Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 440: The Death of Hou Wei (2)

Ming Shang paced back and forth in the Crown Prince Palace, circling around, while several aides carefully stayed to one side, diminishing their presence as much as they could before the Crown Prince.

"What do you think we should do now?" Ming Shang walked up to one of the aides, grabbed his collar, and asked fiercely.

Yao Shun wiped the sweat from his forehead and cautiously said, "Crown Prince, the only way now is to quell Xueyan Country’s anger, hand over Hou Wei, and then submit a petition, claiming that we were instigated by others and acted impulsively when we sent troops to attack Xueyan Country."

Ming Shang released his collar, turned his gaze toward the others, saw them nodding furiously, thought for a moment, and then got up to head for the Imperial Palace.

"Father, as long as we hand over Hou Wei and write an edict to Xueyan Country, saying we were instigated, they won’t attack our nation anymore," Crown Prince Ming Shang said urgently to the Emperor, who was at his desk in the Imperial Study.

"Hmph, look at the fine mess you’ve made. You were the one who took in Hou Wei, you claimed you could obliterate Xueyan, and now what? Not only have we gained nothing, but we’ve also nearly lost ten cities—ten! Look at this, get out, don’t show your face before Us again," Ming Chang said angrily as he tossed the memorial in his hand and scolded Ming Shang.

"Father Emperor, ..."

"Get out."

With a sigh of resignation, Ming Shang turned and left the Imperial Study.

Hou Wei retreated in a sorry state while resisting the enemy. The supply from the Ministry of War was insufficient, and many soldiers fought on empty stomachs; and with the enemy’s forces in pursuit, they were caught between attacks from the front and back.

"General, we’re about to run out of food. Think of something quickly," Deputy General Shen Sanzhang burst into the Marshal’s tent, seeing that the soldiers had no provisions for the evening meal and asked anxiously.

Hou Wei glared at Shen Sanzhang, who had barged in: "What’s the rush? I’ve already reported this to the Imperial Court, but if the Court doesn’t supply grain, what can I, the Marshal, do?"

"But we cannot just watch as our soldiers starve to death," Shen Sanzhang said with a belly full of fire, his gaze at Hou Wei becoming even more ferocious. If it weren’t for him, why would Mingyi Country have had any reason to stir up trouble and provoke Xueyan?

"If it comes to it, we’ll slaughter the horses, kill the lame ones first, hold on a little longer, and I’ll send another petition to the Emperor," Hou Wei said, already irritated and now even more frustrated after hearing the deputy general’s words.

Shen Sanzhang widened his eyes, incredulous at Hou Wei: "Marshal, those are war horses! If we kill the war horses for meat, how will we fight in the future? Without horses, won’t we just be waiting to be slaughtered?"

"Then take men into the city to borrow grain; if they don’t give it, then take it by force," he said, sitting in the chair and glancing at the map on the table, then waving his hand for him to leave.

"No, those are common folks," Shen Sanzhang shook his head. Being from a poor family with many mouths to feed and little land, the annual harvest was not even enough to feed his own family for a year. Out of desperation, when the Imperial Court conscripted soldiers, he had joined without hesitation just to fill his stomach. Having suffered from hunger himself, he knew all too well that the common people hardly had any grain of their own, and taking their lifesaving grain would be no better than being a beast.

"This won’t do, that won’t do, what do you suggest I do then?" Hou Wei’s anger flared, and he shouted at Shen Sanzhang.

"You are the Marshal. Who else would I ask if not you?"

"You know I’m the Marshal, then go kill horses. Disobey again, and you’ll face military justice," Hou Wei said, his eyes filled with a murderous look, his jaw clenched tightly as he spoke viciously.

Seeing this, Shen Sanzhang could only stomp his foot in private frustration and turned to leave in rage.

At night, with no food to cook, the old, weak, sick, and lame horses were slaughtered and stewed. But for nearly a hundred thousand mouths, those few dozen horses were not enough. Later, some soldiers, afraid of going hungry, secretly butchered a few healthy horses, and barely managed to drink two bowls of soup with a little meat, barely enough to be considered full.