Chapter 538: with translation of chapter title

Huainan, Jiangyin military territory.

The temporary camp of Yue Fei's troops, compared to when Shi Dun first arrived, appeared more orderly, yet it could not conceal a repressed atmosphere.

Food stores in the camp were nearly exhausted, and the low moans of the wounded in the infirmary, lacking doctors and medicine, were like invisible clouds hanging over every soldier's heart.

Even though the military discipline was as strict as that of the Yue Family Army, under the torment of hunger and wounds, morale inevitably sank somewhat.

Yue Fei stood with his hand on his sword atop a simple watchtower, brows furrowed, gazing at the vast fields beyond the camp.

Although he had temporarily blocked the Imperial Court's transfer order by citing 'the commander abroad may not receive the sovereign's command,' the pressure had not lessened.

The grain and forage problem had become a sword hanging over his head.

A few days earlier he had sent Yun'er to seek help from the Northward Aspiration army; it was truly a last resort, and he did not hold much hope.

After all, the Northward Aspiration army itself was newly formed, operating behind enemy lines; how much surplus could it have to aid others?

"Father."

Young Yue Yun hurried up the watchtower, his face showing a hint of uncontrollable excitement, and spoke in a lowered voice.

"Uncle Zhang Rong sent someone with news—the supplies… the supplies have arrived!"

"The first batch: fifty dan of grain, plus five boxes of wound medicine and anti‑fever powder!"

"The people are in the rear camp!"

Yue Fei suddenly turned, a flash of sharp light bursting in his eyes, and his tightly knit brows instantly relaxed by half.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and spoke in a deep voice.

"Go!"

"Let's go see!"

At a concealed river bend in the rear camp, several speedboats from Dongping Lake lay quietly moored.

The trusted lieutenant sent by Zhang Rong was directing the men to unload sack after sack of heavy grain and box after box of sealed medicinal materials ashore.

Those full burlap sacks and tightly sealed medicine chests, in the eyes of the Yue Family Army soldiers at this moment, were more dazzling than any gold, silver, or jewels.

Yue Fei personally inspected the grain and medicine.

The millet grains were plump, dry and golden, nothing like the stale grain from the imperial granaries.

The wound medicine had a pure aroma, its powder fine and smooth—top‑grade goods.

He extended his hand, hardened by years of gripping a spear and covered in old calluses, grasped a handful of millet, feeling its solid, full texture, and remained silent for a long time.

"Commander Yue."

Zhang Rong's lieutenant clasped his fists and said.

"Uncle Zhang sent me to say that Master Ruan Qi of the Northward Aspiration army has already safely transported the bulk of the supplies to the lakeside stockade."

"Two more batches will follow, to be sent as soon as possible via different water routes."

"Master Ruan Qi and his men will temporarily stay at the lakeside stockade to provide support."

Yue Fei drew a deep breath, slowly returning the handful of millet to the sack, as if it were something extremely precious.

He turned to the lieutenant and gave a solemn clasped‑fist salute.

"Go tell Uncle Zhang the boatman, this kindness and favor, Yue Fei keeps in his heart."

"Also please tell the friends of the Northward Aspiration army, the grace of giving charcoal in the snow, Yue will never forget it."

After seeing off Zhang Rong's men, Yue Fei immediately gave orders.

"Order all units: tonight we will eat our fill!"

"The wounded unit gets priority for medicine!"

"Tell the brothers, this is the northern allies resisting the Jin, who have tightened their belts to spare resources to help us!"

"Let them eat their fill, recover from their wounds, and then I will smash the Jin dogs hard!"

The order passed down, and the formerly silent camp, like cold water thrown into boiling oil, instantly burst into a frenzy.

Cooking smoke curled upward, and the long‑absent aroma of cooked rice spread through the camp.

In the wounded camp, military medics and orderlies busily washed wounds and decocted medicine with the newly arrived supplies, replacing despairing moans with hopeful activity.

Having eaten a full meal and received preliminary treatment, the Yue Family Army soldiers' spirits and appearance were visibly renewed.

That oppressive gloom was swept away, replaced by a sharp vigor that had long been suppressed and now demanded release.

The opportunity came soon.

Scout cavalry reported that a pseudo‑Qi Liu Yu force of about five hundred, led by a defector general named Li Cheng, was escorting a batch of grain and forage looted from nearby villages and towns, swaggering toward the flank of the Yue Family Army's defensive zone.

Evidently they had heard that Yue's forces were short of supplies and thought they could seize an easy gain.

Inside the central command tent, Yue Fei's gaze swept over his subordinate generals.

Generals Wang Gui, Zhang Xian, Xu Qing and the others all clenched their fists, eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"Commander, let's fight!"

Wang Gui said in a deep, gruff voice.

"Our brothers have eaten the grain sent from the north and used the medicine sent from the north, and they are bursting with energy!"

"It's perfect to use this ignorant pseudo‑army as a first strike, and also let our northern friends see that our Yue Family Army is no soft‑sponge that merely accepts favors."

"Right!"

"Commander, give the order!"

Zhang Xian also stepped forward to request battle.

"This pseudo‑army may not be strong in combat, but it carries a large amount of looted supplies, exactly what our army urgently needs."

"Destroying them will both strike at the enemy's morale and replenish our own forces—a double gain."

Yue Fei did not answer immediately; he walked to the simple sand table, his eyes sharp as a hawk, examining the enemy's line of march and the surrounding terrain.

This is a hilly region, with a main road running through the middle and sparsely wooded areas on either side.

Li Cheng is a man of great ambition but little talent, reckless and overconfident.

Yue Fei spoke slowly, his voice calm and powerful.

He believed our army lacked food and weapons, dared not take the initiative, so the troops grew lax in marching and guard duty.

This is a heaven-sent opportunity.

He suddenly raised his head and gave the order.

Zhang Xian, you take two hundred elite infantry, bring extra crossbows, and ambush in advance on the wooded high ground to the left of the official road.

Xu Qing, you take one hundred fifty cavalry and hide behind the hills to the right.

Wang Gui, you lead one hundred men as bait, at the front pass put on a defensive posture, make slight contact then feign defeat and retreat, luring the enemy into the ambush.

I will personally lead the central corps to press the formation.

Remember, the key to this battle is speed, ruthlessness, and precision!

You must annihilate them completely, let no one escape, and seize all supplies intact and return them to me!

Received! the generals shouted in assent, their killing intent soaring.

The battle unfolded almost exactly according to Yue Fei's plan.

Wang Gui's bait unit successfully drew the attention of Li Cheng's forces.

Li Cheng saw the Yue Family Army's disorderly appearance and imminent collapse, rejoiced exceedingly, and without hesitation led his troops in pursuit, charging straight into the narrow official road ambush.

The next moment, with the sound of clappers from both sides, arrows rained down like locusts!

Zhang Xian's ambush forces, positioned on high ground, unleashed a volley of crossbows, instantly sending the enemy troops sprawling.

Immediately after, Xu Qing's cavalry surged out from behind the hills on the flank like a whirlwind, hooves trampling, blades flashing, instantly cutting the disordered enemy into segments.

Li Cheng never expected the seemingly dying Yue Family Army to unleash such formidable combat power, and having fallen into the ambush, their command collapsed at once.

The enemy troops were mostly a rabble; hit by this surprise attack, they collapsed and scattered in an instant.

The battle was without suspense.

In less than half an hour, the five hundred enemy troops were wiped out; Li Cheng was unhorsed by a spear thrust from Xu Qing amidst the chaos and captured alive.

The grain, fodder, cloth, and even a small amount of military equipment being transported all became spoils of the Yue Family Army.

When the Yue Family Army returned laden with spoils, escorting prisoners and carrying captured goods back to the main camp, the whole army erupted in cheers.

This battle not only seized a large amount of urgently needed supplies, but more importantly, it vented long-held frustration, proving that even in adversity, the Yue Family Army remains a force capable of fighting, daring to fight, and skilled at fighting—an iron army!

The news spread like wings, quickly reaching every corner of Huai South.

The Yue Family Army, with few against many, utterly destroyed the false Qi Li Cheng forces!

Yue Fei's troops are not merely waiting to die in desperation; they still possess thunderous might!

In a short time, Yue Fei's reputation rose suddenly amid the chaotic anti-Jin forces of Huai South.

Originally, some local righteous militias and small units that had been holding back began to send envoys to contact us, expressing their intention to submit or cooperate.

Far to the north lies the Black Cloud Stronghold.

Almost at the same moment the Yue Family Army's victory report spread, Chen Wen clearly felt that the Growth Progress Bar within him, already full, surged forward by the final sliver, reaching perfect completion.

A sense of inevitability, like water reaching its channel and melons falling from the vine, welled up in his heart.

He stood on the stronghold wall, gazing far south, a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

He could 'see' that the sharp halo of light in the south, originally shrouded in gloom, suddenly blazed forth, its radiance piercing the mist like a newly rising star, steadfastly shining in the southern sky.

It's done……

Chen Wen murmured to himself, his eyes bright.

This seed has at last lived up to expectations and begun to sprout.

So then, I too must…… take that step.