Chapter 65: Recording Merit
As the sun approached noon, the procession stopped at a riverbank. To avoid another ambush, Yang Zhengshan ordered the carriages to be placed on the outer perimeter, forming a temporary camp. Yang Zhengshan was unaware that the Hu horsemen were attacking supply lines everywhere, but they had already encountered an ambush, so they had to prevent another one.
After nightfall, Yang Zhengshan didn’t allow the soldiers and civilians to start a fire, and everyone drank the cold water prepared during the day and munched on dry rations. Fortunately, it was late June, and the night temperature was relatively high, so even though they were sleeping in the open, everyone could endure it.
The night passed without incident, and at dawn the next day, the procession set off again. If they hadn’t been ambushed the day before, they would have reached Fushan City today. However, they still had to take care of the seriously injured, so it was impossible to reach Fushan City today.
Yang Zhengshan’s anxiety didn’t dissipate but instead intensified. He initially thought his anxiety was due to the Hu horsemen, but since they had already eliminated those Hu horsemen, he still felt a strong sense of unease.
Therefore, Yang Zhengshan was extremely cautious on this journey. Scout Yang Chengze and others were sent out about ten miles ahead. Around noon, Yang Chengze returned on horseback, shouting, “Commander, there are a large number of horsemen ahead!” Yang Zhengshan’s whole body trembled, and his eyes turned sharp. “How many?” “Too far away, can’t see clearly, but it doesn’t seem to be the Hu horsemen!” Yang Chengze reported solemnly.
Yang Zhengshan didn’t hesitate and gave the order, “Stop and prepare for battle!” Regardless of whether it was the Hu horsemen or not, it was better to be prepared. When the order was given, the soldiers and civilians began to deploy in an orderly manner, setting up a circular formation. The civilians had experience and didn’t need Yang Mingwu and Yang Mingzhi to command them, so they stopped the grain carts on the outer perimeter.
Yang Zhengshan rode his horse forward, galloping about two miles, and saw a cloud of dust rising in the distance. “It’s not the Hu horsemen, it’s the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner!” He felt relieved when he saw the fluttering banners.
As the horsemen approached, Yang Zhengshan spotted General Zhou Lan at the front, wearing a shiny golden armor, a red helmet with a golden crest, and a fiery red cloak. Zhou Lan’s slender figure exuded valor.
“General Zhou!” Yang Zhengshan dismounted his horse and saluted.
Zhou Lan also dismounted, stretched out her hand to help him up, and asked, “Were you ambushed by the Hu horsemen on the supply line?” “We were ambushed, but fortunately, the enemy wasn’t too numerous, and we managed to repel them!” Yang Zhengshan replied.
Zhou Lan’s face revealed a shocked expression. It was no wonder she was shocked, as the news she had received recently was that the supply teams were being ambushed and destroyed, and none had managed to repel the Hu horsemen. Not only that, but the guards responsible for protecting the supply lines were also suffering heavy casualties due to the Hu horsemen’s ambushes.
Zhou Lan was amazed to hear that Yang Zhengshan had repelled the Hu horsemen’s ambush. “Where’s the grain convoy?” Zhou Lan asked.
Yang Zhengshan pointed to the distant riverbank. “Let’s go take a look!” Zhou Lan mounted her horse and galloped towards the riverbank.
When they arrived, Zhou Lan’s shocked expression intensified. She saw the group of warhorses, their saddles adorned with enemy heads, and her shocked expression turned to astonishment. “How many heads did you take?”
“Two hundred and eighty-three!” Zhou Lan looked at the soldiers and civilians within the circular formation, almost disbelieving.
Yang Zhengshan’s men had achieved an incredible feat. The Eastern Sea Hu Tribe was known for their prowess in battle, and their warriors were seasoned hunters who grew up in the mountains. It was difficult to defeat them, even for the soldiers of the Five Camps of the Prefectural Banner.
Zhou Lan ignored the civilians, not because she underestimated Yang Zhengshan, but because the achievement was too incredible. With less than two hundred soldiers, they had taken two hundred and eighty-three enemy heads, which was an impressive display of valor.
Zhou Lan’s gaze fell upon the temporary circular formation, and she immediately understood how Yang Zhengshan’s men had managed to repel the Hu horsemen’s ambush. By using the grain carts as obstacles, they had blocked the Hu horsemen’s first wave of attack, making the subsequent battle relatively simple.
She realized that the other supply teams didn’t know this tactic, or rather, they couldn’t execute it in a short time.
“Come, let’s record their merit!” Zhou Lan called over the military scribe to record Yang Zhengshan’s achievements.
Killing nearly three hundred enemy soldiers was a major feat, and defending the grain convoy was also a meritorious act. These two achievements alone were enough to promote Yang Zhengshan.
Zhou Lan had already decided to promote Yang Zhengshan as soon as the battle ended. As for what position to promote him to, she would have to think carefully.
She wanted to find an opportunity to introduce Yang Zhengshan’s abilities to General Zhang Shouwang, so that Zhang Shouwang would also appreciate Yang Zhengshan.
When Yang Zhengshan heard that Zhou Lan was going to record his merit, he smiled faintly, his expression calm. The people around him, including Yang Mingwu, were overjoyed, but they knew it wasn’t the time to celebrate, so they kept their excitement hidden.
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter