After a night of revelry, Dong Zhuo and his entourage packed up and prepared to leave.
Li Ru also led the generals of the Xianbei army to see them off outside the earthen city.
Before leaving, Dong Zhuo whispered to Li Ru, "Wenyou, the countries along the way from here to Cheshi have been almost completely ravaged by the Xiongnu people of Xiezhiyu. In many places, only some women remain."
You will find those places easy to accept.
"Also, we have stockpiled a batch of grain and fodder west of Gaochang, enough for you to eat for two years. You can go and get it after you arrive!"
"Thank you for reminding me, Zhongying. I understand!" Li Ru also bowed to Dong Zhuo with gratitude.
"Alright, then I'll take my leave now. See you another day!"
Dong Zhuo bowed to Li Ru and the Xianbei generals, then mounted his horse.
Goodbye, Brother Dong!
"Take care, General!"
"If we can get together again, we must drink until we drop!"
The Xianbei generals also bowed to Dong Zhuo to say goodbye.
Through their interaction last night, Dong Zhuo's forthright and generous personality won the approval of these grassland men.
"Haha, okay, then it's settled!"
Dong Zhuo, on horseback, laughed loudly, waved to the crowd, and then rode away.
"Sigh, if possible, it would be nice to be friends with the big man!"
"Yes, although we fought to the death with the Han, they only wanted to drive us away and stop robbing them; they didn't want to kill us all!"
"Without the struggle for interests, the Han Dynasty is truly a great nation worthy of respect!"
Watching Dong Zhuo's departing figure, the officers beside Li Ru couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Having received assistance from the Han army and the comfort from Dong Zhuo last night, the thoughts of these Xianbei generals have undergone a subtle change.
Hearing the sighs of those around him, Li Ru's face also showed a relief he had never felt before.
"Alright, everyone, hurry up and get ready. Once we get out of this Gobi Desert, we'll be able to rest and recuperate properly!"
Another messenger was sent to inform the King that the journey was unimpeded and that he could proceed westward with peace of mind!
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing Li Ru's instructions, the Xianbei officers responded and quickly dispersed.
Because these Xianbei soldiers had learned some details about military organization and setting up camp while they were in Juyan, they followed the Han army when they migrated westward.
Therefore, after receiving the order to break camp, the 20,000 elite troops of Gaoliu gathered in Tucheng acted in an orderly and swift manner.
"Set off!!"
Seeing the deputy general who came to report, Li Ru mounted his horse and galloped westward towards Tucheng, with 20,000 elite troops from Gaoliu following closely behind.
After half a day of travel, around noon, Li Ru's team finally emerged from the vast Gobi Desert.
Just as Li Ru took out the map to confirm the location, several scouts responsible for reconnaissance rode up to him.
"Reporting to you, sir, we have discovered an oasis thirty miles to the northwest, in which there is a medium-sized tribe!"
Li Ru looked up and asked, "How is the situation in that tribe?"
"It's very quiet, I only see some women moving around!" the scout replied.
Li Ru gave a soft "hmm," recalling Dong Zhuo's earlier warning, and then ordered, "Go closer to that tribe and investigate, and while you're at it, capture a prisoner!"
"yes!"
The scout responded loudly and immediately rode away.
Li Ru put away the map and led 20,000 elite Gaoliu troops toward the oasis mentioned by the scouts.
When Li Ru led his army to within fifteen miles of the oasis, the scouts he had sent out returned to the ranks with a messenger.
Li Ru frowned as he looked at the woman who was tied to a horse by a scout.
The woman had disheveled hair, was emaciated, and looked like she was about to starve to death. Her clothes were thin and tattered, and her eyes were full of fear as she looked at Li Ru and the others.
"Untie her and give her some food!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing Li Ru's instructions, several guards stepped forward to help the woman down from her horse and then brought her some leftover food from the previous night.
Upon seeing the food, the woman forgot her fear and began to wolf it down.
After the woman finished eating, Li Ru stepped forward and asked softly, "Young lady, do you speak Chinese?"
"Yes, my maternal grandfather was a man of the Han Dynasty!"
Seeing Li Ru in his long robe and refined appearance, the woman was no longer so afraid and explained her background.
Li Ru nodded, looked the woman up and down, and then said in a deep voice, "Miss, judging from your appearance, it seems you haven't had a proper meal in a long time. What happened to you?"
"Yes, sir. Last year, a Hunnic army suddenly came. At first, they only stole our grain."
We managed to get by by relying on the riverbanks, the forests, and the men of the tribe.
But then they suddenly came back and kidnapped all the men, including the elderly and children.
Without men, we women can only survive by catching fish and shrimp from the river. Even if we wanted to sell ourselves, no one would buy us…
The woman, with a pained expression, recounted the tribe's plight to Li Ru. By the end, she couldn't help but sob.
After hearing the woman's story, Li Ru turned to his deputy and ordered, "Pass down the order to have the warriors share some food from their rations."
The lieutenant hesitated and said, "Sir, we don't have much food left!"
Li Ru waved his hand: "It's alright, the food will be available soon. Let's save these women first. Our journey to the west is very long, and we will need some women to accompany us and raise our offspring."
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing this, the deputy general did not hesitate any longer and immediately turned to Li Ru.
Soon, Li Ru's order spread throughout the army, and all the soldiers cooperated by taking some from their own rations and gathering them together.
Just as Li Ru said, their westward migration was a long and arduous journey, and no one knew when or how they would find a suitable place to settle down.
Therefore, it was essential to bring along some female companions and have children on this westward journey, so as not to die out one's lineage halfway through.
Soon, led by the woman and the scouts, Li Ru's army arrived at the tribe in the oasis.
At this time, only two thousand women remained in the tribe; the old and young had long since died from hunger.
Faced with the arrival of this Xianbei army, the women of the tribe were very afraid, but even more so, they were filled with anticipation.
Having been hungry for a long time, they hoped that these men would give them some food and take them in.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
