Chapter 66: Night Raid on the Camp

After patrolling the defensive line, the time had reached the second watch. Just as Li Mu was about to sleep, he suddenly caught the scent of roasted meat.

To fortify the city, all houses near the walls had been requisitioned and turned into temporary military camps.

At this hour, the army kitchen had long been extinguished—where could this meat aroma come from?

Realizing something was wrong, Li Mu abandoned rest and swiftly appeared on the city wall.

As he suspected, the aroma indeed came from the rebel camp.

The lure of meat was one of the most common tactics in ancient siege warfare.

When the city was short on grain, this method most effectively shattered the defenders’ morale.

Understanding the enemy’s scheme, Li Mu sneered.

The rebels outside the city had clearly studied military texts—but their execution was still woefully inadequate.

The army of Great Yu was poor; soldiers often went hungry—but not all armies were destitute.

The Five City Military Commission, which funded itself, was among the wealthiest units in the army.

The confiscated funds seized earlier were still piled up in the Yangzhou treasury, not yet transported to the capital.

All expenses were drawn from the treasury; there was no need to pinch pennies for the court at the expense of one’s own men.

The garrison’s rations and pay were fully issued by the Marquis of Wuyang.

The soldiers’ food rations were even issued at the highest standard.

Even though soldiers died daily, the units’ supply allocations were not reduced due to casualties.

The rebels had no navy; the other side of the river remained imperial territory—this siege of Yangzhou was a joke.

The real power holders in the army were all outstanding scions of noble families; their vision wasn’t so narrow as to cut rations from frontline troops.

With soldiers well-fed, this psychological warfare had lost most of its effect.

Yet from the soldiers’ swallowing expressions, it was clear they were craving meat.

In a feudal dynasty, supplying meat for thirty thousand troops was simply too difficult.

Even with ample funds, the garrison could only obtain fish as meat.

After pacing along the wall for a few steps, Li Mu sensed something was still off.

The number of rebels outside vastly outnumbered the defenders.

Supplying meat for hundreds of thousands of troops was beyond the rebels’ capacity.

“You few, sniff—does this scent seem odd?”

At Li Mu’s reminder, the guarding officers instantly sensed something wrong.

“Sir, this isn’t the smell of beef, mutton, pork, or even fish!”

Once eliminated, the answer became obvious.

“Immediately expose the rebels’ atrocities to the troops!”

Li Mu gave the order without hesitation.

He never imagined the rebels could be so brutal.

They could stoop to eating human flesh—crossing the very line of morality.

He truly couldn’t understand: why would powerful clans, with greater Jianshi , commit such foolish acts?

The soldiers’ expressions of unified fury made it clear: they were enraged by the rebels’ violation of ethical norms.

Such a commotion could not be kept secret.

Those coerced into joining the rebels would surely turn against them.

Too bad Li Mu wasn’t the commander—if he were, tonight would be the perfect moment to break the enemy.

The rebel camp now was dry tinder soaked in oil; a single spark could ignite it.

“Commander Battalion Commander, the rebel camp is stirring—it seems something has happened!”

Deng Company Commander said, his voice trembling with excitement.

Gazing toward the enemy camp, Li Mu faintly heard shouting mixed with the sounds of fighting.

But the darkness was too thick to make out what was happening.

“Select five hundred brave men, prepare for a night raid on the enemy camp!”

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

If the raid succeeds, each man gets twenty taels.

For those who die, fifty taels of compensation will be paid, and the court will support their families.

Those who achieve great merit—I personally guarantee them a future!”

Li Mu said grimly.

The bold eat their fill; the timid starve.

The opportunity has come right to our door—there’s no reason to let it slip away.

…

“What’s going on outside? Why all this noise?”

Huang Renlong asked irritably.

Since the failed assault, everything had gone wrong for him.

Many problems hidden beneath earlier victories had now surfaced.

Solving them had drained him utterly.

“General, it seems the argument broke out over meat.”

The personal guard’s answer made Huang Renlong frown.

In an instant, he felt Zong Guangtai was cursed—every suggestion from this Zong Master ended in disaster.

Passing off human flesh as pork required strict secrecy.

If word leaked, panic would spread through the ranks.

Especially among the expendable troops lacking loyalty—they could mutiny at any moment.

Such matters could only be entrusted to a few trusted men.

So much meat had been cooked but not distributed.

This sparked widespread resentment—and now this farce had erupted.

“Issue orders: all units return to their camps immediately. Anyone who leaves without permission—”

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

Not only his own troops wanted meat—friends from allied forces had also been drawn in.

The trusted men assigned to guard the site couldn’t stop them—they stormed in.

These men didn’t hesitate; they grabbed the meat and started eating—only to realize something was wrong once it was in their mouths.

When the truth was revealed, aside from a few twisted individuals who ate more eagerly, most couldn’t help vomiting.

Instantly, curses filled the air; countless voices were hurling insults at Huang Renlong’s entire family.

If he stepped out now, he might get beaten—or worse, lose his life.

The rebel army wasn’t united; there were more than a few allies who wanted him dead.

“What are you standing there for? Go find Master Zong immediately!”

“He came up with the idea—he must handle the fallout!”

Huang Renlong barked at his guards.

In this crisis, his mind was perfectly clear.

The rebel army was in an uproar; the priority now was calming morale.

Let the other guy die, not me.

Someone had to carry this black mark—and it couldn’t be him. That left only the one who proposed the idea: Master Zong.

…

As the rebel camp descended into chaos, Li Mu personally saw off the death squad.

After drinking a cup of farewell wine, he said not a single sentimental word.

“Zhou Platoon Leader, I entrust them to you—do your best to bring them all back alive!”

Li Mu said, his heart heavy.

Infantry weren’t cavalry; whether the night raid succeeded or not, these soldiers had little chance of survival.

“Commander Battalion Commander, rest assured—I, Zhou Chuanfa, will give this mission my all!”

Zhou Chuanfa declared boldly.

Without family connections, he had won his position as Platoon Leader through sheer grit in investigations and battles.

In the Five City Military Commission, this position was the ceiling for an ordinary man.

Normally, he would serve as Platoon Leader until retirement—or be pushed out by some well-connected man and sent home early.

But Zhou Chuanfa refused to live a meaningless life; he wanted to secure a future for his descendants, so he volunteered for the death squad.

“Good!”

“I promise you—if you return, you’ll be Zhou Company Commander!”

Li Mu made the pledge on the spot.

The value of his word showed itself in moments like this.

He had no authority over Company Commander appointments in the Five City Military Commission—but Zhou Chuanfa still believed he could deliver.

One after another, baskets appeared along the wall; soldiers descended in orderly fashion, lowered slowly along the ramparts.

(End of chapter)