After taking care of all the necessary matters, Zhao Ya arrived at the Escort Agency early the next morning.
Everyone at the Escort Agency was already packed and ready to go.
For this escort mission, the Prosperity Escort Agency had truly pulled out all the stops. They had even refitted the escort wagons overnight, making them sturdier than ordinary wagons and giving the draft animals simple protective gear.
They wanted to prevent a repeat of what had happened on Zhao Ya's previous escort mission.
Once everyone had gathered, Meng Lei gave the order, and the group set off.
Forge-Iron Manor lay more than three hundred li from Dancing Elephant City. Under normal circumstances, it would take three days to get there.
With the land in turmoil and the main roads beset by obstacles, their speed was bound to slow considerably.
Meng Lei, however, had anticipated this and wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he proceeded with even greater care.
They covered only a little over fifty li on the first day. As soon as the sun began to sink in the west, Meng Lei ordered the group to stop and make camp in an open area.
They couldn't expect to find inns on this escort mission, so Meng Lei had arranged for tents and other supplies in advance.
After they made camp, Meng Lei split the group into four teams, led by himself, Lin Sheng, Luo Qiang, and Zhao Ya. They would take turns keeping watch through the night.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, Meng Lei didn't order the group to move on until the sun was already high.
They traveled late into the night and rested early each morning, covering at most sixty or seventy li a day.
Fortunately, the journey remained uneventful. It wasn't until the