Chapter 851

In the sixteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the fifth day of the month, Qiu Xuanfu Garrison.

The night was pitch black, the cold wind piercing, the air thick with an eerie aura.

The stove in the eatery blazed, the cauldron of beef and mutton broth bubbling incessantly, releasing a rich aroma.

Hou Liang noticed Guo Guo Zhigui's strange expression, gripped his saber hilt, and asked, "Captain, is something wrong?"

Guo Guo Zhigui said, "Today at Hongfeng Rice Store, I felt something off, but I just couldn't figure out what."

After entering this eatery for drinks, I suddenly thought of Bao Er Ye Jia Lady Lian, and then heard Xu Fuhui mention the store's oddities—that's when it all clicked."

Just as Guo Guo Zhigui was reaching into his robe, Xu Xu Fuhui suddenly stood up, his face stunned, pointing north.

He shouted, "Look over there—it's on fire! The military grain depot in the north!"

Guo Guo Zhigui's hand froze inside his robe; he spun around sharply and gazed toward the depot—flames and smoke were rising, instantly staining the sky red.

All three turned pale; they had just delivered several carts of conscripted grain into the depot, and only an hour had passed—how could it be on fire?

With the city under siege, grain is paramount; if it's lost, all is lost.

The military grain depot is a critical site, with strict fire controls—especially now, during active warfare, its guards are tighter than ever.

Guo Guo Zhigui refused to believe the depot had caught fire by accident—there had to be a reason!

Hou Liang said, "Captain, a fire at the depot is life-or-death—we must hurry back to put it out."

His words had barely left his lips when shouts and battle cries erupted from the north—first distant, then surging like a tide, deafening in their fury.

Xu Xu Fuhui's face turned ashen. "Captain, the Mongols are attacking the city—this doesn't make sense."

Curfew is about to be enforced, and since the Mongols encircled the city, they've never attacked at this hour—it's too strange."

…

Guo Guo Zhigui's body stiffened, a chill racing up his spine; he spoke coldly, "Too convenient—the depot catches fire, and the Mongols strike at once."

At that moment, hooves clattered urgently down the street; five or six cavalrymen galloped past, shouting, "Mongol forces are launching a night assault—curfew enforced citywide immediately!"

"Within fifteen minutes, all households must shut their doors. Anyone caught wandering without permission—executed on the spot!"

Hou Liang snatched his saber from the table. "Captain, let's return to the walls and meet the enemy!"

Guo Guo Zhigui said grimly, "We don't need all three of us for firefighting or defending the walls—we have urgent business. We're going straight to Hongfeng Rice Store!"

Hou Liang stared in disbelief. "Captain, with everything on fire, why go to that rice store now?"

Guo Guo Zhigui said, "This afternoon, when we went to collect grain, I saw the store's name and felt I'd seen it before—but I couldn't recall where."

He pulled out a ledger from his robe. "Just now, thinking of Bao Er Ye Jia Lady Lian, and you mentioning that Fatty was Zeng Zeng Daquan—it all came together."

Guo Guo Zhigui flipped through the ledger, then paused on one page. "Hou Liang, you can read—look closely at what's written here!"

Hou Liang took the ledger, studied it, and frowned. "Why does this ledger list Hongfeng Rice Store and Zeng Zeng Daquan's name?"

…

Guo Guo Zhigui said, "That day in the northern hills of Donggang Town, we annihilated two hundred Mongol pursuers."

We captured their leader—a man named Sun Sun Xiuyu, a relative of Sun Sun Zhanying, the hereditary commander of Datong."

Last year, Sun Sun Zhanying was implicated in the Datong salt and iron scandal; when it was exposed, he fled across the border and betrayed his country to join the Khan Anda Khan."

This Sun Sun Xiuyu is a Mongol traitor—I seized this ledger from him. I couldn't read well, so I had Bao Er Ye Jia Lady Lian examine it."

He said it was a business ledger, listing many shops and names—and on this page, the shop and name were familiar to me."

But I only glanced at it then, didn't think much of it—I couldn't possibly remember it, which is why I didn't recognize Hongfeng Rice Store when we collected grain this afternoon."

The Sun family betrayed their country; the ledger carried by Sun Sun Xiuyu just happens to list Hongfeng Rice Store and Zeng Zeng Daquan—there's no such thing as coincidence."

Zeng Zeng Daquan's store holds vast quantities of grain, yet never sold it at inflated prices—that's highly suspicious."

…

Hou Liang said, "Captain, you suspect Hongfeng Rice Store is a secret cell of the Sun family—Mongol spies."

Guo Guo Zhigui said, "If I'm right, tonight, when the Mongols attack, if they incite chaos inside the city, disaster will follow."

The store is close by; returning to camp to report would waste time, and all this is still speculation."

Better to go investigate first—if my suspicions are correct, we can split up and act accordingly."

The three agreed; they rose and headed for Hongfeng Rice Store. The streets were empty—curfew had just been enforced, no pedestrians in sight.

They turned one corner, walked a few dozen paces, and ahead lay Hongfeng Rice Store.

The street on both sides was lined with shops, all dark after curfew—except Hongfeng Rice Store, which glowed with a faint, eerie light.

Guo Guo Zhigui and the other two moved to the shadowed eaves across the street, crouched low, watching the store's movements.

From the north, battle cries still thundered; faintly, they heard clashing blades, screams, and cries of pain.

Guo Guo Zhigui had scaled the walls many times to fight the enemy—he recognized the sounds: the Mongols were pressing hard.

Over the grain depot, the sky still glowed red, though dimmer now—the fire had not yet been extinguished.

Grain is highly flammable and burns fast; even if the fire were contained, at least three or four tenths of the stock would be lost.

For Qiu Xuanfu Garrison, already suffering from grain shortages, this was a crushing blow—and a devastating blow to morale.

Guo Guo Zhigui's heart weighed heavy; he forced his mind to calm, fixing his gaze on Hongfeng Rice Store—there was nothing to do but take one step at a time.

…

Moments later, the store's shutters opened—five or six soldiers emerged, each armed with waist sabers, glancing around furtively.

Above, a crescent moon cast dim, murky light, casting shifting shadows.

But Guo Guo Zhigui, under the faint moonlight, recognized one man as slightly stout, with a black mole on his left cheek—it was clearly Zeng Zeng Daquan, the rice store owner.

His face bore no longer the eager, shrewd merchant's smile—it was now cautious, composed, as if he'd become someone else.

Zeng Zeng Daquan glanced left and right, then led the men southward, unaware of the three hidden figures watching from the dark across the street.

Hou Liang whispered, "Captain was right—Zeng Zeng Daquan is definitely involved. A rice merchant, dressed as a soldier in the middle of the night—what's his game?"

Guo Guo Zhigui said, "The Mongols are attacking at night, the grain depot is burning, the city is on the brink."

Zeng Zeng Daquan is no ordinary man. If he leads these men to incite chaos, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Xu Fuhui, return to camp immediately—alert the deputy commander, have him gather men and rush to the south wall—prepare for trouble."

I and Hou Liang will follow them—if anything happens, we'll be ready to respond."

…

The three split up; Xu Xu Fuhui hurried back to camp, eager to summon reinforcements as quickly as possible.

Zeng Zeng Daquan had taken five or six men out of the store—but how many more might he have? No one knew.

Compared to the two, Guo Guo Zhigui and Hou Liang were outnumbered; Xu Xu Fuhui dared not delay.

He had walked only a short distance when he saw dozens of men approaching, marching in formation, swords at their sides, dressed in Zhou Army uniforms.

They were a city patrol unit—their leader was a familiar face: Patrol Captain Chen Chen Sanhe.

Seeing Xu Xu Fuhui appear suddenly, they surged forward, surrounding him.

Chen Chen Sanhe looked surprised. "I remember you're under Captain Guo's command. The Mongols are launching a night assault."

Curfew has been ordered—why are you violating military orders, wandering the streets at night?"

Xu Xu Fuhui opened his mouth to explain, then remembered Chen Chen Sanhe was Zeng Zeng Daquan's cousin—his words died in his throat.

He said, "Captain Chen, I delivered conscripted grain before sunset and stopped at an eatery for a drink. I didn't expect curfew to be enforced early, so I was delayed."

I heard battle cries from the north—clearly the Mongols are attacking—so I was rushing back to camp, not defying orders. Please, Captain Chen, let me pass."

Chen Chen Sanhe spoke coldly. "Tonight, the Mongols attacked the north gate, and spies set fire to the grain depot—the city is in crisis."

The Commander ordered us to patrol the streets to prevent sabotage, and to transfer troops from the south wall to reinforce the north."

I recall you, Captain Guo, and another man are inseparable—always together. Why are you alone tonight?"

Xu Xu Fuhui sensed danger in Chen Chen Sanhe's tone. "I was alone tonight—I didn't go with Captain Guo."

Chen Chen Sanhe's expression turned icy. "The city is in turmoil. You violated curfew and wandered alone—your behavior is suspicious."

Take him into custody! We'll deal with him once we return to camp!"