Chapter 110: Wen Dayou Proposes a Wager of Fifty Men! The Figure Steps Forward!

Under the veil of night, within the council chamber of the Eagle-Raising Prefecture, Wen Dayou was in the midst of discussing strategy with officials and commanders like Jiang Baoyi, Zhang Pinggao, and Xu Shixu, having just received the latest intelligence regarding the enemy’s internal spies. He was quite surprised when Fu Zihou arrived, accompanied by Liu Wenjing and Pei Ji.

Moments later, upon hearing the purpose of Fu Zihou’s visit, it was not just Wen Dayou whose expression shifted; even Jiang Baoyi, Zhang Pinggao, and the others were left stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

Lead troops out of the city? To rescue that reinforcement detachment?

Had Fu Zihou lost his mind? To suggest leading troops on a rescue mission under such dire circumstances?

"Absolutely not! You must not leave the city! Currently, the entire Taiyuan Commandery is being besieged by the rebel army. To venture out rashly is to risk having your retreat cut off at any moment—this is nothing short of suicide!"

Once he regained his composure, Wen Dayou unhesitatingly moved to block the plan. In his eyes, Fu Zihou had narrowly escaped the eastern city of Jinyang and the encirclement of the rebels after a brush with death. Now, all he needed to do was remain safely within the western city, wait for the Sui reinforcements, and hold out until the rebels exhausted their supplies; his safety would be assured. To arrive in the western city only to immediately demand to lead troops out—was this not madness? It was throwing his life away for no reason.

Fu Zihou noticed the looks Jiang Baoyi, Zhang Pinggao, and the others were casting his way. Seeing his uncle, Wen Dayou, obstructing him was no surprise; even Fu Zihou himself knew exactly how dangerous this sortie would be.

"Uncle! I am well aware of the peril!" Fu Zihou looked at Wen Dayou and stated his reasoning. "Yet, faced with over a hundred thousand rebels, a mere few hundred reinforcements still came to rescue Taiyuan. They did not fear the danger, nor did they value their own lives above their duty. Now that a crisis has arisen, if we in Jinyang sit idly by, how will the world view us? Even if the rebels eventually leave, what face will we have to show the world? If rebels attack again in the future, will any righteous men still come to our aid?"

Fu Zihou looked at Wen Dayou, emphasizing his point. "Uncle, I will lead the troops to the rescue alone! Firstly, it will not compromise the safety of Jinyang; secondly, it will not chill the hearts of our reinforcements."

"Are you worried about Jinyang? Are you worried about future rebel attacks? No, I am worried about *you*!" Wen Dayou shouted, his face stern and his temper flared. He looked at the stubborn young man like a guardian watching a ward make a catastrophic mistake. He was so anxious and angry that his reason had vanished. Ever since he had met Fu Zihou, Wen Dayou, a man from a scholarly family, had frequently lost his temper on the boy's behalf, often finding himself in heated arguments with colleagues, contrary to his usual reserved nature. Seeing Fu Zihou now disregarding his own life to face the rebel army, Wen Dayou felt a wave of dizziness from his sheer frustration.

"Uncle! A person lives in this world to do certain things, and avoid others!" Fu Zihou raised his hands, bowing to Wen Dayou. He was not unmoved by his uncle’s concern, but this time, he had to leave the city.

"You... how can you be so stubborn?" Wen Dayou was nearly speechless, pointing a finger at Fu Zihou with a look of profound exasperation. He could not understand why such a young man could be so obstinate and single-minded.

As he pondered this, he recalled how it was exactly that stubbornness regarding the reinforcement of the eastern city walls that had allowed them to withstand the rebel onslaught when the enemy arrived. The anger in Wen Dayou’s heart vanished as if pinched out, replaced by a mixture of frustration and helplessness.

Inside the hall, the others—Zhang Pinggao, Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenge, Liu Wenjing, and Pei Ji—were also looking at Fu Zihou. They were at a loss for words. Indeed, fortune and misfortune were intertwined; that same stubbornness had saved Fu Zihou and the people of the eastern city, yet now, it was driving him toward this reckless danger.

The atmosphere grew quiet.崔文瑾 (Cui Wenjin) stood by Fu Zihou’s side, observing the scene. She could see how deeply Wen Dayou cared for him, yet she could not fathom why Fu Zihou regarded the lives of others so highly while treating his own as if it were of no consequence.

"Commander Fu, your intentions are noble! But have you considered that leaving the city is tantamount to suicide? Your soldiers will harbor resentment, and at the very least, they will flee in terror; at worst, they will mutiny!" Xu Shixu finally broke the silence.

The others turned their gaze to Fu Zihou, realizing this was a fatal risk—a danger no less lethal than the rebel army itself.

"Tomorrow, I intend to ask the soldiers. If any are willing to follow me, we shall depart together. If they are not willing, I will not force them!" Fu Zihou explained to Xu Shixu. He knew that forcing men to their deaths would trigger a mutiny. Soldiers were human, and no one wanted to die, so he had already decided: those who would go, would go, and he would not blame those who refused. Even if he had to go alone, he would still leave.

"If only two or three are willing to follow you, do you intend to attempt a rescue with them?" Wen Dayou asked, his face ashen. Despite his harsh tone, everyone present could hear the deep concern and the affection behind his questioning.

"Thirty! I am confident that at least thirty men will be willing to leave with me!" Fu Zihou replied. Looking at Wen Dayou, he felt no resentment, only guilt. He could not explain to his uncle what Li Shimin truly meant to the world.

He had arrived at the number thirty after careful consideration. Excluding soldiers with families to worry about, those who had just surrendered and had yet to see their kin, and those who were wounded, he thought of the men who feared nothing. Fifty was his gut feeling, but he knew he could lead with thirty. He could not be certain even of that number, as he was well aware of the weight of the sacrifice he was asking of them.

"If there are not fifty men, you will remain in the city! If there are fifty, I will give you the intelligence on where the reinforcements are trapped!" Wen Dayou decided, effectively making a bet.

The others watched this exchange in silence, all convinced that fifty men would never volunteer for what was clearly a suicide mission.

"Agreed!" Fu Zihou nodded. He had not expected to receive the location of the trapped Li Shimin from the night's intelligence. Wen Dayou’s expression softened slightly.

Late that night, Fu Zihou and Cui Wenjin did not return to their quarters immediately but took a carriage to visit someone else.

"Are you sure fifty people will be willing to follow you?" Cui Wenjin asked.

"No," Fu Zihou replied honestly. "But whether there are fifty or not, I must leave the city."

Cui Wenjin realized his resolve was set, and that his performance in the council chamber had been merely to appease Wen Dayou. "Must you go? Even if you don't save them, people will understand! Have you thought about your parents, your family, your fiancée... they all want you to be safe." She lowered her head in the dim carriage, adding silently to herself, *And so do I.*

"Do you remember when we were besieged by Zhang Jincheng’s rebels in Qinghe County? Those reinforcements are in the same position now; they need rescuing! If I cower in the city and let the rebels slaughter these righteous men, I will eventually have to face the rebels all alone when they come for us!" Fu Zihou explained. If it was indeed Li Shimin who was trapped, he would give his life to save him. He believed that if he died but Li Shimin lived, his family would not be mistreated.

The carriage fell silent until they reached the residence. When Fu Zihou disembarked, he knocked on the door and identified himself. Soon, Wu Shiyue appeared, looking surprised to see them at such a late hour.

The next day, when the drums sounded within the western city, officials, clansmen, and commoners alike were filled with confusion. Had the rebels not already been defeated and retreated? Why the assembly?

Crowds gathered at the training grounds. On the platform, Wen Dayou, Zhang Pinggao, and Fu Zihou appeared.

"Do you think anyone will actually volunteer to go to their deaths with him?" Zhao Wenge whispered. Xu Shixu remained silent.

In a nearby restaurant, those from noble families watched from the windows. "If no one stands up, he’ll be humiliated, the fool," one remarked. Cui Wenjin said nothing, her expression melancholy.

As Wen Dayou announced the call for volunteers, the crowd erupted in murmurs. "Leave the city? Are they mad? The rebels are everywhere!"

The soldiers of the western city were equally surprised, but were relieved to hear it was entirely voluntary.

"Ridiculous! Who would choose to go die?" the noble youths jeered. But then, their voices died out.

Before their eyes, soldiers in armor began to step forward. Ten, thirty, fifty, one hundred, three hundred, five hundred, seven hundred...

The silence that fell over the crowd was absolute. Even Wen Dayou and Zhang Pinggao were stunned, staring in disbelief. Why were so many stepping forward?

Fu Zihou’s eyes welled with tears as he looked at the men stepping forward—Hu Jinyuan, Yin Tianzong, Cao Yong, Xiong Ruixiang, Xia Jia, Yue Ming, Xue Hong, Xing Ming, and so many others.

"Why... why would they?" Zhao Wenge muttered.

Fu Zihou wiped his eyes and turned to Wen Dayou. Seeing the young man’s tear-streaked face, Wen Dayou finally realized he would never truly understand this boy; he was unlike anyone else. "Be careful out there," Wen Dayou said, no longer attempting to stop him.

Fu Zihou turned back to the platform, drew his sword, and pointed it toward the heavens. "I, Fu Zihou, swear! If we meet the enemy, I will be the first to fight! If we must retreat, I will be the last! Today, you have not abandoned me; should I ever attain wealth and honor, I will share it with you all! Let the heavens and all men be my witness!"

"We are willing to die with the commander!" Yin Tianzong, though wounded, knelt on one knee and drew his sword.

"We are willing to die with the commander!"

The cry of nearly a thousand men echoed across the training grounds and into the wind, a roar that would linger in the ears of everyone present.