allonlinenovel Chapter 176 Food and Grass
Chapter 176 Food and Grass
A young soldier stepped forward, clenching his fist, and said, "General, we are not afraid of hunger. As long as you are here, we will continue to defend!"
Gu Jinyan nodded, a slight warmth spreading through his heart.
The soldiers' loyalty warmed her heart and strengthened her resolve.
She nodded slightly and promised everyone, "I will have Sergeant Liu lead men to find a new supply line. Until then, please hold on for a few more days."
This predicament will pass, and the reconstruction of Hersha City will not be halted by these obstacles.
The atmosphere in the military camp gradually regained some vitality thanks to her firm words.
The soldiers rallied, began adjusting their ranks, and prepared for their night shift.
Gu Jinyan watched their busy figures, but he could not completely relax.
Back at the command post, she sat down at her desk, picked up a pen, and began marking possible supply routes on the map.
Her finger lightly tapped on the map, her brow furrowed, her mind rapidly analyzing various possibilities.
Liu Yao walked to her side and, seeing how engrossed she was, sighed softly, "General Gu, it's getting late, you should rest for a while."
Gu Jinyan shook his head, his eyes still focused. "Now is not the time to rest. We must find alternative food supplies as soon as possible, or reopen the cut-off supply lines."
Liu Yao nodded silently, knowing that further persuasion would be useless.
He stayed by her side, silently helping her mark out suitable marching routes and ensuring that every detail was correct.
The morning mist enveloped the fields like a light veil, making the distant Xiangyue Village appear and disappear indistinct.
The light cavalrymen rode along, their hooves pounding the muddy ridges of the fields. Occasionally, they startled a few birds perched on the branches, which flapped their wings and disappeared into the pale dawn.
As they approached the village entrance, an elderly villager was carrying water and slowly walking along the path.
Upon seeing the light cavalry, he was slightly surprised, paused for a moment, then put down his carrying pole and cautiously observed them.
The leading soldier dismounted, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and tried to keep his voice down.
He said gently, "Old man, we have come to investigate the grain situation on the orders of General Gu."
I wonder how the village's harvest is this year, and whether there is any surplus grain to help other villages?
The old man pondered for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
He leaned closer and replied in a low, hoarse voice, "There's been a lot of rain this year, so the crops in the fields don't lack water, but they've also attracted a lot of pests, so the harvest... isn't good."
He sighed softly, his gaze sweeping towards his own warehouse not far away.
"However, if the village is in trouble, we are willing to contribute some of our surplus grain. We are all fellow villagers, and we should help each other when we should."
The light cavalrymen exchanged glances, secretly relieved.
The leading soldier nodded gratefully, took out some silver from his bag and handed it to the old man, saying solemnly, "We will definitely pass on your kindness to General Gu."
This money is for buying grain; we will never take a single grain of rice or a bundle of wheat from our fellow villagers for nothing.
The old man waved his hand, his expression calm yet revealing a hint of stubbornness: "There's no need to give so much money. Although our village isn't wealthy, we understand the principle of mutual help."
After saying this, he pointed in the direction of the warehouse and led a few light cavalrymen there.
The rice in the warehouse emitted a faint fragrance; the quantity was small, but enough to solve the immediate crisis.
The soldiers weighed the grain, packed it into bags, sealed them, and tied them securely to the horses.
The moment they received the grain from the villagers, their eyes held a touch of solemnity.
As the sun gradually climbed over the mountaintop, the light cavalry, carrying the purchased grain, returned to their camp along the winding path.
Along the way, the leading soldier couldn't help but look back at Xiangyue Village. The village was still peaceful and serene, with villagers carrying water or working in the fields, their simple lives revealing a tenacious strength.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinyan continued to coordinate various matters from the rear.
For the next few days, she worked almost non-stop, keeping track of the soldiers' condition while maintaining close contact with the reconnaissance teams at the front.
Whenever news came, she would immediately go to the camp to inform the soldiers of the latest developments.
She stood firmly beside the soldiers, her resolve unwavering. Even as her face grew paler and her steps became heavier, her eyes still held a silent determination.
A few days later, the reconnaissance team at the front finally brought back good news.
They found a grain reserve in a nearby village, where the villagers, upon learning of Gu Jinyan's plight, decided to donate some of the grain to support the soldiers of Hesha City.
When the news reached the army, the soldiers were greatly encouraged and cheered.
Gu Jinyan breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still not completely at ease.
This only provides temporary relief; the real challenges lie ahead.
That night, Gu Jinyan stood on the city wall, gazing at the distant starry sky.
A gentle breeze brings a touch of cool comfort.
She closed her eyes, quietly feeling the breath of the wind, and the faces of those who had worked hard for Hersha City flashed through her mind.
Bai Nishang frowned slightly upon hearing Gu Jinyan's urgent report.
Without hesitation, she quickly summoned her subordinates to devise a countermeasure.
Inside the tent, candlelight flickered, and several pairs of eyes met on the map, a sense of impending crisis permeating the air.
"Someone come here," Bai Nishang said calmly, her eyes sharp as frost.
His voice, however, remained calm: "Send out scouts in three groups to investigate why the grain supplies were intercepted."
Each team must conceal their movements to ensure they are not detected by the enemy.
She paused, then lightly tapped a spot on the map with her fingertip, a cold glint in her eyes. "There has been bandit activity recently in the forest road to the southeast."
The valleys in the northwest have complex terrain and could be ambush sites. Exercise extreme caution and leave signals if necessary.
The scouts obeyed and left, their figures disappearing into the night, their horses' hooves lightly grazing across the open fields.
Bai Nishang stood at the entrance of the camp, watching them leave, but her heart was never at peace.
Food supplies are the lifeline of an army; if they are cut off, morale will inevitably suffer.
The forest paths in the southeast are always dark and secluded, with swaying tree shadows and the sound of wind blowing through the leaves, as if countless eyes are hidden there.
The scouts rode their warhorses through the area, their ears perked up, listening intently to every sound.
They rode on horseback, the withered leaves by the roadside crumbling silently under their hooves. The group remained alert and silent, as if they had become one with the night.
One of the scouts, named Liu Lan, had eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
He slowly pulled on the reins, signaling the group to stop.
Suddenly, he noticed several broken tree branches and shallow hoof prints not far away.
Liu Lan quickly dismounted, bent down to examine the soil, and found a few drops of dark red blood on the ground.
“There are signs of a battle here,” he said in a low voice. “The enemy must have left not long ago. Continue tracking, but be careful of ambushes.”
As the team ventured deeper, the air grew increasingly heavy, as if every gust of wind whispered a message of danger.
At the same time, another reconnaissance team had already begun their investigation in the valley to the northwest.
That area is treacherous, with steep cliffs; a slight misstep could send one tumbling into a bottomless abyss.
The leader of this team was named Shi Hu, a burly man with piercing eyes.
They walked carefully along the narrow mountain path, taking each step with utmost caution, trying not to disturb any potential lurking enemies.
Shi Hu gestured for the whole team to stop, and the faint sound of a babbling brook could be heard in their ears.
He held his breath and suddenly sensed an unusual aura in the air.
As soon as Shi Hu withdrew his hand, the valley fell silent; one could even hear the faint sound of the wind rustling through the rocks.
However, this tranquility did not last long, as a faint rustling sound suddenly came from the grass ahead.
He squinted, his fingers pressing slightly on the bowstring. The soldiers beside him held their breath, their palms sweating, yet they gripped their weapons tightly, not daring to relax for a moment.
Just then, several masked bandits emerged silently from the bushes like wild wolves. They crouched down, their eyes filled with malice, and every step they took carried a deadly threat.
A cruel glint flashed in the eyes of the bandit leader, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, clearly indicating his confidence in the situation he had been lying in ambush for a long time.
"ambush!"
Shi Hu's voice was deep and powerful, like a thunderclap, instantly tearing apart the tranquil air.
He swiftly drew back his bowstring, aimed at the enemy at the forefront, and the arrow flew out like lightning, piercing directly through the bandit's shoulder. Blood blossomed in the moonlight, dazzling and gruesome.
As soon as the arrow was fired, a fierce battle erupted instantly.
The other scouts immediately dispersed, using boulders and tree trunks as cover, and engaged in close combat with the bandits.
The sound of clashing weapons echoed through the valley, each strike carrying the force to tear through the air, as if declaring a resolute decision between life and death.
Shi Hu leaped up, flipped over to dodge a short knife that came slashing down, and with a backhand swing, the blade accurately sliced through the enemy's throat, blood instantly splattering onto the stone wall.
His eyes were cold and sharp, all emotions hidden behind his resolute face, leaving only calmness and decisiveness.
Just then, a shout came from behind.
Shi Hu looked back and saw a scout forced to the edge of a cliff by the enemy. The loose rocks under his feet were slipping away, and he would fall into the abyss if he was not careful.
His heart tightened, and he rushed forward, using his sword to block the enemy's attack, and pulled the scout back to safety.
The scout, his face covered in cold sweat and still shaken, looked at him with gratitude and admiration in his eyes.
Shi Hu simply nodded slightly, his eyes remaining as calm as ever, without a trace of extra emotion, as if life and death were nothing more than commonplace matters on the battlefield.
The bandits were forced to retreat and stood not far from the cliff, their eyes filled with a hint of fear, but it was quickly overshadowed by anger and murderous intent.
They all let out a low growl and charged again. Shi Hu scanned the enemy and whispered to the soldiers beside him, "Watch your step, hold your formation!"
Following his instructions, the scouts quickly adjusted their positions, gradually forcing the enemy back to the edge of the mountain path.
The pace of the battle was accelerating, and every strike was a full-force attack.
Shi Hu swung his longsword again, clashing head-on with the oncoming enemy. Each clash was accompanied by sparks from the metal colliding.
The cold wind in the valley carried the lingering echoes of battle, and the stench of blood gradually filled the air, making it suffocating.
Meanwhile, Bai Nishang was not idle.
She summoned several advisors and trusted generals in the camp to analyze the information they had gathered.
She calmly pondered and deduced the enemy's true purpose.
Was it merely about cutting off supplies and disrupting morale? She had a vague feeling that there might be a deeper scheme behind it all.
"General Bai," Gu Jinyan reported as he entered the tent, his brow furrowed, "the reconnaissance team from the southeast forest route has sent word that they have discovered signs of battle, and there may be enemy troops operating nearby."
Upon hearing this, Bai Nishang's eyes narrowed, and she calmly ordered, "Pass down the order: the entire army is on high alert, with particular emphasis on strengthening the defense in the southeast direction."
"Have the scouts continue tracking; report back immediately if they spot any enemy activity."
She turned to another strategist and asked, "If the enemy truly has a main force lying in ambush, how should we respond?"