Chapter Ninety-One: We're Back! (Third Update)

Upper Valley Commandery, Sheep Head Town.

After two days of rest, the Han troops who had just fought a bitter battle had largely recovered their strength. In the earlier siege fight against the Xiongnu, many Han soldiers had been wounded, but very few had actually fallen. This was partly because of the nature of the fighting: the Han rarely charged out of the fort to meet the enemy head-on, and most of their injuries came while defending the high windows and gates of the fort, or while hurling water outward. Another crucial reason was the medical system that had been established among the cavalry.

Qin Cheng had set down this rule when he first began training the new riders. It could be counted as a major innovation for this age. The arrival of army physicians was of great significance in reducing the number of deaths in an age of blades and spears.

Among the fifteen hundred heavy cavalry, the dead were few, and the seriously wounded were not many either. There were plenty of light injuries, but those did not affect their ability to stand ready for battle. As for the several hundred defenders who had originally been stationed at Sheep Head Town, their losses were heavier, for infantry had borne the brunt of the fighting in the defense of the fort.

During these one or two days of rest in Sheep Head Town, the army itself had been idle in no way, and neither had the scouts. Li Guang wanted to locate the ambush troops the Xiongnu had left among the nearby hills, and so he had spent great effort over these two days secretly sending scouts out to investigate.

After several cautious and concealed reconnaissance runs, the scouts finally discovered three thousand Xiongnu horsemen hidden on a hill nearby. The enemy had concealed themselves extremely well. If the scouts had not been carrying Li Guang's explicit order that the hidden force must be found, they would never have detected them.

In fact, the first few teams of scouts had indeed failed to find the Xiongnu. Only when Li Guang was nearly unable to restrain himself and was about to go investigate in person did Li Gan lead out an elite scouting party and, after much hardship, finally uncover the place where the enemy was hidden.

Ever since the last time Li Gan had acted on his own authority and pursued Yixue'er, only to be captured by her and later rescued by Qin Cheng, his temperament had changed considerably. The most obvious change was that he had become far more modest. He had also come to understand clearly what he was capable of. In truth, Li Gan was quite competent in many respects; only because he had always compared himself with Qin Cheng did he appear somewhat lacking. This time, by patiently finding the place where the Xiongnu had laid up, he had indeed earned a notable merit.

By reckoning the journey, Qin Cheng should have led the light cavalry back to Sheep Head Town this morning if nothing had gone wrong. Yet now it was already noon and there was still no sign of them. Li Guang could not help feeling anxious. Light cavalry was unlike infantry: their speed was astonishing, and half a day was enough for them to cover a great distance. If they had not returned by now, it could only mean that they had encountered some mishap.

Li Guang knew very well that the light cavalry had only been trained for four months and had not yet reached full combat readiness. If they really ran into trouble, it was hard to imagine what the consequences might be. Even if speed gave them an advantage, there were many situations that speed alone could not resolve.

"Father, why don't I take a few men and slip quietly out of the hills to the north to take a look? If something has truly happened to General Qin, we can also make ready our response."

Li Gan knew the position of the hidden Xiongnu cavalry. If he brought only a few men, he was confident he could slip past the hills under enemy watch without being discovered. Out of concern for Xiongnu surveillance and interception, Li Guang had not sent out any mounted patrols in the past two days.

Li Guang frowned and thought for a long while. In the end, he felt it would be good to let Li Gan go and scout the situation; at the very least, it was better than sitting here in blind anxiety with no idea what to do.

"Take my personal guards with you," he said. "But be careful. Do not let the Xiongnu discover your tracks. If you meet Qin Cheng, then move quietly to the foot of Sheep Head Mountain. Once there, signal me, and I will lead the army out at once. Together we will strike at the Xiongnu on that mountain and catch them in the trap!"

Sheep Head Mountain was where the Xiongnu cavalry had indeed set their ambush.

Li Guang continued, "If you do not meet Qin Cheng, or if something else goes wrong..."

At that, his brow tightened, and he lowered his voice. "If that happens, act according to the situation. Best would be to return first and reestablish contact with the main army before making any further plans."

"Rest easy, Father. Your son understands," Li Gan said solemnly.

"Good. I will have Li Hu go with you."

"No need. Ten riders will be enough. Too many men will only make it harder to keep our tracks hidden."

Li Guang looked at the son who seemed to have grown mature overnight, and a wave of comfort rose in his heart. At the same time, he felt a touch of pride, and his voice softened.

"Then go quickly. The army will wait for your news."

"Yes!"

Li Gan and Li Guang came out of the central tent. Li Guang personally assigned Li Gan ten of his own riders, and Li Gan led them quietly out of Sheep Head Town.

Li Guang watched until Li Gan disappeared from sight, saying nothing. Li Hu stood nearby, wanting to speak but holding back.

"If you have something to say, say it. When did you become so indecisive?" Li Guang asked him.

Li Hu hesitated, then said, "I am not one to meddle in the general's family matters. It is only that the young general's mission is far too dangerous. How can the general feel at ease? For a task like this, the general need only give me the order, and I would go myself..."

He knew that Li Guang had always doted on Li Gan, and that was why he said it.

Li Guang looked at this man beside him, one who had followed him through life and death for many years and had saved him countless times. His tone became grave.

"Li Gan has grown up. A man, when he reaches this age, ought to shoulder what he must."

"But there is no need for such a dangerous errand," Li Hu said.

Li Guang straightened his expression and looked at Li Hu seriously.

"In the army, especially at a time like this, when have any of us not lived with our heads tied to our belts? Once one has become a soldier, life and death are no longer one's own to decide. For a man of arms, there are too many things more important than life. Before now, Li Gan was still young. Now is the time for him to bear it all."

Seeing that he had still not convinced Li Hu, Li Guang pondered for a moment, then went on.

"Li Hu, tell me this: one day, when these old bones of ours can no longer lift blade or spear, or if we fall first on the battlefield, who besides the younger generation will be able to hold up the realm of the Han army?"

Li Hu was startled by the words and lifted his head sharply. Seeing Li Guang's resolute expression, he understood that Li Guang spoke from the bottom of his heart. He had nothing further to say, and could only lower his head in silence.

Li Hu understood then that this final sentence was the true heart of the matter.

In Li Guang's heart, he hoped that Li Gan would one day achieve something of his own, that he would command Han soldiers in some region as Li Guang himself did, bring merit to the Great Han, receive titles and fiefs, and become a famed general of his age.

This feeling had grown stronger ever since Qin Cheng appeared, and especially now, after Qin Cheng had accomplished that unprecedented feat of a thousand-mile desert raid.

What parent in the world does not hope for a child to rise above the common lot?

And Li Guang, who had risen from an ordinary soldier to become the renowned Flying General, understood better than anyone what the younger generation of the army most needed to grow.

Honing.

Even if the price was life itself.

...

After breaking away from Yixue'er, Qin Cheng led the light cavalry on a wide detour and finally entered the Great Wall at noon that day, then rode straight toward Sheep Head Town.

Today was New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Eve, soldiers still held their sabers aloft and swung them on the battlefield.

That was the destiny of men of war. Yet Qin Cheng still wanted, on this day, to bring back the light cavalry who had followed him through two great battles, back to Upper Valley Commandery. At the very least, he wanted these brothers, who had gone through life and death at his side and won great merit, to spend New Year's Eve within Han territory, in a familiar barracks, and have a proper New Year's night.

Once they had crossed the Great Wall, Sheep Head Town was not far off.

"General, riders ahead. They're ours!" Qin Qingzhi had remarkably sharp eyes and often spotted things in the distance before anyone else. He was probably naturally near-sighted in the opposite direction. Seeing more than a dozen horsemen charging toward them ahead, he cried out in delight.

At his shout, the soldiers all brightened.

For this band of light cavalry, who had ridden far from home, deep into enemy land nearly a thousand li, won two battles out of two, and were now returning in triumph, to see comrades on their own soil at this moment was beyond doubt something to rejoice over.

We are back.

Back with brilliant military merit in hand!

Every light cavalryman wanted to shout it aloud.

The one approaching was none other than Li Gan.

When Li Gan saw the great mass of Han riders ahead from afar, he let out a breath and a sincere smile spread across his face.

"General Qin!"

He cupped his fists deeply before Qin Cheng. "This subordinate has come under the general's command to receive the army home in triumph!"

"How is the general? What is the situation in Sheep Head Town?" Qin Cheng returned the salute and asked.

Li Gan replied, "To answer General Qin, our army fought the Xiongnu for a full day and night a few days ago. At the critical moment, we were fortunate to receive news that the general had gone north and struck a victorious blow against the Xiongnu. That forced the enemy host to withdraw. Over these two days, the general has been thinking of General Qin with great concern, constantly hoping for your triumphant return. Only..." Here Li Gan paused, then lowered his voice. "There are still three thousand Xiongnu hidden in ambush outside Sheep Head Town, and they urgently need to be broken by General Qin together with the army at Sheep Head Town!"

Qin Cheng nodded. "Very good. We will join forces with the general at once and take these ambushing Xiongnu together."

After they finished speaking, the two set out together toward Sheep Head Town. Along the way, Li Gan explained the situation of the Xiongnu ambush on Sheep Head Mountain and the plan for attacking the enemy cavalry. Qin Cheng found Li Guang's strategy feasible and had no objections. The spirited light cavalry force simply waited until they neared Sheep Head Mountain, at which point they would send a signal to Li Guang in Sheep Head Town and combine their strength to smash the ambushed Xiongnu.

After Qin Cheng and Li Gan had settled the arrangements, Li Gan smiled. "General Qin's thousand-mile desert raid has now been brought to completion, with many enemy heads taken. A marquisate must surely be within reach. I truly admire you, and envy you as well!"

"This operation succeeded first because the general at Sheep Head Town fully cooperated and drew out the enemy main force, and then because the light cavalry fought desperately. Only then did we achieve such results. As for me, Qin Cheng, I really have nothing worth boasting of. Even the guide Shan Jia's contribution is greater than mine."

As he spoke, Qin Cheng smiled and glanced at Shan Jia.

Li Gan noticed that glance at Shan Jia and immediately cupped his fists toward him. "So this must be General Shan Jia. In this battle, General Shan Jia has made an indispensable contribution. I must say I am rather jealous."

Shan Jia gave a faint smile and returned the salute, but said nothing.

Li Gan was still speaking with the others when Qin Qingzhi, who had been watching the road ahead the whole time, suddenly changed color. He stared fixedly into the distance for a long while before warning Qin Cheng.

"General, a large force of cavalry has appeared ahead. It looks like the Xiongnu!"

At once, everyone turned to look.

Sure enough, a great mass of Xiongnu horsemen had appeared in the distance, and they were charging straight toward Qin Cheng and the others.

The tail end of the enemy cavalry was still within the mountain pass. They were many in number, no fewer than three thousand riders.