Outside Changping County,
flags fluttered like a forest.
The First Legion, led by Yue Fei and Generals Guan and Zhang, was rapidly constructing their camp.
Inside the central command tent,
besides Yue Fei, Taishi Ci, and Deputy Legion Commanders Guan and Zhang, were several individuals clearly dressed as Wuhuan generals.
"Legion Commander~!"
One of the young generals stood up, looking at Yue Fei with a hint of apprehension.
"We've rendezvoused as agreed. What should we do next?"
"No rush~!"
Yue Fei waved his hand, signaling him to sit down before turning to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
"Yun Chang, Yi De, how do you think we should proceed this time?"
"Just charge in, that's what!" Zhang Fei said excitedly.
"My old Zhang's snake spear will pierce through more enemies this time!"
"..."
After giving his third brother a speechless glare, Guan Yu frowned in thought and said,
"Legion Commander, since they already have insiders, we could coordinate an attack from both inside and outside!"
"Hmm~!"
Yue Fei nodded noncommittally, then turned his gaze to Taishi Ci.
"Zi Yi, what do you think?"
"Ah?"
Suddenly called upon, Taishi Ci stood up somewhat stiffly.
"I don't have any objections, but this way, it feels like a waste of those insiders."
"Indeed~!"
Satisfied with the answer, Yue Fei smiled and nodded.
"Yun Chang, Yi De, what if we gave them some medicine?"
"Huh?!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei suddenly raised their heads, looking at Yue Fei in astonishment.
"Medicine?"
"That's right!"
Ignoring the surprised gazes of everyone in the tent, Yue Fei said with enthusiasm,
"We have more than one or two insiders planted. An inside-outside attack is certainly feasible.
But now, there's an even better method!
Whether it's sleeping powder or laxatives, we'll give them a bit of everything.
When the effects kick in, we'll launch an all-out assault from the outside!
What do you think?"
"I, this, that..."
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei exchanged glances, their scalps tingling.
What do you call a cunning schemer?
This is it!
They suddenly understood why their lord had chosen him as Legion Commander.
If Yue Fei succeeded, wouldn't they be able to take down the Wuhuan without a single casualty this time?
But, but... where would they get so much medicine?
"Medicine?"
Yue Fei's expression turned somewhat strange as if he had thought of something.
"Not only do we have medicine, but we have plenty. You can rest assured!"
"Then there's no problem!" Guan Yu and Zhang Fei nodded in unison, indicating no issues.
Since the medicine was already prepared, what else could they say?
Just amazing!
If they could fight like this in the future, who in the entire Han empire could stop them?
And so,
under the terrified gazes of the Wuhuan generals, Yue Fei and the others began their arrangements.
The next day,
in the early morning,
a rather unusual supply convoy, escorted by Taishi Ci, headed towards Anle Commandery.
There,
Chalinshan, leading over five hundred Wuhuan soldiers out on patrol, had been waiting for a long time.
Upon meeting, they nodded to each other, the scene appearing quite harmonious.
A moment later, Taishi Ci returned with his men, empty-handed.
Chalinshan, his armor slightly tattered, escorted the doctored grain and fodder back to the Wuhuan camp.
"Hmm?!"
"Chalinshan went out early this morning and grabbed dozens of carts of grain again?"
Nanlou, who hadn't slept well, heard the good news from a subordinate as soon as he got up.
"Excellent!"
"Truly a good son of our Wuhuan! Pass down the order, we'll have an extra meal at noon!"
Nanlou paused and then asked again.
"Is there a lot of grain brought back this time?"
"A lot!"
Recalling what he had seen that morning, the personal guard who reported spoke with shining eyes.
"Dozens of four-wheeled carts were needed to transport it back. It should be enough for us to eat for several days!"
"That's good!"
After nodding with a smile, Nanlou pondered for a moment before saying,
"Have someone divide the grain into three portions and send one each to our tribesmen in Yuyang and Youbeiping."
"What?"
The personal guard was stunned, doubting if he had heard correctly.
Sending grain to others?
Was this still their stingy Lord Nanlou?
"Just do as I say!"
King Nanlou glared at the guard impatiently and turned back into the command tent.
He felt heartbroken too!
But after a night of consideration, he still felt they couldn't face the Han alone.
It wasn't that they couldn't win.
Although he hadn't fought against the scoundrel from Zhuo County, King Nanlou never doubted the combat effectiveness of his men.
But fighting would definitely result in losses!
What if he lost troops, and those two teamed up?
Wouldn't he be finished?
The three Wuhuan commanderies had always advanced and retreated together, not just due to good relations.
It was more of a safeguard against each other!
No one wanted to be the one eaten, nor did they want to see another be eaten.
But this time, he was indeed a bit too plump.
Therefore,
Nanlou, who had already planned to send something to appease them, seized the opportunity when his subordinate brought back more grain and did them a favor.
After all,
in the eyes of the Wuhuan people, edible grain was more valuable than gold or jewels.
He believed that
Qiuliju and Yangping, who received these two portions of grain, would certainly have no objections.
And indeed, that was the case!
Upon receiving the grain sent by King Nanlou, Qiuuliju and Yangping both smiled.
They were just going through the motions.
Seeing that things had progressed this far, there was no reason to return empty-handed.
Therefore,
when King Nanlou offered a way out, they readily took it.
However, Yangping thought a bit more and felt something was not quite right.
Given King Nanlou's stingy nature, how could he voluntarily give them grain?
When he casually asked, the information they received made their faces stiffen.
"Robbed, robbed back?"
"Yes!"
The personal guard beside him, recalling the rumors circulating that morning, said with envy,
"This morning, they went out on patrol, encountered a Han supply convoy, and simply snatched the grain."
"Supply convoy?"
Yangping found it hard to believe. "How could there be a supply convoy here?"
"You actually believe that?"
Qiuliju, with a slight glint in his eyes, said with murderous intent,
"What supply convoy? He must have plundered some Han city."
"We'll do the same next time!"
"After we deal with that scoundrel from Zhuo Commandery, we'll plunder a city before we return."
"This..."
Yangping, though tempted, hesitated.
"Isn't that a bit too much?"
"Robbing some border people is a minor matter, but if we truly plunder a city, what if the Han come to deal with us?"
"Fear him? Nonsense!"
Qiuliju waved his hand carelessly, his killing intent growing stronger.
"The Han can't even defeat a bunch of lowly peasants now. So what if we provoke them?"
"Besides..."
"King Nanlou is doing it like this, so why can't we?"
"That's true!"
Thinking of how Nanlou had previously plundered the powerful families of Youzhou, and today he had obtained so much grain from an unknown source, Yangping's mindset completely shifted.
"Damn him!"