My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 321 Wheat Iron Staff

The massive army finally set out.

A million-strong army marched towards the Liao River. The sheer number of this army was staggering, blotting out the sky and densely packed together. They emerged from various training grounds like ants, completely occupying the roads. As they marched, the earth trembled.

General Mai Tiezhang of the Right Guard led the vanguard, riding a tall warhorse at the very front of the army.

Behind him was Yuwen Shu, the Left Guard General.

Behind Yuwen Shu was Yu Zhongwen, the Right Guard General.

As for Li Xuanba, they had not yet left the city.

After the vanguard had marched for several days, Li Xuanba and others finally escorted the emperor away. Due to Yang Guang's orders, the army moved slowly. After all, Yang Guang required the army to act in unison. The vanguard wanted to seize the west bank of the Liao River first to build bridges and such, but in order to wait for the main army behind, they could only march slowly.

This resulted in the Koreans having already established a defensive line on the west bank and destroyed all the bridges before they arrived.

The heavy snowfall had stopped, but even without snow, the weather was still unusually cold. The cold wind seeped into the gaps in the armor, causing pain, and when breathing, the cold wind would suddenly penetrate into the chest and abdomen, making people uncomfortable.

Li Xuanba and his Guanzhong soldiers were alright; although they were also suffering, they gritted their teeth and continued to advance. The biggest problem was the soldiers from the south, from Sichuan and Lingnan.

They probably never dreamed that they would be summoned to fight in Liaodong. It's a miracle that they even made it this far alive.

The incompatibility with the local environment spread among the army. Even the soldiers from the Central Plains and Guanzhong regions suffered from vomiting and diarrhea. As for those from further south, large numbers of them collapsed. The emperor did not like to hear bad news, and the generals dared not report it.

Li Xuanba's Xiaoguo Army, as the Imperial Guard, was directly under the Emperor's command and rode in front of the Emperor's carriage, separating the Emperor from the outside army.

Qin Qiong, riding his horse, exhaled a puff of mist and couldn't help but say, "General, how long will this awful weather last?"

Li Xuanba shook his head. "I don't know either."

"I didn't feel this bad when it was snowing, so why is it getting colder now that spring has arrived?"

Qin Qiong said in a low voice, while Yang Xuanzong wiped his red nose and said, "This is normal, it's called a late spring cold snap! It might even snow again!"

Qin Qiong looked around at the soldiers and thought to himself: The battle hasn't even started yet, but the morale has already dropped to this level. How can we possibly win?
The army marched on and on, and by the end of the month, the cold had not yet subsided. Finally, the army successfully gathered at the banks of the Liao River.

Mai Tiezhang, as the vanguard, was the first to arrive here.

He led a fierce attack, destroying the Goryeo camp on the west bank and occupying the entire west bank. However, all the bridges were destroyed, and the enemy set up a defensive line on the east bank. They built a tall city wall and filled it with archers.

The Liao River surged and churned.

Mai Tiezhang stood on the shore, gazing at the enemy in the distance.

Mai Tiezhang was extremely burly and fierce-looking; few dared to meet his gaze.

He was an extraordinary man, incredibly strong and with amazing stamina. He could travel five hundred li in a day and run as fast as a galloping horse. He was once responsible for holding an umbrella for Emperor Chen Houzhu. During the day, he would hold the umbrella for the emperor and then walk more than a hundred li to Nanxuzhou to become a thief and steal things. He would return the next morning to continue holding the umbrella for the emperor.

After going back and forth more than ten times, he was finally recognized and reported to the emperor, but no one wanted to believe it.

So, Minister Cai Zheng announced to the public: "We need to recruit someone to deliver the imperial edict to the governor of Nanxu Prefecture as quickly as possible. A reward of one hundred gold pieces will be given!" Mai Tiezhang stepped forward to answer the call, took the edict and left. He returned early the next morning, and only then did everyone realize that it was this guy who did it!

However, when the Later Lord saw how brave this fellow was, he pardoned his crimes. Later, he submitted to the Sui Dynasty and did some shocking things.

For example, on one occasion, he disguised himself as a civilian to scout out bandits. He was captured, and thirty soldiers escorted him on the road. During the journey, he seized a man's knife and killed all thirty men, cutting off their noses and taking them back with him.
Mai Tiezhang gazed at the thieves on the opposite bank, his face showing no fear.

His sons, who had fought alongside him, stood behind him, looking docile and unassuming. Mai Tiezhang pointed at the bandits in the distance and shouted, "When the emperor's decree comes down, you will put on your armor and follow me. First, we will build a pontoon bridge, and then we will be the first to break down that high wall! Make the greatest contribution!"

His sons nodded in agreement, eager to get started. Just then, an official arrived on horseback.

Husi Zheng dismounted, panting, pushed aside the rude soldiers in front of him, and walked to the front. Mai Tiezhang hurriedly came to him, staring at Husi Zheng, "Is it His Majesty's decree?!"

Husi Zheng looked at the savage in front of him and felt very displeased.

Mai Tiezhang was a southerner, but he didn't have the temperament of a southerner. He was an uncivilized savage, speaking very crudely and without any manners. Husi Zheng held up the imperial edict with a stern face.

"General Mai!"

Have you perhaps forgotten His Majesty's previous orders?

"His Majesty has ordered that any attack must be approved. How could you attack the enemy's western camp without waiting for the follow-up army?! Now you want to build a pontoon bridge on your own. Are you putting your own merits before the greater good of the nation?"

Mai Tiezhang did not receive any reward or order to send troops; instead, the emperor reprimanded him.

Mai Tiezhang listened attentively until the other person finished speaking, then asked suspiciously, "What about the bridge? Who will be responsible for it?"

Husi Zheng raised his head and said, “We need the cooperation of the army. His Majesty has decided that the Duke of Xu will be in charge of harassment and feigning an attack to deter the enemy from sending troops. Minister Yuwen of the Ministry of Works will be in charge of building the pontoon bridge, and General Mai will be in charge of launching the attack from the bridge. General Li Xuanba will be in charge of supervising the army. I will be in charge of relaying the orders!”

Mai Tiezhang looked bewildered. "Minister Yuwen built the bridge, Duke Xu used it as a feint. I climbed the bridge, and General Li supervised the army from behind?"

"Why go through all this trouble? Besides, would the Minister of Works even know about building a pontoon bridge? Shouldn't the generals be in charge? I can handle all of this myself!"

Husi Zheng reprimanded again, "General Mai, this is His Majesty's decree. Do you intend to disobey it?"

"Don't dare."

"Then we shall do as His Majesty commands!"

Husi Zheng gave the order and then turned and left.

Mai Tiezhang stood there silently for a long time. His sons then stepped forward, smiling, and asked, "Father, what did His Majesty say? When will the expedition begin?"

"You don't need to follow me. Just wait for me in the formation."

The Sui army began its operation, with Yuwen Shu taking the lead. He built boats and rafts downstream and pretended to cross the river, attracting the attention of many enemies. At the same time, Yuwen Kai secretly built a pontoon bridge on the west bank of the middle reaches of the Liao River.

Yuwen Kai, wrapped in thick clothes and panting heavily, wandered among the craftsmen.

Upon arriving in Liaodong, Yuwen Kai also fell seriously ill. He wrote to the emperor, hoping to entrust the important matters to others first, but the emperor did not agree and ordered him to continue. Yuwen Kai could only endure the pain to build the pontoon bridge. Yuwen Kai had built many structures and worked in water conservancy, but building a pontoon bridge was a first for him. The emperor's orders became more and more urgent, demanding that they build the pontoon bridge as soon as possible and capture the other side.

Finally, after Yuwen Kai built three and a half pontoon bridges, the emperor decided to officially send troops, with Mai Tiezhang as the vanguard, to cross the river and break through the enemy's defenses.

Mai Tiezhang's army was fully prepared to set off, while Yuwen Shu's troops were deployed on both sides as backup.

Li Xuanba stood on high ground, leading over ten thousand elite soldiers as overseers.

Mai Tiezhang called his sons to him, and his expression was completely different from a few days ago.

"You should prepare to wear plain clothes. I have long been grateful for the country's favor, and today is the time for me to die for the country. If I die in battle, you will be rich and honored for life. You should be loyal and filial. You need to remember this."

P.S.: My health hasn't improved much. I went to the hospital today for an IV drip, and they said I need to continue for three days. I managed to write two chapters, but now I feel dizzy.

(End of this chapter)