Dapeng's Time Travel Life

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated at the border, and the setting sun, like blood, cast its light upon the ravaged battlefield. Severed limbs, broken spears, and shattered flags lay scattered on the ground, and the air was thick with the pungent stench of blood and gunpowder, mixed with the acrid smell of burning flesh, making one want to vomit. Zhang Peng dragged his heavy steps across the battlefield, each step feeling as if he were treading on the souls of his fallen soldiers, his heart filled with sorrow and guilt.

"General, it's time to return to camp. The soldiers are waiting for you to take charge." Li Ming appeared behind him at some point, his voice hoarse, filled with undisguised exhaustion and grief.

Zhang Peng nodded slightly, his gaze still lingering on the familiar yet unfamiliar faces—these were his brothers who had fought alongside him through countless battles, now resting here forever. He bent down and gently closed the wide-open eyes of a young soldier, his face still bearing the traces of childishness and fear. "Brothers, I'm so sorry, I couldn't protect you all," he murmured, his voice choked with sobs.

Back in his tent, Zhang Peng roused himself and summoned his generals. The atmosphere inside was heavy and oppressive, everyone's faces showing exhaustion and sorrow. "Although we repelled the enemy this time, we suffered heavy losses," Zhang Peng broke the silence, his voice low and somber. "The compensation for the fallen soldiers must be implemented as soon as possible, and the wounded brothers must be carefully cared for. They all shed their blood to protect this land." The generals nodded solemnly.

However, before Zhang Peng could even catch his breath, a new problem arose. The supply officer rushed into the tent, looking panicked: "General, something terrible has happened! This battle has been extremely costly, and our food reserves are less than half a month's worth. If we don't replenish them in time, the soldiers may face a food shortage crisis."

Zhang Peng frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart. Supplies were the lifeblood of the army, and with the war barely over and the people still recovering, requisitioning grain was fraught with difficulty. Asking the imperial court for aid was a long and arduous journey, insufficient to address the immediate crisis. "Go check the surrounding villages again," he ordered helplessly, "and gather as much as you can. Make sure the soldiers have food."

Meanwhile, the situation on the border remained far from optimistic. Reconnaissance reports continued to arrive, indicating that while the foreign forces had temporarily retreated, they had not given up and were regrouping their forces in the rear, seemingly planning a larger-scale offensive. Furthermore, some tribes that had previously maintained friendly relations with the border region had become ambiguous after the war, showing a subtle tendency to side with the foreign forces.

"These tribes are afraid we'll lose power and want to find new patrons," Li Ming said angrily. "We risked our lives to defend the border, and they're so short-sighted!"

Zhang Peng rubbed his temples and pondered, "We can't blame them. In this chaotic world, everyone wants to protect themselves. We have to find a way to turn the situation around and regain their trust and support."

Just as Zhang Peng was racking his brains, an imperial envoy arrived at the border at breakneck speed. The envoy brought both rewards for the victory and a new mission. The emperor instructed Zhang Peng to stabilize the border situation while strengthening ties with neighboring tribes, exploring the possibility of peace talks with foreign powers, and striving to achieve lasting peace on the border at the lowest possible cost.

"Peace talks? How easy is that!" Li Ming couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this. "Those foreign forces are full of wolfish ambitions; do you think they'll give up so easily?"

Zhang Peng remained silent. He knew full well that the road to peace talks would be fraught with difficulties, but this might be the only opportunity to reduce casualties and restore the vitality of the border region. He decided to start by stabilizing tribal relations, so he selected several capable subordinates and, carrying generous gifts, visited various tribes.

During his visit, Zhang Peng noticed that the tribal chiefs' attitudes varied. Some treated him warmly, but their words still held reservations; others were cold and even avoided him. After some maneuvering, he finally learned that foreign forces were secretly spreading rumors that the imperial court was about to abandon the border, urging them to make plans as soon as possible.

"These rumors must have been deliberately spread by them to sow discord between us and the tribes," Zhang Peng thought angrily, but he knew he had to remain calm. He patiently explained the imperial court's resolve and his own steadfast commitment to the tribal leaders, showcasing the results of the battle and convincing them of the strength and future of the border.

After some effort, the attitudes of some tribes softened, but a few key tribes remained wavering. Meanwhile, the food crisis worsened, impacting the morale of the soldiers. Zhang Peng knew he was standing on the edge of a precipice; a single misstep could plunge the border into utter ruin. He had to find a glimmer of hope amidst these dire circumstances.