Chapter 33: Youths Of The Four Forts
Dawn broke, and the thunderstorm that had raged for a day and night finally stopped.
The sun peeked out, promising good weather for the day.
In the camp, the cries of the Geluolu Women gradually faded, and everything seemed to return to calm.
But the bloody slaughter had not yet ceased; all the evil was just beginning.
On the open ground outside Sanhe Fort, a group of bound prisoners of war stood, numbering around two hundred.
Most were surrendered Geluolu captives, either wounded and captured or kneeling in surrender upon witnessing the terror of the Four Fort Allied Army.
Only about twenty were Han traitors who had surrendered to the Geluolu, recognized by the Han people of Sanhe Fort, and they would be executed at dawn.
“Everyone~”
Facing these captives, Li Xiao rode his war horse, gripping his horse spear, and shouted loudly to a squad of soldiers not far away.
“Nock arrows.”
As his words fell, over a hundred young Han Soldiers raised their longbows, aiming at the captives.
At this moment, these over two hundred Geluolu captives finally realized what the Four Fort Allied Army intended.
All of them looked terrified, constantly retreating, begging the Four Fort Allied Army for mercy, or even cursing loudly.
“These Han People are going to kill us.”
“What do we do? Help!”
“Run!” The Geluolu captives and Han traitors shouted in terror.
Many among them had endured torment for most of the night, listening to the screams of women from the distant female captive camp—those were their wives, daughters, or relatives.
But they were powerless, able only to grit their teeth and swallow their anguish, silently shedding tears.
They had hoped to survive by acting like cuckolded turtles, but even so, the Han People showed them no mercy.
“Shoot!”
With Li Xiao’s command, over a hundred arrows flew toward the Geluolu captives.
The captives fell to the ground like waves of wheat.
In the first volley, only a small portion died; the rest turned and fled in madness, but how could they outrun war horses?
The second volley arrived.
Those wounded but not killed by arrows were finished off by Four Fort Allied Army soldiers.
In short, for the Geluolu tribe, aside from the women, not a single soul was spared—not even the children escaped their fate.
“Wolf cubs are still wolves; their nature won’t change, and when grown, they will devour people too.” Gazing at the small corpses on the ground, Li Xiao murmured softly.
This was cruel war; one could show no sympathy to the enemy, or death would come to oneself.
The story of the Zhao orphans constantly warned Li Xiao.
Even Temüjin, in his youth, had escaped slaughter only because he was no taller than a cart wheel.
Only after growing up could he exterminate his former enemies one by one, wiping out their clans.
Thus, regardless of age, as long as they were enemies, Li Xiao’s creed was to kill them all without leaving any future threats.
After slaughtering these over two hundred captives completely, Li Xiao’s gaze turned to the cavalry squad beside him.
Each wore leather armor and held bow and arrow and war saber.
The orange-red dawn glow bathed the land, highlighting the youthfulness and immaturity on their faces.
These were the men Li Xiao had selected from the Four Fort Allied Army.
Their only common trait was that all were under twenty.
“Report to the Fort Master: the Four Fort youths have assembled, totaling one hundred and twenty-four.”
After executing the Geluolu captives, the youth cavalry reformed their ranks.
After counting numbers, Tie Tou reported loudly to Li Xiao.
“Good~”
Li Xiao nodded lightly, riding his black war horse, gripping his horse spear, patrolling before the youths, his sharp gaze fixed on the dense ranks of cavalry ahead.
The orange-red sunlight illuminated his face clearly, as if to let all the youths see his appearance distinctly.
“I am Li Xiao.”
“Fort Master of Hexi Fort.”
Li Xiao bellowed loudly, gripping his bloodstained horse spear, riding his war horse, exuding a powerful aura.
Like a blood-soaked demon returned from Hell, he instilled immense psychological pressure and deterrence in these youths.
Among these one hundred and twenty-four youths, nearly a third came from Hexi Fort.
Children around Li Xiao’s age, who had played together since childhood.
These Hexi Fort youths naturally looked to Li Xiao as their leader.
But to the youths from the other three forts, Li Xiao was relatively unfamiliar.
Li Xiao’s goal was to make everyone recognize him.
Not just these one hundred and twenty-four youths, but also some onlookers in the distance.
“You may wonder, we are all about the same age—why am I the Fort Master?”
Li Xiao said loudly, pausing briefly for a few seconds before roaring.
“Because I am stronger than all of you.”
“The Geluolu People who died by my hand outnumber those killed by any of you—by far.”
Li Xiao declared in a heavy voice.
Unapologetic, without humility.
Completely trampling all the youths underfoot.
But as his words fell, he noticed some youths looking defiant, even gazing at him with challenging eyes.
These were youths from the other three forts, with little prior contact with Li Xiao.
“Some of you are unconvinced?”
Li Xiao laughed, meeting those doubtful and challenging gazes, suddenly breaking into laughter.
“Good.”
“I like your eyes.”
“At least it proves you’re not a bunch of cowards—you have fighting spirit. I like that.” Li Xiao laughed heartily, utterly fearless and open.
“But with just your hot blood, you can’t trample me underfoot yet.”
“You lack the qualification, and the strength.”
Li Xiao bellowed, giving them no face.
In fact, among these over one hundred and twenty youths, nearly forty were Li Xiao’s little brothers from Hexi Fort.
The other three forts also had some youths friendly with Li Xiao.
Like Luo Meng, and Li Xiao’s aunt’s two sons.
So, about half knew Li Xiao’s formidable strength and past battle records very well.
They submitted to him wholeheartedly.
What Li Xiao needed was to win over the rest.
Sure enough, hearing Li Xiao’s arrogant words, some hot-blooded youths couldn’t hold back.
Buzzing voices rose from the crowd, and some self-proclaimed brave youths even wanted to step forward to challenge him.
But at this moment, Luo Meng and others’ influence came into play.
“You seeking death?”
Luo Meng grabbed a Hedong Fort youth about to challenge Li Xiao.
With a serious face, he told him, “You think he’s joking?”
“The Geluolu People dead by his hand absolutely outnumber those killed by all of you combined.”
Hearing Luo Meng, the surrounding Hedong Fort youths showed incredulous expressions.
“What?”
“Really?”
“Brother Meng, you’re messing with me, right?”
They thought Li Xiao was boasting; during the Sanhe Fort assault, it was dark and chaotic, and they hadn’t noticed how many he’d killed.
“At least twenty!”
Facing the doubts, Luo Meng stated firmly.
“I stayed by Da Long’s side and saw him kill at least twenty Geluolu People with my own eyes.”
“Moreover, a few days ago, Hexi Fort ambushed a Geluolu Cavalry unit, and in that battle, Da Long killed nineteen Geluolu People too!”
Hearing Luo Meng, the surrounding Hedong Fort youths erupted in shock, dumbfounded.
“That strong?”
“So, at least over forty Geluolu People dead by his hand?”
“Is he even human?”
To these Hedong Fort youths, it sounded like a tall tale; killing five Geluolu People would be impressive enough to brag about for ages.
Yet over forty in two battles?
This was downright freakish.
But Luo Meng had prestige among them, and they didn’t think he was lying.
Thus, all eyes turned to Li Xiao, mounted afar on his war horse.
His figure stood tall like a mountain, gripping his horse spear, covered in blood, gaze cold and sharp, aura piercing.
At this moment, Li Xiao’s deterrence in their hearts grew even stronger.
Even the Hedong Fort youth who had wanted to challenge him now shrank back unconsciously, voicing no challenge or defiance.
Besides Hedong Fort, the situations at Gushan Fort and Tazhai were similar.
Soon, all the youths knew of Li Xiao’s formidable battle records, and their gazes toward him now held more awe.
And that was the effect Li Xiao wanted.
He aimed to build a true army—one with only his voice—starting with these youths.
As the youths’ buzzing voices faded and all eyes turned back to Li Xiao, no one dared step forward to challenge.
“Some of you may doubt I’m exaggerating my battle records.”
“Eager to challenge me, unconvinced?”
“No problem. I’ll give you the chance.”
“But not now.”
Li Xiao said calmly, “You might think the battle is over and you can go home?”
“But I tell you, the battle is far from over.”
“Hou Village has surrendered to the Geluolu People; they’ve captured many soldiers who survived the Battle of North Mountain.”
“Among them are my uncle, brothers from Hexi Fort, and your relatives from Hedong Fort, Gushan Fort, and Tazhai.”
“They are suffering in Hou Village, waiting for us to rescue them.”
“Hou Village is conspiring with the Geluolu to seize more Han People’s Fortifications; if their conspiracy succeeds, not only will the eastern Han villages fall.”
“Our four forts will hardly escape; we’ll become slaves to the Geluolu People.”
“We’ll end up like these Geluolu captives, piled dead on the ground.” Li Xiao pointed his horse spear at the distant bloody corpse heap.
Then he pointed toward the female captive camp in another direction.
“Our mothers, sisters, relatives will be thrown into the captive camp, ravaged by the Geluolu People.”
With Li Xiao’s stirring words, the youths’ eyes reddened, fists clenching unconsciously.
They had witnessed firsthand the fate of Sanhe Fort’s Geluolu People.
So they absolutely could not accept themselves or their relatives falling into Geluolu hands.
Anger surfaced on the youths’ faces, battle will igniting within them.
Li Xiao bellowed directly, “I will lead men to destroy Hou Village and rescue our relatives.”
“Who will join me? Follow me to kill the enemy.”
As his words fell, Da Hu, Er Hu, Luo Meng, and others shouted loudly, “Kill the enemy!”
“Kill the enemy~”
“Kill the enemy~”
The voices grew louder and louder; all the youths raised their spears.
