Jiao Tai let out a snort. “It’s not that we want to confront Qu Zhao. It’s Qu Zhao who wants to confront us.”
With that, he sighed. “If Anwu County falls into Qu Zhao’s hands, I’m afraid we’ll never know peace again.”
King Tian Xiang of Anwu only wanted to stay alive.
But Great Chanyu Qu Zhao was not content merely to survive. He had driven a wedge into the territory of Jiao Tai’s army, and the thought of it left him unable to eat or sleep in peace.
Mu Qi said helplessly, “The Great Qing is tying down a considerable number of our troops. We can’t spare too many men right now.”
Jiao Tai shook his head. “Then send ten thousand troops first, and gather another ten thousand from the counties near Anwu. Twenty thousand should be enough.”
He sighed. “I’m only afraid we won’t have enough time.”
Liang City was a long way from Anwu County. Even after the troops were assembled and rushed there, it would take until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest to arrive, even if they traveled through the night.
Mu Qi thought for a moment. “Why not send carrier pigeons to inform the nearby counties and have them go to Anwu’s aid first? Our forces can follow later.”
Jiao Tai pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
The military officer Zhan E requested permission to fight. “General, let me go. You’re still needed here.”
Jiao Tai considered it briefly, then nodded. “You must stop Qu Zhao from taking Anwu County.”
Xie Nanxiao and Hua Ruo did not reach the valley until the hour of the Pig. The civilians were simply in too poor a condition. If the Anwu Army and Qu Zhao’s forces had not been battling one another, they would never have been able to make it out.
The civilians brought out by Jiang Jin had already eaten their fill. Some were sitting and resting in the places arranged for them, while others had already fallen asleep.
During this period, they had been forced by Qu Zhao’s people to transport grain, and their bodies had long since reached their limits. Once they had eaten their fill and relaxed, most of them were able to drift easily into sleep, even though their hearts remained unsettled.
Dongzhi did not need Jiang Jin to give any instructions. He led his people to settle the civilians in another area, where food had already been prepared in advance.
“How did it go?” Jiang Jin asked.
Xie Nanxiao answered first. “We brought nearly sixty thousand people out in total.”
Hua Ruo added, “Everyone who could be taken was taken. It’s just a pity about the civilians left inside the city.”
They were human, not gods. There was no way for them to enter the city and bring everyone out under the circumstances.
Xie Nanxiao consoled her, “There aren’t many civilians in the city. Most of the people living there are relatives and family members of Tian Xiang and his soldiers.”
Jiang Jin nodded. “Eat something and get a good rest.”
The real battle had only just begun. Rescuing the people was merely the first step. Bringing them safely back to Fengzhou would be the hardest part.
After the two men left, Jiang Jin looked toward Dongzhi. “Has the message been sent out?”
Dongzhi hurriedly replied, “It has.”
Beside a campfire, in the dim light of the flames, Liu Xiaomei held a chipped bowl and stared at the thick rice porridge inside. The aroma of food drifted into her nose, and she swallowed unconsciously.
“Th-this is for me?”
The soldier nodded. “Yes. You need to eat your fill so you’ll have the strength to travel. Hurry up, eat, and get some rest.”
Liu Xiaomei returned to her father’s side, holding the bowl with a dazed yet cautious expression. Liu Dachuan endured his hunger and slowly fed his father.
Liu Xiaomei looked bewildered. “Big Brother… this food really is for us?”
Liu Dachuan gave a choked “Mm,” unable to say another word.
Perhaps the world had been too cold for so long that he had forgotten they were human too. They had a country of their own. Someone should have protected them.
But they had waited and waited, and no one had come. The Yan Kingdom had not protected them. King Tian Xiang of Anwu had not protected them either.
Had they finally been rescued now?
Princess Jinyang had brought the Jinyang Army across thousands of li, risking their lives to reach Anwu County and save them. She had even given them food.
Liu Xiaomei lowered her head, and a tear fell. She took a small sip and swallowed it along with the tear. Perhaps she had gone too long without eating proper food, because her stomach churned violently.
But for the first time, she felt that the sensation was not unpleasant. The porridge in her mouth was so sweet that she could hardly bear to swallow it.
Before dawn the next day, the Jinyang Army was already directing the civilians to prepare breakfast.
With so many people, it was naturally impossible for the Jinyang Army to do everything for them.
After breakfast, the Jinyang Army organized the civilians into units according to the army’s structure, making it easier to manage them during the journey ahead.
By the time the sun had risen high in the sky and the group was about to set out, two scouts hurried over.
Jiang Jin’s eyes flickered. “Qu Zhao has taken Anwu County?”
The scouts nodded. “He took it in the second half of the night.”
Jiang Jin raised an eyebrow. Qu Zhao had been faster than she expected. “Did Tian Xiang escape?”
The scouts shook their heads. “No. The Jiao Army also joined the battle, but by the time they arrived, the city gates had already been breached. Qu Zhao fought desperately, suffering heavy casualties but forcing his way into Anwu County.”
Dongzhi let out a cold snort. “What choice did they have but to fight desperately?”
Jiang Jin smiled faintly. “What’s the situation in Chunyi County?”
The scout replied, “There’s been no movement there. Most of the remnants who went to Anwu County’s aid have fled to Chunyi County.”
“How many casualties?” Jiang Jin asked.
“We don’t know the situation inside Anwu City. About a thousand troops have escaped to Chunyi.”
In other words, with the remnants of King Tian Xiang’s forces and the soldiers stationed in the city, Chunyi County had only a few thousand troops left. Once Qu Zhao recovered, taking the county would not be difficult.
The scout continued, “Qu Zhao’s side has suffered approximately twenty thousand casualties.”
“The Jiao Army joined the battle as soon as they saw the city fall, but Qu Zhao fought fiercely. After suffering several thousand casualties, the Jiao Army had no choice but to withdraw. Their losses should be just under several thousand.”
Jiang Jin nodded. “Continue the reconnaissance.”
The scout quickly withdrew.
Hua Ruo sighed. “The Great Chanyu must be so furious by now that he’s about to vomit blood, don’t you think?”
Xie Nanxiao snorted coldly. “Hopefully, he’ll be so angry that he drops dead.”
The Great Chanyu Qu Zhao, whom they were discussing, truly did feel as though he might spit blood. He had smashed everything within reach.
He had lost twenty thousand men to take Anwu County, only to discover that Anwu County had already been raided from within.
The Han slaves were gone, and the crops they had planted had been burned.
His rear had been looted as well. His grain, his valuables, his soldiers, and even his strategist Tie Yu were all gone.
He had fought King Tian Xiang and the Jiao Army tooth and nail, only to end up with nothing but an empty city.
How could he accept that?
“The Jinyang Army!” The words seemed to grind out from between his teeth, filled with bone-deep hatred.
“Why not send people after the Jinyang Army?” Chang Gai suggested. “They’re carrying a large amount of grain and a great many Han civilians. They certainly won’t be able to move quickly.”
Meng Su shook his head. “Don’t forget that jungle warfare is the Jinyang Army’s specialty. Besides, they must have brought quite a number of people with them this time.”
They could not have seized so many civilians without several thousand soldiers.
And Qu Zhao now had only about thirty thousand troops left. More than ten thousand of them were wounded and would need time to recover.
They could no longer afford further losses.
Chang Gai’s expression darkened. “I’ve inspected the grain in the city. There isn’t much. What are we supposed to do?”
They had assumed that taking Anwu County would solve their food and provisions problem. After all, it was already the middle of the seventh month, and the crops would mature in another month or two.
Who could have imagined that the Jinyang Army would burn the crops to the ground?
How ruthless!
