(Author: Hello all! Again, my story will be similar to a xianxia novel but will incorporate military campaigns as a side element. This chapter is one such example. Don't worry, the Great Dragon God is still in the story through the medallion Liao was given. As a reminder: as this is in English, I am writing first names first. Traditionally it would be Lu Liao or Sima Liao. I will use Liao Lu as most people are used to first name first.This time I will type slower so as to avoid typing the wrong letter or forgetting a word or two. I write fast so sometimes its hard to copy the ink from the notebook I write my chapters on before hand. Have fun reading!)

Chapter 3: Life or Death

"The rebels have taken supply lines two and three. General Song has also fallen to an ambush near the riverbank. It is unconfirmed if the third young master lives," a messenger announced in a white tent with a five foot long table in the center surrounded by generals and commanding officers. They clearly did not expect the rebels to be organized. Conscripting the master of the Lu family of martial experts was a blessing as he slew the powerful leaders but the rebels had the geographical advantage as they knew the layout of the land and forced the army to fight on wet soil while they shot at them with arrows from the forest, dodging behind trees to avoid counterattacks.

"Where are our reinforcements from the city?" General Hui Lu asked. He wanted to mourn his son but he had tens of thousands of soldiers under his command. He couldn't afford to grieve and have his emotions cloud his judgment.

"They are currently engaging enemies to the south at the edge of the forest closest to the riverbank," one of his generals answered. "The three thousand men are led by one of the sons of the prefecture lord of the city. I wouldn't expect much from a pampered green horn. They are carrying some supplies  but I suspect they'll be overrun. We are on our own General Lu."

As General Lu and his men were pondering on their next move, a messenger barged in the tent, panting heavily. "General Lu! Reporting from the frontlines! The third young master has been found near the reinforcements from the riverbank! You must send aid as a detachment of four thousand rebel soldiers have been spotted heading their way!"

"General Zhao and General Gan," Hui Lu shouted. "Take your men with you and go to the riverbank at once. Secure our provisions from the reinforcement and protect the prefecture lord's son. My son comes second. The emperor wants the prefecture lord's support as the city is one of the empire's biggest trading cities."

"Yes General Lu! Long live the emperor. Long live the Wei dynasty!" the two generals shouted and they rushed out the tent to carry their orders.

A short while after, Liao Lu sighed in relief as he had regrouped with the reinforcements his memories told him would be arriving. He had gotten a meat bun from one of the soldiers and had taken a few bites when he heard they were under attack! As the corpse was raised under a great general and martial expert, those memories allowed Liao to remain calm and Liao ran toward the center of the supply line, knowing whoever was in charge would consolidate soldiers to protect himself and the supplies.

Liao cried in disappointment as he saw a young man in his twenties and a round stomach order guards to protect him and make way for the city. The provision leader was abandoning the supplies and men that would have helped his father! Well his new father. Having memories of the real Liao Lu made Liao Sima see the great general as his real father. He was eight years old, of course he would want a father. He also had memories of a mother and two older brothers and a little sister. He promised himself he would do them proud as the real son would have.

Relying on his memories from historical dramas and military teachings from the real son, Liao stood atop one of the carts that carried the supplies.

"Men! Form ranks against the provisions. Infantry shields up and archers watch the trees!" Liao shouted, hoping they would listen.

The soldiers that were rushing toward the front of the supply line that was under attack looked back and saw an eight year old kid in tattered cloths and armor. They wondered who allowed a brat on the field.

"And why should we follow you? You're not even a captain and you don't look old enough to hold a sword," a captain asked as he stared at the boy holding a small double voulge in his hands. That kind of weapon was usually wielded by martial experts and caught his attention more than the boy's words.

"My name is Liao Lu. I am the son of General Hui Lu, great general and commanding officer of the attack against the rebels. My words are his!" Liao shouted, sweat pouring down his brow. "Hear my orders and obey! Hold fast and protect the supply lines. My father needs these to beat the rebels! Hold your shields high and aim your arrows at the trees. The enemies' target is the supply line! The attack on the front is a diversion!"

Liao had copied those words from a historical movie he saw and substituted a few words of his own. He dearly hoped he was right. He inwardly sighed with relief as the captain recognized his father's name and rank. He watched as the soldiers made three rows around the provision in a circle. The outer ring had soldiers wielding shields five feet tall and carried spears with the other hand. Behind them were the main infantry soldiers also had spears and had swords at their belts for when the shield circle was broken,and the archers and captain formed the inner most circle with Liao in the center.

"Here they come!" one archer said as he saw movement to the right. The captain frowned slightly as it meant the boy's words were right. As expected of General Lu's son. The captain began ordering his soldiers to blow the war horn, signifying abandoning the front line of the supply line.

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Liao gulped as rebels appeared wearing brown armor and holding the purple banners high in the sky.

"Archers, nock your arrows! Take out the banner men. Shield formation hold fast," Liao cried, again copying what he saw in a movie. Who knew it would save his life? He made a quick, silent prayer to whoever made movies and thanked them.

"General Lu will send reinforcements for sure! Follow the young master's orders!" the captain shouted. The soldiers shouted loudly and the rebels ran toward the shield formation, many of them falling to arrows in the process.

Liao made a quick judgment and realized it was different than the movie as the rebels only came from one side. Liao quickly shouted orders to the captain to have the shield formation change shape to an eclipse. Liao may be eight years old but he had sixteen years worth of memories. The captain nodded, realizing the boy was right and saw the truth behind the orders. Instead of making a circle around the provisions, they could make a circle around the rebels as they blindly rushed forward. However, this meant thinning the protection around the provisions.

"Oh well," the captain thought. "It's not my head that will roll if this fails."

"What's you name captain?" Liao asked.

"Captain Liang Sun, captain of the private army of Prefecture Lord Fei Hong," the captain bowed. "The leader who ran was Lord Hong's son, Feixin. He had no experience on the battlefield and was only sent as a figurehead to show support."

The battle was bloody as the rebels kept charging through in attempt to overrun the soldiers with their superior numbers. This was a battle of life or death for Liao. On high, the Great Dragon God smiled, pleased he picked the right corpse for the boy to inhabit.

No one but the boy or a Deity could see the Great Dragon God and it watched as the shield bearers pushed forward, their spears held fast in front of them. Any rebel that tried going in between the spears would be impaled by the second line of infantrymen.  

The battle lacked martial experts but the dragon god didn't expect them to interfere in matters of mortal men. Martial experts who practiced qi walked the path of the immortal.

"Young master arm yourself!" Captain Sun shouted as he saw a few rebels break through before his soldiers could close the gap. The captain drew his sword and charged toward the four rebels who broke through the second line and cut their way through the archers in their path.

Liao trembled in fear and his double voulge shook violently as the captain cut down one rebel and engaged against two others. The captain cursed as the last rebel ran around him but he was blocked by the two other rebels.

"Die kid!" the rebel shouted as he raised his rusted sword high. Liao only closed his eyes and stabbed forward. As the rebel had raised his sword, his guard was open and his chest was exposed. The blade of Liao's weapon stabbed  the rebel as he stepped with his left foot forward while preparing for his right arm to slash downward.

Liao opened his eyes in surprise and saw the rebel cough blood, the blood hitting his face as the rebel fell to the floor. Liao was in shock and dropped his weapon. He touched his face and saw the blood on his hands. Liao had taken a life.

"I, I killed someone," Liao gasped while hugging his hands to his chest and falling to his knees. "I killed someone. The man is really dead."

"Aye, lad," the captain said after he slew the rebels and saw Liao's reaction. A part of him was surprised but the rebel did raise his arm like an idiot. No real soldier would leave his guard open like that.

"General Gan and General Zhao of the main forces are here!" one of the archer shouted with joy as green banners appeared near the end of the riverbank.

"Retreat! Retreat!" the rebels cried and abandoned their assault.

"Don't pursue them!" the captain shouted. "Hold the line! We don't know what's out there!"

Liao remained trembling in shock as the two generals arrived. They took one look at the  carnage around them and then looked at Liao. They were surprised Liao took charge and even took a life. This was a great accomplishment. The boy displayed leadership qualities and his first kill was needed to help him grow to ignore the guilt later. The boy would learn that taking the life of the enemy meant saving the life of his allies.

"I'll remain here and escort the provisions back to camp," General Gan said. "Take the third young master back to General Lu and report what transpired. The rebels are sure to have lost morale as we have obtained more supplies. The battle is ours."

"Come here lad," General Zhao said as he picked up the trembling boy. He ordered one of his lieutenants to pick up the boy's weapon and they headed back to the main camp.

Chapter 2: New Identity MAIN PAGE Chapter 4: Go to School