Chapter 853: Xiangping City
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As soon as the princess’s carriage arrived at the city gate, they b.u.mped into Xie Jingliu, who was riding out of the city.
The people from the Xie Residence left separately from Yu Youyao. They set off three days earlier than her.
Firstly, they wanted to come over early to understand the exact situation in Xiangping so that they could plan for the future. Secondly, General An Yuan had personally come to pick up Yu Youyao. The Xie family were only merchants, so it was not appropriate for them to travel together.
Of course, based on their relationship, it was understandable if they traveled together. However, if it involved respect and etiquette, it would be a little inappropriate.
The Xie Residence were all magnanimous people, and everything they did was open and aboveboard. They would never lose their composure because of such a matter and let others gossip about them.
Huang Wenxian was also a straightforward person. He immediately ordered a hundred elite troops, in addition to the experts brought by the Xie Residence, and the group went to Xiangping majestically.
Xie Jingliu quickly dismounted and strode forward. The guards on both sides did not stop him. “After we arrived in Xiangping City, we waited for a few days, but you didn’t come. We sent people to investigate from many sources. Only then did we know that you had been attacked by bandits in the area of Anshan. Grandmother was worried about you, and I was a little worried, so I planned to go along the road to take a look. I didn’t expect to meet your phoenix carriage as soon as I left the city.”
Yu Youyao quickly asked, “Did your journey go smoothly?”
The mountain bandits also had to treat others based on their social standing. The Xie family had brought many experts with them, and the supplies had long been shipped to Xiangping in batches. There were not many supplies accompanying them.
Xie Jingliu said, “With the escort of the elite troops arranged by General An Yuan, the journey naturally went smoothly.” As he spoke, he observed Yu Youyao. Seeing that she looked good and was full of energy, he felt relieved and quickly asked, “Didn’t you agree to come over three days later? Why were you delayed for so long on the way? The news of you being attacked by bandits in the Anshan area has already spread to Xiangping City. Nothing happened, right?”
If they traveled more quickly from Liancheng to Xiangping, it would take about five to six days. If they traveled day by day and did not stop, they would be able to reach in three to four days.
Yu Youyao had been delayed for ten days. Even if she had been attacked by mountain bandits, it wouldn’t have taken so long.
Yu Youyao shook her head. “I accidentally sprained my ankle on the way, so we traveled more slowly. I wasn’t in a hurry to travel, so I simply admired the scenery along the way. Thus, I was a few days late.”
Xie Jingliu was very smart. He immediately knocked her forehead angrily. “I knew it. Previously, our Great-Grandfather suggested that we leave separately and had to leave first. Why didn’t you stop him? You originally planned to send us away long ago and be a heroine yourself. You’re really bold.”
Yu Youyao looked aggrieved. She covered her forehead and glared at him. “Third Cousin, why are you like this? I’m already grown up, but you’re still knocking on my head. If you do this again, I’ll tell our Grandmother that you’re bullying me.”
Xie Jingliu was caught between laughter and tears. “You’re still aggrieved. When we get home, let’s see how you answer to our Grandmother.”
Yu Youyao’s face fell as she looked at her Third Cousin plaintively.
Xie Jingliu couldn’t stand such an expression and his tone softened. “Didn’t you say that you sprained your ankle? Was your injury serious?”
Yu Youyao quickly said, “I didn’t hurt my bones. Auntie is good at ma.s.sage. After recuperating for a few days, I’m fine.” As she spoke, she revealed the front of her shoes under her dress. Her dress blocked the socks at the right time. “I can already walk. I’ll be fine in a few days.”
After the swelling in her feet subsided, she did not bandage it tightly anymore.
She was also wearing ordinary shoes, so she must be fine. Xie Jingliu heaved a sigh of relief. “It’s good that you’re fine. When Grandmother asks later, tell her that you were sitting in the carriage and didn’t let the mountain bandits crash into you. Seeing that the scenery along the way is not bad. You weren’t in a hurry either. You sprained your ankle during the trip.”
The men in the family could most likely guess what was going on in the area of Anshan. In order to prevent their Grandmother from worrying, they had been avoiding the main point. With him covering up from the side, they could also muddle through.
Yu Youyao immediately cheered. “Third Cousin, you’re the best.”
She was usually like a little adult, but when she needed help, she was more coquettish and obedient than anyone else. Xie Jingliu couldn’t help but smile. “Next time, don’t say that I bullied you.”
Yu Youyao blinked with an innocent expression, as if to say, “What are you talking about? Why don’t I understand?”
Xie Jingliu couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s go. Grandfather and the others are still waiting at home.”
Xie Jingliu arranged for a servant to return to the residence in advance to report. He got on his horse and followed the princess’s phoenix carriage.
The princess’s phoenix carriage had four horses and four wheels. It was covered in jewels.
There were more than a thousand You soldiers guarding Liancheng. In front, there were two rows on the left and the right respectively, with 25 people in each row. Thus, there were a total of 100 elite cavalry opening the way.
Each cavalry soldier was wearing cotton armor and sitting high on the back of his horse. He had a long and a short knife on each side of his waist. He held the reins of his horse in one hand and the hilt of the knife at his waist with the other. He was ready to charge at any time.
The warhorse under him was strong and valiant. It gently raised its hooves and smashed them down heavily, making a clicking sound that could always make one’s heart skip a beat.
There were two teams of elite cavalry on each side of the carriage.
Behind the carriage were a hundred soldiers in heavy iron armor.
Just this heavy armor alone weighed more than 60 kilograms. They were carrying a heavy saber on their backs. This heavy saber was the famous Mo saber from the Tang Dynasty. It weighed 20 to 30 kilograms.
This was the Mo Dao team that King Li of Zhou had once use to defeat his enemies on the battlefield.
They could be said to be the most brutal and b.l.o.o.d.y heavy-armored soldiers in history.
At that time, the You army lacked supplies and it was still difficult to fight the Di people. The warhorses were exhausted and could not be replenished, so they could only use infantry to charge. However, how could the infantry resist the valiant Di people’s cavalry?
It was inevitable that there would be too many casualties.
Helpless, King Li of Zhou established the Mo Saber Team.
He chose 1,000 elite soldiers to wear heavy armor and equipped them with Mo sabers. They also practiced the Mo Saber Formation. Later, when the Mo Saber Formation was completed and they had just fought with the Di people, they could cut people and horses to the ground with a single strike.
They had achieved an infantry charge.
However, the Mo saber had an extremely high requirement for soldiers. The armor on their bodies and their weapons added up to more than 50 kilograms. When swinging the Mo saber, one needed to exert great strength and pull out the power of the mountains and rivers. Very few people could charge forward and complete the charge.
The forging process of a Mo saber was also very complicated. It took two to three years to complete a saber.
As Di people were good at riding, the Mo saber was a sharp weapon to restrain the cavalry. Therefore, the soldiers of the You army were equipped with Mo sabers. However, as the production was low, there were only about 20 sabers a year.
It was difficult to use the Mo saber, and it had too high a requirement on the quality of the soldiers. There were not many soldiers who could use it.
At first, it did not play much role on the battlefield.
Gradually, it was placed in the military warehouse.
It wasn’t until King Li of Zhou trained the Mo Saber Team that the reputation of the 1,000 Mo saber users reappeared.
Therefore, the Mo Saber Team was also the army’s trump card.
In addition to these hundred swordsmen, there were almost a thousand light cotton-armored infantry behind them.
The majestic group was in unison. Wherever they went, the commoners retreated and knelt to welcome them.