Chapter Fifty-Seven: Cossacks
The heavy snow finally stopped, and the long-awaited sun lazily climbed into the sky, radiating warm light. The vast snowfield reflected the sunlight, the dazzling glare obscuring distant landmarks and making it easy to lose one's bearings.
The snow was already more than two feet deep, making it very difficult for the horses to walk. More importantly, you didn't know where the snow holes were, and if you weren't careful, you could sink right up to the horse's head.
Every soldier in the high-ranking army pulled out a piece of black silk gauze and, as instructed by the squad leader, wrapped it around their face to cover their eyes. This black gauze was standard issue for the high-ranking army, and at the time, no one knew its purpose. It wasn't big or thin, and even if made into a handkerchief, it wouldn't absorb water or snot. Now they all understood; the high-ranking officials were indeed high-ranking officials—knowledgeable and thoughtful.
As for Qin Mo, he naturally had more advanced equipment—sunglasses. However, crystals come in many colors; clear crystal is the most common and cheapest. Black crystal is a type of smoky quartz, which is expensive, and even a nouveau riche like Qin Mo didn't buy many.
However, sunglasses are plano lenses, and making them into simple round lenses results in a very high yield rate. Unlike telescopes, the curvature of convex lenses gave Qin Mo a real headache.
This time, Wu Shengze and Kaihime both received a pair of sunglasses. After the heavy snow, the sun's reflection was too strong, so they all took them out and put them on their noses to show off. Even the usually calm Allen couldn't resist.
"Uncle Wu, have the brothers who scouted ahead been rotated out?"
"Don't worry, young master. They are all veterans. As long as the rotation is timely, there will be no problem." Wu Shengze knew that Qin Mo was worried about the vanguard troops at the very front of the army. They needed to find out the direction of advance and the depth of the snow on the road. They were much more tired than the others.
"It's alright if we're a little slow. At worst, we'll arrive at the trading city a few days later. Just don't let the soldiers get sick. Record their merits, and you can decide the score."
Qin Mo didn't implement many reforms in the army, but the merit point system was one of them. From killing generals and capturing flags to guarding and patrolling at night, there were points for everything. Once you accumulated enough points, you could get promoted or exchange them for silver.
"That's natural. This kind of anger is most damaging to one's foundation. If it weren't for the young master's strong liquor, ordinary soldiers really wouldn't have been able to withstand it for long." Qin Mo finally understood why northerners, especially the fighting nation, were so fond of drinking. In the long winter, without drinking some liquor to warm their bodies, they simply couldn't withstand the biting cold wind outside.
If viewed from above, the army would appear as a giant, long caterpillar slowly crawling forward on the snow-white earth. Though slow, it never stopped, winding its way around the frozen lake and forests, heading into the distance.
Qing Ning finally removed the heavy iron armor. She had always used that armor to deny her identity as a woman, and even though the cold wind made it bitterly cold, she hadn't taken it off. She constantly reminded herself that she was a strong warrior, a ruthless cultivator.
Unfortunately, even the most powerful cultivators have to relieve themselves. This morning, feeling unwell, she left the tracks left by the army to use the restroom. At first, it was fine, but then she sank deeper and deeper, her heavy body slowly and steadily disappearing into the snow.
She could only remain motionless in that ridiculous pose until the snow beneath her feet hardened. Who knew if that guy in front of her was peeking this way? If she were to leap into the air, disheveled... well, that would be quite a sight.
Back in the carriage, Qing Ning changed into a warm fox fur coat, a gift from Dan Feng Yan, which she had insisted on not wearing. The soft fur coat instantly warded off the deep chill. Yet, Qing Ning felt something inexplicably leaving her.
"What, you're finally willing to take off your armor?" A voice with phoenix eyes suddenly rang out behind her, carrying a hint of teasing.
"Hmm..." Qing Ning blushed and tried to hide her face inside the collar of her fox fur coat.
"You once said you wouldn't remove your armor until you earned military merit. What happened that made you change your mind?"
“Hmm…” Qing Ning’s face turned bright red. She lowered her head and drove the carriage without answering.
"Hehe..." Danfeng chuckled twice and then fell silent, which made Qing Ning let out a long sigh of relief.
Qing Ning finally understood the advantages of driving along the tracks. The Wanrao caravan had carved a solid road through the snowfield, eliminating the worry of getting stuck in snowdrifts or the vehicle becoming stuck. Qing Ning didn't even need to focus on driving; the horses naturally followed the tracks left by the sleds, clattering and galloping forward.
Marching through the snow was difficult, the road was treacherous, and the cold was intense. After marching for ten days straight, Qin Mo had to let the soldiers rest. The cultivators were doing relatively well, but the ordinary soldiers and Fusang mercenaries were already somewhat exhausted, and some even suffered from frostbite.
Qin Mo took out the frostbite treatment methods circulating on the internet and explained them in detail to the military doctors. He forbade rubbing the affected area with ice or snow, instead advising them to quickly bathe the injured person in warm water to raise their temperature. He also suggested using animal bladders filled with hot water to make simple hot water bags for applying to the frostbitten hands and feet. This series of methods earned him the devout admiration of a group of veteran military doctors.
The next morning, the army delayed its break camp by an hour. They were not far from Maimai City. Qin Mo planned to slow down the march and adjust the physical condition of his soldiers. He did not know what kind of complicated situation they would face when they arrived at Maimai City. Having a strong and capable army would give him more confidence.
A series of clanging gong sounds made Qin Mo, who was eating breakfast, drop her bowl and run out quickly. She glanced at the direction indicated on the hoist, then quickly leaped up, her figure darting around, and she reached the edge of the camp in a few flashes.
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