Xiongnu, Kill

The vast Gobi was devoid of human life, the wind sweeping up sandstorms that filled the sky.

No grass or trees could be seen, and not even birds flew overhead. Sand and rocky flats stretched everywhere.

Jiang Hao's force now had around 260 men, but only 103 warhorses, so the entire unit could only proceed slowly on foot.

Jiang Hao sat atop his horse, gazing into the boundless sea of sand. At that moment, Su Mu rode over and reported, "Commander, we've finished counting. We have enough dry rations for everyone for four days. We drank almost all the water just now, and the only swords, spears, and armor we have are what we seized from the Prefect's Mansion soldiers."

"There's an oasis ahead where we can replenish our water. Four days of rations will be enough to get us back to the Protectorate General's Headquarters," Jiang Hao said.

Fortunately, they were soldiers of the Protectorate General's Headquarters. They had lived in the desert year-round and knew the region well. The oasis ahead was where they had rested the previous night. A small river ran through it, a tributary of the Peacock River. Thick grass grew along its banks, allowing the horses to drink and graze. It counted as a fixed rest stop along the roads of the Western Regions.

"But, Commander, the Protectorate General's Headquarters has already been smashed to pieces. Without supplies in the future, how are we supposed to live after returning?" Su Mu asked worriedly.

"We have nearly three hundred capable soldiers. Are we really going to starve to death?" Jiang Hao said firmly. If so many men gathered together still went hungry, then their commanding general could only be called worthless.

Still, Jiang Hao calling them capable soldiers was indeed bragging. They lacked warhorses, weapons,