As cultivators from both armies joined the fighting, the battle grew ever more brutal.
Each side lost several thousand men, and dozens more officers died in battle.
Li Ping'an felt that if the fighting continued like this, this army would be wiped out.
After all, it was only a ragtag army, and its fighting strength could hardly be called impressive.
Fortunately, though, before too many days had passed.
Reinforcements arrived.
Li Ping'an sat on a rock as group after group of people walked back and forth.
It was bustling, just like visiting a temple fair at New Year.
Old Ox brewed tea beside him.
Datou came over and tried a sip. He found it bitter and astringent, and had no idea what was so good about the stuff.
They were no longer responsible for moving corpses this time, because several armies had moved ahead of them.
Their ragtag army had been forgotten again.
Only after spending more than three months here did Li Ping'an learn that the place they were in was called Wildman Slope.
Since they would be stationed here for a long time, they set up camp.
He had no idea who had said it, but life was the best teacher.
Li Ping'an learned a great deal in the army camp.
Even something as simple as setting up camp involved a great deal of knowledge.
A camp was generally set up somewhere near mountains and water.
Then came planning the camp's size and dividing up duties.
Who would hold off the enemy in front, and who would protect the supplies in the rear.
Then soldiers had to be assigned to dig trenches, fell trees, and gather all the baggage and equipment they had brought.
There had to be wooden stakes inside the trenches, their outward-facing ends sharpened, then