Zhong Yi is back.
Si Hongjing heard this good news from the servants as soon as he woke up.
He rushed to the barracks.
But as soon as he entered the barracks, his joyful mood instantly plummeted, as if falling into an abyss.
The past tragedy seemed to reappear before him.
The soldiers lay sprawled on the ground, all injured, looking listless, shouting and groaning in pain, blood everywhere, and the air seemed to be filled with the smell of rust.
It was like…
The scene in the camp before he met Yuan Ying.
Si Hongjing squinted his eyes to identify them.
These… were not the soldiers of Dongping Pass.
Vice General Guo’s busy figure flashed past him, Si Hongjing quickly caught up with him and asked:
“Vice General Guo, what’s going on? Why are there so many wounded soldiers?”
“General!” Guo Vice General was on duty in the barracks last night, he explained the situation to Si Hongjing with a serious face:
“These are reinforcements sent by the imperial court. They were ambushed on the way, and the grain was burned. The reinforcements who arrived at Dongping Pass alive were either injured or crippled, and had no combat ability at all.”
Si Hongjing frowned and asked:
“Zhong Yi? Was he injured?”
“He suffered some minor injuries. He’s in the camp, and he’s already taken medicine.”
“Okay, take people to get the medicine bestowed by the gods to save people first. I’ll go see Zhong Yi.”
When the grain and reinforcements were delayed, Si Hongjing had already had the worst guess in his mind.
At this time, he quickly calmed down.
Zhong Yi was lying on the couch. The always suave and handsome man was now very embarrassed, with a sterile bandage wrapped around his leg, obviously having just treated the wound.
Before Si Hongjing could speak, Zhong Yi asked a series of questions first:
“Where did all these strange things come from?”
“Don’t tell me there really are gods! Tell me how you did it.”
“Also, the food in the barracks…”
“There is a god, she gave it.” Si Hongjing interrupted him.
“…”
Zhong Yi felt that Si Hongjing was either playing with him or had gone crazy.
Not just Si Hongjing.
He felt that the entire barracks had gone crazy during the time he was away.
“Have you seen the unique packaging of these medicines? Or do you think our medicines can have such good effects?” Si Hongjing asked back.
This time, Zhong Yi couldn’t refute.
He had just taken a small pill, and the pain in his leg was already much less, the effect of the medicine was very magical.
But…
Even if he reluctantly believed that there were gods in the world, why would the gods help them?
Zhong Yi suddenly sat up straight: “You didn’t use your life to exchange for it, did you?”
“She’s not interested in my life.”
“Then…”
“Okay, tell me about your situation.” Si Hongjing interrupted Zhong Yi again.
Hearing this, Zhong Yi’s expression gradually became serious, and he said:
“When I found the reinforcements, the grain had already been burned.”
“They said that someone had drugged them and burned the grain while they were asleep.”
Si Hongjing frowned instantly, pointing out the key issue: “Since they were drugged, why didn’t they kill them all?”
The two looked at each other, obviously thinking of the same thing.
The other party’s purpose was not just to burn the grain.
They also wanted these wounded and disabled soldiers to come to Dongping Pass and consume their limited medicines and grain.
However, the person behind the scenes didn’t know about Yuan Ying’s appearance.
Otherwise…
For Dongping Pass, the arrival of a group of wounded and disabled soldiers was simply adding insult to injury.
“I have written to the imperial court asking them to send more grain.” Si Hongjing said.
Grain supplies and military pay were controlled by the imperial court.
He had to write a letter.
Although he had Yuan Ying, providing medicines and food for emergencies was completely different from feeding tens of thousands of soldiers in the barracks.
However, Zhong Yi directly took out a letter from his arms.
“I had already written a letter when I discovered that the grain had been burned.”
Si Hongjing took it and unfolded it.
The imperial court said—
Many places were being invaded by foreign enemies, and there was no extra grain for the time being, but they would immediately raise it and send it to Dongping Pass again. The burning of grain would also be investigated and he would be given an explanation.
After reading the letter, Si Hongjing’s handsome face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
They said they would send grain, but didn’t say when.
Doesn’t that mean that Dongping Pass would no longer receive grain supplies from the imperial court in the future?
“They don’t want to leave a way out for the soldiers of Dongping Pass!” Si Hongjing was furious.
The soldiers shed their blood and fought bravely, contributing their lives to defend the last line of defense of the Great Qian.
In the eyes of those high-ranking rulers, they were like weeds.
“What to do?” Zhong Yi also frowned, analyzing: “Even if we start planting and farming now, the army’s stored grain is not enough for the soldiers to wait until the crops mature, not to mention… how much land do we have to plant to feed this army of 80,000? In case of a drought or flood, we may not even have food to eat…”
“…”
Seeing Si Hongjing silent, Zhong Yi asked again:
“Will the god you mentioned continue to help us? What conditions will she ask for?”
“I’m afraid that exchanging with her is like seeking skin from a tiger.”
In Zhong Yi’s heart, the god must have some needs before she would extend a helping hand to the Great Qian army.
As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would not want Si Hongjing to beg the gods.
Si Hongjing frowned in dissatisfaction when he heard Zhong Yi’s guess, and replied: “She has conditions.”
Zhong Yi showed an expression of “I knew it,” and asked: “What conditions?”
“Did you find the hairpins and jade stones made by famous artists that I asked you to find?”
“Huh? Is this the time to discuss this?”
Zhong Yi was completely confused.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“No need to find them, I have a lot here.” Zhong Yi pulled out a box from under his couch and introduced his collection to Si Hongjing as if he were counting his treasures.
“These are all for coaxing the young ladies, since you mentioned it, I’ll give…”
“Thank you.”
Before Zhong Yi could finish his words, Si Hongjing directly picked up the box with the hairpins and jade stones, turned around and was about to leave.
Zhong Yi: ???
“I said I’ll give you one!” he shouted.
“Didn’t you ask what conditions the god has?” Si Hongjing asked.
“What does that have to do with you robbing me of my things?” Zhong Yi asked back angrily.
“That’s the god’s condition.”
“Give it?”
Si Hongjing looked back at Zhong Yi.
His eyes were sincere, his tone was firm, and he didn’t seem to be tricking him at all.
But he always felt that something was strange.
“Have you made a decision?” Si Hongjing urged.
“…Give it.”
Si Hongjing left with the wooden box.
Zhong Yi was stunned for a long time before muttering:
“But, didn’t the soldiers say that the god can conjure things out of thin air? Then why doesn’t she conjure them herself, and wants my treasures?”
Either the god was fake.
Or… he was tricked by Si Hongjing!
“Si Hongjing! You liar! Bah!”
Even the soldiers guarding outside could hear Zhong Yi’s roar.
But Si Hongjing turned a deaf ear, properly placed the box in his camp, and then ground ink to write a letter to the imperial court.
Not to ask for grain, but to exaggerate the difficulties of the border several times, as if Dongping Pass could be broken at any time, in order to bluff the person behind the scenes.