In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

As the rainwater accumulated, the roads gradually became muddy, making travel extremely difficult.

"Hurry up, you guys!"

"Go help quickly!!"

"The provisions must not get damp. There are still three miles ahead. Push them up the mountain to avoid the rain!"

"quick!!"

Li Yuanchang, riding his horse, shouted loudly, urging the soldiers and laborers to hurry.

However, the wheels of a cart would sink deep into the muddy road, and even ten people might not be able to pull a cart that two people could push out once it was stuck.

Moreover, in ancient times, tools were scarce, making it almost impossible to pave roads with wooden planks or iron plates.

boom! !

Before the entangled chariots and horses could be dealt with, another warhorse lost its footing and fell down a high slope.

Li Yuanchang's face turned grim as he rushed to the edge of the slope.

More than ten exhausted and mud-covered laborers stared helplessly at the scene before them, their eyes filled with fear and pleading.

The horse was injured, and the goods were scattered all over the ground and soaked by rain. Generally speaking, a beating is inevitable.

"What are you all standing there for? Go help!"

"I will handle this!" Li Yuanchang shouted, but did not make a move.

More than ten laborers were bewildered.

"Hurry up!!" Li Yuanchang roared, worried that the goods and supplies would get damp, rust, or rot, which would be even more serious than arriving late.

"yes!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" The laborers, overjoyed at not being beaten, rushed to pull the cart.

"Stop looking around, hurry up and go rest up ahead, don't block the back!" Li Yuanchang roared.

"yes!"

"You lot, slide down and tie yourself to the horse with ropes!"

"Chu Liang, you guys drag him up here!"

"yes!"

Li Yuanchang kept shouting and mobilizing his troops.

This is different from fighting on the battlefield. There is no life-or-death crisis, but it is still full of challenges.

A horse can carry over a hundred pounds of fodder. The food for each soldier during marches and battles is strictly planned. If it is lost, at least a hundred people will go hungry for a day.

With the intervention of the elite guards, the fallen warhorses and cargo were eventually pulled up using ropes.

But this is just a microcosm of the vast amount of logistics involved.

Shouts and screams were heard everywhere, and the rainy roads were a heavy burden for the escort team.

This isn't a cement road; it's pure loess. Whenever it rains, you're prone to getting stuck, landslides, and all sorts of other problems.

The grain convoy traveled for over an hour, covering a distance of three miles. Exhausted, everyone shouted as they pulled the grain into a natural stone cave on a high slope.

To prevent rainwater from flowing back in, Li Yuanchang personally led a team to dig a simple ditch to drain the rainwater.

Boom!!

Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky, and the rain suddenly intensified.

The group huddled under the rocks, panting, "Thank goodness, thank goodness all the supplies were brought in. Otherwise, with this kind of rain, even the oil paper wouldn't be able to hold them; once they got damp, they would have molded in just a few days."

"Yes!" Tu Sitong and the others looked terrified.

"Damn it, I forgot to check the almanac before I left!" Cheng Chuliang cursed, his face full of displeasure, almost cursing the heavens.

"Alright, this is a common occurrence. We need to keep an eye on the supplies and protect them from rain and wild animals."

"Tu Sitong, quickly send someone down the mountain to help Gong Canjun and the others." Li Yuanchang put down his binoculars and had already seen the soldiers struggling to move forward in the heavy rain.

Gong Yun and the others walked behind.

"Yes!" Tu Sitong clasped his hands in a fist salute and immediately led a hundred men down the mountain in the rain.

"Brother, this job is tough. We haven't seen a single Xueyantuo man. We're stuck here hauling goods all day, and these laborers are really slowing us down," Cheng Chuliang complained.

Yu Chi Baoqi was also finding it hard to bear this life of not being able to go to the battlefield, yet feeling extremely miserable: "Yes, brother, why don't we think of a way to go to the front lines?"

"Killing is more interesting than this."

Li Yuanchang glared at the two of them: "Your father sent you here to gain experience, and you still want to become generals?"

"If you don't want to work here, then get out! See how your father deals with you when you get back!"

The two men gave an awkward laugh and dared not mention it again.

"Also, it is forbidden to say such discouraging things in the army. The civilian laborers are also our comrades. Without them, we still cannot fight on the front lines."

"If you cause trouble again, you'll be punished with military force!"

Li Yuanchang was strict, and Cheng Chuliang and Yuchi Baoqi were clearly somewhat ambitious but lacked practical skills. After all, they were young, came from military families, and had good health, but lacked patience and temperament.

Seeing Li Yuanchang's displeasure, the two men clasped their hands in a fist and palm salute, saying, "Yes!"

Li Yuanchang's expression finally relaxed.

He looked up at the pouring rain, wondering when it would stop. Then he glanced at the mud-covered wheels and felt a headache coming on.

He did consider modifying the carriage to make it as easy as possible and less slippery.

However, the current conditions do not allow it at all. Even if there were enough time, there would be no way to find the tools and materials, which is greatly limited by the times.

It was at this moment that he finally understood why, in ancient times, when a war broke out, the entire nation was mobilized as laborers, and why war was said to be a drain on the people and resources.

If this war goes on, and it's a protracted war, many civilian laborers will probably die from exhaustion.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, when the court was at war, all the men in the country had to work as laborers.

Perhaps from some perspectives, Li Shimin's policy of marriage alliances was also aimed at protecting the people.

One hour later.

People and goods from Cangcao Township in Lantian County gradually gathered together.

Originally, they were supposed to take turns walking, but due to this sudden downpour, they were all forced to stay on the hillside.

Under a makeshift tent, the water was almost ankle-deep.

"We should be here now. As required, we need to deliver the grain to Damengchang, which is a hundred miles away."

"The Ministry of War also has a grain reserve warehouse, which is heavily guarded and managed separately."

Gongyun drew a picture on the map.

Several captains, including Li Yuanchang, gathered around.

"My lord, it's raining heavily now. Even if it stops tomorrow morning, the water on the roads is too thick, and it will take at least two days for the sun to dry them off."

"Even longer."

"Otherwise, our carriages and horses won't be able to get through."

"Yes!" many people complained.

"Of all these military commands, we're the ones who have to deliver the grain to the furthest granary. Is it because we didn't give the military supervisor any benefits?" someone complained.

"Shut up!" Gong Yun warned.

Be careful what you say!

"No matter who it is, this line will eventually have to be delivered, and this time they've provided us with all the necessary carriages and horses, so we have nothing to say!"

The captains frowned and lowered their heads, speechless, but their silence clearly indicated their helplessness.

At this moment, Li Yuanchang suddenly spoke up.

"Let's change course."

Upon hearing this, all eyes turned to him. Gong Yun frowned seriously: "Your Highness, the transport route is fixed. Doing this violates military regulations!"