Chapter 7

"Retreat, retreat!"

Lu Shixin, who had been on edge all night, finally felt a wave of drowsiness after repelling the Haneast army with the power of lime. He couldn't resist lying down in a corner of the city wall.

He had barely closed his eyes when he heard a series of shouts. Rubbing his eyes, he asked dazedly, "What do you mean, 'retreat'?"

"The rebels, the rebels are retreating!" The bodyguard pointed outside the city, his bloodstained face full of excitement.

Lu Shixin shivered, scrambled to his feet, and looked in the direction indicated. Indeed, the vanguard of the enemy outside the city was retreating in an orderly manner, and the endless tents of the Haneast army's main camp were gradually disappearing from sight.

For some reason, Lu Shixin felt his legs go weak. To avoid embarrassing himself, he turned around and leaned against the city wall, feeling a sense of exhaustion.

This was not entirely his fault. After all, the current Lu Shixin was just a young man who had only been out in society for a few years, with a modern education and worldview that differed greatly from the ancient times. If he were in his usual self, he might have run away as a deserter rather than fight.

In Ming River City, Lu Shixin had nowhere to run or hide. Knowing the city's fate, he understood that if he didn't stand up and fight, death would still await him. Under the threat to his life, Lu Shixin forced himself to overcome the cultural shock and various psychological issues, facing the grim situation with a spirit as taut as a stretched rubber band.

When the Haneast army retreated, the history changed, and that taut nerve suddenly relaxed, leaving him feeling drained.

There was no doubt that such a forced survival had greatly benefited Lu Shixin's integration into this new world.

Looking at the soldiers around him who were celebrating, a sense of joy welled up in Lu Shixin's heart: he had changed history!

What the historical Lu Shixin had failed to do, he, this Lu Shixin, had accomplished.

He recalled his previous life: he had been an ordinary college graduate, working in an ordinary company as an ordinary office worker, living a mundane life. On a legal holiday, Lu Shixin visited his grandfather in the countryside. In a remote village, he encountered a group of human traffickers who specialized in kidnapping children, maiming them, and forcing them to beg on the streets. Lu Shixin, who hated these heartless beasts, secretly called the police and followed them to their hideout. Just before the police arrived, his presence was exposed, and he was stabbed more than a dozen times by three burly men... losing consciousness.

Before losing consciousness, he realized the preciousness of life and the many things he had yet to do: he hadn't taken good care of his parents, he hadn't confessed his love to the factory's beauty, and so on.

When he awoke, Lu Shixin had become the legendary general who was as famous as Qin Qiong and Yu Chijin.

Because of the many regrets from his previous life, Lu Shixin cherished this new life that had come to him so unexpectedly. His strong will to survive had awakened his potential, and he had changed history.

"General, you should rest!" The bodyguard looked at Lu Shixin with admiration and concern.

The other soldiers also echoed in agreement, all looking at Lu Shixin with the same admiration.

Whether it was the seven days and nights of bloody battle or the clever use of lime to defeat the enemy, Lu Shixin's role was crucial.

Without his unparalleled bravery, the four hundred soldiers could not have held off the ten thousand Haneast troops and saved Ming River City. Without Lu Shixin's lime, the Haneast army would not have retreated.

If Ming River City had fallen, they would have died. If the Haneast army had not retreated, they would have died.

But now they were alive, and they owed it all to this handsome yet fierce man before them, feeling an indescribable gratitude.

Lu Shixin recognized the young bodyguard in front of him, the one who had saved him by cutting down the enemy who had climbed the city wall.

"I remember you. You fought bravely near me and saved my life. What's your name?"

The bodyguard's face turned red with excitement. "Thank you, General. My name is Mo Huer."

Lu Shixin was surprised. "What a strange name."

Mo Huer said apologetically, "When I was young, I was captured by the Turks. I have no memory of my childhood, only that I believed in Mo, and my nickname was Huer. I don't know where my hometown is, and in this chaotic era, I don't know if my parents are still alive."

Looking at him, Lu Shixin thought of his own parents, whom he could never see again, and felt a sense of empathy. He comforted him, "Whether or not you find your parents, living a good life is a way to repay them. When we return, I'll help you look for them."

Mo Huer was overjoyed and knelt down, knocking his head on the ground several times. "Thank you, General. I hope to be transferred to your command. Is that possible?"

Lu Shixin, unaccustomed to being knelt to, quickly helped Mo Huer up. "Aren't you already my bodyguard?"

Mo Huer hurriedly explained, "It's different. I was originally a junior officer under General Wang Jinkuo. I was injured in the foot during the defense of Ming River City and couldn't ride a horse, so I was assigned to recover in the city. General temporarily assigned me to your bodyguard unit, but according to the rules, I have to report back to General Wang after the battle. I would rather follow you than General Wang."

Lu Shixin, new to this era and in need of help, found Mo Huer to be young, simple, and reliable, so he agreed. "I'll talk to General Wang about it." He didn't know the relationship between Lu Shixin and Wang Jinkuo, but given that Lu Shixin had led him in the defense, Wang Jinkuo wouldn't refuse.

Lu Shixin asked Mo Huer to keep watch and not to relax. Accepting the soldiers' good intentions, he found a corner to continue sleeping.

This sleep was long!

Lu Shixin was dreaming, having a very long dream!

He dreamed of himself... or rather, Lu Shixin!

The real historical Lu Shixin!

In the ninth year of Daye!

"I wish to fight alongside the general!"

Zhang Xutuo laughed. "You, a mere child, can't even wear armor, how can you fight!"

Lu Shixin charged into the enemy ranks alone, beheaded an enemy general, and rode through the battlefield with the head on his spear, causing thousands of bandits to dare not approach... that year, Lu Shixin was fourteen.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

From then on, Lu Shixin fought bravely under Zhang Xutuo, leading the charge and becoming the most valiant of the army. Even Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty knew his name and sent envoys to comfort him, having artists paint his portrait for display.

In the tenth year of Daye!

Lu Shixin led a thousand men into the camp of Lu Mingyue's ten-thousand-strong army, setting fire to over thirty camps and securing victory.

He cleverly captured Qianjin Fort and killed Wang Xuan Ying... scene after scene played out like a movie...

Until the seven days and nights of battle at Ming River City!

On the eighth day of the dream... two scenes appeared.

One was Liu Heita retreating because of Lu Shixin.

The other showed only the result: Lu Shixin, exhausted and captured, refused to surrender and was killed by Liu Heita.

Lu Shixin looked at these two outcomes, pondered for a long time, and smiled with understanding: "Heaven has let you replace the dying me, so live a glorious life for me... inherit everything I have."