Chapter 201 Did I Take the Wrong Turn?

Una abandoned the city and fled south.

On the way, they joined forces with the retreating troops on the eastern and western fronts, and together they withdrew from the Dayu border and returned to the territory of Mipo.

Yuan Chi led his army in pursuit, and after chasing them all the way to the southwestern border, he stopped pursuing them.

Because the border of Mi Po is all jungle and swamp, it is full of dangers.

For Dayu's army, which was unfamiliar with the terrain, it was like hell.

Almost all the troops Yuan Chi sent out to explore the way were killed, with only one person escaping.

By now, Anaro and Aluying are both dead.

Mi Po also withdrew from the border.

If they forced their troops into Mipo, the enemy would have the advantage of terrain, and they would probably lose 50% of their troops.

Yuan Chi didn't want his brothers to die in vain.

The wives, children and parents behind these soldiers are waiting for them to return home. Why should they be buried in a foreign land?

Yuan Chi: "Stay here for now. I'll submit a memorial and send it to the capital as fast as I can."

The army is temporarily stationed at the border.

Before submitting the memorial, Yuan Chi went to various states in Lingnan to check the situation and report the local situation at the same time.

He let the tired deputy general and soldiers rest in the barracks, and took two of his trusted men away.

Yuan Chi first went to Jiaozhou and then to Yongzhou.

All the county towns were in a state of post-war desolation, with traces of slaughter and burning everywhere in the city. Many houses needed to be rebuilt, and even the county government office was half collapsed.

As for the local people, a small number have returned to the city, some are still hiding in the countryside, some are on their way back, and some may never come back.

"It's difficult for us to march and fight, but after the battle, it's also difficult for the people."

Yuan Chi shook his head and sighed as he left Yongzhou and headed for Xunzhou.

When we were chasing Ana Luo and the others before, we didn't have time to stay in Xunzhou.

Yuan Chi remembered that Ana Luo's team stayed in Xunzhou the longest, so the situation in Xunzhou might be even more tragic.

The seat of Xunzhou is Baiyun County.

When Yuan Chi and two of his confidants stood at the gate of Baiyun County with heavy hearts, and saw the endless stream of people, the expressions on the three of them were a bit complicated.

The two confidants scratched their heads:

"General, are we going the wrong way?"

"I'm not in the wrong place. There are two words written on the city gate: White Cloud."

"Something doesn't seem right..."

Yuan Chi said, "Let's go in and take a look."

The sun is shining brightly and people are coming and going in the city.

Horse-drawn carriages, donkey-drawn carts, and vendors carrying shoulder poles avoided each other as they walked along the main street.

In the streets, shops are lined up one after another, and there are no signs of damage or fire on the houses. Colorful cloth banners sway in the wind.

"Sharpen the scissors and kitchen knives~"

"Sir, give me a drink, it will cool you down..."

"Uncle, can you buy a candy man for the child?"

Yuan Chi and others walked through it, and the sounds of hawking and selling goods were endless.

The three of them were very surprised. The scenery of Baiyun County was very different from the counties they had visited before.

The people returned in such a short time, and the houses in the city were so well preserved that it was rare to see them needing to be rebuilt.

Governor Gu, who had received the message in advance, received Yuan Chi at the provincial government office.

Governor Gu asked the small kitchen in the yamen to prepare two more dishes and treat Yuan Chi to a simple meal.

"General Yuan and his soldiers have traveled a long distance and worked hard. Thanks to your bravery, we have driven the Mi Po people out of the country and restored peace to Lingnan."

Governor Gu toasted Yuan Chi with a glass.

Yuan Chi drank the wine and sighed, "If only I could come earlier."

The two had never met in Beijing and were a generation apart in age, but they got along quite well during the meal.

When Yuan Chi asked why Baiyun County didn't look like it had been ravaged by war, Governor Gu stroked his beard and smiled:

"We have a precious land in Xunzhou."

Governor Gu briefly explained the cause and effect of the incident. County Magistrate Song planned to transfer the people of Baiyun County to Heishan Township, and then everyone worked together to resist the enemy in Heishan Township and escaped the disaster.

"Did Ana Luo really lead his army to attack three times but failed to capture the city?" Yuan Chi looked surprised and doubtful.

He had personally experienced Mi Po's strength. She was by no means a mob. However, a small village could actually block the offensive of Mi Po's army and even capture Ana Luo alive.

Governor Gu's tone was filled with pride: "Heishan Township is somewhat different from ordinary townships, and with the help of the right time, we were able to accomplish this."

Yuan Chi thought of the Black Mountain cloth and Black Mountain ink: "Are the Black Mountain cloth and Black Mountain ink produced here?"

Governor Gu nodded: "That's right."

Yuan Chi was curious: "Could Governor Gu take me to see it?"

Governor Gu: "Of course."

At noon the next day, Yuan Chi followed Governor Gu to Heishan Township.

Because Yuan Chi did not want to scare the villagers in the mountains because of his identity, he specifically asked the governor Gu not to inform the villagers and just go in disguise to search.

Governor Gu sat in the carriage, while Yuan Chi only acted as a mounted guard.

When they reached the entrance of Heishan Township, Yuan Chi saw the natural canyons formed on both sides and nodded.

"It is indeed a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack."

At the same time, he added, "But this place is remote, and it's not easy for the mountain people who settled here in the early years to leave the mountains."

Because the small mound caused by the landslide was still blocking the entrance, the village had not yet spared manpower to clear a path, so Governor Gu's carriage stopped outside the small mound.

Several people walked over the small mound together.

Governor Gu is a familiar face in Heishan Township, especially since he has been staying in Heishan Township every day for some time, and has become much closer to the villagers.

When people on the road saw Governor Gu, they all smiled and saluted:

"Meet Governor Gu."

"Is Governor Gu here looking for Mayor Hao? Let's go and call him."

"Gu Zhishi, it's hot, come and have a cup of tea."

Tiedan set up a small tea stall on the roadside.

Governor Gu took the bowl of tea handed to him by Tiedan:

"I'm not here to see Mayor Hao. I just want to take a walk and relax."

Yuan Chi was first surprised that Governor Gu and the villagers were so familiar with each other. After taking a sip of tea, he was even more surprised.

The tea tastes sweet and has a lingering aftertaste, making one feel refreshed. Even he, a rough man who doesn't know how to appreciate tea, thinks it tastes good.

Yuan Chi asked Tiedan:

"What kind of tea is this and how is it made?"

Tiedan scooped up another bowl of tea. "I don't know what kind of tea it is. It's made by Ah San from Liangmin Village. I just boiled some with mountain spring water."

The attendant behind Governor Gu took out two copper coins and placed them on the tea stall.

Yuan Chi took out a small piece of silver from his pocket and said, "I want to buy some tea."

Tiedan accepted the two copper coins from Governor Gu, but pushed Yuan Chi's silver back:

"Hey, I don't have any extra tea to sell you. You have to go to the tea plantation on the mountain and buy some from Ah San."

Governor Gu: "If you want to buy tea, we can ask for directions to the tea garden and go up the mountain to buy it."

Several people put down their tea bowls and walked forward.

There was a slow-moving ox cart on the road ahead, with a lot of goods piled on it, forming a pile like a small hill.

With a loud bang, the car fell over.

The old man driving the car wanted to lift it up, but he didn't have enough strength.

Seeing this, Yuan Chi strode over and lent the old man a helping hand.

He had practiced martial arts for many years and had a strong body and great strength. No one in the army could match his arm and wrist strength.

"Three, two, one, lift—"

Yuan Chi grabbed the edge of the overturned ox cart with both hands, gathering strength and pulling hard, his face and neck flushed red.

Perhaps the things tied to the ox cart were too heavy and the people couldn't lift it.

"Let's unload the things tied to the car first." Yuan Chi said to the old man.

The old man had originally planned to do so, but when he turned around, his expression suddenly changed from worry to joy, and he waved towards the hillside:

"Kong Wu, come and help me, old man."

Yuan Chi looked towards the hillside and saw a young man with a bear-like figure rushing down from it, with the corners of his clothes raising a gust of wind as he ran.

The young man ran up to him in almost the blink of an eye.

The next scene left Yuan Chi stunned.

The young man easily lifted the ox cart with one hand!

One hand. Without breathing. Lifted up.

Yuan Chi: ...? !