486 Final Battle? (2/2)
Civil works never ended in this era.
.
Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, and Chen Qun observed their lord with a sigh.
They had done everything they could, but the pressure from the immortals and the difference in technologies disheartened Cao Cao to continue fighting.
In the end, everyone prepared to merge their forces with Tong.
”I guess, this should be the last campaign,” Muttered Chen Qun.
Guo Jia shook his head, ”No. Sun Fang and Sun Ce are still around. They haven't confirmed their stance in this yet.”
”What's there to decide? Are they stupid? Their mother is Zhang Tong's concubine now. All her sons are practically princes! They should bow their heads to Zhang Tong now and accept the new statuses.”
Cheng Yu chuckled, ”It's not that simple. Zhang Tong still wants Sun Fang dead, and Sun Ce is probably too immature to handle politics. They will eventually come back for more war.”
”Are you sure?” Chen Qun still could not buy it.
”We have many years to figure it out,” Cheng Yu burst into laughter, ”The moment we enter Zhang Tong's clan, we'll be immortals as well. It won't be so bad serving two lords at once!”
”…”
.
.
.
A couple days had passed since the urban combat in Hongnong.
Since Liao Hua retreated without taking any provision wagon with them, the army marched eastward without food. Many of Liao Hua's soldiers deserted his army because of the food shortage and their collapsed morale.
Some threw away their uniforms and disguised themselves as peasants. A few smart guys hid their weapons and armors, pretending to be wandering merchants, so they could sell their weaponry for money. But the majority of them kept the weapons and transformed themselves into a band of bandits, planning to rob any local village they could find.
This was the nature of deserters. Either they returned to being a peasant or they became a bandit.
Still, the mindless cataphracts followed after Liao Hua without complaints. Thirty thousand horsemen remained with the army.
The general looked at the starving mindless soldiers with a smile.
”It doesn't matter. I can just plunder a town for riches and food, right guys?”
”…”
The cataphracts did not answer.
”Che! Boring.”
Liao Hua continued to lead the men toward the east. Soon, they reached a large county with a high wall, Xin'an County.
This county located between Hongnong and Luoyang. Although it served as a checkpoint during this age, it used to be the capital of the Zhou Dynasty (1049-256 BCE). Traces of prosperity, developed roads, and remnants of sophisticated architectures could be seen.
Moreover, the Silk Road expanded to this county as well. Many western merchants and local merchants expanded their markets from Wuwei and reached the inner territories, including Xinan.
This city had been sacked by Khan and Dong Zhuo. However, the local population and their city geography favored trade, so it restored itself faster than other cities. Combined with the influence of Cao Cao, the county owner at the moment, Xinan became a trade hub, which gathered merchants from various cultures and backgrounds here, just like Julu or Ye.
Looking at the caravans before the county gate, Liao Hua drooled.
”Rich people! Rich people are everywhere! Rejoice, men! Today, we dine in that city! Kill everyone and loot everything!!”
The former bandit cheered and ordered all horsemen to attack the county right away.
.
On top of the Xinan stone wall, Xiahou Yuan was observing the peasants in front of the gate. His four wings spread wide without caring if ordinary peasants would gossip or make up a story of his white wings.
He glared toward the west in anticipation.
”Last battle… I hope I don't have to fight again. A shame that we will lose everything to Zhang Tong, though.”
Xiahou Yuan warmed up his arms and fingers before he took his bow-shooting stance.
He aimed at the oncoming deserters, targeting the leader of the group.
The four white wings behind Xiahou Yuan's back glowed in silver light. The aura covered his longbow and his arrow.
”Goodbye!”
Xiahou Yuan released his arrow.
*WHOOSH!*
The arrowhead broke the wind. Sharp whistling noise was audible to all peasants and soldiers nearby.
The arrow punctured through the head of the chargers. The guy with the odd yellow clothing fell down from his horse.
Xiahou Yuan did not know that he had just killed Liao Hua, the only sane person among the chargers.
”Next…”