Chapter 2, Companions, Entrusting the Orphan, Diverging Paths

After Tang Shaoyi finished speaking, A Mai almost let out an "Oh dear" as well, but her "Oh dear" was due to her surprise at how quickly Tang Shaoyi had figured things out. What was she to do? She had just spoken so confidently earlier; how could she possibly take it back now? She thought to herself that the surname Tang was not just associated with a reckless person, but also someone with some intellect.

The three of them had just finished tidying up when they were about to part ways. At the moment of farewell, Tang Shaoyi suddenly called out to Amai again, looked at Amai's frail body, and asked: "Amai, do you know martial arts?"

To his surprise, the soldiers from the Northern Desert stopped moving when they were only several dozen zhang away from Tang Shaoyi. Tang Shaoyi was somewhat puzzled. Peering through the branches and leaves of the trees, he saw that those soldiers from the Northern Desert had actually begun to chop down trees. They were cutting down relatively small trees, dragging them out of the forest with their branches and leaves still attached. For a moment, Tang Shaoyi was also a bit confused.

Before Amai could ask, Tang Shaoyi had already explained the strange actions of the Northern Desert soldiers. Amai also found it puzzling; if the Northern Desert soldiers were constructing siege engines, why were they cutting down these small, miscellaneous trees instead of some sturdy timber? Moreover, there were large areas of forest outside Taixing City, so why not wait until they were outside the city to build the siege engines? Was it not a bit premature to construct the siege equipment here for an assault on Taixing City? Furthermore, there were large areas of forest outside Taixing City, so why not wait until they were outside the city to build the siege engines? Was it not a bit premature to construct the siege equipment here for an assault on Taixing City?

Tang Shaoyi stepped forward to help Amayi up, and for a moment, both of them fell silent, their hands still tightly clasped, surpassing a thousand words. After a moment, Tang Shaoyi finally released his hand, and upon looking at Amayi and Xu Xiuer, both of whom were covered in dirt and looked quite disheveled, he couldn't help but smile a little.

After finishing her words, A Mai felt ashamed of herself, especially when she saw Xu Xiuer's eyes filled with the shy admiration of a young girl, which made her feel even more embarrassed. She deduced that the Northern Desert people attacking Taixing was a ruse, so arriving at Taixing before them would be the safest choice. Returning to Hamburg City was not an option; not to mention the dead in that city, the banditry following the military disaster was a significant problem. It now seemed that the right course of action was to reach Taixing as soon as possible, and then cross the Wan River to escape south before the chaos of war began. The Wan River is a natural barrier; even if the Northern Desert people conquered the entire northern Jiang region, they would not be able to cross the Wan River in a short time. Jiangnan would surely be a good choice to avoid the turmoil of war.

Upon seeing Tang Shaoyi's demeanor, A Mai chose not to expose him, but rather wished to probe how much he truly understood. Thus, she feigned a look of confusion and asked, "General Tang, what do you mean? What schemes do the Tartars have?"

Tang Shaoyi found it somewhat amusing that Amai was worried about such matters, and his dissatisfaction immediately dissipated. He reached out and patted Amai on the shoulder, smiling as he said, "Of course, there is no problem." After a pause, he recalled that Amai had originally been unwilling to accompany him to Taixing, and he asked in surprise, "Amai, are you going to follow me to Taixing?"

A-Mai sat quietly to the side, listening silently. Occasionally, she would lift her head to glance at Tang Shaoyi, only to lower it again to continue gnawing on the green wild apple in her hand. Having experienced hunger deeply, she could not help but want to eat a little more whenever there was something to fill her stomach.

Tang Shaoyi lowered his head to look at the two green fruits in his hand, yet his mind was still occupied with the strange actions of the Northern Desert people when he first entered the forest. They had chopped down so many branches, and he had no idea what the Tatars intended to use them for. As he pondered this, Tang Shaoyi's expression suddenly changed.

The three of them no longer thought much, descending along the rugged mountain path towards the southeast, only eager to reach Taixing City as quickly as possible. Xu Xiuer refused to let Tang Shaoyi carry her any longer, stubbornly insisting on walking the mountain path herself. Seeing that she had recovered from her fright and her physical condition was quite good, Tang Shaoyi no longer insisted on carrying her. Along the way, Amai was carrying little Liu Ming. Although he was still an infant and not heavy, the long journey made no distinction between light and heavy. Amai's clothes were already soaked with sweat, so Tang Shaoyi took the child from Amai's back and carried him himself. As a result, the pace of the three of them increased significantly.

Continuously, soldiers from the Northern Desert surged into the forest. Tang Shaoyi roughly calculated that at least several hundred Northern Desert soldiers had entered the woods. Although he had just experienced the brutality of the battlefield and was now filled with a determination to face death, seeing so many Northern Desert soldiers pursuing him still caused him some alarm. He also thought that as a mere lieutenant, he had attracted so many Northern Desert soldiers to chase after him, which could be considered quite remarkable. The momentary feeling of fear that had just arisen in his heart was immediately suppressed by an overwhelming sense of heroism. Tang Shaoyi clenched his sweaty palms tightly, waiting for the Northern Desert soldiers to come closer before he would leap down to engage in battle.

As for Amai, she dragged Xu Xiuer, who was focused on burrowing into the dense forest. It could be said that the little Liu Ming was giving her face, as she managed not to cry the entire way. Moreover, Xu Xiuer was a child from a poor family; although she appeared delicate, her agility should not be underestimated. Amai pulled and tugged her along, ensuring that she was not left behind. The two ran hard for nearly half an hour, and they no longer had the strength to continue. Xu Xiuer suddenly collapsed onto the ground, while Amai bent over, leaning against a tree, greedily gasping for air with her mouth wide open. Only Liu Ming, who was on Amai's back, seemed to find great amusement in the bumpy ride, letting out giggles and coos.

Tang Shaoyi noticed that Amai had only glanced at him briefly and had not even responded. He felt a vague sense of dissatisfaction. Now, seeing Amai with a furrowed brow, unable to suppress his curiosity, he could only hold back his temper and ask: "What’s wrong?"

The mountainous area east of Hanburg belongs to the southern extension of the Ulan Mountain range in northern Xia, situated between the Yunhu Plateau and the Jiangzhong Plain. It generally runs in a northwest to southeast direction, starting from Hanling in the north and connecting to Wanjian in the south, stretching over 700 miles. The terrain gradually becomes gentler from north to south, and by the outskirts of Hanburg, it has transformed into a gentle hilly forest landscape

"It is too close to the edge of the forest here; we need to move further up. Let's observe the actions of the Northern Desert Tartars once we reach the summit," said Amai. Tang Shaoyi nodded, squatted down in front of Xu Xiuer, who was still sitting on the ground, and said, "Miss Xu, I will carry you up."

Xu Xiuer glanced at A Mai and hurriedly jogged to follow Tang Shaoyi

On the surface, A-Mai was listening to Tang Shaoyi's assessment of the situation, but in her heart, she was contemplating how to escape the fate of being sent to the battlefield. Tang Shaoyi spoke of war as if it were so simple, yet A-Mai knew that going to Yuzhou would undoubtedly be fraught with peril, especially for someone like her. Even if she went, at best, she would be just a foot soldier, likely one of those pushed to the front lines to fight. Once on the battlefield, it would be difficult to feign death; the Northern Desert people were all cavalry, and one misstep could result in being trampled into a pulp by hooves.

Holding the sword, Tang Shaoyi firmly fastened it to Amai's waist without allowing any argument. Afterward, he placed his hands on Amai's shoulders, staring at her for a moment, then he gave her shoulders a firm squeeze and said in a deep voice, "Amai, take care!" Without waiting for Amai to respond, he released his grip and turned to stride northwest. Tang Shaoyi did not dare to look back; he only felt a strange and unfamiliar sensation in his heart, something he had never experienced before, an inexplicable feeling of reluctance towards the youth with a smile as pure as a white lotus.

"Amai, we are heading to Yuzhou right now!" Tang Shaoyi secured the child on his back again and, saying this, was about to set off

Amai's attitude clearly infuriated Tang Shaoyi, who was eager for a response. He threw the branch in his hand forcefully to the ground and asked, "Amai, what do you want?"

The large troop of the Tartars is unable to traverse through the dense forest, so they have no choice but to detour south along the official road before turning towards Taixing. As a result, it will take the Tartars at least more than three days to reach Taixing City. We only need to cross through this mountain forest diagonally to arrive at Taixing City before the Tartars. As Tang Shaoyi spoke, he illustrated simply on the ground with a branch. Limited by the communication conditions of this era, Tang Shaoyi, as a garrison officer in a small city, could not have a complete understanding of the situation between the Northern Desert and Southern Xia. He could only infer from the route of the Northern Desert's Chang Yuqing army's attack that the next target of the Northern Desert people should be Taixing City. However, he was unaware of another army from the Northern Desert and had no way of knowing that Taixing City had already been besieged by the Northern Desert people even before the Hamburg City.

Amai originally had some reservations, but upon hearing Tang Shaoyi's words, he immediately suppressed the surge of emotions in his heart. He displayed a very sincere expression on his face and feigned concern as he asked, "General Tang, with the Tartars advancing so quickly, can we really arrive at Taixing before them?"

A-Mai still had a few wild fruits she had picked when she first entered the forest, and at this moment, she took them out to share with Tang Shaoyi and Xu Xiuer. Naturally, Xu Xiuer first selected the best ones to feed to little Liu Ming. A-Mai took her share of the wild fruits and sat alone by the water's edge, nibbling on them, her eyes occasionally following the small fish that swam playfully in the stream, thinking about how she could catch a couple to satisfy her cravings. She had not tasted meat for many days and was already so hungry that her eyes sparkled with desire. A-Mai took her share of the wild fruits and sat alone by the water's edge, nibbling on them, her eyes occasionally following the small fish that swam playfully in the stream, thinking about how she could catch a couple to satisfy her cravings. She had not tasted meat for many days and was already so hungry that her eyes sparkled with desire

It was only then that Amai and Tang Shaoyi remembered there was a little girl beside them. The two turned their heads to look at Xu Xiuer and, without prior agreement, frowned in unison

Xu Xiuer had developed some unusual feelings for Amai back in Hamburg, and naturally, she was willing to be with Amai. Although her earlier question was directed at both Amai and Tang Shaoyi, she had been secretly observing Amai's reaction. Seeing Amai frown, Xu Xiuer felt a heaviness in her heart, which soon turned into a sour chill.

Amai looked at Tang Shaoyi in silence. Although she had guessed that the Northern Desert people attacking Taixing was a ruse, she did not delve into the true objectives of the Northern Desert people due to her lack of understanding of the current war situation. Now that Tang Shaoyi inferred that the Northern Desert people were going to attack Yuzhou, it meant that Yuzhou was a place they absolutely could not go to, which would only lead them to the battlefield again! A small city like Hamburg had such a fierce battle in its offense and defense, and Yuzhou was much larger than Hamburg. One could only imagine how many lives would be lost!

The slender branches were suddenly pushed aside, and a tall figure abruptly emerged from the thicket. A moment of blankness filled A Mai's mind, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground.

A-Mai was still lost in thought about the stream fish when she suddenly heard Tang Shaoyi exclaim, "Oh no!" Startled, she quickly turned to look at him. She saw Tang Shaoyi standing up with his fists clenched, turning around in place twice before angrily saying to A-Mai, "We've fallen for the Tartars' trick! Those branches must have been dragged by the Tartars behind their horses to deceive us. Their attack on Taixing is a ruse; they likely have ulterior motives!"

Tang Shaoyi, however, remained silent, only furrowing his brows as he paced back and forth, pondering what the Northern Desert people intended since they feigned an attack on Taixing. The Northern Desert people came from the western Hu region, and to the east of Hamburg City lies the forest where they currently are. A large cavalry unit could not possibly traverse the mountains and hills in this area. The southern route leads to Taixing; could they have gone north again? But which town is to the north? There are no significant military strongholds there. Why would the Northern Desert people forsake Taixing to head north? That shouldn't be the case!

According to Amai's perspective, the further away from the battlefield, the better. Unexpectedly, Tang Shaoyi came to discuss how to get to the battlefield, which made Amai want to curse under her breath. However, due to Tang Shaoyi's forceful demeanor, she did not dare to show her displeasure and could only think to find an opportunity to escape.

"Yuzhou! Only Yuzhou!" Tang Shaoyi suddenly said in a deep voice, "To the northeast lies Yuzhou, which is the gateway to my Jiangzhong Plain. As long as we capture Yuzhou, the Tartar cavalry will seize the vital throat of our Southern Xia to the north of the river. They can advance south to attack Taixing, and northward they can launch a pincer attack on our troops in Jingyang and Suishui. What a cunning Tartar from the Northern Desert! Their intentions are truly malicious!" Tang Shaoyi looked up at Amai, his eyes bright with an excitement that he could not conceal. He suddenly realized the scheme of the Northern Desert people, feeling both angry and excited; angry at their treachery, yet excited that he had seen through their plot. A man in the military, especially one who has reached a position like his, always hopes to achieve fame in battle and join the ranks of renowned generals. Now, the opportunity seems to be right before him, how could he not be thrilled!

Xu Xiuer bit her lip and stole a glance at A Mai, only to see that A Mai was actually nodding along. The heart of the young girl was completely chilled!

Seeing this, Tang Shaoyi could only nod in agreement. He was aware that having Xu Xiuer accompany him would bring about many inconveniences, but the education he had received made it difficult for him to say "no" to a weak woman. Thus, he said: "Then Miss Xu shall accompany me!"

Tang Shaoyi finished speaking and walked over to Xu Xiuer, taking the child back. Seeing that A Mai was still looking at him in astonishment, he couldn't help but smile wryly and said: "You were never a soldier, how could I force you to join me in battle? I was mistaken. You should hurry and escape. If you cross this mountainous area to the northeast, you will reach the territory of Yuzhou. You..."

Amai furrowed her brows and turned to look at Tang Shaoyi, her mind racing with various thoughts, unable to decide whether to share her suspicions with him. Having spent a long time in the military, Tang Shaoyi had developed a straightforward personality and was particularly intolerant of this kind of hesitance. Seeing Amai display the same demeanor, he felt a twinge of annoyance and asked irritably, "Just say what you have to say; a fine man like you shouldn't act like a woman!"

Amai nodded and solemnly placed the bronze medal into her bosom. At that moment, Xu Xiuer approached and, noticing that Tang Shaoyi and Amai had not mentioned their whereabouts, her eyes reddened slightly as she hesitantly asked, "Then, what should I do?"

Shortly after the figures of Amai and Xu Xiuer disappeared into the dense forest, large groups of soldiers from the Northern Desert began to move in from the edge of the woods. It seemed they had not discovered Amai and the others; they merely spread out at the forest's edge, cutting down obstructive underbrush while dispersing deeper into the woods. Tang Shaoyi contemplated briefly before climbing up a large tree, waiting for the Northern Desert pursuers to come closer, intending to kill a few of them before leading them in the opposite direction from where Amai and the others had gone.

Tang Shaoyi smiled with relief. What he feared most was that in a moment of crisis, Amai would consider the burden too great and abandon the child. Now that he had received Amai's vow, he finally felt somewhat reassured. He gave Amai a push and said, "Hurry up!"

In a hurry, A-Mai had no time to speak, quickly tying the child to her back and pulling Xu Xiuer along as she left. After walking just a few steps, she heard Tang Shaoyi calling her softly from behind. A-Mai stopped and saw Tang Shaoyi catch up, shoving a sword into her hand. "There may be wild beasts in the forest, this sword is for your protection," Tang Shaoyi said, glancing deeply at the infant on A-Mai's back. In a hushed voice, he continued, "This child, Liu Ming, is the orphan of Lord Liu Jing, the city guard. Lord Liu's family is known for their loyalty and valor. If possible, I hope Brother Mai can ensure this child's safety. Shaoyi thanks Brother Mai on behalf of Lord Liu!" After saying this, Tang Shaoyi actually knelt down on both knees, deeply bowing his head to A-Mai.

A-Mai was momentarily stunned and hurried to help Tang Shaoyi up, "General Tang, please get up quickly. Rest assured, A-Mai vows that as long as she is alive, she will never abandon this child."

Amai, with a face full of loyalty, widened his eyes and said solemnly: "This is only natural. Although I, Amai, am a rough man from the countryside and do not understand great principles, I greatly admire General Tang's courage. General Tang, holding the orphan of Lord Liu, fought his way out of the encirclement, wielding his sword amidst the chaos of battle. His bravery truly makes me feel ashamed. Now that the country is in trouble, as a man of Nansha, how can I only care for my own safety and disregard the greater righteousness of the nation? On my way to Taixing City, even if I cannot go into battle and kill the enemy, at least I have the strength to contribute to the defense of Taixing City!" Now that the country is in trouble, as a man of Nansha, how can I only care for my own safety and disregard the greater righteousness of the nation? On my way to Taixing City, even if I cannot go into battle and kill the enemy, at least I have the strength to contribute to the defense of Taixing City!

Ah? A-Mai looked up, immediately putting on a flattering smile, "Master Tang, are you asking about the little one?" Tang Shaoyi nodded with a grim face, and A-Mai's smile carried a hint of mockery, yet her tone remained as respectful as ever, "But Master Tang, is what the little one says of any use?"

Tang Shaoyi had long considered this issue. Upon hearing Ah Mai's question, he explained: "This mountain forest extends northward for more than 300 li, where the terrain is quite flat. If the Tartars intend to attack Yuzhou, they must pass through there. Although cavalry is fast, they still have to cover a certain distance. If we hurry, we can not only reach Yuzhou in time to raise the alarm, but also set an ambush at the valley entrance, catching the Tartars off guard!"

"General Tang, I have some thoughts that I am unsure whether I should express," Amai suddenly said

A-Mai saw that Tang Shaoyi had given his sword to her, realizing that he had made the resolute decision to draw away the pursuers, and she was moved by his tragic determination. As the voices of people outside the forest grew closer, A-Mai no longer hesitated; she nodded firmly at Tang Shaoyi, gritted her teeth, and pulled Xu Xiuer as they plunged into the depths of the dense forest.

Amai's nerves, which had been taut to the extreme, suddenly relaxed. After the excessive tension, her legs felt somewhat weak, and after a slight sway of her body, she collapsed to the ground. Xu Xiuer, seeing that Tang Shaoyi was actually alive, rushed over in a mix of surprise and joy, unable to hold back her soft sobs. Amai's eyes also felt a bit warm; she smiled at Tang Shaoyi, revealing her first genuine smile.

Amai turned to glance at Xiao Liu Ming, seeing him grinning happily, and helplessly shook her head before turning back to lean against the tree, catching her breath. Amai and Xu Xiuer had not yet caught their breath when they heard rustling sounds coming from the woods behind them. Amai's heart sank in fear, unsure whether it was a wild beast or the Northern Desert soldiers pursuing them again. She silently looked at Xu Xiuer, who, with a pale face, gently shook her head; she truly could not run any longer. Amai tightly pressed her lips together, gripping the sword that Tang Shaoyi had given her with both hands, and slowly stood in front of Xu Xiuer.

Xu Xiuer's face was slightly flushed, and she stole a glance at Amai. The little girl had experienced a subtle change in her thoughts when Amai had just stood in front of her with the sword drawn. She struggled to stand up from the ground and said, "There is no need to trouble General Tang; I can walk by myself." As she spoke, she forced herself to move forward, but after taking only a couple of steps, her legs gave way, and she sat back down on the ground.

However, upon hearing Tang Shaoyi describe the Beimo people as so treacherous, A Mai felt somewhat unconvinced. Yu Province was merely a city; abandoning Taixing for Yu Province did not seem to her to offer significant advantages. If it were her, she would instead adopt a strategy of besieging the city and cutting off reinforcements, just as her father had mentioned. The most important thing was to eliminate the enemy's viable forces; the gains and losses of a city or a fortress were trivial in the long run

Tang Shaoyi could not fathom the small calculations in Amai's heart. Listening to Amai, he found some of her reasoning quite valid and initially thought she was wholeheartedly devoted to the country. After a brief consideration, he said: "This is good; we will separately head to Yuzhou and Taixing, and we must ensure that the message reaches before the Tartars do." As he spoke, he took off the bronze plaque that signified his rank as a school officer and handed it to Amai, saying, "You go to Taixing, take this credential to see Lord Wan Liang, the city defender. If possible, please ask Lord Wan to lead an attack against the Northern Desert Tartars and rescue Yuzhou!" Tang Shaoyi thought for a moment and felt that his rank was too far below that of Lord Wan, so he said: "This is good; we will separately head to Yuzhou and Taixing, and we must ensure that the message reaches before the Tartars do." As he spoke, he took off the bronze plaque that signified his rank as a school officer and handed it to Amai, saying, "You go to Taixing, take this credential to see Lord Wan Liang, the city defender. If possible, please ask Lord Wan to lead an attack against the Northern Desert Tartars and rescue Yuzhou!" Tang Shaoyi thought for a moment and felt that his rank was too far below that of Lord Wan, and that such a tone would be inappropriate when speaking to a superior. He then changed his words, saying, "Never mind, you only need to explain the situation to Lord Wan, and he will make his own arrangements."

The Southern Xia does not produce warhorses; most military horses are purchased from the Western Hu grasslands. The several cavalry regiments formed are almost all deployed along the northern front, facing the Northern Desert. The cavalry stationed in domestic towns is mostly used for reconnaissance, referred to in the military as scouts, and large-scale cavalry charges are rare. Amai had once climbed the walls of Hamburg and witnessed the shock brought by the cavalry formations of the Northern Desert. At that time, he was too busy being afraid to consider why the Northern Desert had dispatched so many cavalry for this southern invasion. It is known that cavalry excels in mobility, and can better exert its power in field battles; he had never seen cavalry used to besiege a city, after all, horseshoes do not have suction cups and cannot climb walls! Now, seeing the faint outlines of the cavalry long lines of the Northern Desert army amidst the swirling yellow dust, and recalling the actions of the Northern Desert people in the woods that morning, a bold hypothesis gradually took shape in Amai's mind: the Northern Desert is deceiving! Their true objective is certainly not the high-walled and deep-moated Taixing City; this so-called "hundred-thousand strong army" attacking Taixing City is merely a ruse to mislead. The real cavalry units have long since disappeared!

After A Mai and the others burrowed into this vast mountain forest, they all breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had escaped from death. In the short term, as long as the Northern Desert people do not take up hunting for leisure, the lives of these few individuals are temporarily secured. Fortunately, it is now early autumn, and many wild fruits in the forest have ripened. The three of them randomly picked some fruits to stave off hunger, and Xu Xiuer, being particularly attentive, selected some sweet and juicy wild fruits, carefully chewed them, and fed them bit by bit into the baby's mouth.

Xu Xiuer carefully washed her hands and face by the water, then took the child from Tang Shaoyi's back and tended to him attentively. Tang Shaoyi freed his hands and directly leaned over the stream, plunging his head into the water to wash his face and drink. A Mai washed her hands in the stream and intended to scoop up some water to wash her face, but upon seeing her reflection in the water, she reconsidered and decided against it, only drinking a few sips of the sweet stream water

Tang Shaoyi stepped forward and squatted down in front of Xu Xiuer, saying, "Hurry up and come up."

To their surprise, the one who caught up from behind was actually Tang Shaoyi, whom both Amai and Xu Xiuer believed to be doomed without a doubt

Thus, Amai made up her mind—Yuzhou was a place she could never go, even if it meant death. It was purely a stroke of luck that she had survived the walls of Hamburg; she did not believe she would be fortunate enough to survive the walls of Yuzhou. Her mother had said that one should not constantly challenge the limits set by heaven.

Although Xu Xiuer's words were directed at Tang Shaoyi, her gaze remained fixed on A Mai, thus she did not notice Tang Shaoyi's second frown. In fact, the young girl spoke with a hint of petulance, yet deep down she still harbored some hope, wishing that A Mai would try to keep her. However, to her surprise, A Mai merely lowered her head in thought for a moment before raising it to say, "That is fine! You may go with General Tang to Yuzhou!" She found it difficult enough to ensure her own safety, and bringing Xu Xiuer along would indeed be inconvenient. Moreover, she was accustomed to being alone, and notions of chivalry had little to do with her. Although the young girl had once given her a few steamed buns, she did not wish to take on such a heavy burden. It would be better to pass it on to Tang Shaoyi; after all, isn't he quite the man? Then he should bear a bit more responsibility, A Mai thought.

Xu Xiuer obediently lay on Tang Shaoyi's back this time, while A Mai tightly bound Xiao Liuming behind him, swinging a sword to clear the obstructing branches in front. The four of them continued to climb towards the mountain peak. Although the mountain was not high, the dense forest made it difficult to traverse, and it took them over an hour to reach the summit. At the foot of the mountain, the soldiers of the Northern Desert seemed to have finished their logging and exited the forest. Looking further away, the camp of the Northern Desert also appeared to have broken camp, as a large group of troops marched southward through Hamburg City. The dust on the ground was kicked up by the hooves of the cavalry, rising into large clouds of smoke in the air. Although the mountain was not high, the dense forest made it difficult to traverse, and it took them over an hour to reach the summit. At the foot of the mountain, the soldiers of the Northern Desert seemed to have finished their logging and exited the forest. Looking further away, the camp of the Northern Desert also appeared to have broken camp, as a large group of troops marched southward through Hamburg City. The dust on the ground was kicked up by the hooves of the cavalry, rising into large clouds of smoke in the air, making the Northern Desert army resemble a gigantic yellow dragon, winding far beyond sight.

A furrowed brow from A-Mai instantly ignited Xu Xiu'er’s stubbornness. She gritted her teeth and, without waiting for either of them to respond, resolutely said: "I will go to Yuzhou with General Tang! Rest assured, General, Xiu'er is also the daughter of a poor family; traversing a mountain path is nothing significant, and I will certainly not be a burden to you. Moreover, the young master also needs someone to take care of him. As a man, the General might not be inclined to look after an infant, so it is best for Xiu'er to accompany the General!"

This statement brought Tang Shaoyi back to his senses from his initial shock. He immediately began to feel ashamed of the cowardice he had inadvertently revealed, stealing a glance at Amai, and coldly snorted, saying: "Even if the Tartars truly have an army of 100,000, it would be a delusion to think they could capture Taixing City. Our Taixing City is high-walled and deep-moated, far beyond comparison to a small city like Hamburg! To think that a mere 100,000 could besiege Taixing City, humph! It is simply a lack of awareness of the vastness of the world!"

Tang Shaoyi was anxiously hurrying towards Yuzhou, as they had already been traveling southeast for more than half a day. Turning towards Yuzhou would mean taking a considerable detour. Time was already tight, and unexpectedly, Ah Mai's questions kept coming one after another. Tang Shaoyi, feeling somewhat impatient, said: "Speak quickly if you have something to say! Don't always be so hesitant. What soldiers need is decisiveness and efficiency; those empty formalities are only valued by pedants! Men in the military do not concern themselves with such matters!"

By noon, the three had already crossed a mountain peak. Tang Shaoyi noticed that both Amai and Xu Xiuer appeared fatigued, and Liu Ming, whom he was carrying on his back, had also begun to cry. He chose a spot near the stream to take a rest. It was the early autumn season, and the stream was clear, flowing gently down from the mountain, creating little droplets of mist on the rocks, which brought a refreshing feeling to those who looked at it

At this moment, Ah Mai was indeed somewhat moved, looking at Tang Shaoyi, unsure of what to say. "No need, no need, General Tang, you and Xiuer and the child need this for self-defense even more."

Xu Xiuer looked at A Mai with tears in her eyes. A Mai, however, did not understand the young girl's feelings and thought that Xu Xiuer was unwilling to let Tang Shaoyi carry her due to propriety. Unable to help herself, she slightly frowned and said: "Now is the time to escape; there is no room for so many formalities. I would actually be glad if someone would carry me!"

Xu Xiuer listened to them speaking in a confused manner, without any idea, and stood up to leave. Amai hurriedly stopped them and said: "Wait a moment, General Tang, you mentioned that the Tartars intend to capture Yuzhou City, but to get from Hamburg City to Yuzhou, they must cross this mountain forest. Wasn't it said that the Tartar cavalry cannot pass through this mountain forest? How will they get through?" Amai hurriedly stopped them and said: "Wait a moment, General Tang, you mentioned that the Tartars intend to capture Yuzhou City, but to get from Hamburg City to Yuzhou, they must cross this mountain forest. Wasn't it said that the Tartar cavalry cannot pass through this mountain forest? How will they get through?"

Tang Shaoyi and Xu Xiuer never expected that Amai would have so many plans. Xu Xiuer regarded Amai as a valiant and passionate man, while Tang Shaoyi's view of Amai has greatly changed. He now sees Amai's previous cowardly behavior as merely a momentary fear. Now that he understands, with the blood rising, he is naturally a fine son of Nansha!

After A-Mai finished this passionate speech, it is not only Xu Xiuer who was moved to tears, but she also began to look at A-Mai with the eyes of someone admiring a hero. Even Tang Shaoyi forcefully patted A-Mai on the shoulder, pressed his lips together tightly, and nodded.

Tang Shaoyi was somewhat vexed by Amai's ambiguous remarks. In fact, he need not seek Amai's opinion on the matter of where to go. Perhaps it was due to the exhaustion from a night of fierce fighting that had drained much of his energy, at this moment, his originally resolute spirit felt somewhat weary, and he unconsciously sought some support from those around him. He gazed at Amai for a long time, and the anger on his face finally transformed into disappointment. He sighed softly and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. If you wish to escape, then go ahead. If Miss Xu also wishes to leave with you, please take good care of her."

Amai shook her head; she lacked skill, but she still had some strength left. What remained was her agility and speed in running, and in this regard, she was very confident in herself

Before he could finish speaking, a cacophony of voices suddenly emerged from the edge of the forest, startling all three of them, as they thought the pursuers from the Northern Desert had arrived. Tang Shaoyi glanced at the indistinct figures in the distance, handed the child back to Amai, and said in a low voice: "You take the child and Miss Xu and leave first, I will go to divert the pursuers"

Amai and Tang Shaoyi exchanged a glance, and both saw a hint of astonishment in each other's eyes. Xu Xiuer was even more shocked, her mouth agape, and after a long while, she murmured, "Heavens, how many people have the Northern Desert Tartars brought here!"

Tang Shaoyi pressed his lips together, unfastened his sword, and handed it to Amai, saying: "Take this sword with you; there may be wild beasts in the forest, so keep it for self-defense!"

Amai said: "Amai does not understand military affairs. Although General Tang's earlier statements were reasonable, Amai believes that we cannot neglect the situation in Taixing City. While it is true that some of the Tartars have gone to Yuzhou, we have also seen that a considerable number of Tartars are indeed heading towards Taixing. Given that the Tartars are notoriously cunning, we must remain vigilant regarding Taixing. Only one person is needed to deliver the message. General Tang can head to Yuzhou, while I will go to Taixing. This way, regardless of any schemes the Tartars may devise, we will be prepared. Wouldn't this be a more prudent approach?"

Indeed, his confidence was palpable, and his tone was sufficiently impassioned, yet the tightly pressed corners of his mouth inadvertently betrayed a hint of anxiety within. A-Mai cast a glance at him; although there was no visible reaction on her face, she felt somewhat skeptical, thinking to herself that since Tai Xing City was so impregnable, it shouldn't matter whether he sent a message or not. Why was he in such a hurry? With this thought, a spark of realization flashed through A-Mai's mind, prompting her to turn back and scrutinize the winding yellow dragon below the mountain once more. As she observed, her brows began to furrow tightly.

Amai lifted the small Liu Ming behind him and said, "General Tang, let us go. We must arrive at Taixing City before the Tartars, so that Taixing City can be prepared for defense! We will stand on the city wall and wait for the Tartars, and see what their hundred thousand troops can do to us!"