Brother Cheng, what are you saying, as if I wouldn't be able to return! It's fine, if I can't win, I can still run. Besides, I don't plan to engage with the Goguryeo army this time. A distant shot will suffice, you must know this better than I do.
Fang Er was deeply moved by Cheng Yaojin's words.
Then let that brat Chumo go with you!
Cheng Yaojin fell silent for a moment before speaking.
Fang Er was startled.
I'm going too.
Yuchi Baolin and Cheng Chumo walked over. Hearing Cheng Yaojin's words, they interjected.
Brother Fang, you can't leave your brothers out of such an exciting event.
Yuchi Baolin placed his hand on Fang Er's shoulder and said with a smile.
Brother Fang, the three of us brothers together, with the New Year just over a month away, let's send some New Year's gifts to Goguryeo!
Cheng Chumo also chimed in.
Fang Er felt a warmth in his heart.
This northward journey was absolutely fraught with peril.
The fact that these two were willing to volunteer to go with him touched Fang Er immensely.
Good! Brothers united, we can break gold!
Fang Er no longer refused.
He embraced the two.
Since it's decided, let's set off immediately. The sooner we arrive, the less time Goguryeo has to move their artillery.
The next morning.
Fang Er, Cheng Chumo, and Yuchi Baolin, leading a thousand soldiers, headed towards Liaodong.
That same evening, they reached the outskirts of Yan Commandery.
They dispatched two soldiers from the Extermination of Barbarians Army to scout the situation.
Yuan Gai Suwen had taken all the soldiers with him when he went to Beiping.
This place was now an empty city.
Only some residents, who had lived there for generations, were unwilling to leave.
They rested there for a night.
As soon as dawn broke, they set off again.
Outside Liaodong Commandery, there were already Goguryeo soldiers on the city walls.
After all, this area bordered Goguryeo.
It was not strange to have garrisoned troops here.
Fang Er found a local farmer.
He gave him an ounce of silver and asked him to go into the city to gather information.
He also promised him a generous reward if he brought back useful intelligence.
An hour later, the farmer returned, swaying and with visible injuries.
What happened?
Fang Er asked nervously.
Those damned bandits! Not only did they rob me of the money Young Master gave me, but they also whipped me.
Fang Er felt relieved at his words.
He had Zhuzi tend to his wounds.
Tell me about the situation in the city.
Yes, Young Master.
There are now ten thousand Goguryeo soldiers garrisoning Liaodong City. They arrived for a rotation just the day before yesterday. I heard the original garrison was escorting something to Shenyang, and these soldiers came from Shenyang.
Escorting something to Shenyang?
Artillery?
It must be!
Anshan and Benxi are around Shenyang.
As the saying goes, people live off the land and water.
That area is an iron ore region, so there must be many skilled craftsmen who work with iron!
Alright, thank you. Zhuzi, give him the money.
After Fang Er spoke, he turned to look at Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin.
It seems we need to take a trip to Shenyang.
If we have to go, we'll go. Anywhere with Brother Fang is fine!
Cheng Chumo said with a chuckle.
Then, let's go!
Everyone mounted their horses, asked the farmer for directions, and headed towards Shenyang.
Along the way, they were already in Goguryeo territory.
Therefore, they proceeded with extreme caution.
Not long after passing Yan Commandery, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
The weather grew increasingly cold.
Fang Er felt as if he would freeze to death on his horse.
Passing a village, they discovered corpses everywhere.
The ground was covered in blood, staining the melted snow.
"Big brother, this must have been raided by bandits," Cheng Chumo said.
The sight of the corpses, especially those of children, filled Fang Er with rage.
Clear tracks remained on the snow, leading from the village into the nearby mountains.
They were likely left by the bandits.
"Let's go! Annihilate the bandits!"
Fang Er pulled back on his reins and followed the tracks into the mountains.
The thousand-strong contingent wound their way through the mountains for less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
They spotted a stockade in a mountain hollow from a distance.
Fang Er raised his four-times scope and looked towards the stockade.
In the open space in the center of the stockade, a large bonfire blazed.
There was no sign of anyone around.
"Big Ox, find someone agile to go take a look."
Big Ox behind him heard Fang Er's words and shouted to the crowd.
"You, go take a look, be careful."
A gaunt man rushed out from the Extermination of Barbarians Army behind Fang Er and crept towards the stockade.
Perhaps because of the cold weather.
There were no sentries outside the stockade.
"Donkey" easily infiltrated the stockade.
After a while, he ran out from inside.
He was followed by several bandits wielding knives, chasing him.
Before Fang Er could speak, Zhuzi led his men to intercept.
Those bandits were no match, and they were quickly subdued and their hands tied.
"Commander Fang, this is a bandit den! There are many captured women and treasures inside. They are dividing the spoils!"
"There's nothing more to say, leave no one alive!"
Thinking of the children who were cut in half, Fang Er's anger flared.
These people are all beasts!
Cheng Chumo and Yuchi Baolin charged forward on their horses.
Fang Er followed with the others.
Hearing the sound of hooves, the people in the stockade rushed out of their houses.
Upon seeing so many soldiers, their faces immediately turned to terror.
"Boss! Bad news!"
A bandit scrambled on all fours towards a house and frantically pounded on the door.
Inside the house, the bandit leader, looking at the recently captured woman on his bed, was about to engage,
but was startled by the pounding.
He quickly put on his clothes.
He yanked open the door and kicked the bandit outside.
"You son of a bitch! How dare you ruin my good time! Speak!"
"Boss, bad news! Troops are attacking!"
The bandit leader's anger subsided halfway upon hearing this.
Then, he heard thunderous hoofbeats from outside the stockade.
He quickly turned back into the room, grabbed a zhanmadao, and walked out.
"What are you afraid of! We've dealt with soldiers before! Call out the brothers! Let's go fight them!"
The bandit on the ground quickly got up and went to relay the message to the others.
Yuchi Baolin and Cheng Chumo had already approached the stockade gate.
The two simultaneously pulled back on their reins.
The mounts beneath them reared up and then landed heavily.
Their front hooves landed directly on the stockade gate.
The flimsy wooden gate was smashed down by the hooves.
Seeing the bandits rushing out of the houses.
Yuchi Baolin took a crossbow from his back.
He took down one with a single shot.
Then, he looked at Cheng Chumo as if showing off.
Cheng Chumo was displeased.
Fang Er hadn't given him this item.
Fang Er, following closely behind the two, understood what Cheng Chumo was thinking from the expression on his face.
This guy was eyeing Yuchi Baolin's crossbow again.
He looked around.
The soldiers were rushing towards the houses.
No one was looking his way.
Fang Er took out a crossbow and threw it towards Cheng Chumo.
"Chumo, catch!"
Cheng Chumo looked over upon hearing this and was overjoyed to see the crossbow flying towards him.
He quickly reached out and caught it.
Fang Er threw him another box of bolts.