Song Tongyi manipulated Kobayakawa's corpse, jogging over to Li Yan's side.

"Do you know who this man is?"

"Anyone guarded by the Red Reserve must be of no small importance," Li Yan replied, holding a piece of Hook Jade he'd found on Kobayakawa.

"He's the son of Kobayakawa Takakage!" (Commander of the Sixth Army of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi forces, with a status equivalent to the Little Western Journey Leader.)

Li Yan chuckled at the revelation.

"Then, it seems we have quite an accomplishment on our hands, don't we?"

"At the very least, an official promotion in rank!" Song Tongyi said with conviction.

Li Yan cast a glance at Song Tongyi.

"We've come more than halfway, and Song Tongyi has contributed his share. When it comes to rewarding merit, we certainly won't forget your part in this~"

Song Tongyi's face flushed red, catching the teasing tone in Li Yan's words.

When the Red Reserve army had attacked, he had slipped away early. Even as a civilian who couldn't lend much help, he had escaped unscathed. He couldn't help but feel ashamed when he thought of the Ming Army soldiers who, despite their serious injuries, had fought with disregard for their own lives, even using their bodies to block the enemy's blades to halt the Red Reserve.

Clearing his throat, he said earnestly:

"General Li's Banner should not underestimate us Korean officials and people. Even if we can't be of much help, we wouldn't dare claim the credit for our allies' achievements."

"Hmm~"

Li Yan looked down and touched his wrist guard.

"Heh."

...

"Old Diao! Old Diao!"

The Old Soldier's eyes darted back and forth, landing on Deng Tianxiong's ginger-yellow, broad face. The sunlight reflecting off the snow was blinding. He turned his head slightly and saw two freshly filled small mounds of earth.

"How do you feel, Old Diao?"

Seeing Diao the Blind's fingers twitch slightly, Deng Tianxiong, saddened by the loss of two brothers, nearly burst into tears.

"Don't worry, he won't die."

Li Yan approached.

"Not dying is the worst part," rasped Diao the Blind, his solitary eye roving.

"General Li's Banner, let me be clear," he began hoarsely.

"To be clear, I will bring you back!" Li Yan interrupted, giving the elder a look before adding a stick to the fire. The wet wood hissed and crackled as the flames licked it.

The old man's Adam's apple bobbed twice, and he turned his head away.

"You drag yourself back with severe injuries just to bring back the head of one of those Japanese pirates. Are you seeking a reward? For your son?"

Diao the Blind remained silent.

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Li Yan turned to Deng Tianxiong, who took over the conversation, "The Imperial Court had decreed years ago that for beheading a Japanese pirate, a reward of twenty taels of silver is given. For beheading a member of the Red Reserve, one hundred taels, and those below Hundred Households are promoted one rank."

Li Yan thought more deeply, and with a smile, he said to Diao the Blind, "You don't quite trust me, do you?"

"Sir, Old Diao didn't mean that."

"I know," Li Yan nodded, then suddenly stood up.

"Gentlemen," he began, capturing everyone's attention. "The road back to camp is treacherous. By choosing to follow me, you're entrusting your lives to my hands."

After a pause, he continued, "As a General Flag, a mere officer the size of a mung bean, even if you truly follow me back to camp, there's no reward money to be had. No military merits to be awarded. Considering our Ancestral Commander-in-Chief who has suffered a great defeat, I reckon he's now getting lashed at the Ming Army's Large Camp..."

The Thick-Browed Soldier opened his mouth: "General Flag, don't talk like that. We all know how much you've shouldered through this arduous journey and battle."

His words prompted a unanimous roar of agreement, and everyone started talking at once.

"If it weren't for Lord General Flag, we might have all been lost just now."

Whether it was the formidable strength displayed in slaying Kobayakawa or the tactical arrangements made along the way, Li Yan had gradually established his authority among these men.

Not to mention that peculiar firearm and the life-saving Magical Technique.

Li Yan raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.

"I say these things not to remind you of my kindness, but to make a military vow to you all."

He looked around the circle of men.

"I lead you back to camp not to lead you to your deaths, but to lead you to wealth and a future."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I, Li Yan, consider my skills second to none. To speak frankly, if not for the constraints of fate, I would really like to challenge those generals who also serve the Great Ming and pride themselves on their bravery. I’d like to see who truly deserves the title of 'general'."

He held up a bowl of hot water, his words resonant and firm.

"Today, Commander Zha has suffered a great defeat, and the Imperial Court will certainly not let this pass. When the grand army descends tomorrow, it should be our time for soaring success."

He pointed to the bodies on the ground.

"The military merits and reward money will be shared among us. My share will be given to the two brothers who died in battle today. I lay my words here: if you trust me and are willing to follow me, to survive this Japanese Chaos, I, Li Yan, guarantee each of you the rank of a banner officer."

Everyone was momentarily stunned, save for Old Diao, whose eyes flickered subtly.

The most unreliable thing in this world is human sentiment.

And those who always have such sentiment on their lips.

Li Yan had long wanted to express certain thoughts but had not found the right opportunity. Now, with only two soldiers lost, they were actually quite fortunate, yet morale inevitably suffered. Seizing the moment, Li Yan laid bare his thoughts. He did not expect undying loyalty, but he wanted them to understand that following his banner, the General Flag, was worth their while. With him, they could survive, gain promotions—these were far more tangible than mere sentiment.

Deng Tianxiong was the first to stand.

"Lord General Flag, I won’t repeat what I said before," he declared. "Even if you said nothing, I’d still firmly follow you."

The others rose one by one, their faces flushed with emotion.

Diao the Blind, immobilized, simply leaned against a stone and sighed.

"If General Li's Banner doesn't disdain this old frame of mine, then I won't be pretentious. Whenever you need Old Diao, just say the word."

Song Tongyi stood not far off, his feelings complex as he watched this minor military leader of the Great Ming Empire, his eyebrows raised in high spirits, speaking generously.

Li Yan ran his tongue over the roof of his mouth and nodded silently.

"Let's move out."

After half a day's journey, just as they were about to leave She Mountain, Wang Sheng suddenly looked up and exclaimed.

"Folks, do you hear a woman singing...?"

Li Yan halted and listened intently for a moment.

"It seems there is, and yet there isn’t..."

A soldier frowned, and Li Yan's gaze swept across Song Tongyi's face, which was a mix of surprise, confusion, and utter incredulity.

"Song Tongyi, what are the lyrics about?"

"She Mountain Woman..."

"What?"

Song Tongyi steadied himself and explained, "There's a tale of the She Mountain Woman that circulates around Pyongyang. Legend has it she was the thirty-sixth wife of the Heavenly Emperor's son, Constant Hero. After one campaign, Constant Hero never returned, while She Mountain Woman has been waiting for him deep within She Mountain."

Li Yan touched his intact neck and let out a hollow laugh.

"The daughter-in-law of the Korean Heavenly Emperor?"

Deep within She Mountain, the woman's voice wafted through the air. She held the hand of a frail girl in white, watching as a group of ant-like figures in the distance made their way down the mountain.

**********

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