Chapter 17

The sunlight in the sky was bright, cloudless for ten thousand li.

Yet inside the military camp, faces were wreathed in sorrow, wailing voices everywhere.

The great fire that had lasted a night was not completely extinguished until the afternoon.

Or rather, everything that could burn had been burned clean.

Li Nong twitched his nose; a strange smell permeated the air.

It was the smell of grain burned thoroughly done, a weird odor of char mixed with the fragrance of grain.

Inspecting the camp, seeing the mess before him, even Li Nong, always famed for being immovable as a mountain, changed color at this moment.

The miserable howls of the wounded burned by the great fire made people even more irritable and distracted.

In the central army tent, the various staff of the Sikong Fu and generals of all ranks were speechless.

Grain and fodder burned — for an army on campaign, this is a calamity of monstrous proportions.

As Main General, Li Nong spoke first to ask, "How many days of grain remain in the army?"

The Jun Simma stepped forward and saluted: "Sikong, after tallying the remaining grain in the army, it can still feed the whole army for three days."

"If civilian laborers are not counted, five days."

The Supervisor of Sikong Fu stepped forward to advise: "Sikong, I have already dispatched messengers to urgently requisition stored grain from nearby prefectures and counties; it can be transported here within several days, and may support ten days' use."

"Hahaha~~~"

At such an urgent moment, Li Nong could still laugh: "That is to say, with this grain, it is enough for the great army to retreat back to Ye City."

Ye City is ancient Handan, and also the location of the Later Zhao capital.

From Guangzong County to Ye City is only several hundred li.

If they want to withdraw troops, the remainder is indeed enough for the return march.

However, returning in such a bedraggled way, how the Heavenly King of brutal temperament who kills whole clans at the drop of a hat will deal with them — that can only be left to fate.

Li Nong scratched his greasy hair: "How long would it take for Ye City to send grain over?"

The Jun Simma had long since calculated: "At least one month."

Inside the central army tent, silence fell once more.

Squeezing the locality can support half a month at most.

By the time Ye City's grain arrives, will there be any living people left in an army starved for half a month?

A Jie general with high nose and deep-set eyes stepped forward: "Sikong, those civilian laborers are also grain."

"Process them a bit, and it will suffice until Ye City's grain arrives."

The civil officials in the tent were mostly Han people.

Hearing this, they all frowned.

Li Nong neither agreed nor disagreed, waved his hand to let everyone go out.

Whether to continue fighting or set out to withdraw troops, he still could not make up his mind.

In the Modern World, Lin Dao busied himself with work for two days, received quite a lot of supplies, handled many documents, and also found time to gather with Su Tongtong and practice a foreign language for a night.

By the time he returned to Yonghe Spacetime again, it was already three days after the fire burned the connected camps.

Arriving at the city tower, he sensed an unusual atmosphere.

He asked in confusion, "What happened?"

"Zihou, you've come." Qin Lang, eyes red, came over and pointed toward the Jie camp outside the city: "Those heaven-damned beasts, they're killing people!"

Leaning on the battlements, Lin Dao looked out into the distance.

He saw groups of ragged men and women being dragged out in front of the distant camp.

High-browed, deep-eyed, even golden-haired Jie people laughed wantonly; flashing blades beheaded the bound men on the spot.

They pulled the weeping women into their arms, facing the city wall wantonly ravaging them, laughing loudly.

As if mocking the Qihuo Army: so what if you burned the grain? We have plenty of food ingredients.

The women's tragic screams and weeping, mixed with the soaring bloody stench, composed a panoramic picture of a chaotic era.

"They're all civilian laborers following the army, and Qihuo Army men and women captured earlier."

Qin Lang's expression was grief and indignation: "The Jie kill them, save rations and also can, can..."

Can also use them as food ingredients!

Lin Dao's face turned pale, his appearance wretched.

Starting from Qin Lang, he scanned the crowd on the city tower one by one, finally settling on Settlement Commander Feng Dun.

"Great Commander, why not send troops?"

"Not the time yet." Feng Dun shook his head and sighed: "The Jie don't lack grain for now; we must wait until they run out of grain, only then is..."

"The people outside the city are fewer than those inside." Lin Dao looked at him deeply: "On what grounds can we not beat them?"

Feng Dun gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "Master Lin Jia, you don't understand warfare."

"Warfare is not simply a matter of more people being useful."

Lin Dao's voice was hoarse: "I don't understand warfare; since you do, then tell me, what things are needed to win."

"Whatever you need, I can get it for you!"

These words were spoken with absolute finality.

Group after group of men and women in the distance, slaughtered and ravaged before his eyes, pierced his heart.

At this moment, Lin Dao no longer considered business.

Now his heart held only one thought: slaughter every last Jie beast!

For this, he would even not hesitate to expose his miraculous ability.

Feng Dun and the others did not believe Lin Dao's words.

Just that courtyard of his — how much could it hold?

Even if there really were things, they'd have to wait until the Qianghu withdrew before they could be transported over.

But after all, he's an extremely important guest; face still has to be given.

The Jun Simma walked over and said, "Lord Lin Jia, the military households are going to battle; they ought to eat a good meal, and the families must be left with some food — can't have them go out of the city to fight and kill while their families starve to death at home."

"Fine." Lin Dao nodded at once. "Grain, wine and meat — I'll provide."

"What else?"

The Jun Simma was obviously a bit unexpected.

He subconsciously looked at Feng Dun.

Seeing the Grand Marshal had no reaction, he could only brace himself and continue, "The army lacks armor and weapons are insufficient. Without these, a frontal clash will likely cause heavy casualties."

"Fine." Lin Dao nodded. "I'll arrange these things; what else?"

The Jun Simma had already started scratching his head.

"Fu Shu, burial money, post-war rewards, war horses."

Lin Dao ground his teeth. "Aside from war horses, the rest are all available."

His gaze swept past the Jun Simma sweating on his forehead, and landed on Feng Dun.

"Grand Marshal, with supplies gathered, can we go to battle?"

Feng Dun, pressed by words, had no choice.

"Yes!"

Back in the courtyard, Lin Dao immediately began managing affairs.

He set up the crucible mold, took out borax and the butane blowtorch, and melted the two hundred fifty gold cakes left from the previous grain sale one by one into gold bars.

He called these gold bars Big Yellow Fish; each weighed about two hundred fifty grams.

In Hai Gang Cheng's gold shops and pawnshops, one was worth around one hundred thousand.

Lin Dao was enraged.

The Qianghu's cruel brutality, the cold ruthlessness of Feng Dun and the others — all made him unable to endure.

"Let you see what Money Ability is!"

"Let you properly feel what the power of Industrial Cthulhu is!"

Returning to the Modern World, Lin Dao messaged Su Tongtong, asking her to help him request leave.

Booked the flight ticket, direct flight to Hai Gang Cheng.

Got off the plane and headed straight for the hotel.

Searched around, confirmed no surveillance cameras, Lin Dao set off for Yonghe Spacetime, bringing the melted Big Yellow Fish over.

"Theoretically, a high-end hotel shouldn't have surveillance cameras."

Sitting in the taxi, Lin Dao frowned in thought. "But nothing is absolute."

"Best to be able to buy."

Thinking of Hai Gang Cheng's world-topping housing prices, he immediately corrected himself: "Rent a house."

Two hundred-plus gold bars — seemingly worth a lot.

But in Hai Gang Cheng, that's just a large flat apartment at most.

Haicheng side, housing prices are actually about the same.

"Thought I had money." Lin Dao self-mockingly smiled. "Didn't expect I'm still a poor ghost."

"Done Time-Space Trade for so long, yet can't even afford a house."

Originally thought doing Time-Space Trade, the profit was already very high.

But thinking of housing prices, the bit of money I earned is truly an insignificant small fry.

Put on hat, mask, gloves, shouldered the heavy travel bag and got off.

When he walked into the gold shop, the clerks' gazes were also vigilant.

After all, this getup felt like a robber's.

A female clerk in a professional suit, white shirt with black knee-length skirt, wearing high heels, stepped forward. "Sir, what can I help you with?"

Lin Dao glanced at her. "Selling gold."

"This sir." The clerk gestured to the day's recycled gold price nearby. "This shop only accepts pure gold; gold-plated and jade-set jewelry are not accepted."

Lin Dao swept a glance at the price; here they buy by the tael, one tael equals about thirty-seven and a half grams.

Placed the travel bag on the chair; its heavy weight drew sidelong glances from the surrounding clerks.

When the travel bag opened, revealing the stacked gold bars inside, security here breathed a sigh of relief and retreated back to their positions.

The shop's master stepped forward, took the gold bar Lin Dao handed over.

Ran a finger across the gold bar, the master raised his head. "Sir, your gold isn't very pure."

This is the trade's professional technique, called the gold assaying art.

Lin Dao, expression calm, nodded. "Price can be negotiated."

Then there was no problem.

Price agreed, the master took the gold bars one by one, placed them on the weigher right there to weigh.

Converted by gram into total price, wrote a price list and handed it to Lin Dao.

Took the list to the adjacent window, verified and paid cash on the spot.

Came in with a bag of gold, left with a bag of cash.

No handling fee, and no taking it to the back to melt gold.

Clear pricing, on-the-spot settlement.

Lin Dao carried gold bars on his back again and again, ran to many shops, and sold off all two hundred fifty Big Yellow Fish.

He kept a small portion on hand as living expenses.

The rest, he deposited into the Company bank account.

He settled the final payment for previous orders, and placed new orders with Gen Zhe, specially marking them as Urgent Order.

Urgent Production, Urgent Transport as well.

For the Factory, as long as the money is in place, having the machines work non-stop for twenty-four hours is no problem.

As for Urgent Transport, they directly send it to you via Air Freight!

Lin Dao returned to Haicheng, squatted in the Cang Ku receiving batch after batch of materials.

After several days, Lin Dao once again arrived at Yonghe Spacetime.

He came to the Courtyard, and instructed Sun Dalang, "Go invite Qin General over."

Before long, Qin Lang hurried over, "Zihou, you haven't left the gate for several days, what have you been busy with."

Lin Dao smiled, "The Qianghu are cruel, even Old Heaven can't bear to watch."

"He sent me war supplies, these past few days I've been busy receiving them."

Qin Lang shook his head, expressing disbelief.

If Old Heaven truly opened his eyes, how could there be the endless tragedy of the Yongjia Chaos to this day.

Lin Dao's words took a turn, "I called you here, there's a matter I need your help with."

"Just give the order!"

"Go organize some manpower to come, Transport Materials."

"How Many people?"

"Thousand People is enough."

'Hiss Sound' Qin Lang's expression was exceptionally complex, "Thousand People? This many people, enough to Dismantle Courtyard and carry it away."

Lin Dao spoke in response, "Believe me, Old Heaven is helping me!"

Helping me come to this End of the World, Slaughter the Stinking Barbarians and Save the People!

End of Chapter