I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 304 - 226: Protection

Inside the military tent, Li Yuanju, who had recovered from his injuries, was also present. After all, he was a Lieutenant General. After being beaten by Gu Lan, he put on a demeanor as if prioritizing the overall situation, appearing much more subdued.

At this moment, a hawk rested on Li Yuanju’s shoulder, its back a grayish-blue color, and he gently stroked it with one hand.

Gu Lan frowned.

"This is a pet hawk of mine," Li Yuanju coughed, seemingly aware of something. He handed the hawk over to his subordinate and continued, "Without food, can’t Vice Minister Xie hasten the march? Our soldiers can’t starve to death. Knowing this, we might as well have stayed at Cang Wind Port; at least there was supply from the main army there."

Tang Zhan said, "Well, you can go back now; no one is stopping you."

Li Yuanju replied, "I would love to, but there’s no food for the marching troops. We might as well starve to death on the way..."

Gu Lan spoke calmly, "The ones escorting the food with Xie Yun are not regular troops, just some auxiliary soldiers gathered from various prefecture cities, so they can’t march quickly. However, besides Xie Yun, there is another source of food."

Tang Zhan’s eyes flashed as he said, "You mean Wei Country’s army, Young Master?"

Gu Lan nodded and pointed to the location of the Wei army’s camp on the map.

"The Wei army is stationed twenty miles south of Yinzhou City. Their reinforcements have not yet arrived, and they suffered heavy losses from the siege two days ago, leaving them with only a little over ten thousand troops in the camp. Moreover, look here, the Wei army is an isolated force at the Southern Border, with supplies transported from the rear through a single route, flanked by forests on both sides of the road. It’s a broad path suitable for marching cavalry and an ideal spot for an ambush.

We might be able to lead cavalry for an ambush here. By cutting off the Wei army’s supply line just once, we can not only solve our supply shortage but also cripple the Wei army’s morale, preventing them from besieging before their reinforcements arrive."

Everyone carefully examined the spot Gu Lan indicated, lost in deep thought.

"Young Master wants to cut off the Wei army’s supplies, which is a defensive strategy with the guise of offense. It’s clever but also extremely dangerous."

"Indeed, to ambush the supply route in the dense forest on either side, we must quietly leave the city and circle behind the Wei army’s camp. Even then, if we engage, the Wei army could deploy their troops directly from the camp, turning our ambush into a deathtrap for Dayan’s soldiers."

"Gu Lan, this could be far-fetched, mere armchair strategy incapable of execution."

Gu Lan’s expression was slightly cold, his gaze exceptionally firm and sharp, as he said:

"Fortune lies in danger. Our supplies are exhausted within the city. If we don’t want to starve to death one by one before Xie Yun arrives, this is our only option."

Li Yuanju objected, "We have only two to three thousand cavalry and warhorses. If the Wei army encircles us, how do we return?"

Rong Heng, sitting on one side, tapped his finger on the table, a glimmer of contemplation in his eyes.

"So, I will personally lead the troops," Gu Lan said, enunciating each word clearly.

"According to the scout’s report, the day after tomorrow is when the Wei army transports their supplies. We will rest for one day tomorrow and select two thousand cavalry to follow me out of the city at night."

"Since the Young Master is personally leading the troops with your bravery and martial skills, you are bound to return victorious," Li Yuanju said nonchalantly.

Su Yi pondered for a long time, then said, "This plan is not impossible with detailed planning, as long as we don’t alert the Qiangrong people, our cavalry can come and go freely."

"The Qiangrong people are stationed in the woods five miles outside the city, while the Wei army is twenty miles away. We just need not to disturb them."

Seeing Gu Lan’s determination and given the urgency of the food shortage, everyone reluctantly agreed: "Young Master is the commander-in-chief; we will obey. We will also exit the city to support at that time."

Gu Lan nodded and scanned the point on the map where the Qiangrong were stationed.

At this moment, a report came from the personal soldiers outside the tent.

"Generals, outside..." the soldier’s expression was somewhat strange.

"What’s happening?" Gu Lan asked.

"Outside, a group of civilians has arrived."

Their camp was stationed near the city gate. Yesterday, some civilians had already voluntarily brought surplus food from their homes to the camp. Unfortunately, it was like a cup against a raging fire; the food needed for more than ten thousand soldiers was far too much.

The generals went to the camp gate, puzzled.

Soon, their eyes widened in shock.

Though the sky was dimming, they could see countless civilians, holding lamps, gathered on the long street outside the camp, stretching out of sight.

Upon seeing Gu Lan’s clear and handsome face, these civilians immediately knelt down one after another.

"What is the meaning of this, everyone?" Gu Lan asked, puzzled.

At the forefront were mostly young and robust men. In the middle, there were elderly men with gray hair. Gu Lan saw far behind them were many women and children, refugees dressed in tattered clothes.

An old man leaning on a cane and a middle-aged man with a firewood knife on his back stood up from among the kneeling crowd and came forward.

The old man began to speak first:

"Heir, we know you are the Heir of Duke Dingyuan. It was you who fought valiantly to protect Yinzhou City. You also spent silver coin purchasing food in the city, repelling the Wei’s attack, preventing even the slightest harm to Yinzhou’s people.

Old and frail as I am, I am grateful beyond words and wish to thank the Heir for your life-saving grace on behalf of the city’s people.

However,

I also know, Prince was injured by those Wei people!

Prince has been in Yinzhou for a full twelve years. I still remember when Prince first arrived, he was a spirited youth, not much older than you, Heir.

Back then, he followed Marquis Xiao, later becoming a General, and afterward was granted the title of Prince by the Emperor. From then on, he regarded Yinzhou as his home.

Prince, loving the people as his children, transformed Yinzhou from an ordinary prefecture to the major city of the Southern Border it is today. Prince was also the first to open the granaries to aid the people during natural disasters—"

The old man’s voice grew hoarse and raspy, his murky eyes filled with reminiscence as he spoke.

"Old as I am, I know it was Prince’s benevolent heart that welcomed many refugees without ever oppressing the people, leading to Yinzhou falling into its current hardship.

Now, though Prince is absent, Yinzhou’s people remain, and the people of Dayan remain.

If the Wei dare to bully our Prince and invade our land, we must protect this land ourselves and avenge Prince!

When I was young, I served in the army but later broke a leg and returned to be a rich man for forty years.

Actually, my leg healed long ago, and these years are enough."

The old man spoke with tears streaming down his face, nearly shouting, and eventually calmed down, even managing a smile.

This serenity belonged to the people of Dayan.

Rong Heng, listening to the old man’s words, teared up, his indifferent eyes glistening with a touch of emotion.

He once held deep resentment for Rong Shuo but later came to terms with it, understanding tough choices had to be made.

He understood that in Rong Shuo’s heart, he and Rong Jing were both brothers he wanted to protect. But due to his inability to satisfy both, Rong Shuo chose loyalty to the Emperor, compensating as best he could, such as ensuring the Xiao family’s banner still flew among the Southern Border’s army.

Now,

Rong Heng turned his gaze towards the direction of Rong Shuo’s comatose figure in the tent.

He thought,

Brother, you must wake up soon.

Gu Lan looked at the old man as he trembled with dry hands, forcefully drawing a short blade from his waist, his veined and wrinkled hands clenched tightly.

"I want to avenge Prince, and ask the Heir to allow this old man to defend the city together with Dayan’s soldiers! Together with the land of Yan, we live and die as one!"

The old man once again raised his voice, yelling with all his might.

Next to him, the middle-aged man with the firewood knife stepped forward and shouted:

"Heir, I am a refugee from a small city in the Southern Border. It was Prince who gave me shelter and a life at Yinzhou. I am willing to bring my horse and food, don armor, and join Dayan’s soldiers to defend the city! I beg the Heir to permit this!"

"We, the people of Yan, live and die as one with the land of Yan!"

The old man and the middle-aged man knelt once again.

"Live and die as one with the land of Yan!"

"Live and die as one with the land of Yan!"

"Live and die as one with the land of Yan!"

The civilians outside the camp shouted these words in unison.

Gu Lan’s eyes suddenly felt a bit hot and sore.

These civilians, some carried ancestral weapons, others wore leather armor, though most were clad in tattered clothes holding kitchen knives, firewood knives, and many were unarmed women and children, elderly men nearing their end.

They shared one name, the people of Yan.

She held back her tears, clutching the hilt of the Longquan sword at her waist tightly, her fingertips pale with strain.

Then, with serious intent, Gu Lan looked at their blurred faces in the night and said:

"Do not fear. Our duty is to protect you."