The Gale Camp bade farewell to the small village and continued its march toward the frontier. The troops moved in neat order along the way, yet a farce sparked by a misunderstood military command was quietly unfolding.
That afternoon, the weather was stiflingly hot, making it hard to breathe. Riding his horse, Li Rufeng pondered the upcoming route and decided to quicken the pace so the troops could reach a post station ahead and rest before nightfall. He called for Xiao Zhang, the courier, and instructed him sternly, "Xiao Zhang, go quickly and relay the order for all units to pick up the pace and strive to reach the post station ahead before dark. Make sure you deliver it accurately."
Acknowledging the order, Xiao Zhang vaulted onto his horse and galloped toward the rear of the formation. Yet, due to the intense heat and the exhausting journey, Xiao Zhang's mind had grown somewhat muddled. When relaying the order, he actually blurted out, "The General has ordered all units to rest in place and not set out until nightfall."
Chapter 183