The straight-line distance from Sheng'an to Shuofeng was nine hundred kiloters, which converted to Great Yu's 'li' asurent ca to seventeen hundred li.
Because this route was relatively flat overall, and given its imnse strategic importance, the path had been built with both post roads and official highways. The actual marching distance was only about 1.4 tis the straight-line distance—it could practically be called Great Yu's fastest expressway.
Generally speaking, routes with less strategic significance combined with complex terrain would typically be around twice the straight-line distance.
If one were to campaign against Southern Yue, it could even reach a terrifying three or four tis the straight-line distance.
This was also why ancient Fujian, even up until the War of Resistance against Japan, remained a "place where military strategists do not contend."
In this era, Southern Yue was equivalent to a tar baby—step on it, and it would stick right to the sole of your foot.
Even if you led troops to occupy the Southern Yue capital, it would still be difficult to completely conquer that region.
But if you ignored them, they'd be like Tarzan swinging on vines going "oh-oh-oh—" to harass you, running out from the mountains to raid your grain every autumn harvest.
To deter the southern barbarians, the court even had the hereditary Duke of Li, who was the second-ranking ritorious noble from following the founding emperor, specifically station troops there.
Talk about absurd.
The actual distance on the road from Sheng'an to Shuofeng was approximately 2,400 li.
According to Great Yu's fastest eight hundred li ergency courier system, it would take three days and three nights to transmit military intelligence from the front lines back to the capital.
As a brief aside, the eight hundred li ergency courier didn't an a single ssenger riding one horse from the front lines all the way to the capital.
Normally, to ensure the ssage absolutely got through, at least three people from the post stations and seven or more horses were needed for seamless rotation.
And the horses couldn't be ordinary warhorses either—they had to be excellent breeds crossbred from the endurance-strong Hequ horses and Ferghana horses.
During the journey, to prevent ssage loss or ssengers dying en route, at least one backup copy of the military intelligence had to be prepared.
The speed of ancient military marches, if it was a forced march, was roughly between fifty and seventy li.
Of course, that was for the movent of armies numbering in the tens of thousands.
The court's allocation of one thousand Forbidden Army troops to Wei Wusheng this ti wasn't actually for reinforcent at its core. Rather, it was to escort generals and civil officials to the front lines, then urgently replace Zhao Xiang.
Therefore, this thousand-man Forbidden Army force carried no extra baggage and no accompanying civilian laborers.
Of the thousand n, five hundred were auxiliary soldiers.
Three hundred were cavalry.
The remaining infantry also traveled as light as possible.
What they carried included no military equipnt, and only five days' worth of rations.
At each post station, they would resupply for another five days.
The purpose was to reach Shuofeng before Wuwei fell.
Therefore, the marching speed reached an astonishing ninety li per day.
In roughly twenty-so days, they could arrive.
Only the most elite Forbidden Army could achieve this level.
It could be said that for every one of these thousand Forbidden Army soldiers, this kind of thing was routine.
But that only applied to the Forbidden Army.
Late at night, inside a tent, on a simple solid wood narrow bed with only a soft quilt spread on it, Song Shi'an lay prone. His upper body was bare, with only a pair of undergarnts below. San Gou at his side pulled aside the leg opening and applied dicinal paste to his thighs.
anwhile, Song Shi'an gritted his teeth, his face contorted in a mask of pain.
Lifting the tent flap, Qin Kuo walked in. Seeing Song Shi'an grimacing by the candlelight, he teased: "Jieyuan Song, wouldn't having a soft young maiden apply dicine for you better ease the pain?"
"What bullshit are you talking about? Fuck off!"
Glancing back at Chief Clerk Qin, Song Shi'an imdiately let loose with colorful language.
By the way, after entering the army, in just these ten-so days, Song Shi'an had completely integrated, adapting perfectly to the coarseness of those in the ranks.
With Chief Clerk Qin, who was a rank and a half above him, he no longer spoke with the mutual formality of their first eting.
"Ha ha ha..." Qin Kuo laughed, walked over to the side, waved his hand, and had San Gou go out.
He personally began applying dicine for Song Shi'an.
Originally, he too had looked down on this arrogant and conceited young master from a prestigious family. Before coming, he'd already been sarcastic about it.
But during these twenty-so days of marching, Song Shi'an hadn't uttered a single word of complaint. When offered the chance to ride in a carriage, or to fall slightly behind with cavalry escort, he refused.
On his first campaign with the army, he'd ridden nearly two thousand li on horseback.
The others had no problems—after all, they were all battle-hardened veterans.
The Chief Clerk, Captain, and other military officers felt that being able to travel on post roads and official highways most of the ti, only needing to make small detours, was practically comfortable.
But this was a pampered young noble!
This alone completely changed Qin Kuo's view of Song Shi'an.
"The broken skin and flesh will grow back after it falls off. Then, after repeating this process several more tis, riding horses won't hurt anymore." Qin Kuo consoled him.
"It doesn't hurt at all..."
Song Shi'an sneered dismissively, but the next mont his expression changed drastically: "Hey! What the fuck, of course it hurts if you press on it!"
"You're already passably acceptable, not bad."
After finishing the dicine application, Qin Kuo personally bandaged him with clean gauze.
Though he said this, Song Shi'an was definitely more than just 'acceptable.'
Among those young masters from prestigious families who accompanied the army to earn rit, there had never been anyone with his level of resilience.
Song Shi'an didn't get carried away, instead asking: "Have we already crossed Nanwu Mountain?"
"Mm, just entered Liang Prefecture not long ago," Qin Kuo said.
"How far to Langya then?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Probably about two days' journey. However, the original route wasn't to detour west to Langya and take the water route down the Chishui River to Shuofeng," Qin Kuo said. "But rather to go directly north through Jian Pass."
"How do the two routes compare?"
"The land route is definitely closer, but if it's the water route, the land portion is cut in half. The ti for both is basically similar, just about half a day's difference. Oh right, the land route is half a day faster," Qin Kuo said.
"Mm, then I understand."
Having said that, Song Shi'an slowly got up and sowhat unsteadily went to put on his robe.
"What are you doing in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" Qin Kuo asked, puzzled.
"Going to find His Highness about sothing."
As Song Shi'an spoke, he made to leave.
"Alright then, get so sleep early."
Qin Kuo also left with a smile, and before departing, said to San Gou standing guard outside the tent: "If the jieyuan has any needs, he may apply to ."
"Yes, daren." San Gou saluted with a cupped fist.
Not long after he left, Song Shi'an also left the tent, supporting his thighs, heading toward the Commander-General's main tent.
At this ti, that sword-bearing young woman stood outside the door, calm and composed.
Those soldiers were one thing, but you're a girl and you're also iron drums—doesn't hurt at all?
Fine, everyone's tougher than .
"Here to see His Highness?" Xinyue asked.
"Yes." Song Shi'an nodded.
"Your Highness, Song Shi'an requests an audience!" Xinyue called out loudly, expressionless.
"Wait, wait a mont."
Wei Wusheng's voice ca from inside, seemingly feeling that this arrival was a bit abrupt, flustered.
After a while, a soldier ca out: "Daren Song, please enter."
Thus, Song Shi'an entered the main tent.
Then he saw Wei Wusheng in casual clothes, sitting very solemnly before the wooden desk in the main tent.
Song Shi'an also caught a glimpse of a jar of the sa trauma ointnt as his own.
Well then, the only worthless ones in the world are you and .
"Shi'an, what matter brings you?" Wei Wusheng asked.
Song Shi'an said: "Should the army detour to Langya and take the water route down the Chishui River to Shuofeng?"
Hearing this, Wei Wusheng forcibly stood up and walked to the map on the stand, studying it: "The two routes take about the sa ti, but taking the water route ans walking half the land distance and can let the army rest and recover a bit. Mm, that works too."
"Good, then Shi'an will take his leave."
Song Shi'an saluted with a cupped fist and withdrew from the tent.
Watching his retreating figure, Wei Wusheng had no doubts about changing the route. However, Song Shi'an's abrupt suggestion without explanation left him sowhat puzzled.
Nevertheless, the army did detour westward.
In approximately a day and a half, they were almost there.
If the march was fast, they'd probably reach Langya City that evening.
At noon, the army stopped in place to cook.
Wei Wusheng and Xinyue just sat there holding bowls, on small stools around a small table eating their al.
A map was spread on the table, and Wei Wusheng studied it while eating.
"Daren Song requests an audience."
Ca the announcent from outside the tent.
"Enter." Wei Wusheng said directly.
Then Song Shi'an walked in.
"Shi'an, have you eaten?" Wei Wusheng asked with a smile, looking up while holding his bowl.
"Your Highness, I have sothing to discuss with you."
Song Shi'an's tone was solemn.
Wei Wusheng put down his bowl and beca serious as well, saying: "Xinyue can be absolutely trusted."
Since he'd said as much, Song Shi'an didn't care.
Walking before him, he pointed at 'Langya' on the map and asked: "Does Your Highness know what kind of city this is?"
Wei Wusheng found this question sowhat strange, but still answered: "The seat of Cangwu Commandery, if the Northern Liang valley falls, it serves as one of two key fortresses along with Jian Pass, absolutely on the anti-Qi front line."
"Langya, the third most populous city in Liang Prefecture, second only to Yongcheng and Wuwei. Upstream from Shuofeng, on the banks of the Chishui River. To resist Qi with all strength after Northern Liang valley falls, grain, military equipnt, and uniforms from Liang Prefecture and Qin Prefecture are shipped here by water. Nearly one-third of all Liang Prefecture's military supplies are in this city."
Song Shi'an's tone was calm as water.
Wei Wusheng listened seriously throughout, his expression gradually growing tense.
Xinyue at the side also stared blankly while holding her bowl.
Staring into his eyes, Song Shi'an said emotionlessly: "Your Highness, upon entering the city, confiscate all supplies and send them to Shuofeng by water."
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