Chapter 66: Deserting Soldiers
Zhao Lan didn’t linger for too long on the riverbank. After the county clerk recorded Yang Zhengshan’s merits, they hastily departed.
Yang Zhengshan and his troops took a short break at noon, and then continued onward. They finally arrived at the military camp the next morning, delivering the grain and fodder to the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner.
After returning to the camp, Yang Zhengshan first handed over the grain and fodder to Zhao Yuan, and then submitted the Hu Tribe’s heads to the camp’s clerk. Later, they would report to the main camp, and after the war, they would be rewarded according to their merits.
As for the spoils of war, Yang Zhengshan kept the silver for himself, and handed over the war horses and armor to Zhao Yuan. He couldn’t take all the spoils with him, but perhaps after the war, Zhao Lan would reward him some silver. After all, many war horses were valuable.
After handling all the matters, Yang Zhengshan wanted to take a good two-day rest. However, he unexpectedly received an order to transport grain to Heavy Mountain Fortress the next day.
This time, the order didn’t come from Zhao Lan, but from the main camp. Although there were two battalions of the Prefectural Banner sweeping away the Hu Tribe’s disturbances on the grain transportation route, the main camp had lost too many grain transportation teams and supplies. Therefore, they had to gather all the grain transportation teams from each camp and return to Heavy Mountain Fortress together.
Thus, Yang Zhengshan became the dedicated grain transportation officer, leading his troops to Heavy Mountain Fortress once again.
In the 23rd year of the Chengping era, mid-7th month.
Yang Zhengshan led his troops to the riverbank again, where they had repelled the Hu Tribe’s attack.
The long grain convoy was like a dragon, slowly moving along the riverbank. The originally flat riverbank was now pressed into a road by the wheels.
This was Yang Zhengshan’s fourth time transporting grain to Heavy Mountain Fortress. Except for the first time when they encountered the Hu Tribe’s attack, the subsequent trips were relatively safe.
Although the Hu Tribe was still disturbing the grain transportation route, the Left and Right Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner’s protection made the Hu Tribe dare not attack the grain convoy as recklessly as before.
However, the weather was getting hotter, and the soldiers and laborers transporting the grain were getting more and more tired.
Under the scorching sun, Yang Zhengshan rode on his red cloud horse, sweating profusely.
The ancient people had a shortcoming – their bodies were given by their parents, and not even a single hair could be cut. His long, thick hair was like wearing a cotton hat, making him feel hot and uncomfortable.
Moreover, Yang Zhengshan’s beard had grown to three inches long. In his previous life, his weak body had sparse beard, only about an inch long. But since he started drinking the Spirit Spring water, his hair and beard grew extremely fast.
His white hair and beard turned black and thick, making him look younger, but also increasing his annoyance.
At this moment, he genuinely wanted to shave his head clean, making himself feel cooler.
He let out a long sigh and gazed at the rippling river water, feeling helpless.
The war had been going on for half a month, with the army surrounding the Fucheng city. Every day, they were launching fierce attacks, but they still hadn’t conquered the city.
In ancient times, attacking a city was extremely difficult, especially when the city walls were high. It was like saying that they would sacrifice lives to fill the moat.
As he thought about the scene of the city attack, his pupils suddenly contracted.
“Has it not rained for a long time?”
Zhao Desheng, who was following him, looked up at the clear sky and replied weakly, “It seems like we had a small rain last month!”
Yang Zhengshan squinted, looking at the river surface.
Last month, they indeed had a small rain, but that rain didn’t even wet the ground.
In other words, since they set out, it hadn’t rained properly outside the pass.
How long had they been outside the pass? It was almost one and a half months!
By logic, July and August should be the months with the most rainfall. But in these one and a half months, it almost didn’t rain at all.
The river water had decreased significantly, and the shallow riverbanks had all dried up. The originally unknown depth of the river was now visible.
Last year, the lack of rainfall in the outer territories forced the Hu Tribe to invade the borders.
This year!
Yang Zhengshan’s face turned serious.
If it was true, this war might not end so easily.
The war had already made it difficult for the Eastern Hu Tribe to conduct normal production. If they faced a drought, the Eastern Hu Tribe would definitely be forced into a desperate situation.
Would the Eastern Hu Tribe be afraid? No!
Once they were starving, they would only have one choice: invade the borders.
Even if Fucheng city was conquered, and the Eastern Hu Tribe’s main force was eliminated, the remaining forces would still choose to invade the borders.
Natural disasters and human calamities would follow one after another.
He didn’t know if it was raining inside the pass. If it wasn’t raining inside the pass either, the disaster might be even greater.
As he thought about this, Yang Zhengshan’s heart felt a strong sense of unease again.
Oh no!
He seemed to know where his unease came from!
Natural disasters!
Something even more terrifying than war.
He sat stiffly on his horse, staring blankly at the river.
What would happen if there was a great drought inside the pass?
Yang Zhengshan couldn’t predict, nor could he imagine.
He thought about the eight hundred Liang’s Fortress in Heavy Mountain Town and the common people in Anning County’s Yang Family Village.
Yang Zhengshan suddenly shuddered.
“It can’t be! It can’t be!”
“Even if there’s a drought for a year, they should be able to hold on!”
He muttered to himself.
Just then, a shrill cry came from afar.
“Report!”
Yang Zhengshan suddenly lifted his head, only to see Yang Qinguo riding his horse towards him from the dry, cracked riverbank.
One person, one horse, and flying dust, couldn’t hide the panic in his eyes.
Yang Qinguo was the youngest of the ten Yang siblings, only fifteen years old, and Yang Zhengshan was like a grandfather to him.
However, Yang Zhengshan highly regarded this kid. Not only did he have a good natural talent for martial arts, but his brain was also extremely agile.
Since they entered the Lin Guan Fortress, Yang Qinguo, although young, had been doing a great job as a small flag officer.
Today, Yang Qinguo should be scouting ahead, but he was running back in panic. Was there a Hu Tribe attack ahead?
Yang Zhengshan’s heart tightened.
“What’s wrong?”
“The camp has been attacked by the Hu Tribe!” Yang Qinguo exclaimed.
“What?”
Yang Zhengshan’s brain was muddled.
“The main camp has been attacked, and it’s already in chaos!” Yang Qinguo said again.
“How did you know?” Yang Zhengshan looked towards the north.
They were still about a hundred Li away from the main camp. Even if Yang Qinguo was scouting ahead, he shouldn’t have been able to find out about the main camp’s situation.
“There are deserting soldiers!” Yang Qinguo’s young face was full of alarm.
Yang Zhengshan took a deep breath, didn’t have time to think, and drove his horse forward.
After riding for two to three Li, he indeed saw a group of panicked soldiers fleeing towards him, abandoning their armor and weapons.
(End of chapter)
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