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

The blade was pressed against the young soldier's neck.

Sun Kui stood on the city wall, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the other soldiers.

"I saw everything clearly."

"Whose grain does Iron Gate Fort eat and whose orders does it take? That's up to me."

The young soldier had his shoulders pressed down by two bodyguards, with half his face pressed against the wall.

"Fortress Commander, I just want to take a look..."

Sun Kui kicked him in the back of the knee.

"You dare to covet outsiders' food after going hungry for just two meals? If you were really fed, would you still open the door for Xu Qingshan?"

Silence reigned on the city wall.

Several ordinary soldiers stared at the ground, but their fingers tightened around their spears.

Xu Qingshan saw it.

The men under Sun Kui were far less loyal than he appeared.

A dozen or so guards were fully armed, with dried meat and wine pouches hanging from their waists. The remaining soldiers had sallow complexions, and even their wrists, which were gripping bows, were so thin that their knuckles protruded.

Iron Gate Fortress, which has guarded the trade route for eight years, has never lacked food.

What they lack is the portion that Sun Kui is willing to share with them.

Xu Qingshan put away the garrison seal.

Release them.

Sun Kui laughed and said, "Commander Xu is really meddling in other people's business."

"He was a soldier from Iron Gate Fortress."

"Iron Gate Fort is under the command of the Fourth Fort garrison."

Xu Qingshan looked at the knife pressed against the soldier's neck.

"If you touch him in front of me, of course I'll intervene."

"Then you come up here and take charge."

Sun Kui opened his arms.

"The gate is right here. If you're so capable, break it down."

Hou San said in a low voice, "The centurion seems to really want us to attack the city."

Zhou Laoqi was also observing the top of the wall.

"There's a gap in the southeast corner, but there are more than a dozen people standing behind the wooden stakes. If we try to force our way through, the archers on the city wall can block the way."

"The main gate is even more difficult; there should be stone carts blocking the way behind the gate."

Twenty horsemen launched a fierce attack on a border fortress. Regardless of the outcome, the refugees outside the city would suffer.

Sun Kui dared to provoke them from the city wall precisely because of this.

Xu Qingshan turned his horse around.

"Take fifty steps back."

Sun Kui burst into laughter.

"You're leaving already?"

"Xu Qingshan, weren't you quite impressive when you were killing barbarians in Luoyan Valley?"

"Why is it that all you do when you get to Iron Gate Fortress is brandish a bronze seal to intimidate people?"

The Zhenbei cavalry retreated along the official road.

The refugees in their thatched huts watched the procession retreat, and the glimmer of hope that had just risen in their eyes faded.

Hou San followed Xu Qingshan.

"Really leaving?"

"Who said they were leaving?"

Xu Qingshan pointed to the grain cart.

"Set up the pot."

The two iron pots were quickly unloaded from under the car.

The cavalry cleared a space in front of the thatched hut, moved stones to build a stove, and lit the firewood. The water in the pot gradually boiled.

The grain sacks were untied.

Ladles of wheat grains and broken rice were poured into the pot.

Hou San stirred it a few times with a wooden spoon.

"This grain was originally intended to be sent into the fort."

"It's been delivered now."

Xu Qingshan looked at the tightly closed city gate.

"It's just that Sun Kui can't get any."

The aroma of the porridge quickly filled the air.

The children in the thatched hut were the first to gather around, followed by several sallow-faced, emaciated women.

They stood a dozen steps away, staring at the rice grains churning in the pot, but no one dared to approach.

An elderly man tentatively asked, "Sir, who is this porridge for?"

"For those who are willing to defend the Iron Gate Fortress."

Xu Qingshan took out the garrison seal and placed it on the grain bag.

"The refugees from outside the city will be given a bowl first."

"Adult men who are willing to repair the city walls, patrol the roads, and guard the forts will receive two meals a day. Those with elderly or young children in their families will receive additional rations."

The old man looked at the city wall.

"Chief Sun forbids us from entering the city."

"From this day forward, his word is no longer valid."

Xu Qingshan pointed to the Zhenbei Banner behind him.

"I am the garrison commander of the four forts on the north wall."

"Those who are willing to defend the border and kill the enemy can join the Zhenbei Battalion. After verification, they will be assigned a place to live. After serving for a full year, their families will be allocated land."

A commotion arose among the thatched huts.

Several adult men slowly walked out of the crowd.

One of them had tattered clothes but broad shoulders.

"Can they really provide food?"

Hou San scooped up a bowl of porridge with a spoon and handed it over directly.

"The porridge is already in front of you, do you think it's just for you to smell?"

The man caught it with both hands, ignoring the heat, and took a big gulp.

The child next to him stared at him expectantly.

The man stopped what he was doing and brought the bowl to the child's mouth.

"Drink slowly."

More refugees gathered around.

Zhenbeiqi brought out wooden bowls and distributed the porridge in the order of the elderly, weak, and young children first, followed by adult men and women.

The soldiers at the Iron Gate Fortress on the city wall, drawn by the aroma, kept glancing down.

The young soldier who had been pinned down also raised his head.

Sun Kui's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Xu Qingshan!"

"You're gathering refugees outside Iron Gate Fortress, trying to incite them to attack the city?"

Xu Qingshan looked up.

"If I give a piece of food to a hungry person, and Chief Sun thinks this is an attack on the city, he can come down and smash the pot."

Hou San waved towards the city gate.

"Come down, I'll save you a pot of broth."

Zhou Laoqi glanced at him.

"Where did the broth come from?"

"Let's lure them in first."

Several soldiers on the city wall almost burst out laughing, but when they saw Sun Kui turn around, they quickly composed themselves.

Sun Kui pointed outside the city.

"Archers, prepare!"

More than twenty bows were raised at the same time.

The refugees below the city walls immediately panicked.

The person holding the wooden bowl tried to hide behind the thatched shed, while the child by the pot was pulled into the arms of his family.

The Zhenbei cavalry quickly took down their shields and placed them in front of the two iron pots and the crowd.

Xu Qingshan stood outside the shield formation.

"Sun Kui, are you guarding the Iron Gate Fortress, or your own gate?"

"More than two hundred people outside the fort survive by digging for wild vegetables, while the soldiers inside the fort are so hungry that they can barely hold their spears, but you and your personal guards can drink wine and eat meat."

"When a caravan passes through here, you will seize 20% of its goods."

"Now they even dare to refuse the border patrol envoy's order."

The sound traveled along the city wall.

The ordinary soldiers all looked at Sun Kui.

The soldiers near the city gate also peeked out from behind their houses.

Sun Kui's facial muscles twitched a few times.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Iron Gate Fortress is short of food, and the fortress chief is trying to find ways to procure food every day."

Hou San scooped up a spoonful of porridge.

"So, that bearskin cloak you're wearing is from starvation?"

A few laughs came from below the city.

Sun Kui drew his sword and pointed it at the archer.

"Shoot these refugees!"

An old archer hesitated for a moment.

"Fortress Commander, there are still children downstairs."

Sun Kui walked over and slapped him across the face.

"I'll let you shoot!"

The bowstring was gradually pulled back.

Xu Qingshan looked at the archer on the wall.

"The arrows in your hands are for shooting barbarians. Anyone who dares to fire them down to the city walls will be personally investigated once I enter Iron Gate Fortress."

Several bows slowly lowered.

Sun Kui snatched the bow from the old archer, nocked an arrow, drew the string, and shot it towards the edge of the pot.

The arrow flew past the edge of the shield and pierced a woman's shoulder.

The woman was holding a child in her arms.

The force was so great that she fell to the ground, and the child rolled from her arms into the mud.

The sound of crying rang out instantly.

The surrounding refugees were stunned at first, and then they all gathered around.

"Murder!"

"She only took a bowl of porridge!"

"Sun Kui wants to kill everyone outside the city!"

The anger that had been suppressed for so long exploded completely with that arrow.

Several adult men picked up sticks and stones, then turned and stared at the Iron Gate Fortress.

The soldiers on the city wall also changed their expressions.

The young soldier who had been held down struggled to lift his head.

"She's my sister-in-law!"

Sun Kui's personal guard punched him in the back of the head.

"Shut up!"

The young soldier, his mouth bleeding from the beating, was still struggling desperately.

Xu Qingshan quickly walked to the injured person's side.

The arrow pierced his shoulder, just two fingers' width from his neck.

The accompanying medical staff tore open their clothes and pressed down on the area around the wound.

"It can be saved."

"First, cut the arrow shafts and move them to the back."

When Xu Qingshan stood up, his eyes had already turned cold.

"Uncle Zhou."

Zhou Laoqi responded.

"Take two people for a walk around the city wall."

"Let's see if there are any other entrances besides the main gate and the southeast gap."

"clear."

The three men led their horses away from the crowd and slowly circled around the western city wall.

Sun Kui assumed they were checking the siege positions and immediately ordered several archers to follow them.

Xu Qingshan stayed in front of the main gate and continued to have people distribute the porridge.

After the injured were carried away, the child was held by an old woman, and the crying could still be heard intermittently.

Every sound reached the ears of the soldiers on the city wall.

No one raised the bow that had been lowered before.

Sun Kui paced back and forth on the city wall.

"Keep a close eye on them, all of you!"

"Anyone who dares to let Xu Qingshan's men near the city wall, shoot them dead!"

Half an hour later, Zhou Laoqi returned from the west side.

His boots were covered in mud, and there were a few pieces of withered grass on his cuffs.

Xu Qingshan asked, "Did you find it?"

There is a drainage ditch outside the west wall.

Zhou Laoqi squatted down and drew the outline of Iron Gate Fortress on the muddy ground.

"The mouth of the ditch is blocked by a wooden fence, and water flows below all year round, which has washed away a piece of the wall at the base."

"Can a person get there?"

"Thinner people are fine."

"Where is the exit?"

"Behind the old stables inside the fort."

Zhou Laoqi pointed to the northwest corner of the city wall.

"Less than thirty steps from the small gate on the west side."

After squatting down and watching for a while, Hou San said directly, "I'll go."

Xu Qingshan looked at his waist.

"If you crawl into the drain, your wound will get covered in mud."

"It's better than getting shot at the main gate."

Hou San patted the cavalrymen beside him.

"Give me five men. Once inside, take the small door first. If things get chaotic outside, Old Zhou will lead the cavalry to provide backup."

Zhou Laoqi asked, "What did you promise before?"

"Only scout ahead, not charge into battle."

"And now?"

"We're drilling tunnels now, it has nothing to do with charging into battle."

Xu Qingshan said, "After entering the fort, we should first contact the ordinary soldiers."

"Avoid Sun Kui's personal guards if possible. Once the small gate is under control, light three torches."

Hou San stood up.

"What happens after you light the torches?"

"Open the door."

"You should have said so earlier, this is my specialty."

The medical staff cut the arrow shaft off the woman's shoulder.

Hou San glanced at it as he passed by, and the smile on his face disappeared.

"That bastard really went all out."

So don't let him get away.

Hou San led the five men around to the west.

Xu Qingshan then ordered his men to continue adding grain to the pot.

The aroma of porridge wafted up the city wall.

"Listen up, brothers of Iron Gate Fortress!"

Xu Qingshan stood in the middle of the official road.

"Those who are willing to defend the city and fight the enemy, put down your bows and open the gates."

"I will investigate everything Sun Kui has done, one by one. Those who did not participate in oppressing military households or robbing merchant caravans will remain in the army."

"Those who are willing to testify will continue to receive their military rations and their families will be taken care of."

Sun Kui walked out from the city tower.

"Xu Qingshan, do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

"You dare?"

Xu Qingshan raised his head.

"You dare to ejaculate on a woman holding a child, what wouldn't you dare to do?"

All eyes of the displaced people below the city were on Sun Kui.

The ordinary soldiers on the city walls also began to distance themselves from the personal guards.

Sun Kui sensed the change in atmosphere and gripped his long sword tighter.

"Order all teams to assemble at the main gate!"

A rapid clanging of gongs echoed from inside the fortress.

A dozen or so guards rushed from both sides of the street and pushed the ordinary soldiers up the city wall.

Just as their attention was drawn to the main gate, a short, painful scream came from behind the small door on the west side.

Immediately afterwards, three torches were lit one after another.

Zhou Laoqi mounted his horse.

"The door has been taken down!"

Upon hearing the voice, Sun Kui's expression changed drastically.

"What happened to Ximen?"

Just as a guard was about to rush over to check, a heavy scraping sound came from inside the fortress.

The small door on the west side slowly opened.

Hou San stood behind the door, holding a blood-stained dagger, the burlap sash around his waist seeping blood again.

Beside him, more than ten soldiers from the Iron Gate Fortress had already turned their spears around.

Further down the street, starving soldiers continued to gather, trapping Sun Kui's trusted confidants left inside the fortress.

Hou San waved to Xu Qingshan.

"Lord Garrison Commander."

The door opened.