Life or Death

"Chief, the Dog-kin barbarians are breaking!"

The sun had dipped slightly west, staining the yellow leaves in the mountains red. Great Chief Mespa wore the cotton armor of an ordinary warrior and climbed the nearest hillock in two strides. As he listened to the report from his family warrior, he gazed out at the battle ahead.

Two or three li away, the Red Dog Tribe's banners were swaying northward, and red-haired figures were fleeing in panic. Mespa finally laughed in satisfaction.

"Haha! Chasing hard and driving slow, we've caught the wild dogs' tails in the end! Pass down the order: all warriors in the front ranks, charge! Warriors in the rear ranks, quicken your steps, don't bother with the routed soldiers along the way. Whoever can capture the barbarians' chief, I'll reward him with two hundred mu of good fields from my fief in the valley!"

"As you command, Chief!"

The family warrior bowed his head and accepted the order. Then he hesitated a while and advised in a low voice.

"Chief, the Otopan Legion is more than ten li away, clearing out the remaining enemy. The Mexica Legion is even farther back, accepting the surrender of prisoners. The only ones pursuing here are our Pamus Legion's two thousand warriors, along with a few hundred surrendered barbarians. Should we slow down a little and wait for the rear army to join us before attacking?"

"What are we waiting for! The legion's morale is surging, and the barbarians have already collapsed. Pamus Valley is just twenty li north. The warriors' hometowns and the nobles' fiefs are all right before our eyes! This is exactly the time to pursue them to the bitter end—how can we let the enemy regroup!"

Mespa's expression changed, and he barked in anger. Then he looked around,