I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 11 Part 1

Chen Kui noticed General Zhan Chengyin’s grim expression and asked with concern, “General, what news has arrived from the capital?”

Zhan Chengyin wordlessly handed him the letter.

Chen Kui unfolded it, and several soldiers gathered around to look.

The letter contained only two words: “Hold the line!”

Chen Kui cursed in fury, “I originally had ten thousand soldiers, now only a few hundred remain. No food, no water, no reinforcements, and they still expect us to hold the line!”

“Isn’t this just sending us to our deaths?”

Wu Sanlang’s brows furrowed deeply, “General, is there really no reinforcement coming?”

Although they now had supplies, how could two thousand troops withstand three hundred thousand barbarians!

Once news spread that they had water and food, the barbarians would surely breach the city walls within two days and plunder all their provisions.

The air felt heavy and oppressive, like dust hanging in the atmosphere.

Chen Wu added, “General Xu Huai’s hundred thousand troops are only a few hundred miles from Zhen Guan . Has the young emperor not ordered him to come to our aid? Will he just watch Zhen Guan  fall and the Zhan family army be completely annihilated?”

Zhan Chengyin’s handsome brow knitted tightly. He would not allow the last two thousand Zhan family troops to perish!

But two thousand against three hundred thousand…

How was he supposed to fight?

How could he win?

History had seen battles won against greater odds, but never with such an extreme disparity in numbers.

“Can we contact General Xu Huai?” Zhan Chengyin asked.

“General, are you thinking of borrowing troops from him?” Song Duo said worriedly, “He’s known for his blind loyalty to the emperor. He may not be willing to break the siege for us.”

The barbarians had three hundred thousand men, while Xu Huai only had a hundred thousand!

Whether for public duty or personal reasons, he wouldn’t stick his neck out!

Zhan Chengyin said, “Send him some food. Have his subordinates present it to him!”

No matter how blindly loyal he was or how obedient to the young emperor’s orders…

If he couldn’t feed his troops, and his men learned that the Zhan family army had food, they would find a way to break the siege of Zhen Guan  themselves!

Chen Wu replied solemnly, “General, I’ll handle this matter and ensure the message is delivered.”

Zhan Chengyin stood with one hand clasped behind his back, raising his head to look at the sky.

The sky was dark and gloomy, with howling sandstorms blowing all around, making eerie sounds as they whipped through the ruined walls.

“Deliver the provisions to the military camp under cover of night. Remember to keep this information secret!”

If the barbarians discovered there was food and water in the city, they would surely launch a frenzied attack.

The soldiers acknowledged the order.

*

In the middle of the night, while the civilians outside the general’s mansion slept, a group of men quietly entered through the back door carrying bamboo baskets.

When they saw the main hall filled with rice, flour, noodles, instant noodles, oil, salt… piled up and filling the entire room, everyone froze in place, stunned.

This…

This was rice, a full two hundred sacks!

And there was plenty of flour, noodles, oil, salt, dried vegetables…

When Uncle Li led them to the courtyard, seeing vegetables scattered all over, they could no longer contain themselves and rushed forward…

They reached out with their blackened hands, touching the cabbages, then examining the radishes.

They picked them up and even smelled them!

These were all fresh, crisp, green vegetables.

Many still had droplets of water on them, giving off an enticing aroma!

They immediately burst into tears of joy.

The army now had grain and vegetables!

No more soldiers would die of hunger!

Seeing them crying and laughing, excited yet desperately trying to contain themselves, Deputy General Lin Dajun stuffed a small carrot into each of their hands.

He whispered, “Hurry and eat, then carry the vegetables to the camp!”

They had never seen carrots before. Centurion Zhao Zhong cautiously took a bite, “It’s sweet, very delicious!”

He then grinned foolishly, swallowing the carrot in two or three bites.

Earlier, the soldiers had eaten only rice porridge. The porridge was thin, and four people had to share one steamed bun, each getting only a small mouthful.