Chapter 78: Surprise

In the courtyard, twenty-something black-clad people knelt on one knee, waiting for the master's command.

Torches crackled, illuminating Jiang Xiaomu's stern visage.

"Xiong Kuohai," Jiang Xiaomu's voice was low.

"How is the situation with the city's granaries?"

Xiong Kuohai said in a deep, muffled voice:

"Reporting, General, I have already sent people to take stock."

"There are three large granaries in the city, enough to sustain Yun Cheng's residents for three months."

"Three months..."

Jiang Xiaomu repeated it softly, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he fell into thought.

Xiong Kuohai scratched his head, saying somewhat puzzled:

"General, we brothers risk our lives—isn't it just for this gold, silver, treasure, and grain?"

"Now Yun Cheng is within easy reach, the City Lord's mansion's silver reserves."

"The city's granaries are practically ours for the taking—why..."

Jiang Xiaomu glanced at him, his eyes carrying a warning:

"Xiong Kuohai, you've followed me this long, and this is all the insight you have?"

Xiong Kuohai shrank his neck, daring not to speak again.

Jiang Xiaomu continued:

"Yunjinnian, that old fox, is incredibly crafty."

"He dares to withhold military pay because he's sure we won't act rashly."

"Now that we control the granaries, it's tantamount to strangling his lifeline."

"To preserve his power and influence, he will surely comply obediently."

"But General, if we only take the money and grain without seizing the city, aren't we letting that old fox off easy?"

Xiong Kuohai still felt somewhat unwilling.

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold laugh and said:

"Who said we aren't taking the city? It's just that there are many ways to capture a city—not only a direct assault."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone icy:

"What have the people of Yun Cheng done to deserve this? If we were to empty the granaries completely,"

"wouldn't they starve to death? I, Jiang Xiaomu, could never do such a thing!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, never expecting Jiang Xiaomu to say such words.

In their view, amid chaotic times, human lives are as worthless as weeds; killing a few for survival is nothing.

Jiang Xiaomu looked at the crowd's puzzled expressions and inwardly sighed.

Years of warfare have long made these people cold-blooded and numb; what do they know of benevolence and righteousness?

He spoke in a deep voice:

"My mind is made up—I will take only half the grain and forage, leaving the rest for the city's residents."

"Moreover, we will take only half of the City Lord's mansion's silver reserves, leaving the rest as a lesson for Yunjinnian."

Xiong Kuohai couldn't help but say:

"General, this… this is far too lenient on him!"

Jiang Xiaomu gave a cold snort:

"Lenient? I want him to understand that I, Jiang Xiaomu, am not a greedy glutton!"

"I want him to know that I can not only take his life, but also give him a way to live!"

"General, your righteousness is lofty!"

The crowd shouted in unison, admiration for Jiang Xiaomu welling up in their hearts.

Jiang Xiaomu waved his hand, signaling the crowd to quiet down, then continued:

"Tonight, we will split our forces into two routes."

"Xiong Kuohai, you lead the men to the City Lord's mansion—remember, take only half the silver, and do not harm the innocent!"

"Yes!"

Xiong Kuohai received the order and departed.

Jiang Xiaomu then turned to another officer and said:

"You take the men to the granaries—likewise, take only half the grain and forage, act quickly, and try to finish before dawn!"

"As you command!" that officer also turned and left.

Outside the city, lines of torches formed a long dragon winding forward.

Xiong Kuohai rode on horseback, his face brimming with uncontainable excitement, occasionally looking back to urge the troops behind him:

"Hurry up! The General said the task must be completed before dawn!"

On the other side, the unit responsible for transporting the grain and forage was likewise proceeding in a tense, orderly manner.

Meanwhile, inside the City Lord's mansion, Yunjinnian lay asleep on the bed, snoring loudly, reeking of alcohol, lost in a blissful dream.

"Burp~" a loud alcoholic belch interrupted his sweet dream.

Yunjinnian blearily opened his eyes, rubbed his sleepy lids, and muttered:

"How… how can it be so noisy?"

He turned over, intending to keep sleeping, but suddenly felt something was off.

"Someone! Come here!"

He shouted at the top of his voice, but no one answered.

Yunjinnian struggled to sit up, staggered to the door, and flung it open.

"What's going on? Where did everyone go?"

Yunjinnian felt doubtful, and the alcohol had mostly worn off.

He stumbled to the storeroom door and shoved open the heavy door.

The sight before him instantly sobered him up, leaving him stunned.

Originally piled high like a mountain of gold, silver, and jewels, now only empty shelves remained.

"My... my silver?!"

Yunjinnian let out a piercing wail.

He rushed into the storeroom like a madman, rummaging through chests and cabinets, but found nothing.

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

He collapsed on the floor, eyes vacant, muttering to himself.

After years of painstakingly extorting the people's fat and ointment, the wealth he had amassed vanished overnight!

The massive blow nearly drove Yunjinnian to collapse.

At that moment, he noticed a note posted on the storeroom door.

He tremblingly picked up the note, and by the moonlight he could barely make out the writing:

"Yun Cheng City Lord, half the treasury silver, consider it a lesson. —Jiang Xiaomu."

"Jiang Xiaomu! You have a lot of gall!"

Yunjinnian gritted his teeth and tore the note into shreds.

Only then did he realize he had been played by Jiang Xiaomu.

He had thought Jiang Xiaomu wouldn't dare act rashly, but he never expected the other to be so bold, emptying the treasury right under his nose!

He staggered out of the storeroom, intending to find someone, but discovered the entire City Lord's manor was empty.

Only then did he realize that Jiang Xiaomu had not only emptied the treasury but also taken control of the entire City Lord's manor.

Despair, fear, anger—various emotions intertwined, nearly choking Yunjinnian.

Meanwhile, the granary outside the city had also been half-emptied by Jiang Xiaomu's troops.

Jiang Xiaomu stood on the city wall, looking down at the lantern-lit Yun Cheng, a cold smile curling his lips.

"Yun Cheng City Lord, until we meet again."

He said softly, his eyes flashing with a chilling light, then waved his hand and led his troops back to Wangjiang Cheng.

……

The next morning, Yunjinnian sat in the hall of the City Lord's manor, his face swollen with dark circles, listless.

He had not slept all night, his mind replaying everything that had happened the previous evening.

"Report!"

A soldier came running in panic, fell to his knees on the ground.

"City Lord, it's terrible! The granary... the granary has been completely looted!"

"What?!"

Yunjinnian leapt to his feet, his face turning deathly pale.

"Half... half of the grain and fodder are gone!"

The soldier trembled as he spoke.

Yunjinnian felt his vision go black, almost fainting.

The granary was looted, the treasury stolen.

He could no longer hold himself up, collapsed to the floor, eyes vacant.

Yunjinnian underestimated Jiang Xiaomu's methods, and even more his courage.

Now the city lacks sufficient troops to pursue rashly; he can only swallow his humiliation.