Chapter 136 - Meeting Others
"Yes!" With that, Su Ao Kang began to recite the books that he had read. Before coming here, he had already read a lot of books and naturally familiar with the three great generals' story.
They did great to fight during the year Emperor Huan's fell.
Unfortunately, it was also the battle that signified the end of one of them.
During the year Emperor Huan fell, the other kingdoms saw this as a chance for them to attack the weakened Fei Yang Kingdom. It was not a secret that Emperor Huan was a leading figure at the battlefield since he often went personally to the battlefield, often leaving the state matters a bit unattended.
The new emperor, Emperor Xuan was not a person who liked battlefield. He was too afraid to even leave his palace when he heard that Fei Yang Kingdom was under attack and simply delegated the three generals to move forward.
Teacher Luo nodded. "You may sit down. Now that Young Master Su had already given us some background story, do you all remember the battle of the High Pass?"
"Yes!"
Not a single one of them could ever forget that battle. That was the greatest battle in the entire Emperor Xuan's reign and also one that nearly threatened Fei Yang Kingdom's safety. There were several hundred thousand soldiers who came to attack them, nearly making it an all out war.
The one in charge of that area was Old General Long.
"Nan Luo, I'm sure you have heard this story." Teacher Luo turned his head to look at Nan Luo.
Nan Luo arched his eyebrows. How could he possibly forget about this battle? Whenever his grandfather got drunk, he would tell and lament about this matter. The battle that took the life of his best friend.
"Yes." Nan Luo stood up. "Old General Long was outnumbered, so he stationed his soldiers in the higher area of the narrow passage, intending to eliminate the enemies by using the terrains. Unfortunately, halfway the battle, the enemy soldiers managed to find a way to go up, making it a frontal battle.
When the night fell, they retreated back since they had lost the terrain. On the second day of the battle, Old General Long used the remaining soldiers to defend the High Pass and managed to last but losing so many soldiers.
The third day… Old General Long personally went to the frontline with some of his soldiers to stall them and killed hundreds of soldiers in front of him before he gave order for the remaining soldiers whom he stationed above the High Pass to destroy the area, allowing him to be buried alive with many of the enemy soldiers."
Nan Luo could only narrate it simply. However, he knew that what happened there must be much more than that. For Old General Long to use his own life in exchange for the safety of the High Pass, it wouldn't have been easy. And the only reason why he didn't use this method while he was in safe place was because…. There was not enough time.
His grandfather had repeatedly told him that if only there was enough time to prepare, Old General Long didn't have to die so tragically.
Thanks to them burying the path, the soldiers couldn't advance for the next two days because they have to clear up the area. And on the fifth day, reinforcement arrived. Old General Nan and several other younger generals pushed those people back now that the difference in their soldiers' number no longer as big as before.
The High Pass was safe.
But a lot of people's lives were lost.
At the same time, another kingdom also attacked the other border of Fei Yang Kingdom, stopping Old General Shangguan from sending reinforcement.
Outside the door, Nan Hua listened attentively. She had never known anything about this, but she knew that Old General Long died when Long Qian Xing was only a young child. The changes in reign caused several upheavals.
There were several other battles.
But none was as big as this one where they lost a great general and nearly allowed the soldiers to go through the High Pass that lead directly to the road that was directed to the Capital City.
After Nan Luo finished, Teacher Luo began to analyze the battle.
The High Pass was named as such not because it was located at high terrain. On the opposite, it was at lower terrain but it was build high in order to not allow anyone to be able to climb the wall.
The problem was that the place was big.
If enemy soldiers managed to pass, they would be given an access to the road that would give them smooth road to several important cities and finally the Capital City.
Thus, they must not lose that gate.
"Alright, that should be all for today." Teacher Luo looked at the students in front of him and shook his head. He felt that talking with the students often quite tiring. Many of them couldn't understand the profoundness of Old General Long's decision and often felt that it was a desperate act.
Well, it was indeed a desperate act, but it was not without any calculation beforehand. In fact, the time he bought was very valuable because there were several other battles that occurred around the area.
Unfortunately, not everyone knew them.
After all, the ones who fought those battles were not famous generals but only some commanders of independent units.
He would tell them more if there was anyone who was more interested in this.
"Finally, it's over."
"It's time to rest. Would you like to come over to my residence? My father…"
Nan Luo stretched his body as he glanced at the drawing he made on the leather skin. When Teacher Luo was telling him about the battle, he tried to picture them by drawing the terrains and the battle.
It made him realize that the battle was actually much more complicated than what his grandfather told him.
'This battle is not much discussed because everyone always feels sad at the mention of Old General Long's death. However, the real point of this battle was the fact that the weakness of High Pass has been known but couldn't be exploited. I really underestimated scholars before…'
"Young Master, would you like to return?" Xiao Yan asked when he saw Nan Luo handed him the books and also the leather skin that had been rolled back. Nan Luo usually didn't let anyone see his notes because his notes were usually in the form of drawing rather than text.
Nan Luo shook his head. "Not yet. Since we're already here, shouldn't we challenge some students first? I'm already itching to have a fight."
"First Brother, you're going to the field?" Nan Hou Xiang asked from behind.
Nan Luo's face darkened once more. He completely forgot that this annoying man was also attending the same class as him. "Yes. Would you like to have a spar?"
"Unfortunately, I have another class to attend now." Nan Hou Xiang smiled. "I don't have so much free time that I can linger around to play barbarically at the field."
"Is that so?" Nan Luo snorted and turned around. He knew that Nan Hou Xiang looked down on people like him who prioritized martial arts, mainly because Nan Hou Xiang was someone who didn't have much talent for martial arts.
It was like he had only inherited his father's gene and not his grandfather, thus he was only good to be a scholar.
"Young Master, please calm down."
"I'm calm."
Xiao Yan smiled wryly. "Young Master, the field is at the other side."
"I'm heading to the hall today. Some students behind me said that there's someone coming today, so I want to take a look."
Someone coming?
Nan Hua arched her eyebrows but she followed Nan Luo obediently. As they approached the hall, they could see that there was already someone else standing there. It was a young man in his teens. He was far taller than them but his countenance signified that he was not much older compared to Long Qian Xing.
Upon seeing him, Nan Hua didn't have any reaction, but it was not the same for Nan Luo.
"Shangguan Yi."
"Hmm?" The young man turned around. His eyes turned cold when he saw Nan Luo. "So it's you, the annoying boy. Are you here to create trouble once more?"
How blunt.
That was Nan Hua's thought when she heard what Shangguan Yi said. In this ancient world, most of them would not speak openly unless they were only with people whom they were comfortable with or could trust. However, Shangguan Yi openly said what he thought in front of others.
It was quite rare.
"I heard that there's a guest coming from the palace again today, so I come to see.." Nan Luo shrugged. "And in terms of creating trouble, shouldn't it be you, Young Master Shangguan?"