Chapter 34

(Sixty-seven) Expeditionary General

Compared with Baihua City, life on the frontier is indeed much more monotonous and boring.

Every day I either squatted in the shade to watch Wei Zhen train his troops, or stayed in a corner to watch Wei Zhen and his subordinates analyze the situation.

The successive victories before Wei Zhen's arrival made the Saya people more and more arrogant.

The Sayas began to frequently provoke and invade the border areas of the Canglan Kingdom.

The Sayas even cut off the Baihe Channel, an important channel for Canglan's foreign trade, and declared that merchants traveling back and forth needed to leave half of their goods before they could pass.

This incident annoyed Wei Zhen.

The Baihe area where Wei Zhen is stationed has been an important fortress city for trade between Canglan Kingdom and other countries since ancient times.

The road cut off by the Saya people was a fast passage that took countless generations for the ancestors of the Baihe region to build, in order to facilitate the trade of merchants from all directions.

Over time, a prosperous Baihe City appeared in the Baihe area originally located in the Gobi Desert. This city is Baihe City, one of the seven guardian cities of Canglan Kingdom.

Most of the Baihe Channel is within the territory of Canglan Kingdom, but it passes through an area ruled by the Sayar tribe.

The Sayas saw that a large number of merchants were carrying large amounts of goods for overseas trade, and because the natural resources and production in the area where the Sayas were located were very scarce and limited, the new chieftain began to think of blocking the way and robbing other countries' trade goods.

Wei Zhen looked at the group of victimized merchants outside the barracks crying and wailing, and said that he would send troops to fight that very day.

"Do you really want to continue fighting for the Canglan Kingdom?"

I sat on the stool and watched Wei Zhen putting on armor.

"Thirteen, I remember you asked me many times what happiness is."

As Wei Zhen put on his armor, he said to me, "You told me that you've observed many people, both commoners and dignitaries, and you don't believe they are happy. You think no one is happy."

I nodded, "Yes, I think everyone is very unfortunate, but everyone will pretend to be happy."

"Happiness, to me, means I can pursue my goals without distraction and possess what I desire." Wei Zhen paused, then struggled to put his head into the armor. He continued, "I will strive to fulfill my wishes and protect those things that can be protected. As for those losses, I can do nothing about it."

"Do you mean that you are no longer obsessed with the tragic death of your parents?" I asked softly.

Wei Zhen glanced at me.

"Why shouldn't I be so attached? They are my biological father and mother."

"What do you mean?" I asked Wei Zhen in confusion.

"My parents taught me to be loyal, brave, and dedicated to serving the country. I want to protect the people of Baihe City who are suffering and unable to defend themselves, not that bastard emperor."

"Wow, you finally cursed, Wei Zhen." I happily sat on the stool and applauded Wei Zhen, "Your silence before scared me."

Wei Zhen smiled bitterly. "I have always been loyal to my country, not to any particular emperor. Whether I fought in Lier City or Baihe City, I was protecting the people of that land who toiled but suffered so much. And this is the happiness I pursue."

Wei Zhen thought for a moment and said to me, "I don't plan to return to the capital. Thirteen, if you plan to follow me forever, you'll have to live in Baihe City for the rest of your life."

"What do you mean if I'm going to follow you all the time?" I became a little unhappy. "Wei Zhen, do you still want to abandon me halfway? Forget it, you're dreaming!"

(68) Expeditionary General

"General of the expedition, remember to manage your kitchen staff and medical team well. But General, if you feel it's too much trouble to manage those ten people, then forget it. You can just sit in the house and eat melon seeds and wait for our triumphant return. They know what they have to do." Before leaving, Wei Zhen hugged me, kissed my forehead, and said to me.

I also patted the stiff clothes on Wei Zhen's body and said, "Remember to come back alive, my lord. If you die, I will remarry without saying a word."

"Do you have to be so heartless?" Wei Zhen's expression and tone were a little aggrieved.

I looked at Wei Zhen seriously and said, "Didn't I tell you that my wish is to be a wealthy lady with no worries about food and drink? Don't interfere with my pursuit of happiness."

Wei Zhen grinned when he heard this.

"Okay, then I will definitely not die, and I will crawl back even if I have to."

After Wei Zhen left, I wandered around to watch the soldiers gather, but I overheard a conversation between Wei Zhen and Sun Huwei: "General, the Madam is so heartless. She said she would remarry immediately after you died. How can you laugh at such a thing?"

Wei Zhen's muffled laughter followed, "How dare you point fingers at the expeditionary general? Do you want to die?"

Guard Sun was obviously very dissatisfied with me.

"General is a title earned after surviving hundreds of battles in Huangsha and wearing golden armor. Your wife was appointed as the Grand General of Expedition by that unreliable emperor. Generals appointed by unreliable people are unreliable. They appointed the Lord of Baihua City, who knows nothing about war, as the Grand General of Expedition."

Having said that, Wei Zhen turned over and mounted the horse in a handsome manner, "Stop talking nonsense."

Afterwards, Wei Zhen shouted to the soldiers, "We are marching to Saya this time with a clear purpose. The purpose of our first battle is to recapture the Saya region of the Baihe Pass from the Saya people. I know that many of you soldiers join the army not only for fame and title, but also to protect your homes and property. However, I must be clear: in this expedition, if you kill more than 8,000 enemies, the entire army will be rewarded. In addition, you can fight three enemies at a time, and you will receive a fifth-class merit for cutting off one head; cutting off two heads will receive a fourth-class merit... and so on. If you cut off five heads and bring them back in a sack, you will have your choice of fertile land and beautiful wives."

"But remember this: everyone in the squad is responsible for the other four. If your comrades die, you'll have to pay a price to earn military merit." Wei Zhen paused and said, "Simply put, protect yourself, protect your comrades, and fight bravely. Then you can defy fate and achieve fame and success!"

When Wei Zhen said this, he was riding on a majestic Dayuan horse, with a very high spirit.

"Deserter, once I find out, I will kill him immediately. Remember?" Wei Zhen roared.

"Yes!" all the soldiers shouted in unison.

"When you feel you can't hold on any longer, think of your future estates, titles, and glory. That's why you're fighting now."

After Wei Zhen finished speaking, he tightened the reins of the horse and the horse began to move forward.

Someone among the soldiers spontaneously started shouting slogans: "Capture the Baihe Pass, and fame and fortune will be within our grasp!"

All the soldiers shouted this sentence in unison, and followed Wei Zhen forward while shouting.