Chapter 47: Ge Shu Duan Dao (Part 1)

  It wasn't until the sky had completely darkened that Yang Suofeng felt, but there was still no one else around, only the diligent shopkeeper coming and going in a flurry, sometimes bringing him hot tea, sometimes bringing him a hot towel, as if afraid he would have an accident. Suddenly, he vaguely heard someone kicking open the wooden door with a loud crash, then storming in with a fierce momentum. As he struggled to stand up, a cold curved knife was already pressed against his neck.

  Yang Xuanfeng struggled to steady his body, dazedly looking at Ge Shuhan in front of him, weakly and slowly saying: "Ge Shu Colonel, why do you want to put the curved knife on my neck? You should put it in the scabbard."

  Kesu Han tightened his grip on the curved knife, its blade poised to slice into Yang Suofeng's neck at any moment. In a cold voice, he said: "Yang Suofeng, immediately cancel your slave transaction with Guo Longyang. The brothers of Huolie Bird Squad should have a better way out, rather than going to Meinis to send themselves to death."

  Yang Shuangfeng stretched his waist, and with a light hand pressed down the sharp blade, saying indifferently: "Geshu Xiaowei, I don't know what this matter has to do with you? Your task was just to escort them here, wasn't it? As for how they are assigned work, that's not within your management scope, is it?"

  "Yang Suofeng, don't pretend to be deaf and dumb. You and I both understand that no matter who goes back to Menis, it's a dead end. You're going to buy Montieu and the others, and then send them to Menis to go die. I absolutely won't allow you to do this, I absolutely won't allow you to send them to Menis."

  Yang Shuang said lazily: "If I did this, what would be the consequences?"

  "He said coldly: 'I'll cut off your head.'"

  Yang Shuangfeng let out a heavy sigh, his eyes lifeless as he gazed at the other person, and said despondently: "Since that's the case, it suits my intentions perfectly. You can make your move."

  Geshu Han's pupils suddenly contracted, his chest heaving rapidly as he spoke viciously: "Yang Suofeng, do you think I dare not kill you? Let me tell you, killing you is no different from killing a small dog!"

  Yang Shuangfen still had a look of loving to death, closed her eyes and lazily said: "Geshu Xiaowei, do you know what you are doing? You are using death to threaten a Navy Lieutenant General. As a soldier, you should know that military law is merciless, haven't you considered the serious consequences of this matter?"

  "Ko Shu Han said in a cold voice: 'I won't consider the consequences, I only ask you to immediately cancel this slave transaction. I absolutely cannot let those brothers fall into the fire pit again! Even if I die a thousand times or a hundred times, today you must agree to my request.'"

  Yang Shuang opened his eyes and looked at Ge Shu Han's distorted face, then slowly closed them again. With the same determination, he said: "Ge Shu Han, I can also formally tell you that even if you cut me a thousand knives or ten thousand knives, I will absolutely not agree to your request. I have died once, and I don't care about dying again!"

  Keshu Han's eyes blazed like flames, turning bright red as he almost hysterically bellowed: "Yang Suofeng, why? Why do you continue to persecute them?"

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "I didn't persecute them, why would I persecute them?"

  "Almost with a shriek, Gao Shuhan exclaimed: 'The whole world knows that the imperial court has long since given up on Mennais, but you still insist on leading them back to Mennais. Isn't that sending them to their deaths? What right do you have to send them to their deaths? They've already suffered enough hardships under Tang Hu's rule; are you going to push them further down the road of death?'"

  Yang Shuang opened his eyes and calmly said: "Geshu Han, I don't know what you're talking about. If you say that as a soldier, you don't have the courage to go to Menis, then I have nothing to say. For cowardly soldiers, I only have deep contempt for them! As for your saying that I want to continue persecuting them, I disagree with your words. Indeed, I do need to take them back to Menis, but it's not to send them to their deaths, it's to make them continue fighting there! Perhaps they will indeed sacrifice themselves in battle, but I can swear to heaven, I absolutely have no intention of letting them die in vain!"

  "Are you an idiot? Do you think you have the ability to retake Meinas? If you can't retake Meinas, then what's the difference where everyone following you dies?"

  Yang Shuang looked at him sideways and said indifferently: "Ge Shu Han, do you mean to let them live like a group of abandoned people, eking out a miserable existence in the dark mine?"

  "Brother, I just want them to be alive," Ge Shu said in a cold and low voice.

  Yang Shuangfeng raised his head and said coldly, "Then I have nothing to say, you can kill me now. I think a soldier would rather die with a bang than live in hiding. I won't change my mind, you can kill me now. I, Yang Shuangfeng, am not afraid of death, if I frown, I'm not a good man."

  Ge Shu Han gazed deeply at him, with black flames dancing in his eyes. He suddenly raised his curved knife and slashed through the air, the blade grazing Yang Suo Fen's ear, the wind screaming like a death knell. But Yang Suo Fen didn't even bat an eyelid. Ge Shu Han was taken aback, then threw away his curved knife and fell to his knees with a thud, pleading bitterly: "Yang Suo Fen, I'm begging you, please spare them! They've fought for the country for decades, only to end up like this... they've suffered inhumane treatment, endured too much hardship and injustice. I really don't want to see them on the battlefield again..."

  Yang Shuang said calmly: "Ge Shu Han, I won't change my mind. I always think that even if a soldier dies, he should die with a bang. If Monty and Dugul were here, I would say the same to them. If they don't agree with me, then I have nothing to say, and I will immediately cancel this deal."

  Kesu Han sat on the ground in despair, weakly saying: "You clearly know they've already lost their right arm and completely lost their combat ability, what more do you want them to do?"

  Yang Shuang said calmly: "As an officer, must he have a right arm to command the battle? No, as long as he has a brain and a heart, that's enough."

  Kosho Han was almost collapsing, but still with a last thread of hope, and said sorrowfully: "There are no artillery in the Menis region at all, what do you want them to do? They are not suitable for you, just let them go."

  Yang Shuang said firmly: "The Blue Feather Army will soon have artillery!"

  "Are you going to rebuild the Blue Feather Army?" Ge Shu Han said in a low voice.

  Yang Shuang said calmly: "Of course, without Blue Feather Army, how can they recover Menis? They are the first generation officers of Blue Feather Army artillery!"

  Kesu Han was shocked beyond measure: "I can't imagine how you formed the Blue Feather Army. Where did you organize your artillery troops?"

  Yang Shuang said proudly: "I think this is my business and has nothing to do with you."

  Keshu Han's eyes suddenly blazed again, he suddenly bent down to pick up the curved knife, quickly raised it and placed it on Yang Suofeng's neck once more. He said viciously: "No! I don't believe your flowery words! Relying on military force will absolutely not recover Menis! Xue Fu was right, we must rely on other channels! Military force is the lowest level method!"

  Yang Shuang said quietly: "Force is also the most effective and direct way."

  "NO! I won't fall for your temptation! I'll kill you!"

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "I won't change my mind, whether it's killing or cutting, you decide for yourself."

  Ko Shu Han's expression was complex as he raised his curved knife, gritting his teeth and saying: "Yang Su Feng, you and I don't have any personal grudges, but I absolutely won't watch my brothers be led to their deaths by you. Even if I have to pay with my life, I'm willing to kill you for their sake. Please don't blame me, let's meet again in the nine springs below!

  Yang Shuang's mouth corner revealed a faint smile.

  Kesu Han trembled and raised his curved knife, suddenly hearing a low voice outside shouting: "Kesu Han, put down your curved knife!"

  Ge Shu Han's whole body shook, and the curved knife in his hand involuntarily fell to the ground.

  Mondieu and Dugour appeared beside them, along with a burly, scarred giant with disheveled hair.

  Yang Shuang's eyes opened slightly, calmly looking at the crowd in front of him.

  Monty said in a low voice, "Geshu Han, we appreciate your kindness, but you are wrong. Yang Shuangfeng is right, soldiers should die with a bang. Meinas is indeed desperate, but we are willing to go there and fight again."

  Keso's face was streaming with tears, and he suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs. As he cried, he shouted: "No, no, it's not like that, absolutely not! That's not what you really think! Don't go there, I beg of you, don't go there..."

  "Brother Gesu," Monty said slowly, "we now have only two paths to choose from. Either we go to Menis or into the dark and endless mine shafts. I'd rather choose the former."

  Ge Shu was stunned, with tears silently falling down.

  Dugul let out a deep sigh and said helplessly, "Geshu, we are all soldiers, the battlefield is our home. Meinas may be perilous, but that's the mission of us soldiers, we're willing to accept that fate. As for going into the mine to dig iron and coal, I'm sorry, I can't do it."

  Kesu Han wept without making a sound.

  That Yang Shuangfen didn't know the big man with disheveled hair said: "Right, I Yan She also deeply agree with your point of view."

  Yang Shuang said in surprise: "Who are you?"

  Mondieu said: "He is the leader of those palace warriors, called Yan She."

  Yang Shuangfen couldn't help but feel a little stunned, his mind always thinking of the "Gankutsuou" related to Japanese actresses, and in front of him was a majestic giant, almost a whole head taller than himself. The numerous scars on his body seemed to be telling the story of an extremely intense battle. A person like this shouldn't have such a name. He thought for a moment before saying: "Welcome, Captain Gankutsuou."

  The sound of Yan She's voice was unpleasant, somewhat like the rustling of steel wool against teeth. He said solemnly: "You are our master, you shouldn't address us in this manner, just call me Yan She."

  Yang Shuangfeng shook his head, looked at the three slaves slowly and said: "I will only say this once, listen carefully. I am not your master, you are not slaves either. After returning to the Minas area, I will cancel your slave status. So, don't call me master again, if you want, you can call me Fengling, I am the 14th leader of the Yang family in Nanhai."

  "Yes, it is." said Yan loudly.

  Yang Shuangfen nodded, looked at Ge Shu Han, and gently patted his shoulder. In a warm voice, she said: "Ge Shu, don't cry anymore. You should be happy for them. After all, the life of a slave is not something that everyone wants to pursue."

  Keshu Han shook his head and said bitterly: "I just can't get excited."

  Yang Shuangfeng looked at the crowd and said slowly: "Mondieu, Duguerre, Yan She, I know that I don't have the ability to lead you. You were all once unyielding warriors on the battlefield, while I have never been to war. However, although I cannot lead you, I can create conditions for you to display your talents. Artillery is the god of war, and you will definitely shine with unprecedented brilliance in the future. As for the Imperial Guards, I think that the legend of the Imperial Guards being invincible will not be lost under my hands."

  Mondieu, Dugour and Yan She listened quietly.

  Yang Shuangfeng took a slight breath, and he himself felt his eyes getting moist. He continued: "As for the unfortunate, I don't want to hide it from everyone. Our forces in the Menis region are too weak, and we can be defeated at any time. So I dare not give you any guarantees. In fact, I should tell you clearly that you may lose your lives at any time in this unfamiliar place. I can do nothing for you, but I can only guarantee that if I fail to recover Menis, I will die with you there too. If I fail, I won't escape like a stray dog and hide in some unknown corner to survive. I will shed my last drop of blood on the land of Menis."

  "Yang Shuangfeng, can you really do it?" Ke Shuhan suddenly interjected.

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "Defeating the enemy may be difficult, but suicide is always an option."

  Keso Han let out a long sigh and said helplessly: "How are you going to send them to Menis?"