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

Feng Baozhang leaned against the wall of the water dungeon, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

Liang Shun knelt before him, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Don't worry, Fort Commander, Ma Rong has been taken down."

"Those who entered were also from the Zhenbei Army."

Feng Baozhang paused for a moment, then looked past the torches and landed on Xu Qingshan.

"Who are you……"

Xu Qingshan took out the seal of the garrison commander of the four forts.

"Xu Qingshan, acting garrison commander of the four forts north of the wall."

The city wall seal knob on the bronze seal was illuminated by the firelight.

Feng Baozhang stared at it for a long time before his tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

"Yunzhou has finally remembered Broken River Fortress."

Liang Shun's lips moved slightly.

"Fortress Commander, Yunzhou has given us the seal, and the grain and soldiers were all brought by Commander Xu himself."

Feng Baozhang fell silent.

Xu Qingshan squatted down to examine the iron lock on his ankle.

"Where's the key?"

Ma Rong was dragged down the stone steps, his knees slamming against the stone slabs.

"At my waist."

Liang Shun pulled out the key and tried it several times before finally opening the lock.

Feng Baozhang was helped up by two old soldiers.

As soon as he exerted force with his legs, he fell forward.

Liang Shun quickly supported him.

"Fortress Commander, please take a rest."

"I can't rest."

Feng Baozhang said breathlessly, "There are still six brothers in the water dungeon. Save them first."

The torches continued to move deeper into the area.

Soon, the clanging of chains could be heard from the cells on both sides.

Upon hearing Liang Shun's voice, several imprisoned soldiers struggled to climb to the iron bars.

"Uncle Liang?"

"Is it really you?"

"Where are Ma Rong's men?"

Liang Shun gripped the iron railing.

"It's all in the past."

"The garrison commander led his troops into Duanhe Fort and brought back eight cartloads of grain."

A soldier who was so thin he was practically skin and bones paused for a few moments, then leaned against the wall and laughed.

The laughter had barely left her lips when tears began to stream down her face.

Xu Qingshan had someone continue unlocking the lock.

Just as the second cell door opened, hurried footsteps came from above the stone steps.

A cavalryman responsible for guarding the riverbank charged into the dungeon.

"Lord Garrison Commander!"

"A large number of torches appeared on the west side of the valley, and they were following the tracks left by grain carts towards Duanhebao."

Xu Qingshan asked, "How many people?"

"More than fifty torches."

The cavalryman caught his breath.

"There was the sound of horses' hooves behind them, at least seventy or eighty riders."

Liang Shun's expression changed.

"More than thirty people from Black Wind Stronghold have already been arrested, so why are so many still coming?"

Xu Qingshan looked at Ma Rong.

Ma Rong knelt beside the stone steps, his face drained of color.

"explain."

"In the original plan, One-Eyed Wolf was only responsible for leading the vanguard and the supply wagons into the fortress."

Ma Rong's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Once he takes control of the side gate, Qi Biao, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold, will arrive with his rear guard."

"The vanguard will seize the city gate, while the rear guard will split into three groups: one to occupy the granary, one to control the military households' area, and the rest to guard the shallow riverbank."

Zhou Laoqi asked, "How many people from Black Wind Stronghold came in total?"

"The one-eyed wolf led more than thirty men."

"Qi Biao still has at least seventy riders under his command."

Ma Rong lowered his head.

"The chief will probably come before dawn."

Hou San helped himself down the steps by supporting himself against the stone wall.

"You bandits are quite meticulous in your division of labor."

"After entering the city, even the order of who would seize grain and who would seize people was arranged."

When Ma Rong saw the short knife in his hand, he instinctively shrank back.

Xu Qingshan asked, "What's the password for the rear guard to enter?"

"When they see the side gate is open and all eight grain carts are there, they will first ask where the one-eyed wolf is."

I replied that the third leader was checking the goods in the granary.

Qi Biao would also ask, "Are there any fish in the river?"

"How should I answer?"

"The fish is in the net, now we just need the second-in-command to reel it in."

Xu Qingshan continued, "How many people will Qi Biao bring with him to enter first?"

"He is cautious by nature."

Ma Rong said, "Usually, half of the men would stay on the riverbank while I would lead more than thirty elite soldiers into the fort to investigate."

Zhou Laoqi looked at Xu Qingshan.

"Thirty riders can eat it."

"The remaining forty riders are blocking the riverbank; dealing with them shouldn't be difficult."

Xu Qingshan looked into the depths of the water prison.

"Fort Chief Feng and the brothers who are imprisoned will stay here for now."

"The news has been blocked."

Feng Baozhang said, "The soldiers from Duanhebao can be used."

Xu Qingshan looked at him.

"Your men just got out of bed and can't tell who's following Ma Rong and who's just being kept in the dark."

"Tonight, let Liang Shun lead them to guard the streets."

"We'll count them slowly after it gets light."

Feng Baozhang remained silent for a moment.

"Listen to the garrison commander."

Xu Qingshan got up and walked towards the stone steps.

"Liang Shun, bring all the ordinary soldiers back to their original positions."

"The gate tower, streets and granaries are still patrolled as usual. If anyone asks, they are told that Deputy Chief Ma has already received the Black Wind Fortress vanguard."

"Don't let them huddle together; if they stand too neatly, it will give them away."

Liang Shun clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Understood."

"Hou San, strip Ma Rong's trusted men of their armor and replace them with Zhenbei cavalrymen of similar build."

Hou San looked down at his waist.

"What am I responsible for?"

"You accompany Ma Rong to the gatehouse."

Xu Qingshan said, "Press the knife against his lower back and make him answer Qi Biao."

"If he says an extra word, you poke him."

Hou San's eyes lit up.

"This job is suitable for the wounded."

Ma Rong hurriedly replied, "I will definitely cooperate!"

"Don't rush."

Hou San walked behind him and gestured a few times with the scabbard at his waist.

"Let me find a spot where I won't die easily."

Ma Rong's back tensed up instantly.

Zhou Laoqi said, "I will lead ten riders out of the north gate and circle around upstream to the back of the riverbank."

"If those Black Wind Stronghold members left outside want to leave, this will block them."

Ah Man replied, "I'll go with you."

"The fog is thick along the riverbank. Once the bandits disappear into the reeds, you may not be able to find them."

Xu Qingshan nodded.

"Xiaoqi will remain on the other side of the river."

"After the torches on the city wall were lit, his crossbowmen first aimed at the horses outside."

"Try to leave as many survivors as possible tonight."

Hou San asked, "Another interrogation?"

"Nearly a hundred people have arrived from Black Wind Stronghold."

Xu Qingshan said, "We need to find a few people willing to lead the way."

…………

Broken River Fortress quickly returned to its previous state.

Eight grain carts remained parked inside the side gate.

The straw mats on the cart were put back on, and the burlap sacks were piled up to the brim. More than ten Zhenbei cavalrymen were hidden behind the grain sacks, and crossbow bolts were already inserted into their slots.

The bodies of Ma Rong's confidants were dragged into a nearby empty house, and the bloodstains were washed away with river water.

Several Zhenbei cavalrymen, dressed in the armor of their trusted men, stood by the door carrying lanterns.

The side door remained open.

A third grain cart was wedged between the two wooden doors, looking from a distance like a one-eyed wolf who had entered the city but was too lazy to clean it up.

Ma Rong was taken up to the gate tower.

Hou San stood behind him, his short sword pressed against his waist.

"We'll talk about it properly later."

"If you call it wrong, once I make this cut, even if Qin Yuenu comes, she won't be able to sew it back up."

Ma Rong's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"Rest assured, my lord."

"My surname is Hou, not Ye."

Hou San thought for a moment.

"But if you're willing to shout, I can hear you."

Xu Qingshan put on the one-eyed wolf's black robe, put his blindfold back on, and sat on the grain cart next to the doorway.

Liang Shun led the soldiers of Duanhebao to guard both sides of the street.

These people already knew that Black Wind Stronghold was about to arrive.

Several young soldiers gripped their weapons, their breathing noticeably rapid.

Liang Shun walked past them.

"Don't look out the door."

"Stand the way you usually do, stand the same way tonight."

A soldier asked in a low voice, "Uncle Liang, can we really hold out?"

Liang Shun looked at the Zhenbei Banner next to the grain cart.

"Sun Kui is dead, and Ma Rong has been kidnapped."

"He defeated two thousand men of the Black Wolf tribe; seventy or eighty bandits are nothing."

The streets quieted down again.

Before long, the sound of horses' hooves gradually became clearer in the valley.

A large patch of firelight appeared behind the fog.

Dozens of riders approached Broken River Fortress along the riverbank. The man at the front wore leather armor, had a gray wolf pelt over his shoulders, and carried a long-handled iron hammer.

Qi Biao, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold.

He raised his hand about fifty paces from the side door.

The group immediately stopped.

Qi Biao saw the grain carts in the gate and then looked up to observe the city wall.

The flags, lanterns, and patrolling soldiers were all as agreed.

The side door was even open.

One of the bandits laughed, "The third leader is quite quick."

"All eight cartloads of grain have been delivered."

Qi Biao did not laugh along.

"Where's the one-eyed wolf?"

Ma Rong leaned half his body out from the gate tower.

"The third leader is currently checking the goods in the granary."

Are there any fish in the river?

"The fish is in the net, now we just need the second-in-command to reel it in."

Qi Biao then relaxed a little.

He pointed to the twenty or so riders behind him.

"Stay outside and watch the shallows."

"The rest of you, follow me into the fortress."

More than thirty bandits spurred their horses forward.

The side gate of Duanhebao was narrow, allowing them to ride side by side in two, slowly entering through the gap next to the grain carts.

The bandit at the front, noticing the soldiers on either side, casually asked, "Deputy Fort Commander Ma, are these men all obedient?"

Ma Rong felt Hou San's knife tip move forward slightly.

"They've already changed positions."

"Anyone who dares to disobey will be locked in the water dungeon."

Qi Biao rode his horse through the archway.

His gaze lingered on the eight grain carts for a moment, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

"Sun Kui is quite willing to give this time."

"With this batch of grain, the villagers won't need to go down the mountain for two months."

The bandits ahead continued into the street.

Ten riders.

Twenty riders.

Thirty riders.

After Qi Biao's warhorse passed the last grain cart, only the rear guard responsible for watching the shallows remained outside the gate.

Hou San quietly raised his hand from the gate tower.

The Zhenbei riders on both sides of the side gate simultaneously grabbed the ropes.

The wooden wedges under the wheels of the grain cart were quickly pulled out.

Qi Biao heard a noise behind him and was about to turn around when the blindfolded man next to the grain cart stood up.

The torches on the gate tower swayed in the wind.

The light illuminated Xu Qingshan's face perfectly.

Qi Biao's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Who are you?"

Xu Qingshan took off his blindfold and smiled at him.

"You're too late."

"This door has changed owners."