unedited
A torch flashed from the tent across the river, and they seemed to be checking the number of people in the camp.
“It’s time to go back,” Meng Huan turned to look at him. “Do you go first, or do I go first?”
Lin Bozhou raised his eyebrows. “Huan Huan should go first.”
Meng Huan nodded and prepared to run off when Lin Bozhou added, “This husband is watching you from behind.”
“……” Meng Huan didn’t hold back and ran back, approaching him with a kiss and waving his hand. “Going away!”
Lin Bozhou’s lips were moist, and his gaze leveled as he saw Meng Huan running and jumping across the shoal, seemingly too happy.
Lin Bozhou’s lips slightly curved, and he involuntarily smiled. After seeing the young man’s figure running far away, he slowly walked towards the opposite bank.
A horse was munching on grass at the camp entrance, and the postman was panting. It was an urgent delivery, a letter from Mao Chengchang.
Lin Bozhou took the urgent letter and returned to the middle army’s tent. The Marquis of Zhen Guan came just in time and cupped his fist to him. “Your Highness.”
Lin Bozhou looked at him sideways, and his tone was calm. “What?”
“Mao Chengchang allowed the Jurchen to get stronger and made Liaodong fall into the enemy’s hand. What does Your Highness think should be done about it?”
“What does the marquis think?” Lin Bozhou was not in a hurry.
The Marquis of Zhen Guan said, “The military morale won’t be settled if Mao Chenchang isn’t punished, but he can not be disposed of now as he still has troops and horses in Liaodong. If he opens the city gates under dread and offers the pass to the Jurchen, defecting against the Great Zong, I’m afraid it will be a big deal. We have to stabilize his emotions first and discuss it after we take over the city gates in Liaodong.”
Lin Bozhou nodded and smiled. “What the marquis said is also what this prince has in mind. Let’s do that.”
The surrounding people could feel that the prince regent seemed in a good mood after this trip.
Lin Bozhou slowly stepped forward, passing the regent’s tent. When he lifted the curtain to enter, Meng Huan had already laid in the quilt and slept. The weather was hot, his white feet were exposed from beneath the quilt, and his pinkish-white toe was slightly curled. He was facing the inner wall of the tent, eyes closed, sleeping soundly.
“Your……”
Someone seemed ready to bow and utter greetings. Lin Bozhou put his long fingers on his lips and said gently, “Hush.”
–
Meng Huan insisted on walking and was utterly incapacitated on the fifth day, his legs on the verge of destruction.
He mounted a mule and headed for the Shanhai Pass. He usually drew on the back of the mule when he had nothing else to do, painting the scenery of the troops on their expedition.
Zhu Dong led the mule for him. Meng Huan promised to let him ride momentarily if he was tired of walking, so Zhu Dong faithfully acted as a lackey.
He held the reins and looked up at him, “What are you drawing?”
Meng Huan answered absentmindedly.
Words were written on the pages, confusing arrows and labels that only Meng Huan could read. At first glance, it looked like some kind of logical mind map.
Meng Huan was thinking: What was the reason for Lin Bozhou’s defeat in the original book?
The reason was written on the page: [Lack of soldiers]
[Soldiers not good enough]
[Backstabbed by someone]
……
Meng Huan finished the list and found that none of it was something he could fix.
“……”
He scratched his head in puzzlement. What’s the use of me?
Breaking his defense.*
*Refers to being emotionally impacted after encountering some things or seeing some information
Zhu Dong urged, “Good brother, it’s my turn to ride the mule.”
“Oh.”
Meng Huan closed the paper scroll, rolled over, and dismounted, replacing with him leading Zhu Dong.
It was the eighth day of the march, and he and Zhu Dong maintained the habit of helping each other.
Not long after, black clouds appeared in the sky, with faint black clouds tumbling and dull thunder rolling in the clouds.
Meng Huan looked up and was vaguely worried. “We’re not going to rush through the rain, are we?”
After finishing, he noticed that his cheeks were wet, and his eyelashes were stained with raindrops, wet and cool.
“……”
The rain gradually picked up.
“Really, huh?”
Meng Huan hurriedly put the paper roll into a waterproof cowhide bag, stretched out his hand to catch the rain, and tilted his head to look at the black clouds in the sky. He was in a subtle mood, not woeful, but he just felt it was pretty interesting.
–He had never been so close to nature.
The rushing people complained a few times and stepped in the fishy, yellow muddy water, trudging hard against the clouds and rain.
When it rained, the ground was slippery and very tedious for the mules. Zhu Dong dismounted and said calmly, “Getting wet now is to stop getting wet in the future.”
Meng Huan laughed directly at him.
Meng Huan was not someone who could not suffer. He stood in this downpour, breathing in the damp rain mist, and the thought of feeling the same temperature as Lin Bozhou calmed his heart down.
From morning to afternoon, before reaching the scheduled distance, the scouting horse came to say, “The rainstorm washed away the road ahead. Horses and carriages can’t cross. Should we stop in place or fix the road immediately?”
“Inform the prince?” Everyone discussed it lively.
They went to report to Lin Bozhou, and not long after, several fast horses came. The leader, wearing a dark and heavy raincoat, stopped his horse, looked at the broken intersection, and said, “Don’t delay the journey. Repair the road immediately.”
“Yes!”
The soldiers took out their instruments, dug holes, scooped out rocks, and chopped wood, with their feet buried deep in the mud. They were covered with dust, digging into the rubbles with their hoes as they spread the road.
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