Zhao Huan frowned: "How could half be missing? Where is Chen Junqing? Summon him to see me!"

"He's outside."

Zhao Huan glanced at Wang Kui'an beside him, and Wang Kui'an felt a chill in his heart, sensing the anger in the emperor's eyes.

He quickly bowed, turned around, and ran out.

After going outside, they saw that the transport official, Chen Junqing, was waiting there.

He gave Chen Junqing a look, and the latter understood perfectly.

Chen Junqing was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the twelfth year of the Jingkang era. He was a true academic genius, and the emperor always greatly appreciated his talent.

Otherwise, how could he have been put in charge of the transport of the Imperial Guards on their western expedition at the age of twenty-nine?

Chen Junqing walked in, bowed, and said, "Your subject wishes Your Majesty good health."

Zhao Huan was furious, but his tone remained unchanged: "Minister Chen, why has the grain supply been reduced by half?"

Chen Junqing dared not argue. He took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Huan.

This letter was written by Li Guang, the military commissioner of Gaochang.

The Song army had two supply lines for this western expedition: one from Gaochang and the other from Beifu.

Li Guang was in charge of Gaochang, while Lu Zai was in charge of the Northern Prefecture.

The grain and fodder for these two places were all transported from the Hetao region.

The Hetao region itself is a thriving grain-producing area, but it still needs to draw grain from the Central Plains and the south.

However, according to the court's plans over the past few years...

Several years ago, large quantities of grain were continuously transported to the Hetao Road.

More than a hundred large grain warehouses were built along the Hetao Road.

In addition, the highway network from the Central Plains to the Hetao region was basically completed, making it easy to transport grain.

Logically speaking, there shouldn't be a shortage of food supplies.

After reading Li Guang's letter, Zhao Huan's brows furrowed.

According to Li Guang, the amount of grain transferred from the Hetao Road suddenly decreased.

This half of the grain is already the limit for Gaochang; if it is increased any further, the livelihood of the people in Gaochang will collapse.

What is Tang Ke up to?

Is this the time for things to go wrong?

Impossible! Tang Ke is known for his composure and steady approach to things; it's impossible for him to make a mistake at this time.

Unless something else has happened?

Zhao Huan's heart sank, sensing that something must have happened in the rear.

Zhao Huan's brows gradually relaxed, and he asked in a calm tone, "How long will our current grain supplies last?"

"Your Majesty, there are still two months left."

Zhao Huan was silent for a moment before saying, "This matter is top secret. Anyone who leaks it will be executed along with their entire family!"

"yes!"

As night fell, Zhao Huan tossed and turned in his tent until very late before finally falling asleep.

This battle must be won as soon as possible.

We must not allow the war with Yelü Dashi to become a stalemate.

However, we should not be impatient for quick success.

The next day, Zhao Huan inspected the army as usual and discussed with the generals the strategy of feigning a crossing of the river.

In the battle to cross the river on the eastern front, Yue Fei engaged in a bloody and fierce battle with Yelü Deyuan, a general under Yelü Dashi.

The Song Dynasty deployed 320,000 troops here, and Yue Fei's entire army advanced to this location.

The camps stretched endlessly, resembling undulating waves when viewed from a distance.

The soldiers drilled every day, their voices like a tsunami.

In just half a month, the Song army invested a lot of manpower and resources and built more than a dozen small warships on the riverbank.

The frameworks for more than twenty other ships have already been erected.

The Ministry of Works officials who accompanied the army on the expedition had not slept well for more than a month.

The entire army, like iron men forged from steel, was fully committed to carrying out the plan laid out by Yue Fei.

More than half a month has passed since the last river crossing.

The last time we crossed the river was just a trial run, a feigned crossing.

However, the Liao army used artillery in a small battle to ambush the Song army crossing the river, which shocked the Song army!

Although the intelligence department had sent a message beforehand that the Liao army already possessed artillery, and the number was around two hundred.

But even after seeing it with their own eyes, the Song army was still very shocked.

This powerful weapon was developed by the Song Dynasty Academy of Sciences. It was unexpected that the Liao army would have artillery.

This undoubtedly increases the difficulty of crossing the river.

However, the Song army was not worried, after all, the commander of this river-crossing campaign was Yue Fei, the famous and ever-victorious general of the Song Dynasty.

Yue Fei commanded eight army groups, each of which was an elite force.

However, now we need to repair more ships to launch a large-scale river-crossing attack.

On this day, Yue Fei summoned his generals to discuss matters in his camp.

Wang Gui said, "General, I think we can refer to the light and fast tactics proposed by Li Bao when our army crossed the river in Jiaozhi. We can use a large number of small wooden boats to cross the river in a dense formation, spread out the attack surface, and distract the enemy's attention, so as to achieve an effective and rapid crossing."

Wang Gui's words were met with nods of agreement from many of those present.

The Liao army was smaller than the Song army, so they spread out their attack area, making it impossible for the enemy's attack to cover them all.

That way, we can get through it quickly.

Zhang Xian said, "I disagree. We cannot cross the river just for the sake of crossing it. Our purpose in crossing the river is to annihilate the Liao army. If we are all scattered, our fighting strength will be greatly weakened when we reach the shore. At that time, the enemy will be lying in wait on the shore, ready to launch an attack at any moment. Our army will be thrown into chaos and defeated in the blink of an eye."

When he said that, everyone else nodded in agreement.

In fact, even before arriving at Chuhe, the high-ranking generals along Yue Fei's route were debating a certain issue.

Should we divide our troops into multiple routes to cross the river, or into three routes?

Now the troops are divided into three groups to cross the river.

Try to disperse the enemy's troops as much as possible.

However, some have suggested that the 320,000-strong army was divided into eight corps to cross the river.

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