Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

As the army marched, Cheng Yaojin frowned and said anxiously, "We have to get there quickly. Maybe Goryeo will arrive earlier than us. If we lose the initiative, this battle will be difficult to fight." After saying that, he waved his hand, as if to speed up the march.

Li Jing's expression was calm, and he analyzed calmly, "How can that be possible? It will take at least two weeks to reach the border. We need to carry a lot of military supplies along the way. And when a large army marches, it is important to march in an orderly manner and not to rush rashly."

"Besides, our army has already made plans. Even if Goryeo reaches the border first, we have a plan to deal with it. There is no need to worry too much."

After hearing what Li Jing said, Cheng Yaojin scratched his head and grinned, "I'm an impatient person, but after hearing what the general said, I feel much more at ease. I just hope the journey goes smoothly and nothing unexpected happens."

Li Jing nodded slightly. "Don't worry, General Cheng. We just need to follow the established strategy and advance steadily. We will definitely reach the border smoothly, and then we can show down Goryeo."

He stroked his long beard and said calmly, "Besides, if we can't make it in time, there are people holding on over there at the border. General Su Dingfang has already led the vanguard troops to station near the border, strengthening the city defenses and preparing for war."

"They are like a solid fortress, they will surely hold back the enemy and buy enough time for our army to arrive."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin's worry faded slightly, and he smiled, "Haha, I feel much more at ease with General Su here. Then we can't slack off. We must hurry and meet up with them as soon as possible to teach those Korean bastards a lesson."

Li Jing looked up into the distance, his eyes determined. "Indeed, this battle concerns the dignity of the Tang Dynasty and the peace of the border. We cannot afford to lose. With all of us soldiers working together, we will surely defeat the enemy and bring glory to the Tang Dynasty."

By noon, the sun was high in the sky and the heat was unbearable.

The team entered a vast plain, surrounded by waist-high weeds that undulated like waves in the hot wind.

The distant horizon was distorted in the heat wave, the soldiers' sweat kept flowing, and their armor was scorching hot. Many people could only endure thirst and fatigue and move forward step by step.

As the journey progressed, the terrain became increasingly rugged.

The army stepped into the winding valley. The mountains on both sides were steep and rocky, as if they would roll down at any time.

The valley was cold and damp, and the roads were narrow and difficult to navigate. The soldiers could only line up in a single column and move forward cautiously. The sound of horse hooves and footsteps echoed in the valley, making the march even more difficult and lengthy.

In the evening, the army came to a rushing river.

The river is rushing and the water surface is sparkling in the setting sun.

The soldiers stopped and after a short rest, they began to build a pontoon bridge to cross the river. The cold river water hit their legs, but they did not retreat. They supported each other to ensure that the army successfully passed this obstacle and continued to advance towards the border.

Li Jing rode on his horse, his posture upright and majestic. He glanced at the soldiers and shouted, "Everyone, move! Those who need to cross the river, the engineering battalion will quickly build a pontoon bridge. The rest of the soldiers must perform their duties of guarding and vigilance. There must be no slacking off!"

After that, the soldiers of the engineering battalion quickly obeyed the order. They carried heavy wood, ropes and other materials and hurried to the river bank.

The soldiers worked in groups of two, skillfully throwing the wood into the river, splashing high water, and then struggling to fix the wooden frames in the cold and fast-flowing water.

"Everyone, work harder and tie the ropes tight!" The sergeant of the engineering battalion shouted at the top of his voice, his face full of determination and concentration, his hands constantly busy, directing the soldiers to operate precisely.

On the side, the soldiers in charge of protection held weapons and looked around vigilantly.

Cheng Yaojin brandished his trademark axe and shouted, "Everyone, be alert! Don't let the enemy take advantage of you! If you make any unusual moves, I will kill you with my axe!"

All the soldiers responded in unison, their shouts shaking the sky and echoing throughout the entire riverbank.

"Hurry up!" Cheng Yaojin stood on the shore, stamping his feet anxiously and shouting at the top of his voice, "What are you dawdling for? If those Koreans attack us while we're crossing the river, it will be disastrous!"

Although the soldiers of the engineering battalion tried their best, building a pontoon bridge is not an easy task, and it is even more difficult in this turbulent river.

But after being urged by Cheng Yaojin, the movements of their hands became faster. Someone was accidentally knocked off balance by the river water, but he gritted his teeth, stabilized his body immediately, and continued to work hard.

Li Jing also frowned, and rode closer, urging loudly, "Time is running out. This is crucial for the march, and we must not delay. Brothers of the Engineering Battalion, I know you've been working hard, but military intelligence waits for no one. We must complete this work as soon as possible so that the army can cross the river smoothly."

"Yes, General!" The commander of the engineering battalion responded loudly, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead, but he didn't bother to wipe them off.

While directing everyone to speed up the process of fixing the key parts of the pontoon bridge, he shouted, "Brothers, work harder. Success or failure depends on this one move. We must not hold the army back!"

The other soldiers were also extremely anxious, their eyes closely fixed on the progress of the pontoon bridge, ready to cross the river quickly and continue heading towards the border once the pontoon bridge was built.

The soldiers of the engineering battalion responded in unison: "Okay, okay, let's go!"

As he spoke, his hands moved faster and faster, and his already busy figure became even more hurried, as if he was wound up.

The soldiers in charge of carrying the heavy logs trotted briskly, carrying them together as they trotted toward the river, shouting slogans to encourage themselves. "One, two, one, two..." The slogans echoed along the riverbank, full of enthusiasm.

The soldiers who were fixing the ropes in the river had their hands frozen red by the slightly cold river water, but they ignored it and pulled the ropes hard, tying them firmly to the constructed wooden frame.

As they tied them up, they shouted, "Pull harder, it's almost done! We can't delay the army's progress!"

On the shore, Cheng Yaojin watched the floating bridge gradually take shape. The anxiety on his face eased a little, but he still kept urging: "Don't stop, keep working. We have to hurry after crossing the river. The sooner we reach the border, the better our chances of victory!"

Li Jing nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the pontoon bridge. He shouted, "Soldiers, once we cross this river, we'll be one step closer to victory. Don't let up, speed up! I will march with you!"

As the last few ropes were tied tight, a simple yet sturdy floating bridge spanned the river. The soldiers stepped onto the bridge in an orderly manner. The sound of "clattering" horses' hooves and "swish swish" footsteps intertwined, and the army marched quickly towards the other side of the river.