This time, while attacking Xuzhou, Jiang Siming had dispatched fifty thousand Black Armored Army soldiers and eighty thousand Red Armored Army soldiers. It was not a particularly large mobilization.
That was mainly because Hanzhong had only just been taken and was still unstable. Troops had to be stationed there to prevent anyone from defecting.
Besides, these troops were more than enough to deal with Liu Bei.
The Da Jun marched along the road. Jiang Siming sat swaying in the central carriage, feeling very much like falling asleep.
Passing through the Jianghuai region, the Da Jun traveled along a road between the rice paddies. The surrounding fields were filled with wheat and corn. The following year was sure to bring another bumper harvest.
Jiang Siming had given strict orders: while marching, the Da Jun had to be careful and could not trample the wheat fields. Violators would be beheaded in public.
Thus, all the soldiers were extremely careful, afraid of damaging the crops.
Just then, a pheasant suddenly flew up in front of Jiang Siming's carriage. The horses were startled and began to gallop wildly.
"Quick! Protect the lord!" Guo Jia shouted as he hurried after them.
The horses were only startled for a moment and soon came to a steady stop. However, the place where they stopped left Jiang Siming, the Chancellor, in an extremely awkward position.
The carriage had stopped right in the wheat field, trampling and crushing a patch of wheat ears.
"My lord, are you all right? Should we summon an imperial physician?" Dian Wei asked hurriedly as he caught up.
Jiang Siming climbed out of the carriage and stood on its edge. As he looked at the wheat crushed beneath the carriage, a classic Three Kingdoms scene suddenly came to mind.
He then said, "Where is