Chapter 408: I have a plan!

Xie Guzhou thought for a moment: "There are indeed a few suspicious matters."

"The first is about that damn notice." He curled his lip, "When the notice was just posted those two days, people were indeed panicked."

"But around here in Xibei, the folk have always been tough. Many privately muttered, if Prince Ning really lost, why haven't the Da Xia troops marched in?"

Xiao Er sighed: "Yeah! If we lost, the Da Xia cavalry would have long swept in, but the people still have sense."

"So, nowadays among the common folk, actually not many believe that notice."

Xiao Yuanhang gave a slight nod; this really is good news—although some folk believed the notice, the people's hearts haven't fully turned to the rebels.

"The second," Xie Guzhou's expression grew stern, "about a month ago, several merchant convoys quietly entered Xibei."

"They didn't buy furs or jade, nor local Xibei products, but specially bought large quantities of high-priced trauma medicine, hemp, hemostatic herbs, and also arsenic, cinnabar, and other poisons."

"Not only was the amount huge, they acted furtively—avoiding official roads, not hiring my Horse Gang to transport goods, and instead taking remote side paths."

Xiao Er jerked his head up, and Xiao Ningxun also put down the biscuit in his hand.

"Are they preparing for war? Or planning to poison someone?"

Xie Guzhou took a sip of wine: "I found them annoying, so I just snatched one of them."

"Prying open the leader's mouth, I then learned—they were all members of the Black Medicine Sect!"

Xiao Ningchen's heart tightened: "Black Medicine Sect?"

"On the road to Da Xia, that table of Gu worms in the Black Medicine Sect's secret chamber—I remember it clearly; the Black Medicine Sect are lackeys of the Netherworld Peak."

"Exactly! According to that man's confession, they were ordered, at any cost, to stockpile these things and ship them all to Jingcheng."

"Jingcheng!" Several people glanced at each other, then fell silent.

Xiao Ningxun clasped his fists: "Chief Xie, could you please help us retrieve the treasure hidden in Falling Eagle Gully overnight? We urgently need grain and fodder supplies."

"We also need to exchange it for banknotes to purchase these supplies."

Tuan Tuan was happily munching on lamb; hearing this, he lifted his head: "Right, I found that hole in the small round disc!"

Xiao Yuanhang again gave her a piece of lamb: "Be good, have a proper meal first."

Xie Guzhou nodded: "Exactly! The stuff there could feed an army of hundreds of thousands for three to five years! I'll have people go get it right away!"

Having said that, he ordered people to go quickly.

Xiao Ningchen asked: "Chief Xie, in your view, could we possibly gather all the grain and fodder we need here?"

Xie Guzhou replied: "Possible. This year's harvest in Xibei is decent, but grain prices are higher than usual, being pushed up by a few black-hearted big firms, making it not very cost-effective."

"I have an idea: deal directly with the caravans from the grasslands and Western Regions, trading those jewels for jerky, cheese, and the like."

"They have plenty of those, and they keep well. Besides, they couldn't care less who rules Zhongyuan."

"That way we wouldn't even need to exchange for banknotes, avoiding attention."

"You don't need to show yourselves; the Horse Gang often transports goods for them, we can handle it."

"From now on, your grain and fodder supply—I, the Horse Gang, will take care of it all!"

Xiao Yuanhang solemnly clasped his fists: "In that case, I'll trouble Chief Xie."

Xie Guzhou hastily returned the salute: "Your Highness, be polite—if it weren't for Tuan Tuan and these brothers pulling me from the Ghost Doctor's clutches, I'd be dead already!"

"These are exactly what my Horse Gang does best—just a few extra trips."

"Good!" With the grain issue settled, Xiao Yuanhang's heavy heart dropped into his stomach.

"We can't let the soldiers go hungry onto the battlefield with us."

He pondered: "Chief Xie, please also trouble you to pick swift horses and locate His Majesty's army as soon as possible, so our forces can join them."

"As for Jingcheng, only His Majesty's personal presence can settle it thoroughly."

"The Black Medicine Sect's movements also still need to rely on the Horse Gang's eyes and ears for continued investigation."

"Any news, big or small, please inform me immediately!"

"All right! Your Highness, rest assured—I'm eager to wipe them out!"

After the official talk ended, everyone said goodbye and returned to the main army's encampment.

Tuan Tuan hugged the oil-paper-wrapped lamb and biscuits, then scrambled into the carriage.

"Master! Xiao Yueyue! Hurry up and eat!"

Chu Yuan smiled and took it.

Gongsun Yue widened his eyes: "Tuan Tuan, is this what those people just asked you to eat?"

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Yeah! They're the folks I met last time I came here—all good people!"

Although Gongsun Yue had already eaten, the Horse Gang's hastily grabbed rations couldn't compare to lamb.

He gulped down the fragrant lamb, sighing: "So fragrant!"

Tuan Tuan patted his chest: "Don't worry—we won't go hungry from now on!"

The next morning, a rich, tempting aroma began to waft through the camp.

Dozens of large pots were set up on the open ground, simmering milky-white lamb bone soup, bubbling loudly.

On the felt beside the open space lay piles like small hills of golden, crisp biscuits.

Most tempting of all, dozens of whole lambs on the grill gleamed with oil, charred outside, tender within!

The soldiers rubbed their eyes, stumbled out of their tents, and seeing the scene, all stood stunned.

"What, what is this?"

"Did the Prince bring in grain and fodder?"

"This isn't grain and fodder—it's meat! Lamb!"

Not long after, the news spread.

"All this, plus last night's hearty dinner, were sent overnight by the young lady's jianghu friends!"

The soldiers instantly erupted.

"Miss, you're amazing!"

"Yes! As long as Miss is here, even without the Imperial Court, we can still fill our bellies!"

"Following the Prince and Miss, we not only can win battles, but also have lamb to eat!"

Amid the cheers and laughter, the soldiers lined up and each received a big chunk of lamb, steaming buns, and richly scented lamb soup.

Many people held their bowls, their eyes already a bit reddened.

The fatigue from days of rushing, the indignation from slanders, the sorrow from indifference—all were soothed considerably by this breakfast.

Xie Guzhou strode over: "Make way!" He rudely pushed Gongsun Yue to the side and sat beside Tuan Tuan.

He tore off a leg of lamb and began gnawing, nodding at the subordinate roasting the lamb as he ate: "Well arranged!"

"Add fire! If the lamb soup cools, it won't taste good! Roast another twenty! The meat must be enough!"

"Alright! Gang leader!"

Suddenly, Xie Guzhou set down the lamb leg in his hand: "Prince! I have a plan!"

Everyone turned to look at him.

"When you reach Jingcheng, those bastards definitely won't let you in so easily."

"I've thought it over, and this is the best: we can have the brothers disguise themselves as dung‑cart pullers!"

He said excitedly: "Those city‑guard thugs are too lazy to even look at this thing; a quick shove and they'll let us pass! Absolutely safe!"

Xiao Ningxun's bun halted in their hand, and Xiao Ran began coughing from the lamb soup.

Lu Qi lowered his head and began examining the grass roots on the ground.

Xiao Er's corner of the mouth twitched.

Tuan Tuan pursed their lips: "I definitely don't want to sit in a dung cart! Too stinky!"

Xie Guzhou hurriedly coaxed: "You certainly can't sit in that; you have to sit on something fragrant!"

Xiao Ningxun deliberated, trying to phrase it as tactfully as possible: "Gang leader Xie's plan… unexpected, truly a brilliant scheme."

"However, making the soldiers bend over… I'm afraid it could damage morale."

Xie Guzhou scratched his head, persistently proposing: "Then… how about disguising ourselves as mourners?"

"Mourners, right? They're all inauspicious, no one examines them closely!"

"Make a few more coffins; we can hide several people inside!"

"Let the brothers all rush in crying! Crying with snot and tears, that'll definitely get us through!"