“There's a town about a hundred miles of here called Huang Sha,” Luo Wei spread out a map himself, pointing at the location for Si Ma Qing Sha, “Your highness could take your soldiers here, take the town, sack it for some gold, jewels, and women as war prizes to herald your return.”

Si Ma Qing Sha asked, “As the young master's prisoner, where am I going to find any soldiers?”

Luo Wei replied, “Your highness' loyal followers have been tailing you, hoping to rescue you, do you not know?”

Si Ma Qing Sha stared at Luo Wei, “And you're fine with sacrificing a trade town?”

“Our great general from Ping Nan, Xu Huo is stationed at Huang Sha at the moment.” Luo Wei replied.

“Xu Huo?” Si Ma Xing Sha considered, “I've heard of his prowess. I'm not a hundred percent sure we can win.”

Luo Wei shrugged, “He's nothing more than one of Long Xuan's dogs, given the order to secretly take troops out of Yun Guan. All he's after was the merit of saving the stragglers and winning against the enemy once my older brother has been defeated. Your Highness shouldn't worry too much about him, I will help you to attack when his defenses are down.”

“And the people of that town?” Si Ma Qing Sha asked.

“The plan was for Xu Huo to accomplish his goals, then kill them all,” Luo Wei said, “They're already going to be dead anyway, why should I worry? If Your Highness has such heart for them, kill less of them when you sack the town.”

Si Ma Qing Sha finally smiled. There were few who could match him and be a capable ally, but Luo Wei was one of them. “And what happens after I return to camp? Has the young master thought of that for me too?”

Luo Wei answered, “Of course. Naturally I'll help Your Highness with the struggle against Zhu Xie.”

It was the first snow in the sixth year of Qing Yuan(1), Ye Xie was in the middle of a flurry of snow.

Si Ma Qing Sha stood in the wind and snow as he turned his head back to the city. The youth on the gate tower wore brocade, and his smile was like that of a spring breeze.

A day later, Huang Sha town was broken by Si Ma Qing Sha's troops.

Xu Huo, who'd taken troops out of Yun Guan without having the order to do so, killed himself after the loss at Huang Sha. Three months later, his five sons were executed outside of the South Gate by order of Emperor Xing Wu, and thus fell the Xu family, who'd been a part of the founding of the nation.

When the news about Huang Sha's defeat reached Luo Wei, he readied his troops to retreat from Ye Qie. Unfortunately, Ye Qie was suffering a blizzard that day and there was no way to move troops, so they could only halt their action until a further day.

“Young master!” And it was on that night that the garrison commander, Peng Hu, rushed into Luo Wei's bedroom.

Si Ma Zhu Xie's troop of thirty-thousand-odd soldiers have arrived at the gates of Ye Xie.

Luo Wei cast his eyes over the Northern Yan army under the city walls. It felt unlikely that Long Xuan knew of the turnabout on the battlefield, so it must have been Liu Wu Sheng who wanted to kill him.

“Young master, we, your loyal generals, would fight to the death for you,” General Xu Chuan said to Luo Wei, “We will protect you and guard you out of the city.”

Luo Wei sighed, “If we do that, then Ye Xie might as well be d.a.m.ned. What about the tens of thousands of people living in the city?”

The generals were all struck silent.

“I think this city is very defensible,” Luo Wei said, “Guarding ourselves for a few days is not a problem.”

The generals all exchanged looks with each other. There were only ten thousand soldiers in the city, and three times as much outside. How were they going to fight this battle?

Luo Wei watched these generals, each battle-tested under his eldest brother, Luo Qi, and smiled, “The movements of thirty thousand soldiers isn't something that could be easily hidden. If my older brother knew that Ye Xie was surrounded, he would most definitely send reinforcements.”

Luo Wei was no general, but what can't be denied is the fact that he was the keystone of this group in Ye Xie. As the group watched his face, devoid of fear and worry, their own nerves and anxiety slowly receded. Ten thousand against thirty thousand. If they were to go and meet the opposition head on, there was no way they could win, but if they guarded and garrisoned the city while waiting for reinforcements, then they at least had half a chance at getting out of this alive.

“I trust that no one who fears death would join the army,” Luo Wei's voice resounded as it pierced through the wind and snow, “To die in battle for the lives of an entire city, for the prosperity of their descendants. That, is something worth dying for!”

FOOTNOTES:
1. Qing Yuan – The regnal era of Emperor Xing Wu.