What It Means To Rally Everyone

"Don't just stand there! Sister-in-law Wang, Sister-in-law Li, you and a few others are in charge of registration! Xiao Cui, Xiao Hong, take some people to check the supplies! Everyone else, maintain order! Get moving!"

With Zhang Shoufang's help, the scene finally became a bit more orderly.

Just then, a ragged old scavenger, hunched over, squeezed through the gaps in the crowd.

He held a worn cloth bag in his hands and timidly offered it to Zhang Shoufang.

"Daughter…"

Zhang Shoufang quickly steadied him. "Elder, what is this?"

The old man grinned, revealing his few remaining yellow teeth. He carefully opened the cloth bag. Inside was a bag full of copper coins, mixed with a few pieces of silver.

"I… I don't have much skill. This is what I've saved up from a lifetime of scavenging," the old man's voice was hoarse and rough. "My wife, my son, my grandson… they're all in Wulan City, killed by those white-haired devils…"

He couldn't continue, and two streams of tears flowed from his cloudy eyes.

"I don't ask for anything else, only that Brigadier General Zhang… kill more white-haired devils! Avenge us!"

After speaking, he was about to kneel.

Zhang Shoufang's eyes reddened, and she quickly held him up.

She took the heavy cloth bag and said word by word, "Elder, rest assured. I will personally hand this money over to my brother. Our family, our entire Feng Army, will avenge you!"

Meanwhile, Gu Ruiyu also encountered a problem.

An old woman grabbed her tightly, insisting on pushing a boy who looked about ten years old in front of her.

"Madam! Please! Take this child!"

"Old woman, what are you doing? We're not recruiting soldiers here, and the child is so young." Gu Ruiyu was a little helpless.

The old woman knelt down with a "plop" and wailed mournfully.

"Madam! You are a living Bodhisattva! This child is so unfortunate! His parents were also killed by white devils in Wulan City! He's all alone now, and he talks every day about killing white devils for revenge!"

"Please take him in! Let him follow Brigadier General Zhang, be a stable boy, or serve tea and water! As long as he gets enough to eat, he can watch his enemies die!"

The little boy still had tear stains on his face, but his expression was stubborn.

He imitated the old woman and also knelt heavily on the ground, kowtowing to Gu Ruiyu.

"Madam! Please take me in! My name is Gou Sheng! I can endure hardship! I want to kill white devils to avenge my parents!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The crisp sound of kowtowing silenced everyone present.

Gu Ruiyu's heart ached, and she quickly stepped forward to help the boy up.

She looked at the boy's bloodshot eyes filled with hatred and sighed.

"Good child, I'll take you in."

The old woman and the boy were stunned.

"However," Gu Ruiyu changed the subject, "you are still young now, and going to the battlefield would be sending you to your death. Revenge is not something to be rushed. You will stay with the Gu Family for now. I will find someone to teach you to read and write, and to strengthen your body. When you grow up and become capable, you can righteously avenge your parents!"

"I… I will listen to you, Madam!" The boy nodded heavily.

The news of Gu Ruiyu taking in Gou Sheng spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

However, as it spread, the story changed.

"Did you hear? Madam Gu is helping Brigadier General Zhang recruit soldiers!"

"They're even recruiting personal guards! It's said that the first person to sign up will become Brigadier General Zhang's personal guard!"

"My heavens! What are you waiting for! Hurry and let my son sign up!"

This completely ignited the public's enthusiasm.

The queues, which were originally just for donating money and supplies, instantly turned into long lines of eager recruits.

Countless passionate young men, and even some middle-aged men, were scrambling to get their names registered at the Gu Family.

This scene formed a stark and ironic contrast with the deserted recruitment office of the Northern Prefecture regime not far away.

Amidst the crowd, someone watching the scene couldn't help but sigh.

"Look at Brigadier General Zhang, what do you call a single call that gets a thousand responses? This is it!"

"And look at those useless sacks of grain and wine from the Northern Prefecture. They've posted notices for months and can't even attract a ghost."

"Alas, if someone like Brigadier General Zhang were in charge, wouldn't we common folk have hope for our lives?"

On the Kulun front line.

On the Feng Army's position, Chu Shixin wiped the mud from his face and spat out a bloody mouthful of saliva.

He held the edge of the trench with one hand, looking at the blurred positions of the White Bear Army in the distance, his chest heaving violently.

"Any news from the Brigadier General yet?" a company commander approached, his voice hoarse.

Chu Shixin shook his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"Wait."

He only said one word.

But everyone understood the weight of that word.

The Brigade Commander's Tank unit was the surprise force, the sharp knife they would use to stab into the heart of the White Bear Army.

Now, what they, the infantry, had to do was hold the line, pin the main infantry force of the White Bear Army here, and create an opportunity for the Brigade Commander.

"Pass down the order."

Chu Shixin took a deep breath and slowly drew the command saber from his waist.

"Check ammunition, prepare for bayonet combat."

He paused, his saber tip pointing forward, his tone chilling.

"All troops!"

"Fix bayonets!"

"Click!"

"Click! Click!"

On the battlefield, a crisp sound of metal grinding echoed.

Every Feng Army soldier silently affixed their gleaming bayonets to their rifle muzzles, their eyes resolute.