Chapter 117: Burning the Supplies

“Ah, Shoucheng, why are you still so impulsive? Would you mind letting me finish what I was saying?” Jia Xu called out, somewhat displeased. Ma Teng was truly the same as he was years ago—just as impulsive. Perhaps Ma Chao had inherited Ma Teng’s temperament.

Ma Teng felt a bit embarrassed, realizing he had lost his composure. Since Liu Yao had accepted him, how could he possibly be asked to assist a traitor? Apologizing, Ma Teng said, “Wenhe, please forgive me. I was too hasty earlier. Please continue.”

Seeing this, Jia Xu went on, “My lord wants you to command your troops as if guarding a fortress. Gain the trust of Han Sui, secure the position of gatekeeper, and when my lord leads the army to besiege the city, open the gates to let the forces in. At that time, my lord will surely credit you with great merit.”

“This… Wenhe, I fear I may not perform well and might jeopardize my lord’s grand plan,” Ma Teng replied anxiously. Charging into battle was no problem for him, but when it came to schemes and tactics, no Ma Teng could compare to Han Sui. The Ma family was known for their straightforwardness—Ma Teng, Ma Chao, and Ma Tie were all of one mind. Only Ma Dai was somewhat different.

“Shoucheng, do not worry. For now, I will act as your advisor. You only need to follow my instructions,” Jia Xu said with a smile.

“I obey your command,” Ma Teng agreed without hesitation, his heart filled with excitement. This plan had already been arranged by Liu Yao and others. He only needed to follow Jia Xu’s guidance and would gain great merit. Such an opportunity was not to be refused.

“Brother Shoucheng, I’ve traveled a long way and am still hungry. Is this how you treat me?” Jia Xu teased with mock displeasure. Having discussed serious matters, it was time to reminisce and catch up.

“Hahaha, Wenhe, that was my oversight. I’ll have food prepared immediately. Tonight, we shall not part until drunk,” Ma Teng laughed heartily.

“Excellent!”

Yet behind a folding screen unseen by the others, two boys of about ten or twelve were stealthily eavesdropping on the conversation between Ma Teng and Jia Xu. After listening, they exchanged glances and nodded in silent agreement, as if reaching a decision.

Three nights later, just three miles from the Qiang encampment where Jia Xu had escaped, a unit of elite cavalry lay hidden in the shadows.

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“Zilong, the telescopes my lord had made are useful, but they’re useless at night,” Zang Ba muttered discontentedly as he fiddled with the device. These telescopes had been crafted again by artisans after Liu Yao returned to Luoyang, distributed to every strategist and general under his banner. But this was not the modern era—there were no infrared sensors or the like. Naturally, the telescopes could not be used after dark.

“Xuangao, stop complaining. According to the intelligence from Advisor Jia, there’s about the time of one incense stick left—when the Qiang change their patrol shifts. That will be when the Qiang soldiers are most relaxed. We must complete the mission our lord entrusted to us,” Zhao Yun said seriously. He still felt regret for failing to slay Yan Xing earlier, and this time he was determined not to fail even if it meant death.

Zang Ba, seeing Zhao Yun’s stern expression, also became serious and silently awaited the right moment.

The incense stick’s time soon passed.

Zhao Yun called out to the two thousand troops of the assault camp behind him, “Everyone, check your ignition materials carefully. Make sure nothing is missing.” This was Zhao Yun’s cautiousness; with the quality of the assault troops, a mistake was unlikely.

Hearing no response, Zhao Yun nodded approvingly and shouted, “Advance!” The two thousand armored horsemen charged fiercely toward the Qiang granary.

At the Qiang camp, morale was already low and the troops had grown lazy. The granary was hidden in a very remote location, making discovery nearly impossible. The Qiang commander, courageous warrior Kesu, was drunk and asleep like a dead pig, oblivious to everything.

As the patrol changed shifts, faint sounds of shouts and battle cries approached. At first, the Qiang soldiers thought it was a hallucination, but soon the noises grew louder and clearer, as if right next to their ears. Everyone realized the danger and looked toward the sound.

A large group of armored cavalry was charging straight at them.

“Gods! The camp is under attack! It’s those monsters! Run!” one Qiang soldier shouted suddenly. The others immediately scattered, abandoning the grain supplies. Liu Yao’s assault camp had left an indelible psychological scar on the Qiang after the last great battle. At the sight of these horsemen, nothing else mattered.

From a distance, Zhao Yun and his men had just entered the camp and heard the Qiang’s unintelligible cries—likely their language. Suddenly, the Qiang fled, leaving Zhao Yun puzzled. Yet he prioritized the mission and forbade pursuit.

“Set fire!” At Zhao Yun’s command, the pottery jars hanging on the sides of the warhorses were hurled into the granary tents. The jars shattered, releasing a strong scent of burning oil. Soon, flaming arrows flew, and the entire Qiang camp was engulfed in a raging inferno.

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Meanwhile, the drunken Kesu was abruptly awoken by the chaos and shouts, sobered instantly. He called out, “Someone! What is happening?”

But no Qiang soldier paid him any heed; they fled as if growing four legs.

Seeing no one respond, Kesu hurriedly donned his leather armor and grabbed his weapon, rushing out of the tent. Stepping outside, he was stunned—half the camp was already ablaze. In his heart, he thought, “It’s over. This time, it’s truly over.”

This camp held nearly ninety percent of the Qiang’s grain supplies. Now it was destroyed. Even if Kesu survived, he would surely be executed by the furious Li Wenhou and Beigong Boyu. Despair filled him.

“Zilong, the enemy general is over there!” Zang Ba, busy cutting down Qiang soldiers, spotted a figure resembling a commander fleeing from a tent, only a hundred paces from Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun dispatched a Qiang soldier with a single spear strike, then looked in Zang Ba’s indicated direction to see Kesu standing there, stunned.

Seizing this perfect opportunity, Zhao Yun pressed his knees against his horse’s flank. The Jade Lion galloped like the wind toward Kesu.

“Qiang general, prepare to die!” Zhao Yun shouted as he closed the hundred paces in a flash. His spear plunged straight into Kesu’s throat. Kesu showed no pain, only a sense of relief, and collapsed. Zhao Yun was momentarily puzzled but quickly turned away to continue dispatching the Qiang soldiers.