After galloping along the ancient path for a day and a night, they could see the Three Mountain Pass in the distance at noon on the second day.
…
"General."
A chiliarch cupped his fists and said, "The Three Mountain Pass is the transportation hub of the Yun Zhong Commandery and the ancient path. It's easy to defend and hard to attack. I'm afraid Long Qianlin has already received the news of Yu Shu's arrival."
"En, follow me into the pass in a while."
"Yes!"
Another chiliarch said worriedly, "If Long Qianlin has any rebellious thoughts, General shouldn't enter the pass. It's too dangerous. How can General take the risk?"
"Don't worry." Lin Muyu untied the Dragon Spirit Sword on her back and held it in her hand. She smiled and said, "You guys can camp outside the pass. I'll go in alone. Wait for me."
"No … I'll follow General into the pass. If we're going to die, we'll die together. There's no one in Muyu City who's afraid of death!" He said firmly.
Lin Muyu nodded in appreciation, "Good. Then the three chiliarchs will follow me into the pass to show our sincerity!"
"Yes!"
…
The Three Mountain Pass was located between three peaks. It was about 10 meters high and the walls were built with huge rocks that weighed thousands of kilograms. The walls were covered with withered vines. There were flags fluttering above the pass. It was Long Qianlin's flag with a big 'Long' character that was very conspicuous.
Lin Muyu slowly approached the city with the three senior generals and shouted from afar, "General of the South, Lin Muyu, requests to see General Long Qianlin. Please open the gate for us."
"Creak …"
The drawbridge was lowered and the guards cupped their fists and said, "General Long invites Sir to enter the pass for a chat!"
"Many thanks!"
They rode their horses into the pass and found that the interior of the Three Mountain Pass was very spacious and well-organized. More than 10,000 soldiers of the Flying Mount Camp were stationed inside and the shouts from the training ground were earth-shattering.
In the depths of the camp, a row of cavalry galloped over. Long Qianlin was at the front in golden armor and holding a spear. He laughed and cupped his fists and said, "Sir Lin Muyu, it's been a long time. I didn't expect you to come to the Three Mountain Pass. Are you looking for me to drink?"
"Of course not …"
Lin Muyu looked at the situation inside the pass. The Flying Cavalry Camp's supply troops were preparing their rations and weapons, and they were about to set off. He couldn't help but ask, "Sir Long Qianlin, where are you planning to go after breaking camp?"
Long Qianlin looked calm and said with a smile, "I heard that a group of bandits has been causing trouble in the villages and towns within the borders of Wugu City. Therefore, under the orders of the governor, I'm going to lead the Flying Mount Battalion back to Wugu City to eliminate the bandits."
"Oh, I see …"
Lin Muyu smiled faintly and said, "But I also have urgent military news here … A group of wandering mercenaries are attacking the innocent people of Cloud Middle Commandery. I have been ordered by His Majesty to bring the Dragon Talisman to Sir Long Qianlin to borrow troops to eliminate the bandits!"
"Borrowing soldiers from me?"
"That's right. Can I lend you 10,000 fierce soldiers of the Flying Mount Battalion?" Lin Muyu took out the Dragon Talisman. The exquisite commander's talisman glowed with a moving luster under the sunlight.
"This …" Long Qianlin frowned and muttered to himself. After a long while, he said, "But I have been ordered by the governor to break camp and return to Wugu City as soon as possible …"
Lin Muyu smiled and said, "The Dragon Talisman was bestowed by His Majesty. Sir Long Qianlin, may I ask, is the Flying Mount Battalion the empire's army or the governor's army?"
Long Qianlin looked aghast and hurriedly cupped his fists respectfully and said, "Of course it's the empire's army. Sir Lin Muyu, you're giving me too much credit …"
Lin Muyu raised her eyebrows and said with a smile, "Since that's the case, why aren't you willing to hand over the Flying Mount Battalion to me?"
"This … I …" Long Qianlin's expression was uncertain. He had already thought of many things.
Lin Muyu urged her horse closer and said in a low voice, "A great building is about to collapse. A wise man submits to circumstances. Could it be that Sir Long Qianlin is really willing to see these elite warriors of the Flying Mount Battalion become a pile of desolate bones under the rule of power?"
Long Qianlin gritted his teeth even more and confirmed his thoughts. He raised his head to look at Lin Muyu and asked, "Has His Majesty … really made up his mind?"
"Privately minting coins is a grave crime. Don't you understand?"
"Sigh, I …"
Long Qianlin sighed. At the same time, his palm gently moved to the hilt of his sword. The group of Flying Mount Battalion guards at the side also looked fiercely at Lin Muyu and company.
Lin Muyu couldn't help but laugh. With a soft grunt, a golden gourd appeared in his palm. He held the golden gourd and said with a smile, "That's right. There are only three of us who entered the pass. You, Long Qianlin, can kill the three of us without batting an eyelid, but … Duke Yun, His Highness Yun, Su Qin, Su Yu, and the entire Yun Zhong Province know that I, Lin Muyu, have come to Three Mountain Pass to borrow soldiers. You want to kill me, but you want the entire Three Mountain Pass to be buried with me. Is it really worth it?"
Long Qianlin's expression was extremely pained.
Lin Muyu smiled faintly and said, "You are a person who loves soldiers. The Flying Mount Battalion is one of the few elite divisions of the empire. They should be fighting all over the country and defending our territory. Do you want the Flying Mount Battalion to become a rebel army and die without a burial ground because of your mistake?"
This sentence hit the nail on the head. Long Qianlin was indeed a general who used troops like a god, but he was also a person who loved soldiers like they were his own children.
"Forget it … forget it …"
Long Qianlin sighed. He looked up at the sky and said, "If it is preordained by the heavens, then I, Long Qianlin, have betrayed the heavens and the earth … Since Sir Lin Muyu has the Dragon Talisman bestowed by His Majesty, then I, Long Qianlin, entrust all 17,000 brave soldiers of the Flying Mount Battalion to you … I hope you can treat these brave soldiers well … No matter how many unpardonable crimes the Governor and I, Long Qianlin, have committed, these soldiers are innocent. They are all soldiers who are loyal to the empire."
"I know."
Lin Muyu looked at him deeply and said, "I guarantee with my life that these 17,000 brave soldiers of the Flying Mount Battalion will be safe."
"Alright, thank you very much …"
Long Qianlin shouted, "All the cavalry commandants of the Flying Mount Battalion, come over here!"
The cavalry commandants of the Flying Mount Battalion were chiliarchs and were also the ones who had the most direct control over the military. Very soon, all 17 cavalry commandants gathered in front of them. Their warhorses neighed as they looked at Long Qianlin solemnly.
Long Qianlin reluctantly took out the tiger tally from his bosom, raised it high, and shouted word by word, "Always remember, the Flying Mount Battalion is the army of the empire. You and I are soldiers of the empire. We will never betray the people or our homeland! From today onwards, the person you need to follow is Sir Lin Muyu and not me, Long Qianlin. Remember … don't seek revenge for me and don't resent anyone. Your mission is to protect the empire's territory. "
Long Qianlin turned around and handed the tiger tally to Lin Muyu. His eyes were red as he said, "From today onwards, the Flying Mount Battalion will be entrusted to you."
All the cavalry commandants looked emotional and shouted, "We are willing to follow the general forever. The general can't abandon us like this!"
Long Qianlin shouted in a low voice, "All of you, shut up! Remember, you are the soldiers of the empire, not the soldiers of me, Long Qianlin! That's all I have to say. Three Mountain Pass imperial guards, assemble and follow me! "
He turned his horse and left.
Lin Muyu hurriedly asked, "Long Qianlin, where are you going?"
Long Qianlin turned around. His handsome face was filled with helplessness and despair as he said, "The Five Valleys City has changed … Governor Hu Tiening has known me for a long time and has shown me great kindness. He has admonished me to the death and fought to the death. I want to return to the Five Valleys City and die in battle as my final gratitude to the governor!"
"Are you going to rebel with Hu Tiening?" Lin Muyu shouted.
"Do I have a choice?" Long Qianlin was furious.
Lin Muyu raised the tiger tally and shouted, "Flying Mount Battalion, listen up! Take down Long Qianlin!"
Long Qianlin suddenly drew his sword and shouted, "I want to see who dares to stop me!?"
"Long Qianlin!"
Lin Muyu raised her voice and said, "Perhaps Hu Tiening originally didn't want to resist the army of Muyu City, but your going is tantamount to giving him hope. Do you know that you are helping the evildoer? Do you know how many soldiers will die tragically in Five Valleys City, how many wives will lose their husbands, and how many children will lose their fathers for your insignificant gratitude? "
"I … I …"
Long Qianlin suddenly trembled. He was dressed in military attire, but tears were flowing down his face. He suddenly sheathed his sword and said, "Then I will go alone. If I have to die, I, Long Qianlin, will die alone. No one can stop me!"
With that, the warhorse raised its front hooves and flew out of Three Mountain Pass.
…
Looking at Long Qianlin's back, Lin Muyu's expression was a little lonely. She frowned and said, "All commandants, gather. Prepare to assemble the troops and follow me out of the pass."
The commandants were dumbfounded. With Long Qianlin gone, Lin Muyu had become the highest-ranking person here. They were stunned for a moment, then they all crossed their right hands in front of their chest and saluted, "Yes, my lord!"
In the afternoon, the 17,000 Flying Mount Battalion soldiers and the 3,000 cavalry of Muyu City gathered together. The military might was greatly boosted, and they now had an army of 20,000.
Lin Muyu did not lead this group to Five Valleys City. Instead, he took them straight to Silver Fir City. Silver Fir City was not far from Five Valleys City, and it would allow the Flying Mount Battalion to avoid the chaos of war. At the same time, it could sit between Five Valleys City and Lanyan City. In any case, this Flying Mount Battalion could not be handed over to Su Muyun and Su Qin.
They arrived at Silver Fir City in the evening and set up camp outside the city. A group of commandants from the Flying Mount Battalion was sullen, so Lin Muyu called for an impromptu meeting to appease them. He also promised these generals that after the incident at Five Valleys City, he would do his best to beg the Emperor to save Long Qianlin's life.
In fact, from a moral point of view, Lin Muyu also hoped that Long Qianlin's life could be saved. Among the Seven Divine Generals of the Empire, Du Hai was iron-blooded and Xiang Yu was cruel. Feng Jixing, Qin Lei, and the others did not guard the borders. Lin Muyu had also heard of the other generals. Very few of them would treat human life as a big deal. This continent really needed a benevolent general like Long Qianlin.
After nightfall, a messenger bird quietly landed at the head of Lin Muyu's bed.
She took the letter tube. There was a piece of paper inside with a line of words written on it — —
Milord, the captain of the Flame Dragon Mercenary Band, Bai Lixing, has led 9000 Flame Dragon Mercenaries, and together with 7000 mercenaries from the Ghost Domain Mercenary Band, a total of 16,000 people have surrounded the Dragon-rocky Mountain. They have threatened to destroy the Longdan Army Camp. Our army can only defend and not leave. They hope that Milord can send reinforcements immediately! — — Luo Yu
… …
"The Longdan Army Camp has been surrounded …"
Lin Muyu let out a sigh. It just so happened that she had an army of 20,000 cavalry under her command. It could be put to good use!
She quickly wrote back, "Defend and not leave. Wait for reinforcements."
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