A hundred li would take an ordinary army at least three days to cover.
But on a forced march, traveling day and night, they could cover those three days' distance in a single day and night.
The physical toll, however, was immense. Almost all the officers and soldiers had reached their limits. The moment Commander Lu Xiong ordered a brief rest where they stood, they dropped onto the ground without caring about the dust or damp, panting heavily.
They had not stopped once along the way. Naturally, they would not pass up even a fleeting chance to catch their breath.
On a forced march like this, it was not just the foot soldiers who struggled. Even some of the officers with horses could not endure the relentless pace.
Zi Shou, of course, could.
His four-wheeled carriage rode with extraordinary smoothness, and its interior was a world unto itself. Fitted out to the standards of a small suite, it had a dedicated cushioned couch, cabinets, and even a wool carpet covering the floor. Wooden trim concealed the joints of the carriage compartment, and its exceptionally stable construction made it impossible to tell he was on the march at all.
Lu Xiong glanced at the soldiers resting nearby, then approached the carriage to remonstrate. "Your Majesty, if we continue this forced march, I fear the officers and men will have no strength left to fight. Though our destination, Tong Pass, is still some distance from Sishui Pass, we must not let our guard down. Worse still, if discontent takes root among the men and the army mutinies, the consequences will be dire."
Zi Shou was still groggy from sleeping in the carriage. He failed to register the words and made no reply.
Lu Xiong hesitated, then finally said firmly, "Your Majesty, the