Chapter 69: Returning to Lin Guan Fortress
Yang Zhengshan watched in silence as Cao Han departed. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and greeted, “I pay my respects to the General!”
“Dispense with the formalities,” the General replied.
Zhou Lan dismounted her horse and gazed northward, her expression filled with concern. She was no longer as carefree and energetic as before.
“How is the situation?” she asked.
“The subordinates have been sent to investigate, but the specific situation is still unknown,” Yang Zhengshan replied.
Zhou Lan gazed intently for a moment, then shook her head helplessly.
“We’ve been defeated!”
The defeat was too sudden, too thorough, and too unbearable. Yet, it was also inevitable.
She was more aware than Yang Zhengshan of the reasons for this defeat.
There were many reasons, but the main ones were threefold: First, the preparations were insufficient, and the hasty deployment had created many loopholes within the army. Second, the power struggles at the imperial court had affected the frontline commanders’ decision-making, and Zhang Shouwang had been forced to prioritize stability. Third, the Chong Shan Zhen had long been corrupt, and the morale and combat effectiveness of the soldiers were far inferior to before.
As for the Eastern Sea Hu Tribe’s strategy, although it was also a reason for the defeat, it was not the primary cause. The Eastern Sea Hu Tribe had been cunning in the past, and it was natural for them to be cunning now. This couldn’t be used as an excuse for the defeat.
“What should we do next?” Yang Zhengshan asked softly.
Zhou Lan pondered for a moment, then said, “Let’s return to Guan Cheng first.”
“The Metropolitan Prefecture Office…” Yang Zhengshan couldn’t help but remind her.
He could ignore the formalities and return to Guan Cheng, but Zhou Lan was the Vanguard General of the Prefectural Banner’s Left Vanguard, and the Prefectural Banner was under the command of General Zhang Shouwang.
Although it might be an exaggeration to say that Zhou Lan was Zhang Shouwang’s confidante, their relationship was undoubtedly close.
“I’ve received news that the main camp has been broken, but the General’s tent hasn’t suffered heavy losses. For now, the Young Master has led the remnants of the army to withdraw westward, so we don’t need to provide support,” Zhou Lan said.
Since Zhou Lan had spoken, Yang Zhengshan naturally didn’t object.
After briefly gathering their belongings, Yang Zhengshan followed Zhou Lan and returned to Chong Shan Guan. It took them two days to arrive.
Upon their return, Yang Zhengshan brought back grain, supplies, and three hundred heads of cattle, as well as carts. As for the laborers, Yang Zhengshan handed them over to the Metropolitan Prefecture Office.
He was allowed to keep the supplies, but not the people.
Back in Lin Guan Fortress, Yang Zhengshan met with Yang Minghao in the official residence.
“Father, you’re not injured, are you?” Yang Minghao asked, examining Yang Zhengshan from head to toe.
Yang Zhengshan felt a bit parched and asked, “Is everything all right in the fortress?”
“Everything is fine, but the mood in the city is precarious,” Yang Minghao replied.
Yang Minghao then asked anxiously, “Father, is it true that we’ve been defeated?”
Yang Zhengshan took a sip of tea and nodded. “Yes, we’ve been defeated.”
Yang Minghao asked again, “Will we get into trouble?”
Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment. “I don’t know, let’s wait and see.”
He couldn’t control the outcome, but he estimated that it wouldn’t have much to do with him, as he was just a logistics officer. They had not only beheaded nearly three hundred enemy soldiers but also transported supplies four times, earning both merit and demerit. Even if the imperial court wanted to punish them, they couldn’t erase his achievements.
Yang Zhengshan then asked, “Has there been any news from home?”
Yang Minghao’s face lit up with a bright smile as he fetched two letters from the nearby bookshelf.
“Yang Mingchen has passed the Imperial Examinations as a top scholar!”
Yang Zhengshan’s eyes lit up, and he opened the letter to read.
It was already late July, and the Imperial Examinations had ended over a month ago. Yang Mingchen and Lu Wenyuan had long returned to Anning County from Jing’an Prefecture.
Reading the letter’s content, Yang Zhengshan was overjoyed. Lu Wenyuan was only seventeen, and his talent in reading was exceptional. Yang Zhengshan genuinely hoped that Lu Wenyuan could make a name for himself, preferably as a top scholar, and become an official.
“Write a letter back to report our safety,” Yang Zhengshan instructed.
Yang Minghao nodded and headed out to write the letter.
Yang Zhengshan’s return brought joy to the entire Lin Guan Fortress, although the military households weren’t celebrating for Yang Zhengshan’s sake, but for the safe return of their loved ones.
However, amidst the joy, there was a tinge of sorrow. During this outing, Lin Guan Fortress had lost one soldier, leaving behind a family of four to mourn.
Yang Zhengshan personally took Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingwu to the residential area behind the official residence.
In a square courtyard, a family of four was wailing, holding the deceased soldier’s ashes.
Yang Zhengshan stood outside the gate, looking at the family, feeling a pang of sadness.
Their comrade-in-arms had died in battle, and they couldn’t even bring back the body, only the ashes.
Yang Zhengshan was familiar with the deceased soldier, Li Dazhu, a kind and honest villager. Li’s family had been attacked by the Hu cavalry last year, and only five of them had managed to escape.
Yang Zhengshan was relieved that Li Dazhu had left behind children, or the family would have been completely destroyed.
“Please accept my condolences,” Yang Zhengshan said.
Yang Zhengshan didn’t know how to comfort them or what words of solace to offer.
He took a tray from Yang Mingwu’s hands, which held four small silver ingots worth five taels each.
“Li Dazhu was a hero of Lin Guan Fortress, a hero of Chong Shan Zhen, and a hero of the Da Rong Empire. His family should enjoy the honor he earned with his life!”
Yang Zhengshan solemnly declared.
He wasn’t speaking to the Li family, but to the people of Lin Guan Fortress.
Now that the Li family was left with only a widow and orphans, they would likely face cold treatment and bullying. Yang Zhengshan wouldn’t stand idly by, so he had to make his words clear.
“Take care of the Li family and don’t let them be bullied,” Yang Zhengshan instructed Old Li.
Old Li nodded promptly.
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