Outside Great Plains City, Yang Guang raised a bowl.
"May the brave warriors of our Sui Dynasty return in triumph. Drink to victory!"
"Drink to victory!"
"Drink to victory!"
"Drink to victory!"
More than a hundred men shouted three times, then drained the wine from their bowls in one gulp.
"Set out!"
Wang Yan rested his horse lance on his shoulder and swept out a broad hand. More than a hundred men swung into their saddles. Wang Yan reined his horse around in a circle, glanced at Xiao Mei, who had come to see him off, and gave her a gentle smile before turning and spurring his horse away.
"Hyah!"
A chorus of shouts rose as the force of more than a hundred men set off, yet their departure carried an earth-shaking momentum.
Each man rode with a spare horse tethered behind him, while Wang Yan alone had three mounts, all peerless fine steeds. More than two hundred warhorses thundered forward at once, creating a vast and mighty spectacle.
Xiao Mei watched the column recede into the distance. As she turned to leave, she saw Yang Guang and Yuwen Huaji looking her way. She gave them a graceful bow, then silently departed...
Yang Guang and Yuwen Huaji also withdrew their gazes and continued watching the dust cloud fade into the distance...
Wang Yan had not exchanged any tender farewells with Xiao Mei. Everything that needed saying had already been said on the journey here, and Xiao Mei knew what she needed to do. So long as there was no definite news of Wang Yan's death, no one would dare touch her. She only needed to carry on steadily with her work.
In truth, there was not much to do. She merely had to conduct some business, find people skilled in