Chen Sanshi immediately dismounted and slipped into the forest where the sound had come from.
He happened to see Han Cheng behind a pile of rocks, releasing a strangely shaped Sea East Green. It seemed to have transcended the bounds of an ordinary bird and could be considered a beast of wonder.
"Lord Chen, the Governor has sent a letter. We're saved..."
Han Cheng leaned against a rock. "The Governor said that the main battlefield in the Northwest Three Prefectures is at the critical moment of deciding victory or defeat. For the time being, he cannot deploy the Eight Great Camps or the elite garrison troops. However, he has still scraped together fifty thousand garrison soldiers. The selected vanguard reserve officers from the Northwest Three Prefectures are also joining the battle, traveling day and night toward Yun Prefecture."
"Selected vanguard?"
Chen Sanshi caught the key point. "You mean people like me?"
"Yes."
Han Cheng nodded. "The selected vanguard trials begin every year in the second month after spring starts, but many people arrive in Liang Prefecture ahead of time. They simply wait until everyone has gathered before the trials officially begin.
"About seven days from now, they will reach Huanwen County on Yun Prefecture's northwestern border. They will use that county as their base, then divide their forces according to the latest situation and head to various parts of Yun Prefecture to lift the sieges.
"We are not too far from Huanwen County. It should also take us roughly seven days to get there.
"But...
"To keep following this road to Huanwen County, we need to cross a river.
"The Hongze River is the largest river in the entire north.
"To lead forty thousand commoners across it... who knew how much time that would waste?
"Lord Chen, my advice remains