The long procession moved slowly along the official road. Wang Yan lounged lazily inside the carriage while Hualan and Shulan, one on either side, kneaded his thighs as they chatted idly.
Several dozen soldiers marched before and behind the two carriages in the center. They wore brand-new armor, carried long spears gleaming coldly over their shoulders, and had quivers and heavy crossbows hanging at their waists. With every step, their armor plates shifted and clattered.
Armor, powerful crossbows, and the like were naturally prohibited goods. Even long spears took time to manufacture. The spearheads were easy enough, but while the shafts were not as complicated as those of high-grade weapons, they still had to go through numerous processes to ensure their flexibility and other qualities. Small quantities were manageable; large quantities were difficult.
The armor and weapons issued to the auxiliary troops had originally been incomplete, and all of it consisted of discarded, substandard goods. Since Wang Yan was organizing and training auxiliary troops into elite combat soldiers, he naturally could not cut corners.
The equipment these soldiers carried now was all new. Getting it had involved no small amount of hassle: official documents had gone back and forth between the Three Military Bureaus, the Bureau of Military Affairs, the Government Affairs Hall, and even Zhao Zhen himself. Only after extensive coordination had the Hangzhou yamen finally purchased these supplies at a high price.
The orderly procession continued slowly down the official road.
At that moment, the fully equipped squad leader ran over. He did not dare look inside the carriage, merely cupped his hands beside it and walked along at its pace. "Reporting to the Vice Prefect, there may be a situation."
"Speak."
"The brothers sent ahead to clear the road haven't returned. I fear something has happened."
Wang