The Fengtian Army's main camp, the central command tent.
The dim light of the oil lamp illuminated Yang Chao's ever-changing expression.
He read Lin Feng's reply for the third time, each word piercing his heart like a needle.
"Food supplies reduced by half...medicinal herbs reduced by half...entry into the city is restricted to a specific time and location...and we've also 'heard' that Zhang Tao is coming..."
He chuckled, his laughter filled with weariness and sarcasm. "Zhao Muyun, Zhao Muyun, you're unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss, and you want to put me on the hot seat."
Lieutenant Yang Hong stood below and whispered, "General, he seems to be making concessions, but in reality, he is pressing us step by step. In particular, his mention of Zhang Tao is a clear warning to us that time is running out."
"Moreover, we are only given seven days' worth of rations. Even if our army retreats safely to Jiannan, we will still need to procure food locally. The rations for our 50,000-strong army are not a small amount!"
"Then rob it!" Yang Chao slammed the letter on the table, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Li Jingang is ruthless, so don't blame me for being unjust! The prefectures of Jiannan were all conquered by me, let's see who dares not to pay them off!"
He took a breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Zhao Muyun's conditions, though harsh, at least offered a way out. Li Jingang's offer is a dead end. It's a choice between two evils..."
He closed his eyes, and images flashed through his mind of the possible predicament his uncle Yang Yan might face, and of his wife and children being held hostage in the capital.
Finally, the image settled on the bewildered yet hopeful faces of the tens of thousands of soldiers under his command.
"Promise him." Yang Chao opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a desperate resolve. "But tell Zhao Muyun that the provisions must last for ten days, and the list of medicinal herbs cannot be reduced any further."
"The timing of our entry into the city for procurement can be as he sees fit, but I will send two trusted lieutenants to personally lead the team."
He stood up, walked to the tent, lifted a section of the curtain, and looked up at the dark night sky: "Furthermore, in my personal capacity, I would like to add one more sentence—'When the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; this is a lesson from the past. Commander Muyun should also be cautious when he achieves great merit in the future.'"
After Yang Hong finished recording, he hesitated and said, "General, is that last sentence... a bit too much?"
“However,” Yang Chao sneered, “it’s both a reminder and…planting a thorn in his heart.”
"In this world, there are no eternal rulers and subjects. Go and quickly send a reply."
"Tomorrow's purchasing team should be selected from those who are quick-witted and reliable. Once in the city, they should keep their eyes open."
The ancient Longji Road was shrouded in torrential rain at night.
The rain lashed down like whips, pounding the muddy mountain paths.
Yang Yan's convoy had discarded some of its baggage and was traveling light and fast.
The wheels were stuck in the mud, the horses were panting heavily, and the guards were stumbling along, their expressions tense.
"General! There is indeed a checkpoint at the entrance of the valley ahead! About a hundred men, equipped with powerful crossbows, and they have set up roadblocks!" The scout scurried back from the rain like a water ghost and reported urgently.
Yang Yan lifted the carriage curtain, and rainwater immediately soaked his front.
He squinted and looked ahead, and saw faint lights and the shadows of barricades at the narrow valley entrance.
"We can't get through." Li Jin wiped the rain off his face. "The road is too narrow, the crossbows are blocking the way, and a direct assault would result in too many casualties and the vehicles would be destroyed."
Yang Yan pondered for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"Extinguish the torches, dismount, and climb over the mountain on foot from the side! Abandon the carriages and horses, and carry important items with you."
“Leave twenty men behind. Half an hour after we leave, set fire to the remaining carriages and horses to create the illusion that they failed to force their way through and fled in disarray.”
"Abandon the vehicle?" Li Jin was taken aback.
"We can't worry about that now!" Yang Yan said decisively. "Since they've set up a roadblock here, they must have a backup plan. We must hurry and get out of this Dragon Ridge Ancient Road before the imperial court can react!"
He patted Li Jin on the shoulder, "Don't worry, as long as we get to Jiannan and join forces with Chao'er, we'll get these things back sooner or later."
The order was issued swiftly.
In the darkness, the group of people, like ghosts, broke away from the road and disappeared into the slippery, dense forest on the side.
Thorns tore through their armor, rocks rubbed against their legs, and no one made a sound, only suppressed breathing and the rustling of rain on the leaves.
With Li Jin's help, Yang Yan climbed up with difficulty.
He was no longer the Grand General of the Northern Expedition, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, or the Grand Commandant of the Great Feng Dynasty; he was merely an ambitious man with the intention of seizing power.
Rainwater mixed with sweat flowed into my eyes, making them sting and blurry.
But the fire in his heart burned brighter and brighter in the cold, rainy night.
Disappointment with Li Jingang, humiliation at the loss of power, and ambition to eventually establish a regional power.
......
The Imperial Palace in the capital, in the darkest hour before dawn.
Li Jingang did not sleep.
He sat alone in front of the huge map in the imperial study, the candlelight flickering and casting his distorted shadow on the wall.
On the map, the black flag representing Yang Chao is still planted in Wannian, the red flag representing Zhang Tao is nearing Wuguan, and the blue arrows representing Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang are making difficult progress in Hedong.
The mark representing Yang Yan disappeared near Mengjin, turning into a glaring question mark.
Feng Liang entered silently and placed a confidential report on the desk.
Li Jingang didn't look, but asked in a hoarse voice, "Yang Yan, is there any news?"
"No trace was found in Mengjin. A small group broke through the checkpoint on the Longji Ancient Road. After a fierce battle, the enemy burned their vehicles and scattered. Their identities could not be confirmed, but... some items were intercepted, which seemed to have imperial marks."
Feng Liang's voice was very low.
"That's him." Li Jingang chuckled twice, the laughter sounding particularly eerie in the empty hall. "Good, good Yang Yan. He's really not willing to give up. He's gone to Jiannan, isn't he?"
"I have already ordered messengers to send urgent messages to the passes along the route to conduct a thorough search, and have also secretly ordered the Censor of Jiannan Circuit to pay close attention to the movements of Yang Chao's troops."
Li Jingang finally picked up the report about Yang Chao's renewed request to postpone the attack and his mention that "the soldiers are fearful and we need to stabilize their morale." He glanced at it, then suddenly clenched it tightly, the paper crumpling in his palm.
"Suspicion? He suspects me, doesn't he!" he growled, his eyes bloodshot. "Where is Zhang Tao?"
"We have entered Wuguan Road and will reach the outer perimeter of Wannian in two days at the earliest."
"Send a decree to Zhang Tao!" Li Jingang said, enunciating each word clearly, "Upon arriving ten thousand years later, do not wait; immediately take over Yang Chao's troops! If Yang Chao disobeys..."
He paused, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "If he is to be treated as a traitor, he shall be executed on the spot, and his followers shall be reorganized by Zhang Tao!"
Feng Liang's heart trembled violently, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back: "Your Majesty... should you reconsider? Yang Chao does have an army of 50,000 after all. If we force him to rebel..."
"Fifty thousand troops?" Li Jingang turned around abruptly, staring intently at Feng Liang. "Are these fifty thousand troops mine, or the Yang family's?"
"What I can give him, I can take back! If he knows what's good for him and relinquishes his military power, I might spare his life and imprison him. But if he dares to rebel..."
A mad glint flashed in his eyes. "That's to set an example for the world! I want everyone to know that the soldiers of the Great Feng Dynasty belong to the Li family, not the Yang family!"
Feng Liang dared not persuade him any further, and bowed deeply: "Your subject... obeys the decree."
As he left the Imperial Study, he caught a glimpse of Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang rushing over. Both men were still in their armor and looked anxious, clearly indicating that something had changed in the war in Hedong.
Feng Liang passed by them without daring to make eye contact, feeling that the magnificent palace was now filled with a suffocating chill and the smell of blood.
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