Chapter 4, My fate is determined by me

The deranged rebel soldiers shouted as they stormed into the homes of civilians, the streets running red with blood. The deceased were all dressed in ordinary people's clothing, and blood continued to flow from the bodies, gradually forming a river of blood. In the night sky, the screams of women sounded particularly piercing; they pleaded, cursed, and struggled, using every means to resist the onslaught of the beasts, yet all resistance was in vain

Fu Ge did not expect that there were more than three hundred soldiers responding, yet only a handful of over ten remained by the captain's side, among which were several who were seriously injured. The morale of the Southern Army of the Great Qin could not be easily shattered by a single fierce battle. The soldiers carefully selected by General Meng Ping did not let him down

All along, the captain has lived in the shadow of General Meng Ping. When his idol collapsed suddenly, his mental state also crumbled.

Fu Ge slowly stood up straight, squeezed to the doorway, and peeked out. In the dim yellow light of the fire, two guards were slumped to the sides, each holding a long spear, fast asleep.

Fu Ge suddenly understood that the captain, although he was the nominal leader of this remnants of a crossbowman army, could no longer bear the heavy responsibility of leadership. Now, someone must step forward to take up the banner of this army

The decision has long been made in my heart

In front of Fu, the scene of General Meng Ping's head hanging high on the gate tower occasionally appeared. He was watching his soldiers, observing whether they had lost his face and whether they had tarnished the honor of the Southern Army of the Great Qin.

In the distance, the shouts and curses of the rebel soldiers could be heard, along with the sound of the gate being kicked open, as well as the startled cries and weeping of women. In the autumn of November in the second year of the reign of Emperor Qin Er, after the rebels stormed into Xingyang City, they engaged in widespread burning, killing, and looting. Nearly half of the city's residents were killed, and the loss of property was severe, causing this once-renowned stronghold, known as the "Granary of the Three Rivers," to fall into a state of despair.

The fury of survival burned fiercely in Fu Ge's chest

Fu Ge lowered his voice and said, "Captain, it's the second half of the night. While the guards are becoming lax and weary, why don't we sneak out of the city?"

Since there is no way to live on, I might as well rebel and be done with it

Over the course of more than ten years, alongside the grand conquest plans of the Emperor of Qin, one undeniable fact remains: the quality of the soldiers of the Qin state is gradually declining. The valiant warriors who once boldly displayed the severed heads of their enemies during the Battle of Changping are now a rare sight.

During the retreat to the inner city, the commander Li You of the San Chuan garrison ordered his personal guards to keep the civilians outside. As a result, the stored military provisions could last a bit longer, but the civilians were pushed towards the abyss of death.

Time slowly passed in the dry and noisy wait, yet Fu Ge's heart remained fervent and passionate. It was already the latter half of the night, and the shouts of the rebel soldiers outside had weakened. As the excitement of entering the city gradually faded, weariness finally crept into his heart

Life and death are but a single existence, are they not? What is there that cannot be sacrificed? If you do not go, we shall go! Fu Ge spoke in a deep voice, and as he said this, his expression was so young, fearless, and resolute. A hint of compassion swept across his gaze as it fell upon the captain's hunched back; once it too stood tall and unafraid, once it too was young, but now, its era has passed.

The source of this anger stems from the fragments of memories accumulated deep within his heart, remnants from future generations. Although shattered, they are intensely compelling and impossible to resist

At this moment, Fu Ge recalled the time when he was ten years old and first accompanied his father on a hunt. Unfortunately, they encountered a pack of ferocious wolves on the plains. To hesitate meant death, to retreat meant death, and to advance might also mean death. At that moment, his father shouted loudly to Fu Ge: "Move forward, keep moving forward; the glory of a soldier lies on this blood-soaked battlefield"

This is a great opportunity

We are also unwilling to accept this! At the moment Fu Ge expressed the frustration in his heart, the soldiers sitting nearby also stood up one by one, their expressions mirroring that of Fu Ge.

Fu Ge felt a sudden stir in his heart and decided to leave the city. Perhaps he could find a way to survive in this desperate situation. If all else failed, dying in battle would be far better than being thrown from the city by Li You to meet his end.

The captain has served in the military for over twenty years, a duration that has deeply ingrained the sacred duty of a soldier in his heart. No matter what, he could never turn his weapon against his own country. Moreover, in the distant capital of Xianyang, he has a wife and children who depend on him for their livelihood and care

For soldiers of the lowest rank in the Qin Dynasty, like Fu Ge, its influence is equally immeasurable; at the very least, they have begun to contemplate the reasons for their fight

As for Fu Ge

"Do not force me! Serving Governor Li is equivalent to loyalty to the Great Qin; this is our duty as soldiers, and it is also the general's wish!" Under the gaze of many hopeful eyes, the captain suddenly began to sob softly. Faced with pairs of expectant eyes, the captain cried like a child. In the face of choice, he cowardly chose to escape, which left Fu Ge feeling both disappointed and pitying. The long years of military life had slightly hunched the captain's back, and in that moment, Fu Ge suddenly felt that the captain had aged.

The path of life—if one does not try, how can one know if there is a way forward? Moreover, I am unwilling to stay behind and accompany that corrupt official to death! Fu Ge clenched his teeth and, filled with resentment, struck his fist against the hard stone wall, blood trickling down from between his fingers, yet he felt no pain at all

This slogan is highly impactful, as it offers hope to the people living at the bottom of society

The cramped prison cell is dark and damp, with three hundred soldiers squeezed inside. The air is so murky that it feels suffocating. Tomorrow, will they choose to preserve their lives and pledge loyalty to Li You, or will they refuse to endure humiliation and bravely face death? Each person is contemplating different answers in their hearts

However, there was no excitement as Fu Ge had imagined. After a long while, the captain finally raised his head and shook it helplessly, saying: "Brother Fu, we are soldiers of the Great Qin. How can we betray our country and turn against it? Moreover, the rebel forces outside are slaughtering the innocent. Even if we were to leave the city, there would be no way for us to survive."

At the moment when Meng Ping held Fu Ge's shoulder, and Fu Ge heard the stern yet infinitely caring reprimand of "Don't throw your life away!", he made a decision on how to proceed. Amidst the relentless flow of history and the rise and fall of dynasties, his fate would be determined by his own struggles and resistance. A vague yet resolute sentiment was gradually awakened within him, and a fearless seed was taking root and sprouting.

In a single night, the prosperous store was completely looted

Isn't it just a life? What is there to fear! And books.

"If one person commits a crime, nine clans will be punished." The laws of the Great Qin are ruthless and merciless. The captain is not like Fu Ge; he is free and unrestrained. Not only does he have a family and children, but he also has clansmen. He lacks the courage to risk the execution and imprisonment of his entire clan by resisting.

Nobility and high-ranking officials, is there any distinction in their birth? This is the slogan fervently promoted by the rebels

Yes, so what if Li You is the son of the Chancellor? It is not worth serving such a cowardly, treacherous, and debauched official. The grueling defense of the city lasted for more than half a year, and apart from a symbolic visit during the brief pauses in fighting, Li You was hardly seen. If it were not for General Meng Ping's strategic command, Xingyang would not have been able to hold out for even three days. Death is inevitable; rather than bowing down and being looked down upon, it is better to die gloriously at the hands of the rebel forces. Unfortunately, the weapons in hand have been confiscated; otherwise, if one could take advantage of the rebels' arrogance and strike them hard, it would show them that the Qin army is not to be trifled with.

Upon this thought, Fu Ge quietly approached the captain, who was huddled in the corner. He was the highest-ranking officer in this remnant army, and he had to take on the responsibility of leading the remaining soldiers without fail

Brother Fu, let us go and have a good kill!

Not only the rebels, but even the guards watching over the crossbowmen fell silent

The flames of plunder ignited throughout the city, with black smoke rising straight into the sky