I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 293 - 219: Poisoned

"What should we do then?" Nan Shiqi immediately gave up his insistence upon hearing Gu Lan’s words and asked in a low voice.

"Even if the soldiers can hold on until Fifth Young Master Rong brings reinforcements, General Suyi’s five thousand men also need to eat. They can’t transport food all the way from Cang Wind Port."

It’s a paradox. If Suyi and the others can bring back food, their marching speed will inevitably be delayed, and they will never return to aid within three days;

But if they return to Yinzhou at the fastest speed, they can hold the city, but they would have five thousand more mouths to feed suddenly. Moreover, if Li Yuanju also returns, the food consumption is far more than what Yinzhou can bear.

"Don’t forcibly requisition, use money to buy," Gu Lan said.

"The military funds and treasury silver have been used up, and there isn’t one cent left in the Prince’s private treasury," Tang Zhan said helplessly.

Gu Lan ended his backpack rummaging, tossed the bottom-of-the-box money pouch to the ground with a "snap":

"I’ve got some."

Tang Zhan: "Young Master Gu, you must be joking. How much could you possibly have—"

The next moment, Gu Lan poured out the contents of the money pouch.

It was not copper coins, not silver, not gold,

It was a large bag of East Pearls and jewels worth a fortune.

Tang Zhan retracted his previous statement.

His eyes nearly blinded by the glint, he suddenly remembered that the wife of the current Dingyuan Marquis, Mrs. Zhou, was the daughter of the Zhou family’s great merchant in Yan Country.

"Before coming here, I contacted the Zhou family shops set up in the Southern Border. It’s just a pity that the Zhou family doesn’t have a rice shop set up in Yinzhou, but both they and I have money," Gu Lan pointed to the jewels on the ground.

The person in charge of the Zhou family in this region is unexpectedly the illegitimate brother of Madam Zhou, named Zhou Xinhai.

Upon seeing his nephew, Zhou Xinhai automatically started the gift giving mode.

Tang Zhan sighed, "The Zhou family has only you, Young Master, as the grandson, so they truly give their all to you."

Gu Lan recalled that the Zhou family indeed did not have any male grandchildren of her age; she only had a few illegitimate female cousins, so the Zhou family placed all their bets on the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

At this thought, Gu Lan remembered the Zhou family’s fate.

In the original book, after Gu Lan and Gu Chengzhao died, Dingyuan Marquis Mansion followed suit and perished.

The Zhou family was also implicated and had to be confiscated, leaving them no choice but to seek new support.

They found Rong Heng, who was unmatched at the time, and were willing to offer all their family assets, only hoping Rong Heng could avenge the Marquis Mansion.

Later, the Zhou family became imperial merchants with dragon-following merits, and Zhou Xinhai even gave his youngest daughter, Zhou Mianmian, to Rong Heng.

Uh, unsurprisingly, this unlucky cousin was returned by the straightforward Rong Heng intact, without saying a word.

Zhou Mianmian felt humiliated and committed suicide.

Gu Lan thought, hehe, she now feels it was purely because the author of Dayan Wind and Cloud Record couldn’t write romance scenes.

"These can temporarily buy some grain, hold out for a few days," she stood up, patting Tang Zhan on the shoulder, "Is it enough?"

Tang Zhan, having never seen so much money in his life, replied, "Enough."

For half a day, the Wei Army did not attack the city, but Gu Lan did not slack off and familiarized herself with the operation of the city defense equipment.

These rolling stone machines, heavy crossbows, and gate-blocking blade cars are not complicated in principle but just need proficiency.

She knew that at this moment, Wei Junzhuo was not attacking the city to probe the reality of her reinforcements, and soon he would realize that only a couple of hundred competent soldiers had entered the city.

By then, Yinzhou would face even fiercer attacks.

Tonight was the calm before the storm.

Until midnight, Rong Shuo finally woke up.

Five or six leaders above the rank of Colonel in the army gathered around.

"Prince, Prince, how are you?"

"Prince, Yinzhou is fine, Young Master Gu brought reinforcements, and we, we’ve bought food from the city’s rice shops. Once General Su and General Li return in a few days, everything will be fine—"

"How is the Prince really?"

The group of leaders gathered around Rong Shuo’s sickbed, speaking anxiously.

Rong Shuo half-closed his eyes, his face was ashen and pale. He could hear the words in his ear, but his vision was dim and blurred, only able to see dim shadows.

The military doctor, who hadn’t closed his eyes for days and nights, wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head:

"The Prince has been hit by four arrows, the most serious one being in the chest, just two inches short of piercing the heart. If it really did, not even the most divine could save him, but the Prince is in good health, and thus he still has a chance with such an arrow.

However, the arrow in his left shoulder seems to be poisoned. Although the toxin is weak, it has already seeped into his internal organs—"

Gu Lan looked at Rong Shuo on the bed; she had never seen this man in such a weakened state. His lips were cyanotic, undoubtedly due to poisoning.

Rong Shuo resembled Rong Heng somewhat. Gu Lan bit her lip and turned her gaze away.

A general quickly spoke up, "What should we do? Doctor Zhao, quickly detoxify him."

"But, I don’t know what kind of poison the Prince is afflicted with," the military doctor said through gritted teeth.

"I have already discussed with other military doctors. There are three types of poison that exhibit similar symptoms. Since the arrow didn’t penetrate deeply, it is not immediately fatal. However, since we don’t know the poison, we can’t detoxify it. It’s bizarre, it’s slowly eating away at the prince’s energy and spirit."

Gu Lan furrowed her brow and hoarsely said, "Can’t you amputate... I mean, can’t you cut off the prince’s poisoned arm to prevent the poison from spreading?"

"No," the military doctor shook his head, "The prince is currently extremely weak. If he loses an arm, he will surely die. Moreover, though the poison is shallow, it is extremely fine and can’t be stopped by amputation."

"Are we to just stand by and watch the prince, who didn’t die on the battlefield, be killed by this poisoned arrow?" Tang Zhan said in grief.

"Perhaps we should ask Wei Junzhuo. Since they shot the arrow, they must know what the poison is," a general quietly suggested.

Rong Shuo’s eyes suddenly widened a little upon hearing this.

"Does the Prince wish to say something?" Everyone immediately fell silent, all eyes on him.

"No, need."

Rong Shuo opened his mouth with difficulty, only managing to utter two words.

Tang Zhan, who understood Rong Shuo’s thoughts better than anyone else after so many years with him, said in a deep voice:

"The Wei Army generally doesn’t poison their arrows. Even if they did, it would be something like golden juice, not a poison unknown to Doctor Zhao. This poison must have been applied privately by some archer.

Even if Wei Junzhuo knows, he wouldn’t tell us. And even if he did, we wouldn’t dare to trust it."

Upon hearing this, everyone gave up the idea of turning to Wei Junzhuo.

"General, I recall there are two other military doctors following General Li to Cang Wind Port," the military doctor suddenly had an epiphany and said.

"Among them, Old Wu’s medical skills are a bit better than mine. Maybe he has seen this poison before and can identify it. Once we determine the poison, it’s relatively easy to detoxify these three types."

"Well, seems we can only wait for their return."

On the bed, Rong Shuo suddenly moved a finger, looking at Gu Lan.

Gu Lan stepped forward, standing in front of him, letting him clearly see her, and gently said,

"Rong Heng is on his way here. You must be okay."

"Alright," Rong Shuo said weakly and haltingly, "All military matters... will be entrusted to Gu... young brother."

Before he could finish, his brow furrowed.

"The prince’s wound has opened up. Quickly, stop the bleeding—" The camp bustled, and looking back at the surrounding generals, he said, "With me here, generals need not worry, I will do my utmost to protect the prince’s health."

Tang Zhan exchanged a glance with the military doctor, nodded, turned around, and solemnly said,

"You all heard what the prince just said. For now, Young Master Gu will handle military affairs. I, Tang Zhan, will naturally comply, and if you have no objections, return to your duties quickly, and stay alert for a night raid from the Wei Army."

"We will obey the prince’s command."

Tang Zhan, being both the trusted commander of the guards for Prince Rui and a deputy general, sided with Gu Lan in the absence of Li Yuanju and Su Yi, so others naturally wouldn’t question it.

Moreover, if Gu Lan hadn’t appeared with disguised Dingyuan troops today, even Prince Rui wouldn’t have been able to return to the city. The border army now deeply admires Gu Lan.

Tang Zhan looked at the determined young man, and his heart settled considerably.

Initially, Tang Zhan and Gu Lan did not get along, but after Gu Lan conquered the obstacle course, he let go of his hostility and disdain. In times of crisis, he knew who he should trust.

"I take my leave."

"I, too, will withdraw."

Tang Zhan added, "No one must know of the prince’s poisoning... Just say he suffered minor injuries and needs good rest."

"That goes without saying."

Gu Lan watched Rong Shuo fall into unconsciousness again, bit her lip, and also stepped out, "I’ll go take a look."

It was already late at night, the starry sky above was brilliant, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

In the distance, soldiers patrolled the city walls, alert for a possible night raid by the Wei Army, and wounded soldiers groaned in suppressed agony.

In the quiet, issues that arose during the day came back to mind.

"What is the Princely Heir thinking?"