Deposed Empress General

Chapter 20

Deposed Empress General 20- Joining the Army

Daji City, when Zuo Canglang followed Wenqi back, it was already the eighth month of the year. The wound on Wenqi's back had, because of the constant traveling, not only had not recovered, but started to swell. Wenqi didn't bother with it, but rather still got up early as usual, taking care of military matters.

Currently, Daji city had been burnt into crisp by Murong Yan during that last battle, and the corpse of the Yu troops had, in the depths of summer, quickly started smelling and rotting. Within the city, lingered a slow and ambulating, persistent and prevalent stink, and the flies and bugs all gathered in swarms.

Zuo Canglang helped the soldiers everyday to pile the corpses together, and then burned them. Some soldiers assisted the civilians in rebuilding their homes. In the city, even the rivers and ponds had a floating humid stench, and clean water had to be drawn from a long distance away.

Usually, Zuo Canglang didn't have anything to do, as Wenqi never stated what her duties were within the army, and nobody officially mentioned her to the leaders.

But Zuo Canglang actually couldn't idle around, and she was like a normal soldier, using cloth to cover her mouth and nose, taking care of the rotting corpses in the city. One by one, the bodies were piled together, and burnt. A rain of sweat and corpse ash stuck to the young woman's skin; a scene that would cause normal people to vomit upon sight, she did not treat as anything extraordinary.

A hundred thousand corpses, using the phrase of corpse mountain or blood sea, were both too frivolous descriptors. Wenqi stood by a temporary tent, looking at that girl that was working busily amidst the rotting corpses. A few commanders followed behind him; he didn't say anything, so nobody had the gall to open their mouths.

As time grew, his assistant commander, Yuan Xi couldn't hold it in anymore, saying, "Marshal Wen, are we going to continue staying here, building homes?" Wenqi's temperament was good, not even minding his words, "It's not me complaining, ah, but we've been troops for so many years, and have been idle for how many years. It was still the previous battle that was something worth a breather. But, after finally winning a victory after such difficulty, the imperial court once again doesn't use its military, this is really......"

He had a face full of dissatisfaction, and once he finally saw Wenqi's expression, he finally shut his mouth.

Wenqi once again looked at the busy Zuo Canglang, asking, "What do you think, how is she?"

Yuan Xi rubbed the back of his head, saying, "Aye, Marshal Wen, we've been in the army for so many years, and haven't even seen a few women. Whether she is pretty or not, currently, let's not talk about. But, if you like her, then......"

Wenqi finally sighed, "Yuan Xi, I'm asking, what do you think about her character?"

Yuan Xi said, "Eh, it's difficult to tell. Usually she rarely talks, but when she's working, she actually puts in effort. Even in this type of situation, she's not even a bit scared."

Wenqi suddenly raised his voice, "Ah Zuo, come here."

Zuo Canglang turned her head, finally discovering that since some time ago Wenqi had already arrived here. She quickly walked over, paying her respects, "Marshal Wen." Wenqi nodded, saying, "This type of hot day, you don't have to do this."

Zuo Canglang took off her glove, and inside, it had already been soaked with a wet oil, with a nasty smell. Her expression was calmed, "The weather is hot, and if the bodies aren't quickly disposed of, if it results in sickness, one fears that it would be even worse."

Wenqi nodded, saying, "His majesty ordered us to retreat to Su Ye, and continue fortifying. And in the night, to begin patrolling. Go and prepare, all of you."