Chapter 229: Outside Pingcheng Pass, the Monan Grassland!

The tenth day of the fourth month!

A cavalry team composed of nearly four hundred people passed through Pingcheng Pass and headed north all the way.

After passing through Pingcheng Pass, the high mountains and ridges in front of them disappeared instantly, and the boundless plain could not see the end of the horizon.

Under the reflection of the sunset, it seemed as if heaven and earth were connected together.

Because of the long journey, the armor on the four hundred Han cavalry was covered with a layer of yellow soil.

Everyone's face was covered with a layer of black cloth to prevent sand, revealing only eyes full of sharpness.

Zhang Xun held a long spear in one hand and led two squad leaders at the very front of the team.

In the middle of the team was a white warhorse, and on the horse was a middle-aged man wrapped in a black robe from head to toe.

Around him were nearly a hundred elite cavalry.

Further back were two more squad leaders leading over a hundred cavalry.

"Military Officer, we have been heading north all the way... we have even passed Pingcheng Pass, why are we still heading north? If we go further north, we will enter the territory of the Xiongnu and Xianbei."

Meng Ji covered his mouth with a black cloth with one hand to prevent the north wind from rolling sand into his mouth after opening it.

Zhang Xun raised his hand to wipe the grit from the corner of his eye, then turned to look at the team behind him.

It had been three days since they left Yinguan.

At first, there were over a hundred carriages in the team.

It was just that after reaching Pingcheng Pass, the hundred or so carriages turned east along the Sangganhe River toward Gao Liu in Dai Commandery.

Zhang Xun was also very puzzled.

In the past, when patrolling the border, they mostly walked to Pingcheng Pass and then returned after patrolling the Great Wall along the east and west sides.

Why did they have to head north all the way after passing Pingcheng Pass this time?

Listening to Meng Ji's words, Zhang Xun raised his hand.

The cavalry behind him slowly stopped their horses.

"You wait here, I'll go and ask the Prefect," Zhang Xun said.

Meng Ji nodded, his eyes filled with anxiety.

His wife at home was about to give birth.

At this moment, Meng Ji's heart was full of concern for his wife at home.

Zhang Xun pulled the reins of his warhorse and turned back to walk toward the middle of the team.

The standard equipment for commandery troops was leather armor and bamboo armor.

But the nearly one hundred cavalry walking in the middle of the team were all wearing iron armor.

These were the personal guards of Prefect Wang Rou and also the elite cavalry of Yanmen Commandery.

Zhang Xun rode to the middle of the team, in front of the middle-aged man wrapped in a black robe.

It was near evening, and the north wind was very strong.

The middle-aged man on the white horse was holding the black cloth wrapped around his head.

"My Lord," Zhang Xun greeted with cupped hands.

The person on the horse glanced at Zhang Xun.

Then, a person following by his side rode forward and shouted to Zhang Xun: "The Prefect is unwell and cannot speak. What is the matter, Military Officer?"

The middle-aged man speaking was Wang Rou's aide, the Chief Clerk. Zhang Xun could tell just by the voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xun cupped his hands slightly and replied: "Chief Clerk Chen, the end general wants to ask about the destination of this trip."

"It is not that the end general wants to know, but the soldiers under my command have many complaints."

"And because the departure was urgent, I am afraid there is some worry at home."

"I ask the Prefect to indicate the route to reassure the military heart."

It was normal for Zhang Xun to ask this.

When troops are out in the field, military morale is just as important as supplies.

If the soldiers' morale is unstable, then their fighting spirit cannot be used.

If they fight, they will surely lose.

At this time, the team had already passed Pingcheng Pass and could encounter Xiongnu or Xianbei cavalry at any time.

Zhang Xun was not afraid, after all, they were all cavalry here, and they were not far from Pingcheng Pass.

If they encountered a small group of Xiongnu or Xianbei cavalry, they could just fight.

Even if they encountered a large Xiongnu army or a large group of Xianbei cavalry, they could just retreat to Pingcheng Pass.

The Chen-surnamed Chief Clerk nodded and said to Zhang Xun: "The Prefect had already decided on the purpose of this trip before, which is to patrol outside Pingcheng Pass."

"It is currently early spring, and the Xiongnu and Xianbei are between seasons. The Prefect is worried that a large group of Xiongnu or Xianbei cavalry will gather outside the pass to wait for an opportunity to plunder."

"So he specifically came to observe."

"Military Officer, don't worry. After one more day, we will pass by Daqingshan to take a look at Monan, and then we will return."

Having received a definite answer, Zhang Xun felt settled.

"Thank you, My Lord, then the end general will take his leave first."

After riding back to Meng Ji's side, Zhang Xun told Meng Ji the purpose of this trip.

Hearing that they would return after passing Daqingshan, the heart that Meng Ji had been hanging finally let go.

"Thank you, Military Officer," Meng Ji said with a smile.

The squad leader beside Meng Ji also joked with a smile: "This kid's hundred hearts have already flown home."

"He's just thinking about whether his wife can give him a big fat boy."

Zhang Xun smiled knowingly and patted Meng Ji on the shoulder, saying: "Don't worry, if there is no special situation when we return, I will ask the Prefect for permission to let you return first."

"You will definitely make it, don't worry."

Meng Ji nodded gratefully and vigorously: "Thank you, Military Officer."

After a brief rest, the team set off again.

The next day.

The four hundred cavalry who had been heading north from Pingcheng Pass finally arrived at Daqingshan.

As long as they went further, it would be the Monan Grassland.

Near evening.

The four hundred cavalry began to set up camp at the foot of Daqingshan.

Because they were in a hurry when they set off, and this trip was all cavalry, they did not carry any supplies for setting up camp. ===== CHAPTER 231 =====