Chapter 68: Setting Out!

For this expedition to Qi Zhou, the army included many subordinates of the former Cangzhou Inspector Chang Ke.

Therefore, Lian Er Xinshan and Nian De Li serving as deputy commanders would greatly assist Li Jing in managing this army.

As for Qin Qiong, he is a normal deputy commander.

With his base commander-in-chief ability of 98, serving as Li Jing's deputy commander is more than sufficient.

"The subordinate receives the command!"

The seated Lian Er Xinshan and Nian De Li were startled, lifted their heads, glanced at each other, then hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying.

They didn't expect that merely having a place for these two newly surrendered individuals in this expedition would already be enough.

They never expected to be appointed as deputy commanders of this great army.

"Take Yao Guangxiao as the army's military advisor! Bai Hu, Zhu Que, Xuan Wu, Wang Xiangyang, Sun Wukong, Wu Wenhua, Jiao Mo, Pan Shanyu, Yuchi Gong, Meng Juehai and others will accompany the army on the expedition!"

He nodded at Qin Qiong and the three others, Su Ye glanced at the Dao Yan monk to the side and the various imposing commanders at the front of the army, then gave the order.

"Qin Qiong, Sun Wukong, hear my orders!"

"I order you two to lead ten thousand elite troops as the vanguard to open the way, heading to Qi Zhou, clearing mountains and building bridges over water."

"Open the way for my Cangzhou army."

Seeing Qin Qiong step forward, Su Ye glanced at Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, for this vanguard army, all matters shall be under Shu Bao's leadership."

Having given Sun Wukong a warning, Su Ye really felt uneasy.

"I will obey!"

"Old Sun has kept it in mind!"

Upon hearing that he would be appointed vanguard, Sun Wukong didn't care what conditions Su Ye set, nodding repeatedly.

With the orders transmitted, a force of about ten thousand elite vanguard troops under Qin Qiong's command swiftly set out, disappearing into the night.

Their mission was to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, scout the enemy's deployment and movements, and provide crucial information to the main army.

Not long after, the sky's edge began to show a fish-belly white.

As the sun rose, the army's formation gradually became clear.

Banners fluttered, war drums rumbled, soldiers marched in neat unison, their steps firm and powerful.

"Sir Shanliang, for this army's expedition, the rear of Cangzhou shall be left in your charge."

"Now the northern grasslands will fall into chaos, and moreover, Taiping Pass is guarded by Mu Qinglin and the Mu family father and son, so it should remain safe."

Watching the army slowly break camp, Su Ye gave instructions to Li Shanliang beside him.

"But just in case, this time Jin Yu left the 20,000 troops led by Chengdu at Dongning Pass, and he himself is a top-tier war god."

"Moreover, there are Jin Wuzhu's several thousand iron floating tower heavy cavalry."

"If it truly comes to nothing, the force of Chengdu stationed at Dongning Pass will be the reserve I have left for you."

After thinking, Su Ye still told Li Shanliang about Yuwen Chengdu being the reserve, so as not to affect his decision-making when facing danger later.

"My lord, rest assured!"

"With this humble servant guarding the rear of Cangzhou, I will surely keep Cangzhou from being lost!"

Faced with Su Ye's repeated warnings, Li Shanliang clasped his fists and declared, "I will cut gold and sever iron!"

The army, under Li Jing's commander-in-chief, marched forward toward Qi Zhou in a mighty procession.

Meanwhile, in Qin Qiong's leading vanguard army,

In the vanguard army, Sun Wukong led a small squad ahead as the spearhead, while Qin Qiong led the main force closely behind.

They crossed dense forests and traversed perilous mountains.

Whenever they encountered rugged, difficult mountain roads, Qin Qiong would order the troops to halt, personally take the lead, and guide the soldiers in clearing the path.

They brandished swords and tools, hacking through the thorns and trees blocking the road.

When crossing rivers, Qin Qiong likewise did not let down his guard.

He ordered the troops to build temporary bridges to ensure the army could cross the river smoothly.

The soldiers quickly sprang into action, using the tools in their hands and nearby materials to construct sturdy bridges.

Through their joint efforts, they successfully crossed the turbulent river, leaving a stable road for the following troops.

"I say, Shu Bao, are we just going to keep opening the road like this, honestly?"

"This is too boring."

The vanguard army continuing to just open the road like this was fine at first, but over time Sun Wukong's monkey nature could not tolerate it.

Watching the vanguard army repeat the same task every day, it became increasingly boring.

Just thinking about having to wait like this until the main force caught up made Sun Wukong feel terrible.

He joined the vanguard army to fight, not to do manual labor!

"Oh?"

"Then I don't know what ideas Wukong might have."

At this moment, Qin Qiong was holding a river-and-mountain map detected by a net-like device, calculating how to open a road wide enough for the army to pass.

Hearing Sun Wukong's complaint, he couldn't help feeling a bit amused.

Sun Wukong had been in Cangling City for many days; not long after arriving, he ran around seeking Bai Hu and Xuan Wu and others to spar with, never staying idle for a moment.

Likewise, Qin Qiong, also in Cangling City, naturally would not fail to notice, for Sun Wukong's displayed martial prowess is already among the best in the world today.

He also initially understood Sun Wukong's nature, which truly is like a monkey's.

Moreover, before departure, the lord also repeatedly instructed him to be sure to keep Sun Wukong's little temper under control.

Therefore, Sun Wukong's complaint this time was already within Qin Qiong's expectations.

Even the fact that Sun Wukong could hold out for so many days before complaining was beyond Qin Qiong's expectation.

The vanguard army isn't as Sun Wukong imagined; as soon as they arrive, they go straight to the battlefield to fight the enemy army.

Even this kind of situation is only a minority.

Generally, the vanguard army is used to open the road, sweeping away minor obstacles for the main force behind.

But it's not as exciting as Sun Wukong imagined; on the contrary, it's very boring.

Only a commander-in-chief like Qin Qiong would relish being a vanguard general; this is also a kind of training for their ability to command troops.

But for a warrior like Sun Wukong, it's just torture.

Hehe!

"Shubu, look, I, Lao Sun, isn't just thinking that we're about to reach Qi Zhou, huh?"

Seeing Qin Qiong reply, Sun Wukong smiled, walked up to him and spoke with a laugh.

"I, Lao Sun, want to lead a troop forward to find a good place for our lord."

Sun Wukong hoisted his Golden Cudgel onto his shoulder and, with a cheeky grin, said to Qin Qiong.

"Oh? Really?"

Suppressing a laugh, watching Sun Wukong's clumsy performance, Qin Qiong knew with his eyes closed what kind of monkey fart he was letting out.

"Wukong really thinks that?"

"That's a coincidence; I, the general, also think that!"

"Even I, the general, think that Qing Shan County, the place in Qi Zhou closest to Cangzhou, is quite suitable."

Forcing back his laughter, Qin Qiong put on a solemn face and spoke earnest nonsense.

Obviously, none of those who serve as vanguard generals want to honestly be laborers.

During these days of clearing the road, Qin Qiong often held the map of Qi Zhou's mountains and rivers, secretly analyzing the upcoming situation.

And this Qing Shan County is Qin Qiong's first selected target.

Now the Cangzhou army has just moved; even if Qi Zhou anticipates that the Cangzhou army will take advantage of the chaos, Qing Shan County is originally just a county town.

Even if they have some defenses, the defending forces wouldn't be too large.

As long as there is an elite unit that disguises itself a bit.

Even so, there is still a great chance to seize the city gate instantly under the element of surprise.

Of course, seizing it is easy, but to hold the city gate against the counterattack of the entire county's troops.

Hold out until Qin Qiong's vanguard army arrives.

But it's not that easy.

(End of chapter)