“Young man, I know you have some ability, but you must understand this: one person’s strength is insignificant in the face of the greater tide. Luzhou City is now like a lamb watched by two hungry wolves. Anyone who resists will be torn to pieces.”
“Your advice is well taken, General. But I never intended to face Galu and Nanzhao alone. You are the true guardian of Luzhou City.”
“I’m old and worn out. What use could I be? Doesn’t Luzhou City still have its prefect and Prince Lu?”
“The common folk are like grain: without rain, there can be no harvest. Merchants pursue wealth: without profit, they cannot survive. The government rules: without the people’s support, it cannot endure. Youzhou’s soldiers are no army without a general.”
“My abilities are only enough to let me enjoy my old age. I fear I’m not fit for a mission that could cost me my life.”
“A tiger bears the character for king on its brow, yet even when starving, it will not eat its own cubs. A thunderous roc may lack a pair of wings, yet still command the mountains and contend with a flock of eagles. In life, there are things one must do, things one must not do, things one cannot do, and things one must do despite knowing they are impossible. General, if you emerge from retirement now, you will save the people from calamity. Though we younger men are few and weak, we will help you drive back the invaders and restore peace to Luzhou. Then, General, you shall be named Marquis Wu’an of Luzhou.”
“What a fine title, General Who Drives Out the Barbarians! Even if I send out the troops, whose orders will they follow? Xie Zhuo’s or mine?”
“Each of you can command your own troops, General and Prefect Xie.”
“Each of us command our own troops? Once the fighting starts, how will we coordinate?”
(The rest of the novel is mainly about the protagonist transmigrating to the Tang dynasty, fighting the Five Hu tribes with a lone army, and then leading his forces to pacify the civil war in the Central Plains. I chose this excerpt to introduce the novel so you can see whether it suits your taste.)
