"Chu Ying stood upon the commanding platform, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers before him, and called out in a ringing voice, 'My brothers, as subjects of the Chu State, every citizen of Nanhai City is our flesh and blood. Now that the Shanyue tribe has repeatedly invaded and plunged our people into deep water, do you brothers have the confidence to follow this prince, exterminate these barbarians, and restore peace to the realm?'
Within the drill ground, dead silence reigned. The soldiers looked at one another, their eyes devoid of anything save dull despair.
They were nothing more than a ragged band of old and disabled veterans, utterly incapable of rendering any combat service. To go to the battlefield today meant in all likelihood making a one-way trip, and their sole purpose in marching out was to secure the severance allowance promised should they fall in battle.
Chapter 352