The personnel responsible for maintaining the water station carried towels to ensure cleanliness and provided guidance as needed. Upon entering the compartment, there were clean squat toilets equipped with soft toilet paper, and outside were urinals, with a sluice pouring water down to flush away waste into a biogas digester, keeping the room relatively odor-free. In the innermost area, one could see a curved pipe connected to a zinc-iron plate with a wide mouth, which served as a hot water shower. Some even likened it to a hot water waterfall. The fragrant lotion served the same purpose as hand soap made from soap beans. Is this what they call the South Frontier? It turns out that public bathrooms here are so sophisticated.
Exiting the restroom, one would see others who had just finished washing their faces and hands enjoying big meat buns and bamboo cups filled with something to drink, with leather water bags hanging from their waists. They quickly received their own portions. The red sugar milk tea in the bamboo cups was drawn from a copper spout attached to a large wooden barrel, and it tasted delicious. There was no limit on how many cups one could have, but with many brothers waiting, everyone took just a few sips to taste before stopping.
Some took out the soft towels they received earlier from their pockets, prompting others to rush to the water station for their own. They couldn't help but boast about their experience while using the restroom. Soon, there were long lines outside the public toilets at several entrances.
When the archer troops' warships landed, the advance guard had already taken on the role of welcoming and explaining to the guests. The staff from the local palace were happy to assist with refueling, changing fires, and distributing hot meals.
After assembling, the five thousand archers and shield soldiers led by the vanguard general set off on the main road, marching towards the campsite one hundred miles south.
Fifteen ships carrying a thousand cavalry and two thousand warhorses entered the waterway and docked directly at the eastern pier. From there, they would disembark to the Tong family's estate and the vast grasslands extending to the foot of the eastern mountain. The arrival of the warhorses here was no less impressive than the infantry's arrival at the new pier.
Riding over the bridge to personally supervise the assembly of the cavalry camp, General Huo, the second son of the Duke Huo, saw that both inside and outside the Same City Traveler Inn, lights were lit, leather water bags prepared for the soldiers were filled with fresh milk, the bags of dried meat were bulging, and even the high-quality feed for the warhorses was meticulously prepared, showing both careful consideration and considerable wealth. Upon seeing the grand plaque on the gate of the estate, inscribed with bold characters: "Tong Estate," he pondered for a moment. Could it be that the cold-faced young prince, renowned for his calligraphy skills in the capital, had condescended to write a plaque for the mountain people? Qiao Er, if it weren't for the fact that I don't have high hopes for you, I would fear that your elegant and refined demeanor might not withstand someone else's thick-skinned approach. Let me silently mourn for you, brother."
"Second older Brother! We've been waiting for your arrival."
The anxious Tong family members waiting inside the estate finally saw the arrival of the cavalry. Cheng Mo had predicted earlier that the commander-in-chief of the army General Huo would disembark here to personally oversee the landing of the cavalry. Because the horses had to take the route on the east side near the foot of the mountain towards the Zebei Town, passing through the two newly built stone bridges in the Suger and Salt farm before turning onto the main road. The mountainous terrain was lush with green grass, and there were more than a dozen mountain meadows, which could alleviate the discomfort of the warhorses during long-distance water transportation. Northern commanders cherished their cavalry the most, so the commander-in-chief must be stationed here.
Sure enough, Lady Tong, Mrs. Huo, was waiting here for her elder brother. When Huo Changlin looked up at the plaque on the gate and sympathized with Qiao Er, the gate suddenly opened, and a group of family members came out from inside, led by the little sister who had been doted on since childhood.
She had disappeared over a decade ago, returned three years ago only to suffer from amnesia. However, when she regained her memory, she insisted on staying with her husband in this remote mountain village. This both broke her brother's heart and made him angry. Therefore, when her eldest brother came to see her off, he was so angry that he refused to see her off. However, the legendary stories brought back by her brother from the capital, the lavish gifts sent by Tong Chen, and the subsequent rumors made this family mysterious and unpredictable.
This time, when he personally led the army southward, he deliberately selected a few of the most loyal soldiers from the Huo family to come along. These soldiers would be the ones to be left behind in Dongbin and handed over to the care of King Mo in the future. Having some of their own people nearby to take care of his little sister was also a selfish consideration for him and his elder brother.
"Elder brother, you're here," said a middle-aged man beside his little sister, tall and handsome, with a simple and honest appearance. He hesitated for a long time before speaking, which was more than just simple and honest—it was downright awkward! Poor little sister.
"Uncle, hello! You've worked hard all the way. Your nephew Tong Sinan pays his respects to Uncle." This elegant young man was the only son of the little sister, handsome and extraordinary. He inherited some traits from me, Chang Lin Huo thought so, but he's a bit too pretentious. I'll have to take him to the capital and properly educate him.
"Hmm," General Huo answered, a rare deep sound from his throat.