owlsbooks Chapter 264 Returning Home
Chapter 264 Returning Home
Two months later.
A boat stopped at the Yidufu Wharf.
Wang Daniu couldn't wait to jump onto the board, and led Daqing to run happily towards the dock, laughing like a fool.
"Daqing, we're finally home..."
"I almost threw up on the boat."
Da Qing, carrying his bag, rolled his eyes, wishing he could speak up and complain in front of so many people.
"You live in the cabin every day, but you can still enjoy the breeze on the deck."
"I'm the one stuck in the animal pen, only able to go out and have fun at night when everyone else is asleep..."
Yang Silang followed behind at a leisurely pace, but the moment his feet touched the ground, he couldn't suppress a smile.
"I'm back..."
The journey was extremely arduous.
Ever since that time I was forcibly conscripted into the army, broke through the encirclement, boarded a boat, reached the other side of the river, and arrived in Liangzhou Province.
Yuanwei Escort Agency indeed had extensive connections; Guo Laogan quickly took care of the relevant matters and settled everyone in.
After resting for seven or eight days, they replenished their ranks with bodyguards and escorts from the branch office, and even took on a few large escort missions on the side.
Regroup and set off.
Yang Silang and Wang Daniu set off with the group.
This time, Guo Laogan stopped hoping for a lucky break and obediently took a roundabout route to stay away from the turbulent Jiangbei Province.
Thus, the group traveled through several provinces, climbing mountains, walking along plank roads, and traversing waterways.
Along the way, they encountered thieves and bandits, as well as some monsters and evil spirits. They even encountered powerful families setting up checkpoints and the government delaying tax collection for ten years.
However, compared to the experience of being forcibly conscripted into the army and used as cannon fodder in Jiangbei Province, it was nothing.
We also saw many beautiful sights along the way.
But after being away from home for a long time, I always miss home.
Since leaving Jiangdong Province at the end of March, it is now mid-October. More than half a year has passed since the two of them traveled back and forth to take the martial arts examination.
The two entered the city and went straight home.
The city was somewhat deserted than when they left, which was normal, as the major battle in Jiangbei Province had blocked the river channels from Jiangdong Province to the north, hindering trade.
Even though Yang Silang and his companions were skilled in martial arts, they still had to take a long detour to return safely. How could those merchants, carrying ordinary and cumbersome goods, possibly make it through?
In addition, the two had heard the news a few days earlier while on the ship.
Governor Chen's troops suffered a major defeat, being routed by various rebel kings and losing all their armor and weapons. Of the more than 200,000 troops, only a few thousand remnants escaped from Jiangbei Province.
Jiangbei Province has now completely fallen.
The two passed by a large teahouse and overheard people inside talking loudly about something.
Yang Silang stood outside the teahouse, listening intently.
"Governor Chen suffered a crushing defeat. It was said that as soon as he left Jiangbei Province, an imperial envoy arrived with a decree, verified his identity on the spot, and beheaded him..."
"Hiss... That was a first-rank official with the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and he just died like that?"
"He commanded an army of 200,000, all of whom perished in Jiangbei Province. For the first time, our Shun Kingdom lost an entire province. If we don't kill him, who should we kill?"
"He deserves to die! I heard from my cousin that after his generals suffered their first defeat, they forcibly conscripted the remaining people of the prefecture into soldiers, regardless of their social status, and used them all to fill the trenches. They truly deserve to die!"
"I don't know much about Governor Chen's affairs, but I have a relative who was forcibly conscripted into the army and escaped from Jiangbei with his life on the line. He said that the battle was really fierce. In the final battle, several prefectures were turned into battlefields, and the fighting was back and forth, and almost all of them were burned to the ground."
"Are the officers and soldiers really that brutal?"
"Of course! He was captured by soldiers under a general surnamed Wang. Luckily, he knew some martial arts and survived by sheer luck. That Wang forcibly conscripted civilians into the army, and only those who fought and risked their lives for him could get a couple of mouthfuls of porridge mixed with sand."
"The worst part was that there wasn't enough food. Later, he accepted the surrender of another group of bandits, and then considered these able-bodied civilians a burden. Anyone who hadn't learned martial arts was forcibly locked outside the city gates to fend for themselves!"
"Huh... this guy surnamed Wang is so vicious, what happened to him in the end?"
"Ha, it's laughable. My relative said that because he did so many things that angered both heaven and man, many martial artists were recruited into the army and kept in the city, but their entire families were driven out of the city and died quietly."
"So one night, these warriors, burdened with deep-seated hatred, simply opened the city gates and let the rebel army in."
"General Wang's entire army was wiped out. He, his son, and his trusted subordinates surrendered. They didn't even accept the bandits and rebels. They just fired a round of rockets and burned them to death in the county government office. Not even ashes were left."
"Tsk tsk tsk, good riddance!"
Yang Silang and Wang Daniu exchanged a glance outside the shop, greatly surprised.
Unexpectedly, after going around in circles, I finally heard about General Wang's fate.
"Serves you right!" Wang Daniu said succinctly.
Yang Silang nodded.
"Serves you right!"
That guy was a monster in human skin, good riddance!
Forcibly conscripting civilians into the army was already inhuman enough, but then locking these poor people who had risked their lives for him outside the city gates was even more inhuman.
Fortunately, evildoers get their just desserts.
Burning him to death would be too lenient.
The two had traveled a long and arduous journey, all thanks to this person.
Upon hearing of his death, Wang Daniu immediately went to a tavern to buy wine and meat, preparing to have a good drink that evening.
Upon hearing of his death, Wang Daniu immediately went to a tavern to buy wine and meat, preparing to have a good drink that evening.
Once back in the courtyard.
The gate was locked with an iron lock. After opening the gate...
The yard was still very tidy, the ground was clean, and even the hay prepared in the stable was tender.
It doesn't look like a courtyard I haven't stayed in for more than half a year at all.
As the two were leaving, Master Tong Renyuan said he would send his disciples over regularly to clean, and he kept his word.
Yang Silang entered the courtyard and closed the door.
Daqing let out a long hiss.
"Da Niu, quickly take off those bags from your clothes..."
"I can finally relax..."
Wang Daniu unloaded his luggage, and Daqing shuddered, causing the saddle, stirrups, and bit on his body to fall to the ground automatically.
He stood up abruptly, went straight to his luxurious wooden cabin, and lay down on the enormous bed. Cross your legs, open your mouth and inhale.
He gulped down the clear water in the water tank next to him, let out a burp, and then exclaimed how comfortable it felt.
A thought flashed through Yang Silang's mind.
She Nu and Shu Miaosheng appeared, both with joy on their faces.
For most of the past six months, I've been confined to my Niwan Palace (a point on the back of the body), but I'm finally home and can finally let loose.
She Nu transformed herself, now wearing a cook's outfit, and went to work at the stove.
Shu Miaosheng, dressed in a gray servant's uniform, was busy ventilating the rooms, lighting fires to boil water, and cleaning the furniture.
Yang Silang wore a silver chain bracelet on his wrist, inlaid with an amber pebble, which trembled a few times.
The little aunt flew out; she was still a three or four-year-old girl with a high ponytail, wearing a red bib, red trousers, and satin shoes.
Curious, she wandered around each room and then turned to ask Yang Silang.
"Nephew, where are my house and bed?"
Yang Silang rubbed his temples; it seemed the rented courtyard was too small.
Anyway, I don't lack money right now, so it's time to buy another courtyard house in the provincial capital.
He clapped his hands.
"Little sister, you have that stone to shelter you, so you don't need a house or bed for now."
My aunt's eyes reddened as if she was about to cry.
Yang Silang hurriedly said again.
"Don't cry yet. Shall I take you to your mother's place tonight?"
The aunt immediately went from sadness to joy.
"But first, I'll teach you a method to conceal your demonic aura, because we need to meet a white-bearded old man first."
"Just don't let him find out, and you'll be able to see your mother."
The aunt nodded like a chick pecking at rice, very happy. The nephew said that he would have a name when he saw his mother.