At noon, the official road is green with willows.
Ten mule carts lined up in a long line, loaded with bulging grain bags, and moved forward with difficulty on the snow-covered official road. The wheels rolled over the thick snow, making a "crunching" sound and leaving deep ruts on the frozen soil.
The escorting soldiers wrapped themselves tightly in thick cotton uniforms, and the breath they exhaled instantly condensed into frost in the cold wind, hanging on their brows.
They gripped the cold rifles tightly, their knuckles tingling from the strain, and their vigilant eyes kept scanning the withered yellow reeds on both sides of the road.
"Everyone, cheer up!" The captain of the team shouted sternly, his rough hands rubbing the pistol on his waist, "This area is not bad. A caravan was robbed the day before yesterday."
Before he finished his words, a black light suddenly flew out from the reeds.
"Whoosh—"
A beam of black light shot out from the reeds. It turned out to be a three-edged armor-piercing dart, which pierced deeply into the neck of the leading mule.
The beast felt pain and raised its front hooves to let out a sharp neigh. The mules and horses dragged the grain carts and rushed forward, the grain bags rolled off the carts and made shallow pits in the snow, and the colorful rice was scattered all over the ground.
In an instant, dozens of black shadows jumped out from the reeds. They were wearing black shorts, their faces covered with coarse cloth, and the shining swords in their hands shone coldly under the light of the snow.
"There is an ambush! Protect the grain carts! Form a formation!" the company commander roared, his voice echoing in the empty snowfield.
The soldiers quickly formed a defensive formation with their backs against the grain carts, and the "click" sound of the bolts being pulled could be heard one after another.
"Hahaha! Brothers, grab it!" A sturdy man with scars all over his face jumped onto the grain cart. The ghost-head knife in his hand flashed with a cold light, and the rope broke.
He opened the grain bag with a grim smile, and the yellow wheat fell from his fingers. "This is enough for us to survive the winter!"
"You're looking for death!" The captain's eyes were red with anger as he aimed his gun at the scarred man's chest. Just as he pulled the trigger, a clear gunshot rang out.
"Ah!" The scarred man screamed miserably, and blood suddenly burst out from his right shoulder. He staggered and fell off the grain cart, and the blood instantly dyed the snow beneath him red.
Everyone looked back in astonishment, only to see smoke and dust billowing at the end of the official road. A group of cavalrymen rushed over like a black torrent, their horses' hooves crushing the snow and splashing snow mist all over the sky.
The leader was wearing a dark military cloak and had a German-made musket hanging next to his saddle. At this moment, he was retracting the muzzle of the gun that was emitting blue smoke. It was Xie Yun.
"It's the young marshal!" The soldiers were cheered up.
Xie Yun reined in his horse, his eyes sweeping across the battlefield. He slowly raised his right hand, and the cavalry behind him immediately spread out in a fan shape, with their sharp sabers unsheathed.
The cavalry charged at the enemy like a tiger descending from a mountain. The horses neighed, and the bandits in black fell to the ground one after another amid the flashes of swords and sabers.
The members of the Qing Gang, who had been so arrogant just now, suddenly became a mess and fled in all directions crying for their parents.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" The scarred man covered his shoulder and staggered into the reed marsh. A few of his confidants carried him up and disappeared in the vast snowfield in a blink of an eye.
Xie Yun dismounted from his horse, his military boots making a dull sound as they stepped on the scattered grain bags.
He bent down and picked up half a bag of rice. His slender fingers stroked the vermilion seal of "Chinese and Foreign Relief Association" on the bag, and his eyes became increasingly gloomy.
"Young Marshal..." The company commander knelt on one knee, cold sweat oozing from his forehead, "My subordinates have failed in their duties..."
"Get up." Xie Yun said in a low voice, "Strengthen the vigilance and make sure the food is safely delivered to the southern suburbs." He looked up at the gray sky in the distance, "As for the punishment... we will discuss it later."
"Yes!" Captain Li kowtowed heavily, turned around and shouted loudly, "What are you all standing there for? Pack up the grain carts! Bandage the injured brothers first!"
The cold wind hit the window frames, making a "woooo" sound.
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