Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 363

When marching on the grasslands, patrols and sentries were always dispatched far in all directions to guard against unforeseen events. Because the grasslands have no cover, unlike the Central Plains, the sentries had to be placed at extremely long distances to ensure effective early warning.

As Luo Chen was watching, a horn suddenly sounded from behind, played at a steady and even frequency. Upon hearing this, Luo Chen knew that there was something to report from behind, so he reined in his horse and stopped.

Before long, several riders galloped up. Luo Chen noticed that it was a patrol formation, plus a rider. The rider's horse seemed to have something bright red tied to it. Luo Chen immediately realized it was an urgent matter, and his heart skipped a beat. What could be so urgent? He was often in the north, and there were many affairs in the south. Was it a sudden attack on Tongguan by Cao Cao's army? Was there a major problem within Yizhou? Or… most likely, a major upheaval had occurred in Jingzhou?

Several cavalrymen galloped up to Luo Chen. The patrolling cavalrymen bowed slightly, then automatically dispersed and stood guard. Luo Chen was currently on the offensive with his guards, in a state of combat readiness. Luo Chen had given clear orders that in combat, no further formalities were necessary when meeting the lord. The messenger seemed unaware of this, dismounting and kneeling on one knee, loudly proclaiming, "My lord! An urgent letter from General Huang Zhong!" Luo Chen knew from the name "Huang Zhong" that something had happened in Jingzhou. He quickly ordered, "Read it!"

The messenger, who had previously shown the message to Xu Da, was momentarily at a loss. Yan Qing, standing nearby, took it and read aloud: "My lord, Regent Zhuge: Liu Biao, the Prefect of Jingzhou, died last night. I heard of this early this morning. Furthermore, the Cai clan's forces are rapidly expanding, and Liu Bei is currently suppressing the rebellion of Liu Lin, the Prefect of Jingling. Cao Cao has troops gathering in the south, indicating he has also heard of this. The situation in Jingzhou has drastically changed. I request your specific guidance, my lord. 1. Should we send troops to attack the Cai clan's forces? 2. Should we directly send troops to occupy Jingzhou? 3. Should we engage in a direct confrontation with Cao Cao's army? 4. Should we support Liu Bei? Huang Zhong, [Date], Urgent, to Chang'an and Shuofang." It is recommended that Military Advisor Zhuge upgrade this letter to Special Urgent.

"General Xu Da has already read it. Due to the urgency of the situation, he had no choice but to draft a suggested order first. Then he sent me to report to our lord," the messenger said. He then handed Luo Chen a copy of Xu Da's letter to Huang Zhong.

Luo Chen took it and glanced through it:

Huang Zhong: Since our lord is away and the situation is urgent, I hereby offer the following advice to Mr. Fa Zheng. You may act accordingly: Immediately dispatch troops to attack the Cai clan at 290; avoid direct confrontation with Cao Cao's army; you may occupy key towns near Yizhou, but not too many; support Liu Bei until Cao Cao's army arrives, and cease all assistance to Liu Bei after Cao Cao's arrival. You have discretionary power in this emergency, therefore the above are merely suggestions; you may make your own decisions based on the actual situation and your own understanding. Your letter has been sent to Chancellor Luo Chen as quickly as possible; Chancellor Luo Chen's orders will be the final instructions. General Xu Da, [Date], transferred to Shangyong.

Yan Qing leaned closer and, upon seeing the lines of text, was alarmed. These decisions were extremely important, yet Fa Zheng dared to issue suggestions without authorization. If Luo Chen approved, it would be fine; but if Luo Chen rejected them, then Fa Zheng would be suspected of misleading the public and delaying military intelligence. Fa Zheng had given four suggestions in a row; it had to be said that the cost of these suggestions was considerable.

He glanced furtively at Luo Chen, observing his expression and demeanor. Luo Chen remained expressionless, seemingly deep in thought. Perhaps Luo Chen needed to consult with his core advisors… However, Luo Chen didn't hesitate. After a brief moment of contemplation, he was about to make his decision: “Pass on my orders to Huang Zhong and Xu Da: First, Fa Zheng's suggestion is excellent and can be followed. Second, Huang Zhong has discretionary power and can act on his own in urgent situations. Third, order Fa Zheng to immediately depart south to Huang Zhong's side. I intend to appoint him to serve as Liu Bei's advisor for a period of time.”

Chapter 117 Grassland and Desert

Luo Chen's decision was quite bold, even to the point of defying common sense. Who would send their own strategist to someone else's home? All of Fa Zheng's suggestions were adopted, and Fa Zheng was directly sent to the southeast, somewhat like appointing Fa Zheng as an imperial envoy. However, it was also stated that Huang Zhong had discretionary power, and that the troop movements and military power were ultimately still in Huang Zhong's hands.

"Why send Fa Zheng to Liu Bei as an advisor?" Yan Qing couldn't help but ask. This order seemed very strange... Of course, it wasn't without precedent. For example, during the great war between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, Luo Chen had sent Xu Shu to Yuan Shao as an advisor. But at that time, everyone knew that Luo Chen and Yuan Shao were allied, Yuan Shao was powerful, and had many advisors under his command. Sending Xu Shu there seemed to have the implication of maintaining close contact. But this time, the situation was subtly different. This time, the power of Luo Chen and Liu Bei was severely unequal. Liu Bei didn't have many top-tier advisors around him. If Fa Zheng arrived, he would inevitably outshine all the other ministers and become the chief advisor. What was going on? Would Liu Bei become suspicious? Could Fa Zheng win over the masses? What would the outside world think? Did this mean that Liu Bei had joined Luo Chen's group?

Luo Chen simply smiled and didn't answer, seemingly having his own reasons. In fact, Luo Chen couldn't quite explain the rationale behind this decision either; it was simply to ensure Liu Bei's successful alliance with Sun Quan, replicating the Battle of Red Cliffs. However, the Sun-Liu alliance had a crucial hurdle: Liu Bei lacked a Zhuge Liang. What to do? Should Luo Chen send Zhuge Liang to be Liu Bei's assistant? Zhuge Liang was already renowned throughout the land, serving as Luo Chen's regent and top military advisor; how could he possibly go to Liu Bei… his status was seriously inappropriate. Luo Chen had no choice but to choose another strategist; something was better than nothing. Among the strategists, Fa Zheng had the most thorough understanding of the southeastern war situation and seemed the most suitable. Moreover, Fa Zheng's fame wasn't as great, overshadowed by the brilliance of ministers like Zhuge Liang and Zhang Juzheng, making him less likely to attract attention. As for specific strategies, Luo Chen was well-versed in the Three Kingdoms and should be able to offer Fa Zheng some pointers.

A staff officer quickly transcribed the order and then copied it twice in a short time, which Luo Chen then signed.

"This order is top secret. Send another messenger from the Imperial Guard. You go back to Shuofang to rest for a while, and then you can return to Shangyong to rejoin your unit," Yan Qing ordered the messenger.

"Understood." The messenger obediently knelt down to receive the order, but seemed somewhat disappointed, as if he really wanted to experience the treatment of an express messenger again.

"The cavalry ahead has reached the entire desert area," Yan Qing reminded Luo Chen. Soldiers continued to report back. "There's a message nearby that this is the only water source in the area; we suggest we camp here tonight."

"Okay," Luo Chen nodded in agreement. "How far are Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu from us?"

"The messenger will be able to find Chang Yuchun's troops in three or four hours if he goes north. Lü Bu's cavalry will have to go further north, and their advance formation is in a pincer shape."

"How many days' journey is it to Wuwei County?" Luo Chen asked, taking out a map as he spoke.

"At the current speed, it should take five days to arrive," Yan Qing replied fluently.

Luo Chen simply nodded, indicating that he understood. Even with elite cavalry advancing at such a high speed, it would take about ten days to cover the distance from Shuofang to Wuwei and Zhangye. This northern Xiongnu battlefield was truly vast, far exceeding any battlefield in the Central Plains. He suddenly felt a strong urge for wireless communication, so that his army could transmit information much faster, but the possibility was extremely slim… After all, electricity and magnetism… these two things were truly beyond the capabilities of ancient technology.

Luo Chen and Yan Qing rode slowly to the stream. The more than 20,000 Imperial Guards, organized into cavalry detachments, set up camp at varying distances, forming a mutually defensive and supportive defensive formation. At the same time, a large number of patrols and sentries were dispatched. It should be said that there was virtually no human habitation in the area where the grasslands met the desert, and it would be difficult for an army to hide. Based on the daytime searches by patrols roaming the vast grasslands, there were no other troops in the area. However, adhering to the principle of not being complacent, Yan Qing still ordered numerous patrols to be dispatched. Furthermore, following the Imperial Guards' custom, they maintained high vigilance even while sleeping, able to detect even the faintest footsteps and quickly awaken. As for weapons, they were always at hand.

As dusk approached, the crimson sunset slowly sank below the horizon, its golden rays bathing the dark yellow sand and the dark green grassland. Apart from the wisps of smoke rising from the army's cooking fires and the clanging of cooking utensils, there was no other sound. Even the army's smoke quickly dissipated into the swirling sands of the desert, making the massive army encampment unnoticed from a distance. However, closer inspection would reveal the large number of tents and horses… Therefore, the most important task for this elite cavalry force marching across the desert was not actually to conceal themselves—too conspicuous and easily spotted—but to discover their enemies before they discovered them, thus seizing the initiative and delivering a decisive blow. Numerous sentries and patrols roamed the vast perimeter, searching for any sign of the enemy. Of course, according to reports, there was absolutely no indication of any Hunnic troops present.

As darkness gradually fell, in the dim light, it seemed that many small animals unique to the grasslands were moving around. Luo Chen even saw wild sheep and many other animals he didn't recognize.

The soldiers lit a fire and roughly heated their rations. Yan Qing, carrying a short bow, circled around and brought over a large mole, then began roasting the meat over an open fire. Soon, the camp was filled with the aroma of meat, and other soldiers followed suit, resulting in the capture of a large number of wild animals from the grasslands.

As darkness descended, all the fires were extinguished on their own. In the darkness, the sounds of soldiers gnawing on meat and bones, whispering conversations, the snorting of horses, and the snoring of some soldiers already fast asleep could still be heard. Luo Chen ate his meal with relish. Although he hadn't bathed for days, he didn't complain. This was probably his first time personally leading an expedition on the front lines. While he had previously cared about the soldiers' hardships, it was from an outsider's perspective. Only by personally leading the troops on the front lines, eating, living, and sleeping alongside them, could he truly connect with them, understand their needs, thoughts, dislikes, desires, and longings…

Luo Chen finished his meal in the darkness; Yan Qing was already asleep beside him. Luo Chen reached for the water jug, intending to drink some water, but it was empty. Normally, Luo Chen would have called for the guards, but this time, surrounded by the sound of deep breathing, he didn't want to disturb them, so he decided to do it himself… Fortunately, the stream was very close to his central command tent.

Chapter 118 Eyes

The customs and traditions of the Western Regions were unprecedented in ancient times. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian, with his ambition to reach far and wide, and Ban Chao, with his aspiration to be ennobled, ultimately achieved great feats in the western frontier, subjugating foreign lands. Wherever military might prevailed or where bribes were offered, people offered their exotic goods and gifts, braving hardships and traveling eastwards to pay homage to the Emperor. Therefore, officials were appointed to handle these matters, and a Protectorate General was established to oversee all affairs.

—Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Volume 118

The dusty central command tent, like any other cavalry detachment command tent, wasn't particularly conspicuous. Among a cluster of tents, it was utterly ordinary. Staff officers, guards, and other personnel slept haphazardly inside; Yan Qing was asleep beside him.

Luo Chen took the small bucket and slowly got up. Yan Qing immediately woke up. Seeing Luo Chen getting the bucket, he said, "Is there no water? Why did you make the lord do it himself?" He was about to kick the guard awake. But Luo Chen stopped him: "Let's go for a walk... I'll also see the night view of the grassland." Seeing Luo Chen's words, Yan Qing followed Luo Chen out of the tent.

The air outside was indeed crisp and clear. Although it was nearing summer, there was still a chill in the air. The temperature difference between day and night in the grasslands and deserts is quite significant. Several guards on watch outside the tents noticed someone carrying a bucket coming out of one of the tents, followed by another person. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was Luo Chen and were all quite surprised.

"My lord, please wait here. I'll go fetch some water for you..." a guard ran over. Luo Chen simply smiled and waved his hand: "No need. Continue with your guard duty. We're just going for a walk." "My lord, please be careful..." the guard murmured and took his leave.

The camp was quiet. Luo Chen, sword hilt in hand, crossed the camp to the stream. Patrol soldiers occasionally gathered in the tent camp, apparently having spotted someone moving around inside. They were all greatly surprised to see Luo Chen. Luo Chen waved them off repeatedly, quietly telling them to continue their mission.

The stream flowed shallowly through the grass, with a few grains of sand settling at the bottom, acting as a filter. This section of the stream was likely an inland flow, eventually drying up and disappearing. As for why it formed, it was probably because water easily collected from the surrounding area, and the terrain here was low-lying, with rainwater and groundwater as its water sources.

Luo Chen picked up a bucket and bent down to fetch water. For some reason, he glanced over and noticed what appeared to be a pair of green lights in the distance. Luo Chen was startled. Although he was a seasoned warrior, this was his first time commanding a battle in the unfamiliar desert, and he felt somewhat uncertain. Luo Chen stood up and looked closely. Sure enough, there was a pair of green lights, green eyes emitting an eerie glow. What were they? Some kind of creature from the grasslands? Luo Chen's heart raced; the scene was somewhat strange. Even more unsettling, Luo Chen clearly felt that these eerie eyes seemed to be staring intently at him. The distance between Luo Chen and these eyes was difficult to estimate, but it was probably not far, which was why he could see them so clearly.

Luo Chen felt a chill run down his spine, and he involuntarily gripped the sword hilt tightly. Of course, he could easily put two fingers together and shout "Explode!" to unleash a small, powerful explosion. But Luo Chen restrained himself. In this extremely quiet moment, suddenly shouting and then having the creature mysteriously disappear would only make him look like he was overreacting, and it wouldn't help him figure out what was going on with those eyes staring intently at him.

"What's wrong?" Yan Qing, who was standing nearby, finally noticed something was amiss. He saw Luo Chen, who had been squatting down to fetch water, suddenly stand up and remain frozen in place, staring intently at something. Yan Qing followed Luo Chen's gaze and was immediately taken aback. Luo Chen felt himself involuntarily take a step back, then instantly drew his short arrow. This was Yan Qing's conditioned reflex. Strangely, the creature seemed to have seen everything clearly. As soon as it saw Yan Qing draw his arrow, its eerie eyes suddenly turned away and then silently and swiftly disappeared.

Only Luo Chen and Yan Qing remained, stunned in the distance. Luo Chen felt his right palm was already sweating. To be honest, the moment those eyes turned away, Luo Chen almost used his explosive technique. Even if he killed the creature, he could still get some information, which was better than it disappearing without a trace. Moreover, Luo Chen strongly felt that this was not an ordinary wild creature, but... it seemed, although this idea was somewhat absurd, as if it were spying on Luo Jun's camp, and this creature belonged to a sentient team.

However, the grasslands and deserts hold too many secrets, and these secrets cannot be discovered by shouting or by the light of an open fire. Instead, outsiders must immerse themselves in the darkness and the mysterious tranquility of the deserts and grasslands to perceive their secrets.

"It looks like a wolf, but..." Yan Qing seemed a little shaken, his speech was somewhat incoherent, and he was still tightly gripping the short bow in his hand. However, in the critical moment, his body reflexively positioned itself to the side and in front of Luo Chen, as if to protect Luo Chen at any time, which moved Luo Chen quite a bit.

Luo Chen knew what he was trying to say. These eyes seemed to be those of a wolf, or almost certainly a wolf. Only wolf eyes emit a faint green glow. And then it appeared here at night to drink, its movements swift and silent. All of this pointed to a plausible explanation: this creature was a wolf. If Luo Chen had used an explosion, and after the fire, a wolf pelted there lay there, he wouldn't have been surprised at all. But these eyes were clearly different; they seemed to possess a kind of intelligence, even approaching human intelligence. These eyes stared intently at him, as if spying, as if contemplating, their gaze calm yet full of vigilance. These were not the eyes of an ordinary grassland wild creature; they were clearly eyes of high intelligence and high intelligence. Luo Chen had seen other wolves in the Central Plains and even on the Xiongnu grasslands. Their eyes, though also bright and alert, were an animalistic kind of alertness, lacking human intelligence.

Luo Chen's heart was pounding, still pounding with excitement. The surroundings were eerily quiet; those eyes had long since vanished. Luo Chen composed himself, not mentioning the incident, but simply saying, "Let's go back."

The two fetched water and returned to their tent in silence. Although exhausted, Luo Chen couldn't fall asleep immediately; those eerie eyes kept flashing before his eyes.

Chapter 119 The Wolf Pack

In the early morning, the east was just beginning to lighten.

Even after all these years, Luo Chen still isn't used to the ancient way of telling time; it's too vague. Zhang Heng probably felt the same way, and created a simple mechanical watch, which became an essential item for Luo Chen when he went out. So even now, he still prefers to tell time at five or six o'clock.

Luo Chen donned his clothes and hat, took his sword, and went outside. Cooking was already underway in the camp, the air thick with the rising mist, a mixture of smoke and vapor that was hard to discern. The air was clear, even possessing a precious dampness. Once the sun came out, these dewdrops and moisture would evaporate quickly, and the desert would become extremely dry again, causing lips to crack. The soldiers rushed to the stream to collect water as quickly as possible; they figured they might as well take some, since much of the water would evaporate after sunrise, and groundwater would replenish the supply at night. The army's various drinking vessels were quickly filled to the brim.

Yan Qing knew Luo Chen's eating habits; he usually only ate some coarse grains in the morning. Yan Qing brought some barley cakes, which Luo Chen ate simply and drank some stream water. The stream water was quite clear and cool. As they were eating, the commanders of the various cavalry detachments gathered in the central command tent.

While Luo Chen's command system didn't fundamentally alter the ancient military structure, it significantly changed the higher-level command methods, dividing the 20,000-strong army into four detachments. Each detachment consisted of 5,000 men, and the four detachments coordinated and advanced in a staggered manner. Each detachment dispatched numerous patrol squads responsible for their respective patrol and defense zones.

This was the morning routine meeting, mainly to determine today's operational positions and summarize yesterday's routine actions. Yan Qing briefly planned today's route. Starting today, the Imperial Guards would enter the desert, and the primary concern was protection against sandstorms. Most of the soldiers came from the Central Plains of the north and had no experience with long-distance marches across the desert. The soldiers prepared protective gear as much as possible based on their imagination, such as stuffing cotton into the gaps in their helmets... As for water, all the military containers were full. To preserve the large number of sealed water barrels brought from the desert, they were transported in military supplies on large carts and had not yet been used. Fortunately, they had always been able to find places with water sources to camp on the grasslands. So water should not be a problem. As for dry rations, they had prepared enough in advance.

Luo Chen's 20,000 men moved nimbly and consumed few supplies, making their crossing of the desert relatively easy. Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu's forces, however, would likely face greater difficulties; it remains to be seen whether they have enough water.

"Send a messenger to check on Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu, and ask them if they need water or any supplies," Luo Chen ordered. An advisor immediately dispatched someone to carry it out.

"Did you find anything unusual during yesterday's patrol?" Luo Chen asked.

"No." The detachment commanders all reported that they had not found anything. "A hundred miles of grassland and desert, such a large radius, and we haven't seen a single person, so there is definitely no large army stationed nearby, not even a small detachment."

"What about a small team? Like a team of three or four people? Can you guarantee you'll find them too?" Luo Chen asked in such detail for the first time. He seemed unusually concerned about the military's security and patrols.

Several detachment leaders gathered together, including Yan Qing, and discussed in hushed tones. Yan Qing said, "We can be fairly certain that there is no one around. Yesterday, we had more than four hundred patrol teams, each with five men, and we dispatched more than two thousand cavalrymen to participate in patrols and outposts. The density of outposts was very high, and as for the radius, it radiated outwards for a hundred miles from the center of the army's movements. Such a large area is enough to confirm that there is no human habitation or small detachments around us."

Luo Chen nodded and fell silent. The eyes from yesterday were vividly before his eyes. Was he overthinking things? For some reason, Luo Chen stubbornly believed that this wolf (or some other unidentified creature) was too intelligent; perhaps they were organized and purposeful. This conjecture gave him an extremely ominous premonition.

Seeing that Luo Chen was silent, seemingly deep in thought, everyone said softly, "My lord, if there's nothing else, let them go back. Prepare to depart; the sun will be rising soon."

Luo Chen seemed to be startled awake, but still hesitated for a moment: "Have you spotted any wolves?" he asked, looking directly at the squad leaders.

"Wolves?" The squadron commanders exchanged bewildered glances. After all, patrolmen wouldn't report on wolves. "Wolves are quite common on the grasslands...we might see them..."

"Go down and check, ask the patrol soldiers, and watch out for packs of wolves. If you find any, bring the soldier who discovered them to the main tent." Seeing that they were stammering in their answers, Luo Chen realized that they weren't quite sure either, so he ordered them to go down and investigate.

The detachment commander bowed and took his leave. The four commanders couldn't help but whisper among themselves, exchanging their thoughts. But they were all equally puzzled: why was their lord paying such special attention to the wolves today?

· 0 flowers requested ········

Stepping out of the main tent, the four soldiers looked grim and hurried off to complete their investigation; Luo Chenzi was waiting in the central command tent. However, a staff officer summoned a messenger and ordered him to carry out his task. This order made the soldiers stop to listen and think. The staff officer added two veteran messengers from the Imperial Guard: "Our lord orders you to go to General Chang Yuchun and General Lü Bu respectively, and ask them if they have discovered a pack of wolves."

For some reason, the four squad leaders felt the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. Why was their lord paying so much attention to this matter?

The situation was as follows: a Qiang soldier named Barrow was brought into the central command tent. He was clearly an old soldier, with dark skin and rough complexion. There were even scars on his arms. His eyes seemed habitually squinted, as if they were not fully open, but experienced cavalrymen would notice that his squinted eyes held a piercing, murderous glint. Barrow had slightly bowed legs, probably from spending too much time on horseback.

. ......... .......

"You discovered the wolf pack?" Luo Chen leaned closer to him, showing great interest.

“Yes, our patrol team was scattered and racing around when I accidentally discovered…discovered a large pack of wolves in a low-lying area.” Barrow’s Chinese wasn’t very good, and it was the first time he had spoken to Luo Chen at such close range, so he seemed a little nervous. “This pack of wolves…” Barrow hesitated.

"How are these wolves?" Luo Chen asked, showing great interest.

"These wolves seemed very clever. As soon as they saw me, they scattered and ran away into the tall grass. The whole pack disappeared in an instant..."

“Very intelligent…” Luo Chen repeated slowly.

"General Chang Yuchun has sent a messenger to report on the situation," Yan Qing said with a stern expression. Normally, he wouldn't interrupt so abruptly, but this time Yan Qing's expression was extremely serious, even turning somewhat pale.

"Speak," Luo Chen said calmly.

"Yesterday, Chang Yuchun's unit encountered a wolf pack. An entire patrol team was torn apart and killed. Judging from the bloodstains, the patrol team should have also killed a wolf, but the wolf's carcass seems to have been dragged away by the other wolves." Yan Qing finished speaking in one breath, his face ashen; after all, he had been present during the events of the previous night.

Chapter 120 Declaration of War

Meanwhile, Luo Chen, investigating the wolf pack incident, felt an increasingly ominous premonition. Just then, Chang Yuchun sent someone to report another bizarre development: a patrol team had been completely mauled to death by the wolves.

Chang Yuchun was both shocked and furious upon hearing this for the first time: "How have you been trained? A patrol squad can't even handle a few wolves!" The detachment commander stammered, not daring to speak. Fortunately, Chang Yuchun quickly calmed down. His soldiers were elite troops, handpicked from the best, the renowned Guanzhong Iron Cavalry. To be wiped out by a few wolves was unheard of, and utterly illogical. There must be something fishy going on.

"Order the cavalry to halt their long-distance raid. The army shall immediately adopt a defensive formation and advance slowly in a combat-oriented manner." In this situation, caution is paramount. "Patrol teams must pay attention to their own safety. Two patrol teams shall form a '0-8-0' patrol group, cooperating and supporting each other." Chang Yuchun issued orders with unusual caution. Finally, he said to the detachment commander, "Go and check the scene."

This was a rare depression in the grassland desert, the grass growing quite tall, reaching waist-high. Nearly a hundred cavalrymen had already surrounded it, and several staff officers who had arrived earlier were nervously conversing in hushed tones. Large patches of grass were flattened, clearly indicating a fierce battle had taken place. Five riders lay dead here; their bodies had been collected, carried on stretchers, and placed aside, covered with white sheets. Two horses also lay on the grass; one was still alive, but severely wounded and unlikely to survive much longer. This horse had fought its way out of a pack of wolves, heading towards the usual encampment of Yu Chun's army. Its hindquarters were riddled with wounds; its belly had been ripped open, its intestines protruding. But befitting an elite warhorse of the fallen army, its willpower was astonishingly tenacious. Clearly, it had never encountered such ferocious enemies before, but no matter how powerful the enemy, no matter how large the encirclement, the horse's will to survive propelled it relentlessly towards the camp. Two other warhorses have vanished without a trace, presumably devoured by the wolves.

Chang Yuchun felt himself clench his fists.

Damn it, what a disgrace. A small squad is dead, all five horses have been killed or wounded, and we haven't even seen a glimpse of the enemy. He still doesn't know what the enemy looks like! In his entire career as a commander, he has always dealt fierce blows to the enemy and launched surprise attacks. What kind of opponent would launch such a ruthless attack on him?!

Chang Yuchun walked to the fallen soldiers, uncovering each one with a white sheet covering their throats. Without exception, they had all been killed by wolves' teeth. Their hands and arms were covered in wounds, a testament to their desperate attempts to protect their vitals, yet the wolves' sharp teeth had still pierced their throats. Chang Yuchun felt a burning sensation in his own throat, as if the teeth of a wild beast were biting into him. He slowly bowed in salute, and the staff officers and guards behind him followed suit.

"Messenger, report the situation here to Prime Minister Luo Chen. We encountered an organized wolf pack. An entire patrol team was wiped out. There were obvious signs of a struggle, but the wolf carcasses were dragged away," Chang Yuchun said coldly.

Then he turned around. Four or five detachment commanders and a group of staff officers, a hundred guards, and behind them stretched the vast desert as far as the eye could see. "Someone—or some kind of creature, whatever it is, has declared war on us." Chang Yuchun's voice was icy and menacing. "No one—or any kind of creature—has ever killed my men and then emerged unscathed, alive and well. There's no such logic." Chang Yuchun spoke almost word by word. "If you encounter a wolf pack, immediately organize your forces, gather your strength, and hunt them down. And report to me immediately."

"How should we proceed on the march? Should we advance in a defensive battle formation?" the staff officer beside me asked.

"We'll continue with the raiding method. The patrol teams will be split into two combined teams, supporting each other during patrols." Chang Yuchun clearly didn't intend to underestimate the wolves. "Our water and supplies can only support the speed of the raid. In the desert, it's better to get through quickly."

How did Luo Chen react? Yan Qing's face was ashen, and Luo Chen was also secretly shocked. He had a strong sense of foreboding when he saw those eerie eyes. This seemed to be some kind of sentient, organized creature. A strange enemy. However, there was no direct evidence to prove this yet. Luo Chen had been searching for direct evidence since this morning, trying to confirm his premonition. If Barrow's discovery proved the existence of these wolves, then Chang Yuchun's report indicated that they were an extremely terrifying and strange enemy—yes, an enemy.

"It seems there's a group of enemies—not even human enemies—watching our movements from the shadows," Luo Chen said in a calm, even slightly sarcastic tone. At this eerie moment, the soldiers were filled with unease and anxiety. As their commander, he had to appear knowledgeable and composed. He didn't know what this thing was, but it had appeared nonetheless. The secrets of the desert and grasslands were finally being revealed to him for the first time. This might not be a bad thing, although it meant they would face an extremely severe challenge.

"All detachment commanders, listen up..." Luo Chen said, looking at the four commanders below, who instantly became extremely solemn. "We are now facing a group of enemies—enemies who have already declared war on us—who have brutally attacked our cavalrymen. This matter cannot end like this." Luo Chen's voice was cold, and his expression was rather euphemistic, but he and Chang Yuchun were saying the same thing, and the murderous intent in his voice was just as obvious as Chang Yuchun's.

"It can't end like this," Luo Chen repeated. "Everyone, stay alert." Luo Chen ended the conversation with a crisp, decisive statement. This was followed by a thunderous roar of "Yes, sir!"

Perhaps those lurking in the darkness are observing and sensing Luo Jun's attitude.

"By the way." Just as the commanders and the soldier named Barrow were about to take their leave, Luo Chen suddenly called out to them. "Barrow, you seem to have fought in many battles over the years? You look like a veteran of the battlefield."

"Yes, I've been with the Guanzhong cavalry since the Battle of Tongguan," the man named Barrow answered simply and directly.

In the Battle of Tongguan, the Luochen Group, with its mere 10,000 men, fought a bloody battle against Cao Cao's ten-fold army. This battle made the Guanzhong cavalry famous throughout the land. The Battle of Tongguan was so fierce that seven or eight out of ten of the soldiers were killed, and Cao Cao's army was also covered in blood; for a long time, the land in front of Tongguan was stained crimson.

Luo Chen smiled and nodded: "What's your current position?"

"Squad leader."

"Why so low?" Luo Chen frowned. He glanced coldly at the several detachment commanders, then at Barrow, and instantly understood. "Because they're Qiang people? I've said it many times, don't divide the army into different classes based on Han Chinese or ethnic minorities."

Chapter 121 Entering the Desert

The Western Regions comprised numerous kingdoms, stretching over 6,000 li from east to west and over 1,000 li from north to south. Its easternmost point reached Yumen and Yangguan, while its westernmost point extended to Congling. To the northeast, it bordered the Xiongnu and Wusun. Great mountains formed to the north and south, with a river flowing through its center. To the south, east of Jincheng, it joined the Han Dynasty's Southern Mountains. The river had two sources: one flowing eastward from Congling, and the other flowing northward from the foot of Tiannan Mountain, merging with the Congling River and flowing eastward into the Puchang Sea. The Puchang Sea, also known as the Salt Lake, was over 300 li from Yumen.

—Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Volume 118

When Luo Chen inquired about Barrow's position, he was surprised to learn that this seasoned veteran, who had served in the Guanzhong cavalry since the Battle of Tongguan, was only a squad leader.

Luo Chen was very displeased and said, "Our army appoints soldiers based on merit, and we must never discriminate based on race. I have said this many times." The detachment commander had no choice but to obey.

"Assign him to the position of deputy commander of the detachment," Luo Chen personally ordered.

A mere squad leader was suddenly promoted to deputy commander of the detachment. Everyone was astonished. Barrow, however, remained composed, simply saying, "Thank you for your trust, sir."

Several squad leaders were indignant at his rudeness, but Luo Chen didn't seem to care much.

"Order the army to advance immediately; it's getting late. We must get through this desert as quickly as possible, reach Wuwei and Zhangye, and then capture the cities for a reliable and safe place to stay." Luo Chen seemed determined to take these two important towns in one fell swoop. "When patrolling, the two teams must cooperate and support each other; no one may act alone."

The soldiers from the Central Plains, newly arrived in the desert, finally felt its power. The wind and sand raged, constantly whipping sand into their eyes and clothes. Some soldiers, charging through the desert, fell from their horses due to sand in their eyes. But this wasn't the most unbearable part; the most unbearable was the intense heat. The sun rose, and the desert was devoid of moisture, only the extremely hot, dry wind blowing. The sun offered no shade, its rays relentlessly pounding on every soldier's head. Soon, Luo Chen was drenched in sweat. Yan Qing hurriedly ordered the men to open the green parasols. But it was almost useless, only offering slight protection from the sun; the heat remained. The army's marching speed was finally forced to slow, requiring constant watering and rest, otherwise more and more soldiers would collapse from exhaustion.

Even the horses were starting to give out. To prepare for the advance into the desert, Luo Chen had prepared over a hundred camels in Shuofang, and Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu had even more, but most were used to carry supplies; the cavalry's mounts were naturally horses. While these camels possessed excellent endurance and stamina, they couldn't withstand the scorching heat and constant sandstorms. The horses' hooves pounded the burning sand, which wasn't as firm as the grasslands or solid ground, forcing them to move slowly.

"Hold on!" Luo Chen's face was covered in sweat, dusted with desert sand, and his throat felt parched. But this was a test they had to endure in this operation. It was also the most difficult test. Once they crossed the desert, attacking the lightly defended Wuwei and Zhangye cities would be a piece of cake. "Once we get through the desert, we can easily take Wuwei! Then we can enter the city and rest!"

Yan Qing was in good physical condition and seemed to be in good spirits. He directed the troops forward, calling out to them as they went.