I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 25 Part 2

Advisor Liu Ling felt a sharp pang of anxiety.

Water and grain inside the city? How was that possible?

Zhen Guan had been under siege for over a month, sealed tight as an iron bucket. Not even a bird could fly in.

Licking his parched lips, Liu Ling’s eyes gleamed at the thought of water within the city.

He bowed again, changing his tone.

“My lord, precisely because the city has water, we must plan carefully and not act rashly.”

“Where did Zhan Chengyin procure these supplies? How much does he have, and where are they stored?”

“Our attack must be methodical. The city walls have been heightened, and our current siege engines are now too short. They’ll need to be rebuilt!”

Hearing this, Luo Ge stroked his mustache, observing the city walls and their siege equipment.

Indeed, Zhen Guan’s walls had been raised, rendering their current engines ineffective.

“Very well, withdraw for now. Order the siege engines to be rebuilt taller immediately!”

Liu Ling, elated, shouted, “Retreat!”

The fierce assault was thus easily defused.

Atop the city walls, deputy generals Bian Ziping and Li Yuanzhong found the situation incredulous.

With the Qin Crossbows defending the city, they could have taught those barbarians a harsh lesson.

*

Zhan Chengyin, Chen Wu, and the others were riding towards the city gates.

Before they arrived, a soldier joyfully ran up to report.

“General, they’re retreating! The barbarians are withdrawing!”

Chen Wu and Song Duo burst into laughter.

“Good riddance! We have explosives—if they hadn’t fled, we’d have blown them to smithereens!”

“There were so many barbarians at the cave entrance, they’re surely all buried now. Ha! What a satisfying turn of events!”

Zhan Chengyin also laughed, his mood considerably lightened.

When they reached the city walls, the barbarians had already retreated five li away.

All ten deputy generals took their seats.

They excitedly discussed their recent victory, having triumphed without losing a single soldier while forcing Luo Ge to retreat.

After enduring suppression for so long, they all felt a great sense of relief and elation.

Everyone laughed heartily as they imagined how humiliated Luo Ge must have looked during his hasty retreat.

It was truly a spectacular victory.

A message from Ye Mumu arrived on a slip of paper: 「How did it go? Is the explosion over?」

Zhan Chengyin replied: 「Yes, it’s finished! The barbarians have retreated!」

「Ha, they retreated? Were there many casualties?」

「No casualties whatsoever!」

Ye Mumu laughed. 「No casualties at all? How did the barbarians withdraw?」

Zhan Chengyin responded: 「The mountain was obliterated by the explosion, terrifying the barbarians. They’ve retreated five li away.」

「Everyone is in high spirits today. It’s been a long time since we’ve felt this elated.」

「Divine One, on behalf of the Zhan family army, I express our deepest gratitude for the gift of explosives!」

A resounding victory without a single injury.

Ye Mumu was even more thrilled than they were.

「Just wait, I’ll send you all some late-night snacks and beer. Let’s have a celebration feast!」

「god, we must keep watch tonight. There’s no need for celebration!」

「It’s absolutely necessary! But first, find a spacious, uninhabited house to store the explosives.」

「Ensure there isn’t even a spark or heat source nearby. Otherwise, it could level everything within a hundred meters.」

Upon receiving this note, Zhan Chengyin’s expression instantly tightened, his hand gripping the paper firmly.

Noticing his sudden change in demeanor, the other deputy generals immediately inquired, “General, what’s the matter?”

Zhan Chengyin placed the note in the center of the table for all to see.

It read: 「Find a house to store the explosives.」

Store the explosives!!!