novelraw Chapter 61: The Hardships of the Anxi Army
Chapter 61: The Hardships of the Anxi Army
Chapter 61: The Hardships of the Anxi Army
The Sea of Death was the graveyard of armies, yet it made little difference to Jiang Zhaoming and Xu Guangqi.
Xu Guangqi lifted a small boat with spiritual energy and easily glided over the Sea of Death.
Their plan on this journey was to cross the Sea of Death directly and head to the main camp of the Anxi Army.
After about four days, the two took several rests along the way.
During that time, Jiang Zhaoming also used the Fortune-Appraising Treasure Mirror to check whether there were any resources within the Sea of Death.
The results surprised him — beneath the sea lay massive mineral veins, including precious Spirit Crystal Veins.
But unfortunately, this world still lacked the technology to mine beneath a thousand meters of sand.
After several days of traveling and halting, Jiang Zhaoming and Xu Guangqi finally reached the Anxi Army camp in mid-December.
The main encampment of the Anxi Army looked like a solitary city carved by yellow sands, standing abruptly amidst the boundless desert.
The towering city walls had been polished sharp and clear by wind and sand, the surface covered with dense traces of grit.
From afar, the entire city seemed to have fused with the desolate wilderness.
When Jiang Zhaoming and Xu Guangqi approached, the patrolling soldiers atop the walls cast wary gazes upon them.
These frontier soldiers all bore dark complexions, their skin cracked and peeling from long exposure to the dry, sandy wind.
A thin layer of dust covered their armor; even their eyebrows and beards were filled with fine grains of sand.
The city gate slowly opened, and instead of the expected main commander, Wan Donglai, they were greeted by a stern-faced vice-general.
The general’s lips were severely chapped, and his armor rasped softly as he saluted.
“Subordinate Zhao Tieshan greets Your Majesty on behalf of General Wan... The General is away on a mission and has ordered this subordinate to receive Your Majesty.”
His voice was hoarse, clearly the result of speaking too long in the arid air.
Jiang Zhaoming noticed that Zhao’s hands were covered with fine cracks, and sand lingered stubbornly under his fingernails.
It was hard to imagine how harsh the environment must have been to make even a Divine Power Realm general’s skin appear like this.
Behind Zhao Tieshan stood several of his personal guards, their faces weathered, eyes half-squinting from years of enduring the blinding desert sun.
They were led to a courtyard quite unlike the military barracks.
When the gates opened, a rare sight of greenery appeared before their eyes.
In the yard grew several drought-resistant poplar trees, and in the middle lay a small pond, its surface shimmering faintly under the sunlight.
Though modest in scale, it was nothing short of a paradise within this world of yellow sand.
“This is…” Jiang Zhaoming was somewhat astonished.
Zhao Tieshan allowed a faint smile. “This was specially built at General Wan’s order. It took three years just to keep these trees alive.”
The air inside was noticeably moister, and even breathing became easier.
But Jiang Zhaoming’s expression darkened. He asked, “What mission has General Wan gone to carry out? Have the rebels from the western prefectures attacked?”
Zhao Tieshan pressed his lips together and said, “Your Majesty, this subordinate knows little of such matters. It would be best to wait for the General to report personally.”
Xu Guangqi frowned deeply, his fingers tightening slightly inside his sleeve.
For a vice-general to speak so vaguely before the Prince of Anxi — the discipline of the Anxi Army was indeed displeasing.
But Jiang Zhaoming only waved his hand gently and said calmly, “It’s fine. General Zhao, then lead us to take a look around.”
As they stepped out of the courtyard, a gust of frigid wind swept up grains of sand, forcing them to squint.
Soldiers in the camp were queuing to receive their daily water ration — each was allotted only a small pouch of murky water.
A thin layer of white alkali crusted the surface of those pouches.
“There are no water sources within five hundred li of here. Every three days, a team must ride five hundred li to the oasis and fetch water,” Zhao Tieshan explained, pointing toward a distant waterwheel.
The more Jiang Zhaoming saw and heard, the deeper his frown grew — the living conditions of the Anxi Army were indeed worrisome.
When they passed the medical tents, army medics were applying special ointments to the soldiers’ cracked skin.
Inside, various herbs were neatly arranged, and a few lightly injured soldiers helped grind medicine powders. Zhao Tieshan explained,
“This is a desert-made balm, boiled from sea-buckthorn fruit and camel’s milk. It cannot cure completely, but it eases the brothers’ suffering from dry skin.”
From the cooking camp came waves of aroma — the cooks were preparing a kind of special dry ration.
They mixed flour with jujube fruit before baking it, making it both durable and energizing.
A few soldiers sat together, eating the simple meal with small sips of water.
When they reached the armory, guards were carefully wiping down their weapons.
Each blade was tended with oiled cloth to prevent the desert’s alkaline air from corroding the steel.
After inspecting the camp, Jiang Zhaoming found that though the Anxi Army lived in hardship, the barracks were maintained in impeccable order.
However, he was still dissatisfied.
According to Zhao Tieshan, the camp could have been built farther east, closer to the oasis.
That would have spared the soldiers much suffering and also made it easier to receive supplies from Ronglu County.
But when Jiang Zhaoming asked why the camp was not set there, Zhao Tieshan could only give an apologetic smile.
“That was the General’s decision. We subordinates are not told of the reasons.”
The winters in Anxi Prefecture were already bone-chilling, and in the depths of the Sea of Death, the climate was even harsher.
At noon, the temperature was barely tolerable for humans; but at night, Jiang Zhaoming estimated it dropped to below minus thirty degrees.
He stayed there for several days, and even with the finest cold-resisting supplies, he found it hard to adapt to the brutal climate.
At noon one day—
While Jiang Zhaoming was resting in the courtyard, Zhao Tieshan knocked on the gate.
Xu Guangqi answered and found Zhao standing outside, his face full of joy.
“What is it?”
Xu Guangqi’s tone was cold.
He had little fondness for this ever-evasive vice-general.
Zhao Tieshan, however, was unfazed, cupping his fists excitedly. “Please inform His Majesty — General Wan has returned to camp!”
Before he could finish, Jiang Zhaoming, already wearing his cloak, stepped to the doorway. “Where is General Wan now?”
“Your Majesty, the General is on his way here. Please wait just a moment…”
Before Zhao could finish, a breeze swept past them.
The wind was strange — neither the usual desert gale nor the biting chill of winter, but rather carried a restrained, killing aura.
Jiang Zhaoming looked up and saw a tall figure already standing outside the courtyard gate.
Zhao Tieshan immediately knelt on one knee and saluted. “Subordinate greets the General!”
The newcomer wore a battle robe and a dark-patterned cloak, with an ancient sword hanging from his waist.
He appeared to be in his early forties, his face sharply chiseled like stone, deep wrinkles marking his brow.
But it was his eyes that drew all attention — sharp as a hawk’s, yet deep and steady like a still lake, as if capable of piercing through all illusion.
“Subordinate Wan Donglai greets Your Majesty. Military affairs detained me, and I failed to welcome you in time. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Wan Donglai bowed deeply, his voice low and powerful.
Jiang Zhaoming smiled. “It’s fine, General Wan, please rise.”
Wan Donglai nodded and turned to Zhao Tieshan. “When facing His Majesty, mind your manners. You may withdraw for now.”
After that, Wan Donglai entered the courtyard alongside Jiang Zhaoming.