The Japanese pirates stared at the dense sea of commoners, utterly shocked and somewhat bewildered.
So the people of Great Xuan were actually this united? Was it really the right decision for us islanders to come onto Great Xuan's soil and plunder its resources?
After calming the commoners and reminding the Yuezhou clerks to keep looking after the settlement sites, Su Fei mounted his horse again and addressed the procession behind him in a deep voice.
"Move out!"
Facing these commoners whose gratitude came from the heart, every Imperial Guard sat tall in the saddle with his head held high.
Even the constables guarding the Japanese pirates wore looks of pride.
These constables had never received such treatment before. Every one of them stared straight ahead, his face solemn.
Wherever the procession passed, the commoners along that stretch of road lowered their heads and bowed of their own accord.
They traveled this stretch very slowly, until they finally left Kuaiji Commandery.
Only then did the Imperial Guards and constables relax.
Su Fei led the procession on the journey back.
With the valuables and prisoners in tow, their return journey was considerably slower.
They stopped to rest whenever they passed a relay station and stopped to eat whenever they passed a restaurant. The journey was quite leisurely, and they traveled like this for seven or eight days.
At noon that day, they came to a place called Blackstone Ridge.
Steep cliffs rose on either side, with only a narrow road between them. Loose yellow earth covered the road, and whenever the wind blew, yellow dust rose into the air.
Su Fei reined in his horse and called to the procession behind him.
"Stay alert, everyone. We'll rest after we get through this stretch."
Lei Wu immediately understood and ordered everyone to