Just as both sides were preparing to declare war on each other, Rong Ying returned with a massive amount of grain from the Jade Kingdom's Dragon Tiger Camp.
When An Chenghuan saw the flag of the Jade Kingdom fluttering in the bitter winter, he narrowed his eyes. Yu Chuyi had actually gone back on his word.
Rong Ying dismounted and happily reported: "Your Highness, I have returned. I have gathered enough provisions for three months. In order to prevent any loss of provisions, I did not keep you informed of my whereabouts in time. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
"We can take the Jing soldiers back to Jing now."
"Good, Rong Ying," Jing Yan was overjoyed to see that Rong Ying had indeed gathered the grain. He helped Rong Ying up and said with a smile, "Wei You, announce this immediately: we will break camp and return to Jing Kingdom."
After giving his orders, Wei You ran to the watchtower and shouted excitedly, "His Highness has ordered us to break camp and return to Jing Kingdom."
His voice echoed throughout the camp and reached the other side, which was exactly what Jing Yan intended.
An Chenghuan would exhaust his own supplies, but he wouldn't dare to start a war directly when he already had enough supplies, because he wouldn't gain anything from that.
Just as Jingguo began to break camp, An Chenghuan stood alone in the camp for half an hour. He had no doubt that Jingguo's claim of having grain was false.
The Dragon and Tiger Battalion of the Jade Kingdom was trained by Yu Chuyi. The fact that the Dragon and Tiger Battalion personally delivered the grain indicates that it was with Yu Chuyi's permission.
Yu Chuyi actually disregarded Jing Yan's previous calculations and supplied grain to Jing State again, which An Chenghuan still couldn't understand.
After a moment of silence, he ordered in disappointment, "Let's break camp and return to Anguo."
Judging by the time, even if Jing Yan went back, he wouldn't be able to catch up with Jing Lu's rebellion. He mustn't let himself down.
***
Jing Kingdom.
Yue Jiang had just received a secret letter from the Yue Kingdom, saying that Jing Yan was short of food and was being held up at the Chen-Qi border by An Chenghuan. News of Jing Lu's constant return to the country was also being sent to the Jing Palace.
Some people have already begun to criticize the timing of Jing Lu's return. He led the army back to the capital before Jing Yan, and did not show the edict that Jing Yan had given him along the way.
Rumors of Jing Lu's impending rebellion spread like wildfire, and Yue Jiang was certain that Jing Shuo was behind it all, seeking revenge.
Empress Dowager Zheng defended Jing Lu, saying that he only had a mere 10,000 troops, and if he dared to return and rebel, wouldn't he be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
Jing Huaixu also felt that Jing Lu should not have been so foolish, so he wanted to wait for Jing Lu to come back and thoroughly interrogate him.
Yue Jiang sensed that something was amiss, as news of Jing Yan being held back at the Chenqi border by An Chenghuan had not yet been relayed back.
Pian Jinglu returned first, but had not yet received the imperial edict.
His motives must be impure.
Yue Jiang must be wary of the possibility of palace intrigue.
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