Chapter 1434: Return to the Old Place

Chapter 1419: Return to Old Haunts

However, as soon as the army crossed the river, dozens of people emerged from the post station ahead to greet them. The smiling leader was Wen Daolun.

"General He, I trust you have been well?"

He Lingchuan dismounted and laughed heartily, clasping Wen Daolun's arm. "It is a great honor to have Mr. Wen come five li outside the city to welcome me!"

By rights, Wen Daolun only needed to wait for him in Yuheng City. Yet, he personally led officials five li out to greet He Lingchuan, waiting for him in advance at the post station.

This gesture was, first, a show of goodwill towards He Lingchuan. After all, they had an unpleasant past, and the people of Yuheng City clearly preferred Wen Daolun's governance. Second, it was also Wen Daolun making a clear statement to everyone in Yuheng City that his relationship with General Huyi was harmonious and free of discord. The attitudes of subordinates and common people sometimes depend on their superiors. Yuheng City was soon to face war again, and it was precisely the time for the military and civilians to be united. Wen Daolun had to make every effort to bridge any divisions.

He Lingchuan looked at Wen Daolun's smile and secretly sighed that this gentleman always put the interests of Panlong City first. He was truly a paragon of selflessness.

He turned and introduced Wen Daolun: "This is Xin Yi, a messenger from the east."

Wen Daolun was also very cordial: "Ah, Mr. Xin, I've heard much about you! Commander Zhong has messaged me many times, urging me to ensure you are well settled."

Xin Yi smiled as well: "I've long heard that Governor Wen single-handedly transformed a small frontier town into a pearl of the wilderness. I must see it for myself this time."

Wen Daolun immediately waved his hand: "It was merely a stroke of luck. Back then, General He was still the commander of Yuheng City; it was only through our cooperation that we managed to stabilize the city."

"That's still very difficult," Xin Yi mused. "What I most want to observe is how one can fight and develop simultaneously during wartime; how to raise troops and transport provisions while also attending to the well-being of the populace. Panlong City and Yuheng City are both excellent examples of this."

The two exchanged compliments as they headed towards Yuheng City.

After hearing Xin Yi's remarks, He Lingchuan regarded him with even greater respect.

Most countries can still maintain a facade of peace when not at war, but once conflict erupts, their economies and public welfare quickly collapse into disarray. Yuan State and Xiluo are typical examples of this.

Panlong City was able to endure for over a decade in harsh conditions. The superficial reason was its powerful military, such as General Hong and the Great Wind Army. However, one of the lesser-known internal factors was its "war economy." Fighting and producing simultaneously; sustaining the war effort externally while tending to civilian livelihoods internally – this is how they developed and grew stronger amidst conflict. Panlong City had long since formulated its own valuable set of experiences regarding this. Most people only knew that Panlong City was formidable but didn't understand how it achieved this. If Xin Yi intended to study Panlong City's war economy, he truly had keen insight.

Wen Daolun looked back at the army, which stretched as far as the eye could see. After several days of arduous travel, the troops remained orderly and composed, showing no signs of fatigue or laxity. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Your army is almost perfectly trained!" The stronger Panlong City's military became, the more pleased he naturally was.

"A few more fierce battles are needed," He Lingchuan replied. A good blade needs to be baptized in blood, and the same applies to an army. As of today, the Ximo Army under He Lingchuan's command numbers over nine thousand, and the elite Tigerwing Army has five hundred men. The army's scale is taking shape, and it has undergone diligent training, only waiting for real combat to test its achievements and hone its edge.

He Lingchuan himself had also become a true general. Leading and commanding nine thousand troops in battle was an immense challenge for him. Previously, he had only commanded real battles involving three to four thousand men, specifically the Battle of Yuheng City. As for nine thousand men, putting other matters aside, the logistical issues alone would overwhelm an ordinary commander. Many problems only become apparent during practical operations. He humbly sought advice from Zhong Shengguang and General Hong, both of whom guided him earnestly, holding nothing back. General Hong, in particular, displayed such flexible command methods and broad strategic thinking that He Lingchuan was utterly astounded. This seemed less like experience accumulated by Mitian in the human world and more like General Hong's personal insights. Some individuals possess an extraordinary, innate talent for warfare and a natural instinct for combat. These past few months of military training had also been very insightful and rewarding for He Lingchuan. He only regretted the lack of time.

"Soon," Wen Daolun said solemnly. "The Xiluo army has already arrived." "When I received the news, they had already entered the territory of Jintao."

An unspoken context among the three was that Panlong City had already heavily deployed its forces along the northwestern front, eyeing Baling State and Xianyou State with watchful intensity.

He Lingchuan had heard Zhong Shengguang personally state that Xianyou State would be attacked first. But military strategy is not fixed, just as water has no constant form. Who could say Zhong Shengguang wouldn't seize an opportunity mid-campaign and change his mind? And who could say Baling wouldn't suddenly turn hostile and support Xianyou? After all, no one could predict what tricks Beijia might pull from behind the scenes. Thus, the northwestern front was volatile, with a tense situation. Panlong City's strength had expanded dramatically in the past two years, making it impossible for Beijia to mobilize surrounding forces to suppress it. Consequently, Xiluo State entered the fray.

Panlong City had long since deployed scouts within Jintao's territory. The moment Xiluo troops entered Jintao, Zhong Shengguang knew that the war was about to enter a new phase.

"They have already pushed to the border of Maohe Plain, repeatedly attempting to harass the Longchuan trade route."

The moment Wen Daolun said this, He Lingchuan smiled.

Indeed, Wen Daolun's next words were: "They hit a wall three times and have finally quieted down these past few days." Harassing the Longchuan trade route and attempting to sever the Maohe Plain's vital artery was a tactic formerly common among the Longchuan river bandits. The Yuheng Army had tangled with these bandits for over a year, accumulating extensive experience. Although He Lingchuan had been transferred from Yuheng City, the other Yuheng Army generals were all personally trained by him, and this style of combat had long been adopted and continued. It would be strange if the Xiluo army, trying to play someone else's old tune, didn't suffer a setback.

"You arrived just in time. The weighty task of dealing with the Xiluo army will now fall to you," Wen Daolun said. Having waited anxiously at the post station all day, he finally saw He Lingchuan's Ximo Ridge Army arrive and let out a long sigh of relief.

Like Zhong Shengguang, Wen Daolun himself was a Xiluo native and harbored an indescribable mix of emotions towards Xiluo. He fundamentally did not wish to draw his blade against his homeland's army.

Therefore, Zhong Shengguang sent He Lingchuan. His Ximo Ridge Legion was newly formed, with a very mixed composition, and only a small portion were from Panlong City. Xiluo State's performance over the past decade had deeply disappointed Panlong City's military and civilians. Especially the new Xiluo king, who had acknowledged a villain as his father, lost national sovereignty and honor, and willingly acted as Beijia's pawn, raising arms against Panlong City – this particularly inflamed the Ximo soldiers with bitter hatred. If you hate someone, you are willing to make them pay.

Wen Daolun gestured: "Come, let's enter the city. I'll host a welcoming banquet for both of you."

The city gate tower was as tall as ever, personally overseen and reinforced by He Lingchuan back then. But as he stepped into Yuheng City, which he hadn't seen for over a year, He Lingchuan felt a sense of both familiarity and strangeness.

The graffiti behind the city walls was still there, the post station remained, and the distinctively shaped large stone trough, where he always watered his horse upon returning to the city, was also still present.

However, Yuheng City's current buildings were denser. On the main street, some structures even reached seven stories high, grand and spacious, brightly lit. As He Lingchuan walked down the long street, he could hear bursts of cheerful laughter from above. Wen Daolun explained that it was a newly opened grand restaurant by foreign merchants, high-class and expensive, yet always full of distinguished guests and frequently packed.

Yuheng City's atmosphere had always been more relaxed than Panlong City's, and its governance more humane. Visiting merchants and dignitaries found fewer burdens when enjoying themselves here, which contributed to its economy being even more developed than Panlong City's, already showing a hint of decadent opulence. Such sights were ubiquitous.

Many Yuheng citizens recognized He Lingchuan, and people frequently greeted him on the street.

Xin Yi, walking beside him, chuckled: "Grand Commander He is very well-loved here."

He Lingchuan could only offer a wry smile. His methods for dealing with the Longchuan river bandits back then, in hindsight, had flaws, which led to some dissatisfaction among Yuheng citizens. This required time and effort to resolve. Fortunately, in the Battle of Yuheng City, he ultimately led the Yuheng Army to defeat Fu Shanlie, completely stabilizing Maohe Plain and the Longchuan trade route. This achievement was not only acknowledged by Panlong City but also recognized by the people of Yuheng City. Over the past two years, public opinion of him had slowly improved. Many commoners had begun to speak on his behalf.

But He Lingchuan remained humble: "It's all the result of Mr. Wen's efforts."

This remark, made out of context, left Xin Yi utterly bewildered.

The three then went to the newly opened seven-story restaurant. As expected, everything from the dishes to the beverages was exquisite, and there were even live song and dance performances. Wen Daolun was an amiable person and soon struck up a lively conversation with Xin Yi. After the meal, the two escorted Xin Yi to his prepared guest room before slowly making their way back.

He Lingchuan genuinely said, "Mr. Wen is truly remarkable to have managed Yuheng City so well." The sentiments of the common people are the simplest: they genuinely like whoever allows them to live a good life, without pretense.

Wen Daolun waved his hand: "No matter how well I manage, it's always predicated on peace and prosperity. If Yuheng City's environment were terrible, even with miraculous skills, I couldn't foster its development. Going forward, Yuheng City will become a frontline, and everything here will depend on General He." Campaigning and fighting were truly not his strengths. Before He Lingchuan's arrival, he had been constantly on edge, commanding the Yuheng City army in skirmishes with the Xiluo troops. Now that He Lingchuan had arrived with nine thousand Tigerwing soldiers, Wen Daolun truly breathed a sigh of relief.

He Lingchuan, in turn, said: "With Mr. Wen backing me in Yuheng City, I feel very much at ease!" Each field has its specialists; when it came to governing a city, he truly had been inferior to Wen Daolun.

The two exchanged smiles, and any previous minor differences between them vanished entirely.

This time, He Lingchuan did not have to send Wen Daolun back to Panlong City. The two could finally cooperate wholeheartedly. One civilian, one military; managing internal affairs and defending externally.

After his smile faded, Wen Daolun said: "Although Xiluo is weak, it has repeatedly harassed Yuheng's borders, posing a significant hidden danger."

He Lingchuan nodded: "Commander Zhong sent me here not really to target the Xiluo army, but Beijia."

It wasn't that Zhong Shengguang was arrogant, but he truly didn't regard Xiluo as a serious threat; what he needed to guard against was Beijia. Beijia already had troops stationed in Xiluo. Although this westward "punitive expedition" against Panlong City was Xiluo's idea, and Xiluo provided the troops, who could guarantee that Beijia wouldn't send its own forces to attack Yuheng City?