Border Soldier: My fiancée snatched credit and broke off the engagement, so I promptly became a marq

As soon as the horn sounded on the north slope, the entire Blackstone Fortress stirred.

It wasn't the small-scale night raid like the one we just saw.

Five hundred barbarian cavalry.

The sound of those four words striking seemed to intensify even the wind and snow.

Blackstone Fortress had a full complement of only about six hundred men.

Last night, a group of soldiers were killed at the South Gate, a group of Zhao family guards were detained, and Lu family guards are now guarding the Zhao residence, the dungeon, and the Hall of Military Merit.

Fewer than four hundred people can actually get their names displayed on the wall immediately.

The fact that the Northern Barbarian cavalry dared to press forward at this time indicates that they already knew about the internal strife in Blackstone Fortress.

I know that something happened to the Zhao family.

They knew that the Black Tiger Camp was blocking the outside of the fortress.

They also knew that Blackrock Fortress was currently in the most chaotic, vulnerable, and easily breached state.

Lu Shuangyi stood inside the fortress gate, the snow on her silver armor still unmelted.

After hearing the sentry's report, her first words were:

"Close the south gate and reinforce the north slope."

Zhou Tie clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes."

Han Zhao's Black Tiger Camp was still outside the fort.

The three hundred riders neither entered the fortress nor left.

They set up camp at the foot of the eastern snow slope, with rows of torches burning brightly.

Looking down from the city wall, it looked like a pack of black wolves crouching in the snow.

Now, with 500 Northern Barbarian cavalry pressing in from the north slope, the Black Tiger Camp has found itself in an awkward position.

If they retreat, it would be tantamount to allowing the northern barbarians to attack the fortress.

If they fight, they must defend Blackrock Fortress.

Han Zhao might not be willing.

Zhao Hong was even more unwilling.

Zhao Hong stood at the foot of the city wall, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Zhao Chenglie stood behind him, still smelling of burning flesh, his eyes filled with resentment.

He should have been the hero of Blackrock Castle tonight.

But now, everyone in the fort is calling for Sergeant Chen.

Even the lowly soldiers in the fire-fighting battalion, who were responsible for tending the fire and carrying firewood, dared to stand up straight and look at him.

Zhao Chenglie was so angry that his teeth ached.

He longed for the arrival of the barbarian cavalry.

They were also afraid that the barbarian cavalry would actually breach the fortress.

Chen Mu stood at the entrance of the medical tent, wearing an outer robe and leaning on a long spear.

Lin Qinghe stood in front of him.

"You can't go up on the wall."

This time, she wasn't trying to persuade her.

It's a block.

"You just had your chest stitched up twice, the bruises on your side haven't faded, and you also have injuries on your back."

"Don't even mention fighting a war, you'll crack if you walk too fast right now."

Chen Mu looked towards the north slope.

"Then walk slowly."

Lin Qinghe's eyes reddened with anger.

"Chen Mu!"

Chen Mu looked down at her.

"Dr. Lin."

"If the north slope is breached, the medical tents will be looted first."

Lin Qinghe was stunned.

Chen Mu's voice was very flat.

"Barbarians won't give you a wide berth just because you're a medic when they enter the fortress."

"Are you stopping me now so I can wait for them on the tatami mat?"

Lin Qinghe was speechless.

Of course she knew.

She just looked at Chen Mu's injuries and felt panicked.

This person doesn't seem to value their own life.

But ironically, every time he disregarded his own life, it was to have the fates of many more people calculated.

Su Wan was also standing not far away.

She heard Chen Mu's words and her fingers slowly tightened.

When the barbarians dragged her onto their horse last night, her first reaction was to cry out.

Chen Mu did not say he was afraid at the time.

He rushed over and took a knife for her.

He still doesn't say he's afraid today.

The only change was to protect the entire fortress.

Lu Shuangyi walked over.

She glanced at Lin Qinghe, then looked at Chen Mu.

"How long can your injury hold?"

Lin Qinghe immediately said, "I can't hold on!"

Chen Mu said, "One match."

Lin Qinghe glared at him.

Lu Shuangyi did not immediately deny it.

She knew better than anyone that Blackrock Fortress's biggest need right now wasn't soldiers.

He's the kind of person who can bring a disorganized army together.

The Zhao family cannot be used.

Han Zhao cannot be trusted.

The Lu family's personal guards are insufficient.

Meanwhile, the lowly soldiers of the cookhouse had just tied their lives to Chen Mu's because of the military merit list.

If Chen Mu doesn't step up, they'll still just be a bunch of scattered soldiers, burning firewood and carrying firewood.

If Chen Mu were to lead them, they would be soldiers who would fight to the death.

Lu Shuangyi asked, "How many people can you bring?"

Chen Mu looked towards the direction of the cookhouse.

Those veterans haven't dispersed yet.

Upon hearing the bugle call from the north slope, they instinctively ran towards the kitchen.

It's not about escaping.

They carried machetes, iron hooks, forks, and kerosene barrels.

The cookhouse didn't have any good knives.

There are no good nails.

Many people were still wearing tattered coats covered in dust.

But when they saw Chen Mu looking over, they all stood up straight.

Chen Mu said, "Seventeen."

Lu Shuangyi's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Only seventeen?"

Chen Mu said, "That's enough."

Zhao Chenglie heard this and let out a cold laugh.

"Five hundred barbarian cavalry and seventeen cooks' remnants."

"Chen Mu, are you so desperate for merit that you've gone mad?"

Chen Mu looked at him.

"If General Zhao feels that's not enough, he can bring his personal guards along."

Zhao Chenglie's face stiffened.

Most of Zhao's personal guards are currently under custody, while a small number are clearing corpses at the South Gate.

Where can he find people to transfer?

Even if he could get the job done, he wouldn't dare go up the north slope.

Last night, a Black Wolf Guard almost tore Chen Mu to pieces.

Tonight, out of five hundred barbarian cavalry, who knows how many will die?

Chen Mu smiled.

"You dare not?"

Zhao Chenglie retorted angrily, "Who said I wouldn't dare?"

Chen Mu nodded.

"Please."

Zhao Chenglie looked at Zhao Hong.

Zhao Hong's face was gloomy, and he remained silent.

Lu Shuangyi said coldly, "Zhao Chenglie, take ten of Zhao family guards and go with Chen Mu to the North Slope."

Zhao Chenglie's face turned pale instantly.

"General Lu, I—"

Lu Shuangyi interrupted.

"Didn't you say you dared?"

Zhao Chenglie gritted his teeth.

He really wanted to refuse.

But there were people all around.

Su Wan was also looking at him.

Before last night, in Su Wan's eyes, he was a young general, someone who could help her marry into a prestigious family.

If he backs down in public now, he'll lose all face.

Zhao Chenglie could only bite the bullet and say, "Fine, I'll go."

Chen Mu ignored him.

He walked up to the old soldiers of the cookhouse.

Seventeen people.

The oldest is in his forties, and he's called Lao Chai.

The youngest is only nineteen, and his name is Shitou (Stone).

They were not regular soldiers.

On ordinary days, they were responsible for lighting fires, transporting grain, carrying firewood, repairing stoves, and carrying pots.

They also climbed walls during wartime, but mostly did tasks like moving stones, delivering arrows, and carrying wounded soldiers.

The seventeen who died last night slept in the same shed and ate from the same pot as them.

Chen Mu looked at them.

I don't say nice things.

"Five hundred barbarian cavalry pressed down on the north slope."

"Going up there tonight might mean death."

Old Chai grinned.

"Sergeant Chen, when does the cookhouse not have someone die?"

Someone chuckled softly.

His laughter was a little hoarse.

Chen Mu said, "In the past, when you died, your names might not have been written into the register."

"Come up on the wall with me tonight."

"Whoever dies, gets credit."

"Whoever survives will receive the reward."

"Whoever kills a barbarian, shall have their name engraved on the list of military merits."

The eyes of the cooks gradually brightened.

It's not that I'm not afraid of death.

Finally, someone told them that even death counts.

Even if you're alive, it counts.

Chen Mu picked up an iron hook used for starting fires and handed it to Lao Chai.

"Take the kerosene barrel with you."

"Take the grass ash with you."

"Bring the wet felt belt."

"Bring the long fork."

"Also bring two iron pots from the kitchen."

Zhao Chenglie couldn't help but sneer.

"You're going to bring a pot to fight on the wall?"

Chen Mu glanced at him.

"Last night at the South Gate, I burned thirty-seven barbarians to death with mutton fat."

"What will you use?"

Zhao Chenglie's face turned red from being cornered.

The cooks burst into laughter.

This time, it was Zhao Chenglie who was laughing.

Zhao Chenglie's face burned with rage; he wished he could draw his sword and kill someone.

Lu Shuangyi watched Chen Mu's arrangements, her gaze growing increasingly intense.

He is not simply brave.

He knew who he had, what tools he could use, and what battles he could fight.

Regular soldiers have their own fighting style.

The cooks have their own fighting style.

Chen Mu didn't bring seventeen useless people with him.

They are seventeen people who know how to start a fire, transport oil, keep watch for the wind, and control smoking.

On a snowy night like this on the north slope, these skills might not be inferior to those of a knife.

Chen Mu turned and walked towards the north slope.

He had only taken two steps when Lin Qinghe caught up with him and stuffed a small cloth bag into his arms.

"Hemostatic drugs."

Chen Mu lowered his head.

Lin Qinghe bit her lip.

Don't be reckless.

Chen Mu said, "I will try my best."

Lin Qinghe was so angry she wanted to curse, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Su Wan also stepped forward.

She was holding a wristband.

That was something she sewed for Chen Mu before.

It's old.

There were still loose threads on the edges.

She whispered, "This... you used to wear it when you went out of camp."

Chen Mu glanced at it.

No answer.

Su Wan's face paled.

"I'm clean now."

Chen Mu said, "Give it to the wounded soldiers."

Su Wan's hand froze in mid-air.

No one around spoke.

Her face gradually burned.

When Chen Mu first received these wristbands, he was overjoyed for days.

Now, he doesn't even glance at it a second time.

Lu Shuangyi walked past and said calmly, "He's using the wrist guards from the Imperial Guard now."

After saying that, she tossed a pair of black leather wristbands to Chen Mu.

Chen Mu caught it and tied it to his wrist.

The leather is stiff, but the lining is soft.

Suitable for holding a gun.

Su Wan looked at the wristband, her eyes reddening.

Once something is replaced, it can't be returned.

Chen Mu did not turn around.

He led seventeen remaining cooks and ten of Zhao's personal guards up the north slope.

In the wind and snow, Lao Chai carried a barrel of kerosene, Shi Tou carried an iron pot, and the others carried firewood, felt, and ash bags.

It doesn't look like they're going to war.

Like going to build a stove.

But when the guards on the city wall saw them, they suddenly felt a little more at ease.

Because the person walking at the very front was Chen Mu.

Chen Mu, who crawled back from a pile of corpses, reclaimed his military merits, guarded the south gate, and forced the Black Tiger Camp to retreat.

On the north slope of the city wall, a sentry pointed into the distance.

"They're here!"

Chen Mu climbed onto the top of the wall.

The wind and snow came crashing down on our faces.

In the darkness in the distance, rows of torches are approaching.

The sound of horses' hooves was dull.

The howls of wolves were carried on the wind.

The five hundred barbarian cavalry did not charge immediately.

They stopped outside the range of the arrows.

It's like they're waiting for something.

Chen Mu narrowed his eyes.

He suddenly looked towards the east side outside the fortress.

The Black Tiger Camp's camp was also lit up with fire.

Han Zhao stood in front of the camp, looking towards the north slope.

He didn't move.

There's no hope.

They didn't refund it.

Chen Mu understood.

Han Zhao is waiting for the bloodshed at Black Stone Fortress.

The barbarian cavalry were also waiting.

Blackstone Fortress and Black Tiger Camp began to distrust each other.

Wait until chaos breaks out in the city.

When people's hearts are scattered.

Chen Mu chuckled.

Old Chai asked, "Sergeant Chen, what are you laughing at?"

Chen Mu planted his spear next to the wall.

"They're laughing at us because they want to see a show."

"Then let's put on a show for them."

He turned to look at the cooks.

"Set up the pot."

Zhao Chenglie's eyes widened.

"The enemy is outside, are you really going to set up a pot?"

Chen Mu said, "If we don't set up a pot, how can we invite the Black Tiger Camp to drink soup?"

Zhao Chenglie didn't understand.

Chen Mu did not explain.

He looked at the barbarian cavalry below the city, then at the Black Tiger Camp to the east.

In the wind and snow, both sides were waiting for Blackstone Fortress to fall into chaos first.

Chen Mu raised his hand.

"ignition."

On the north slope of the wall, two large iron pots were set up.

The cooks were as skilled as if they were back in the kitchen.

As soon as the firewood was stuffed in, flames shot up.

On a snowy night, the bottom of the pot glowed red.

Thick white smoke rose up the city wall.

Han Zhao saw this from a distance and frowned.

"What are they doing?"

No one could answer that.

On the city wall, Chen Mu poured a bucket of mutton fat into a pot.

The oil heats up very quickly.

It made a sizzling sound.

The firelight reflected on his face.

Chen Mu looked at the barbarian cavalry in the distance, his voice not loud.

"The first pot of the night."

"For the barbarians."

"The second batch."

He looked towards the Black Tiger Camp to the east.

"For the audience."

On the eastern snow slope, Han Zhao's horse suddenly took a step.

He finally saw it: that sergeant, who came from the kitchen, was turning a pot into the courage to build a city.