Ye Jingyu had not anticipated that the combat effectiveness of the Maoshi Legion would be so astonishing; even with just over a thousand men remaining and without the Mastiffs, they still managed to inflict over three thousand casualties upon him. Before he could even tally the results of the engagement, a whistling sound reached him from not far away…

“What’s going on?” Puzzled, Ye Jingyu looked toward Ying Xiaoxiao on the cliff edge. At that moment, Ying Xiaoxiao had snatched up a banner and begun signaling according to the cipher invented by Zhuge Yi. The more frantically he waved it, the darker the expressions of Ye Jingyu and his men became…

Because the signal meant that ten li to the east, an army of at least fifty thousand troops had appeared—an army whose origins were entirely unknown…

At such a great distance, only Ying Xiaoxiao, positioned high on the cliff, could see them. Chen Qi could only sense the faint tremors in the earth based on years of experience…

Fifty thousand? An unknown army exceeding fifty thousand? Could it be Xiao Geng’s Cloud Army?

Ye Jingyu couldn't believe Xiao Geng would show up to meddle at this juncture. After all, no one would believe the Iron Army had annihilated the Maoshi Legion with only a little over three thousand casualties. Xiao Geng wouldn't come to their rescue. Naturally, he wouldn't dare move against the Iron Army either. The Cloud Army wasn't his personal force; the soldiers would fight willingly against the Hu Kingdom's forces without hesitation, but asking them to act as Xiao Geng’s tools to eliminate the Iron Army was entirely out of the question…

So, who could this approaching army be?

Now, retreating the entire force was impossible. Ten li for an army translated to barely three quarters of an hour. How far could they flee in that time? They had just survived a life-and-death struggle with the Maoshi Legion, losing over two thousand men, having another thousand severely wounded, and the remaining four or five thousand utterly exhausted. A full retreat was simply not feasible…

But to fight them? To pit a few thousand men against tens of thousands? What should be done now?

Ye Jingyu’s brow furrowed tightly. His gaze swept across the battlefield, noting that the Iron Army soldiers were all looking at him, as if they too sensed the imminent danger…

“Brothers, an army exceeding fifty thousand is closing in on us from ten li ahead. This is certainly not an allied force. This means we are about to face another battle. Are you afraid?” Seeing those pairs of bewildered eyes, Ye Jingyu made no attempt to hide the truth and spoke plainly…

“We are not afraid…” At least several thousand men roared back. They had just defeated the formidable Maoshi Legion—the very force that gave the Shu Yun Kingdom’s Grand Army Corps nightmares—and they had utterly wiped them out. Such an achievement was enough to inflate their pride…

In that instant, the soldiers' self-confidence swelled to an extreme…

Admittedly, some paled when they heard the number was fifty thousand, worry etched on their faces. Everyone fears death; no one desires to die. To pit a few thousand against fifty thousand was clearly the stuff of a madman’s dream…

“Very good. I knew none of you were cowards. You are all heroes, true men. The Iron Army has no cowards…” Hearing the cheers, Ye Jingyu’s face became grave. He continued speaking…

“However, the situation is critical this time. Their timely appearance here clearly shows they were prepared. Although we annihilated the mighty Maoshi Legion, the majority of you are exhausted. To face fifty thousand with our few thousand is undoubtedly like striking a stone with an egg. It is not that I, Ye Jingyu, am faint-hearted, but I do not wish to watch my brothers sacrifice themselves in vain…” Ye Jingyu’s expression remained firm…

“You don’t need to say more. I know you do not fear sacrifice; if we did not fear the strongest Maoshi Legion, what should we fear? But you are my best brothers. I intend to lead you to achieve glory, and I intend to lead you all back to Yunjing, where your friends await, where your families wait. Therefore, we cannot perish uselessly. To live, that is my greatest wish, Ye Jingyu’s wish…” Ye Jingyu began physically restraining the soldiers who were about to speak (Read the full text novel at .1.m(1.m.Literature Net), speaking with passionate intensity…

Listening to Ye Jingyu’s words, complex emotions flickered across many faces: bewilderment, apprehension, derision, adoration, and deep emotion…

“However, the enemy is already several li away; it is too late for us to fully retreat. Therefore, I need a suicide squad to stay behind with me and hold them off, to buy enough time for the rest of the brothers. This is a mission with nine deaths and one life. I will compel no one, nor will I blame anyone. Those willing to stay, please step forward…” Ye Jingyu ignored the complex expressions in their eyes and stated the plan fixed in his heart directly…

At once, the battlefield fell into a profound silence. Everyone turned their gaze toward Ye Jingyu…

Chen Qi’s face shifted dramatically, his eyes showing acute anxiety. How could Ye Jingyu, a commander, utter such words? In this situation, Ye Jingyu’s tactic—leaving a contingent to resist while the main body retreated—was tactically sound. But a general should only issue orders; why announce it so openly?

And revealing the enemy’s strength—wasn't that overtly inviting them to their deaths? Who would volunteer for certain death?

As Chen Qi predicted, the field remained silent. Facing fifty thousand enemies, even if everyone present stayed behind, they might not be enough. What chance did a fraction have?

No one is unafraid of death, especially when death is a certainty. Who would willingly trade their life for another’s?

People are inherently selfish, are they not?

Thousands of pairs of eyes stared intently at Ye Jingyu. Struggle flickered in many of them. They did not share a deep history with him. Although under his leadership they had achieved the miracle of annihilating the formidable Maoshi Legion, earning immense merit, miracles were not guaranteed. Staying meant almost certain death. Even if life were lost, what good were accolades?

Ye Jingyu said nothing more. He simply observed the surrounding soldiers, his eyes filled with candor, brimming with sincerity…

“I am willing to stay…” At that moment, Bieli stepped forward first. After only a brief moment of thought, he made his decision. Though he knew staying meant he might never see the next sunrise, for some inexplicable reason, when he looked into Ye Jingyu’s frank and sincere eyes, his own reason was always shattered into dust…