Chapter 1306: Donating Grain

"Judging from the number of tents, City Guardian Liu's army is probably around twelve or thirteen hundred people. The people of Shizhoutou told me that these are basically not local soldiers, but an army City Guardian Liu brought from the north, and they have only been stationed in Shizhoutou for three years, which is why they could bring themselves to harm the common people. Usually, the military leaders also bully people in the city." He He Lingchuan nodded, "The army is just like this; if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked."

Looking at City Guardian Liu's performance of being afraid of fighting earlier, one could tell that the army under his command was not much better.

"Is Yang Meng a local?"

"Yes, Yang Meng himself was born in Shizhoutou, was taken to learn arts by a Daoist sect when he was young, and only returned to the city three years ago."

"No wonder Yang Meng resisted spontaneously." He He Lingchuan said, "Outsider officials are robbing their local people."

"People in the city talk about him, all saying he is a good one. He is quite fair as a Defense Commander and often does some favors for the commoners."

Dong Rui then talked about the army outside the city, "My bats went to eavesdrop on the conversation of two sentries; Yang Meng doesn't fight them head-on, but only sends small cavalry to harass them, killing many sentries on the periphery, so these two are very nervous, always praying that they will survive to change shifts." While speaking, a bat crawled out of Dong Rui's bosom and squeaked twice, and the latter immediately said, "By the way, the vegetation there is sparse, and a sentry also saw my bat and wanted to shoot it down to eat. It seems that the supplies of the attacking side are not abundant either."

After the bat became smaller, it wasn't even as big as a child's fist. The sentry was actually greedy for such a small piece of meat; there really wasn't any oil in their stomachs.

"Alright, let's talk about Zhao Guangzhi."

"You want intelligence on him too?" Dong Rui shook his head, "Only three days, and you want me to do so many things!"

"Among these three forces, I am actually most concerned about Zhao Guangzhi." He He Lingchuan rubbed his hands, "You must have found out clearly, right?"

Dong Rui stared at him for a long time before chuckling, "Of course."

At this time, Wanqifeng came in and said:

"People have been sent to spy on City Guardian Liu's camp."

This didn't even need He He Lingchuan's order.

Although Dong Rui was meticulous, he was not a military man after all, and couldn't grasp many details.

The Yangshan army was different. When Wanqifeng came to report after nightfall, it was much more detailed.

Although City Guardian Liu occupied a high ground, the layout of the camp was unreasonable; just say the location of the latrine wasn't completely downwind, and sometimes when the wind direction changed, the smell would pour back, fragrant for ten li.

After a few rains, the tents were all crooked. The scouts of the Yangshan army also found that some soldiers in City Guardian Liu's army were too lazy to queue, and would secretly urinate outside, and then go back as if nothing had happened.

Doing so not only made it easy for the enemy to take advantage, but also easily polluted the environment; after all, the water source was nearby, and recently there was rain flowing everywhere.

Even Dong Rui was disdainful, "Their hygiene habits are too poor!"

In addition, City Guardian Liu's army was also short of food and medicine, and was looted by Yang Meng once. It was clear that City Guardian Liu didn't have much experience in fighting in the field, and the food was not stored separately. Once Yang Meng came, he would burn what he couldn't grab, causing heavy losses to the Liu army.

"In fact, the two sides inside and outside the city are just comparing who can hold on." He He Lingchuan summarized, "If Shizhoutou's supplies were a bit more abundant, the one who would have fled in a sorry state would probably be City Guardian Liu."

But it's hard for things to have "ifs." City Guardian Liu knew very well that Shizhoutou was at the end of its rope, and if he gritted his teeth and persisted for a few more days, he would be able to reap the fruits of victory.

"Judging from the current situation, Yang Meng is at a disadvantage. If I were him, I would worry about my own safety." He He Lingchuan hooked his finger at Dong Rui, "Get some medicine?"

Dong Rui raised his eyebrows, "What kind of medicine?"

He He Lingchuan whispered a few words to him, and Dong Rui clapped his hands and laughed, "A small matter! Who told them not to pay attention to hygiene, they deserve it!"

"I'm afraid the amount you prepared isn't enough."

"Enough is enough." Dong Rui bared his teeth and smiled, "This kind of medicine is always enough!"

There were two more light rains at night, and the wind direction changed.

There had been two night raids before, so City Guardian Liu increased his vigilance, and Yang Meng didn't send anyone to harass the camp that night.

While patrolling the west side of the city wall at noon, there was a gurgling sound beside him. Yang Meng turned his head and found it was the sound of a bowman's stomach growling.

This soldier covered his stomach with one hand, and as a result, his stomach growled even louder.

Hungry, he hadn't had anything decent to eat for two days, and he could barely pull the bow. Yang Meng's gaze swept over him. At this time, a personal guard ran up and whispered in his ear, "Defense Commander Yang, the meal is ready."

"Bring it up."

The personal guard was startled, "Ah? Yes."

When people are hungry and horses are thin, officers usually eat in their tents to avoid causing trouble when soldiers see it. But Defense Commander Yang actually asked for the meal to be brought to the city gate? Before long, the meal arrived.

A steamer basket with hot steam, just the fragrance of rice and flour made people's index fingers move.

This time, it wasn't just one soldier whose stomach was growling.

Yang Meng opened the steamer basket and saw four or five yellow-black mixed buns, and a bowl of thin porridge, where one scoop couldn't even get two grains of rice.

But there were a few mushrooms and a few tender leaf buds floating on the porridge.

"It rained these few days, and mushrooms grew under the tree roots." The personal guard said, "We've tested them, they're not poisonous."

Just these things made the soldiers on the city gate swallow hard.

Yang Meng nodded, didn't reach out, and pointed to the soldiers on the city wall, "Distribute them all, distribute them to them."

"Ah, you, you..."

"I usually eat better than them, I can handle hunger." Yang Meng waved his hand, "Don't talk nonsense, distribute them quickly."

A few buns and a bowl of porridge weren't enough to fill the teeth of seventeen or eighteen big-bellied men.

But the look they gave Yang Meng became even more admiring.

Who didn't know that Defense Commander Yang shared joys and sorrows with them?

Just at this moment, an arrow flew from outside the sky and nailed to the gate tower with a *thud*, no more than three feet away from Yang Meng.

"Enemy attack!" Everyone wanted to surround and protect Yang Meng, but the latter waved his hand, "No need, it's just a command arrow."

He saw clearly that a note was tied to the tail of the arrow.

The quality of the paper was surprisingly good, light gold, stiff, and rustled when flicked twice. Yang Meng unfolded it and saw a few lines: "Defense Commander Yang is brave and trustworthy. Specially donating five hundred jin of grain to solve the urgent need. Wind rises tonight, changes outside the city."

At the end of the letter, a dragon-head pattern was drawn.

The words "donating five hundred jin of grain" caught his eye, and Yang Meng's heart jumped a few times; he quickly picked up the iron ring and probed into it with divine sense.

Sure enough, there were ten bags of grain inside, all filled to the brim!

Although they weren't all rice, there were mixed grains and sweet potatoes, but Yang Meng was still overjoyed.

With grain in the stomach, there is no panic in the heart. Although five hundred jin wasn't much, it could last for a meal!

Not to mention that there was some cured meat and pickled vegetables in the storage ring. For soldiers who had been gnawing on tree bark for several days, this was simply a hard and big dish!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1307 =====

With grain in the belly, there is no panic in the heart. Although five hundred jin is not much, it can sustain one for a meal at a time!

Not to mention there is still some bacon and pickled vegetables in the storage ring. For soldiers who have been gnawing on tree bark for days, this is simply a hearty, substantial meal!

(End of chapter)