The effects of five-flavor powder

Food shortages will force them to choose a swift and decisive approach.

Luo Zhenhai: "Led by the promise of supplies, I believe they will launch an attack within three days."

With the barbarian coalition looming ahead, they couldn't send out messages about needing reinforcements, and the town's remaining food supplies were limited. Their only task was to break this deadlock within the next two weeks.

“But we only have 10,000 men now. How can we defend this territory?” Tian Sheng asked.

"Then send troops to Liangzhou to request reinforcements!"

"We are now surrounded by 30,000 to 40,000 enemy troops. Is it possible for reinforcements to get in?"

"..."

The soldiers gathered together and discussed for a long time before finally deciding to use Xie Zhuo's plan.

Luo Zhenhai's foot injury had not yet healed, and Xie Zhuo was currently the most capable person here: "This humble general dares to suggest that we first send a portion of our troops to feign an attack on the enemy, drawing their attention, and then secretly send out another group to split into two. One group will return to Liangzhou to fetch reinforcements, while the other group will flank the enemy from behind and launch a surprise attack, causing them to panic. When the reinforcements arrive, we can then launch a coordinated attack from within and without..."

After formulating a reinforcement plan, new problems arose.

Xie Zhuo is going to lead his troops to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's rear. Can the remaining 10,000 soldiers in Anfeng Town withstand the attack of 30,000 to 40,000 barbarian allied troops?

"Half a month!" Xie Zhuo encouraged the troops: "As long as we can hold out against the enemy, I will definitely bring reinforcements in half a month!"

Luo Zhenhai's face was filled with murderous intent: "As long as I, Luo Zhenhai, am alive, I can ensure that Anfeng Town will not fall!"

What if we run out of food? We'll eat sparingly at our two meals a day!

What if we don't have enough arrows? There are so many houses in town, if we don't have enough wood to make arrows, we'll just have to tear down the houses!

Success or failure hinges on this! Luo Zhenhai watched Xie Zhuo's departing figure, silently chanting in his heart: I must succeed! I must succeed!

Both armies were monitoring each other, so getting out wouldn't be an easy task.

"Wang Qianxin, you will lead two captains to follow behind me and obey my orders at all times."

"Yes, sir!"

As night fell, the gates of Anfeng Town's city wall quietly opened.

Xie Zhuo led a cavalry unit out at incredible speed, galloping all the way to the fork in the road.

Xie Zhuo decisively ordered, "Scatter!"

Tian Sheng led twenty cavalrymen toward Liangzhou, while Xie Zhuo ordered his cavalry to split into two groups and run in different directions.

The cavalry were too fast; in an instant, one group of men became three, each heading in a different direction, leaving the barbarian coalition unsure which to pursue.

Xie Zhuo deliberately provoked the enemy to buy Tian Sheng time to escape, and Tian Sheng eventually shook off the pursuit. However, Xie Zhuo himself was not so lucky. As he galloped away, Xie Zhuo drew his bow and fired arrows at the pursuing barbarian soldiers, hoping to escape their pursuit. But the barbarian soldiers behind him were not to be underestimated; seeing Xie Zhuo's bow-drawing posture, they huddled against their horses to avoid him.

"Shoot the horse's legs!" Xie Zhuo shouted.

Upon hearing his command, the archers in the elite cavalry quickly aimed and fired fiercely at the horse's legs.

Instantly, several warhorses collapsed, and some, in pain, reared up and neighed, throwing their riders off. The remaining warhorses, startled and out of control, created chaos, slowing the barbarian army's advance.

Xie Zhuo led his elite cavalry to seize the opportunity and shake off the pursuers.

*

A chill permeated the ground, all things withered, and a desolate atmosphere permeated the air. Xie Zhuo and his men had been lying in ambush here for several days.

The group lay prone in the snow, their eyelashes covered in frost.

"General, when will the reinforcements arrive? Weren't they supposed to arrive in three days? We've been waiting for five days already. Is the intelligence wrong?"

"Wait a little longer." Xie Zhuo frowned, his armor covered in congealed bloodstains.

According to the plan, Tian Sheng led a small team back to Liangzhou to fetch reinforcements, while Xie Zhuo was stronger. He led five hundred cavalrymen to raid the enemy's horse camp. To prevent the enemy from pursuing them, they kept hiding and finally chose to ambush in this dense forest.

Two days ago, the scouts received news that reinforcements from the Great Wei were on their way, but they had been lying in ambush in the snow for five days. If they didn't arrive soon, they would freeze into ice sculptures.

For the rest of the days, they ate flatbread when they were hungry and ate a few bites of snow when they were thirsty. The harsh environment left them exhausted. But their rations were almost gone and there was still no sign of reinforcements. This couldn't go on any longer. Xie Zhuo left two soldiers to keep watch and ordered the others to retreat back into the woods.

They had considered hunting to fill their stomachs, but everything hibernates in winter, and they didn't see a single living creature. As a commando squad, they had to be ready to fight at any time, but how could they have the strength to fight if they were always hungry?

Xie Zhuo seemed to remember something and asked, "Does anyone among you recognize any wild vegetables?"

Wang Qianxin naturally understood Xie Zhuo's meaning. Seeing the other soldiers stunned, he reminded them, "The general is asking you a question. Are you all mute?"

Several soldiers immediately raised their hands. They were all from farming families and knew a thing or two about wild vegetables.

In the freezing snow, all you could see was white. Stepping on the snow made a crunching sound. The soldiers had no choice but to dig through the snow to find wild vegetables. Before long, they brought back some shepherd's purse and some other unidentified wild vegetables.

Gathering firewood, finding wood to carve wooden bowls, setting up a pot to boil snow water... everyone worked together. Wang Qianxin threw the wild vegetables he picked into the pot, and then sprinkled in a handful of five-spice powder. Soon, the pot was bubbling and the aroma wafted out.

The soldiers stared longingly at the wild vegetable soup in the pot, swallowing hard at the aroma.

Wang Qianxin smiled smugly. The mushroom and meat sauce made by Miss Fu had been eaten up, and he always carried the remaining five-flavor powder with him wherever he went. It was going to come in handy right away!

These soldiers hadn't had hot food for four or five days, and they were all wolfing it down, exclaiming, "It smells so good!" and "Guard Wang, your cooking is excellent!"

Even though each person only gets a few vegetable leaves, they are already very satisfied with the delicious hot vegetable soup!

Xie Zhuo gave Wang Qianxin a teasing look after hearing the praise, but Wang Qianxin accepted it and said, "Eat up! Eating won't shut you up!"

After a satisfying meal, my mind, which had been tense for two days, could finally relax for a moment.

Tu Xingwang was a new recruit in the elite cavalry. It was his first time on the battlefield, and he dreamed of becoming a general and returning home to bring glory to his ancestors.

After hearing Tu Xingwang's idea of ​​killing enemies and earning military merit, several older soldiers laughed. For new recruits, only by experiencing the baptism of the battlefield and understanding the cruelty of war can they grow up quickly.

"Kid, military merits aren't so easy to earn. The prerequisite is that you're alive to earn them. Don't be so scared that you wet your pants when you get to the battlefield."

"I won't!"

After a delicious meal, they would continue to lie in ambush and wait for reinforcements to arrive.

*

At the same time, urgent battle reports from the northern frontier were delivered to the palace.

What? Several border towns have been breached by the barbarian coalition, and Luo Zhenhai is seriously wounded? Du Zhiyun, the general guarding Liangzhou, is entangled with the enemy and unable to escape? Xie Zhuo led his troops to lure away the enemy and his fate is unknown?

A series of bad news caused Emperor Chengde to frown deeply.

The urgent report stated: General Du Zhiyun led the vanguard to repel the enemy for dozens of kilometers. Because most of the main force had been taken to the front line by Du Zhiyun, the remaining troops in Anfeng Town were now very few. General Zhan Yingjie of Liangzhou had already led 20,000 soldiers to Anfeng Town to provide support.

"Is Luo Zhenhai alright?"

"Your Majesty, General Luo suffered a leg injury, but it is not serious, and he is currently recuperating in Anfeng Town."

"What's going on with Xie Zhuo's fate being unknown?"

"Anfeng Town is now surrounded by enemy troops. General Xie led several hundred soldiers to break through the encirclement and fight against thousands of enemy soldiers. Now... his fate is unknown!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chengde slammed his fist on the table in anger. The eunuchs at the door of the study all lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.

Even at midnight, the emperor's study was still brightly lit.

The news of defeat was the hardest to accept. The Wei army had fought several battles against the barbarian coalition, and although they currently held a slight advantage, they had not yet achieved victory. A prolonged stalemate was not a sustainable solution. Moreover, several Wei generals were either wounded or missing, and Emperor Chengde was considering whether to appoint new generals.

The next day, in the imperial court.

News from the northern frontier reached the court, but the civil and military officials were filled with unease, their gazes subtly shifting towards Xie Chi. The old prince was no longer in charge, the current prince held a sinecure, and the heir apparent, Xie Zhuo, was the only male heir of the Duan Prince's mansion. If something were to happen to him…

Xie Chi suppressed his shock, clenched his fists and tried his best to steady himself. He took a deep breath and comforted himself: Xie Zhuo will be alright! He will be alright!

Emperor Chengde sat on his high dragon throne, looking down at his ministers. "The allied forces of the barbarians and Western Jurchens have invaded our Great Wei territory, killing our people and looting our supplies. This debt cannot be left unpaid! Now, Luo Zhenhai is seriously injured, and Xie Zhuo's fate is unknown. According to your suggestions, who in the court can replace Luo Zhenhai and go to Liangzhou to repel the enemy?"

There is a suitable candidate: General Jiang Tongpu, a highly skilled warrior well-versed in military strategy, is known as the God of War in the Longxi region. He would be the perfect choice to lead the campaign in Liangzhou, but he has been stationed at the border in Longxi for an extended period and is simply unable to spare the time.

If Jiang Tongpu is transferred back to the northern frontier, what will happen to the Longxi region? The neighboring Qi state has always been eyeing the Wei state covetously!

The Great Wei has a vast territory; we can't afford to be concerned with one aspect while neglecting the others!

The ministers split into two factions: one supported Jiang Tongpu leading troops to Liangzhou, while the other supported him staying in Longxi. The ministers on both sides argued back and forth, and it was impossible to determine who was right for the time being.

This morning court session lasted an hour longer than usual, and despite the large number of ministers gathered together, they were unable to come up with a good solution.

"Our Great Wei is full of talented people. Is it possible that only the Protector General is capable of going to the battlefield?" Emperor Chengde snorted coldly, not wanting to say any more.

Faced with the emperor's angry question, the ministers trembled and knelt on the ground: "We are incompetent, please forgive us, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Chengde looked at his kneeling ministers, a flash of disappointment in his eyes.

Since the founding of the Wei Dynasty, there has always been a culture of valuing civil officials over military ones. Now, the drawbacks have emerged, and in this time of national emergency, the country cannot find many useful military generals!

"Dispatch the governor of Youzhou with 50,000 troops to Liangzhou immediately to provide support!"

After receiving the battle report from the front last night, Emperor Chengde summoned the Grand Commandant and the Minister of War to the palace to discuss the matter. Youzhou is closer to Liangzhou, so sending troops from Youzhou to provide support is indeed a viable option.

The emperor rose and walked out, and his personal eunuch Liu Zhengde immediately called out, "Court adjourned!"