235: Black Water Dragon Flag

Lin Yue walked out of the great tent, a bright moon casting its clear light across the grassland.

It provided the necessary light for the upcoming major battle.

The Soldiers were eating, and a tense, somewhat oppressive atmosphere filled the Encampment.

Everyone knew what a fierce battle this would be, and they also knew it should be the last major battle on the Hetao Plain, but what they didn't know was whether they would still be alive after this battle.

The two hundred and forty thousand surrendered Xiongnu people were gathered in one place, silently gnawing on dried beef, unsure of their fate, as they had been conscripted by She Jian.

“Aruhan, what do you think they're doing gathering us all together?” a Xiongnu people Soldier asked, sitting on the ground.

Aruhan listened to Hafa, who had been with him since childhood, say, “What else? Killing, of course. I heard King Baiyang brought his troops, and quite a few of them too.”

Hafa, upon hearing this, frantically patted Aruhan. Aruhan, with a tacit understanding, handed him a waterskin. Hafa gulped down a mouthful before gasping, “Is that true?”

“It's true. Don't tell anyone else; it'll affect morale,” Aruhan said calmly.

“That young King Baiyang? We can defeat him, right?” Hafa asked, staring at Aruhan.

“I heard their vanguard alone has over five hundred thousand people. But whether we can defeat them, we'll know after the fight. You've also heard the rumor, haven't you? If one person flees, their whole family will be buried with them. Do you want to run?” Aruhan glanced at him.

Hafa's eyes darted around, then he shuffled closer to Aruhan.

Aruhan casually pointed at the sky:

“Look at that moon; it's so big and round.

So don't talk about dark nights and high winds; we can't escape. Besides, if the news reached us, it means they've already prepared, and even if we run back, we can't save them.”

Hafa swallowed the words he wanted to say, then kept staring at Aruhan.

“Are you trying to say how smart I've become?” Aruhan said calmly, a hint of nonchalance always in his eyes.

Hafa's eyes widened in fright, then he nodded frantically.

“My hands have been stained with Xiongnu people blood lately, so at night, I keep turning things over in my mind,” Aruhan said.

“What things?” Hafa asked, now full of curiosity about the man he had grown up with.

“Before, I always relied on the protection of my grandmother and father, so I didn't need to think. I just needed to practice my Martial Power and become the most skilled warrior on the grassland. But now, living under someone else's roof, you and I both understand our role: we are hostages, hostages who could lose our lives at any moment.

I heard that Prince Modu was a hostage and eventually escaped back to the royal court to regain his status and honor.

But what about us? We now bear responsibility. If we flee, our relatives back home will go to meet the sky gods. How can you flee?” Aruhan said in a deep voice.

“What you said makes so much sense,” Hafa said.

“It's not just sensible; it's that once you've committed to something, don't easily change it, because every change means starting over,” Aruhan said.

“Are you still the Aruhan I know?

How can you say something so profound?” Hafa asked with a bewildered expression.

Aruhan smiled, “These are all things my grandmother said. She said I wasn't very smart, and even with all my Martial Power, I might be eaten clean on the grassland.

So she said this is a rare opportunity. With the Qin Army, at least they won't discard us after we've served our purpose.

She told me not to have any ulterior motives and to do whatever Lord Lin Yue tells me, without thinking of anything else.”

“No wonder.” Hafa breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Aruhan wasn't secretly working hard behind his back, he was still his good brother!

Just as the two were talking, a loud voice came, followed by waves of identical Xiongnu people words echoing backward, ensuring the sound reached every surrendered Xiongnu people Soldier's ear.

“I am She Jian!”

“It's She Jian...”

“She Jian...”

“Jian...”

Many surrendered Xiongnu people looked up confusedly, gazing forward. On the high platform stood a burly Qin Army general. Xiongnu people didn't have such armor, but it was too far and too dark; they could only vaguely make out a silhouette.

“I am a general of Great Qin!

Which means, here, I am the highest authority!”

Hearing this, the surrendered Xiongnu people all looked at She Jian, quietly awaiting his next words.

She Jian, on the platform, cleared his throat and continued:

“Recently, you might have heard a rumor, saying that as soon as I, She Jian, arrive, I will kill your entire families?

I don't know who spread it,

But I can tell you now, that is not a rumor,

It is true!

Once you are on the battlefield, whoever dares to retreat one step, the supervisory team behind will cut off his head!

Not only that, I will also send his entire family to reunite with him, to be buried with him!!”

The Xiongnu Soldiers relayed She Jian's words into the ears of every surrendered Xiongnu people!

The surrendered Xiongnu people cursed inwardly, some secretly clenching their fists, veins bulging on their foreheads!

But under someone else's roof, they had no choice now.

“This battle, I, She Jian, will lead you in the charge!

I will always be at the very front of you! If I live, you follow me and charge! If I die, do not mind me; even if you step over my corpse, you must continue to press forward!”

She Jian shouted.

Below the platform, everyone was silent, but their eyes had changed.

“I have petitioned the Great General. After this major battle, the ten thousand bravest among you will take your families and go live in Great Qin!

Though you may not become rich or noble, you will have Great Qin's household registration and land. Great Qin will never conscript you again. From now on, you will bid farewell to the battlefield and never participate in conflicts again!”

As his words fell, like a giant rock dropped into the sea, a fervent clamor erupted among the surrendered Xiongnu people!

They all discussed animatedly with those around them, their eyes gradually brightening.

Because they knew how prosperous the Central Plains was compared to the grassland. They heard that the Central Plains had enjoyed abundant harvests for over ten consecutive years, with so much grain that it could not be consumed. For them, this was simply the best place to go!

They would no longer have to worry about heavy snow in winter or famine!

They could herd sheep when they wanted, and plant grain when they wanted. Although they wouldn't know how to transplant rice seedlings, this kind of life, free from battling nature, was what they desired!

At this moment, all the surrendered Xiongnu people were somewhat moved!

She Jian raised a large banner, black in color, fluttering in the wind. Even in the night, it was incredibly conspicuous!

“What you need to do is follow this black dragon banner!

Kill all enemies blocking the black dragon banner's path!”