Chapter 1003

First Volume, Chapter 1003: Grain and Forage Hard to Sustain

Seeing Jing Ci lower her head in silence, Shen Qingci said nothing more, rising to speak softly: "Think carefully for yourself—whether to die in a glorious but meaningless way, or to endure humiliation and forge a golden age for the people."

Shen Qingci walked away; Zhang Chao, who had witnessed the entire exchange, had tried several times to urge Jing Ci to remain loyal to the Di King and never betray the Di, but each time the words died on his lips.

Because even Zhang Chao's own stance was no longer as firm as before.

If Qin Feng intended to annihilate Di and wipe out its people, Zhang Chao would fight him to his last breath—but now the issue is, Qin Feng does not intend to destroy Di, nor even to annex it.

Jing Qianying is of imperial blood, so for her to inherit the Imperial Throne poses no problem; even in the future, when Jing Qianying abdicates, she will naturally select a new Jing Imperial Clan heir.

Moreover, Qin Feng's goal is to transform Di into a wealthy yet peaceful nation, which for Zhang Chao is an infinitely beautiful future.

Zhang Chao was lost—he did not know how to face Qin Feng, so he finally handed this dilemma to Jing Ci and silently turned away, leaving Jing Ci alone in the courtyard.

Qi Ya did not leave; she stayed by Jing Ci's side the whole time.

"Princess, we have no other choice now."

"Even if we continue resisting Qin Feng, even if we defeat him, what then? All we'll be left with is a country in ruins."

"How many years will it take to restore our former glory?"

"And besides—this nation, whose nation is it? The Jing family's, or the people's?"

Qi Ya's final question struck deep into Jing Ci's heart—it was precisely what she had been agonizing over. If the sole purpose was to preserve imperial power, then how much suffering or death among the people mattered little? But if the goal was to protect the nation itself, then the honor of the Jing family might be worth yielding.

Jing Ci fell into deep distress; she could not yet make up her mind.

Nightfall had come unnoticed; Qin Feng had just finished distributing household registration documents and was about to rest when he suddenly felt a chill on his face.

He reached up and touched it—snow had begun to fall.

"It's snowing again—how many snowfalls has this been this year?"

"At this rate, Di is truly being crushed under more snow."

Hearing Qin Feng's remark, Liu Ming couldn't help asking curiously: "Marquis, why are you starting to sympathize with Di? In my view, the more snow the better—our troops are well-supplied, while Di is fighting on empty stomachs; the harsher the environment, the better for us."

Qin Feng sighed: "True enough, but in the end, it's the people who suffer."

"Each snowfall claims countless lives among the common folk."

"From a military standpoint, I wish for more snow, for this cold winter to drag on longer. But considering those innocent civilians, emotionally, I hope winter ends quickly and spring arrives sooner."

Qin Feng rose silently and walked back, his mood growing heavy—many things in this world have two sides, and even he could never achieve perfection.

The purpose of this Winter War is to create peace, but before peace arrives, immense casualties must be paid.

Perhaps this is the darkness before the dawn.

At present, Qin Feng has secured Changshui County as impregnable; there is nothing more he can do now except hope that Xu Mo and Li Zhang quickly break through Chen Si's DefensiveLine, enter the Jingji, and end this war swiftly.

Night deepened; on the Ezhou North Line, cries of battle shook the heavens.

After days of fierce fighting, Chen Si's Army was exhausted; Chen Si, Jing Peng, and Wu Kang—the three pillars—sat before a firepot in their Ying Zhang, staring blankly at the blazing flames.

The war situation had turned extremely unfavorable; if things continued this way, defeat was merely a matter of time.

Wu Kang's Xiongying Brigade still maintained strong Combat Effectiveness, yet even so, its strategic value had become extremely limited.

On the main battlefield, the Enemy Army had completely "locked" our forces in place, while Light Cavalry Corps operated behind us; the most critical Beixi Expeditionary Brigade was positioned on the Xi Xian, and for the Xiongying Brigade to attack it, they would have to circle a vast distance.

But now, with the battle deadlocked, Wu Kang dared not risk moving the Xiongying Brigade from the DefensiveLine.

Jing Peng, having shed his wastrel demeanor, wore a rare look of gravity: "Our forces are the last line of defense—if we cannot hold, then the Great Di is not far from collapse."

Hearing this, Chen Si smiled bitterly: "Great Di will not fall."

Jing Peng's expression grew darker, for he understood Chen Si's unspoken meaning: Great Di would not fall, the Jing Imperial Clan would not fall—only the line of the Di King would perish.

Chen Si turned to gaze outside the Ying Zhang—at the howling wind and heavy snowflakes—his eyes filled with helplessness.

Even the cleverest woman cannot cook without rice; even with superior strategic ability, Chen Si was now at his wit's end due to failing Logistics.

"Our grain and forage can only last three days—if logistical supplies don't arrive, the soldiers will go hungry; once grain fails, morale will be the next to collapse."

Hearing this, Wu Kang asked grimly: "Grand General, is there truly no logistical supply left at all?"

"Didn't you urgently mobilize the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue before leading the army to Ezhou?"

Not mentioning this made things better; Chen Si sighed deeply: "Two major battles have completely emptied the National Treasury; local garrisons and civilians have not yet recovered from the National War when they've been dragged into this even harsher Winter War."

"Currently, the grain stockpiled in the Rear can barely sustain the consumption of elite troops; most Tuntian Soldiers have already been slated for temporary discharge to prepare for next spring's Spring Plowing."

"This sudden war has shattered our original Military Deployment; materials were already scarce, and with so many Tuntian Soldiers—all mouths to feed—it's unbearable."

"Moreover, military operations drastically increase the consumption of logistical supply."

"The only option now is to Strong Purchase grain from nearby County Cities—we might hold out a few more days, but this draining-the-pond approach will inevitably spark popular revolt."

Though Chen Si did not say it outright, Jing Peng and Wu Kang both knew clearly: the army was now trapped between a rock and a hard place.

To fight or not to fight—neither option remained viable.