The scattered clouds and withered grass against the setting sun, the vast yellow sand swept by a desolate wind; a lonely village empty of people, scorched by war, the stench of blood crushing the grass in the trenches.
Another poem says, white bones exposed in the wilderness, not a cock crows for a thousand miles. One in a hundred of the populace survives, thinking of them tears the heart.
Due to the war, the journey south for Zhou Fugui and his companions was extremely arduous. The land was desolate, the farmland abandoned, and all industries withered. As far as the eye could see, it was all wilderness, overgrown with weeds. Among the weeds, one could even see stark white bones and some tools, clothing, and the like, a scene of utter desolation. The further south they went, the worse it became.
After passing Pengcheng, Zhou Fugui and his group had traveled over two hundred li without seeing a single human figure. This filled them with a sense of dread, a chilling spectacle, and even a touch of panic.
The once prosperous central plains had, due to the war, become a collection of ruins.
Of the common people in the central plains, some died and some fled, leaving less than one in ten.
"This damned rain, it simply won't stop."
As the saying goes, it never rains but it pours. Zhou Fugui's Guadgan Battalion had been marching all day and couldn't find a place to camp. A continuous autumn rain had been falling, not heavy, but a persistent drizzle that was vexing and exhausting.
A Yan army general from the Guadgan Battalion desperately whipped his horse, which was stuck in the mud, cursing as he did.
"Don't you know it rains a lot in the south? What a surprise," Lieutenant General Murong Tengge snapped at the general. He then looked into the misty distance and asked those around him, "What time is it?"
"Bu Da..." A deputy general of the Guadgan Battalion named Ma Geang Luo rode his horse to Murong Tengge's side and said, "It's past Yinshi. The army is already exhausted and needs to find a place to camp quickly."
Yinshi was during the day, but the sky was shrouded in mist. Murong Tengge nodded and murmured, "Where can we camp?"
Ideally, when setting up camp, besides towns, it's best to have mountains, water, and forests. This allows for defense against enemy attacks; water provides a source for drinking and prevents the enemy from cutting off supply, thus causing panic in the army; forests offer shade from the sun or rain, and can be used for felling timber for fires and cooking.
Places with free-flowing water can even prevent the spread of epidemics.
In this era of great contention, wars are frequent, and epidemics spread accordingly. War and epidemics, these two unfortunate companions, always go hand in hand.
But now, the wilderness where the Guadgan Battalion was located was neither here nor there. Not a soul was to be seen, neither mountains, nor water, nor forests. Thus, Murong Tengge was troubled.
"Where is Officer Wang?" Murong Tengge asked after a moment of thought.
Those nearby summoned Officer Wang, the army's interpreter and guide.
"Is there anywhere nearby to camp?" Murong Tengge immediately inquired.
"Yes, there are two places to camp," Officer Wang replied. "This place is still more than thirty li from Xiapi. There are towns near Xiapi, where we can make camp."
"Still more than thirty li away?" Murong Tengge frowned upon hearing this.
"We can't go that far," Deputy General Ma Geang Luo shook his head.
By this time, the Guadgan Battalion was utterly exhausted, both men and horses. Some men and horses were already foaming at the mouth from fatigue, let alone traveling another thirty li, they couldn't even manage a few li.
"Is there anywhere else we can camp?" Murong Tengge nodded and asked again.
"Ma Yue River, less than five li from here," Officer Wang replied. "However..."
"However what? Speak your mind, why hesitate?" Murong Tengge said unhappily.
"The area around Ma Yue River is densely forested. I fear there might be a Southern ambush," Officer Wang replied.
Although this place was still some distance from the frontline of contention between Xia and Yan, after passing Pengcheng, the activities of Xia's righteous armies had become frequent. Xia troops had even dispatched small units to harass the Yan army's rear and supply lines.
"Hmm, I understand. You may go," Murong Tengge nodded.
After Officer Wang left, Murong Tengge turned his questioning gaze to his subordinate generals, but they all chattered incoherently, none offering a good plan.
Murong Tengge was also troubled and indecisive.
Xiapi was farther away, but the road was generally wide and flat, with clear visibility, making it difficult for the Xia army to set an ambush. Ma Yue River was closer, but it was more wooded, and it was difficult to say whether there was an ambush.
Murong Tengge hesitated for a long time, unable to make up his mind where to go and where to set up camp.
Although Murong Tengge was quite knowledgeable, managed his subordinates with considerable leniency, and possessed considerable martial prowess, he was somewhat indecisive in leading his troops.
"Bu Da..." Deputy General Ma Geang Luo advised, "The soldiers are truly too tired to walk. Why not go to Ma Yue River? As for a Southern ambush, there's no need to worry too much."
"What do you mean?" Murong Tengge asked.
"The Southern dynasty has concentrated its main forces along the Huai River and the Yangtze River," Ma Geang Luo replied. "Even if there are Southern troops here, they would be scattered small groups. And behind us, we have the Dragon Cavalry and Xiong Yong Battalions, totaling over six thousand men. With that, why should we fear a few scattered Southern soldiers?"
With the Guadgan, Dragon Cavalry, and Xiong Yong Battalions advancing together, the furthest distance between them was only ten li. There were also Yan army garrisons in nearby towns. Therefore, Ma Geang Luo's words were not unreasonable.
"Very well, as you say," Murong Tengge finally made up his mind. He let out a long sigh, then waved his whip and ordered those around him, "However, we cannot be careless. Be vigilant. Pass the order to march towards Ma Yue River. Send out more scouts and outriders. Report any abnormalities immediately. Order someone to hurry the Dragon Cavalry and Xiong Yong Battalions. Those lazy donkeys, they walk slower than turtles."
"Hahahaha!"
"As Bu Da General orders!"
Upon hearing this, all the generals laughed heartily and loudly acknowledged the order.
...
"Order the entire army to quickly cross the Ma Yue River and set up camp on the north bank!"
Ma Yue River, as the name suggests, is a small river that horses can leap over. However, that's not the case now. The river is about thirty meters wide, or about ten zhang. Horses cannot leap across it. The banks are deep, but the water is not deep, only flowing shallowly. In some places, it has even dried up, revealing the riverbed and mud.
Lieutenant General Murong Tengge, leading over two thousand men of the Guadgan Battalion, cautiously and nervously passed through the forest and arrived at this spot. Seeing the situation, he was overjoyed and repeatedly issued orders.
Having safely passed through the forest, which was most prone to ambushes, Murong Tengge felt greatly relieved.
At Murong Tengge's command, the Ma Yue River became a scene of great commotion. Shouts of men and neighs of horses filled the air, making it lively.
The troops, some on foot, some on horseback, swarmed into the river and surged towards the opposite bank. Thousands of soldiers and horses stepped into the shallow water, splashing up waves and making a rushing sound.
"Quietly tell the brothers not to rush to cross the river yet." As the Guadgan Battalion crossed the Ma Yue River, Zhou Fugui's banner also surged towards the opposite bank. Zhou Fugui felt something was wrong, so he said to Xu Mancang, Pan Jiangu, Suo Dacheng, Li Qing, and others, and secretly gave a look to Xiao Qing, who was still disguised as a man, signaling her to stay close to him and not wander far.
In fact, Xiao Qing had been sticking close to Zhou Fugui without him needing to signal, almost clinging to him...
Although Xu Mancang, Pan Jiangu, Suo Dacheng, Li Qing, and the others didn't know Zhou Fugui's intentions, they nodded, clustered around Zhou Fugui, and watched the lively and noisy Ma Yue River, temporarily not following them into the river.
However, some of their fellow villagers did not heed Zhou Fugui's words. Li Hu, one of their fellows, asked dismissively, "Zhou Fugui, what do you mean by this? Hurry up and cross the river, so we can rest early. We're all exhausted from this journey."
"Hmph, if you want to die, then go," Zhou Fugui snorted back unhappily.
"Zhou Fugui, are you cursing me to death?" Li Hu was furious upon hearing this, pointed at Zhou Fugui and cursed him, then reached out to grab him.
"Li Hu, if you want to die, then go. Why resort to violence?" Xu Mancang grabbed Li Hu's wrist coldly and said.
Xu Mancang was strong, and Li Hu couldn't move.
Others might not know, but Xu Mancang was utterly impressed with Zhou Fugui.
"Hey, folks, why are you arguing like this?" The old blacksmith Yi Jisheng advised and then asked Zhou Fugui, "Fugui, why can't we cross the river?"
Xu Mancang let go of Li Hu's wrist with a "humph." Li Hu stumbled a couple of steps, his face turning red.
Zhou Fugui, in a bad mood, had spoken somewhat sharply. Realizing it was inappropriate, he squatted by the bank, reached out to feel the shallow river water, and then pointed to the sky, saying, "What is falling from the sky?"
"Rainwater, what else? It's not knives..." Liu Changshun muttered.
"Slap!" Gu Gounu, who was on good terms with Liu Changshun, slapped him and said, "What are you doing joining in the fun here? Brother Fugui, you continue."
Zhou Fugui glanced at Gu Gounu and said, "I'd rather it were knives. I don't know what the river is usually like, but it's been raining constantly, and the river wouldn't be this shallow."
"You mean to say...?" Li Qing pondered Zhou Fugui's words seriously and asked, "Someone blocked the flow?"
"Wouldn't that be possible?" Yi Jisheng also touched the river water and said, "Perhaps this river is usually dry. Look over there, the riverbed is exposed."
"Whether the water flow has been blocked or not, I don't know, but I do know one thing: when things are abnormal, there must be something fishy!" Zhou Fugui nodded at this. "Have you noticed the watermarks? How can there be high, still-wet waterlines on the banks of a river that has been dry for a long time?"
Ah? Zhou Fugui's words made them realize the truth, and they were greatly surprised, nodding in agreement.
"What are you doing?" More and more fellow villagers gathered around Zhou Fugui, discussing amongst themselves and not crossing the river. The banner officer Albugu saw this and shouted, "Why aren't you crossing the river? If you delay setting up camp, you will all be executed without mercy!"
"Rumble!"
"Oh no, the water is rising, the water is rising!"
Just as Albugu uttered the word "executed," a thunderous roar came from the distance, as if from the sky.