Chapter 345: First Volume, Chapter 345: The Ultimate Impasse Has Appeared

First Volume, Chapter 345: The Ultimate Impasse Has Appeared

The Outer City has begun construction, but it is an enormous project; even with full capacity and three shifts working round the clock, completion remains impossibly distant.

Moreover, the Di have learned of Beixi County's expansion plans and naturally will not sit idle—they frequently dispatch Raiding Cavalry to harass.

The influx of starving refugees is like a plague!

When refugees in the Rear learned that Beixi County implemented a "take all" policy toward starving civilians, they went mad, surging forward in waves, one after another, toward Beixi County.

The largest refugee groups numbered over a hundred; the smallest consisted of just three or five people.

Yet all of them shared one identical belief: if they could enter Beixi County, they would welcome a brand-new life.

To every starving refugee, Beixi County was not merely a city—it was hope!

In a life of absolute darkness and despair, a sudden ray of light appeared, guiding everyone forward with the desperate resolve of Flock Like Moths to Flame.

As starving refugees continued to pour in, the Di gained overwhelming advantage; even a small squad of Raiding Cavalry could slaughter countless refugees and return laden with spoils.

As one wanes, the other waxes.

Facing an unprecedentedly desperate situation, Ning Hu and Xu Mo led the Beixi County Garrison in frantic counterattacks, exhausted and barely sleeping three hours a day, yet still unable to stop the Di Raiding Cavalry—each day they watched countless refugees slaughtered.

Throughout this entire process, the Piaoqi, Cheqi, and Border Army deployed not a single soldier.

Ning Hu's eyes were bloodshot; he gritted his teeth: "Does this Shedynasty have no one else who cares about the refugees' safety? The combined strength of the Cheqi and Piaoqi alone exceeds a hundred thousand troops—merely sending a few thousand to assist in defense would be enough to block the Di Raiding Cavalry north of Beixi County and open a safe corridor for the refugees!"

Xu Mo sighed deeply; though unwilling to admit it, reality was this cruel: "Madam Qin saw through the situation long ago—she made it clear to me just days ago."

"The situation in Beixi County is intimately tied to the Imperial Court in Jingdu."

"The Cheqi, Piaoqi, and Border Army each represent different interest factions—no matter their background, none are Brother Qin's allies. They long for Beixi County Defense Failure, hoping to drag Brother Qin from his position—why would they lift a finger to help? Moreover… these refugees are a burden to every region."

Upon hearing the word "burden," Ning Hu exploded in fury: "These are all subjects of Shedynasty!"

Xu Mo sighed again: "And so what? The mansions reek of wine and meat, while corpses freeze on the roads. The sons of Jingdu's ministers live in luxury, tossing away ten or twenty thousand taels of silver without a blink—but raising funds to buy Relief Grain for refugees is harder than killing them."

"The Jingdu nobility cannot see the refugees' suffering. Local magnates, pressured by multiple sides, can only turn a blind eye. I dare say, across the entire Shedynasty, only Brother Qin accepts refugees without any ulterior motive—taking them all. If we were in Brother Qin's position and stance, how would we choose?"

Ning Hu fell silent…

In accepting refugees, Ning Hu knew full well he lacked Qin Feng's courage.

Moreover…

Even if one had the courage, what then? Supply of Materials and Supplies, refugee resettlement, Di harassment—these problems were as impossible for Ning Hu as climbing to heaven.

Only Qin Feng had the strength to stubbornly hold up Beixi County.

At that moment, Post Station Chief Zhao Cheng rode up on horseback, shouting from afar: "Commandant Ning, Deputy General Xu—disaster! The Di Raiding Cavalry ambushed the trade route—the supply convoy suffered heavy casualties!"

Ning Hu and Xu Mo cried out in unison: "What?!"

The trade route was Beixi County's lifeline—any damage to it would be fatal!

For this reason, Lin Quqi had stationed many guards along the route to ensure its safety—yet still, disaster struck!

Ning Hu gritted his teeth and growled: "Xu, I'll handle intercepting the Di Raiding Cavalry—you hurry to the trade route. Beixi County is already at its limit; if the trade route is cut, it will collapse!"

Xu Mo understood the gravity of the situation and dared not hesitate—he led a group of New Army troops and raced to the scene at top speed.

Meanwhile, in the Di command tent.

Chen Si lay on a wooden bed, face as pale as paper, sweat drenching his forehead, occasionally wracked by violent coughs.

Though the military medic had stabilized his shoulder wound, the poison had seeped deep into his body—he burned with fever, his condition beyond cure.

The entire tent was deathly silent; all deputy generals and captains wore grim expressions—no one had anticipated that a nameless Tianji Camp Guard's suicide arrow could cause such consequences. Even the legendary general Chen Si, iron-blooded and unyielding, was being dragged down by his worsening injury—he was visibly dying.

Everyone seemed to recall once more the terror of the Tianji Camp Guards…

Yet even so, Chen Si still clutched the Beixi County War Report, his eyes alternately cloudy and clear, voice weak: "BeixiCounty is no longer within our power to shake. The only strategy left is to consume. Dispatch small squads of Raiding Cavalry to scatter and slaughter refugees, exhausting the Beixi County Garrison. Meanwhile, seize every possible opportunity… cough… ambush the trade route, block or delay Beixi County's supply of Materials and Supplies."

"If we continue consuming like this, we need not launch a Military Siege—Beixi County will collapse on its own. Unless Qin Feng possesses heavenly abilities… cough… to turn this utter impasse around… cough… cough…"

The deputy general's eyes were swollen with tears; he knelt beside the bed, his massive, tiger-paw hands gripping the blanket: "General, rest! Don't push yourself further!"

After a long silence, Chen Si mustered a sliver of strength, his voice a thread: "Whether Di or Shedynasty, both have sunk into the mud of this National War and cannot withdraw. Whichever side loses, even if not facing national annihilation, will bear unimaginable territorial losses and indemnities. On the Front Line, we must turn small victories into great ones…"

"My Chen Family has long received imperial grace—even if I have only one breath left, I must…"

Before Chen Si could finish, a cry came from outside the tent: "Frontline Commander's order! Transfer Deputy General Chen Si, Beixi County War Zone Commander, back to Wang Du for medical treatment—depart immediately!"

Upon hearing this, no one in the tent rejoiced; instead, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

The distance to Di Royal Capital was immense—given Chen Si's current condition, nine out of ten chances he would die en route…

…

Jingdu, Tianji Camp accounting office.

Liu Hongyan stared at the Secret Letter's reply, her expression more grave than ever: "The trade route was ambushed—losses in Materials and Supplies amount to nearly two hundred thousand taels…"

"Is heaven determined to destroy Beixi County? Destroy Tianji Camp… destroy my Qin Family?"

Liu Hongyan's despair flashed and vanished; she bit her lip: "Sell the properties!"