Chapter 66: Night Raid on the Camp

After patrolling the defensive line, the time had already reached the second watch. Li Mu, who was just preparing to sleep, suddenly smelled a scent of meat.

For the sake of defending the city, all houses near the city walls had been requisitioned and designated as temporary military camps.

At this hour, the camp kitchens had long since extinguished their fires; where could the scent of meat be coming from?

Realizing something was wrong, Li Mu could not afford to rest and quickly appeared on the city wall.

Everything was as he had expected; the aroma was indeed coming from the rebel camp.

The temptation of meat was one of the most common methods used in ancient sieges.

When food was scarce in the city, this method was the most effective at breaking the defenders' fighting spirit.

Having seen through the enemy's conspiracy, Li Mu smiled disdainfully.

The rebels outside the city being able to do this meant they must have read military books, but they were still far from applying them well.

The Great Dayu's army was poor, and soldiers often went hungry, but that did not mean all troops were paupers.

The Wucheng Infantry Division, which raised its own funds, was the wealthy household of the army.

The illicit money seized earlier was currently piled up in the Yangzhou prefectural treasury, not yet transported to the capital.

All expenses were paid from the treasury; there was no need to save money for the imperial court at the expense of their own people.

The Marquis of Wuyang issued the defenders' rations in full.

The soldiers' rations were issued according to the highest standards.

Even though soldiers died in battle every day, the supplies received by each unit were not reduced due to the decrease in personnel.

The rebel army had no navy, and the other side of the river was still imperial territory; besieging Yangzhou City was a joke.

The powerful generals in the army were all outstanding descendants of the nobility; their vision was not so short-sighted as to deduct the rations of the soldiers fighting.

Since the soldiers could fill their stomachs, this psychological warfare tactic lost most of its effect.

However, from the expressions of the soldiers swallowing their saliva, it was clear that everyone was craving meat.

In a feudal dynasty, guaranteeing the meat supply for an army of thirty thousand was simply too difficult.

Even with sufficient funds, the only meat the defenders could obtain was fish.

After pacing a few steps on the city wall, Li Mu realized something else was wrong.

The number of rebels outside the city was far greater than the defenders.

The rebels simply did not have the capability to supply meat for an army of hundreds of thousands.

"You guys, take a sniff; doesn't this aroma smell a bit off?"

After Li Mu's reminder, the several officers on duty instantly noticed something wrong.

"My Lord, this is not the aroma of beef, mutton, or pork, and it couldn't be fish either!"

Once the elimination method was applied, the answer was immediately obvious.

"Immediately expose the rebels' atrocities to the soldiers!"

Li Mu ordered decisively.

He never dreamed that the rebels would be so brutal.

Eating human flesh was something that challenged the bottom line of morality, and they were actually able to do it.

He truly could not understand; with noble families rebelling, their insight should be higher than ordinary rebels, so why were they doing such stupid things?

Seeing the expressions of the defending soldiers sharing a common hatred, it was clear that everyone was thoroughly enraged by the rebels' atrocity of challenging ethical morality.

Creating such a big commotion meant it was impossible to keep it secret.

Those who had been coerced into the rebel army would certainly become alienated from them.

It was a pity Li Mu was not the Regional Commander; otherwise, tonight would be the best time to defeat the enemy.

The current rebel camp was like firewood doused in oil. It only needed a spark to ignite them.

"Battalion Commander, there is movement in the rebel camp; it seems like something has happened!"

Battalion Commander Deng said with an excited expression.

Looking in the direction of the enemy camp, Li Mu faintly heard arguments mixed with the sounds of fighting.

Unfortunately, the light was too dim to see exactly what was happening.

"Select five hundred brave warriors and prepare for a night raid on the enemy camp!

Tell them that all participants will be rewarded with ten taels of silver.

If the raid is successful, each person will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver.

For those who die in battle, each will be issued a fifty-tael pension, and the imperial court will provide preferential care for their families.

Those who perform great deeds, I will personally guarantee them a future!"

Li Mu said, hardening his heart.

The bold die of overeating, the timid die of starvation.

The opportunity for battle had been delivered to his doorstep; there was no reason to let it pass.

……

"What is happening outside, why is it so noisy?"

Huang Renlong asked unhappily.

After the siege failed, everything had been going wrong for him.

Many problems in the army that had been covered up by victory were gradually emerging.

To solve these problems, he was exhausted.

"General, it seems to be an argument over meat."

The personal guard's answer made Huang Renlong frown.

In an instant, he felt that Zong Guangtai had been cursed by the god of bad luck recently; every suggestion this Mr. Zong gave would result in accidents during execution.

Using human flesh to impersonate pork had to be kept strictly secret.

Once the news leaked, the army would definitely be in a state of panic.

Especially those cannon fodder troops who lacked a sense of belonging; they could mutiny at any time.

Such things could only be entrusted to a few trusted aides.

They had stewed so much meat but didn't distribute it to everyone to eat.

This caused dissatisfaction among the vast number of soldiers, leading to the current farce.

"Pass the order down, command all units to return to their respective camps; those who leave the camp without authorization..."

Before the order was finished, the situation outside changed again.

Besides the troops of his own unit who wanted to eat meat, people from the allies were also attracted.

The trusted aides he had arranged couldn't stop them, and people broke in.

These people were not polite either; they grabbed their utensils and started eating, only to realize something was wrong once the meat was in their mouths.

The truth was exposed; except for a few perverts who ate even more happily, most couldn't help but vomit.

For a time, curses filled the entire place, and countless people were greeting Huang Renlong's entire family.

If he went out now, at best he would get a beating, at worst he would lose his life.

The rebel army was not a monolith; there were definitely more than one or two allies who wanted his life.

"What are you standing there for? Quickly find Mr. Zong.

It was his idea, he must be responsible for the aftermath!"

Huang Renlong scolded his personal guard.

In a crisis, his mind was very clear.

The rebel army was in an uproar, and the top priority was to appease military morale.

Let the friend die, not the self.

This black pot had to be carried by someone; it couldn't be him, so it could only be the Mr. Zong who proposed the suggestion.

……

Just as the rebel camp fell into chaos, Li Mu personally saw off the brave warriors.

Drinking a bowl of parting wine, he didn't say a single word of those sentimental things this time.

"Squad Leader Zhou, I entrust these men to you; bring everyone back alive if possible!"

Li Mu said with a heavy heart.

Infantry were not cavalry; regardless of whether tonight's sneak attack was successful, it would be difficult for these soldiers to come back alive.

"Don't worry, Battalion Commander, I, Zhou Chuanfa, will definitely give it my all on this trip!"

Zhou Chuanfa said heroically.

Without connections or background, his position as a squad leader was fought for in the midst of investigating cases.

In the Wucheng Infantry Division, this position was the ceiling for ordinary people.

Under normal circumstances, he would work as a squad leader until retirement, or be squeezed out of his position by some well-connected person halfway through and go home early to retire.

But Zhou Chuanfa was not reconciled to living such a mediocre life; wanting to fight for a future for his descendants, he signed up for the death squad.

"Good!

I hope that when you return, you will be Company Commander Zhou!"

Li Mu promised on the spot.

The effect of having a good reputation was reflected at such a time.

He had no say in the appointment of company commanders in the Wucheng Infantry Division, yet Zhou Chuanfa still believed he could fulfill his promise.

Rows of hanging baskets appeared on the city walls, and the soldiers boarded them in an orderly fashion, slowly descending along the city walls.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 67 =====