After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 638 - 632: Crossing the Boundary Line

Not only were Gou Xi’s brother’s men searching for Ming Yu’s group, but Zhao Ju was also looking.

Yuan Li was accompanied by people Zhao Ming had found for him, guides familiar with the junction between Yu State and Yan State, as well as the route from Yan State to Luoyang, as well as skilled fighters. Additionally, there were those adept at escape and concealing their whereabouts.

All were selected from the capable figures within the Wu Castle servitude.

Before entering Yan State, they had agreed upon the meeting points, two points toward Luoyang from Yan State, while the other was a bit further south at the boundary, where Yu State troops were stationed, allowing the Zhao Family Army to quickly support.

The top choice was naturally towards Luoyang, so Zhao Ju initially waited there with his men, yet by the agreed time, they hadn’t seen anyone; instead, their scouts spotted the pursuers.

Zhao Ju immediately realized they had changed meeting points; there were people at each point, but Zhao Ju was still worried, so he turned back with his men.

However, along the way, they didn’t encounter anyone at two meeting points, so he couldn’t hold back and crossed the boundary line, attempting to attract Gou Chun’s attention while secretly searching.

Thus, Zhao Ju stealthily approached the last meeting point with his men.

By coincidence, due to Ming Yu’s escape, the patrol route had changed, so patrol times had also shifted.

At dawn, Yuan Li and his party set off, passing a small village leading to a farmland, with a ditch marking the boundary.

Because the farmland on the other side of the ditch belonged to another village, which was part of Yu State.

Due to the proximity of the two villages, they often intermarried and visited for weddings and funerals, so villagers frequently crossed boundaries; however, this boundary line had been meaningless before, as both sides belonged to Gou Xi.

Previously, Gou Xi had occupied one-third of Yu State.

After the emperor relocated to Yun City, Gou Xi returned that one-third to Zhao Hanzhang, and only then did the ditch truly become a boundary.

Initially, this area was under the control of another general under Gou Xi named Fu Wen. Later, he was transferred, and the region was managed by Gou Chun, who had been appointed as the Qingzhou Governor.

During Fu Wen’s administration, he did not obstruct the people’s movement between the two areas; whether Yu State or Yan State, both belonged to Jin Land. Even if they were citizens of different nations, living so close, villages intermarrying, with uncle’s house on the other side, could they really prevent people from visiting relatives?

It would be inhumane.

So, Fu Wen never imposed restrictions.

However, Gou Chun was different; he enforced strict management, forbidding interaction between Yan State citizens and those from Yu State, treating anyone caught as a spy.

This resulted in tragedies such as a daughter-in-law returning to her maternal home being caught as a spy upon return, where her husband came to complain only to retrieve a corpse, a sight too miserable to behold.

Afterward, no one dared visit the neighboring village; even people from the Yu State village avoided crossing, fearing capture as spies and facing death without anyone to retrieve their bodies.

Hence, the ditch area remained quiet; despite the recent end of summer harvest, there should have been preparation for fall planting and maintenance of canals, ensuring autumn harvest, but there was no one by the fields near the ditch.

Yuan Li walked beside the carriage, vigilantly observing, and with a subtle push, prompted the driver to accelerate, breaking into a trot, followed by soldiers at a brisk pace.

The first to sense something amiss was an old servant, who felt sudden panic, stating directly, "It’s an ambush!"

Yuan Li raised his arm to halt the carriage, hand poised on his blade, heart thundering, hesitating as a group of riders burst forth from a nearby grove, forming a fan-shaped formation, their swords and bows at the ready.

Upon seeing them, Yuan Li knew they were exposed, though unsure how. The priority now was escape, not pursuing causes.

Ahead laid the boundary line, and just past this grove, within a short distance, lay a meeting point. He even guessed that at the time, someone from their side must have been hidden across the canal watching over them; crossing the line would mean safety!

The thought barely crossed his mind, and Yuan Li wasted no time giving his opponents the opportunity to delay; the centurion opened his mouth, "You are..."

Yuan Li had already drawn his blade and charged forward like a fierce tiger, bellowing, "Quan Wu, go!"

Quan Wu, driving the carriage, lashed the whip fiercely, leaping and landing on the shaft, shouting, "Hyah—"

The carriage surged forward.

Yuan Li swung his blade, joined by four people forming a formation advancing together, the carriage charged forth, the remaining four guarding its sides as it sped onward...

The Yan State Army was startled but also reacted swiftly, immediately changing formation with one unit blocking the carriage and another blocking Yuan Li’s group.

Yuan Li rushed ahead of the carriage, slicing down one man who charged at him to the ground, then plunged into the Yan State ranks, quickly surrounded from the front and sides, yet he had allies, and he neither looked back nor hesitated, focused only on forging ahead. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The comrades a step behind held off attackers from both sides, while another protected the rear; their five-person formation pushed forward, and simultaneously, the carriage sped past, bypassing them.

Though the Yan State Army sought to hinder it, Quan Wu’s skilled driving kept it unhindered; even amidst the horses’ frantic neighs, he did not stop, lightly flicking the horses’ rear, urging them to charge forward.

The enemy had no choice but to avoid while members at the side swung their blades intending to strike the horses, yet the four guards flanking the carriage intercepted with their blades, promptly clashing together.

With that delay, the carriage broke through.

With no heed to the rear, Quan Wu continued urging the horses forward, the carriage speeding across the boundary line within mere breaths, and quietly from the opposite side emerged a person, neither hindering nor speaking, signaling and pointing the way for Quan Wu.

Seeing the carriage about to vanish, a centurion became agitated, grabbing his bow and arrow to shoot into the rear compartment...

Before the arrow could fly, he heard the sound of hooves, and then saw dozens of riders burst forth from the road’s end, led by Zhao Ju.

His pupils contracted immediately, without hesitation, releasing the arrow, which Zhao Ju intercepted with a slash before it reached the carriage, then continued charging across the boundary line with his men...

In less than half an hour, the battle ended, Yuan Li stood leaning on his blade. In this brief moment, most of the enemy lay dead or wounded, while three of his own had perished, the rest sustaining injuries.

Damn it, escorting people was tougher than fighting on the battlefield, with heavier casualties.

Pulling out a cloth, Yuan Li bandaged the wound on his waist, tying tight to slow the bleeding.

Zhao Ju inspected them one by one, promptly ordering others to take them back, saying, "Find a military medic for them; if these wounds don’t stop bleeding, they won’t survive the night."

The trusted aides responded, preparing to lift them onto horses.

The carriage, which had previously sped away, leisurely returned, with Ming Yu stepping down pale-faced from it.