Chapter 11: The Battle Blade

“Whose subordinate are you? What brings you here?”

A logistics officer clad in a gray robe, his belly protruding, squinted as he sized up Zhao Ergou from head to toe. The look he gave made Zhao Ergou uneasy, as if he were eyeing a fat pig ready for slaughter.

“My name? I’m afraid it might scare you to hear it! I am Zhao Ergou! I’ve come this time to collect equipment for battle!”

Zhao Ergou straightened his posture and confidently slapped the wooden token of a squad leader onto the logistics officer’s desk. The seal and writing on the token exuded a stern military aura, and paired with Zhao Ergou’s self-assured stance, it carried a certain imposing presence.

“I’m not one to be arrogant, but if this logistics officer doesn’t toughen up, he won’t be giving me any weapons.”

Zhao Ergou thought to himself as he fixed his gaze on the officer.

The officer was momentarily daunted by Zhao Ergou’s imposing manner. After a brief pause, he took the token, glanced over it casually, then nodded.

“So you’re from the squad leader’s unit. Wait here.”

He tucked the token into his sleeve and turned away, his bulky frame wobbling as he made his way into the armory.

“Hey, brother, you here to get gear too? With that aura, you look like a fierce one!”

A rough voice sounded in Zhao Ergou’s ear. Turning his head, he saw a burly man standing beside him, his face beaming with smiles and his eyes filled with admiration.

Zhao Ergou grinned broadly, revealing two rows of neat white teeth. “That’s right! I was born to be a general! Killing a few Rongdi bastards is as easy as pie!”

“It’s you—the Master of Waist Stabbing!”

The burly man suddenly widened his eyes as if he had seen a ghost, pointing at Zhao Ergou with utter disbelief, his voice trembling.

“Master of Waist Stabbing? What kind of ridiculous name is that? I don’t change my name or surname—I’m Zhao Ergou! Remember it well. On the battlefield, we help each other!”

Zhao Ergou was puzzled and somewhat annoyed. “What nonsense is this? I am destined to be a great general, how could I use such a vulgar nickname?”

The burly man suddenly seemed to recall something. He covered his mouth abruptly, his face turning pale, and instinctively guarded his waist with both hands, resembling a frightened rabbit.

“N-nothing…”

He stammered before turning on his heel and fleeing quickly, vanishing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Ergou watched his retreating back, baffled. Was the man out of his mind?

“Chen Xiang, why are you back? Where’s the weapon you were supposed to get?”

Another soldier, seeing the burly man return, asked in confusion.

Chen Xiang glanced back, ensuring Zhao Ergou hadn’t followed, then lowered his voice. “Guess who I just saw?”

He feigned mystery, a hint of terror on his face.

“Mysterious, huh? Could it be the Northern General himself?”

Liu Tao sneered, clearly skeptical.

“No, I’m telling you, I ran into the Master of Waist Stabbing.”

Chen Xiang’s voice dropped even lower, as if afraid of being overheard.

“The Master of Waist Stabbing? The one rumored to strike black-handed, stabbing the kidneys of Rongdi soldiers?”

Liu Tao’s curiosity peaked. The Master of Waist Stabbing was a legendary figure in the camp.

“Yes, that’s him! I saw him yesterday personally stab five or six Rongdi soldiers through the kidneys in one swift move. Those soldiers died horribly!”

Chen Xiang shuddered, as if reliving the bloody scene.

“Why are you afraid of him? Does he stab his own people? Besides, that’s killing the enemy, what’s it to us?”

Liu Tao was puzzled, patting Chen Xiang’s shoulder with a half-amused, half-exasperated look.

“I’m just afraid he might stab me by mistake. If that happens, I’m done for. My little Tao back home is waiting to marry me.”

Chen Xiang’s face was full of worry. He didn’t want to be disabled before even reaching the battlefield.

...

The logistics officer finally emerged, holding thirty arrows bundled roughly with coarse hemp rope and a brand-new battle knife.

The blade gleamed coldly but couldn’t hide its shoddy craftsmanship.

Zhao Ergou snatched the arrows and knife, weighing them in his hand, frowning. “Only this much? I’m going to the front to kill enemies. These arrows—who are they enough for?”

“Impudent! Supplies are tight now; we must hold until reinforcements arrive. You think arrows grow on trees? You get what you get!”

The logistics officer’s eyes bulged, spitting saliva onto Zhao Ergou’s face as he spoke in an officious tone.

“Thirty arrows are enough for you to kill thirty enemies. Aren’t you satisfied? Keep complaining, and you won’t get even these thirty!”

He scolded with haughty disdain, clearly looking down on Zhao Ergou.

Zhao Ergou snorted coldly, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes. “Thirty? The Rongdi bastards I’m going to kill number far more than thirty! Fine, I won’t argue with you. On the battlefield, I’ll carve a bloody path myself!”

He slung the arrows over his back, gripped the battle knife tightly, its blade shimmering cold light, reflecting the fierce confidence and killing intent on his face.

“Just wait and see. I’ll show you what a true fierce warrior looks like!”

With that, Zhao Ergou turned and strode away resolutely, leaving the logistics officer dumbfounded.

Back with his unit, Zhao Ergou tightened his grip on the battle knife, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if already envisioning himself wreaking havoc on the battlefield, earning glory and honor.

Past noon, the war drums outside the city thundered, shaking the earth and mountains. The Rongdi bastards had not yet retreated!

The squad leader frowned deeply, staring toward the city walls with a grave expression.

Today’s enemy assault was fiercer than yesterday’s, clearly determined to break through the city defenses!

Sure enough, soon the clarion call of the martial captain echoed across the skies: “All soldiers of the camp, assemble immediately to support the city walls!”

“It’s my turn to fight!”

Upon hearing the call to defend the walls, Zhao Ergou’s blood boiled. “I’ve been waiting for this moment until the flowers have withered!”

He quickly slung on his bow and arrows, strapped on the battle knife, donned his heavy armor, and followed closely behind the squad leader, running with swift, sure steps up onto the city walls.

What met his eyes was a hellish scene of carnage.

On the walls, countless Rongdi soldiers surged like rabid beasts, frantically assaulting the defenders’ line!

Bodies piled like mountains, blood stained the walls red, and the acrid stench of blood filled the air—this was the true battlefield, the place where men forged their legacies!

Many defenders had already fallen, the rest wounded and faltering. Zhao Ergou’s heart blazed with fury.

“We’re already locked in close combat—what use are arrows now?”

With a roar, Zhao Ergou drew his battle knife and charged into the enemy ranks like a tiger unleashed!