Chapter 1399: Give Yuan Se a Hand

The Qi court seethed with fury and resentment. Denunciations of Huyan Wuhen came like a tide, but they amounted to nothing more than verbal condemnation. In reality, the court could do absolutely nothing to him.

Originally, the Three Great Sects had still been capable of restraining Huyan Wuhen. But now even they had begun playing dead, plainly giving tacit approval to what he was doing.

And after seeing through the tricks the regional lords were playing in their attempts to obstruct the rebel army, Huyan Wuhen slowed his march as well. His army's movements became so strange they were almost impossible to understand.

The great army began rushing east and west, doing everything except advancing properly toward the capital.

Put plainly, Huyan Wuhen was single-mindedly gathering grain.

His millions of troops were striking everywhere to seize provisions.

This organized, large-scale method of "robbery" even had clear divisions of labor and scouts sent ahead to investigate targets. It was far more formidable than any ordinary band of brigands...

...

At Jin's frontline command center, Gao Pin sat quietly in the hall, holding the latest intelligence and reading it. He remained silent for a long time.

A Qiyun Sect elder asked heavily, "What exactly is Huyan Wuhen doing?"

Gao Pin drew a deep breath. "Does that even need asking? He's stockpiling enormous quantities of grain and preparing for a protracted war!"

The Qiyun Sect elder snorted. "He really is something. A dignified Supreme General of Qi, yet he actually lets his troops plunder grain inside his own country. No—not lets them plunder grain. He personally commands several million troops to plunder grain!"

Gao Pin tossed the intelligence aside and leaned slowly back in his chair. "I heard that he previously submitted a memorial to the Qi court confessing guilt and saying his crime admitted no pardon. 'No pardon for this crime... no pardon for this crime...' I think I finally understand what he meant. His crime truly does admit no pardon!"

"Report!"

A general strode in quickly and urgently reported, "Grand Marshal, the Qin army has also begun a full retreat into Qi's interior. According to our scouts, Qin has sent several columns toward nearby Commanderies and Prefectures to seize grain as well!"

"What?" Gao Pin was badly startled. He barked, "Investigate further!"

There was no need.

The Qin army had indeed withdrawn, and it had indeed gone to seize grain.

Huyan Wuhen had seen through Gao Pin's intentions and sent word to Luo Zhao, telling him to withdraw his army as well and join in gathering grain.

Qi was vast. Huyan Wuhen could not possibly strip it all at once, so he would work from the west while Luo Zhao led Qin's army from the east.

Their purpose was singular: stockpile enough grain to keep contesting Jin to the bitter end. They would not admit defeat easily, and they would not allow Jin to occupy Qi easily.

Once Huyan Wuhen gave the word and ordered the Qi cultivators stationed throughout the regions to cooperate, the Qin army instantly shed any reservations. It withdrew in a great rush and began the same work.

When Gao Pin learned what had happened, his head seemed to double in size.

Not only had his previous plan for dealing with Qin collapsed, but an enormous problem now stood before him.

Should Jin's army continue holding its defensive line?

If it did, it would simply sit and watch while the enemy slowly accumulated grain.

But if Jin attacked, the enemy might be waiting precisely for Gao Pin to come and decide victory or defeat in one great battle.

Huyan Wuhen had thrown him a difficult problem.

...

The Qi army paused to rest. Huyan Wuhen walked over to a newly gathered pile of grain, scooped up a handful, and examined it before ordering the men around him, "Before any of this goes into the pot, inspect it carefully. Guard against the enemy poisoning the grain we've collected."

"Yes!" The soldiers around him cupped their hands and accepted the order.

Quite a few men were even smiling. With grain in hand, their hearts were steady.

Huyan Wuhen patted a common soldier on the shoulder and turned away. The elders of the Three Great Sects were walking toward him.

The three fell into step beside him. The Tianhuo Sect elder said, "Supreme General, the rebel army is almost at the capital. The entire court is like ants on a hot pan. With you dragging your feet, stopping and starting like this, even our sects have no way to explain matters to the court."

Huyan Wuhen climbed a hill, rested one hand on the sword at his waist, and looked toward the capital. "Does Elder still believe the capital can be held?"

The Daqiu Sect elder said heavily, "There are one hundred thousand troops in the capital. Its defenses are strong and nearly impregnable, there are ample civilians available for labor, and our Three Great Sects are personally holding the city. It can certainly stand for more than a month!"

Huyan Wuhen shook his head. "People's hearts have already scattered. I'm afraid you could investigate the spies inside the capital forever and still never finish. You can see it from the way the regional lords' attempts to block the rebels amounted to little more than empty gestures. Three Elders, shall we make a wager? I wager that once the rebel army arrives, it will not take long before someone inside the capital opens the gates and lets the enemy in. If the capital can hold, then whether my main army moves a little faster or slower does not matter. The two reinforcement armies alone will be enough to relieve the defenders. If the capital cannot hold until those two reinforcements arrive, then even if my main army runs until its legs break, it will still be too late."

Hearing there might be enemy collaborators inside the capital, the Xuanbing Sect elder stamped his foot. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

The three elders hurried away at once to warn their sects and tell them to prepare.

Zha Hu approached Huyan Wuhen. "General, you have no confidence in the capital's defenses?"

Huyan Wuhen shook his head. "Leave it to Heaven."

Zha Hu immediately grew anxious. "Then doesn't that mean the family members at the residence may be in danger? General, why didn't you say so earlier?" He turned as though to make arrangements.

"Tiger!" Huyan Wuhen called sharply.

Zha Hu stopped and looked back.

Huyan Wuhen said, "It isn't only my family in the capital. The families of many of our brothers are there as well. Can you take all of them away? My family cannot leave. The moment they do, the morale of the capital's entire garrison will collapse. This is the dignified capital of Qi, the heart of a state, defended with the resources of the whole country. It has one hundred thousand troops and walls both tall and strong. If it cannot even stop a few rebels, what sort of farce would that be? The moment my family leaves, the families of every civil and military official will run as well. Keep those officials there, and only then will they fight desperately to defend the city. Jin's army is still beyond Qi's borders. It hasn't even arrived yet. Not a single enemy soldier from Jin has attacked, so how can we lose the national capital already? They must hold it. They must hold until the reinforcements arrive!"

Zha Hu's face twisted with conflict. "But what if they can't hold? Wouldn't everyone at home be in danger?"

"Danger?" Huyan Wuhen looked around, almost as though speaking to himself. "I sent my troops to seize grain from the various Commanderies and Prefectures. Afterward, those local authorities will inevitably squeeze the common people to make up the loss. What I've done will bring calamity upon the people of Qi. My crime admits no pardon..."

...

In the Hall of Martial Valor in Nanzhou's provincial capital, Meng Shanming fell speechless after learning of the Qi and Qin armies' new movements.

He had miscalculated.

Even Meng Shanming had never imagined Huyan Wuhen would do something like this, commanding several million troops to seize grain on a massive scale inside his own country and even dragging Qin's army into the same undertaking.

Shang Chaozong shook his head and sighed. "Doing something like this will inevitably provoke boiling resentment among the people. Even if he manages to preserve Qi afterward, unless he uses his army to make himself untouchable, he probably won't escape death! From imperial power above, to every official at court, to the common people below, he has offended them all. I'm afraid even the Three Great Sects will have to deal with him afterward if they want to give the whole of Qi an accounting."

Meng Shanming could not help shaking his head as well. "Without destruction, there can be no creation. I can only hope he succeeds."

...

In the Qi capital, someone knocked on the gate of a secluded courtyard.

Guo Man opened it. After identifying the visitor and seeing the veiled-hat figure following behind him, she hurriedly let them in, then ran back inside to report.

A short while later, Wuxin and Yan Baoru came out in haste.

"Master, why are you here?" Wuxin bowed to the visitor.

It was the Ghost Doctor.

The Ghost Doctor said little. He merely gestured toward the house, indicating that master and disciple should speak inside.

Once they were seated indoors, he came straight to the point. "I hear the rebel army is about to reach the city and this place is about to become a battlefield. Are you still planning to cling to this place?"

He had originally come out to search for a suitable eyeball for Yuan Se. After hearing about the situation here, he had deliberately made the trip.

Wuxin fell silent.

He understood. His master had come to persuade him to leave yet again.

But as far as Wuxin knew, Shao Liuer was still confined by the court inside Prince Ying's residence. If the rebel army truly attacked the city, then so long as the walls held, things might still be fine. But once the city fell...

After his thoughts turned over and over, Wuxin forced a smile. "Nothing will happen to me. In a sense, I'm benefiting from Master's reputation. No matter how the war develops, no matter who this city ultimately belongs to, no one should come barging in here to make trouble for me."

The Ghost Doctor said indifferently, "Your master has something to do and would like your help. Sacred Venerable Yuan Se came to find me..."

He explained the matter of Yuan Se wanting an eyeball transplanted. "We practice medicine to save lives. We do not commit deeds that offend Heaven and violate reason. For that reason, finding a suitable transplant donor is troublesome. I cannot run everywhere handling all of it alone, and Yuan Se's side is pressing me urgently. Come with me and help."

The moment Wuxin heard this, he knew it was an excuse. His master was still worried about danger here and wanted to take him away. Wuxin immediately said seriously, "Disciple can stay here and help Master just as well. Once the fighting begins, there will inevitably be large numbers of dead and wounded here. That will be precisely the right place to search for suitable transplant material without having to commit deeds that offend Heaven and violate reason."

"..."

The Ghost Doctor was rendered speechless.

His disciple had blocked him so neatly that he could find nothing to say.

He knew Wuxin still could not let go of that woman and refused to leave, but the argument did contain some truth. Once fighting began, there would certainly be many casualties here. Making use of what would otherwise go to waste was far better than harming the innocent.

In the end, the Ghost Doctor did not leave either.

Searching for a suitable transplant for Yuan Se was one reason. Remaining here also made it convenient to protect Wuxin.

And with Yuan Se backing this undertaking, they did not have to worry much about anyone daring to interfere.

...

Inside Nanzhou's secret chamber, Niu Youdao rose after reading the secret letter in his hand. He muttered to himself, "An eyeball transplant for Yuan Se?"

The letter had come from Guo Man.

The Ghost Doctor and his disciple were preparing for the transplant, and Guo Man, as their assistant, had learned the details as well.

Niu Youdao set the letter down and paced.

He already knew Yuan Se had become one-eyed. The last time Sha Rulai sent word that Yuan Se had gone to the Ghost Doctor, Niu Youdao had not paid much attention because Medicine Valley was difficult for him to reach.

He suddenly gave a soft snort. "Would you look at that. I never expected it to be delivered right into my hands in the blink of an eye."

Yun Ji, standing nearby, asked, "What are you planning now?"

"Nothing much," Niu Youdao said. "I merely want to help fulfill a good thing and give Yuan Se a hand."

Yun Ji looked at him suspiciously. "You can be that kindhearted? Don't tell me you want the Ghost Doctor to assassinate Yuan Se."

Niu Youdao chuckled. "You're thinking too much. Even if the Ghost Doctor wanted to do it, he wouldn't have the nerve. But I have heard that the woman beside Yuan Se is his true confidante. I wonder whether she would be willing to offer him one of her eyes?"

A strange, wicked smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

He returned behind the desk and sat. After considering matters for a while, he personally picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a letter. Once the ink was dry, he handed it to Yun Ji.

"It's about time we gave Shao Pingbo something to do as well. This sort of thing is most convenient for him. Translate this into a coded message exactly as written and send it to Shao Pingbo."

Naturally, Yun Ji could not resist looking at the contents.

The letter mentioned Yuan Se's search for the Ghost Doctor to transplant an eyeball and instructed Shao Pingbo to find some way to make the Ghost Doctor settle on Consort Yuan as the transplant donor.

One sentence had been deliberately emphasized:

The Ghost Doctor cared deeply about his disciple Wuxin!

[End of Chapter 1399]