Ashes to Crown

Chapter 253: Chapter 62: Courage (Part 2)

This time, Mr. Liang wasn’t seated at the far end of the table. Instead, he was beside the main general, the clear center of attention, a position he savored.

”Sir, you should freshen up,” his attendant said with a smile, handing him a steaming hot towel.

Mr. Liang took the towel and pressed it to his face, letting out a long breath. ”Gods, those men can drink. That’s not drinking, it’s funneling. I never should have sat next to the main general.”

His attendant removed his outer robe, smiling. ”But the toasts were for you, Sir. Of course you had to take the seat of honor. It’s as simple as that in the army. Besides, it’s not just about the wine. Your deeds will be reported to the court for promotion and ennoblement. Next time, you’ll have earned the right to sit beside the main general, no drinking required.”

Mr. Liang didn’t speak, the hot towel still covering his face. He seemed to have fallen asleep.

The attendant returned with a bowl of sobering soup. ”Sir,” he called softly, ”drink this before you rest, or you’ll have a headache tomorrow for sure.”

A voice came from behind the towel. ”I’m not drunk.”

’That’s what they all say,’ the attendant thought with a private smile.

”I am perfectly sober,” Mr. Liang said. He lowered the towel and fixed his clear gaze on the attendant. ”Who are you, really?”

The attendant was in his thirties, a man of plain appearance, no different from any of the other Servants who waited on the Generals. He paused for a moment, the bowl of sobering soup still in his hands, then his smile returned.

”You really are drunk, Sir,” he chuckled. ”I’m Li Fang.”

Mr. Liang, of course, knew the man’s name. His old friend Lord Cai had procured this minor post for him, and fearing he would be lost and alone in the army, had also ”gifted” him this attendant.

”Li Fang, who sent you to help me?” he asked. ”And don’t tell me it was Lord Cai.”

He gave a small laugh at that.

”If Lord Cai were standing right here, I’d ask him who he really is.”

”I haven’t had too much to drink. In fact, I’m clearer-headed than ever. This battle plan, the strategy that won us this victory... I couldn’t have come up with it. You couldn’t have. And Lord Cai certainly couldn’t have either—”

”So, who was it?”

The attendant, Li Fang, smiled. ”You say you know nothing, Sir, and yet you used the word ’help.’ That proves you understand everything.”

The words said nothing concrete, but they confirmed all of Mr. Liang’s suspicions. He scrubbed his face roughly with his hands. ’So much for a lucky break when I had nowhere else to turn. The path was paved for me all along.’

”Who is it?” he asked again.

Li Fang smiled and shook his head. ”Forgive me, but I cannot say.”

Mr. Liang understood this type of man. If he wouldn’t speak, no one could make him.

”Then what does this person want?” Mr. Liang asked, his gaze fixed on Li Fang. ”The Liang Family has nothing left.”

Nothing but a belly full of resentment.

’Is that what this person wants? The Liang Family’s resentment? If so, this benefactor must share our enemies.’

’And who were the Liang Family’s enemies? The ruthless former Crown Prince who cast Liang Siqing aside like a worn-out sandal. The Xie family, who tried to destroy them root and stem when a marriage alliance fell through. And the Chu Family, whose petty argument started it all.’

Li Fang smiled and shook his head. ”My benefactor only asks that Mr. Liang serve the nation and its people, slay our enemies, and build a legacy of merit.”

Mr. Liang gave a self-deprecating laugh. He understood. This person didn’t want the Mr. Liang of today, but the Mr. Liang who would exist *after* building a legacy of merit.

’And what would they ask for then?’

’Everything the Liang Family has.’

’Because everything the Liang Family will have gained will be thanks to him.’

It was a dangerous bargain, but... who could refuse such a temptation?

Tonight was just a minor victory, yet the feeling of being lauded and celebrated was intoxicating—how long had it been since he’d tasted such glory?

Even at the height of the Liang Family’s power, he had never enjoyed such a moment in the spotlight. He had only ever been Liang Siqing’s younger brother.

Li Fang stood watching the play of emotions on Mr. Liang’s face. He set down the soup. ”Sir, please drink this first. Don’t make things so hard on yourself.”

Mr. Liang said nothing. After a moment of silence, he reached out, took the bowl of sobering soup, and said, ”Thank you.”

After saying thanks, he lowered his gaze.

He was accepting more than just the soup, and his thanks were for more than just the soup. This was his acceptance of the deal.

Li Fang straightened up, a knowing smile on his face. ”Besides, as you build your legacy, Sir, you’ll also be able to help Young Master Ah Qiang.”

Ah Qiang! Mr. Liang’s head snapped up, his expression suddenly tense.

”Is Ah Qiang going into battle?” he asked.

He could earn his merits as an officer with strategies and words, but Ah Qiang was different. Ah Qiang had to earn his with blood and steel on the battlefield.

’And on the battlefield, you can just as easily be killed as kill.’

The moment the words left his mouth, Mr. Liang gave a bitter smile.

’Wasn’t that the whole point of leaving the Fort that night? To go to war?’

’So why was he worrying now?’

In the end, Mr. Liang could only lower his gaze and let out a soft sigh.

”You needn’t worry, Mr. Liang,” Li Fang said with a smile. ”Like father, like son. Young Master Ah Qiang is sure to make a name for himself in his very first battle.”

...

...

The battle began without warning.

It was different from being a sentinel. On watch, you spotted the enemy and sounded the alarm, but you weren’t expected to jump out and fight.

Being a Scout was different. Your job was to track the enemy, and then engage them in brutal combat.

Roars and screams filled his ears. Unsure if it was the jolting of his horse or his own swerving to avoid a spear, Liang Qiang felt the world spin. He barely managed to stay in the saddle. Just as he righted himself—SPLURT. Hot blood sprayed across his face.

The comrade beside him screamed and fell from his horse. Liang Qiang looked up and met the savage face of a Western Liang Soldier.

The soldier’s blood-stained longsword swung toward him.

In that moment, Liang Qiang was supposed to raise his own blade to parry, then cut the Western Liang Soldier from his horse with a swift counterstroke.

He had drilled this exact move countless times, imagined this very scene a thousand more.

But now that it was actually happening, his hands refused to obey. His sword felt like it weighed a ton, and the horse beneath him bucked, threatening to throw him off.

Life and death were decided in an instant. In the fraction of a second he was frozen, the Western Liang Soldier’s blade was upon him.

’It’s over.’

Liang Qiang thought.

The next moment, blood sprayed again. There was the ear-splitting CLANG of metal on metal, and he saw sparks flash before his eyes. But it wasn’t him who fell. It was the Western Liang Soldier.

The soldier’s longsword had been blocked, and in the same instant, another blade had sliced through his neck.

The Western Liang Soldier’s savage face vanished from view. Liang Qiang looked to his sides. He didn’t know when, but two comrades had closed in, flanking him protectively.

”Kill!” they roared.

With that roar, the two of them surged forward, pulling Liang Qiang and his horse along with them as they charged toward another group of Western Liang Soldiers.

Lost in the din of slaughter, Liang Qiang followed their lead—raising his sword, swinging, changing formation, charging...

It seemed to last an eternity, and yet it was over in a flash. A field of corpses was all that remained to mark the end of the fight. In the distance, a large contingent of cavalry was galloping toward them.

Seeing that only three men were left standing amidst a field of bodies, the leading General’s expression was a mixture of grief and wild joy.

”Good! Excellent!” he shouted. ”Ten of you against dozens of Western Liang soldiers! This is a great victory!”

His gaze fell upon the three survivors. Two of them were familiar, veteran faces—some of the most ferocious soldiers in the army. It was no surprise they had survived. His attention was drawn to the third man. The young soldier was covered in blood, his handsome, fair-skinned face standing out starkly.

”Liang Qiang!” the General yelled.

The young soldier seemed lost in a daze. The shout snapped his focus back, and he instinctively squeezed his horse’s flanks, causing it to let out a sharp neigh.

”Just like your father, a true warrior!” the General laughed heartily. ”You’ll make a fine fierce general under my command!”

’A fierce general?’ Liang Qiang thought, gripping his longsword and feeling the tremors in his hands. He couldn’t help but glance at the two comrades beside him. Their faces were blank, and they didn’t look at him. They simply followed the General’s booming laugh by raising their own bloodied swords.

”Fear no death!” they roared. ”Slay the enemy!”

Liang Qiang slowly raised his longsword, hearing his own hoarse voice echo their cry. ”Slay the enemy!” ”No fear!”