Chapter 296: You're done!

The Great King sent someone to inquire about the group's whereabouts, and when the herd of horsemen driving sheep saw the soldiers herding the sheep, they turned and tried to flee.

After intercepting them for questioning, they all turned out to have come from near the Ming River.

After questioning, "You mean the fighting has started again across the Ming River? In the past few days?"

The middle-aged herdsman trembled, and the Great King ordered the owl cavalry to retreat.

"It's Dun City north of the Ming River, which has been under siege; recently another troop arrived, and they started fighting again the day before yesterday! This matter probably can't be settled quickly; if you don't run now… sooner or later you'll lose your property and life." Those soldiers also need food and drink; if they don't run, it'll be too late. Upon saying this, the person suddenly realized that besides the child being questioned, everyone else were soldiers.

"Who, who are you troops?" the herdsman looked at the Great King, who smiled warmly and seemed of good character, gathered his courage and asked.

Another troop has come; running is the right choice, otherwise it'll really be too late.

The Great King, full of affability, said, "We're from Youzhou; King You wants to take Liangzhou back from the Xiongnu! Uncle, you can find a place to hide for now; once King You wins, Liangzhou will be as before."

The Liangzhou herdsman uncle had no idea what kind of king King You was, let alone how far Youzhou was from here; he had never left Liangzhou in his life.

Having heard that the troops were King You's, not the court's, he didn't ask for reasons nor sense anything amiss; such border folk mostly don't even know the emperor's surname or given name.

Upon hearing that a battle had been fought ahead, the Great King guessed it was definitely related to the southwestern army, and no longer cared about other matters, setting off with single-minded haste. Along the way they began to encounter more and more families fleeing the vicinity of the Ming River; the only comfort was that they were heading east.

Soon the scouts reported that thirty li ahead they had discovered an encamped army, with no banners, origin unknown.

The Great King released Skycover to have it check whether it was his maternal grandfather; being this close, the target was much smaller.

Skycover circled once above his head then flew west; the Great King felt pleased, considering it obediently had gone to work.

The encamped force ahead was indeed Marquis Wei Ting; he was now anxiously frustrated. He had brought too few troops, and there was nothing he could do about the forces besieging Dun City on the opposite bank.

His night raid the day before had also failed, so he could only retreat for now, sending people to Changzhou for help while trying to find a solution. The old man had never even thought of the Great King; that was truly far away, south of north and north of south.

Liangzhou has already been given to the Xiongnu; if the Xiongnu come back and stick their foot in, that… would be the real trouble.

As he worried, he suddenly heard a commotion in the camp.

Marquis Wei Ting went out and saw Skycover flipping over their simple tents one by one…

It dove right in, giving them a start before retreating; it wasn't looking for a person—it was ransacking the place!

Marquis Wei Ting's attendants all recognized it, saying, "Isn't that the Prince's eagle?" Its size and color left no doubt.

Marquis Wei Ting was delighted; he shouted Skycover's name, Skycover heard and turned, instantly locking onto that familiar old man. It dove back toward him, and Marquis Wei Ting readied himself to catch it, thinking the Great King had sent it with a message.

But when Skycover came over and gave him a careful look, it turned and soared away… it flew off.

Skycover secretly gloated, "I didn't mistake him!" The old man was indeed mingling among those wearing this kind of clothing!

"How did it just leave like that? Could it be that it didn't recognize me?"

"No way, it's already found this…"

Marquis Wei Ting was feeling down when Skycover came back again, having forgotten to bring back a token!

Otherwise, how could the Great King know it had really gone to work?

Not long after—just a moment's span—the Great King had ridden about ten li when Skycover returned, landing on his horse's back and repeatedly beating his hand with its wings.

The Great King had no choice but to let Little Red slow down and extend his hand.

Skycover immediately spat a clump of black hair into the Great King's palm, and he had a bad feeling…

He had some experience, too: "This length doesn't look like hair; maybe it was pulled out…"

Wei Shen leaned in, stretched out his head, and measured the length: "Ah, that looks familiar! This must be a beard—my grandfather's beard is about this long."

He and the Great King exchanged a glance; the Great King turned back, delighted, and asked, "Skycover, could this be my maternal grandfather's, Marquis Wei Ting's beard?"

Skycover lifted its head, puffed out its chest, and gave a slight nod, the angle very particular.

Wei Shen was still pleased to hear news of his grandfather, his mood instantly shifting to gleeful excitement at the spectacle: "Hahaha, Grandfather treasures his beard most—you're done!"

Great King, that's the sort of person who compromises with fate!

"Huh? Cousin, you're joking—wasn't it you who told Skycover to bring back a token? It's you~ who's done!"

It has nothing to do with him and Skycover.

Wei Shen: ……