Chapter 122 Even if you want to take advantage, you still have to consider your own capabilities, right?
(Thanks to Sleepy Pig for casting 12 monthly votes.)
Over the next day and night, the Xuanjia Army, like ants carrying food, adhered to the principle of not wasting anything, packing up and loading all the barbarians' belongings, from their yurts to their cattle, horses, and sheep, to take back so they could have a prosperous New Year.
Finally, because the barbarians didn't have enough cart frames, they actually made several simple carts on the spot using dismantled felt tent frames.
Li Wangshui also led the people of Liujiatun to help the Xuanjia Army with this task.
In order to get the goods out as quickly as possible in this harsh, cold weather, Liu Tan sent out scouts to find a flatter route back.
When they came, it was fine for anyone on the road, even if they were leading a horse, but if they were traveling by cart, it would be extremely difficult and very troublesome.
Li Shiyue volunteered and stepped forward, saying, "Young Master, from here," Li Shiyue pointed to the foot of the mountain behind Daheishan Mountain where they had come from, and then pointed northeast, saying, "Go down, circle around this small hill for most of the way, and you'll reach a tributary of the river."
And if you go upstream along that tributary of the riverbank for quite a distance, you'll reach Liujiatun.
Li Shiyue and his group didn't take this route initially because they didn't go up the mountain to stand at a high point, and Li Shiyue also didn't expect that they could take such a detour.
Secondly, this route to the grassland is a real detour, taking twice as long for an individual compared to climbing up and down the back of Daheishan Mountain.
However, if it is a large group of people carrying a lot of supplies, then taking the riverbank route is of course the most suitable option.
As Li Shiyue had said, the scouts rode out on fast horses to explore the route. In the late afternoon, the scouts returned and confirmed that the road Li Shiyue had described was indeed correct and relatively flat, allowing them to detour to Liujiatun.
As darkness fell, after a hearty meal, the group packed up and set off for the riverbank.
Thick smoke billowed from behind Li Shiyue and his men. Liu Tan ordered that all the items the Xuanjia Army couldn't take be destroyed, piled up, and a firebreak be dug out on the spot.
This journey took a full day and night. Even someone with Li Shiyue's extraordinary physical strength and endurance felt a deep sense of fatigue when they reached the riverbank.
"Finally, I'm almost home!"
Li Shiyue looked at the thin layer of ice on the river. She stepped on it and it went right through, soaking her entire foot.
There is no bridge here, but the river is not deep, so it is possible to wade across with cattle or horses, but it would certainly be a painful experience.
In order to return as soon as possible, Liu Tan ordered that they wade across the river directly.
After crossing the riverbank, we were closer to Liujiatun.
The next day at noon, everyone was finally able to see the houses in Liujiatun!
Finally, I'm almost home!
Li Shiyue bounced the bundle behind her. She wanted to circulate her internal energy to warm herself up, but her stomach was empty, and she was so hungry that she had no appetite at all.
Even when Li Shiyue was leading the horse, it was all droopy and listless. If it weren't for the fact that it had eaten some delicious beans with Li Shiyue and that Li Shiyue was very strong, it probably would have kicked people by now.
The sound of the main force marching was still quite loud, even though the snow on the ground was quite deep, deep enough to submerge ankles, the crunching sound of the main force stepping on it was still very obvious.
Not to mention they were herding cattle and sheep, and wherever they went, there were all sorts of mooing and bleating sounds. The most conspicuous thing was the excrement and urine they left on the white snow. They really left a trail of excrement wherever they went.
As soon as they entered the village, the snow began to fall in large flakes like goose feathers. By the time Li Shiyue reached her doorstep, the traces of their crying along the way from the riverbank had been concealed.
Looking at the sky and then at the exhausted soldiers, Liu Tan gave the order to rest at Liujiatun and spend the night there.
I'll check the weather forecast tomorrow before making a decision.
He feared that if he ordered the soldiers to continue marching back to the garrison with this momentum, the soldiers who had just waded through the icy river would either fall ill or lose their feet, their toes freezing off.
Li Shiyue was summoned to Liu Tan's presence. After hearing what Liu Tan had to say, she handed her bundle to Li Qiutian and hurried off to find Old Man Liu.
Because many families in Liujiatun had died or moved away, even though people from Lijiacun and Wangjiacun came to fill the vacancies, there were still quite a few empty houses.
Old Liu knew better than anyone which of these houses were owned and which were unowned, as the county government had already marked them.
Later, with the help of Old Man Liu, Ma San assigned rooms to the soldiers and arranged for people to carefully guard the spoils of war.
Seeing that everything was almost done, Li Shiyue was naturally eager to go home. She had already seen Li's mother and Li Wangming standing outside, watching the excitement just like the other people from Liujiatun!
After Li Shiyue found Ma San and told him that he wanted to go home, he took the horse and led Li Qiutian, Zheng Meiniang, and others to find Li's mother who was standing outside.
"Mother!"
When Li's mother saw Li Shiyue, whom she hadn't seen for a day and a night, and saw Li Shiyue's disheveled appearance, with her newly bought leather boots covered in ice crystals, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer and they fell down her cheeks.
Standing behind Li's mother, Li Wangming felt even more sorry for the hardships Li Shiyue and his group had endured. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
Instead, Zhou Lanhua, who was standing next to Li's mother and Li Wangming, spoke with a joyful voice that pierced through the swirling snow: "Oh my, there are sheep here too!"
I've never seen a curly-haired sheep like this before!
Yes, the ten sheep that Liu Tan promised them were given to them directly from the flock.
The group followed Li Shiyue back to his house with the sheep. Because of the ten sheep, they attracted the attention of the other people in Liujiatun. None of them dared to talk to the Xuanjia Army, but they all followed behind, wanting to go to Li Shiyue's house to see the excitement.
But where could Li Shiyue's courtyard fit so many old people?
Not to mention that we also need to pen these ten sheep.
Moreover, the wind and snow were getting heavier and heavier, and standing in the cold wind for even a short while would freeze you to the bone.
Even those who wanted to enjoy the excitement had no choice but to huddle in their sleeves and return home in twos and threes.
This gave Li Shiyue the opportunity to quickly and properly talk to his own people.
"These ten sheep will be given to each family, one of each. As for the remaining sheep, you two, Lamb and Thirteen, will each have half. If you want to raise it and sell it for money, you can raise it together. If you don't want to raise it, you can split the money between you two after it's sold."
The spoils obtained from the barbarians this time belong to whoever gets them; those who didn't go won't get a share.
That's it? Anyone have a problem with that, speak up!
They're frozen solid! Go back and quickly boil some water to soak your feet, then go warm yourself on the kang (heated brick bed)!
No one had any objections, except for the two Wang family villagers who initially insisted on going along but later became afraid and had to stay at the foot of the mountain with Yangzai and Wang Shisan. They didn't dare to object either.
The two of them saw the bloodstains on Li Shiyue and the others; even the knives at their waists were covered in blood.
How could they dare to say anything more?
Even if you want to take advantage, you should at least consider your own capabilities.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
