Chapter Eighteen: Li Mu

  This young general was extremely tall, with a height of eight feet (equivalent to over 1.8 meters in modern units), and had a sturdy build, resembling an iron tower, exuding great power and prestige.

  Wearing an iron helmet, wearing iron armor, bright and shiny, adding a bit of majesty.

  A pair of eyes was exceptionally bright and piercing, like the scorching sun in the ninth heaven, dazzling people.

  Striding along the road, with a loud and clear sound, majestic and powerful, with an air of grandeur that surpasses the world.

  The whole person is like a peerless sharp sword, with an aura that covers the world, as if the god of war has arrived, giving people a sense of being immovable and unshakeable.

  "What a heroic feat!" Qin Yiren couldn't help but shout in admiration.

  "Who could it be? Lian Po is too old, where did Zhao come up with such a young general?" Qin Yiren was deeply puzzled.

  The most famous general in Zhao at the moment is the old general Lian Po. Since he is an old general, he must be quite old. This young general looks extraordinary at first glance, but Qin Yi Ren has never heard of him, and can't help but feel curious.

  "Li Mu!" Zhao Xiaocheng shouted angrily.

  "Li Mu?" Qin Yiren almost bit his tongue off, Li Mu's name was like thunder in his ears, his reputation had been passed down for generations, and more than 2,000 years had passed, but Li Mu still had a lot of fans.

  In the Warring States period, many outstanding generals emerged, such as Wu Qi, Pang Juan, Sun Bin, Tian Ji, Sima Cuo, Bai Qi, Lian Po, Li Mu, Wang Jian, Wang Bao, Yue Yi, Tian Dan, Xiang Yan... famous generals are numerous.

  Only four people can be truly called "God of War", namely Wu Qi, Bai Qi, Wang Jian and Li Mu.

  Li Mu was the pillar of Zhao after Lian Po, and it was he who supported the broken Zhao state and resisted Qin for decades. In the campaign where Qin Shi Huang destroyed Zhao, even another god of war Wang Jian could not do anything to him. Finally, Qin Shi Huang adopted the plan of Wei Liao, using Guo Kuo to relieve Li Mu of his military power, and only then was the great army of Zhao defeated and Zhao destroyed.

  Later generations sighed, if Zhao Guo did not relieve Li Mu's military power, could Qin Guo destroy Zhao Guo?

  "Your servant Li Mu has seen the king." Li Mu rushed to pay his respects to King Zhaoxiang, not allowing him to speak, and quickly came before the mother of Zhao Kuo, bowed down, and helped her up.

  "Ah!" Li Mu tore off his battle robe to wipe away the fresh blood from Zhao's mother's forehead, with a reverent expression, just like a filial son attending to his mother.

  "How can Li Mu treat Zhao's mother like this?" Qin Yiren was puzzled.

  Li Mu is a war god-level character, and even Zhao Mu Ba Gan Zi can't get close to him. Just look at Li Mu's respectful appearance, and you'll know that there are hidden circumstances that outsiders don't know about.

  "Thank you, General Li. General Li, how did you come?" Zhao's mother was scolded by King Zhao Xian Cheng in front of all the officials, but not one of the civil and military officials spoke up for her, which made her very sad.

  Recalling the past, when Zhao Kuo held the general's token, the gate of the Zhao residence was like a market, with officials vying to curry favor. What a lively scene it was! Now that Zhao Kuo has just died and his body is still cold, the Zhao residence is desolate enough to catch birds, not to mention that King Zhao Xiang scolded him so excessively, so ruthlessly, yet no one pleaded on his behalf. Can this not chill people's hearts?

  Only Li Mu was not afraid of Zhao Xian Cheng Wang's power, and did not forget her, which warmed the heart of Empress Dowager Zhao, and tears rolled down.

  "General Li Muo has a debt of gratitude to repay, and he dare not forget it. Upon hearing the news of the disaster at Changping, he rushed here immediately. Although Li Muo arrived late, his aunt was already frightened, and he apologized for it." Li Muo knelt on one knee and gave a military salute to Lady Zhao. The sound of his armor clanking added to his dignified demeanor.

  Li Mu was a minor official in the northern border army of Zhao, although he had extraordinary military talent, no one recognized him and he was unknown. Until Zhao Kuo saw Li Mu, he was shocked to be a heavenly man, and after a conversation between the two, Zhao Kuo was even more determined that Li Mu was an invaluable military genius and strongly recommended him.

  At that time, Zhao Kuo was a young man who held high positions. His insights into military strategy were so profound that even his father, the famous general of Zhao, Zhao She, could not surpass him. As a result, he became well-known and was widely regarded by the court and the people of Zhao as a prodigy. He lavished praise on Li Muo, which drew attention from many people.

  Even so, Li Mu was not reused. Until the outbreak of the Changping War, Qin and Zhao were about to engage in a battle of life and death, and Zhao had to withdraw its elite troops from the north to the south, who would be left to guard the north?

  The northern border of Zhao was threatened by the Three Hu and Xiongnu, so a capable general had to be stationed there. Zhao Kuo recommended Li Mu again. After searching throughout the country for a good general, King Xiaocheng of Zhao appointed Li Mu, who then displayed his talents and eventually became a pillar of the state of Zhao.

  "Know the favor and repay it, truly a hero!" Qin Yiren understood the situation and praised Li Mu endlessly.

  It is a virtue to repay kindness, and perhaps many people can do it. However, in the current situation, after the defeat of Changping, under the great anger of Zhao Xiaocheng King, how many people can still do it? Li Mu insisted on repaying kindness, and no praise was excessive.

  "General Li, you're being too serious. I'm fine, please leave quickly." Madam Zhao knew that King Zhao Xiang Cheng was in a fit of rage and that General Li Mu had arrived to repay his debt, this trouble was not small, she did not want to implicate General Li at all costs.

  "What a considerate mother! If Zhao Kuo had such a mother, he could smile in the afterlife." Qin Yiren's good impression of Mother Zhao increased by several points.

  Who doesn't fear death? At this critical juncture, who wouldn't want to save their life? If it were someone else, they might have begged Li Mu for help. But instead of doing so, Zhao's mother urged Li Mu to leave and avoid disaster. This is truly rare, extremely rare!

  "Li Mu, you have a big nerve, daring to abandon your post. I won't let you off easily. Step aside and let me behead this old woman first, then we'll settle the score." King Zhao Xiang Cheng was furious, his anger hard to quell, and he came at her with his sword, determined to kill Queen Mother Zhao.

  "You can't go up." Li Mu was anxious and hastily blocked Zhao's mother in front of him.

  "Get out! Get out!" Zhao Xiaocheng's eyes seemed to be spewing fire, staring straight at Li Mu, that anger almost vaporizing him.

  Li Mu remained still.

  "Li Mu, you think you can stop me? This old hag, I will definitely kill her!" Zhao Xiaocheng Wang gritted his teeth and spat out the words one by one.

  "You, sir, are faithless and unrighteous." Li Mu grew urgent, and could only bring up the previous agreement: "You had an agreement with my aunt, that if General Shang were to lose the war, you would not punish his family. This was your own words, how can you go back on them? This is a matter of great importance, losing the trust of all under heaven! I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

  Li Mu is a god of war, with unparalleled military talent, rarely seen in the world. However, he is straightforward and unskilled in human relationships, speaking his mind directly without hesitation, his words urgent and sharp, like the loud ringing of a great bell.

  "It's all over, it's all over!" Qin Yiren heard in his ears and secretly worried about Li Mu. In his heart, he muttered: "Li Mu, you can't speak, just shut your mouth, no one will say you're a fool. You speak like this, isn't it adding fuel to the fire?"

  There were many officials in Zhao who thought like Qin Yi, but they all shut their mouths and dared not speak out, fearing to bring disaster upon themselves.

  "Li Mu, you have a big dog's gall!" As expected by Qin Yiren, Zhao Xiaocheng Wang's anger burst out at him, pointing at Li Mu's nose and shouting loudly: "I gave you a large army to guard the north, but you are as timid as a mouse and dare not fight with the Hu people. You have failed my trust, I will not forgive you."

  "My lord, I only have 20,000 old and weak soldiers in my hands..." Li Mu was anxious and flustered, like a young wife, hastily making excuses.

  The Changping War, the State of Zhao mobilized all its elite troops, and the only elite troops that were not mobilized were probably the red-robed swordsmen guarding the palace. At that time, the State of Zhao withdrew all its elite troops from the north, leaving Li Mu with only 20,000 old, weak and disabled soldiers, while Li Mu had to face the three Hu and the Xiongnu, and Li Mu was able to defend the border without losing it, which was already a rare and precious achievement.

  "Come on! Take this cowardly, mouse-like Li Mu out and behead him! Behead him!" Zhao Xiaocheng's eyes bulged like copper bells as he loudly berated Li Mu, his saliva spraying onto Li Mu's head and face like a fully opened faucet.