Chapter 118: Information Cut Off

Kasim stared at the distant granary stacks blazing fiercely, thick smoke blotting out the sky, the air reeking of burnt scent.

He drew a deep breath, his brows furrowed.

These villagers, usually meek and obedient, how could they suddenly act like mad dogs?

"Something's off," Kasim thought to himself.

"Someone's definitely up to something in here."

He abruptly turned around.

"Go, arrest the heads of the nearby villages for me!"

He barked the order.

Soon, several village heads in tattered clothes, faces full of fear, were brought forward.

Kasim sat in the makeshift tent, coldly observing them.

"Have there been any strangers in the villages lately?"

The village heads exchanged glances, trembling all over from fright.

One of the slightly older village heads shakily spoke:

"Rep... replying, sir, indeed... a few outsiders have come recently..."

Kasim's eyes narrowed.

"Speak! Who are they? What are they here for?"

The old village head, terrified to the point of nearly wetting himself, stammered out everything about Zhang San and the others.

Naturally, he concealed the fact that Zhang San and the others had incited the villagers to rebel, saying they merely came to seek refuge with relatives.

Kasim, a veteran general seasoned in battle, how could such a petty trick escape his eyes?

He let out a cold laugh.

"Seeking refuge with relatives? I'd say they came to fan the flames!"

He immediately ordered the arrest of Zhang San and the others.

In the interrogation room, Kasim looked down at Zhang San, bound to a wooden post, a cruel smile on his face.

"Talk, who sent you? What is your purpose?"

Zhang San clenched his teeth, uttering not a word.

The whip came down with a howl, the sound of tearing flesh echoing in the room; Zhang San's skin split and flesh gushed, blood pouring forth.

"Won't talk? Then let you taste something harsher!"

Kasim's eyes flashed with viciousness, signaling his subordinates to press a red-hot branding iron onto Zhang San's chest.

The intense pain made Zhang San unleash a heart-rending scream, yet he kept his mouth shut, not uttering a single word.

The other few "villagers" likewise endured brutal torture, but they, as if pre‑agreed, chose death over submission.

These men were as tight‑lipped as stone, impossible to pry open.

Kasim faintly sensed that behind these people lay a greater conspiracy.

At the same time, Jiang Xiaomu's brows knitted ever tighter.

He had not received any word from Zhang San and the others for three days, and a grim foreboding rose in his heart.

"Could they have met with mishap?"

Jiang Xiaomu thought to himself.

Less than two days remained of the seven‑day deadline set by the Bosi envoy; if he still got no intelligence, his plan would be utterly ruined.

At that moment Ye Ying entered holding a slip of paper, speaking without expression:

"The Ghost Servant brings news……Zhang San and the others……all have fallen."

Jiang Xiaomu's hand gripping the tea cup clenched tightly, scalding tea splashing out.

"The whole force wiped out?"

Ye Ying nodded and said:

"Yes."

"According to the Ghost Servant's report, a commander named Kasim in the Bosi army seems to have noticed our intentions."

"They have all been captured and subjected to harsh torture……"

"All intelligence personnel, not one… survived."

Jiang Xiaomu closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

"Go check on Zhang San and the others' families, see if any relatives remain, and send them bereavement compensation!"

"Kasim……"

Jiang Xiaomu whispered the name, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"It seems the Bosi forces aren't all just wine sacks and rice bags."

He flung his eyes open, sharp light radiating from his pupils.

"Since they lack benevolence, don't blame us for lacking righteousness!"

He rose abruptly and walked to the hanging map.

His gaze, torch‑like, swept over the Bosi forces' encampments on the map, his finger pressing hard on the spot marking their camp.

"The Bosi army's supplies are cut, morale low—now is the perfect moment for our counterattack!"

"Pass the order down, gather all the commanders, and discuss the raid plan through the night!"

Xiong Kuohai and the other commanders hurried over, their armor clinking crisply, shattering the night's stillness.

"Sir, summoning us this late—is there some urgent military matter?"

Xiong Kuohai asked in a deep, resonant voice.

Jiang Xiaomu didn't waste any words, and directly got to the point:

"I have received reliable news that the Persian army's grain and forage supply is facing serious problems."

"Morale is low, and their combat strength is far inferior to before."

"I have decided to launch a night raid on the Persian camp, catching them completely off guard!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals were startled.

"Sir, a night raid on the Persian camp is extremely risky!"

A thin-built general said worriedly:

"Although the Persian army lacks supplies, their troops still far outnumber ours; if we walk into an ambush..."

"What's there to fear!"

Xiong Kuohai interrupted him in a loud, rough voice.

"If you're afraid of dying, don't be a soldier! The lord is wise and mighty, his plans are sound; follow him and you'll surely be right!"

Jiang Xiaomu waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down, then pointed at the map and said in a low voice:

"I have ascertained that the Persian camp's defenses are lax."

"Moreover, they would never dream that we would choose this moment to launch a raid."

"As long as we act swiftly and unexpectedly, we will surely succeed in one strike!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"In this battle, only victory is allowed, no defeat!"

The generals replied in unison: "Yes!"

Jiang Xiaomu immediately began deploying the battle plan, dividing the raiding force into three routes.

Each led by the Ghost Mask Commander, Ye Ying, and himself, they would attack the Persian camp simultaneously from three directions.

"'Donghai, Bai Tou, Wen Zheng, Sha Zhi, your mission is to launch a strong frontal assault to draw the Persian main force.'"

"'Ye Ying and Huoshu, you will lead elite troops to infiltrate the Persian camp and destroy their grain and forage supply.'"

"'At that time, I will lead a detachment of elite cavalry straight to seize the tent of the Persian Commander Aqizi.'"

Once the plan was finalized, the generals immediately went to prepare.

Inside the Persian camp, all was deathly silent.

The soldiers were already exhausted, gathering in small groups, quietly complaining about the shortage of food.

"When will this damned war ever end?"

A young soldier complained:

"I haven't had a full meal in several days."

"\"Who says it isn't? \" another soldier agreed."

"I heard our supplies were burned by those damned villagers; what are we to do now?"

"Don't say that, lest the officers hear!"

An old soldier reminded.

Just then, a mournful horn blast tore through the night sky, shattering the camp's tranquility.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Accompanied by earth-shaking battle cries, the troops led by Donghai, Bai Tou, and others surged forward like a ferocious tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable

They crashed into the Persian camp.

The Persian soldiers panicked and fled in all directions; the entire camp instantly descended into chaos.

Jiang Xiaomu curled his lips in a cold smile; the good show had just begun, and next he would give the Persian army a big gift.