Chapter 118: Grain Shortage in Jincheng

This battle was quietly resolved within the time it took for an incense stick to burn. For the two thousand soldiers of the Assault Battalion facing five thousand utterly demoralized Qiang warriors, the outcome was never in doubt. Except for a few who managed to flee, the rest all fell beneath the lances of the battalion’s knights.

“Zilong, I’ve led the men to thoroughly inspect the area. All the provisions here have been burned to ashes, not a single blade of grass remains,” Cang Ba chuckled heartily.

Hearing this, Zhao Yun couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. This time, he had truly lived up to Liu Yao’s trust.

“All troops, return victorious!” With Zhao Yun’s command, the two thousand men of the Assault Battalion once again vanished into the darkness.

The next day, both Liu Yao and Ma Teng received news that the granaries had been destroyed.

Naturally, Liu Yao was the first to hear.

Within the Chang’an city defense headquarters, Zhao Yun and Cang Ba were reporting the situation to Liu Yao.

“Excellent! Zilong, Xuangao, you shall be credited with a great merit this time. Return to Luoyang, and rewards will be bestowed upon you,” Liu Yao said with a smile. The destruction of the Qiang grain stores marked half the completion of his plan. Soon enough, the Qiang in Jincheng would face a shortage of supplies, and panic among their ranks would surely follow.

“Thank you, my lord,” Zhao Yun and Cang Ba clasped their fists in gratitude.

“My lord, our mission here is done. Now, it depends on Mr. Wenhe’s side,” Guo Jia said with a smile.

“Heh, yes! It all rests on Wenhe now,” Liu Yao replied confidently. He had no doubts about Jia Xu and Ma Teng’s efforts. If the poison master Jia Xu couldn’t handle this, then he wouldn’t deserve his title.

“Zilong, these next two days, the soldiers of the Assault Battalion must prepare for a great battle. Also, send word to Huangfu Song that a major conflict is imminent within the next half month. He must be ready—no mistakes allowed,” Liu Yao instructed. He still harbored some doubts about the troops under Huangfu Song’s command.

“Understood,” Zhao Yun and Cang Ba replied and went off to make preparations.

Once Zhao Yun and Cang Ba had left, Guo Jia said, “My lord, it’s still early. Why not play a game of strategy?”

“Haha, Fengxiao is in such high spirits, I must oblige,” Liu Yao laughed heartily.

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At Ma Teng’s residence in Wuwei, Liangzhou, Jia Xu had already learned of Liu Yao’s plan to burn the Qiang provisions. He had Ma Teng dispatch scouts near the Qiang encampment to gather intelligence early on. Thus, Ma Teng was the second to receive the news.

“Wenhe, my lord is truly a divine strategist. With the Qiang’s provisions lost, what is our next move?” Ma Teng asked.

Jia Xu pondered briefly before replying, “Shoucheng, first reorganize the ten thousand troops. Also, bring along ten thousand shi of grain. We march to Jincheng today.” The ten thousand shi of grain would barely sustain the Qiang forces in Jincheng for seven or eight days—insufficient to be decisive but enough to provide timely relief.

“Agreed. I trust your judgment, Wenhe. I, Ma Teng, can provide the grain,” Ma Teng said, then turned to coordinate with Pang De and others to ready the troops.

Indeed, Ma Teng’s army was impressively elite, rivaling Liu Yao’s forces from Youzhou. Within the span of an incense stick’s time, the cavalry was reorganized and supplies prepared. At the forefront stood Ma Teng, Jia Xu, Shi A, and Pang De, followed by ten thousand elite Liangzhou iron cavalry.

“Advance!” With Ma Teng’s command, the army set off from Wuwei, heading toward Jincheng.

Among the army, two youthful faces were hidden beneath blackened faces—one wielding a spear, the other a blade. They departed alongside the troops.

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A day later, at the Jincheng city defense headquarters in Liangzhou.

Han Sui, Li Wenhou, and Beigong Boyu were consumed with fury. By all rights, Jincheng was the closest to the granaries—only a little over fifty li away. With swift horses, news should have arrived within an hour and a half. Yet it had been two days before any word came.

Worse still, the messengers were not the scouts Han Sui had sent, but two Qiang men who had fled the camp that day. They had hidden in the mountains for two days before daring to return and report the devastating news to Han Sui.

At first, Han Sui and the others refused to believe the grain stores were burned—they were in a secret location no one should have known about. But after hearing the Qiang’s full account, Han Sui nearly fainted in rage. This Assault Battalion was undoubtedly Liu Yao’s trademark.

“Liu Yao, you scoundrel! Han Sui will never share the same sky with you!” Han Sui roared skyward, then turned to the two disheveled Qiang men and bellowed, “Guards! Drag these two wretches down and behead them! The grain is gone—what use are they to us?”

Four of Han Sui’s guards entered and, despite the Qiang men’s pleas, dragged them away.

“Wenyue, what shall we do now? The grain is all destroyed, and the provisions in Jincheng can only sustain our remaining ninety thousand troops for half a month,” Li Wenhou panicked, setting aside his grievances with Han Sui in the face of crisis.

Han Sui bit his teeth and said, “We must seize grain from the city’s civilians. Leave them just enough to survive. Hopefully, we can scrape together another half month’s supply.” Though this would cost the army the people’s goodwill, there was no time to worry about that.

“Agreed!” Li Wenhou replied immediately. He cared little for loyalty or hearts and minds as Han Sui did.

“Also, Wenhou, gather all the army’s grain and hand it over for me to distribute. Only then can we make the best use of the supplies,” Han Sui added.

“What? That’s impossible!” Li Wenhou immediately opposed. He and Han Sui each controlled their own grain stores. Giving them all to Han Sui meant handing over his lifeline. If Han Sui turned on him, Li Wenhou would have no refuge. Still bitter over past grievances, trust was beyond him now.

“You...” Han Sui’s anger flared, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword hanging at his waist. But he quickly suppressed it and withdrew his hand. If Li Wenhou died now, chaos would erupt in his ranks. Before Liu Yao could attack, they would tear themselves apart, courting certain destruction.

Han Sui had to grudgingly admire Liu Yao; his poisonous schemes struck one after another, leaving no room for defense.

Though the murderous glint in Han Sui’s eyes was fleeting, Beigong Boyu noticed it and warily watched him, fearing sudden violence. When Han Sui ceased his motion, Beigong relaxed and said, “Wenyue, we have urgent matters elsewhere. We shall take our leave.” He helped Li Wenhou up and departed the tent without looking back.

Once they left, Han Sui’s repressed fury exploded. Drawing his sword, he struck the table with wild blows, venting his rage.

“Reporting, Commander!” At that moment, a young officer rushed in. Seeing Han Sui’s frenzy, he timidly spoke.

“What is it?!” Han Sui snapped, eyes blazing like lightning as he glared fiercely.

The officer swallowed nervously. “Commander, a man named Ma Teng has arrived outside the city with ten thousand troops. He claims to be an old acquaintance here to aid you.”