I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 25 Part 1

Tens of thousands of barbarian soldiers, armed to the teeth, stormed into the cave entrance. Initially, they hesitated to advance, fearing Qin Yu’s deadly arrows.

Luo Ge ordered a full-scale attack on the city.

Enraged, the barbarians charged into the cave, swearing to slaughter any “vermin” hiding inside.

Seeing firelight within, they cautiously slowed their pace.

As they approached, they discovered a large pile of burning wood, but not a soul in sight.

Suddenly, they realized they had been tricked!

The lead barbarian commander, furious, kicked the burning wood. The glowing embers landed precisely on the explosive’s fuse.

Boom… Everyone was blasted into the air.

*

Zhan Chengyin’s group had retreated five kilometers away.

Chen Wu was still fervently trying to persuade Zhan Chengyin to let him light the fuse!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the area, and a massive plume of dust shot skyward.

Zhan Chengyin shouted, “Get down!”

Everyone hit the ground.

The earth trembled, and the thunderous blast echoed across the mountains. The mountain shattered, sending rock fragments and dust soaring hundreds of meters high.

A once-towering mountain collapsed before their very eyes.

It was their first time witnessing such a sight—an entire mountain being blown apart. They were utterly shocked.

The scene of that seemingly sky-reaching mountain crumbling before them was utterly unbelievable.

The explosion was so tremendous that not only did the city’s people hear it, but even the barbarians besieging the city were startled.

Luo Ge, the half-brother of the Northern Desert King, was a dark-skinned, thin man with braided hair and a mustache.

Clad in armor, he stepped out of his carriage to observe the siege.

Upon learning that the city had both water and grain, he couldn’t wait to capture Zhen Guan and secure its supplies.

Though no strategy had been fully planned, Luo Ge was impatient.

If he could seize the city and its resources, the Northern Desert Court would surely support his ascension as the new king.

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed from the distant mountains, as if a celestial dragon had awakened.

The ground shook violently, nearly toppling him from his carriage.

“What’s happening?” he demanded.

A soldier hurriedly reported:

“It’s disastrous, my lord! The mountain has collapsed. Of the ten thousand men who entered, eight thousand are buried alive.”

“The rest, unable to escape in time, were crushed by falling rocks. The entire force has been annihilated!”

Luo Ge seized the soldier by the throat, his face contorted with rage, eyes bulging.

“What did you say? We’ve lost ten thousand men before the battle has even begun?”

The soldier, choking under his grip, dared not utter another word.

Luo Ge released him, then unsheathed his sword and swiftly struck the soldier down.

Blood splattered across his face, dripping onto the ground as his expression darkened further.

“Ten thousand men lost before the fight even started. The cave we found with such difficulty, now their tomb.”

“Zhan Chengyin, I swear by the heavens, I will flay you alive!”

The advisor behind him, noting his unstable state, stepped forward to intervene: “My lord, it would be unwise to continue the siege today.”

Luo Ge hurled his sword down and glared at the Han advisor. “What? After losing ten thousand men, you expect me to simply let this go?”

The advisor, his brow furrowed with concern, explained: “Tonight, dark clouds obscure the moon. The shaman’s divination indicates it’s an inauspicious time to attack.”

“The mountain’s collapse and ground tremors are ill omens. The terrain now works against us!”

“We’ve already lost ten thousand soldiers before engaging in battle. Neither time nor circumstances favor us tonight. It would be unwise to proceed!”

“Please reconsider, my lord. If we push forward and our forces are trapped in another collapse, we could lose all hundred thousand of our men.”

“I suggest we consult the shaman on when these tremors will cease, then resume our attack.”

Luo Ge paced back and forth before his carriage, unable to swallow the bitter pill of losing ten thousand men to Zhan Chengyin.

He glared at the advisor. “You’re aware the city has water and grain, aren’t you?”

“If we don’t take Zhen Guan, our forces will perish from thirst and hunger.”

“Meanwhile, Zhan Chengyin’s troops will rest and recuperate, growing stronger by the day!”

“I care not for these tremors or collapses. Within three days, this city must be ours.”