I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: He Will Surely Die

Old Mu was genuinely fond of the phoenix-patterned glazed porcelain plate and wasted no time transferring the payment.

She agreed to sell it, and Old Mu would come to the villa at ten the next morning to collect it.

After completing her evening routine, as she prepared the water pump, she couldn’t resist writing a letter to Zhan Chengyin.

「I consulted a renowned historian who said, according to unofficial records, you are destined to die in battle at Zhen Guan.」

「Zhen Guan will ultimately fall to a coalition of Chu, Yong, and the barbarian tribes.」

「You will be killed in a mass attack by Yong soldiers.」

「Zhan Chengyin, I hope you survive, but you must also be wary of the alliance between Chu, Yong, and the barbarian tribes.」

With an anxious heart, she slipped the note into a vase.

*

At the frontier, in the barbarian tribe’s encampment, Luo Ge was furiously berating his generals.

“Two thousand warhorses fled, over three thousand soldiers were trampled, and hundreds were killed…”

“And you have no idea who did this? Couldn’t catch even a glimpse of anyone?”

“You worthless lot, utterly useless…”

Luo Ge seized the teapot from the table and hurled it at the general kneeling in front, leaving a bloody mark on his forehead.

Everyone lay prostrate, trembling, not daring to move.

Liu Ling attempted to calm him: “Young Prince, please quell your anger.”

Luo Ge fixed him with a cold stare. “You tell me, who did this?”

Liu Ling hesitated for a moment before answering, “It was the Zhan family’s army from the city.”

Luo Ge grew even more furious and interrogated the trembling generals before him.

“Did anyone see them leave the city?”

“Did you see them?”

“Who saw anything?”

The city gates were watched day and night—even a crack would have brought forth a rain of arrows.

Yet this Han military advisor claimed it was the Zhan family’s army.

“They’ve been cowering like quails in the city for a year?”

“Where did they get the firecrackers that spooked the horses? Did they sprout from the ground?”

Liu Ling lowered his head, “Apart from our forces and the Zhan family’s army, there is no one else at Zhen Pass.”

Luo Ge countered, “What about those Yong spies we captured days ago? They’re still in chains. Go interrogate them under torture—find out if Yong is conspiring with the Northern Court!”

An injured soldier volunteered, “I’ll go at once…”

Just then, they heard more firecracker explosions from both the south and north of the city.

Luo Ge stormed out of the tent, where the explosions rang even clearer.

A messenger rode up in haste.

“Re-report, my Lord! Enemy forces raided the northern sector—the horses are panicking, and the Zhan family’s army has charged out from the city. General Molian was killed by their explosives while giving chase!”

Luo Ge’s face went slack with disbelief. “What did you say? Molian is dead?”

Molian was his personal guard, a general he had promoted himself. How could he just die like this?

Impossible!

He was the wrestling champion of the Northern Court, undefeated in last year’s arena.

Luo Ge roared, “Send reinforcements to the northern garrison!”

“I’ll see whether it’s truly the Zhan family’s army or if Yong has grown tired of living and dares to kill my men!”

He returned to his tent, donned his battle armor, seized his weapons, and prepared to ride north.

Just then, another blood-covered soldier rushed in to report.

“General! The southern camp has been raided, tents set on fire, horses frightened and fleeing, and the enemy’s crossbows have a longer range…”

“Several deputy generals were cut down the moment they emerged from their tents!”

Luo Ge, consumed by rage, grabbed the soldier’s collar and raised his curved blade.

Liu Ling intervened, “General, lower your weapon. Every man is precious now—we cannot afford to kill our own!”

Luo Ge violently shoved Liu Ling aside.

“You Han dog, you dare meddle in the Prince’s affairs? Get out!”

Liu Ling stumbled backward, nearly impaling himself on the weapon rack. If not for a quick-thinking soldier pulling him aside, he would have died instantly.

His eyes flashed cold fury, but he lowered his head without a word.

After the soldiers withdrew, Luo Ge issued his command: “Full battle array! Reinforce both southern and northern camps…”

“Yes, General!”

The main force numbered 100,000.

With 30,000 troops stationed at each of the west, south, and north gates.

How could 100,000 men not easily defeat Zhan Chengyin’s mere 20,000? How had things come to this?

Luo Ge led his forces in an imposing column toward the battle.

*

On the walls of Zhen Guan.

Zhan Chengyin gazed into the distance at the barbarian tribe’s forces.

The guerrilla campaign had begun.

Chen Kui, Chen Wu, Wu Sanlang, and Bian Ziping split into two groups, each leading 3,000 men. Clad in armor and carrying firecrackers and explosives, they approached the barbarian tribe’s camps to the south and north.

At midnight..

The hour when men are most weary and deep in dreams.

Standing atop the city tower, Zhan Chengyin watched the enemy encampments.

The attacks on the southern and northern camps and stables were mere diversions—a trap to lure the enemy in.

From the start, Zhan Chengyin’s true target had been Luo Ge’s main force of 100,000.

Just then, a white paper floated out from the vase.

When Zhan Chengyin picked it up and read its contents, his pupils dilated in shock.

He was destined to die this year, at the age of twenty-one.

Zhen Guan would fall to a three-way coalition?

Chu, Yong, and their ancient enemies had set aside their differences to swallow up the Great Qi Kingdom.

They had even allied with the notorious barbarian tribes.

Every winter, when snow blanketed the tribal steppes, barbarian cavalry would harass the border regions of several kingdoms.

Both Chu and Yong had long suffered such raids.

Unlike Qi, they hadn’t stationed troops to guard their frontier strongholds.

As a result, their borderlands stood empty of settlers, allowing the barbarian tribes to sweep through unopposed.

Despite their bitter enmity, they had now cast aside their grievances to unite against Great Qi.

Given this divine warning, he was determined not to let their alliance succeed.

Suddenly, massive explosions thundered between the southern and eastern gates.

Like muffled thunder rolling across the sky.

A faint smile played on Zhan Chengyin’s lips. “It’s done.”

Indeed, the attacks on the southern and northern gates were merely feints, designed to lure Luo Ge from his tent.

He would surely rush to reinforce those positions, and the explosives buried along his path would wreak their devastation.

Either send Luo Ge straight to heaven.

Or decimate his main force.

With luck, Luo Ge might even lead the charge himself.

If he did, his death was certain!

BOOM…

More explosions ripped through the roads near the southern and northern gates.

Song Duo shouted in elation, “General, it worked! The buried explosives weren’t wasted.”

“With explosions this massive, we must have killed hundreds, no—thousands! Perhaps even tens of thousands!”

“We can truly survive this! We won’t die trapped within these walls!”

Song Duo wept tears of joy.

Li Yuanzhong and Lin Dajun also wiped away tears of happiness.

After so long, they had finally seized the initiative and won a battle.

For a year, the Zhan family’s army had endured humiliation and constraint.

Trapped within the city, depleted of supplies and ammunition, until the soldiers had lost their fighting spirit, showing fear even on the battlefield.

They desperately needed this victory to prove that the Zhan family’s army remained a mighty lion, unconquerable in battle.

Zhan Chengyin could barely contain his excitement.

He hastened to reply to Ye Mumu.

「Tonight we launched our guerrilla campaign, first striking the southern and northern gates to draw out Luo Ge’s reinforcements.」

「Explosives lie buried along his path—now we just have to wait.」

「What fate awaits the Mobei King’s younger brother, this Young Prince who commands 300,000 troops?」

Ye Mimi quickly responded,「 What a brilliant strategy! Has he been blown to pieces yet?」

Zhan Chengyin replied with a smile, 「I believe he must be dead by now!」

…

T/N: Northern Court/Desert—Mobei