The next morning, Zhang Tian, with a squad of personal guards, appeared before Fang Er.
"My Lord, everything is ready. We can depart at any time."
Fang Er nodded, turned, said a few farewell words to Chai Yue, and then led them out of the County Duke's mansion.
The carriages had been taken away by Wu Tian, so this trip would have to be made on horseback.
North of Shenyang city, Wu Guliang, Zheng Zaigao, and Xiao Jianren, along with their men, were already waiting.
After the two parties rendezvoused, they set off in the direction of Fuyu City.
They traveled at a slow pace. As they went along, Fang Er began to feel that Zhang Tian's posture on horseback was a bit off.
It looked like he was suffering from hemorrhoids.
He beckoned to Zhang Tian's second-in-command.
"Fifth Regiment's Deputy Commander Luo Ben reports to my Lord. Please instruct me."
Luo Ben rode his horse closer to Fang Er and bowed.
Fang Er pointed at Zhang Tian ahead: "What's wrong with your regiment commander?"
Luo Ben's expression became complicated. He looked like he wanted to speak but didn't dare.
"Speak!" Fang Er said, lightly flicking Luo Ben with his horsewhip in mock anger.
"Heh heh, then my Lord, please don't tell our regiment commander that I told you."
"Yesterday, didn't you ask our regiment commander and Commander Liu to have a duel? After you left, they fought fiercely!"
"As they fought, things took a different turn."
~~~~~~~~
Fang Er's expression grew more and more incredulous.
Damn it, he left too early yesterday! He actually missed a good show!
Before he left, Zhang Tian had plucked all of Liu Meng's hair.
After he left, Liu Meng began to retaliate against Zhang Tian.
As a result, the two, completely disregarding their status as commanders of the First Regiment, wrestled until the end, adopting a 69 position, where one plucked the other's hair, and the other plucked his!
The final result was declared a victory for Zhang Tian, who had completely plucked Liu Meng bald while still retaining three strands of his own hair.
Just imagining the scene, Fang Er felt it was extremely eye-watering!
No wonder the guy's posture while walking and riding was so peculiar; it turned out he was in pain!
Five days later, the team arrived outside Fuyu City.
This was the place where Goguryeo originated, so Fuyu City was no less grand than Shenyang City.
The stone-built city walls were about seven to eight meters high. However, looking through the telescope from the city walls, there was no one to be seen!
Not only that, but the city gate was also open, yet there were no guards on duty, nor anyone entering or exiting.
Fang Er frowned. This matter was not simple.
"Zhang Tian, send someone to scout inside."
The team stopped about a kilometer away from Fuyu City, and Fang Er instructed Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian gestured to Luo Ben beside him.
Then, Luo Ben selected ten soldiers, mounted their horses, and rode out of the formation towards Fuyu City.
Upon reaching the foot of Fuyu City, he shouted: "The County Duke of Shenyang is here for an inspection! The commander and magistrate of the city, come out and welcome him!"
After waiting for a while, there was still no movement from within the city.
Luo Ben shouted again: "The County Duke of Shenyang is here for an inspection! The commander and magistrate of the city, come out and welcome him!"
After a long time, the city remained eerily quiet.
"Enter the city to investigate! Be careful, everyone!"
"Yes!"
The eleven men rode into the city.
They quickly scouted the city but didn't see a single living soul. Traces of fighting were everywhere.
Finding the magistrate's office, Luo Ben dismounted and entered, followed by five soldiers, leaving five outside to guard the entrance.
After a brief glance inside, Luo Ben emerged with his men, looking perplexed.
Upon returning outside the city, he approached Fang Er.
"My Lord, there are signs of fighting within the city, but it is completely deserted!"
Fang Er was stunned.
"What the hell?"
Fuyu City had at least ten thousand people, including its garrison!
And they had all vanished so quietly?
If the city had been massacred, where had the bodies gone?
"Zhang Tian, bring the First and Second Battalions. Accompany me into the city!"
"The rest of you, search outside the city and see if you can find any clues!"
"Yes!"
The Third Regiment consisted of six battalions, each with over three hundred men.
Fang Er led the First and Second Battalions into Fuyu City.
The remaining four battalions, totaling over twelve hundred men, were dispersed outside the city.
The two battalions in the city began searching house by house, not even neglecting the cellars, trying to find a living person to question about what had happened.
However, they searched the entire Fuyu City and found no one!
Fang Er was utterly bewildered and could only wait for news from the four battalions outside the city to see if they had made any discoveries.
He went up to the city wall and walked along the ramparts. He noticed that to the east and north of Fuyu City, there were dense forests.
"Zhang Tian, fly up and take a look!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Tian turned to make arrangements for the hot air balloon.
An hour later, the hot air balloon slowly ascended. Zhang Tian stood in the basket, observing the surroundings with his telescope.
"My Lord, in the direction of the city's east, there's a discovery!"
"Received. Continue the investigation!"
After responding to Zhang Tian via walkie-talkie, Fang Er led his men out of Fuyu City's east gate.
Upon exiting the city, the Fourth Battalion of the Third Regiment, which had been responsible for this area, also converged. They marched ahead of Fang Er, scouting further afield.
"My Lord, there are many droppings left by a large number of horses and mules ahead!"
Upon receiving the report from the Fourth Battalion commander, Fang Er spurred his warhorse to the front of the formation.
Indeed, droppings and footprints were visible everywhere on the road.
Taking out his walkie-talkie, he instructed Zhang Tian to pursue eastward from above, following these traces.
"Also, have the other three battalions come and rendezvous."
After giving these instructions, Fang Er called over Wu Guliang and the other two who had been following the procession.
"Do you know where this road leads to the east?"
Wu Guliang and Xiao Jianren remained silent.
Zheng Zaigao stepped forward and said, "Reporting to my Lord, another hundred li east of here is the territory of the Sīwéi Kingdom!"
Fang Er's brow furrowed deeply.
The Sīwéi Kingdom had always been very docile, usually bullied by Goguryeo and Khitan.
The reason he hadn't subjugated them during the earlier campaign against Goguryeo was that he couldn't find a reason.
These brats, with nothing better to do, were lighting lanterns in the latrine?
Sīwéi, who acted like a puppy in front of Goguryeo and Khitan, dared to provoke the Great Tang?
Who the hell gave them the courage?
After the other three battalions had converged, Fang Er led them on foot, following the traces on the ground, while Zhang Tian flew overhead, providing guidance.
They traveled eastward. The further they advanced, the more scattered debris they found on the sides of the road.
Extinguished campfires, remnants of food, discarded clothing!
In the end, they even found standard-issue Tang Dynasty long sabers and arrows!