Chapter 35: The Upper State Sends an Urgent Message (Part 2)

  I said I'd do it... one day, three shifts... now the third shift is delivered...

  In the imperial palace of Shangbang, the debate on the court continued unabated. Those who supported Mu Gui and those who supported Fang Jian naturally formed two factions. The majority of those who supported Mu Gui were some military generals, while those who supported Fang Jian were all civil officials. Moreover, there was a significant age difference between the two sides. Most of Fang Jian's supporters were older ministers who spoke eloquently during debates, whereas on Mu Gui's side, they became inarticulate and irritable. The angry old men puffed out their chests and glared with anger.

  Li Shangde was sitting on the dragon chair at this time, and he couldn't bear to look at it either. He impatiently shouted: "All of you shut up for a moment! Look at yourselves, one by one with high positions and great power, but like street rascals, quarreling and making a racket, what kind of dignity is this?"

  Suddenly, all was silent, with only the contestants exchanging fierce stares, and for a moment, undercurrents surged in the imperial court.

  Li Shangde cleared his throat and said, "I have decided that General Mu's plan is more to my liking. The only thing is how to arrange who will be the commander of this night raid. You all recommend someone for me."

  Fang Jian immediately heard that something was wrong in his heart, and he hastily shouted excitedly: "Your Majesty, you can't! Doing so will only accelerate the downfall of Shang!"

  Mu Kui worried that there would be a change, and hastily stood up, respectfully saying: "Your Majesty! I am willing to lead the troops in a surprise attack on the camp."

  Li Shangde hesitated, looking at Mu Kui's determined face, and suddenly felt difficult. Mu Tang had already sacrificed his life for the country, and now the only one in Chu State who could fight was Mu Kui alone. If Mu Kui failed this night attack, there would be no one on the entire court who could take charge of leading the army and defending the city. After thinking for a moment, he saw that Mu Kui was still waiting for him to speak, so he said: "General Mu, your ability is known to me, but if General Mu has an accident, who can take care of the defense of this country?"

  Mu Kui's eyes dimmed slightly, although Chu State was rich and prosperous, with many officials in the court, there were indeed only a few who could truly take on important responsibilities. In the past, when his older brother Mu Tang was still alive, he could do as he pleased, but now that Mu Tang had died in battle, he himself had become the chief military officer and couldn't help but think deeply about it, which also made Mu Kui somewhat perplexed.

  At this time, a young general in white armor stood up from the last position. The young general was less than twenty years old, with clear eyebrows and eyes, and a resolute face. He wore a bright silver helmet on his head, a protective mirror on his chest, and his whole body was covered with thick and sturdy silver armor. A white robe trailed behind him to his calf, looking very majestic. The young general paid homage and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to replace General Mu to go!"

  "Huh." The court erupted into a commotion, with all the officials discussing it heatedly. They couldn't believe that the one who had stepped forward to volunteer was actually a young general. However, Li Shangde and Mu Kui's eyes lit up at the same time. This person was none other than Mu Kui's older brother: Mu Tang's eldest grandson, Mu Zhong Liao. The Mu family had produced four tiger generals over two generations, all of whom had fallen in battle. Now, a member of the third generation had stood up again at this critical moment. Moreover, Li Shangde and Mu Kui both knew that Mu Zhong Liao had been deeply influenced by Mu Tang's martial arts since he was young. At the age of eight, he could already lift 100 jin, at twelve, he could draw a three-stone hard bow, shooting arrows with precision, and at fifteen, he could engage in a hundred rounds of combat with Mu Tang using a long spear without falling behind. A person like this only lacked military achievements and the tempering of war. At this time, although Mu Zhong Liao was ranked last among the martial generals, no one dared to underestimate him. Not to mention the Mu family's status in Chu State, just his bravery alone was unmatched.

  Li Shangde said gently, "Wenqian, are you willing to take the lead in this night raid?"

  Mu Zhong Liao took a step forward, knelt on one knee and shouted: "I am willing to go! If I fail, I will fight with the Shu army until the last soldier." Mu Zhong Liao's words were like issuing a death warrant, win or die, which also required great courage in the military.

  "Good, good, good." Li Shangde said three goods in a row. In his heart, he also felt a sense of emotion: this great river and mountain, actually half of it was conquered by the Mu family, and now, the Mu family only has these two old and young generals left. If there were no Mu family, I'm afraid Chu State would have been divided and occupied by others long ago. Thinking of this, looking at Mu Kui and Mu Zhongliao in front of him, Li Shangde made a decision. He looked at the two men seriously and said: "The sons of the Mu family are all brave and loyal, when Wen Xian goes to war, I will personally host a banquet for you!"

  Mu Zhong Liao heard this and his heart was stirred, he hastily said: "Thank you for your imperial kindness!"

  Li Shangde looked at the officials in the hall, and since no one else spoke out against it, he said: "Mu Zhong Liao, come forward to receive your appointment!"

  Mu Zhong Liao gritted his teeth, knelt on the ground, clasped his fists and said with an imposing tone: "Your subordinate is here!"

  Li Shangde continued: "I order you to be the General of Reviving the Country, leading my five Right Guard Banners, and launch a night raid on the Shu army's main camp!"

  Mu Zhong was deeply moved in his heart and hurriedly replied: "Your subordinate obeys the order!"

  ………

  Li Shangde then said some encouraging words to the officials and dismissed the court. After leaving the grand hall, Mu Kui caught up with Mu Zhongliao, who was walking ahead, and pulled him aside, saying with concern: "Wenqian, this matter is of great importance, you must make more preparations, if there's anything you need, just tell me, I'll also dispatch my Hu Mianwei to your command."

  Mu Zhong Liao hastily shook his head and said, "Uncle, Wen Qian naturally knows that this matter is related to the rise and fall of the country, so he will definitely make more preparations. As for the Hu Mian Wei, it's Uncle's many years of training and hard work, so let's leave them by your side to add a bit more security to defending the city."

  Mu Kui furrowed his brow and asked again: "You... have you already made up your mind?"

  Mu Zhong nodded heavily and said, "Uncle, rest assured, Wen Qian will not bring shame to the Mu family." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked towards the big camp.

  Looking at Mu Zhong's distant back, Mu Kui let out a sigh with some loss of spirit: Alas, as the son of the Mu family, from the moment of birth, they were saddled with a heavy burden. Although the people of the Mu family have an enviable aura about them, who can see their sacrifices? Now his own elder brother's only grandson is going to undertake that most perilous mission, and the Mu family line will be cut off. Yet he himself has become somewhat more relaxed, perhaps this too is a kind of liberation. Thinking thus, Mu Kui raised his head to gaze at the remaining glow of the sunset, as if the Mu family was like this setting sun, radiating its final rays before sinking below the horizon.

  Mu Zhong Liao returned home, looking at his mother holding his younger sister who was still being breastfed. The excitement and thrill of the impending battle on the imperial court earlier instantly vanished, replaced by a thread of reluctance to part with his loved ones and a sense of sorrow. Walking up to his mother, Mu Zhong Liao heavily knelt down and said solemnly: "Mother! Your son is unfilial, tonight I will receive orders to go into battle, please punish me!" As he spoke, he looked at his kind mother and the younger sister in her arms, with tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

  Mrs. Mu gazed deeply at her son, her face filled with affection, and gently stroked Mu Zhong Liao's cheek, saying softly: "Child, you've lost weight." Then she stood up, placed the infant in her arms to one side, walked to her husband's coffin, and spoke in a hollow, gentle voice: "Since I became the daughter-in-law of the Mu family, I knew this day would come, and my heart has been prepared. First it was your eldest uncle, then your second uncle, followed by your father, and your grandfather. Now is it finally your turn?"

  Mu Zhong Liao could no longer hold back, and burst into tears: "Mother!"

  Madam Mu's eyes also flowed with two lines of turbid tears as she stood with her back to Mu Zhong Liao. Her heart was bleeding at this moment, first it was her husband's departure, and now it was her son's turn. How cruel and painful it was for such things to happen to a woman who played the roles of both wife and mother at the same time. However, she endured and did not look back, continuing to say: "Child, as a man of the Mu family, you should be like this. Go, there are still many silver coins bestowed by His Majesty in the house, no need to worry, and Mother's body is fine, no illness or disaster, so go with peace of mind."

  "Thud. Thud. Thud." He knocked his head three times in a row, until a thread of blood appeared on his forehead. Mu Zhongliao stood up and said deeply to his mother: "Mother! I'm going!" Holding back tears, he turned around and walked quickly towards the door.

  Mrs. Mu in the house was holding her husband's corpse and crying silently, while the baby placed beside him was smiling with the most innocent smile under heaven.