Three more days passed in the blink of an eye, and Fang Zheng and his group finally arrived.
The caravan guards, wounded and injured, filled five large wagons, behind which were prisoners tied together with ropes.
Fang Zheng rode ahead on horseback, one arm slinged across his chest with a bloodstained cloth. Facing the approaching tribespeople, his face was filled with undisguised smugness.
He led a hundred soldiers and, together with the caravan guards, managed to repel the attack of two hundred royal cavalrymen and even captured prisoners.
Fang Zheng's smile didn't last long.
When he saw the several large, frozen pits soaked in blood outside the city, and the charred haystacks and shops, he realized that the fighting he had done on the banks of the Zabu River was nothing compared to what he had experienced in Mida City.
Because there are more royal troops here.
Fang Zheng's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat: if anything happened to the city and the young mistress, he would lose his head!
They hurriedly entered the city lord's mansion.
At the main gate, Achia personally led a group of guards.
Seeing Fang Zheng's miserable state, Aqiya's icy face finally showed a hint of concern: "Is Commander Fang seriously injured?"
Fang Zheng gave a wry smile: "I almost didn't make it back! Brother Aqi, why are you on duty? Is the young mistress free?"
Carrying the young mistress, Achia's expression turned serious again: "The young mistress is resting in the backyard. I'll go inform her right away!"
Before Fang Zheng even saw Song Liyun, he smelled a strong medicinal odor.
After that great battle, although Song Liyun did not personally participate, Yuquan and Yunniangzi still made her drink medicine to prevent miscarriage and to rest and recuperate.
Song Liyun did not rebel; she obediently drank her medicine and rested.
Just then, after finishing his daily dose of medicine, he heard Fang Zheng return and hurriedly invited him into the room.
Looking at Song Liyun sitting on the warm couch, Fang Zheng was overwhelmed with emotion. He knelt down with a thud: "Your subordinate Fang Zheng neglected his duties and left his post without permission, putting Midacheng and the young mistress in danger and almost causing an accident. I am willing to accept punishment!"
His duty was to guard the city, but when the caravan had an emergency, he left with his troops without reporting it.
The young mistress is pregnant; this is the third young master's only child.
If something goes wrong... he couldn't even imagine what might happen; dying himself would probably be the easiest thing to do!
"Commander Fang, please rise! The situation has eased. You saved the caravan, which also saved Mida City. However, you acted without reporting and made the decision on your own. Therefore, you will be punished by having your merits redeemed and having half a year's salary deducted."
Song Liyun did not mean to blame him.
If the caravan had a hundred men that night, they would certainly have a better chance of winning. However, if the caravan were lost, even if Mida City remained intact, it would suffer a severe blow and never recover.
This is the best possible outcome!
Hearing that he could make amends, Fang Zheng felt relieved. Now that he had another source of income, he didn't care about half a year's salary. He quickly stood up and said, "Thank you for your forgiveness, young mistress!"
Old Yu hurried over at this moment: "Alright, Commander Fang, tell me what's going on over there? Why hasn't Boss Lin returned?"
Fang Zheng cleared his throat and recounted the events that unfolded as he led his troops there.
The situation was roughly the same as what Lin Qingyuan had described via carrier pigeon: the two hundred royal troops retreated after suffering a heavy lesson.
The pursued tribal shepherds, along with the routed soldiers of Mida City, were massacred; of those who escaped, only one in ten survived.
Only after the battle ended, when Fang was about to lead the caravan back to the city, did a small ripple occur.
Lin Qingyuan was also injured, but he did not agree to return to the city. Instead, he insisted on leading the caravan back to Wu Dynasty to complete this business trip.
"Boss Lin said that the merchants' hard work for the whole year is in these few days. If they go back to the city and it takes a while longer, the heavy snow will block the mountain and they will never be able to leave again."
"Once we return to Hecheng, everything will be fine! Seeing the reinforcements from Hecheng, I felt relieved and returned!"
Soldiers from Hecheng are coming to provide support!
Although Hecheng dispatched troops, by the time they received the news and arrived, the battle was already nearing its end.
As Fang Zheng finished speaking, he suddenly took out a letter from his pocket: "Young Madam, Elder Yu! This is a secret letter from Hecheng, requesting that I personally deliver it to you both!"
Song Liyun and Old Yu exchanged a glance, and their hearts sank.
It has been more than twenty days since I last heard a single word from Zhao Tingduo.
Despite the immense risks faced by Mida City, the Zhenbei Army has not been mobilized; all that remains is a letter.
This is truly a rare occurrence!
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