Chapter 535

The excitement from the great victory at Eagle Beak Valley had not yet fully subsided, when a secret letter from the south, sent via Qian Gui's subordinates' secret channel in utmost urgency, was delivered into Chen Wen's hands.

The letter was written by Shi Dun's own hand, the script somewhat messy, clearly written under extreme urgency.

The letter detailed their second contact with Yue Fei's forces.

After the initial night meeting, where identities and intentions were revealed, Shi Dun did not rush for results but followed Chen Wen's instruction to "leave good ties and focus on observation," leading his squad to operate around the Jiangyin Army, gathering intelligence while quietly monitoring the Yue family army's movements.

However, Yue Fei's situation was even more difficult than they had previously understood.

After the False Song court fled south, its attitude toward the various northern units that had scattered was ambiguous.

It hoped these troops could resist the Jin army's spearhead, buying time for its precarious foothold, yet it greatly feared these commanders holding military power would grow strong, and was even unwilling to provide them sufficient rations, lest they raise a tiger to their own detriment.

Yue Fei's forces are a typical example.

Relying on his personal prestige and strict military discipline, he gathered several thousand scattered soldiers and deserters, barely managing to hold a foothold in the Jiangyin area.

However, the court's official supplies were intermittent, and the quantity far insufficient to sustain the troops' expenses.

Most of the time, they had to rely on Yue Fei raising funds himself, or on limited aid from local civilians.

"Commander Yue's forces currently have about three thousand combat troops and over a thousand support troops."

"Yet grain and fodder are short, weapons and equipment are old and worn, medicinal herbs are severely lacking, and many soldiers look gaunt."

"Recently, small units of Jin cavalry and Jin-defecting puppet forces have continually harassed its outskirts; although repelled by Yue's troops, the drain is great, leaving them exhausted from coping."

"It seems the False Song court has issued an order to transfer Yue's forces elsewhere, nominally a reorganization but actually intended to fragment and dissolve his army; Commander Yue is doing his utmost to maneuver, his situation remains dire."

At the end of the letter, Shi Dun's brush turned, writing down the most crucial information:

"Recently, a young officer under Commander Yue named Yue Yun came to the place where our subordinates are temporarily staying."

"He spoke earnestly, saying that although his father cannot openly meet with us, he deeply knows that the Northward Aspiration Army are true allies in resisting the Jin."

"Now the army's grain and fodder are about to run out, the wounded lack medicine and medical care, making it hard to sustain."

"Therefore, I rashly sent his son to ask... to ask the Northward Aspiration Army, out of shared enmity against a common enemy, whether we could temporarily lend some grain and fodder, medicinal herbs, to relieve the urgent need."

"Yue Yun said this is his father's tacit approval, and also the hope of his troops."

After reading the secret letter, Chen Wen slowly placed the paper on the table and remained silent for a long time.

In the central command tent, Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Chao Gai and others were present, their gazes all focused on Chen Wen, awaiting his decision.

"Borrow grain? Borrow medicine?"

Chao Gai was the first to shout.

"We ourselves could barely keep the pot boiling a few days ago! With difficulty we got a bit from Li Family Village, seized some at Eagle Beak Valley, and only then could we catch our breath!"

"Where would we have spare grain to help others?"

Lin Chong frowned tightly, his tone steady:

"What the Heavenly King says is also true."

"Our army's grain and fodder have seen some relief, but they are not abundant; we still need to budget carefully."

"Moreover, transporting southward involves a long distance, requiring passage through Jin-controlled and False Song-controlled areas, with enormous risk."

"If anything is lost, both men and supplies will be gone."

Wu Yong swayed his palm-leaf fan, pondering:

"This matter needs long-term planning."

"Yue Fei's request for help shows he is at the end of his rope, and also indicates that his trust in us exceeds the ordinary."

"This is a good opportunity to deepen relations."

"But, as Infantry Commander Lin said, the risks and costs of aid cannot be ignored."

The tent fell into silence.

Aiding Yue Fei means using the Northward Aspiration Army's own precious reserves and bearing enormous transport risk.

But the benefits are equally clear:

This will greatly strengthen our ties with Yue Fei, a potential powerful ally; sending charcoal in the snow far outweighs adding icing on the cake.

If we can help Yue Fei survive this crisis, allowing his forces to be preserved and developed, in the future in the south the Northward Aspiration Army will have a steadfast and powerful responding force.

This aligns with the Northward Aspiration Army's long-term strategy of "liaising with the south, restraining the enemy."

More importantly, through Shi Yong, Chen Wen can clearly "see" that the sharp halo belonging to Yue Fei in the south is currently being entwined by a dim aura representing "scarcity" and "crisis", making its light appear somewhat wavering.

If left unattended, that halo is likely to dim, even extinguish.

That is a result he, and the Northward Aspiration Army, absolutely do not wish to see.

Chen Wen's fingers unconsciously tapped on the tabletop.

He could feel that the nearly complete Growth Progress Bar within his body seemed to quiver slightly due to this difficult strategic decision.

Every major, far-reaching decision drives its growth.

Finally, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable force:

"Grain, we shall borrow."

"Medicine, we shall also give."

Chao Gai opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Chen Wen's gaze, he swallowed his words back.

"Why?"

Lin Chong asked in a low voice, he needed to understand the full logic behind the decision.

"There are three reasons."

Chen Wen explained clearly and orderly.

"First, when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold."

"If Yue Fei's forces scatter due to lack of grain and medicine, then the False Song court in Huainan will have hardly any usable force to resist the Jin."

"The Jin army's southward advance will become even more unchecked; at that time, the pressure our Northward Aspiration Army bears in the north will double."

Keeping Yue Fei safe will reduce my future pressure.

Second, invest in the future.

Yue Pengju is certainly no ordinary person.

Today we aid him in his peril; he will surely repay us richly.

This is not charity, but mutual aid among like-minded comrades.

A strong southern ally's strategic value far outweighs these immediate supplies of grain, fodder, and medicine.

Third, put our ideals into practice.

Our Northward Aspiration Army raises its banner, placing utmost importance on "Resist the Jin, Protect the People".

Yue Fei's troops also resist the Jin, sheltering the local populace.

Seeing like-minded comrades in danger and not helping goes against our principles and would dampen the spirits of all who resist the Jin.

He paused, then looked at Lin Chong and Wu Yong.

Of course, aid must have limits, and we must also pay attention to method.

We can take 200 dan of newly obtained grain and fodder from Eagle's Beak Valley, gather all surplus trauma and fever medicines from the camp, have Ruan Xiaoqi lead a team to select brothers familiar with waterways and agile, disguise them as a merchant convoy, and transport them in batches covertly.

The route must be replanned, must avoid the key defensive areas of the Jin army and False Song; better to detour than to risk instability.

At the same time, notify Shi Dun to coordinate reception and inform Yue Fei that this is the camaraderie of like-minded comrades from the Northward Aspiration Army; hope he uses it well, rallies his troops, and jointly resist foreign invasion.

The orders are clear and explicit, showing decisiveness while considering real difficulties and operational details.

Lin Chong and Wu Yong exchanged a glance, each seeing conviction in the other's eyes.

Chen Wen's considerations have surpassed simple gain-loss calculations, rising to the level of strategy and morality.

Understood, I'll see to it right away!

Lin Chong clasped his fist in acceptance of the order.

I will now devise the detailed transport route and reception plan.

Wu Yong also rose and spoke.

Chao Gai scratched his head, feeling a bit of a pinch, yet spoke in a deep, rough voice:

Since Mr. Chen and you all say that, then old Chao I have nothing more to say!

When the time comes, let Ruan Xiaoqi be careful; don't let him lose the possessions we've hard-earned.

The decision has been made.

The Northward Aspiration Army's war machine roars to life again, but this time the aim is not to conquer cities and seize territory; rather, to reach out to a distant southern commander, a stranger yet like-minded comrade, and extend a helping hand.

Chen Wen walked outside the tent and gazed southward.

He knows that sending these supplies over may only relieve Yue Fei's immediate need.

Yet the goodwill and alliance hopes it carries weigh as much as a thousand jin.

He also feels that, after making this difficult yet correct decision, the accumulated growth within him seems to have grown a bit heavier.

The critical breakthrough is truly just one step away.