The fifth year of Taiping.
Great Pine.
North of the River.
"General! Brother!! ...Our Little Yellow Mountain Stronghold truly can't keep fighting any longer."
Wu Xing's eyes were slightly red as he looked at Song Gongbao. "The court's rewards and pensions are meager... Since we accepted amnesty, the brothers haven't had a single day without battle. By now, we've lost thirty to forty percent of our men... If this goes on, all our brothers will be fought away!"
Song Gongbao was likewise shedding tears. "Sigh... What can I do? The imperial edict has already arrived... Before long, we brothers will be heading south."
"South?" Wu Xing froze. "What about the north? The barbarian prince—no, the Golden King?"
The barbarian prince Wanyan Lie had inherited the khan's throne and named himself the "Golden King." He had marched south to attack Great Pine, and the war had already raged for several years.
"The court has made up its mind to negotiate peace with the Golden King, offering annual tribute, bolts of silk, and even a marriage alliance... The Golden King has agreed to temporarily withdraw his troops. Both sides will cease hostilities and make peace, pledging to become brotherly states."
Song Gongbao said.
"Selling out our rights and disgracing the nation, selling out our rights and disgracing the nation!" Wu Xing sneered. "They would rather make peace with barbarians, bow and scrape, than suppress the civil unrest... Truly the work of those high and mighty lords at court. Next, I wonder whether we'll be sent to campaign against Xiao Liang, Fang La, or attack Di You?"
"The Imperial City Directorate's spies have already uncovered the news. The King of Wu has mobilized his entire army to attack the King of Liang!" Song Gongbao helplessly revealed some of the inside information.
Wu Xing