The Demon Lords-Chapter 706 - 147 Grain_1

Jade Plate City originally had a protective moat. Being adjacent to the Wang River, its waterways were naturally well-developed. Although the river surface was currently frozen, the Chu people had still excavated trenches outside the city. A series of obstacles and traps had, of course, also been prepared well in advance.

Compared to the wild people, the Chu people's experience in siege defense was indeed at a master's level.

Furthermore, Qu TianNan, a Zhuguai of the Chu State, was stationed in Jade Plate City. He governed his army with meticulous strictness. Therefore, at this time, Jade Plate City, from top to bottom, could be said to have been armed to the teeth.

On the surface of the Wang River, no further fortifications were set up, nor were any camps established; the Yan people were thus allowed to come and attack as they pleased.

It was precisely because of Jade Plate City's presence and its pinning effect that the Yan Army's offensive was greatly limited. The Chu people focused on defense, holding their strongholds and observing, while the wild people outside lurked, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Between their stillness and movement, there was a tacit understanding between the two sides.

"ACHOO!"

The youth stood on the city wall and let out an extremely loud sneeze.

The swordsmith standing beside him shook his head and said, "It's freezing cold. What are you doing up here looking at?"

"I'm here to look around. The more I look, the better. It would be best if I could catch a bit of a cold from the frost. Then I'd have a good excuse when I go back to Fourth Brother."

"The entire Chu State knows that the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince have the best relationship, but looking at it now, there still seems to be some estrangement."

"Those other few have been taken care of, more or less. The eldest is still putting up a futile resistance, but he's just a grasshopper in late autumn; he won't be hopping for much longer. I reckon once spring arrives, Fourth Brother will be able to enter Ing Capital City. From then on, whenever we see Fourth Brother, we'll have to kneel and kowtow.

Some things Fourth Brother might not care about, but that's his business. As his younger brother, and also as his subject, I must properly fulfill my own duties.

The relationship between ruler and minister, isn't that how it's supposed to be?"

"How dull."

"Indeed. Back when Fourth Brother took little me to your forge to find you, that was interesting, wasn't it?"

"The Fourth Prince is a true lover of swords."

"And what about me?"

"You? You're just so-so, I suppose."

"I'm still young!"

"Character is set by three, destiny by seven."

"Your tongue is as sharp as the swords you forge."

"Heh."

"The wild people to the east seem to be making some moves."

"It's not just 'moves'; they've sealed off all news. Even our Chu State messengers can't pass through."

"Has something happened?"

"Something has definitely happened."

"Previously, the Situ Yi brothers had Fengxin City breached by a lone Yan Army unit that had penetrated deep. The two brothers were both drowned in excrement and urine, and their bodies, hung on the city walls, have already air-dried. I reckon that lone army unit has made another move?"

"Most likely. Qu TianNan has already dispatched a separate contingent of troops eastward to investigate. Since the wild people have sealed off the news, it's obvious they don't want us to know. The more they try to hide it, the more we must find out."

"That's the logic."

"However, no matter what happens, our Chu just needs to hold Jade Plate City. We hold it until spring, when the Fourth Prince has purged the domestic opposition and ascended the throne. Then, whether Jade Plate City continues to be defended or is evacuated, we will have the freedom to choose."

Once spring arrives and the river ice melts, the Chu navy will be able to enter the Wang River once more, and the initiative will again be in the hands of the Chu people.

The Chu State needs a peaceful external environment to sort out its internal turmoil. These fifty thousand soldiers of the Blue Luan Army, pinned down in Jade Plate City, are essentially here to block the threat from the Yan people.

Otherwise, if the Yan people were to expel the wild people and annex the entire Jin State, then the Yan iron cavalry would directly threaten the Chu State. If the Chu State were a solid, unified block, it would be one thing; the problem is that due to the previous emperor's demise, although no major chaos erupted domestically, the country has ultimately failed to achieve complete integration.

Holding Jade Plate City is, in fact, about carving out a buffer zone for the Chu State.

The youth pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped his nose, and said, "Tell me, what do you think that Southern Marquis of the Yan people has been up to lately?"

"He's probing. It's like when forging a sword, you first have to get the fire's heat just right."

"Playing mysterious."

The swordsmith, however, said, "A layman just watches the spectacle."

"Hey, I say, do you really look down on me that much?"

"Just about that much, I suppose."

"Fine, I won't waste any more words with you. Our city's grain supply is running low, you know."

Transporting grain from the Chu State to Jade Plate City involved, firstly, excessive losses due to the long journey, and secondly, because the northern waterways were mostly frozen, Chu ships couldn't operate, drastically reducing transport efficiency.

Originally, when the Chu army set out, they thought, just like General Zheng, to 'forage from the enemy.'

Why bring any grain? Just eat what's locally available.

Unlike the Yan people, the Yan Emperor wanted to completely annex the lands of the Three Jin and incorporate them into the territory of Yan to be governed. The Chu people, however, apparently had no such intention yet, or perhaps, they weren't prepared for a full national mobilization to wage a major war against the Yan State.

Therefore, they naturally opted for the most cost-effective approach: first, use one hand to keep the Yan people at bay. After all, 'to repel foreign aggression, one must first pacify the internal,' isn't that so?

However, the Chu people underestimated the wild people's capacity to wreak havoc. The eastern half of the Cheng State, which should have been the most prosperous region under the Situ Family's rule, was so brutally pillaged and massacred by the wild people that nine out of ten houses were left empty.

Furthermore, the continuous warfare made spring planting and autumn harvesting completely out of the question. In this era, if a year's harvest was lost, famine was bound to occur.

Consequently, after the Chu people arrived, they discovered that grain was not as easy to requisition as they had imagined. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Originally, Situ Yi's small court, which had been pushed out of Jade Plate City by the Chu people and had fallen back to Fengxin City, was indeed tasked with requisitioning provisions and fodder for the Chu army.

After all, the Jin people understood other Jin people best, so they should have been more adept at requisitioning grain. Moreover, Fengxin City had previously stored a considerable amount of provisions that were to be transported to Jade Plate City in the depths of winter.

But before it could be transported, Fengxin City was breached by the Shengle army led by General Zheng. General Zheng took everything he could carry away, and the large quantities of provisions that couldn't be taken were not distributed to the local refugees but were instead directly burned.

Furthermore, the Shengle army had also conducted sweeps in the area centered around Fengxin City. Several large, prominent families and large forts that had originally been attached to Situ Yi and had not suffered during the wild people's turmoil were also breached, their stored grain directly burned.

This created a severe grain shortage for the Chu people. With fifty thousand troops garrisoned in the city, the daily consumption of food for men and fodder for horses was an enormous expenditure. Consider that back when General Zheng was in Shengle City supporting just fifteen thousand combat soldiers, their consumption nearly bankrupted him.

Moreover, Jade Plate City at this time had no production activities whatsoever. The original inhabitants had either been conscripted by the Chu people as laborers to build fortifications or had been driven out. This once lively and prosperous city was now filled with an air of desolation.

"The wild people just delivered a batch this morning; it can relieve the pressing need."

Hearing this, the young man laughed and said, "It seems that Wild King knows what's good for him, afraid that if we ran out of grain, we'd just abandon them and flee."

"Indeed," the swordsmith replied. "Are you hungry?"

"Hungry. The grain rations have been cut by half recently, and I don't have the gall to go ask Qu TianNan for food."

"You should eat what you need to eat, don't stand on ceremony. And if you need to ask for it, ask for it; don't be polite about that either."

"Oh?"

"Is there any need for you to share weal and woe with the officers and men of the Blue Luan Army here?"

"Hehe, you must be joking. Fourth Brother knows me best; I can't endure much hardship or grievance. Mmm, that smells wonderful, the aroma of meat. Did the wild people send mutton?"

"I suppose so."

The young man and the swordsmith descended the city tower together and went to their small lodging, which was their residence within the city.

Their statuses were not ordinary. They appeared like carefree wanderers, but their actual roles were more akin to that of Military Supervisors. Naturally, they were afforded a certain level of dignity.

However, when they returned, they found Qu TianNan, the commander-in-chief of the Blue Luan Army, already seated inside.

The Chu people still maintained the tradition of sitting on mats on the floor. At this moment, food was simmering in a large pot in the center, and waves of meaty aroma assailed the nostrils.

Qu TianNan was seated in the host's position.

"Greetings, Zhuguai."

"Greetings, Zhuguai."

Qu TianNan seemed to have no inclination to speak and merely waved his hand.

The young man was slightly taken aback; he had rarely encountered such a cold reception. However, he merely assumed that the recent, incessant troop rotations of the Yan Army on the opposite bank, coupled with the looming threat of a grain shortage in the city, had put the commander-in-chief in a gloomy mood.

The swordsmith, however, silently took the lower seat to the left. After sitting down, he flicked his long hair back behind him.

The young man, meanwhile, sat in the position to the right, his eyes glued to the large pot in the center.

Someone accustomed to fine clothes and rich food, once truly starved for a period, would find anything delicious. At this moment, he was already growing quite impatient.

Qu TianNan waved, signaling one of his personal guards behind him to come forward and ladle out the meat broth for everyone.

He himself then looked at the swordsmith and said, "Sir, today, I am feeling rather unwell in my heart."

The swordsmith heard this, nodded, and said, "Everything is for the sake of the Chu State."

While they were conversing, the young man had already taken the large bowl placed before him. Not bothering with chopsticks, he simply grabbed the meat with his hands and began to eat.

Qu TianNan then said again, "If a man keeps company with beasts, can he still be considered a man?"

"Since ancient times, haven't humans domesticated many beasts?"

"The principle is indeed so."

"A principle that can bring comfort to one's own heart is the true principle."

"I have been taught a lesson."

"Zhuguai, you speak too gravely."

The young man wiped his greasy mouth and chuckled, "I say, you two, with such delicious food before you, you still have the leisure for philosophical discussions. Truly, you are untainted by the smoke and fire of the mortal world."

Qu TianNan remained silent. Given his status, even the Fourth Prince—that is, the one soon to ascend the throne—would treat him with courtesy. He certainly didn't need to be trifled with by this young prince.

The swordsmith, however, raised his chopsticks, pointed at the young man, and said, "One wonders who it is that only knows of worldly pleasures and is ignorant of suffering."

"Ha? Me? You must be joking. I've experienced some hard times, you know."

"Since you've experienced hard times, how could you not know what kind of meat you were just eating?"

The young man froze. He looked down at the half-eaten piece of meat remaining in his bowl.

The swordsmith continued to ask, "This mutton, is it delicious?"

"GACK..."