A trace of chill still lingered in the Upper Capital in early spring.
Zhao Feng handed the Martial Suppression Bureau's affairs over to Inspector Fu Fengxing, then bade his family farewell and led ten thousand Martial Suppression Guards toward Bing Province.
"Son, be careful in everything you do."
Zhao Youlin and Yang Shi gave Zhao Feng their parting counsel with tears in their eyes.
Though this was far from his first campaign, they still worried themselves sleepless every time he marched off to war.
"Father, Mother, don't worry. Wait for me to come home." Zhao Feng reassured his parents, then asked his elder brother Zhao Shuo and sister-in-law Tian Cuihua to take good care of them.
Then the army set out toward Bingzhou City.
More than ten days later, Zhao Feng arrived with his troops at Bingzhou City, a familiar place he had visited several times before.
At the city gate, Zhao Feng saw a long supply train waiting in line. Ox carts, mule carts, and horse-drawn carriages stretched end to end, laden with grain, fodder, military equipment, and medicinal herbs. The rumble of wheels rolling over the ground was like a river that never ceased flowing, surging through the gate.
He nodded in satisfaction. Earlier, he had sent a carrier pigeon message instructing Tang Jiyuan, the Grand Commander of Bing Province, to begin assembling supplies with Lin Ziwei's assistance. It seemed the first batch was ready.
"Greetings, Your Grace!"
"Greetings, Commandant!"
Tang Jiyuan, the Grand Commander of Bing Province, and Shao Kai, the Thousand-Household Officer of the Bing Province Martial Suppression Bureau, welcomed Zhao Feng and his army at the gate.
Settling the ten thousand Martial Suppression Guards into the city took an entire day. Zhao Feng stationed them at the drill grounds in the western part of the