In the night outside the pass, a gentle breeze always carries a hint of coolness, and bonfires are lit up in the camp.
Mu Yan lifted the curtain and entered the tent. Mu Weihou stood beside the map, his hands behind his back, looking at it quietly.
Mu Yan took a piece of naan bread and walked over, handing it to Mu Weihou. Mu Weihou glanced at him and asked, "Have you already eaten?"
"Yes, I just ate with them outside," Mu Yan said.
Hearing Mu Yan say this, Marquis Mu Wei didn't say anything more this time. He took the naan from Mu Yan's hand, took a bite, and turned back to look at the map hanging on the wall.
The naan bread didn't taste good; it was cold, hard, and even a bit dry. The army was short of food, and these days, two breads a day were considered good enough to fill their stomachs, so they couldn't be picky.
When Mu Weihou swallowed the naan bread, he choked and coughed. Mu Yan quickly took some water from the table next to him and gave it to him.
Mu Yan said, "Father, there's still no sign of supplies for the Southern Imperial Guards. Is it hopeless? Our army only has enough food for three days. If the Northern Qi people find out, they might not be able to wait and launch a full-scale attack."
Marquis Mu Wei sighed: "Now the Southern Imperial Guards have suddenly cut off all communication, and there has been no response from the capital for a long time. I noticed something was wrong a long time ago."
Mu Yan said anxiously, "Father, we can't even get into Yanmen Pass right now. Zhang Liangyi of Yanmen Pass first closed the city gate, saying that he was afraid that Beiqi people had infiltrated. Then he used the excuse that there was a plague inside the pass and the court was worried that it would affect the soldiers."
Mu Yan snorted: "Now you're too lazy to even make excuses for us. I think we should just attack the city directly. Otherwise, we're going to die sooner or later if we stay outside the city."
Marquis Muwei said in a low voice, "But once we attack the city, we will become the rebels."
"Report!"
"Please come in!"
A soldier brought a letter into the tent and handed it to Mu Yan. Mu Yan took it, read it, and exclaimed with delight, "Father, it's a letter from A Jin!"
Upon hearing this, Marquis Muwei's previously serious and dignified expression softened considerably.
When Mu Weihou took the letter from Mu Jin and opened it, the corners of his mouth slowly began to turn up, and then he burst into laughter. His laughter was full of joy, as if all his worries had been dispelled by the letter.
Seeing Mu Weihou's happy expression, Mu Yan couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Father, what good news has happened?"
Holding Mu Jin's letter, Marquis Mu Wei returned it to Mu Yan: "The plague in Dongyue Kingdom was brought under control so quickly thanks to our Ah Jin and that Eleventh Prince. The Emperor bestowed imperial favor upon Ah Jin for her merit in saving the people, and she actually used this favor to divorce Su Yuntian. Truly worthy of being my daughter, Marquis Mu Wei; she has real guts."
After speaking, Marquis Mu Wei laughed heartily, his face beaming with pride for Mu Jin.
After reading the letter, Mu Yan was overjoyed: "Father, A Jin actually helped us collect provisions. She found someone to help us buy provisions in the Southern Shu Kingdom, and they will be delivered to us soon."
Marquis Mu Wei smiled and said, "This imperial court and the Southern Imperial Guards are all unreliable. It still has to be my Jin."
Mu Yan's face lit up with even greater joy: "That Eleventh has also regained his memories. It turns out he was a member of the Nangong Divine Sect's faction. No wonder Ah Jin knows how to treat the plague. Ah Jin also said that she would try to reunite with us after some time."
At this point, Marquis Mu Wei seemed to have thought of something, and the smile on his face faded again.
“The emperor won’t let Ah Jin leave the capital so easily. With Ah Jin’s current abilities, I believe she will find a way to leave the capital, but it will be a very difficult path. I’m worried that Ah Jin will suffer.”
Mu Yan was well aware of the problem Mu Weihou was referring to. At present, corruption permeated every level of the Eastern Yue Kingdom, from top to bottom, leading to widespread suffering among the people. In recent years, famine and death had been occurring frequently in various prefectures and counties.
Despite the current chaotic situation both domestically and internationally, the emperor still harbors suspicions towards them, cutting off their supplies and preventing them from entering the pass.
These soldiers had always been far from their homes, loyal to the court, for the sake of the well-being of the people of Dongyue.
However, the court's attitude was undoubtedly forcing them into rebellion. The court merely wanted to incite trouble in this way, then use it as a pretext to frame them for treason and put them to death.
Thinking of this, the father and son couldn't help but feel heavy-hearted again.
"Report!"
The father and son heard another soldier outside the tent report, "Come in."
"Reporting to the general, the Kitasaki people are making a ruckus outside the camp again! This time, their numbers are twice as many as last time."
Although the soldiers who came in were somewhat anxious, they did not appear flustered. Clearly, this had happened many times before, and they were almost used to it.
Mu Yan stomped his foot: "That damned Kitasaki guy is causing trouble again!"
Mu Yan said to Mu Weihou, "Father, what do you think these Beiqi people are up to? These shady characters are making a ruckus outside our camp. After we rush out, they run away again. They're like a persistent nuisance, so annoying."
Marquis Mu Wei snorted coldly: "What could it mean? They're just short of food, and they know we're short of food too. They're just trying to test our strength."
Since Mu Yan raided their camp and stole their food, the people of Beiqi have been living in even greater hardship. Every time they come to cause trouble, it doesn't really cause any significant friction.
The Beiqi people's main camp was encamped deep in the grasslands, yet they hesitated to launch an attack on Yanmen Pass. Clearly, they were hesitant and had reservations. Their hesitation and probing might stem from either insufficient supplies or uncertainty about their commander.
"Father, let me go and meet them this time!"
Marquis Muwei nodded, and Mu Yan and the soldier left Marquis Muwei's tent. Marquis Muwei did not come out of the tent to look; this was commonplace for him, so he didn't take it seriously.
Mu Yan donned his armor, leaped onto his horse, and led a thousand elite soldiers out of the camp.
When the opposing general, Beiqi, saw Mu Yan leave the tent, he couldn't help but sneer: "You Dongyue dogs finally dare to come out of the camp. We thought you didn't want to be dogs and wanted to be cowards."
The Kitasaki men behind the leader who was shouting all burst into laughter.
Mu Yan was so angry that his eyes were filled with gloom. Ye Qing saw this and advised from the side, "General, I feel like there's something wrong with them today. It's like they're deliberately trying to lure you out of the camp."
Mu Yan sneered, "Do you think I'm afraid of these bastards? Get them all!"
As soon as Mu Yan finished speaking, he took the lead, brandishing his broadsword and charging towards Beiqiren.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
