The interrupted New Year

"My master said that as long as you can help him avenge his deep blood feud, he is willing to serve County Duke Gao like a horse or a dog."

This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Gao Yuan naturally accepted it with a smile.

Not only did he agree to Liu Lin's request to send troops, but he also gave him a gift.

He took Liu Lin's steward to the orphanage and pointed to the children studying in the courtyard.

"These children are all orphans. If Prefect Liu is willing, he could adopt one or two, so he won't have to worry about having no children to care for him in his old age."

In ancient times, there was a fundamental difference between an adopted heir and a foster son; to put it simply, an adopted heir was considered a legitimate son and held the right of inheritance.

This is also why, in the original timeline of history, after Liu Bei had Liu Shan, he thought about squeezing out and suppressing Liu Feng.

Because according to feudal etiquette, Liu Feng was the legitimate eldest son, while Liu Shan was considered the second son.

At this time, Liu Lin was over fifty years old. His only son had died, and the possibility of having another was slim, so adopting a son was a good choice.

These orphans, having no burdens from their original families, were indeed very good candidates.

The steward was clearly moved and immediately bowed to Gao Yuan.

"This matter is of great importance, and it will need to wait until the task is accomplished for the master to choose personally..."

After a pause, he spoke again.

"I wonder when County Duke Gao intends to dispatch the troops?"

Gao Yuan's answer made him unable to help but feel a wave of surprise.

"Speed is the soul of warfare; we shall dispatch the troops today!"

As it happened, the First Division, except for one hundred men left to guard the camp, had just returned to Dehong to deliver game and purchase supplies.

Since there were no civilian laborers during non-wartime, the First Division had to transport the supplies themselves.

Having overcome his initial shock, the steward hurriedly replied.

"Good, good, then... then I will return to Puer immediately to inform my master."

The two discussed the contact signals and the direction of the advance, and then Liu Lin's steward mounted his horse and left.

Gao Yuan first sent Gao Fu to notify Mu Sheng and Xia Luqi to prepare provisions and ready the entire army for battle, while he hurried back to the small courtyard.

While he was putting on his armor with the help of a maid, Zhao Xiyao received the news and rushed over.

"Where are you going, Consort?"

Gao Yuan waved his hand, dismissing the maids, and then whispered the situation to her.

Zhao Xiyao took over the maid's work, helping Gao Yuan put on his armor while pouting with a hint of resentment.

"We can't even have a peaceful New Year; couldn't this wait until after the New Year?"

Gao Yuan smiled dotingly and rubbed her rosy cheeks.

"Since both sides have already fallen out, I'm afraid Zuo Long will be on his guard. The news of Liu Lin's steward leaving Puer probably won't be hidden for long, so we must act quickly to avoid complications."

"You've worked hard, Consort."

Zhao Xiyao said, her heart aching for him as she adjusted his battle robe.

Gao Yuan leaned in and kissed the girl on the cheek.

"Wait at home for my good news, and tell Zheng Wan and Song Yao for me."

By the time Zheng Wan and Song Yao returned home after buying New Year's goods, Gao Yuan had already left.

This time, they were fighting a lightning war, emphasizing speed and decisiveness, so Gao Yuan only took Xia Luqi with him.

What defines an elite force? The most basic requirement is absolute obedience to orders. In just one hour, the 1,400 elites were assembled.

Mu Sheng had also prepared supplies for Gao Yuan as best as he could. Five hundred pack horses were loaded with grain and supplies, and another five hundred pack horses were responsible for carrying armor.

Among this massive caravan, there were even over a hundred warhorses.

This made Gao Yuan suddenly think of a troop transport method used by a general from later generations.

"Bang Jie, take your men with dry rations and set out immediately. After traveling fifty miles, have them dismount and proceed on foot, then send a few men to take the horses back along the original route."

"Understood!"

The greatest strength of Xia Luqi was that he never asked why; as long as it was Gao Yuan's order, he would execute it unconditionally.

On the other side, the news of Liu Lin's steward disappearing reached Zuo Long's ears on the third day.

"Heh, this old thing actually knows to seek reinforcements."

"Local Chieftain, what should we do?"

"The Han people have a saying: 'Soldiers are met by generals, water is blocked by earth.' If he can find reinforcements, why can't I? Send someone to Bo Prefecture to find Local Chieftain Yang and tell him that after the matter is done, all the armor of Liu Lin's five hundred troops will belong to him."

Thus, almost at the same time Liu Lin's steward returned to Puer, Zuo Long's envoy met with the head of the Yang Family in Bo Prefecture, Local Chieftain Yang Zhao, who ruled over Bo Prefecture, Dian Prefecture, and many other places.

After hearing the envoy's description, Yang Zhao smiled.

"It's just five hundred sets of armor; if I wanted them, I could buy them from the Central Plains at any time. Mobilizing a large army for such a small benefit doesn't seem very cost-effective..."

When Yang Zhao said this, how could the envoy not understand? He immediately grasped the meaning.

"Please speak plainly, Local Chieftain Yang."

Yang Zhao immediately made an exorbitant demand.

"In addition to that armor, I also want five hundred strong young men, one thousand catties of copper, and five thousand catties of pig iron."

"This... this is not something I can decide..."

Yang Zhao waved his hand impatiently.

"Then send someone who can."

On Gao Yuan's side, through repeated transport using warhorses, they advanced over one hundred and seventy miles in just three days.

Xia Luqi, who had set out first, had already advanced over twenty miles with more than two hundred men and was less than twenty miles away from Puer.

By the time Zuo Long sent someone again and finally agreed on the terms with Yang Zhao, scheduling the action for after the New Year.

Gao Yuan's 1,400 elites had already arrived near Puer, hidden and resting, and had also made contact with Liu Lin's men.

Liu Lin did not expect Gao Yuan's troops to arrive so quickly; beyond his shock, he was also overjoyed.

He hurriedly sent someone to deliver a message to Gao Yuan, agreeing to act at the third watch tomorrow night.

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month of the eleventh year of the Daqian Taichu era, every region had already entered the New Year mode.

Zuo Long, having avenged his daughter and united with strong reinforcements, was in a good mood; he drank a few extra cups that night and went to sleep early.

At this moment, at the West City gate of Puer, a group of people carrying torches walked out of the darkness.

The soldiers guarding the city immediately became vigilant, drew their weapons, and prepared for battle.

"Stop! Who goes there?"

"Are you blind? Can't you even recognize me?"

"Oh, it's the Pacification Commissioner. Why are you here so late instead of rushing to have another son?"

The person in charge of guarding the city was one of Zuo Long's men, so naturally, he wouldn't give this Pacification Commissioner a pleasant look, speaking with sarcasm.

However, Liu Lin did not lose his composure like this chieftain soldier leader; instead, he sneered and waved his hand.

The soldiers of the Pacification Commissioners Office, who had been standing silently in the back, drew their weapons and charged.

Although they were prepared, there were less than a hundred soldiers guarding the city at night, and some were still on the city wall.

Coupled with the fact that their equipment was inferior to the soldiers of the Pacification Commissioners Office, they were quickly routed.

However, the sounds of battle still alerted the soldiers stationed in the nearby barracks. But by the time they arrived to reinforce, what they saw were the elites of the First Division from Nanzhou led by Xia Luqi.

They hadn't had time to form a formation, and many hadn't even had time to put on their clothes; how could they resist this elite force?

After the leading chieftain officer was decapitated by Xia Luqi in two moves, these five hundred chieftain soldiers either fled or surrendered.

Gao Yuan stepped into the city gate and found Liu Lin, his first words being:

"Prefect Liu, please take your troops to secure the West City gate and block any potential reinforcements. The rest of you, follow me to the Local Chieftain's office."

Under the guidance of the guide arranged by Liu Lin, the First Division headed straight for the Local Chieftain's office after routing the soldiers at the West City gate barracks.

Hearing the news that the West City gate was under attack, Zuo Long was also shocked and quickly left his beautiful concubine to get up.

By the time he had put on his armor and rushed to the front courtyard with his Personal Guards, he only heard a "clang..." as the gate was smashed open, and Xia Luqi led his men charging in.