If I made you cannon fodder, how did you manage to achieve your goal of conquering the wolf's l

The thin porridge in the iron pot gradually boiled.

After the dried meat was boiled, its aroma wafted along the courtyard wall to all sides.

The military households lined up outside the courtyard, with wounded soldiers and children at the front.

Feng Shouyi was worried that the men would fight over the food after being hungry for so long, so he specially ordered a few able-bodied soldiers to guard the cooking pot.

But no matter how many times the porridge was scooped up with a ladle, the line remained orderly.

When it was a woman holding a child's turn, she only took half a bowl.

The cavalryman from Zhenbei, who was in charge of distributing the porridge, frowned.

"There's still quite a lot left, why only this much?"

The woman glanced at the child in her arms.

"Half a bowl is enough for the child; there are still wounded soldiers behind us."

Zhenbeiqi added another spoonful to her bowl.

"The centurion instructed that the children and wounded soldiers should be fed first."

The woman's lips moved a few times, and finally she retreated to the wall with her child in her arms.

Xu Qingshan stood at the entrance of the granary and witnessed this scene.

Hou San walked over carrying a wooden bowl.

"I saved a bowl for you."

Xu Qingshan took it and looked at it.

The bowl was almost entirely filled with thick porridge, with two pieces of dried meat hidden at the bottom.

"Who served it?"

Hou Sanchao gestured towards the wounded soldiers' quarters where Qin Yuenu was located.

"she."

Did she eat it herself?

"They're still cutting out rotten flesh inside; they probably don't have an appetite for now."

Xu Qingshan handed the bowl back.

"Keep it for her."

Hou San didn't answer.

"She said if you dare send me back, she'll make you stay in the wounded soldiers' ward and examine you thoroughly."

Xu Qingshan looked down at the bloodstains on his body.

"I'm not injured."

She also said that the most troublesome time is usually when you don't feel injured.

Xu Qingshan picked up the bowl and took a sip.

"Is she a doctor or an interrogator?"

"Once you see the wound, they're all pretty much the same."

Another scream soon came from inside the wounded soldiers' quarters.

Hou San took his thin porridge and moved two steps to the side.

Xu Qingshan glanced at him.

"Is your back incurable?"

"I'll wait until she's in a better mood."

"Do you think she'd be in a good mood after cutting out a whole roomful of rotten flesh?"

Hou San remained silent for a moment, then carried the bowl into the wounded soldiers' ward.

Soon, Qin Yuenu's voice came from inside.

"Lie down."

"I'll finish my porridge first."

"It's yours if it spills on the ground."

"Can we try a different position?"

"Sure, lying down is fine too."

"Then let's lie down."

Xu Qingshan chuckled and finished the rest of the porridge.

Feng Shouyi walked over carrying a wooden box.

"Centurion Xu, these are the requests for aid sent from Qingya Fort to Yunzhou within the past six months."

The wooden box was opened, revealing twelve official documents inside.

Food shortages, collapsed city walls, depleted medicine, and barbarian cavalry marching south.

Every letter was written clearly.

When the first letter was sent, there were still more than fifty soldiers at Qingya Fort.

When the last letter was sent, only thirty-five people remained.

"How many letters have you replied to from Yunzhou?"

Two letters.

Feng Shouyi retrieved the returned official document.

"The post station said we were exaggerating the military situation and even told Qingyabao to investigate the whereabouts of the grain themselves."

Xu Qingshan opened one of the letters.

The rejection notice consists of only one line.

Qingya Fort has 120 registered personnel. Their rations and pay are distributed quarterly. If there is a deficit, the fort's chief officer is responsible for bearing it.

After treating his wounds, Hou San limped out of the house.

Upon seeing this line of text, he immediately cursed.

"The living are so hungry they dig up grass roots, while the dead receive food every season."

Feng Shouyi said in a low voice, "The documents from Yunzhou are complete; our verbal agreement is not enough to prove anything."

"In the past, it was all talk and no action."

Xu Qingshan closed the official document.

"Now all thirty-five soldiers, seven wounded, and more than two hundred military households are alive."

"The granary is still there."

"If Tang Su wants to investigate, let him come and see for himself."

Ah Man walked in from outside the courtyard.

The four Vulture Tribe prisoners have been interrogated separately.

The testimonies of the individuals were largely the same.

Half a month ago, a merchant surnamed Ma from Daqian went to the Vulture Tribe to exchange salt, cloth and ironware for warhorses.

The other party accurately stated the troop strength, food reserves, and breaches in the city wall of Qingya Fort.

It was thanks to this information that Chishu dared to lead three hundred cavalrymen south overnight.

Xu Qingshan asked, "Does the appearance match?"

"He had a missing piece on his left ear, a black mole under his right eye, and was accompanied by six guards who used crossbows."

Aman pointed to one of the prisoners.

"He met Chi Zhu twice and recognized him."

Hou San said, "Take her back and let Su Jinniang take a look."

"There are also military registers, requests for aid, and wounded soldiers."

Xu Qingshan looked at Feng Shouyi.

"Come back to Blackrock Castle with me."

Feng Shouyi was taken aback.

"Qingya Fort has just repelled the enemy; if I leave..."

"Leave fifteen Zhenbei cavalrymen to assist your men in repairing the breach."

Xu Qingshan pointed to the old soldier who was carrying a door panel into battle.

"The fort is temporarily in his hands."

The old soldier quickly waved his hand.

"I can't manage so many people."

Feng Shouyi said, "Uncle Zhang has been in Qingya Fort for more than 20 years, and the military households all trust him."

The old soldier looked at Xu Qingshan.

"Only for a day or two?"

"At most two days."

"Okay then."

He leaned the broken spear against the wall.

"I don't care about the extra amount."

Xu Qingshan smiled.

"I'll discuss this with you for a few more days after I return with the grain."

The old soldier's expression changed.

"Centurion Xu, you can't lie to an old man."

"I only said we could discuss it."

"That won't work either."

Feng Shouyi looked at the two of them, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

…………

After daybreak, the Zhenbei cavalry began preparing for their return journey.

Fifteen men remained to guard Qingya Fort.

The remaining thirty-five riders were responsible for escorting Feng Shouyi, three wounded soldiers, and four prisoners of the Vulture Tribe.

The more than ten warhorses captured last night were also taken away.

The fortress gate was filled with soldiers.

Xu Qingshan assumed they were there to see Feng Shouyi off, but as he spurred his horse closer, he discovered that the women were carrying bamboo baskets.

The old woman at the front handed a small cloth bag to Hou San.

"Take it with you to eat on the road."

When Hou San opened it, there were only six eggs inside.

The eggshells were of different sizes, and one of them still had some dry grass stuck to it.

He hurriedly returned the cloth bag.

"You've run out of food, keep this for yourselves."

The old woman shook her head.

"There are only two chickens left in the fort; these are the ones we saved up."

"You distributed military rations to the children last night, so we can't let you go back hungry today."

Hou San looked at Xu Qingshan.

Xu Qingshan dismounted and took out three of the six eggs.

"Keep half."

The old woman tried to refuse.

"If we keep arguing, it'll be completely dawn."

Xu Qingshan put the remaining three coins back into her hand.

"When the food from Blackrock Fortress arrives, treat us to a good meal."

The old woman looked at the eggs in her hand.

"Will they really send food?"

"meeting."

Xu Qingshan mounted his horse.

"I won't leave my promises for the next life."

As the group left Qingya Fort, the tattered Zhenbei Flag was raised again atop the city wall.

Feng Shouyi sat on his horse and looked back for a long time.

"I guarded Qingya Fort for seven years."

"In the past, every time I sent people to Yunzhou to beg for grain, I always felt that there would be a response next time."

"I only realized last night that all I'm getting are barbarians."

Xu Qingshan said, "Don't wait anymore."

"Report when food is scarce, light a cigarette when encountering the enemy."

"If the forts along the north wall continue to defend themselves, they will eventually be taken down one by one by the barbarians."

Feng Shouyi turned to look at him.

"Centurion Xu, do you want to take over Qingya Fortress?"

"I am still on trial."

"so what?"

"Let's get back alive first, then see how Tang Su plans to interrogate us."

…………

That afternoon, the gate of Black Stone Fortress appeared at the end of the official road.

Once the soldiers on the city wall recognized the Zhenbei Banner, they quickly opened the city gate.

Tang Su was already waiting outside the council hall.

Zhao Wu also stood to the side, followed by several border patrol guards.

Xu Qingshan dismounted.

"Is Lord Tang feeling better?"

Tang Su glanced at the wounded soldiers, prisoners, and Feng Shouyi behind him.

"I rested for a day and am now able to keep an eye on the stables."

Zhao Wu snorted coldly.

"Xu Qingshan, during your trial, you mobilized troops without authorization and left Black Stone Fortress without permission. According to military law, this can be considered as fleeing the crime."

Hou San led the prisoners past.

"They fled with prisoners, wounded soldiers, and more than a dozen horses. It was quite a arduous journey."

Zhao Wu shouted, "This is none of your business!"

Xu Qingshan raised his hand to signal Hou San to step back.

"When I left, Lord Tang was resting."

"Since Commandant Zhao felt that Qingya Fort shouldn't be rescued, why didn't he lead the vanguard battalion into battle at the time?"

"My military command has been temporarily revoked by Lord Tang."

Zhao Wu said, "Besides, the true nature of the military intelligence is still unclear; how can we easily mobilize three hundred men?"

Tang Su looked at Feng Shouyi.

"Are you the garrison commander of Qingya Fortress?"

"This humble general is Feng Shouyi."

How many soldiers were actually stationed at Qingya Fort?

"Thirty-five people."

Why are 120 people listed in the military register?

"This humble general would also like to ask Lord Tang to investigate this matter thoroughly."

General Feng Shouyi sent a letter and twelve letters requesting assistance.

Tang Su looked through them one by one.

The 120 people on the register receive military rations every quarter, but the requests for help from Qingyabao have been mentioning food shortages since half a year ago.

The three wounded soldiers were also carried into the hospital.

One of them suffered a gruesome leg injury and was only saved after Qin Yuenu removed the rotten flesh.

Tang Su walked to the stretcher.

"How long has it been since the medicine for wounds was delivered to Qingya Fort?"

Feng Shouyi replied, "Nearly a year."

Zhao Wu said, "The transportation of supplies to the border fortress is difficult, and occasional delays are normal."

Qin Yuenu raised her head.

"You call that occasional occurrences, even if it happens only once a year?"

Zhao Wu said, "This captain is not skilled in medicine, but wound medicine is already in short supply at the border."

"Why were there more than a dozen boxes in the vehicle carrying the military doctor accompanying Commandant Zhao?"

Qin Yuenu looked towards the Yunzhou military camp outside the city.

"They came to the Blackstone Fortress wounded soldiers' camp yesterday to get hot water; I saw it with my own eyes."

Zhao Wu's expression darkened slightly.

"When the vanguard battalion goes out, they naturally need to prepare enough wound medicine."

Tang Su asked, "Isn't Qingya Fort considered part of the Great Qian Border Army?"

Zhao Wu opened his mouth.

"That's not what I meant."

"So what do you mean?"

General Tang Su threw the official document onto the table.

"The provisions for 120 men were used to feed 35 soldiers who were too hungry to even lift a knife."

"The requests for help went unanswered for six months, yet the barbarians were able to accurately determine the strength of Qingya Fort's troops, its food reserves, and the breaches in the city walls."

"Zhao Wu, tell me, is this normal?"

Zhao Wu's expression had changed.

"The information may have been leaked from within Qingya Fort."

Aman brought the four prisoners forward.

"They have confessed that the information came from a wealthy businessman surnamed Ma."

Su Jinniang also stepped out from the crowd.

After hearing the prisoner's description of his appearance, she quickly said, "This man is called Ma Qingfu. He buys warhorses in Bailangji all year round."

"The notch in my left ear was bitten off by a horse many years ago, and I have a black mole under my right eye."

Tang Su asked, "Where are the warhorses being sent?"

"Yunzhou Vanguard Battalion".