that I realized his suicide wasn’t just driven by inner weakness. The other reason was that he recognized how dangerous I was. To protect Du Zihan and make me believe he was entirely alone so I would leave as quickly as possible, he chose to end his own life prematurely.”

Shi Shu stared into Xie Wuchi’s eyes through the falling snow.

Shi Shu asked, “And then, you met me?”

Xie Wuchi nodded. “Yes.”

“What were you trying to observe in me? You said the human heart leaves traces to follow, and that manipulating someone’s mind is as easy as putting on a fake smile and showing a tiny bit of patience to make everyone around you think you’re a good person.”

Shi Shu’s throat tightened. “From the very beginning, was the only reason you treated me so well just to make sure I wouldn’t leave you? So you could keep me around to conveniently observe and use me?”

A snowflake landed on Xie Wuchi’s dark eyelashes. He stared unblinking at Shi Shu. “For a period of time, yes.”

Xie Wuchi’s voice quickly became melodic, carrying a deceptive charm. “But it hasn’t been like that for a long time.”

Shi Shu said, “You admit it quite easily.”

Shi Shu didn’t like crying. Since coming to this world, he had rarely shed a tear. But now, the tears finally fell. “I always treated you as my best friend!”

“So I have to ask—aside from keeping you company in bed, was I completely worthless to you? Was I just someone whose mind you could casually play with, whose preferences you could control, and who you could eventually drive to suicide or kill?”

The color drained from Xie Wuchi’s lips, leaving them pale. “No.”

Shi Shu abruptly stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar. He suddenly remembered a night not too long ago when he had genuinely thought that spending the rest of his life with Xie Wuchi wouldn’t be so bad, because Xie Wuchi was important to him. But this person—looking closely at him, he didn’t like him. Looking deeper, he hated him.

Shi Shu demanded, “Is the fact that you became so important to me also the result of your manipulation?! Is the agony I’m feeling right now because I finally see you for who you are also part of your manipulation?! Xie Wuchi, I finally see the real you.”

It turned out that not liking someone meant not liking them. Hate was hate.

Xie Wuchi grabbed Shi Shu’s hand, his expression still calm. “I confessed everything to you, Shi Shu. I knew you would be angry. Can we both calm down?”

Shi Shu said, “I’m leaving the city. And I’m going to tell Du Zihan that you killed Zhang Tong. To this day, he still doesn’t know why Zhang Tong died.”

Xie Wuchi’s eyes darkened, turning ice-cold as he chewed on the name. “Du Zihan. I’ve always wondered… if he hadn’t shown up, would you have been more obedient?”

Shi Shu violently reacted. “What are you doing? You ignored him before, and now you want to kill him?!”

Xie Wuchi’s smile returned. He placed a soothing hand on Shi Shu’s shoulder. “No, I won’t kill him. You’re freezing. Let’s go somewhere warm to sit by the fire.”

Shi Shu forcefully shoved him away. His brown eyes reflected Xie Wuchi’s handsome, aristocratic face. His wrist was held in a vice-like grip by Xie Wuchi, completely unable to break free. Behind them, the guards were staring intently in his direction.

Shi Shu snapped, “Let go!”

Xie Wuchi said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Shi Shu glared. “Are you going to let go or not?!”

Xie Wuchi replied, “It’s best if we both calm down first.”

Shi Shu turned his head, eyeing the group of guards glaring at him like tigers watching their prey. Since when did Xie Wuchi’s coordination with these people completely eclipse him? Or was it all a lie from the very beginning? When Shi Shu thought they were walking together to Shukang Prefecture to cure the plague—Shi Shu standing in the river splashing water while Xie Wuchi watched from the shore. When they shared life and death, Shi Shu holding his plague-ridden body in the middle of the night, praying for him to wake up. When they were in the reed marshes during the Red Thread Festival in Shaoxing Prefecture, lying in the swaying boat where Xie Wuchi showed him the tattoo on his inner thigh. Or… or when they bypassed the bandits at Dabai Ridge, and Xie Wuchi carried him on his back while he kept his eyes closed, walking for so long… Was all of this just a one-sided illusion Shi Shu had built for himself?

Shi Shu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He started to regret lashing out at Xie Wuchi because, in terms of practical actions, Xie Wuchi hadn’t actually wronged him directly.

It was just…

Shi Shu said, “Bring Du Zihan here. I want him where I can see him. Don’t kill him. He doesn’t understand anything, and he’s my only friend left.”

Xie Wuchi asked, “We aren’t friends anymore?”

The guards didn’t understand what was happening. Shi Shu lowered his voice. “Are we still friends? After we’ve been sleeping together for this long?”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes in thought, seemingly unsure if he was satisfied with that answer. “Bring him in.”

Shi Shu repeated, “He is my only friend left.”

Xie Wuchi said, “Alright. I won’t kill him.”