Chapter 71: Poison in the Food

The city guards, who had been laughing and chatting just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent.

Everyone fell silent, yet their eyes revealed intense resentment, unwillingness, and questioning...

They were suffering from both hunger and thirst, having finally managed to hold out until the Prince of Zhenbei sent supplies.

And yet!

They were to be snatched away?

Wang Ziyi's expression was calm, "We don't have much food, but General Yang's General's Mansion has grain and water, as well as the best medicine; surely you wouldn't look down upon our meager belongings?"

The other party interrupted impatiently, "Enough nonsense, this is a Military Order, hand it over immediately."

"My husband." Madam Wang was also panicked, at a loss for what to do.

There were elderly parents at home, the whole family had contracted the plague, and Wang Ziyi was also ill, yet he still insisted on patrolling the city walls every day, even coughing up blood.

If the medicine were taken away, they would only be left waiting to die of illness.

The surrounding city guards all looked toward Wang Ziyi.

Wang Ziyi coughed once, "The food sent by the Prince of Zhenbei via the iron bird was very little; everyone couldn't control their hunger for a moment and put it all in the pot. If General Yang doesn't mind our saliva, then take this iron pot away."

In the iron pot, what had originally been cooked was Instant Noodles.

But everyone had scrambled to eat it, and only the leftover soup and water remained at the bottom of the pot.

"Audacious, how could General Yang eat your leftovers?" The man who came snorted coldly, "Search! If any food is found, Captain Wang, you will be guilty of the crime of deception."

Madam Wang's expression was tense, and she gripped Wang Ziyi's robe tightly.

The surrounding city guards also began to stir uneasily.

A trusted subordinate whispered, "Captain Wang, we cannot afford to offend General Yang's men, perhaps..."

Before he could finish, Wang Ziyi raised his hand to stop him.

A dozen trusted subordinates searched everywhere, opening cabinets and drawers at will, throwing clean clothes all over the floor and trampling on them, leaving the place in a mess.

The crowd watched, daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

Soon, the dozen soldiers came out.

They hadn't found anything.

"Captain Wang, if the Northern Frontier Army sends anything else, be sure to deliver it to General Yang's General's Mansion."

"This subordinate acknowledges the order."

Wang Ziyi cupped his hands, watching the group of armored soldiers depart.

After they left, Madam Wang let out a long sigh of relief, continuously stroking her chest.

"You scared me to death."

The city guards gathered around one after another, "Captain Wang, was the food really all eaten?"

Wang Ziyi smiled, walked to a wall, and pressed his hand against it.

There was a hidden door on the wall, and inside was a hollow space.

In the hollow space, there was a large pile of vegetables, grain, and medicine...

Suddenly, the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.

Wang Ziyi also smiled faintly, "Yang Wei is not short of grain, these things should be used for the people who need them most."

After speaking, he waved his hand.

"Take the things out and distribute them according to need."

If there wasn't enough food, it was divided into small portions and given to the soldiers to stave off hunger.

As for the medicine, it was collected by the patients according to the severity of their illness.

Everyone immediately formed a long line, spontaneously and orderly collecting resources.

Wang Ziyi coughed, "I hope everyone will keep the matter of the supplies a secret."

He was risking violating a Military Order to hide things from Yang Wei and distribute supplies to everyone.

If the matter were exposed, Yang Wei could completely use "defying orders" as a reason to have him executed on the spot.

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd shouted in a scramble.

"Captain Wang, don't worry, we will never tell anyone!"

Buzz...

The Drone had brought more supplies.

"Quick, quick, hurry and catch the Drone." Madam Wang hurriedly called to the city guards, "Lest it be discovered by Yang Wei's trusted subordinates."

The crowd swarmed up, scrambling to untie the cloth bag hanging from the Drone and hide it in the wall's hollow space.

A burst of fragrance emanated from the cloth bag.

"It's roast chicken, the Prince of Zhenbei sent us chicken."

"And pork, it's still fresh!"

"There's medicine again, it can cure more people."

The crowd was moved to tears.

Many people knelt on the ground, pressing their palms together toward the direction of the Beijiang Junying.

"Thank you, Shennü Daren, thank you, Prince of Zhenbei!"

They would never leak the news.

Yang Wei didn't treat them like human beings, but the Prince of Zhenbei treated them all equally.

Buzz...

Wanyan Yi stood by the river, watching the Drone flying overhead with a gloomy expression.

Just today!

These few "iron birds" have already flown over several times!

Acting as if no one else was around, they completely disregarded the Daye Army!

Wanyan Yi felt a surge of rage as he watched!

He had stationed three hundred thousand troops by the river and set up a formation.

Yet, Xiao Moting used these iron birds to fly back and forth over their heads in broad daylight, delivering supplies to the people of Heyuan County!

It was practically the same as riding on his head and defecating!

Seeing his ugly expression, Chishu immediately picked up his great bow.

"Prince, this general will shoot those iron birds down right now!"

But just as he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, the iron birds seemed to have a spirit of their own and immediately climbed to a higher altitude.

Chishu missed his shot, his eyes wide with fury.

Suddenly!

One iron bird came flying over in a wobbly, crooked path; it was too heavily loaded to fly properly.

Chishu was overjoyed, drew his bow to its full length, and gritted his teeth as he aimed at the iron bird.

"Whoosh."

The cloth bag on the iron bird's feet was struck, tearing a large hole.

"Clatter."

The air suddenly rained down a large pile of things...

Chinese cabbage, sweet potatoes, chives...

And peaches, pears...

The vegetables and fruits were all fresh, still covered in dew, and emitting a fragrant scent!

The Daye Army stared in a daze.

After coming to their senses, they rushed forward like madmen to snatch them up!

They did indeed have food, but it was all dry rations, and much of it was moldy; it could only fill their stomachs, with no taste to speak of!

Such fresh vegetables and fruits were hard to come by even back in Great Ye!

Wanyan Yi was also shocked in his heart.

Wasn't it said that the Northern Frontier Army was suffering from hunger and cold, unable to even get enough to eat?

How could they still have such fresh vegetables and melons?

Not only did they have them, but they were also sending them into Heyuan Cheng in batch after batch!

Since when did Beijiang become so wealthy?

On the watchtower.

"Xiao Dabao, was it you who packed that cloth bag!" Han Guiying asked, looking displeased and questioning Xiao Dabao aggressively.

Xiao Dabao scratched the back of his head and said with a bitter face, "General Han, I... I didn't know the Drone really could only carry forty kilograms. I just thought... I'd pack a bit more to avoid having to keep flying back and forth."

Xiao Moting spoke up, "Shennü Daren said that the Drone's load capacity is only forty kilograms; it struggles to fly if it exceeds that."

"Prince, it was my foolishness." Xiao Dabao said with a mournful face, reaching out to slap himself, "It was my overpacking that let the Daye Army shoot the bag down. I won't do it again next time."

"Not much was shot down." Xiao Moting shook his head, his brows slightly furrowed, "It's just that now that Wanyan Yi knows Heyuan County is not short on grain, he will surely be on guard."

"The amount isn't much, but this was sent by Shennü Daren." Han Guiying glared at Xiao Dabao, "To have Shennü Daren's good intentions taken and eaten by the enemy army is a complete waste!"

Xiao Moting shook his head, "Wanyan Yi is suspicious by nature; he likely won't dare to eat them easily."

"That's easy, I'll make it so he can't eat them even if he wants to." Xiao Dabao immediately picked up a megaphone and turned the volume to the maximum.

A moment later.

Xiao Dabao's vigorous, resonant roar reached the Daye Army camp.

"... Old thief Wanyan Yi, this general is kindly reminding you that some of that food has been poisoned!"

"I won't tell you which ones specifically; you can guess slowly."

"Hey, it's specifically to deal with you. If you aren't afraid of dying, go ahead and eat."