Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 551: Border Army (Part 3)

Yu Chong was a Fourth-rank General, which is a middle rank among military generals. Only from the third rank and above is it considered a high-ranking general. If followed the normal path, Yu Chong might never reach the third rank in his lifetime.

After all, the stationed army has very few opportunities to enter the battlefield, thus lacking the chance to earn military merits for promotion.

General Fan’s promise was indeed very sincere.

However, Yu Chong refused without even thinking: "Thank you for your kind offer, General Fan. However, I am deeply indebted to the Commandery Princess for her support. I have long decided to remain stationed at Nanyang County forever. Once Rouran retreats, I will lead the troops back to Nanyang County."

General Fan, still unwilling to give up, smiled and encouraged him: "The Commandery Princess is a heroine among women, with great vision and courage. However, she is, after all, a woman and a Vassal King. For a hero like General Yu to remain in Nanyang County, isn’t it too much of a grievance?"

Yu Chong smiled faintly and replied: "Everything I have today is because of the Commandery Princess’s great kindness. Among the more than thirty stationed armies in Da Liang, only the Nanyang Army regularly receives sufficient military pay to be well-fed and clothed. The Nanyang Army is well-equipped, with ample warhorses and weapons, and they train diligently every day. Even in years of famine, we’ve never gone hungry for a single day, which is unique to us."

"I, Yu Chong, will never betray the Commandery Princess! The Nanyang Army feels the same!"

General Fan: "..."

The two trusted generals exchanged glances, thinking that if it were them, they would also be utterly devoted to the Commandery Princess!

Yu Chong bowed and took his leave.

General Fan, sighing with emotion to his two confidants, said: "The Nanyang County Princess is indeed capable and skilled, firmly winning over the entire Nanyang Army. It’s fortunate that the Princess is a woman; if she were a man with such abilities, she would eventually become rebellious."

One of the confidants coughed and said: "These matters are not for us to worry about. We should focus on how to repel the Rouran cavalry."

The other nodded in agreement: "Exactly, with General Yu heading out from the North, we must launch a full-scale attack at the South Gate to divert the Rouran forces and provide cover for the Nanyang Army."

General Fan stroked his beard and instructed the two to spread out the map for careful strategic planning.

As for Yu Chong, after returning to his military tent, he called in Li Tie and other Nanyang Army generals, conferring until late at night before going to sleep.

Early the next morning, the Rouran cavalry had just arrived below the South city wall to challenge, and after only spouting a couple of insults, they were hit in the chest by an arrow from the city wall and fell heavily from their horse, dead.

A sudden cheer erupted from the city wall.

A general clad in silver armor stood on the wall; it was he who had shot the stunning arrow.

This imposing military general was none other than General Fan. General Fan, with years of military leadership, was also a master in martial arts. This arrow shot over two hundred meters, knocking the insulting man off his horse, greatly boosting morale.

The border army soldiers, who had been guarding the city walls for days, were inspired by General Fan’s bravery and called out in high spirits. The Rouran general below was enraged, raised his weapon, shouted a few commands in a foreign tongue, and ordered the drums to be beaten, commencing the assault.

The Rouran, famed for their cavalry, were also adept at siege warfare, not attacking blindly but first launching a volley of stones with their catapults.

The border army on the city wall was undaunted, retaliating with stones as well. One was striking from below to hit the walls, while the other rained down stones targeting men and horses, naturally gaining the upper hand. After half a day of stone throwing, the Rouran cavalry left behind a field of corpses and retreated.

After this minor victory, the border army was invigorated, busily tidying up the battlefield. The unfortunate ones crushed by stones were dragged aside, and the injured tended to with medicine. The blood-stained giant stones were collected for future use, not to be discarded.

General Fan personally inspected and comforted the wounded soldiers, and also sent white steamed buns up to the city walls.

During battles, the border army’s meals were better than usual. Every soldier had to be well-fed, otherwise they’d lack the strength to fight.

The grain sent from Nanyang County was truly new and good, unlike the grain from the court, which was mostly old and often mixed with sand, dirt, and leaves.

With quality grains in the kitchen, the buns were large and fluffy. The cornmeal buns were fragrant, and the boiled sweet potatoes were sweet.

The soldiers sat against the city wall, greedily biting and chewing, occasionally whispering: "The grain sent from Nanyang County is truly good. I’ve been in the border army for so many years, it’s the first time I’ve eaten such good buns."

"The Nanyang County Princess is so generous and kind, offering so much good grain just like that."

"The grain was directly sent by the Nanyang Army. If it had been sent to the Capital City first and back, who knows how much would actually reach us."

"Isn’t that the truth? The officials live luxuriously, but anything that passes through their hands gets skimmed. They don’t care about the lives of us common soldiers."

"I heard from the Nanyang Army that when they’re in Nanyang County, they often eat meat!"

"Don’t mention meat, just talking about it makes my mouth water. It’s been two months since I’ve had a single bite of meat."

In their banter, the soldiers harbored both envy and resentment toward the Nanyang Army.

They ate well, were well-dressed, and each had excellent warhorses and shiny weapons and armor. As proud border troops, they were inferior to the Nanyang Army.

If given the chance, they too wanted to join the Nanyang Army as soldiers.

Just as they finished eating, the sound of war drums echoed again from below the city wall.

"Come on, let’s show these barbarians what we’ve got!" With their stomachs full, their courage was naturally bolstered. The border army soldiers clamored their way up to the city wall, drawing bows and releasing a chaotic volley of arrows, felling several Rouran cavalrymen.

Though the Rouran cavalry were skilled archers, the high and sturdy city walls rendered them ineffective. Only a few arrows made it onto the walls, with most falling short.

This day of defending the city went very smoothly.

By evening, the Rouran sounded the retreat. The border troops, having endured the day, shouted happily. Meanwhile, over three thousand Nanyang Army soldiers quietly rode out from the North Gate.

The Nanyang Army had fought several tough battles, with over three hundred casualties. The dead were buried on the spot, the injured rested within the city. Those who could still move rode out with Yu Chong.

Having slept most of the day, they were all full of energy, with each horse’s hooves wrapped in thick cotton cloth to greatly reduce the sound of their steps.

After exiting the city for ten miles, darkness fell.

Night marches are usually taboo. At this time, many soldiers suffer from night blindness, unable to see the road at night. However, night blindness mostly stems from poor nutrition, but the Nanyang Army has a diet rich in oil and nourishment, both meat and vegetable. Hardly any soldiers suffer from night blindness.

Without torches to draw attention, the more than three thousand soldiers marched under the stars, moving silently under the moonlit sky.

After traveling all night, come morning, Yu Chong ordered everyone to rest in the nearby forests. The steeds fed on fodder and drank water, while the soldiers, carrying ten days’ worth of provisions, ate heartily with cold water. Then they closed their eyes to rest. They resumed their journey only at dusk.

On the third night, they finally arrived stealthily outside the Rouran Army Camp.