Chapter 298

Although Wei Tinghou did not see Chen Hou in person to confirm, he guessed it was about eight or nine out of ten.

Before leaving Changzhou, he had already heard the news that the Jing King had rebelled; the Hanshou Marquis and Guangling King were no exception. Only when he reached this vicinity did he hear that a large army had besieged Dun City. The scouts went to investigate, and the forces outside did not resemble Western Regions people nor Xiongnu or Qiang peoples, so he knew in his heart.

After a more detailed investigation, indeed, familiar Wei-character military flags were seen on the walls of Dun City, though by then they had already been shot to tatters.

Wei Tinghou launched a surprise attack yesterday, but due to the overwhelming disparity in numbers between friend and foe, it still failed. Even if he had not stubbornly fought and retreated in time, over two hundred men were left there.

Dun City originally had few inhabitants; Wei Peng leading twenty thousand troops to maneuver in such a small place for so long, he simply could not imagine the situation inside the city now.

The Old Master was anxious and frantic; all he could do was send someone back to Changzhou to request aid. The appearance of the Great King was like timely rain after a long drought, a lifesaver!

"Chen Hou nominally has thirty thousand troops, but now it looks far more than that. Just short of ten thousand, your uncle will not hesitate to fight it out, waiting for your father to come find him."

Wei Shen, who had just fled back, interjected, "Exactly, can our Southwest Army not match those pampered soldiers of the Li Water Nurturing Esteemed Place? Don't say we haven't been tempering our bodies for half a year!... Grandfather, have you been slacking off at home?"

Wei Tinghou wanted to whip him again.

"Shut up! What laziness—is your father or your brother a lazy person?!"

Wei Shen saw the Great King looking dazed, so he sat down and nudged him, "Your Highness? What are you thinking!" This drew a furious glare from Heaven-Shrouding, and he timidly retreated to his own seat to show he dared not provoke.

The Great King lifted his head and glanced around; besides the Wei ancestors and descendants, Ling Yin and Bai Ze were nearby, so he spoke: "I have just realized—originally, Bai Ze said the Southwest Army would fall into the northwest pointer, which is exactly now. I originally thought it was due to the Western Regions allied forces or the Xiongnu, but now it seems to be our own people?"

These past few days, Wei Tinghou has also figured it out: "The court's edict was given to me, ordering me to lead the Southwest Army to Jade Gate Pass to reinforce and resist the Western Regions allied forces. The edict says the entire army…… logically, even if not all eighty thousand troops are sent to Jade Gate Pass, the main force would be brought, leaving only a few soldiers to maintain the pass rotation.

But with Bai Ze's words and the Highness's repeated…advice, your uncle said nothing would stop grandfather from going; he himself took twenty thousand to reinforce Jade Gate Pass.

If originally all eighty thousand had gone out, now being besieged in Dun City like this, there truly would be no return, even starving to death."

The Great King had not yet spoken, but Wei Shen heard only half and was already dazed. "Bai Ze's words? Ah! Grandfather also heard Bai Ze speak?! Grandfather, it can speak! How are you so calm?"

Wei Tinghou casually threw his water bag at him, "Who are you pointing at with your finger? Disrespectful!"

After scolding the two unfilial grandsons, Wei Tinghou bowed to Bai Ze and respectfully inquired: "I don't know if the divine envoy currently has any instructions?"

Bai Ze calmly moved his eyes away to look into the distance, as if he had never spoken.

The ill-fated master stepped in to respond to the Old Master's remark, "Don't ask—if you could get an answer from it, I, being so talkative, would have long been told by it due to its annoyance!"

Bai Ze: ……Your tactics have been exposed.

Fortunately, the Great King added a key point: "Regardless, your uncle is still alive and well; it can be seen from his cousin."

Wei Tinghou's ancestors and descendants heard this and were overjoyed. Although they had guessed, receiving confirmation still made them very happy.

Only Wei Shen kept glancing at Bai Ze, this guy not only speaks but also reads faces? Really not picked up from outside the Heavenly Court?

The Great King then turned to ask about Dun City's situation, "Maternal grandfather, have you gathered clear intelligence—how many people are outside Dun City? Theoretically, siege is difficult, cavalry breaking out from within the city to rush out an opening and escape should have hope; your uncle's situation inside the city may not be as bad as we imagine."

Wei Tinghou shook his head, "Not good at all. We've been looking for some days; according to the scouts' calculations these days, there should be at least fifty thousand troops outside. They have dug a ring of deep trenches and traps outside Dun City, making it extremely hard for those inside to escape. They want to exhaust the living people inside city without losing a single soldier.

These past few days I've also been thinking—such a massive project, possibly truly prepared for the eighty thousand Southwest Army. The so-called Western Regions disturbance might just be a scheme."

The Great King's heart felt icy cold—yes, the Cui Clan is truly ruthless.

The Southwest Army is destined never to serve the Cui Clan; they will instead become a powerful aid to the You King.

So, an army without a tiger tally is as good as none?

The Great King is truly heartbroken—if it succeeds, that would be eighty thousand people! They are all Ba Li clan's commoners, not foreign tribe or nation enemies; eighty thousand households of the Great Jin commoners will lose their sons and fathers!

"Just for that wobbly position in Chang'an? Even allying with the Western Regions? To eliminate my aid, not hesitating to collude with the enemy?

Does the Cui Clan, after all this scheming, not even inquire about my strength? Truly fixated on that broken chair in Chang'an—I myself could handle it!"

The Great King truly feels a bit heartbroken—external enemies can be hated and done away with, but betrayal by one's own people is harder to forgive.

Wei Shen saw the storm in his eyes, stood up and patted his shoulder, "Don't be angry—Cui Clan are no good birds; we'll turn back and unleash our kung fu to deal with them! Now let's study how to rescue your beloved uncle—maybe he's been starved to skin and bones……"

"If our guesses are all correct, then the Cui Clan's reach extends further than the eldest's, humph! These deeds done by the eldest I could still bear a bit." The Great King is still angry.

"Just for raising you four years? Not even raised well, and we don't owe them anything—our family also doesn't pay less each year in hostage redemption money to the Cui Clan……"

Wei Tinghou, listening happily nearby to the two treasures chatting, could not take it anymore and kicked him away with one foot, "Can't you speak properly!"

The Great King's attention had already been drawn over, "Huh? What did I hear? Why pay money? Afraid the Empress will tear the ticket on me?"

"What does 'tear the ticket' mean?" Wei Shen is very curious.

The Great King ignored him, looking toward Wei Tinghou.

"Cough cough! Not some redemption money—just… you're kept in the Empress Cui's hands, we naturally won't openly offend the Cui Clan; every year we just go through grand gifts to maintain face."

The Wei family also had no choice—before the Empress had a son, being near the Great King was not so easy to approach. Later Zhao Bao sent him in, and moreover, Emperor Ning De turned a blind eye with guilty conscience.

Upon hearing 'grand gifts,' the Great King knew it must be a lot of money, heartbroken! Now it's all become funds for the Four Fat Ones to raise private troops!

"Hum! This poisonous plot better not have been thought up by the Four Fat Ones, otherwise I'll settle his account together with theirs!"

Wei Shen sympathized with the Great King, "What kind of brothers do you have? Originally I thought it was just your eight hundred schemes, turns out they're all such ruthless types……"

The Great King turned to Wei Tinghou, grinning and howling, "Ow~ so heartbroken~ my cousin splashed cold water on me!"

Wei Tinghou fiercely slapped Wei Shen on the palm, "His brother is you—you're scolding yourself!"

Wei Shen winced, gritting his teeth, "He's faking it! Not a single tear fell!"

Wei Tinghou: "You still want your brother to really cry?"

Wei Shen: "……Hurry up, it's too late today—attack the city tomorrow! Quickly get Wei Ke rescued! It's also time for him to enjoy the blessing of being the Great King's blood brother!"

The Great King: ……

★

★

………………New Chapter………………

………………New Chapter………………

………………New Chapter………………

Dun City

Indeed, the situation inside the city is not good.

At dawn, when the sky was just lightening, Wei Ke climbed onto Dun City's crude wall to patrol. The Great King, seeing Wei Ke at this moment, would be greatly shocked; he would surely take back his previous words and temporarily not want to grow up to resemble his elder cousin.

Da Wang doesn't like fat, nor does he like being this thin.

Now Wei Ke's face, once fair and smooth like a jade noble's, has sunken cheeks and turned dark yellow and rough.

He is not alone; every soldier in the Southwest Army around him is the same.

The city walls of Dun City resonate deeply with Da Wang, much like the walls of Youzhou once did—both are earthen walls worn by hardship, and looking at them offers no real sense of security.

Today Wei Ke is in charge of the eastern city wall; after patrolling it once, everything is just as it has been every day before. The army besieging them outside has not diminished in number, and their camp outside the city continues routine training and deepening of traps.

He stood on the city wall for a long time, gazing southeast, when his Old Master at home should already have noticed something amiss. If he came out to look for them, now… he should be arriving soon?

These past two days, Wei Ke has grown increasingly anxious; if reinforcements don't come…… if they don't come, we won't be able to hold on.

I understand Father's decision—charging out to fight might incur heavy losses, but waiting like this is truly agonizing.

Even as steady as Wei Ke is, he's still a young man; rationally he knows waiting for Changzhou's rescue minimizes losses, while a desperate gamble could mean total annihilation, but being slowly cut by a dull blade day after day is truly painful.

Every time he sees a frail soldier collapse from exhaustion, he feels an urge to recklessly charge out and fight.

They never imagined that when Wei Ting Hou set out, news would arrive that the Jing Wang had also rebelled, meaning he must now guard against the Qiang tribe taking advantage to cause trouble, as well as against Jing Wang or Hanshou Hou seizing the opportunity to reach out to Changzhou.

That's why, when they came out to find them, they did not bring the main force of the Southwest Army.

Old Master only brought ten thousand men on this sortie.

There's no reason to abandon Changzhou for the sake of his own descendants and twenty thousand soldiers. Besides, it's a stark reality: the Court Affairs have completely halted grain and military pay to the Southwest Army.

Previously, even after repeated urgings, the Court Affairs could still send two or three tenths; now, not a single coin.

The cost of keeping the army idle in Changzhou versus launching a campaign into the Western Regions is incomparable. Two large-scale wars could bankrupt a nation's finances, let alone a poor frontier commandery like Changzhou.

Old Master isn't having an easy time either—he truly can't endure the strain, which has led to today's situation.

Wei Peng and Wei Ke hadn't failed to consider this possibility, but now, facing the starving soldiers outside, father and son can only think positively and speak hopefully.

At the very least, let everyone have something to look forward to; the spiritual pillar must be present.

Wei Ke came down from the city wall, returned to see Wei Peng sitting by the wall of their temporary quarters, slowly polishing the tip of his long spear.

"Father, there's still no movement outside—how much longer must we wait? We need a deadline, after all."

Wei Peng set down his long spear, felt around in his bosom, and produced a delicate small bottle—Da Wang, if present, should be able to recognize it.

"The life-saving pill bestowed by His Highness is the last one left; wait three more days—just three days. If no news comes after three days, we'll dissolve this last pill and charge out to fight Chen Lao Zei!"

Wei Ke received the word, and for the first time in a long while, he let out a breath of relief.

Having a timeframe is good enough.

Who would have thought that after barely half a day passed, a soldier would return reporting abnormal conditions outside—it seemed another large army had arrived, and it didn't look like the Southwest Army.

Upon hearing this, Wei Peng exclaimed, "This is unbearable! Could it be that our reinforcements didn't arrive, but instead, their allies have shown up?"

After Da Wang arrived yesterday, he sent people back to urge the main force following behind to come, ordering them to march day and night.

This time, the supply train did not stray far from Da Wang's cavalry; with so many people, it's naturally less convenient. Tang Qian's cavalry also couldn't keep up with the Youzhou cavalry's pace, the horses couldn't bear heavy loads, and the problem of feeding so many people was unsolvable—thus Da Wang could no longer simply ignore everything and rush ahead carefree and unrestrained as before.

Upon Da Wang's order, the rear supply train and Tang Qian's border troops marched nonstop through the night, finally arriving at Da Wang's encampment in the afternoon.

Tang Qian accompanied Da Wang and Wei Ting Hou as they stood outside the camp, watching his subordinates come running in disarray, which made him blush slightly.

There's no helping it—the contrast is too stark.

They had to carry so much more that the horses they brought became strained; Da Wang's supply train even had people running alongside the carts on foot, while the others marched with steady, composed steps, unbothered and unhurried, making Wei Peng's border troops—panting and straining with every ounce of effort—look especially miserable by comparison.

Tang Qian's mood was complex, but if these people weren't his subordinates, he'd have to laugh for a while!

Da Wang, sharp as ever, spoke first: "Tang Shu, you lot still haven't eaten enough, have you? How can bodies like yours survive in war? From now on, everyone must strive to reclaim land at Jade Gate Pass and Shuofang—I will do my utmost to ensure everyone is fed!" Da Wang attributed the cause to hunger, and Tang Qian felt Da Wang was truly understanding and considerate.

"As His Highness said, once the dust settles, I will certainly train them properly!"

Wei Ting Hou gave him another glance—was this really the fiery Old Tang he knew?

How could he know? After witnessing Da Wang's siege once, Fiery Old Tang understood the gap between people. Combined with what he'd seen and heard on this journey, he's now practically a brainless fan of Da Wang—whatever Da Wang says, goes.

The main force arrived, and Da Wang ordered them to rest in place. The supply train brought food, everyone ate heartily, and they moved out in the afternoon.

Da Wang also didn't intend to let the infantry who came running and nearly lost half their lives attack Chen Hou; their sole purpose was to stand in the back and fill out the formation.

Adding Wei Ting Hou's ten thousand, Da Wang now dared to call his force a force of several ten thousand.

The Southwest Army of Dun City, far off, saw a vast black mass of troops approaching; the soldier responsible for watching the outside had never seen Da Wang's cavalry before, and the aura was such that no matter how he looked, it boded ill—this didn't look like reinforcements from Changzhou at all! Startled, he rushed to report.

When Wei Ke and his father brought all still-capable soldiers to the eastern gate, Da Wang's force of ten thousand had already surrounded Chen Hou.

Chen Hou at this moment was even more helpless than Dun City…