"My father king's official document?" Xiao Feng frowned and immediately went out to greet them.
It turned out to be several cavalrymen sent by Xiao Chang earlier to Jiaozhou to recruit "comfort women."
Xiao Feng took the official document and glanced at it, sighing, "Father king wants me to reinforce troops again, but Jiaozhou only has fifty thousand defenders left. If I send more troops to Jiangnan, I'm afraid I won't be able to firmly control Jiaozhou... Wait, is this the only official document? Where is my second uncle's official document?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The King said he was busy with military affairs, so one is enough!" The cavalry squad leader replied without blushing, speaking in unison.
"Then how about sending some more comfort women to the front line to serve the Tianri cavalry? Perhaps they will become valiant again, and we'll achieve twice the result with half the effort?" Xiao Feng chuckled.
Upon hearing this, the cavalrymen suppressed their anger. The squad leader quickly persuaded, "The King said we must stabilize the people of Jiaozhou and avoid internal chaos at all costs. We have enough comfort women! As long as the Great Gan army runs out of food and supplies, the King will be able to turn the tide and conquer Jiangnan. Why worry about not having comfort women?"
"Hahaha! Well said, you deserve a reward!" Xiao Feng laughed, and ultimately decided to send an additional ten thousand troops to the front line.
"Young Master, forty thousand defenders might not be enough to pacify the people of Jiaozhou. If the army mutinies again, it will be disastrous..." Dugu Xiao worried.
"Let those disobedient soldiers go to the front line for training and to temper their morale. Isn't that perfect?" Xiao Feng said dismissively.
Ten thousand conscripted new soldiers were sent to the "front line" by Xiao Feng.
Meanwhile, Liang Xiao's mixed forces had advanced four hundred li, the Yizhou legion six hundred li, and Nan Jiyun's cavalry had pushed forward a thousand li!
In the temporary military camp, Liang Xiao conducted his routine inspection, quite satisfied.
The soldiers of Jiaozhou were very cooperative, even voluntarily handing over their weapons to avoid suspicion, as they were not needed for combat at the moment.
This move earned them the trust of all the soldiers, and the two sides became true comrades-in-arms. The Jiaozhou soldiers at the forefront, knowing they were no match for these Great Gan elites, voluntarily offered to take on menial tasks, which was politely declined by the soldiers.
"From the day we enlist, we must learn to be self-reliant. Every morning when we wake up, we must fold and put away our blankets neatly."
The soldiers of Jiaozhou looked astonished and couldn't help but yearn, "We hope we can learn this in the future..."
Former enemies on the battlefield finally put down their arms and were unified under Liang Xiao's command.
That night, an army appeared in the mountains north of Jiaozhou.
It was Lü Changhe leading the White Robe soldiers, along with Shi Liuyun's Jiangnan cavalry, launching a preemptive strike and a surprise attack on Jiaozhou!
"General, we've detected Jiaozhou sending over ten thousand troops north!"
Upon receiving the urgent report from the scout, Lü Changhe and Shi Liuyun exchanged a knowing smile. "It seems the enemy has fallen for the trap!"
The official documents sent by those cavalrymen were real, but a few recruitment notices for comfort women were missing.
"Should we intercept this force and accept their surrender?" Shi Liuyun suggested.
Lü Changhe shook his head.
"Leave it to the Marshal. Our objective is to raid Jiaozhou. If there's no opportunity, we should head south of Jiaozhou to intercept and annihilate the Peacock Dynasty's supply troops and seize land! It's hot south of Jiaozhou, and even in winter, some crops can be planted!"
With their plan decided, the scouts went to reconnoiter Panyu Commandery and found the city gates tightly shut, with defenses as usual.
Pure cavalry was not conducive to sieging cities. Lü Changhe decisively led his troops to bypass Panyu and head straight for the area south of Jiaozhou, traveling day and night.
Several days later, south of Jiaozhou, Tianri cavalry from the Peacock Dynasty were looting and massacring in a village.
Where two thousand cavalrymen passed, it was as if they could overturn the very ground!
Some villagers hid in the deep mountains to protect themselves, while those who couldn't make it suffered the same fate.
"Round up these two-legged sheep! Let's taste the flesh of these girls first, I can't hold back anymore!"
The Tianri cavalrymen cackled lewdly. A woman captured from Panyu was tied to a spare warhorse, facing the night sky, disheveled, her eyes vacant.
She had personally witnessed the Tianri cavalry treating women as provisions and consuming them along the way.
As it was her turn, even ending her own life was a luxury!
Villagers' corpses lay strewn everywhere, fires raged throughout the village, a scene no different from hell on earth.
The young woman on the horse watched the flames, trembling all over, as the mocking laughter of the Tianri cavalry echoed in her ears.
"Don't worry! Today there are other two-legged sheep to eat, so we'll spare you for now! Come and serve us first!"
Just as the Tianri cavalry were about to commit more inhumane atrocities, a furious roar of battle cries and the neighing of horses could be heard from afar.
It was Lü Changhe leading the White Robe soldiers in a swift charge!
"What does Xiao Feng mean?"
The Tianri cavalrymen frowned, mounting their horses to inquire about the situation. Their leader, however, was impaled through the heart by Lü Changhe's spear.
The White Robe soldiers, though weary from their long march, were filled with righteous anger upon witnessing the brutal scene in the village. They rallied their spirits and charged at the Tianri cavalry.
In an instant, the wails of the Tianri cavalry were endless.
For the people of Jiaozhou, the Tianri cavalry, like two thousand locusts, met their end under the might of the White Robe soldiers.
"Did we arrive too late?"
Lü Changhe looked at the devastated village, his heart filled with sorrow.
"General, we've found a Jiaozhou woman!"
Upon receiving the news, Lü Changhe led his troops into the village to rescue the captive.
The young woman on the horse trembled, glaring at the rescuing White Robe soldiers, remaining silent.
Seeing her disheveled and torn clothing, they discreetly turned away.
Lü Changhe personally stepped forward to untie her. As soon as he approached, the young woman spat at him.
Meeting her furious gaze, Lü Changhe quickly glanced at her, a hint of shame on his face.
She was petite, with a beautiful face, and in the prime of her youth, yet she had endured unimaginable bestial acts that would cast a lifelong shadow.
The considerate Lü Changhe instantly understood the young woman's anger.
She probably mistook them for Xiao Feng's men.
Realizing this, Lü Changhe spoke with sincerity, "We are the White Robe soldiers, come from Jiangnan, here to rescue the people of Jiaozhou. I am Lü Changhe, Great Gan's Rear General!"
"Ah?"
The anger in the young woman's eyes turned into blankness, then into hollowness. She allowed Lü Changhe to untie her, tears streaming down her face.
Seeing that the young woman was not moving and was about to fall from the horse, Lü Changhe quickly embraced her small frame. The young woman also clung tightly to Lü Changhe's belt.
Lü Changhe heard her soft sobs and comforted her, "It's alright now. No more 'White Ghosts' will bully you from now on, I promise!"
At this moment, Lü Changhe, having experienced the shame of Yanzhou, had no time to consider the etiquette of not touching a woman. He only felt remorse and sought to comfort her.
The young woman sobbed quietly, offering no response.
Lü Changhe immediately took off his battle robe and draped it over her, continuing to comfort her softly.
When Lü Changhe tried to set her down, he discovered that she had already grabbed his waist tightly and refused to let go. He could even feel her body trembling.
Lü Changhe was startled. He looked again and saw the young woman still weeping silently, a heart-wrenching sight. He immediately held her again and comforted her softly.
But no matter how he questioned her, the young woman only closed her eyes, wept, and trembled.
The White Robe soldiers dared not disturb them.
The last two thousand members of the Tianri tribe had been eliminated, so there was no need to worry about the common people being harmed by them. They had traveled all day and were exhausted.
Lü Changhe finally understood. She was afraid he would leave, and perhaps the moment he left, she would fade away.
Never in his life had he felt such a desire to protect someone, to protect this young woman.
After a long period of contemplation, Lü Changhe bravely asked, "Is the lady betrothed?"
The young woman in his arms only shook her head gently and finally broke down in tears.
"Alas, General..." The surrounding White Robe soldiers kept signaling to Lü Changhe, reminding him not to bring up painful memories for the young woman.
Why bring up what was already painful? With her current state, how could she be married?
Lü Changhe then declared loudly, "My father and my wife have always been worried that I have not taken a concubine. Now, I intend to marry the lady, following the precedent of Marquis Anguo taking a co-wife. If the lady does not mind that I already have a principal wife, would she be willing to marry me and be a co-wife with my wife?"
"What?" As soon as he spoke, the soldiers gasped in shock.
Even the young woman in Lü Changhe's arms looked up in shock, staring at him blankly.
After a long while, the young woman recovered her senses, lowered her head, and replied with a suppressed sob, speaking clearly.
"General, you need not blame yourself or try to compensate me... Life and death are uncertain, let alone this chaotic war... This humble woman has already been defiled by jackals. To be rescued by the General is already a great kindness, and I absolutely cannot tarnish the General's dignity any further..."
The White Robe soldiers cast surprised glances at the young woman.
She was clearly a lady from a prominent family.
"The fault lies not with the lady, but with you, the victim. You need not blame yourself, nor should you punish yourself for the jackals. To be frank, I am fond of you! Your speech is extraordinary, and we are well-matched."
"From this day forward, you are my Lü Changhe's woman. Until the seas run dry and the stones decay, my heart will not change!"