The three soon reached the city wall. Squads of soldiers patrolled along it, and with the Khitan army right before them, both the number of men on patrol and the frequency of their rounds had increased to fully four times the usual level.
"The wind certainly is strong!" Meng Jiu stood on the wall, his clothes snapping in the gale.
The moon was only a slender crescent that night, leaving the scenery beyond the pass pitch-black. Apart from the firelight twenty li away, nothing could be seen anywhere else.
That was, of course, the Khitan army's main camp twenty li away.
"This frontier is nothing like the Central Plains," Hong Yi said.
"Alas, who knows how many more soldiers will give their lives in this great battle!" Liaochen sighed.
Hearing this, Hong Yi and Meng Jiu both shook their heads and fell silent.
Wars between two countries-when had history ever lacked such things? As long as there was war, people had to die. There was no helping it.
"Commander Liu, where are you going?" As the three stood atop the wall, they suddenly heard someone speaking nearby.
"Ah? With the Khitan army right before us, I felt a little uneasy, so I came over specially to take a look," Commander Liu said.
"Don't worry. It isn't your turn to defend the wall tonight, so get some rest. If the Khitan really do attack, you won't be able to rest even if you want to," the commander defending the wall said with a hearty laugh.
They had all forged deep friendships here on the frontier. Especially after passing through life and death together, they were brothers.
"All right, then. I'll head back. Take care of yourself!" Commander Liu said with a smile.
With that, Commander Liu led the several personal guards