Chapter 28: Striving for Distinction!

"Enough, enough, stop with the flattery," Zhao Ergou waved his hand grandly, his spirit soaring. "Quickly, strip those barbarians of everything they have and bring the horses back! Don't let anything go to waste! These are all fine goods!"

The soldiers swarmed forward immediately, looting the Rongdi cavalrymen of their water skins, rations, sabers, bows, and arrows. All twenty-six warhorses were also led back.

"Tsk tsk, these Rongdi horses are truly something—tall, powerful, and far better than ours!" Luo Datong circled a date-red warhorse, clicking his tongue in admiration.

"Of course! The Rongdi are a people born on horseback; their steeds couldn't be anything less than excellent!" Tu Dakang reported excitedly. "Squad Leader, we've had a bountiful harvest! We have plenty of food and water now, not to mention a good supply of bows and arrows!"

Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Ergou! Is that really you, Ergou?"

Zhao Ergou turned to see a man, his face covered in dust and grime, sprinting toward them.

"Sun Liu! Old friend!" Zhao Ergou shouted in surprise, never expecting to run into an old acquaintance here. "I've really missed you!"

"Brother Ergou! I’ve finally found you! I thought I’d never see you again!" Sun Liu embraced Zhao Ergou with great emotion.

"Hey, hey, stop that—we’re grown men, it’s sickening!" Zhao Ergou laughed and pushed him away. "Tell me, what are you doing here? And where are the others?"

"Sigh, it’s a long story," Sun Liu sighed.

"Then give me the short version!" Zhao Ergou was impatient, eager to know what had transpired.

The thirty or so dust-covered soldiers of the Yinshan garrison that Sun Liu had brought with him followed behind, eyeing Zhao Ergou and his men with curiosity.

"Brothers, during last night's raid, we broke in from the left flank. It was a thrilling fight, but the losses were heavy!" Sun Liu described the scene vividly. "Once we breached the Rongdi camp, we set fires everywhere and fought them for our lives! Later, as the Rongdi gathered in greater numbers, our group got scattered. When we finally escaped, we were so disoriented we didn't know north from south, just running for our lives."

"We ran until daybreak, only to realize we had ended up right behind the Rongdi lines!" Sun Liu slapped his thigh, frustrated. "This morning, we tried to head back toward Yanmen Pass, but we ran straight into Rongdi cavalry! They were buzzing around like flies, hunting down stragglers like us."

"Wait, brother—are you saying the road back is swarming with Rongdi cavalry, completely blocked off?" Zhao Ergou’s eyes widened, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"That's exactly it! The Rongdi are as numerous as ants; the path back is sealed shut! Once they spotted us, they chased us down like cats toying with mice!" Sun Liu said, still shaken. "There were over forty of us, and those Rongdi animals shot down a dozen of our men like prey!"

"Those Rongdi bastards, they deserve to die!" Luo Datong gritted his teeth, his fury mounting.

"Are there any squad or platoon leaders among you?" Zhao Ergou scanned the thirty-plus soldiers with piercing eyes.

"No, we're all just common foot soldiers, like me," Sun Liu replied first.

A faint smile touched the corner of Zhao Ergou’s mouth; he was secretly pleased. Common soldiers—that was even better!

"Since you are all warriors who took part in last night’s raid, you are all brothers of mine, Zhao Ergou! I officially declare that you are now part of the Tenth Squad. From here on out, you’ll eat well, drink well, and promotion and wealth will be yours for the taking!"

Zhao Ergou gestured grandly, like a general commanding an army. "I may not have other talents, but when it comes to leading my brothers to kill the enemy and win glory, I’m second to none!"

The twenty-plus soldiers looked at each other, none raising an objection. They were leaderless stragglers, and Zhao Ergou was, at the very least, a squad leader. Moreover, his god-like archery performance moments ago had thoroughly won them over. Following such a fierce warrior, they might actually survive—and perhaps even earn a name for themselves.

With these twenty men added to their ranks, the unit grew to over seventy. Zhao Ergou felt even more confident. "With this many of us, what are the Rongdi barbarians? There is strength in numbers; sooner or later, I will wipe them out to the last man!"

The setting sun hung like blood, staining the vast grassland in deep crimson. Sun Liu and his men followed Zhao Ergou on horseback. As they traveled, Sun Liu became increasingly anxious. Watching Zhao Ergou ride leisurely ahead through the desolate wilderness, with no villages in sight and only the blood-red sky above, it felt as though the heavens were signaling his impending doom.

Sun Liu spoke in a hoarse, urgent tone, "Brother Ergou, we can't stay here! We need to ride! Those few Rongdi pups who escaped are bound to bring more reinforcements to take revenge!"

"To hell with fear! I’ll kill as many Rongdi pups as they send! They want revenge? I’ll be right here waiting for them!" Zhao Ergou pounded his chest and let out a hearty laugh that echoed across the plains, like an eagle surveying its domain.

"That’s right! Who’s afraid of them? We follow Brother Ergou and slaughter the Rongdi dogs!" Luo Datong joined in, his blood boiling.

The others said nothing, but their eyes were filled with an excited light, infected by Zhao Ergou’s bold ambition.

"But Sun Liu is right—this place is too close to the Rongdi camp; we don't want to get surrounded! Let's head straight into the heart of the grasslands and show those Rongdi pups what we're made of!" Zhao Ergou waved his hand, his spirit high, like a general setting out on a campaign.

The men reorganized their supplies, mounted their horses, and rode toward the depths of the vast, mysterious grassland. Their hoofbeats kicked up dust, forming a winding dragon under the sunset, full of unstoppable momentum.

After riding for over twenty miles, the group finally pulled on their reins to stop and catch their breath.

"Dismount! Rest a while, eat something! Tonight, we celebrate—we celebrate our first victory!" Zhao Ergou leaped from his horse with effortless grace. The captured Rongdi food and water came in handy, and they filled their bellies.

"Brother Ergou, are we really heading straight into the heart of the grasslands? We aren't going back to Yinshan?" Luo Datong asked, gnawing on a ration, his face etched with worry.

"Forget Yinshan! I didn't come here to hide in a city and eat rice! This vast grassland is full of opportunities to earn glory! We’ll march deep into the enemy’s territory, wipe out the Rongdi, and return home in triumph!" Zhao Ergou laughed boldly, brimming with confidence, as if this sprawling grassland were already his to command.

"That's right! Follow Brother Ergou, crush the Rongdi!" The men echoed, their morale soaring.

"What do you say, Brother Sun Liu?" Zhao Ergou patted Sun Liu on the shoulder, specifically asking for his opinion to show respect.

"Brother Ergou is right! Going back now is just asking for death! We might as well forge a path through these grasslands; maybe we’ll find our own way out!" Sun Liu, moved by Zhao Ergou’s passion, felt his own spirit ignite.

"Good! It’s decided! Right here on these grasslands, we’ll carve out a path of blood! Let the Rongdi pups tremble in fear!" Zhao Ergou smashed his fist into the ground, his presence imposing and majestic.