Chapter 69 Return to Lingguan Fort

Yang Zhengshan watched all this silently. When he saw Cao Han leaving, he immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted: "Greetings, general!"

"No gifts!"

Zhou Lan turned over and dismounted, looked up to the north, her brows were a little more melancholy, and she was not as cheerful and free as before.

"How's it going?"

"The official has ordered people to investigate. The specific situation is still unknown!" Yang Zhengshan replied.

Zhou Lan looked at it intently for a moment, and finally shook her head helplessly.

"We lost!"

This defeat was too hasty, too complete, and unacceptable, but it was a natural defeat.

She knew better than Yang Zhengshan why this battle was lost.

There are many reasons, but there are three main reasons. First, lack of preparation and hasty expedition left many loopholes inside and outside the army.

The second battle in the court affected the decision-making of the frontline commander. Zhang Shouwang always wanted to seek stability, but the court kept forcing him to rush for success.

Third, Chongshan Town has long been in decay, and the morale and combat effectiveness of the soldiers are far lower than before.

As for the strategy of the Hu tribe in the East China Sea, although it was also the reason for the defeat, it was not the main reason.

The Hu people in the East China Sea today are cunning, and the Hu people in the East China Sea in the past were equally cunning. This does not become an excuse for defeat.

"General, what should we do next?" Yang Zhengshan asked softly.

Zhou Lan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go back to Guancheng first!"

"Over there, the general!" Yang Zhengshan couldn't help but remind him.

He could go back to Guancheng regardless, but Zhou Lan was the guerrilla general of Zhenbiao Zuoying, and Zhenbiao Fifth Battalion was the direct descendant of Zhang Shouwang, the commander-in-chief of Chongshan Town.

It might be too much to say that Zhou Lan is Zhang Shouwang's confidant, but she definitely has a close relationship with Zhang Shouwang.

"I have received news that although the camp is destroyed, the general's tent has not been damaged too much. At this time, the Marquis has led the remaining army to evacuate westward, and we do not need to support him!" Zhou Landao said.

Since Zhou Lan said this, Yang Zhengshan naturally had no objection.

After a little tidying up, Yang Zhengshan led the grain team and followed Zhou Lan back to Chongshanguan.

By the time they returned to Chongshan Pass, it was already two days later.

The entire Chongshanguan was in chaos. Zhou Lan fell into busyness as soon as he returned to Chongshanguan, while Yang Zhengshan returned to Linguan Fort with food and grass.

Yes, he went back with food and grass.

Because at this time, he was not cared about at all, and no one cared about the grain and grass he transported.

Of course, he was able to bring the grain and grass back to Linguan Fort only with Zhou Lan's promise, because the grain and grass originally belonged to Zhenbiao Zuoying.

Although Zhenbiao Zuoying has withdrawn to Chongshanguan, since the grain and grass have been taken out, naturally they cannot be transported back to Guancheng.

Not only grain and grass, Yang Zhengshan also brought back 300 cattle, mules and grain carts. As for the civilian husband, after returning to Linguan Fort, Yang Zhengshan handed them over to Dusi Yamen.

He can keep things, but not people.

Linguan Fort, inside the official office.

"Dad, you are not injured!"

When he saw Yang Zhengshan, Yang Minghao looked him up and down. When he saw that he was not injured, Yang Minghao felt relieved.

This time, Yang Zhengshan did not take Yang Minghao with him when he left the customs. After all, Yang Minghao did not have any position in the army.

In the study, Yang Zhengshan took off his heavy cloth armor and asked, "Is everything in the castle okay?"

"Everything is fine for us, but people in Guancheng are in panic!"

"Everyone said we were defeated, Dad, is that true?"

Yang Minghao quickly brought the tea and asked worriedly.

Yang Zhengshan happened to feel thirsty, took the tea, took a sip, and said: "We are indeed defeated!"

"Will we be in trouble?" Yang Minghao asked.

Yang Zhengshan thought for a while, "I don't know, let's wait and see!"

He has no control over this matter, nor can he get involved. As for the outcome, it depends on Zhou Lan's actions.

However, he estimated that it had little to do with him. He was just a grain transport officer. After the war, they not only beheaded nearly three hundred people, but also transported grain and grass four times. It was both credit and hard work, even for the court. Even if he wants to be punished, his merits cannot be erased.

"By the way, is there any letter from home?" Yang Zhengshan asked instead.

"have!"

A bright smile appeared on Yang Mingzhi's face, and he quickly took out two letters from the bookcase next to him and handed them to Yang Zhengshan.

"Cousin Wenyuan passed the examination as a scholar, and he was also the head of the case!"

Yang Zhengshan raised his eyebrows, opened the letter and read it.

It is now the end of July, and the college examination has been over for more than a month. Yang Mingcheng and Lu Wenyuan have already returned to Anning County from Jing'an Fucheng.

Looking at the contents of the letter, Yang Zhengshan was also quite happy.

Lu Wenyuan is only seventeen years old this year, and he can pass the case examination, which shows that he is very talented in reading.

He really hoped that Lu Wenyuan would be successful, and it would be best to be named on the gold medal list and become an official.

In this way, the Yang family can be regarded as having someone in the officialdom.

"Write a letter back to say that you are safe!" Yang Zhengshan ordered.

His family will definitely be worried when he leaves the customs this time. Now that he is back safely, they naturally want to report that he is safe.

"Okay, I'll write it right away!" Yang Minghao responded.

When Yang Zhengshan returned, the entire Linguan Fort was filled with joy. Of course, the military households were not happy for Yang Zhengshan, but for the safe return of their relatives.

It's just that this joy is also mixed with sadness. There were one hundred soldiers in Linguan Fort this time, and ninety-nine came back, and only one died in battle.

Among the ninety-nine joys, this sadness is particularly strong.

After a simple tidying up, Yang Zhengshan personally brought Yang Mingzhi, Yang Mingwu and others to the residential area behind the government office.

In the square courtyard, a family of four was holding the ashes of the deceased and wailing.

Standing outside the gate, Yang Zhengshan looked at the family of four and felt a little uncomfortable.

Their comrades died in battle, and they could not send the bodies home, so they could only bring the ashes back.

He was very familiar with the soldier who died in battle. His name was Li Dazhu, and he was an honest-looking farmer. The Li family was originally a large family like the Yang family, but when the Hu cavalry entered the pass last year, the village where the Li family lived was attacked.

There were more than ten people in the family, but only the five of them escaped death.

Now the remaining four people are Li Dazhu's mother, wife and a pair of children.

Yang Zhengshan was very glad that Li Dazhu still had children, otherwise the family would be completely broken up.

"Please be patient!"

Yang Zhengshan didn't know how to comfort him, perhaps any words of comfort would seem pale and powerless at this time.

He took a tray from Yang Mingwu, on which were placed four small silver ingots of five taels.

"Li Dazhu is a meritorious official of Linguanbao, a meritorious official of Chongshan Town, and a meritorious official of Darong. His family should enjoy the honor he earned with his life!"

Yang Zhengshan said solemnly.

He did not say this to the Li family, but to the other people in Linguanbao.

Now that the Li family is left with only orphans and widows, it is inevitable that they will be neglected and bullied. Yang Zhengshan will naturally not see such a thing happen, so he must make it clear.

Of course, just a few words cannot guarantee that the Li family can live a stable life in the future. He will still take care of the Li family in the future.

Yang Zhengshan did not stay at the Li family for long, and left after leaving the silver.

"You should take care of the Li family in the future and don't let them be bullied!"

After leaving the Li family, Yang Zhengshan explained to Old Li.

"The old man understands!" Old Li responded quickly.