Creak~!
Creak~!
It wasn't until late morning that people in the city began to open their doors and come out.
The soldiers of the Yangwei Army put away their firearms and emerged from their respective courtyards.
Walking onto the streets, they greeted their former comrades with beaming smiles.
Yue Jing slung an arm around Bi Yuntao's shoulder.
"Old Bi, how many did you take down yesterday?"
"Hahahaha, Old Bi took down two yesterday!"
Bi Yuntao boldly held up three fingers and waved them in front of Yue Jing.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, only two? I took down three!"
He then turned to Wei Anfu, who was emerging from a nearby courtyard, clutching his lower back. "Old Wei, how was the battle?
"Didn't embarrass the Yangwei Army, did we?"
Wei Da, with dark circles under his eyes, looked utterly dejected. "Don't even mention it. I got thrashed yesterday!
"Thirteen against me, and I almost didn't see today's sun!"
"Brother Wei, hurry back! Your sister-in-law has stewed soup for you. Drink it before fighting again!"
A beautiful woman peeked out from the courtyard and called to him.
Wei Da shivered. "That's terrifying!"
"Brothers, let's go, let's go, time for training!"
He quickly followed Bi Yuntao and Yue Jing towards the camp.
At this moment, Cheng Yaojin was lying on a golden couch, his mouth agape, while the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom fed him a whole beef tendon.
The Yangwei Army stayed in the city for three days.
For those three days, the busiest people were actually the physicians of the Eastern Women's Kingdom. The soldiers suffering from altitude sickness were cared for meticulously, not even needing to move from their beds.
Bowls of medicinal broth were brought to their bedside, restorative medicines to alleviate altitude sickness.
After three days, nearly everyone's altitude sickness had been treated, and they had recovered into strong, vigorous young men.
Cheng Yaojin, looking at the Yangwei Army in the camp outside, proposed their departure to the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom.
"Alas, I must lead my troops on a campaign. Rest assured, I will destroy Tubo and rescue all the men of the Eastern Women's Kingdom who were captured before!"
The Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom, however, looked reluctant.
"Brother Cheng, after we have destroyed Tubo, will this sister lead our people to return to Tang with you?"
Cheng Yaojin was overjoyed. "Good, good, good!"
The Eastern Women's Kingdom had tens of thousands of women, and these women had already formed an extraordinary bond with the soldiers of the Yangwei Army, who could now be considered the dependents of the Yangwei Army.
If they could all return to Tang with the army, it would be a great cause for celebration.
After mustering his troops, the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom led her people to see them off ten li outside the city.
Along the way, it was like a scene of parting and farewell. Everyone was crying like tearful souls.
As they prepared for the final farewell, the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom lightly bit her cherry lips.
"Brother Cheng, your soldiers are all from the Central Plains and are not accustomed to Tubo's climate.
"It would be good if this sister sent some of our female soldiers to accompany you for support."
Saying this, she turned to Jin Ping and Jin Mei beside her. "You two, take ten thousand female soldiers from our kingdom and accompany Duke Cheng!"
Ensure not a single soldier of the Yangwei Army is harmed!
"Yes! Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will swear to protect all the Yangwei Army soldiers!"
Jin Ping and Jin Mei knelt on one knee, right hand across their chests, and said resolutely.
Cheng Yaojin was bewildered. Since when did the Yangwei Army need a bunch of women to protect them?
But seeing the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom looking as though she would cry if he refused, he had no choice but to agree.
And so.
Ten thousand Yangwei Army soldiers became ten thousand pairs of Yangwei Army soldiers.
Just as they were about to set off, the sound of horses' hooves approached from behind, accompanied by someone shouting.
"Six hundred li urgent! Six hundred li urgent!"
Cheng Yaojin paused for a moment. "Six hundred li urgent?"
He turned to look. The approaching riders were dressed as members of the Hundred Riding Division. He quickly spurred his horse to meet them.
"What is it!"
"Your subordinate, Guawang of the Hundred Riding Division, is here on imperial command to deliver walkie-talkies to Duke Lu!"
Guawang dismounted and saluted Cheng Yaojin.
The Hundred Riding Division soldiers behind him unfastened the bundles on their backs. Upon opening them, they revealed walkie-talkies wrapped in sheepskin with cotton padding.
There were also ten solar power banks.
The walkie-talkies numbered a full two hundred!
"Hahahaha, good, good, good!"
Cheng Yaojin was overjoyed. These things had arrived at the most opportune moment.
Guawang explained the usage of the walkie-talkies and how to charge them to Cheng Yaojin. After Cheng Yaojin had memorized them, he prepared to take his leave.
Cheng Yaojin, however, stopped him.
"Brother, don't rush back. Stay and guard this city for me. The women in this city are now all dependents of the Yangwei Army.
"When I have defeated Tubo, we will return to court together, alright?"
Guawang looked troubled. He still had to report back.
Cheng Yaojin pulled him to the side of the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom.
"Alas, are there still virgins in our kingdom? Arrange something for my brother here, help him get married, how about it?"
The Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom nodded repeatedly. "Brother Cheng, please rest assured, this sister will handle it!"
In these past few days, although the Yangwei Army had been fighting, don't forget that although the Eastern Women's Kingdom was small, it still had seventy to eighty towns.
Those that were a bit further away had not yet been notified, so not only could they get married, but it was possible to arrange a harem for Guawang and his men.
Cheng Yaojin smiled and patted Guawang. "What do you say, are you considering it now?"
Guawang was stunned, and his soldiers were also stunned.
What was going on? The reason they had caught up to Cheng Yaojin was because the city was already empty. Looking at the women around them, these people had all been taken in as dependents by the Yangwei Army?
Were there such benefits for going out to battle?
Seeing Guawang standing there speechless, Cheng Yaojin called to a few of the Queen of the Eastern Women's Kingdom's attendants. "Take good care of my brothers! When I return, I will reward you handsomely!"
"Yes!"
"Brothers, let's go! Follow me to destroy that Langri Songzan, and then, take your wives home!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The Yangwei Army shouted in unison.
Then, ten thousand horses galloped westward.
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Author's Notes: