Chapter 265: The Eight Hundred Cavalry Return Home

The cold wind slapped against Jiang Jinshi's damp undergarment, making him unable to stop himself from shivering.

Jiang Jinshi's horsemanship was not bad, making it difficult for the Xiongnu to catch up for a time. To avoid exposing the assembly point, Jiang Jinshi specifically took a detour, completely shaking off the Xiongnu after daybreak.

It had snowed lightly for two or three days in a row, but it cleared up at noon today. The blizzard Jiang Jinshi had anticipated did not arrive as scheduled.

The cavalry were waiting bitterly at the agreed-upon assembly point, their faces filled with anxiety and unease.

They had used the cover of night to shake off the Xiongnu, but there was no sign of their captain who had gone deep into the enemy camp.

As time passed, everyone knew the hope was growing slimmer. Many were already disheartened, believing that Jiang Jinshi had died under the Xiongnu's blades.

Just then, a small black dot appeared in the distance, heading toward them.

The scout took out a telescope to observe, then shouted excitedly: "Captain! It's Captain Jiang! He's back!"

"What? Let me see!"

"The Captain is a real man!"

"Awesome! Ahhhhh!"

Jiang Jinshi was also incredibly happy to see his brothers. After arriving, he couldn't help but ask: "How are you brothers doing? Any losses last night?"

Everyone stepped forward one after another: "We're fine, just a few men hit by the Xiongnu's stray arrows."

"Captain, what about you? Are you hurt?"

Jiang Jinshi shook his head, showing off for once: "That Hunxie was just an old man; how could he have the ability to hurt me?"

"Hahaha! In my opinion, those Xiongnu are just good at bragging, saying Hunxie was divine and brave, but he wasn't even fit to tie our Captain's shoes!"

"Alright, brothers!" Jiang Jinshi smiled and raised his hand. "We really have to retreat this time. I killed Hunxie, and the Chanyu is going to go crazy. We'd better go back to Lin City and wait for them!"

Hearing that they could go home, everyone was overjoyed, and for a time, cheers rang out continuously!

"Don't let your guard down, let's get moving! The closer we get to Lin City, the safer we are!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Jinshi still stood on the city wall every day waiting for Jiang Jinshi to return, and a scout came to report to Jiang Jinshi after discovering a group of Xiongnu, because they had obtained news of Jiang Jinshi from their mouths.

The leader of the other side saw Jiang Jinshi and hurriedly stated the agreement he had made with Jiang Jinshi.

According to the leader of that Lan tribe, Jiang Jinshi must have gone to cause trouble for that Hunxie.

Since he could clearly state Jiang Jinshi's name, he figured these things shouldn't be false, but just in case, Jiang Jinshi still had the entire Lan tribe imprisoned.

The soldiers looked at the commander's back on the city wall, which stood through wind and rain, and all felt respect.

"General! Time to eat!" Han Xiao walked onto the city wall, carrying food in his hands.

Behind him, Huang Yan was sullen, feeling that this fellow Han Xiao had stolen his job.

Jiang Jinshi took the food and ate it leaning against the city wall, looking at Han Xiao's arm and asking: "How is the injury?"

"General, this medicine is truly miraculous; it healed in just a few days." Han Xiao touched the arrow wound; it had completely scabbed over and didn't even affect his combat ability.

Only when thinking of this did Han Xiao feel a bit dejected; if the Prince had had this medicine back then, perhaps he wouldn't have died.

Huang Yan teased: "Since the wound is healed, then go kill some Xiongnu! I'll lead your horse out for you."

Speaking of this, Han Xiao's old face flushed red. Thinking of the things he had said to the General when he thought he was poisoned and dying, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"I... I never took a single step back when killing Xiongnu!"

"Then I'll lead your horse, have a safe journey, brother!"

"Forget it! The General said I'm useful!"

"Delivering food? I could do that too!"

Huang Yan, this chatterbox, had become quite familiar with Han Xiao during this time, and Han Xiao knew Huang Yan's character, so naturally, he wouldn't hold it against him.

Jiang Jinshi was watching the two bicker and was secretly laughing when a scout came under the city wall and shouted a report.

"Commander! Jiang... Captain Jiang is back!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jinshi put down his bowl and chopsticks and shouted to the soldiers: "Quick! Open the city gates!"

After speaking, he rushed toward the city gate, and Huang Yan hurriedly followed, laughing up at the sky.

"Let's go, let's welcome our hero!"

Han Xiao was even more full of respect. Leading eight hundred cavalry deep into the Xiongnu hinterland for so long and still fighting their way back—Jiang Jinshi deserved this title of 'hero'.

Jiang Jinshi arrived at the city gate and saw a cavalry unit galloping toward them in the distance.

"Brothers, we're home!" Jiang Jinshi was always steady, but at this moment, he couldn't help but shout loudly.

"Woohoo! I went for a stroll in the Xiongnu Royal Court and came back alive; I'm going to brag about this for a lifetime!"

"Brothers, look, that seems to be the Grand Commander!"

"That's right! It's the Commander, and the Ming Army brothers!"

"We're back!!"

Everyone arrived at the gate of Lin City. Before the horses had even stopped, Jiang Jinshi vaulted off his horse and bowed to Jiang Jinshi, "Commander, I'm back!"

Jiang Jinshi stepped forward and punched Jiang Jinshi on the shoulder, "You broke your promise!"

"The situation was special!" Jiang Jinshi didn't feel Jiang Jinshi's strength at all, only feeling warm inside.

"No matter! No matter! It's good that you're back!"

Jiang Jinshi patted Jiang Jinshi on the shoulder, his eyes full of appreciation.

"And all you brothers, you've all worked hard! We'll hold a banquet tonight, everyone have a good time!"

"Thank you, Commander!"

"But no drinking. Once we defeat the Xiongnu, we'll have a proper drink together!"

"Yes!!"

Jiang Jinshi followed Jiang Jinshi into the tent and handed the completed map to Jiang Jinshi.

"Big Brother, I have not failed the mission!"

Jiang Jinshi took the map but didn't look at it. "That Xiongnu from the Lan tribe said he knows you."

"Yes!" Jiang Jinshi sat up straight. "The situation was special at the time, so I promised them some requirements."

"Hmm! A small matter. Since you've already negotiated it, just do it that way." Jiang Jinshi would never haggle over such small matters.

"Big Brother, how has the situation been these days?" Jiang Jinshi asked with concern; he had already discovered the anomaly when he arrived.

You have to know that the location where the scouts discovered them was near the Tianshui River, and after coming over, he found that the patrol range had increased significantly.

If the Xiongnu didn't interfere with such posturing, it could only mean that battles had occurred on both sides.

Huang Yan couldn't wait to say: "Captain Jiang, you didn't see how divine and brave Big Brother was, chasing that Adunla like a dog."

"What were our losses...?" Jiang Jinshi actually found it easy to guess; this battle must have been Jiang Jinshi taking the initiative to attack, and the purpose was to hold the retreat route for him.

"Our losses were nearly four thousand!" Jiang Jinshi smiled. "The Xiongnu lost twenty-five thousand!"

Huang Yan added: "Big Brother also captured Adunla alive, and he's locked in an iron cage right now!"

"Why not just kill him?" Jiang Jinshi was puzzled.

Han Xiao explained: "Big Brother is afraid of any accidents, keeping Adunla is good for negotiating with the Xiongnu!"

Jiang Jinshi asked Jiang Jinshi in return, "We're fine here, tell me about the situation on your side!"

"I killed Hunxie, scouted out the location of the Royal Court, and completed the map! That's all!"

"Who is Hunxie?" Han Xiao was puzzled; he had been on the border for some years, so how had he never heard this name?

"The father of the Xiongnu Royal Court's Chanyu!" ===== CHAPTER 266 =====