Chapter 62

In Anyang County, although the war between Qin and Chu had not yet ended, the tense atmosphere between the two sides had greatly eased. The main Qin army began to retreat to the Ying Mountains, and part of the Thunder Army had already set off for the capital of Yong. The refugees gathered in Anyang County also began to return home in batches.

Just like seven or eight years ago, they had been stripped of everything. Most of the men had almost all their clothes taken, leaving only a loincloth to cover their bodies. The plundering behavior of the Qin border army even left their Thunder Army comrades in awe. The people of Anyang, especially those who were a bit older, had already become accustomed to this. Before Zuo Lixing arrived in Anyang, they had lived like this, with the Qin army coming every two to three years. It was only after the western border army rose to power that they had a few good years.

But now, everything was back to square one. The Chu army in Anyang was no longer able to protect them.

On Mount Mao'er, Zhang Xiaomao and his companions saw such returnees every day, passing by in batches. This made their faces burn with shame. As Chu soldiers, seeing their own people suffer such humiliation and being unable to do anything about it made them feel humiliated.

"The scouts sent to Jingjing Pass have returned," Jian Dao said to Zhang Xiaomao. "It has now become the main base of the Qin border army. The Qin border army is building a larger city centered around Jingjing Pass. In the future, it will be even harder for us to take back Jingjing Pass."

Zhang Xiaomao's face darkened, and after a moment, he said, "To take back Jingjing Pass again? Don't even think about it within five years. Unless we have a commander like Commander Zuo in Anyang again, but it took Commander Zuo seven or eight years to successfully occupy half of the Ying Mountains. Times have changed, and our days will be even harder from now on."

Everyone was silent. The Qin people, having regained control of the Ying Mountains, would certainly learn from their mistakes and not repeat them.

"Have the people sent to find Qin Tou not returned yet? It's been so many days," Zhang Xiaomao said to Jian Dao, somewhat anxiously.

Jian Dao shrugged, "The Ying Mountains are so vast, and it's now Qin territory. Finding Qin Tou might be quite difficult."

"What is Qin Tou doing? We can't find him, but he should be able to find us easily. Why hasn't he come back? Could it be... could it be..." Wild Dog, supported by two soldiers, stood with great effort, his eyes filled with sorrow. But when he saw Shu Chang take out another plaster, he immediately covered his mouth.

"The Qin people are coming," the monk suddenly said. "Look, they are carrying a stretcher." The monk's face suddenly showed fear, his eyes wide as he looked at the few people around him.

In an instant, everyone fell silent. The Qin people were carrying a stretcher toward them, and the only person from the Death Battalion still outside was Battalion Commander Qin Feng.

Zhang Xiaomao suddenly ran down the mountain. After a moment of hesitation, the monk and Jian Dao followed closely behind. Shu Chang stood there, his body swaying, a strong sense of foreboding making him almost unable to stand.

"It can't be, it can't be, Qin Lao Da can't be in trouble, can he? The one being carried up can't be him!" Wild Dog muttered, his eyes fixed on the Qin people and the stretcher approaching from below.

With a slap, a plaster was accurately stuck to his mouth. "Shut up!" Shu Chang scolded.

Zhang Xiaomao ran down Mount Mao'er like the wind. In the forest at the foot of the mountain, he met the group of Qin people. The person in front was an old acquaintance, the young Qin officer who had delivered the message up the mountain. Seeing Zhang Xiaomao and the others, he raised his hand, and the Qin soldiers carrying the stretcher stopped. They were not armed, but Zhang Xiaomao did not notice this at the moment.

Rushing to the stretcher, Zhang Xiaomao finally saw the person on it. In an instant, the tension in his body relaxed, and the monk and Jian Dao also let out long sighs of relief. The sound of their sighs was so obvious that the young Qin officer actually laughed.

The person on the stretcher was not the Qin Feng they were worried about, but Guo Jiuling, the Inner Guard from the capital whom Zhang Xiaomao knew.

"Our scouts found this person in the Ying Mountains. General Bian said that given the current ceasefire and the upcoming peace talks in Shangjing, to show our sincerity, we are returning General Guo to your side," the young officer announced.

"Thank you!" Zhang Xiaomao bowed. No matter what, the fact that the Qin side was willing to return a high-ranking Chu officer like Guo Jiuling was indeed a gesture of goodwill. "But why didn't your army return him to the city?"

He pointed to the distant Anyang City.

"I don't want to see the faces of those people in your city," the young officer smiled. "I prefer dealing with Chu people like you. They are a disgrace to soldiers. You and I, though enemies, I still admire you and hope that one day we can face each other on the battlefield."

"If you stay on the border, I think there will be plenty of opportunities," Zhang Xiaomao smiled. "Thank you again."

The monk and Jian Dao walked over, took the stretcher from the Qin soldiers, and turned to head up the mountain. Zhang Xiaomao bowed to the young officer. "We owe you a favor, but we will repay it."

"I hope you owe us more and more favors, but never have the chance to repay them," the young officer countered.

"Is that so? We'll see!" Zhang Xiaomao sneered. "Farewell."

On the mountaintop, Shu Chang let out a deep sigh of relief. "It's not Qin Feng." He turned and ripped the plaster off Wild Dog's mouth, causing Wild Dog to cry out in pain.

"How did you know it wasn't him?" Wild Dog asked as soon as his mouth was free.

"If it were Qin Feng, those three down there would be in deep mourning. Seeing them walk so easily, it's clearly not Qin Feng!" Shu Chang said, looking at Wild Dog.

"That's good, that's good!" Wild Dog grinned, then said after a moment, "Doctor, can you not use plasters on my mouth in the future? Look at me, I haven't even grown a beard in a month. If others see me, they'll think I'm a pretty boy!"

Shu Chang laughed. "A pretty boy who is so dark and ugly, I've never seen before."

Wild Dog's face immediately turned dark.

The stretcher was placed in front of Shu Chang. "Guo Jiuling, Deputy Commander of the Inner Guard, the head of the princess's guards," Zhang Xiaomao said to Shu Chang. "Doctor, he's still breathing. Can you save him? This old man might know something about Qin Tou."

"I hope he doesn't," Shu Chang sighed. "If even Guo Jiuling can be beaten to a pulp, what chance does Qin Feng have? If he really found Princess Zhaohua, it would be even worse."

With a sigh, he reached out to check Guo Jiuling's pulse.