Chapter 585: The Evil Neighbor (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Shen Tang boasted that he had been living a peaceful and recuperating life for more than two years, and that his kindness and gentleness were comparable to those of a lay Buddhist who practiced vegetarianism and chanted Buddhist scriptures.

Unexpectedly, before she even provoked anyone, her neighbor Qiu Cheng came to plunder her granary. How could Shen Tang, who had never suffered a major loss since her debut, swallow this insult? However, this battle was not one that could be fought lightly.

Shen Tang was so angry that she was almost losing her temper.

Question: "Why?"

Chu Yao explained the reason with a troubled expression.

It's nothing else—

It's mainly because of the autumn harvest.

This timing is extremely awkward.

Nanyu County had to harvest early due to the weather, while the other counties were just about to begin. The autumn harvest is a major event every year, requiring a large number of people and keeping the government busy... If Shen Tang were to send troops now without regard for the consequences, she might kick open the door to Qiu Cheng's lair, only to have other neighbors catch wind of it and send troops to her place for another free-for-all.

"...If we were to send troops at this time, we would inevitably face the predicament of having to consider both the front and the rear. Who knows if this is the situation Qiu Wenyan would want to see? If it is a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain, not only will the hard work of the people of Longwu County be in vain, but Longwu County will also be put in a passive position—Yao implores the lord to calm down for a moment." Among everyone present, Chu Yao was the most appropriate person to stand up and say this.

Daring to appease their lord in his rage.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang subconsciously took a deep breath, closed her eyes to calm herself down, and then opened her eyes again to ask him, "How long will it take?"

Chu Yao said, "It will take at least ten days, and at most half a month."

We'll settle the accounts after the autumn harvest.

At that time, we will have plenty of troops and supplies, so there will be no need to panic.

Even if the lord is furious, he can only endure it for ten days or half a month until all the new grain is harvested and stored before sending troops to deal with Qiu Cheng. Those in the government offices need to be careful these next few days, sticking close to the walls; anyone unlucky enough to run into the lord's gun will face a storm.

Shen Tang said, "It's been too long."

Ten days to half a month?

The grain that the common people had worked so hard to cultivate all year had long been eaten by those brats under Qiu Wenyan's command. Let alone eating it all, even just the thought of them licking a couple of licks made Shen Tang want to have a heart attack. So, she came up with a compromise "good solution".

"Since Qiu Wenyan started it all, don't blame us for starting it all the way. We're not the only ones hampered by the autumn harvest; the same goes for Sibao County. He loots and leaves, we burn and run. We need to get our interest back first, or I won't be able to sleep!"

Make an action targeting their military settlements!

Liao Jia, however, was not optimistic about this.

"My lord, this is probably not appropriate."

Shen Tang's mouth was faster than her brain; if she were to calm down and burn the grain, even if it was the enemy's, she would feel a pang of heartache. But Liao Jia's words stirred up her stubbornness, and she retorted, "Why not? Qiu Wenyan shouldn't be on guard."

Because Qiu Cheng was certain that Shen Tang wouldn't retaliate immediately.

He has ample time to complete the autumn harvest.

Liao Jia said, "It's not because of that."

The principle of retaliation, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," presupposes that the same attack can also cause damage to the enemy.

Her lord had gone to great lengths to ensure the fields yielded crops, constantly ordering brave warriors to dig canals and wells. She also possessed the Imperial Seal, secretly using surplus national fortune to maintain the most basic "favorable weather." Activating the Imperial Seal's power each time consumed a significant portion of national fortune. Behind this year's modest harvest lay countless unimaginable costs.

Qiu Cheng is not like his lord.

The Sibao County under his rule had a barely passable harvest last year, but this year the drought is quite severe. Although he has taken some measures to alleviate the drought, he is, after all, from a noble family and is simply incapable of flattering the common people or treating martial arts practitioners as laborers.

Although Sibao County did not have a complete crop failure this year, it was indeed a pittance, and it was nowhere near as good as the big landowner Shen Tang.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have set their sights on their wealthy neighbor.

If you can't grow food on your own land, your neighbor can too.

What good would it do for the lord to burn his fields?

All she could do was vent her anger and upset herself.

At this stage, it is not advisable to reveal the existence of the Imperial Seal, lest it attract the covetousness of various parties and lead to a joint attack. Apart from the border barrier at Yonggu Pass, which is guarded by Chu Jie, there is no "border" with other counties. This is one of the reasons why Nanyu County was attacked.

Liao Jia abruptly changed the subject.

He frowned. "Compared to Qiu Wenyan's lightning-fast sneak attack, Jia is more curious about something else—how did he know the location of the Nanyu County granary? His move was so precise, the whole process was so smooth, and his target was so clear..."

They were just short of openly admitting that there was a traitor within their ranks.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Shen Tang and his group of confidants have something to hide.

"Furthermore, the decision to collect grain ahead of schedule in Nanyu County was made on short notice, and Qiu Wenyan seems far too familiar with us. Either he bribed someone, or he planted an informant to tip him off." It's highly likely that the problem lies in the management of the grain depots at the grassroots level.

Liao Jia suddenly remembered something and asked Ning Yan.

Which grain depot was attacked?

Ning Yan said, "Number One."

"The biggest?"

"no."

Gu Chi seemed to be deep in thought: "Could you point out the location?"

Ning Yan looked at the map on the wall of the council hall.

"It's roughly around this location."

Everyone looked at the location Ning Yan pointed out and suddenly realized something, as did Ning Yan herself. She drew a line with her finger and said, "Qiu Wenyan's troops must have taken this abandoned mountain road and entered Nanyu County unnoticed... If this road is the closest, then the No. 3 granary is much closer, and the few troops stationed there pose no threat to their five thousand soldiers."

Gu Chi heard Shen Tang's thoughts echoing his own and said, "Yes, the location and size of the granaries are all important. The No. 1 granary is not on Qiu Wenyan's route for the surprise attack. Why would he go to such lengths, instead of seizing the No. 3 granary, and risk alerting Commander Bai to launch a counterattack, to find the No. 1 granary? My lord, I remember that the No. 1 granary is an old granary?"

Shen Tang reorganized the old granaries in various places.

The original old granaries were all arranged in a first and second order.

The newly built granary followed.

If there really is a traitor who leaked information, this person must be very familiar with the old methods, but has no opportunity to get close to the new team.

"...Even so, the scope is too large."

It's not easy to find someone like this.

Gu Chi said, "No, this is enough."

This proves that the "eyes and ears" are only so capable.

Once we are on guard, defense becomes easier.

Shen Tang calmly sat back down, stroking the paper she loved so much, and her mind began to work.

"That makes sense. Rather than sending troops proactively, it's better to lure them into a trap and wait for them to come to us... That old bastard Qiu Wenyan is so short of food, once he's tasted a bit of success, he's bound to try again. Wu Hui, pass on my orders—"

If you're an adult, you should prepare for both possibilities.

On one hand, they prepared for war, planning to launch an attack on Qiu Wenyan's stronghold if the autumn harvest ended smoothly; on the other hand, they created the illusion that the autumn grain had been stored in the No. 1 granary, while actually lying in ambush to wait for Qiu Wenyan to strike again. Observing the terrain and location, apart from Nanyu County, Beishang County, which borders Sibao County, is the most likely next target.

As for that traitor within the organization—

There is no best, but if there is—

She'll make the other person regret ever being born!

I went to Wenzhou First Affiliated Hospital again today. Sigh, the round trip took two hours. Although Xianggu doesn't get carsick, she always feels extremely tired after a car ride and sleeps very soundly.

Fortunately, my relative's minimally invasive surgery was successful. After one night of observation, they can be discharged and go home tomorrow.

P.S.: The battle that Shiitake Mushroom has been looking forward to the most is about to begin again, hehe.

(End of this chapter)