The Prodigal Son

The first night wasn't too bad.

When everyone huddled together, it wasn't so cold anymore.

But the hunger was truly unbearable, and many people were too hungry to sleep.

The next day, everyone still only managed to fill their stomachs with water.

Driven by hunger, the group had completely lost the will to glare at each other.

Everyone was gritting their teeth and persevering, and suddenly time seemed to drag on endlessly.

But as night fell, they suddenly felt that time had passed too quickly.

Compared to the cold nights, they find the days a little easier to endure.

After two days without food, everyone was so hungry that they didn't even have the strength to speak.

The temperature has dropped a bit tonight compared to last night.

The night wind was howling, but the soldiers on both sides remained divided into two groups.

Many people swallowed hard as they watched Qi Dachui sitting to the side eating and drinking.

At this moment, they would pick up even the smallest food scraps without hesitation and put them into their mouths.

Just as Qi Dachui was enjoying his meal, a group of night patrol soldiers came over.

"Big Hammer, what are you eating? You're eating so deliciously!"

The leader of the hundred generals chatted with Qi Dachui with a smile.

"cake."

Qi Dachui picked up a pancake and handed it over, "Do you want some?"

"I've already eaten."

Bai Jiang shook his head and smiled, "You eat. It's quite cold today, and you've been working hard guarding this place."

"fine."

Qi Dachui grinned and continued eating his pancake.

Bai Jiang chuckled as he looked at Qi Dachui: "By the way, I thought Commander Qin was usually quite mild-mannered, so why did he get so angry this time?"

"They brought this on themselves!"

Qi Dachui glanced back at the people locked inside the fence and said irritably, "What Thirteenth Young Master hates most is infighting. Starving them for only three days is already letting them off easy!"

No wonder.

Bai Jiang suddenly realized, and then asked curiously, "How long have you been following Commander Qin?"

"It's been a long time."

Qi Dachui replied, "I've been by Thirteen Young Master's side since I was a child..."

Once the topic came up, Qi Dachui seemed to have opened a floodgate of conversation, enthusiastically telling Bai Jiang about his past with Qin Yu.

Several patrolling soldiers moved their feet seemingly casually, but they quietly blocked Qi Dachui's view.

Other soldiers, however, casually retreated to the edge of the fence.

A group of people, all with their backs to those inside the fence, quietly passed their water bags over the fence.

Wei Shao and the others were stunned for a moment, then quickly took the water bags and gave them their own water bags in return.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers, with their backs to the fence, secretly took out flatbreads and stuffed them into the fence.

Watching their actions, a surrendered Flying Fang cavalryman swallowed hard and whispered to Wang Jing, "General, should we expose them?"

Wang Jing hesitated for a moment, then shook his head at his own soldiers.

Soon, all two hundred-plus flatbreads were stuffed into it.

"Eat quickly, we'll block Qi Dachui's view for you."

The soldier gave the others a wink, then led the rest of the group to gather around Qi Dachui, listening with great interest as he began to speak.

Wei Shao understood and immediately grabbed the flatbread and started eating.

However, after taking only two bites, Wei Shao noticed the surrendered soldiers staring at the bread in their hands, drooling.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Wei Shao cut his flatbread in half and tossed the half to Wang Jing across from him without a word.

Wang Jing was stunned for a moment, so much so that he failed to catch it even though it was more than half a zhang away.

The pancake landed squarely on Wang Jing's chest.

Seeing Wei Shao's actions, the soldiers around him were also stunned for a moment.

A moment later, everyone tore off half a pancake and threw it to the surrendered soldiers on the other side.

Wang Jing snapped out of his daze, hesitated for a moment, picked up the bread that had fallen into his arms, and muttered, "I don't care!"

As he spoke, Wang Jing prepared to throw it back.

"We're all in the same boat, what's with the tough guy act!"

Wei Shao cursed under his breath, "Hurry up and eat, or you'll starve to death! I'm going to keep fighting you after we get out of here!"

As he spoke, Wei Shao resumed munching on his flatbread.

Wang Jing felt a surge of emotion in his throat, and then looked at the surrendered soldiers around him who were staring at him expectantly.

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Jing nodded to everyone and then wolfed down the bread.

Upon seeing this, the surrendered soldiers began to wolf down their food.

Having not eaten for two days, they ate with exceptional relish.

Half a pancake was devoured in the blink of an eye, and even the crumbs that fell to the side were picked up and stuffed into the mouth.

After eating half a pancake to fill his stomach, Wei Shao opened the newly acquired water bag.

In an instant, a fragrant aroma of wine wafted through the air.

Strong liquor!

Wei Shao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly gulped down a large mouthful.

After taking a sip of wine, I immediately felt warm all over.

Wei Shao quietly stuffed the water bag back in place and handed it to Wang Jing.

Wang Jing shook his head slightly and pointed to his water pouch, indicating that he had water.

"liquor!"

Wei Shao said in a low voice.

Wang Jing was slightly surprised, and quickly took the water bag and opened it.

Smelling the enticing aroma of the wine, Wang Jing quickly took a swig and then handed the water pouch to the next person.

The next person takes a sip, then passes it on to the next person...

They thought they had done a good job of being discreet, but little did they know that Qin Yu, with his all-seeing eyes, could see everything clearly from the shadows.

Nan Que'er put away her clairvoyance and asked Qin Yu with a smile, "What would you do if Wang Jing and the others exposed our people?"

Qin Yu smiled casually, "We're all in the same boat now, why are we fighting amongst ourselves? There's no point in keeping us around."

This is a very simple principle.

Once Wang Jing and his men expose the fact that the patrol soldiers were secretly sending food to Wei Shao and his men, he will surely punish those patrol soldiers severely.

Wang Jing and his group, who were imprisoned, also received no benefit.

It harms others without benefiting oneself, and further worsens the relationship between the two parties.

If Wang Jing and his men dare to expose him, he will severely punish those patrolling soldiers, but Wang Jing and his surrendered soldiers will have no reason to live!

Nan Que'er smiled, a hint of teasing in her voice, and said, "I'm starting to see how you really are behaving like a leader!"

A small matter has determined the life and death of many people.

Isn't this also a manifestation of the sofa's decisiveness?

"They were all forced into it."

Qin Yu chuckled to himself, "Commander Xue wants me to give him 50,000 elite troops in half a month, isn't that just him training me?"

He understood all of this.

He also knew that Xue Chengdao and the old man had high hopes for him.

Nan Que'er smiled and asked again, "So, do you think their relationship will improve after this incident?"

"Definitely!"

Qin Yu smiled confidently, "The feelings between men are actually very simple. They don't have any deep-seated hatred for each other. Before, they were just working for different masters, but now they're all in the same boat. Once the barriers are removed, they'll quickly become one!"

Four ironclad principles in male-female relationships.

We studied together, fought together, shared loot, and even went to brothels together...

They possess two out of all four.

If this still hasn't improved, then there's no reason for it!