Fire rose over Xushui.
That afternoon, in a market town only a few li from Xushui, northwest of Mo County's seat, Zhang Xing stood atop an earthen enclosure with a group of armored men, hands on his hips. After watching the smoke and flames for a while, they all found it rather dull.
This battle had swept everything aside like rotten wood and withered grass.
They knew the Exorcising the Dragon Gang had long prepared this Northern Expedition, with elite troops and ample provisions. They knew the Hejian Grand Camp was a river running downhill, and that they outclassed the Youzhou Army from generals to soldiers. They knew all Hebei, and even the Northern Lands, was already a meal the gang had marked out for itself, and that Sima Zheng and Bai Hengqiu were their real opponents. Still, finding that a single sweeping surprise attack, pivoting the entire army, had gone so smoothly made it all feel rather dull.
That dullness became even more pronounced after the front reported that the man beneath the "Supreme General Manager of Youzhou, Luo" banner might be an impostor.
Thus, after watching a while, Chief Zhang led everyone down from the earthen enclosure to rest or attend to their work. Zhang Xing himself began eating his second meal of flatbread that day... this time, hot flatbread with hot soup, and even a table and chairs... the furniture came ready-made from a tavern at the crossroads. The bread had been heated in its kitchen with its firewood, with only a few copper coins left as a token payment.
Yes, the battle was not even over, and some people had already begun enjoying themselves.
Still, their dining arrangements at least carried on the gang's fine traditions. Following the rules of corridor dining, they specifically placed a