The two soldiers offered no leniency, refusing outright and standing their ground firmly at the base of the gate.
Mei Qian nodded and said, "Fair enough. A soldier should look like a soldier. You two are good; you know your duty. The General will surely value you in the future, unlike those other buckets of lard who forget their own mothers the moment they see a bottle of wine."
As he spoke, Mei Qian walked into the dim gatehouse with his hands behind his back, only to let out a cry of surprise.
Chapter 21