Chapter 69 Return to Lingguan Fort

Yang Zhengshan watched all this silently. When he saw Cao Han leaving, he immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Greetings, General!"

"No gifts!"

Zhou Lan dismounted and looked towards the north. There was a hint of sadness between her brows, not as cool and carefree as before.

"How's it going?"

"I have already ordered people to investigate, but the specific situation is still unknown!" Yang Zhengshan replied.

Zhou Lan stared at it intently for a moment, and finally shook her head helplessly.

"We lost!"

The defeat in this battle was too hasty and too thorough, making it somewhat unacceptable, but also reasonable.

She knew better than Yang Zhengshan why they lost the battle.

There are many reasons, but the main reasons are three: first, insufficient preparation and hasty expedition left many loopholes inside and outside the army.

The second court struggle affected the decision-making of the main generals on the front line. Zhang Shouwang always wanted to play it safe, but the court kept forcing him to rush for success.

Third, Chongshan Town had long been corrupt, and the morale and combat effectiveness of the soldiers were far less than before.

As for the strategy of the Hu tribe in the East China Sea, although it was also a reason for the defeat, it was not the main reason.

The current East China Sea Hu tribe is cunning, but they were equally cunning in the past, but this cannot be an excuse for their defeat.

"General, what should we do next?" Yang Zhengshan asked softly.

Zhou Lan pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go back to Guancheng first!"

"Over there, the general!" Yang Zhengshan couldn't help but remind.

He could go back to Guancheng without caring about anything, but Zhou Lan was the guerrilla general of the left battalion of Zhenbiao, and the fifth battalion of Zhenbiao was the direct subordinate of Zhang Shouwang, the general of Chongshan Town.

It may be a bit of an exaggeration to say that Zhou Lan was Zhang Shouwang's confidant, but she definitely had a close relationship with Zhang Shouwang.

"I have received the news. Although the main camp was destroyed, the commander's tent did not suffer too much damage. The Marquis has already led the remaining troops to evacuate westward and does not need our support!" Zhou Land said.

Since Zhou Lan said so, Yang Zhengshan naturally had no objection.

After a brief packing, Yang Zhengshan led the grain team and followed Zhou Lan back to Chongshan Pass.

It was two days later when they returned to Chongshan Pass.

The entire Chongshan Pass was in chaos. As soon as Zhou Lan returned to Chongshan Pass, she was immediately busy, while Yang Zhengshan returned to Linguan Fort with food and fodder.

That's right, he was bringing food and supplies back with him.

Because at this time no one cared about him, and no one cared about the food and supplies he transported.

Of course, he was able to bring the grain and grass back to Linguan Fort with Zhou Lan's promise, because these grain and grass originally belonged to the Zhenbiao Zuoying.

Although the Zhenbiao Zuoying had withdrawn to Chongshan Pass, the food and fodder had already been taken out and naturally could not be transported back to the pass.

In addition to food and fodder, Yang Zhengshan also brought back three hundred oxen and mules and grain carts. As for the laborers, after returning to Linguan Fort, Yang Zhengshan handed them over to the Dusi Yamen.

He can keep things, but not people.

Linguan Fort, inside the government office.

"Dad, you're not hurt!"

When he saw Yang Zhengshan, Yang Minghao looked him up and down, and only felt relieved when he saw that he was not injured.

This time when Yang Zhengshan went out of the country, he did not bring Yang Minghao with him. After all, Yang Minghao did not hold any position in the army.

In the study, Yang Zhengshan took off his heavy cloth armor and asked, "Is everything okay in the castle?"

"We are all well and good, but the people in Guancheng are in a panic!"

"Everyone says we lost the war, Dad. Is that true?"

Yang Minghao quickly brought tea and asked worriedly.

Yang Zhengshan was thirsty, so he took a sip of the tea and said, "We are indeed defeated!"

"Will we be in trouble?" Yang Minghao asked.

Yang Zhengshan thought about it and said, "I don't know. Let's wait and see!" He had no control over this matter and could not intervene. As for the outcome, it depended on Zhou Lan's actions.

However, he estimated that it should have little to do with him. He was just a grain transport officer. After going to the battle, they not only beheaded nearly three hundred people, but also transported grain four times. He had both merits and hard work. Even if the court wanted to punish him, it could not erase his merits.

"By the way, have you received any letters from home?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Have!"

Yang Mingzhi showed a bright smile on his face, and quickly took out two letters from the bookcase next to him and handed them to Yang Zhengshan.

"Cousin Wenyuan passed the exam and became a scholar, and he even ranked first!"

Yang Zhengshan raised his eyebrows, opened the letter and started reading.

It is now the end of July and the college entrance examination has ended for more than a month. Yang Mingcheng and Lu Wenyuan have already returned to Anning County from Jing'an Prefecture.

Looking at the contents of the letter, Yang Zhengshan was also quite happy.

Lu Wenyuan is only seventeen years old this year, but he can get the first place in the exam, which shows that he has a high talent for studying.

He really hoped that Lu Wenyuan could have a bright future, and it would be best if he could pass the imperial examination and become an official.

In this way, the Yang family can be considered to have connections in the officialdom.

"Please write a letter back to let them know you're safe!" Yang Zhengshan ordered.

His family must have been worried when he went out this time. Now that he is back safely, he naturally wants to report his safety.

"Okay, I'll write it right away!" Yang Minghao replied.

With Yang Zhengshan's return, the entire Linguan Fort was filled with joy. Of course, the military households were not happy for Yang Zhengshan, but for the safe return of their loved ones.

But this joy was also mixed with a bit of sadness. There were one hundred soldiers from Linguan Fort who went out of the border this time, ninety-nine returned, and only one died in battle.

Among the ninety-nine joys, this sadness stands out particularly strongly.

After a simple tidying up, Yang Zhengshan personally brought Yang Mingzhi, Yang Mingwu and others to the residential area behind the government office.

In the square courtyard, a family of four were wailing while holding the ashes of the deceased.

Standing outside the courtyard gate, Yang Zhengshan looked at the family of four and felt a little sad.

When their comrades died in battle, they were unable to send their bodies home and could only bring back their ashes.

He was very familiar with the soldier who died in the battle. His name was Li Dazhu, and he was an honest-looking farmer. The Li family was originally a large family living together like the Yang family, but when the Hu cavalry entered the pass last year, the village where the Li family lived was attacked.

There were more than ten people in the family, but only five of them escaped death.

The remaining four people are Li Dazhui's mother, wife and two children.

Yang Zhengshan was very glad that Li Dazhu still had children, otherwise the family would have been completely broken up.

"Please grief!"

Yang Zhengshan didn't know how to comfort her. Perhaps any words of comfort would seem pale and powerless at this time.

He took a tray from Yang Mingwu, on which were placed four small silver ingots weighing five taels each.

"Li Dazhu is a hero of Linguan Fort, a hero of Chongshan Town, and a hero of Darong. His family should enjoy the glory he earned with his life!"

Yang Zhengshan said solemnly.

He didn't say this to the Li family, but to the other people in Linguan Fort.

Now that only an orphan and a widow are left in the Li family, they will inevitably be neglected and bullied. Yang Zhengshan naturally will not tolerate such a thing, so he must make his point clear.

Of course, just a few words cannot guarantee that the Li family can live a stable life in the future. He will still take care of the Li family in the future.

Yang Zhengshan didn't take much with him from Li's house. He just put down the silver and left.

"Please take care of the Li family in the future and don't let them get bullied!"

After leaving the Li family, Yang Zhengshan explained to Old Li.

"I understand, old man!" Old Li responded quickly.

(End of this chapter)