After the three of them had devised a strategy to launch a sneak attack on the Southern Chu Military Camp, Luo Yan took people to check the troops.
Yuan Chen was somewhat worried, "My sister-in-law going there..."
Nangong Zheng looked at him.
Yuan Chen swallowed his following words and changed them, "We’ll give our full support."
Nangong Zheng nodded.
In the middle of the night, amidst a heavy downpour, Luo Yan led twenty thousand soldiers to launch a surprise attack on the Southern Chu Military Camp, while Nangong Zheng and Chu Chen brought troops for support.
Su Rong and Zhou Gu had already anticipated that Dawei would not stay quiet tonight. The entire military camp was on a war footing in the rain.
When Luo Yan arrived, it was like walking into a trap. Zhang Yun was already waiting there with his sword. Seeing her, Zhang Yun smiled, "Is the Queen Mother here to court death again?"
Resentful of the past when she lost her arm, Luo Yan retorted, "You’re seeking death!"
The two sides engaged in fierce combat.
Luo Yan’s twenty thousand soldiers were quickly slaughtered, and though Luo Yan’s martial arts skills were formidable, having lost an arm, she found it difficult to use her poisoning advantage against Zhang Yun. Consequently, she was soon wounded by Zhang Yun again.
As Nangong Zheng and Yuan Chen arrived with their troops to support, it was already too late; Luo Yan was captured by Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun didn’t kill Luo Yan, but instead tied her up and shouted loudly, "The Queen Mother of Dawei has been captured. Surrender now!"
Yuan Chen’s face changed. Seeing that he couldn’t save her, he yelled, "Nangong Zheng!"
Nangong Zheng said in a heavy voice, "Retreat!"
Dawei’s soldiers retreated. Su Rong, seizing the opportunity, ordered, "Pursue them, attack the city!"
Taking advantage of the capture of the Dawei Empress, the Southern Chu forces surged like tigers, seizing the opportunity to attack the city.
Nangong Zheng and Yuan Chen defended with their troops for a while, but unable to hold their ground, were forced to abandon the city and retreat.
Su Rong and Zhou Gu, leading the Southern Chu troops tirelessly pursued, continuously for several days, causing Dawei City to fall one after another. Nangong Zheng and Yuan Chen were pushed back to Eight Wilderness Ridge.
Exhausted and fatigued, Yuan Chen deeply regretted, "That day, we shouldn’t have let my sister-in-law launch the sneak attack."
Nangong Zheng turned to look at him, "But Prince Chen, you agreed with her at the time that Dawei was running low on provisions."
Yuan Chen sighed, "My sister-in-law’s temperament hasn’t changed over the years, still too impulsive. If I had not agreed, she likely would have secretly mobilized the troops for a night raid, leading to the same consequences."
Nangong Zheng remained silent.
"Now we have lost seven cities in succession," Yuan Chen continued. "The prospects are so unfavorable, I do not know how the King is doing there. I wonder if we still have a chance to turn defeat into victory."
Nangong Zheng remained silent still.
Suddenly Yuan Chen said, "The King has laid a hidden weapon in Southern Chu, hoping it can take effect and let us turn the situation around."
Nangong Zheng, who was twiddling his fingers, paused and turned to look again.
Yuan Chen gazed at the sky, "I don’t know who it is, but I hope the King’s secret piece will work."
Nangong Zheng averted his gaze, forcefully twisted his fingers again, causing a dent in his fingertip.
A few days later, Zhou Gu, with a grave face, spoke to Su Rong, "Yuan Chen said..."
He was only halfway through his sentence when Zhang Yun burst into the central military tent, looking very distressed, and said, "The new batch of army provisions is all straw. Only the top layer is actual provisions."
Su Rong abruptly looked up, "How much?"
"Enough for a month of feed for the entire army. Now, our provisions can only last for ten days," Zhang Yun said.
Su Rong’s face darkened; she turned her head to Zhou Gu and asked, "What were you about to say?"
Zhou Gu’s expression grew grave. "Just now, Nangong Zheng sent a message saying that Yuan Zhao had already planted a hidden weapon in Nanchu long ago. Who could Yuan Chen be?"
He paused, "It seems that those who could tamper with the military provisions must be high-ranking officials in the court."
Su Rong remained silent. All of the court officials in Nanchu had been carefully selected and appointed by her. Now, those in charge of grain and forage logistics were Uncle Xie and Duke Cui, with Qin Ruo, Ning Ze, and Jiang Zhu executing their orders. Leaving Uncle Xie and Duke Cui aside, Qin Ruo, Ning Ze, and Jiang have followed her from Daliang to Nanchu and made significant contributions. They wouldn’t have reasons or the likelihood to betray.
For a moment, Su Rong couldn’t recall any high-ranking officials in the court who might be Dawei’s hidden weapons, stabbing them in the back.
"Could it be the scholars who have entered the court over the years?" Zhang Yun speculated. "The two with the highest positions now are Nangong Che and Nangong Ya."
Su Rong shook her head, "Both of them were thoroughly investigated when they entered the court."
She looked towards Zhou Gu, who had been frowning in thought. "What do you think?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "Let’s investigate! Have someone thoroughly investigate this as soon as possible, and also arrange for provisions nearby, or seize some from Dawei."
Su Rong nodded.
"I will investigate," Zhang Yun stood up.
While at General Pingxi’s Mansion in Daliang City, he often moved in shadows, excelling in secretive tactics; if he went to investigate, following leads, he would undoubtedly find out the fastest.
Zhou Gu also stood up, "I’ll personally see to the provisions, while you hold the fort here."
Su Rong nodded, "Be careful. Have Ziye keep close with others."
Zhou Gu nodded.
The two left one after another; Su Rong immediately sent a letter by Flying Hawks to the Royal Capital. This matter had to be informed to Uncle Xie and Duke Cui. Having them investigate from inside the Royal Capital could potentially speed things up.
Dawei’s troops were forced to remain hidden in Eight Wilderness Ridge, taking advantage of the terrain to resist Nanchu, with several small skirmishes resulting in varied outcomes.
One day, Yuan Chen received a letter and suddenly became excited, telling Nangong Zheng, "We’ve succeeded."
"What has succeeded?" Nangong Zheng asked.
Yuan Chen handed him the letter, "The provisions have succeeded; the king’s hidden weapon in Nanchu has taken effect. Now, hundreds of thousands of Nanchu’s military provisions have been replaced with straw. Nanchu’s hundreds of thousands of troops will run out of supply in a few days."
Nangong Zheng quickly read the letter, and just as Yuan Chen said, it only mentioned the switching of Nanchu’s military provisions and advised seizing the opportunity to counterattack Nanchu.
No signature was present.
Nangong Zheng handed the letter back to Yuan Chen, "Is this letter reliable?"
"We’ll know in a few days," Yuan Chen said. "It should be reliable. My emperor brother trusts this person very much. In the past few years, this person has sent a message to my emperor brother once a year. If it weren’t for Nanchu and Daliang’s tight-lipped planning to join forces this time, this person would have received advance notice, and we wouldn’t have been so passive."
Nangong Zheng said, "If the message is accurate, Nanchu will likely attempt to seize our provisions. Send orders down to guard our supplies well."
"Right," Yuan Chen stood up abruptly, "I’ll go give the instructions myself."
Nangong Zheng nodded.
After three days of investigation, Zhang Yun had some leads and reported back to Su Rong, "After the provisions left Heiya Pass, the problem likely occurred at East Water Ferry Point. Because the transport required ships, with hundreds of ships involved at that time, it’s likely someone performed a bait-and-switch."
Su Rong asked, "Do you suspect anyone?"
Zhang Yun paused, "Qin Ruo."
Su Rong immediately sat up straight, "Why suspect him?"
"Because he was personally escorting them past Heiya Pass, and when he heard his wife had slipped and nearly had a miscarriage, he hurried back to the Royal Capital," Zhang Yun said. "Provisions are a major issue, a critical military matter; he would not be unaware–even if his wife had died, he should not have returned, but should have ensured the safe delivery of the provisions."
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