Unsheathed

Eagles soared through the sky, crows cawed on the dead branches.

The previously wide and smoothly paved official road was already in tatters, forcing a convoy of horse-drawn carriages to endure an extremely bumpy journey.

Located to the northwest of the Luminous Vermilion Empire, the Stone Brush Nation was the largest vassal state of the empire and was renowned throughout the central region of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent for its abundant fertile fields and bountiful yields. Because of this, it was a huge provider of grain and other produce for the Luminous Vermilion Empire.

Even though the Stone Brush Nation was also a vassal state, they had chosen a completely different path to the Yellow Court Nation, a vassal state of the Great Sui Nation. From the emperor to the imperial court, pillar officials, and the large majority of border generals, almost everyone in the Stone Brush Nation chose to fight head-on against the heavy cavalry of the Great Li Empire.

Flames of war raged throughout the entire Stone Brush Nation, with the battles to the north of the capital being especially intense and tragic since the new year. Right now, the capital of the Stone Brush Nation was already completely surrounded by enemies.

Not only were the ordinary citizens of the Stone Brush Nation worried, but even the surrounding vassal states that were smaller in size and much weaker in military strength were filled with anxiety.

Of course, there was no shortage of so-called smart people who surrendered to the Great Li Empire's Imperial Song Clan right from the very beginning, choosing to spectate the wars from afar and waiting to laugh at the victims. They hoped that the unstoppable heavy cavalry of the Great Li Empire could take things one step further and directly massacre everyone in the cities, executing those officials of the Stone Brush Nation who were foolishly loyal to the Luminous Vermilion Empire.

Perhaps the Great Li Empire would even thank them, traitors of the Stone Brush Nation, since it was with their help that the heavy cavalry had managed to obtain numerous weapon arsenals, treasuries, and large cities without shedding a single drop of blood.

The bumpy ride over the broken official road caused many carriage drivers in the convoy to grumble endlessly in complaint. In fact, many of the strong young men who were carrying bows and sabers felt like their bodies were going to fall apart as well. Everyone was sore and listless, yet they still forcefully mustered up some energy to scan the surroundings for danger, lest they be ambushed by rogues and bandits.

There were seventy to eighty strong young men who were skilled at archery and riding, and almost all of them carried the stench of blood, reflecting the fact that they had endured a difficult southward journey due to the chaos caused by the raging war.

They were genuinely putting their lives on the line in order to earn some silver. In fact, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that they might suddenly lose their heads when they were out pissing one day.