In this era, other than martial prowess, there wasn't much difference between this era and the space-time that Wang Chong knew of. No matter how powerful one's martial arts was, it was impossible to increase the production of food. Thus, when the Central Plains fell into chaos and that calamity descended, the Central Plains were filled with starvation and panic.
Even Wang Chong's army had been suppressed by this, and in the end, they were defeated and killed.
With such a bitter lesson in mind, Wang Chong had been preparing for this very moment. And Zhang Munian was the foreshadowing that Wang Chong had prepared for this.
The hybrid rice had already begun to take shape, and Wang Chong had written a letter to Zhang Munian long ago to have him send some rations over. As for the rest, Wang Chong had left it to Zhao Qiqin to handle. If even this future Queen of Logistics couldn't solve the problem, Wang Chong really couldn't think of anyone in the world who could solve the problem of rations for the army in this urgent situation.
Xu Andun sighed inside. He didn't believe that he would be able to solve a problem that even the royal court couldn't. But looking at Wang Chong's expression, it didn't seem like he was faking it. Given his identity and capability, there was no need for him to do so.
"I can only take it one step at a time..."
Xu Andun thought as he suppressed the thoughts in his heart.
After destroying the eighteen thousand Ouzan cavalrymen at the three passes, there was no longer anyone who could threaten Wang Chong and the others. In truth, other than a few scattered soldiers, they didn't encounter a single Ouzan soldier at all. The army's advance gradually picked up speed.
But after passing the pass, eight hundred li later, the atmosphere gradually grew tense.
The joy of victory from defeating Batunlu, Bachicheng, Xiangyang Dalu, and the others had vanished without a trace. The army was no longer in the mood to joke and laugh. In the end, even the Eagle's face was gloomy and he fell silent. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive, like something was hanging over their heads.
Although the Ouzan soldiers could no longer be seen on the road to the south, the traces they left behind could be seen everywhere. Abandoned military supplies and weapons were everywhere, messy highland steeds' hoof prints extended from the official resting point to the depths of the forest, and at every set distance, one could see the stoves that the Ouzan had started.
It wasn't just one or two, nor was it a few hundred or a few thousand. It was a vast expanse that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The charred marks clearly showed how huge the Ouzan army was.
This was the Ouzan army that had truly routed Li Zhengyi, and the one leading this army was none other than the Ouzan Great General, Huoshu Huizang!
Although Bachicheng and Batunlu were famed generals, in the end, they were nothing more than generals under Huoshu Huizang's command. Even the three divisions of Ouzan cavalry guarding the pass had been left behind by Huoshu Huizang. To the Ouzan army, the deaths of Bachicheng and the others were negligible losses.
Although Wang Chong had defeated Batunlu and Bachicheng, Huoshu Huizang was not them. How could an existence that even a Tiger of the Empire like Zhangchou Jianqiong be so easily dealt with?
If they were to encounter Huoshu Huizang now, all of them would be doomed.
The majority of these people had participated in that sort of battle, so they had a deep understanding of how terrifying the Ouzan army was. It was easy to imagine what they were feeling now that they saw the tracks left behind by the Ouzan army.
"I wonder how the elites of the Annan Protectorate are doing?"
"I hope that they haven't suffered too many casualties."
"I wonder if we can make it in time …"
"We only have ten-thousand-some people. I wonder if we can help them?"
"We can only rely on Milord for everything."
… …
It was no secret that the five hundred thousand soldiers of the Ouzan army and the Mengshe Zhao army were working together to threaten the Annam Protectorate. When they thought about the difficulty of the road ahead, all of them felt their hearts sink. From time to time, they would subconsciously glance at Wang Chong.
With the road ahead uncertain, Wang Chong had become their spiritual sustenance. After experiencing so many fierce battles, no one dared to doubt Wang Chong anymore. Even though he was far younger than these people, Wang Chong's composure, composure, and wisdom had long been imprinted in their minds. No matter what appeared before them, as the commander-in-chief, Wang Chong seemed to always know what he should do and what he should do.
It was as though nothing could defeat him, and nothing could make him hesitate. At this moment, his disposition as a commander-in-chief was of utmost importance.
Time flew by, and the army traveled day and night toward the south.
The further south they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Wang Chong could clearly sense the change in the atmosphere, but Wang Chong said nothing about it.
"I wonder how Li Siye is doing. Judging from the time, he should have reached there by now."
On the back of his horse, Wang Chong raised his head and suddenly thought of the departed Li Siye.
It was normal to be hesitant and suspicious, so Wang Chong did not try to persuade him. Everyone thought that they were the main force in this trip to the south, but only Wang Chong knew that the real "main force" was actually the one thousand men led by Li Siye. More importantly, at this moment, except for Wang Chong, even Li Siye himself did not know what he was doing, let alone what it meant.
"Hyah!"
Wang Chong squeezed his horse's abdomen and accelerated forward.
...
Time flew, and his eyes moved away from the road to the south, passing over many hills and plains, all the way to the west. At a place more than two thousand miles away from Wang Chong and the others, Neigh's warhorse neighed, and more than a thousand Tang dynasty cavalrymen were lined up neatly with murderous intent, waiting for something.
"Someone, bring the things up!"
Li Siye put the narrow piece of paper in his hand back into the cotton sack, then raised his head and waved his hand to order.
Clangclangclang!
With a clattering of metal, several upright Tang dynasty cavalrymen quickly brought up a large metal chest from the rear of the procession and placed it on the ground. Bzzz! The moment the chest landed, it was like a mystical curse had swept through the crowd. The atmosphere suddenly became strange as all eyes curiously stared at the chest.
Although their mouths said nothing, their eyes betrayed them.
Besides the life-and-death battle, the most mysterious thing on this journey was the metal chest that Wang Chong had given to Li Siye. Before leaving the capital, Wang Chong had ordered his men to prepare it. From that moment on, no one was allowed to approach it except for the two soldiers escorting the chest.
Not even Zhao Jingdian or The Eagle, who had served Wang Chong for a very long time, had the right to open it.
Not only that, Wang Chong had ordered that the escorted chest be eighty meters away.
Even at the height of the war, they had been given special permission not to participate in the battle.
This made the crowd's curiosity rise to a peak.
"We can finally open it!"
"I wonder what Young Master has placed inside?"
"Why hasn't Milord opened it yet?"
… …
The crowd's curiosity was unbearable, and from time to time, they would glance at Li Siye.
"Open the chest!"
Li Siye didn't care too much about it. With a wave of his hand, he swiftly issued an order. Frankly speaking, the curiosity in his heart right now was not any less than the others. But more importantly, not even he knew what was hidden inside. Wang Chong's ability to keep secrets was truly too good.
"Wonderful!"
The crowd cheered. But Li Siye glared at them, and they immediately quieted down.
Clack!
With a crisp sound, the box opened, and countless pairs of eyes instantly looked over. A few soldiers even blocked Li Siye's line of sight. However, just when everyone was filled with hope, the surroundings suddenly fell into silence in the next moment.
"This is … …"
"A bag?"
The crowd looked at each other. There was nothing in this mysterious chest, only a grayish-brown, old linen bag.
"Ah, it stinks!"
Suddenly, the crowd retreated, as if avoiding the plague. At first, they didn't feel it, but now that they were close, everyone could smell the stench, as if it had been rotting for a long time.
"What exactly is inside?"
The experts from the aristocratic families had been trained by Wang Chong, but at this time, they all pinched their noses and retreated. After all, Li Siye wasn't Wang Chong. Although he was strong and looked dignified, he was still from the military, and didn't have the wealth and unreachable status of Wang Chong.
Most of the time, other than during training and battles, Li Siye's attitude was actually quite friendly.
So in front of him, the crowd usually didn't have so many scruples.
… …
Li Siye didn't say anything, but he was just as surprised as the crowd. Wang Chong had given him this mission, and not even Zhao Jingdian and The Eagle, who were close to him, had a share. Furthermore, Wang Chong had said that this mission was extremely important, and they had to act according to the instructions on the silk pouch.
Li Siye only thought of opening the chest after arriving at the destination. Given how long Wang Chong had spent to prepare such an important item, Li Siye didn't believe that there was only a bag inside.
Gallop!
The warhorse sneezed as it slowly approached the metal chest. After a moment of silence, Li Siye grabbed the WuZi Steel sword on his back and casually swung it. Shua! Before anyone could react, Li Siye's WuZi Steel sword had already cut open the sack inside the chest.
Huala!
A large pile of pitch-black, moldy meat mixed with bones poured out from inside.
"This is …"
Seeing this sight, everyone was stunned. What is this? Why did the lord give the general this?
The crowd couldn't react at all.
Even Li Siye's mind went blank for a moment. But soon, a thought flashed across his mind. Li Siye's eyes narrowed, as though he had understood something.
"Mutton!"
Li Siye suddenly understood what this meant. Even though it was impossible to tell what this pile of meat was, from the slender bones, Li Siye was able to recognize it at a glance. This was a sheep, and an adult one at that. Li Siye had spent quite some time in Beiting, and he had seen many herds of sheep and eaten a lot of mutton.
When he ate the fragrant and greasy roasted mutton, he would eat it with the bones, so Li Siye couldn't be more familiar with this.
But this wasn't any ordinary mutton!
"This is a sheep that died of plague …"
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