Ye Shikai led the team southward. Now that the issue of military provisions was resolved, they no longer had to worry about logistics. The remaining task was to avoid the Qin Army, and as long as they successfully reached the Southern County, they would be safe.
"Report to General Ye, just now while chatting with the officer of the grain convoy, they seed unaware of our arrival in Nanyang County," Wan Qi Yuan suddenly said. Previously, Ye Shikai’s biggest worry was that if Nanyang County learned about his rebellion, they might take action and attack, but Wan Qi Yuan’s information brought him so relief.
"However, I cannot be entirely sure. That grain officer is rely a Five Hundred Master, with only a handful of three to five hundred n in his command. He may not know about such significant matters." Wan Qi Yuan couldn’t be certain; during their operation, he had claid to be "allied forces," and with ti pressing, he could only get a few words from the grain officer.
"No matter, our most important task right now is to leave here," Ye Shikai said, unable to ponder so much. Now they were heading straight for the Southern County in haste.
"By the way, is there any news about Shangguan?"
"Reporting to the General, Commander Shangguan led the guards to divert the Qin Army. So far... his whereabouts are unknown, but according to the original plan, he should be catching up to us by now and should arrive soon."
Ye Shikai estimated that since Wan Qi Yuan returned with the provisions, they had been marching for four hours straight. Among their ranks were injured soldiers and many infantryn, while Shangguan Jian led all light cavalry, highly mobile. Four hours should have been enough for them to catch up, but the lack of news made Ye Shikai very worried, yet he dared not slow down.
"Everyone rest for an hour and eat so dry rations to regain strength," Ye Shikai ordered.
"Understood."
The troops halted. After such prolonged travel, even the warhorses were panting heavily, let alone the n.
"General Ye, how about I take so n to look for him? My brethren and I can change into civilian clothes to infiltrate the city and scout for information," Wan Qi Yuan volunteered, recognizing the concerns weighing on Ye Shikai’s mind, offering to return to Wan City to investigate. Ye Shikai hesitated greatly. Though Wan Qi Yuan was decisive in action, he possessed an innate "ferocity" typical of the Wolf Clan n, which made him intimidating and unlike an ordinary civilian. If only Xue San were here, as stealth and reconnaissance were his forte.
"Forget it. I trust Shangguan. He will bring the brethren back."
"Commander Shangguan leads only a hundred riders, exposed under the Qin Army’s watchful eye. If there’s short-lived engagent, they face near-certain death."
"Alright, take a team to scout around. If you find nothing, return. Otherwise... you risk danger yourselves."
"Understood."
Ye Shikai entered the "Wounded Soldier Camp." Although terd a wounded camp, it rely consisted of so straw mats laid haphazardly on the ground. With no proper military doctors left, those soldiers skilled in dicine served as dics.
"Ahhh."
"It hurts so much."
As Ye Shikai walked into the camp, the place was filled with injured brethren, wounded in fierce battles and left untreated effectively, their wounds starting to fester, groaning in constant pain. Luckily, before raising troops, Ye Shikai had set aside so dical supplies; otherwise, they wouldn’t have endured this long.
"Greetings, General."
"Greetings, General."
Upon Ye Shikai’s arrival, everyone saluted, even the most severely injured brethren gritted their teeth to stand up, stirring mixed emotions within Ye Shikai.
"Brethren, we have reached a critical mont, but once we reach the Southern County, we can rest and recover. Trust in as you entrust with your lives. I have failed you." Ye Shikai took out so dical supplies like alcohol, bandages, etc., from his Storage Ring. Although he had stored so dical items earlier in the ring, they were only enough for a few dozen n; now, with over a hundred injured brethren, these were but a drop in the ocean. Helpless, he first attended to the severely wounded.
"General Ye, what are these? We’ve never seen them before." The soldiers had never seen dical alcohol; at the Qin Dynasty’s technological level, they didn’t even have sterile gauze.
"This isn’t water but alcohol, which can be used to disinfect wounds. This white cloth is called a bandage, used for wrapping wounds, and these small sticks are called cotton swabs..."
Ye Shikai initially brought these items just for simple wound care in case of injury, never imagining they would need to be used for so many wounded brethren. Had he known this would happen, he would have stored an entire hospital in the Storage Ring.
While bandages could be replaced with clean cloth strips, even alcohol ran short. Ye Shikai knew clearly that these were but temporary relief; the only solution to the current predicant was to reach the Southern County swiftly and find Hua Liandie.
........................
In Southern County.
"Madam, how is your condition?" For two days, Xue San led the team through the miasma-filled mountains. Although many soldiers fell ill from the poison, He Linghan’s health was deteriorating with each passing day. Fortunately, by noon on the second day, they had erged from the mountains and reached the Southern County.
"Don’t worry, I’m fine."
"That’s great, as long as you’re okay. We’ve reached the Southern County, and there won’t be any more Qin Army chasing us," Xue San exclaid excitedly.
"Mm, where do we go next?"
"Don’t worry, madam, I’ve already sent n to inform Hua Liandie, and her people should be arriving soon."
"Mm, that’s good."
"Report to Commander Xue, a troop has appeared ahead of us and is approaching," a soldier reported hastily to Xue San.
"Who are they?"
"They aren’t wearing Qin Soldier uniforms, so they shouldn’t be the Qin Army. They appear to be local rebel forces."
"Great," Xue San sighed in relief. This location was a secret arrangent between him and Hua Liandie, known only to Xue San himself and Hua Liandie. It seed the reinforcents had arrived.
Not long after, this troop arrived before them, dressed in white, donned with light armor, their weapons new with shiny blades and spearheads.
The person leading them was even more unexpected to Xue San. He initially thought Hua Liandie would dispatch trusted aides to et them, but to his surprise, it was Hua Liandie herself. Clad in a General’s uniform, she looked heroic and confident, truly proving that won can be as brave and competent as n.
"Brother Xue San, you and your brethren have endured a lot on this journey."
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