Chapter 28: Huo Qubing, Like a Tiger Gaining Wings

Lead-colored clouds obscured the sun, and between heaven and earth lay a vast expanse of desolation.

The wild wind swept up the snowstorm, raging across the endless desert like a furious lion, dyeing everything an icy silver-white.

Huo Qubing wore a snow-white cloak, his posture straight as a pine, seated upon a black horse; his eyes were like cold stars, flashing with sharp and fervent light.

Behind him, the five thousand Feather Forest Guard moved like a steel torrent, orderly and neat as they threaded through the snow curtain. The soldiers wore black armor; the snow on their plates was like a thin frost, glimmering with a cold light in the faint glow.

The warhorses exhaled heavy white vapor; each hooffall kicked up a deep pit in the thick snow, emitting a muffled yet powerful sound, as if war drums were beating in this silent snow desert.

The howling wind rushed forward, mixing snowflakes that struck the soldiers' faces like hidden weapons, causing sharp, bone‑deep pain, yet could not move them in the slightest.

"Lads!"

Huo Qubing sharply reined in the reins; the black horse neighed and lifted its forelegs. He raised his spear high, the tip flashing with a chilling light in the wind and snow.

"Today we will skirt this boundless snow desert and strike straight at the rear of the Xiongnu bandits! No matter how great the wind and snow, they cannot stop the steps of our Great Han lads!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The Feather Forest Guard shouted in unison, their sound surging like a mountain‑toppling, sea‑overturning wave.

Huo Qubing waved his spear and said in a loud voice, "Hold position, resume advance after lunch."

At his order, the Feather Forest Guard dismounted and made adjustments.

The Personal Guard quickly produced a steaming box of "Convenient Meal" and handed it to Huo Qubing.

He took it, examined it curiously, and smiled, asking, "Is this the surprise His Majesty gave us?"

He curled the corner of his mouth, smiling slightly as he asked.

The Personal Guard nodded and said, "Exactly. With this, we can save half the time. Previously, burying pots to cook rice was tedious and time‑consuming; now with the Convenient Meal, we can fill our stomachs in a moment, and the taste is not bad either."

Huo Qubing opened the box to see the grains of rice plump and glossy, accompanied by some dried meat and pickled vegetables—a balanced mix of meat and vegetable.

He scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth, chewed gently, and his eyes lit up with delight. "Mmm, the rice is soft and tasty, the dried meat salty and fragrant with chew, and the pickled vegetables are full of flavor."

"To be able to eat such hot, convenient food on the march is truly rare. His Majesty has taken great pains; this little Convenient Meal will greatly boost our army's marching efficiency, allowing us to seize more initiative on the battlefield later."

The Personal Guard said, "This item is a perfect match for the Prince!"

Huo Qubing nodded repeatedly, then turned to a stranger in a white robe who was bandaging a soldier's wound, and asked, "Who is this person?"

The Personal Guard replied, "Your Prince, this is the military doctor assigned by His Majesty,"

"Military doctor?"

Huo Qubing's gaze fell upon the military doctor's focused and steady movements, and a flicker of surprised appreciation crossed his eyes.

One could see the military doctor skillfully cleaning the coagulated blood from the soldier's wound, motions gentle yet decisive, each step orderly—clearly the result of strict training and practice.

"His Majesty, this is excellent!" Huo Qubing nodded slightly and said softly, "In past campaigns, wounded brothers often lacked timely, effective treatment; wounds festered, leading to disability or death, a heartbreaking loss."

"Now that we have a military doctor with the army, it's as if we've added an extra layer of protection to our soldiers' lives."

He strode forward; the military doctor sensed someone approaching, was about to rise and salute, but Huo Qubing gestured for him to continue.

The military doctor then returned to his work; taking from his medicine box some medicines Huo Qubing had never seen, he applied them carefully to the soldier's wound, wrapped it with clean bandage in one smooth motion, and the soldier's face gradually eased from pain.

"Look at your skill—you're an expert." Huo Qubing praised, saying, "In this army there are many rough fellows who know nothing of medical arts; from now on the brothers' aches will wholly rely on you."

The military doctor replied respectfully, "Prince, rest assured; I will do my utmost to heal wounds and dispel illness for the soldiers, so they may swiftly return to the battlefield to slay the enemy and serve the nation."

Huo Qubing patted the military doctor's shoulder, surveyed the soldiers resting around, his eyes full of satisfaction and resolve: "Good! With such professionals aiding us, our combat strength will surely increase greatly."

"Our soldiers can also charge forward with greater peace of mind, no longer needing to worry about wounds or illness. His Majesty's profound foresight—we will surely repay it with victory. In this expedition, the Xiongnu shall surely fall!"

At this moment the Personal Guard said, "Prince, the troops have been marching all night; they need a brief rest. May we pause here for a moment?"

"Setting up camp would waste more time; I fear Chen Tang cannot hold out!"

Huo Qubing said worriedly.

The Personal Guard hurriedly replied, "Prince, no need to set up camp; the Son of Heaven has prepared marching sleeping bags for us, allowing us to rest in place without fear of wind and snow."

Huo Qubing heard this, a flash of surprise and curiosity in his eyes, and turned to look at the marching sleeping bag in the Personal Guard's hand.

It was a dark‑gray sleeping bag, its material thick and tight, its surface seemingly coated with a waterproof oil, giving off a faint sheen in the snow light.

The Personal Guard quickly unfolded the sleeping bag to show Huo Qubing; inside lay a layer of soft fleece, warm to the touch, surely able to fend off the bitter cold of this ice‑and‑snow world.

Huo Qubing squatted, reached out and lightly touched the sleeping bag, a smile of appreciation spreading across his face: "His Majesty truly thought of everything! This marching sleeping bag looks small and light, yet it provides such warmth—truly marvelous."

"In past marches, to rest one had to either find shelter or expend great manpower and material to erect tents; now with this sleeping bag we save time and allow the soldiers to rest comfortably in this freezing land, recovering their strength."

He rose, looked over the exhausted but still spirited soldiers, and said loudly, "Brothers, His Majesty has prepared these marching sleeping bags for us, so we can rest in place without fear of the wind‑snow cold."

"Everyone, seize the time to rest, replenish your essence and gather your spirit; once refreshed, we will rush to the battlefield at top speed, join with General Chen Tang, and deal the Xiongnu a fatal blow!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers cheered, eagerly taking the marching sleeping bags from the Personal Guard and immediately unfolding them for use.

Soon, the snow‑covered ground was littered with soldiers curled up in their sleeping bags, their faces gradually relaxing; some even drifted off to sleep, emitting faint snores.

Huo Qubing watched this scene, his gratitude and admiration for Liu Ju growing a little deeper.

He understood deeply that these seemingly insignificant pieces of equipment concealed His Majesty's profound care for the army and his eager hope for victory.

With these safeguards, their journey ahead will proceed more smoothly, and it fills him with confident certainty of victory in the battle against the Xiongnu.

He pulled his cloak tighter, sat down by a wind‑blocked stone, and drew the sleeping bag to his chest.

Soon drowsiness crept over him; he slowly closed his eyes, clinging to this brief rest to gather strength for the impending battle.

Huo Qubing had raided the Xiongnu many times, galloping for years in the cold winds beyond the frontier, yet this was the first time he felt such peace of mind.

In this icy snow desert, whether it was the Convenient Meal, the military doctor, or the marching sleeping bag, each infused his army with a new strength.

"Chen Tang, you must hold Yumen Pass! I, the Prince, will rush to reinforce you right away!"

Not long after, Huo Qubing fell asleep in the warm sleeping bag.