Chapter 1 The Jade Plate City

The Jade Plate City already had a moat, and because it was adjacent to the Wangjiang River, waterways were naturally well-developed. Although the river surface was frozen, the Chu people were still digging trenches outside the city, and a series of obstacles and traps were set up early on.

Compared to the Savages, the Chu people were masters of city defense warfare.

Furthermore, the one stationed in the Jade Plate City was Qu Tiannan, a Pillar of State of Chu, known for his strict and meticulous command. Therefore, the Jade Plate City at this time could be said to be "armed" to the teeth from top to bottom.

The Wangjiang River surface was no longer defended, and no camps were set up. They simply allowed the Yan people to come and attack as they pleased.

It was precisely because of the existence and restraint of the Jade Plate City that the Yan army's offensive was greatly limited. The Chu people mainly defended, relying on strongholds, while the Savages moved outside, waiting for an opportunity to act. In this quiet and active interplay, the two sides had a tacit understanding.

"Achoo!"

The young man stood on the city wall and sneezed loudly.

The Swordsmith stood beside him, shaking his head, and said,

"It's freezing cold, what are you doing coming up here?"

"Just looking around, looking more, hopefully catching a bit of typhoid fever, so I can report back to Fourth Brother."

"The whole of Chu knows that the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince have the best relationship, but it seems there's still some distance between them."

"Those few have been dealt with pretty thoroughly. The eldest is still putting up a stubborn resistance, but he's just a grasshopper after autumn, not long for this world. I reckon after the spring thaw, Fourth Brother will be able to enter Yingdu. When we see Fourth Brother in the future, we'll have to kneel and kowtow.

"Some things, Fourth Brother might not care about, but that's his business. We, as younger brothers, as subjects, have to keep to our place.

"Isn't that the principle of ruler and subject?"

"Boring."

"That's right. Wasn't it more interesting when Fourth Brother took me, when I was still very young, to your sword-making workshop to find you?"

"The Fourth Prince is a lover of swords."

"What about me?"

"You're just so-so."

"I'm still young."

"As the twig is bent, so grows the tree."

"Your mouth is as sharp as the swords you forge."

"Heh."

"The Savages in the east seem to be making some moves."

"Not moves, but sealing off news. Even my Chu messengers can't get through."

"Did something happen?"

"Something must have happened."

"Before, the Situ Yi brothers were defeated at Fengxin City by a lone Yan army that had penetrated deep. The two brothers were drowned in dung and urine and hung on the city wall until they dried up. I guess that lone army has pulled something else off?"

"Probably. Qu Tiannan has already sent a separate force eastward to scout out the news. Since the Savages are sealing off the news, they obviously don't want us to know. The more they're like that, the more we need to know."

"That's the logic."

"However, no matter what happens, our Great Chu just needs to hold onto this Jade Plate City. We'll hold it until the spring thaw, when Fourth Brother has cleared up the internal affairs and ascended the throne. Whether this Jade Plate City is to be defended or abandoned, we can decide freely."

In the spring, when the river thaws, the Great Chu navy will be able to re-enter the Wangjiang River, and the initiative will once again be in the hands of the Chu people.

The Chu kingdom needed a quiet external environment to clean up the internal chaos. The fifty thousand Azure Luan Army were stationed in the Jade Plate City to block the threat from the Yan people.

Otherwise, if the Yan people drove out the Savages and annexed the entire Jin kingdom, then the Yan people's iron cavalry would directly threaten Chu. If Chu were a monolithic entity, it would be fine, but the problem was that because the late emperor had passed away, although there was no major turmoil in the country, a complete consolidation had not been achieved.

Holding the Jade Plate City was actually to create a buffer zone for Chu.

The young man took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped his nose, saying:

"What do you think the Southern Marquis of Yan is up to these days?"

"Testing the waters. It's like when forging a sword, you have to adjust the heat first."

"Making a mystery out of it."

The Swordsmith said, "Outsiders just watch the fun."

"Hey, I say, do you look down on me that much?"

"You're just so-so."

"Alright, I won't waste my breath with you. We don't have much grain left in the city."

Transporting grain from within Chu to the Jade Plate City was a long distance with heavy losses, and the northern waterways were basically frozen, so the Chu ships could not sail, greatly reducing transportation efficiency.

Originally, when the Chu army set out, they thought the same as General Zheng: to take food from the enemy.

Why bring grain? Just eat what's local.

Unlike the Yan people, the Yan Emperor wanted to completely annex the lands of the Three Jins and incorporate them into the territory of Great Yan for governance, but the Chu people obviously did not have this plan for the time being, or rather, they were not ready to mobilize the entire country for a major war with Yan.

So, naturally, they wanted the highest cost-effectiveness. First, use one hand to block the Yan people far away, and internal stability must come before external defense.

However, the Chu people underestimated the Savages' ability to wreak havoc. The eastern half of Cheng, which should have been the most prosperous area under the rule of the Situ family, was plundered and slaughtered by the Savages, leaving only one out of ten houses intact.

Furthermore, a continuous war made the local spring and autumn harvests impossible. In this era, if a year's harvest was lost, a famine was inevitable.

Therefore, after the Chu people arrived, they found that grain was not as easy to gather as they had imagined.

Originally, Situ Yi's little court was squeezed out of the Jade Plate City by the Chu people and fell into Fengxin City in the rear, with the task of gathering food and fodder for the Chu army.

After all, the Jin people knew the Jin people best and should be more adept at gathering grain, and Fengxin City had already stored a lot of grain to be transported to the Jade Plate City in the deep winter.

But before it could be transported, it was captured by the Shengle Army led by General Zheng. General Zheng took away everything he could, and the large amount of grain that could not be taken away was not distributed to the local refugees, but was burned directly.

Moreover, the Shengle Army had also carried out sweeps in the area centered on Fengxin City. Several large families and walled villages that had relied on Situ Yi and had not suffered in the Savage riots were also captured, and their stored grain was burned directly.

This caused a huge grain shortage problem for the Chu people. Fifty thousand troops stationed in the city consumed a huge amount of food and fodder every day. You should know that General Zheng almost went bankrupt just supporting fifteen thousand soldiers in Shengle City.

What's more, at this time, the Jade Plate City had no production activities at all. The original residents were either conscripted by the Chu people to build fortifications or were driven out. This once bustling and prosperous city was now full of desolation.

"The Savages just sent a batch this morning, which can alleviate the immediate crisis."

The young man heard this and smiled:

"It seems that the Savage King is also sensible, afraid that we will run away and abandon them if we run out of food."

"Yes," the Swordsmith responded. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm hungry. The food supply has been cut in half recently, and I'm too embarrassed to shamelessly ask Qu Tiannan for food."

"You should eat what you need to eat, don't be polite. You should ask for what you need to ask for, and don't be polite."

"Oh?"

"Is it necessary for you to share the hardships with the Azure Luan Army soldiers here?"

"Hehe, you're joking. Fourth Brother knows me best. I can't bear much hardship or grievance. Hmm, it smells so good, the smell of meat, did the Savages send mutton?"

"Probably."

The young man and the Swordsmith went down the city wall together and came to their small residence, which was their residence in the city.

The two had unusual identities. Seemingly idle and carefree, their identities were actually more like military supervisors, so they naturally had a decent share.

However, when they returned, they found that the Azure Luan Army's commander, Qu Tiannan, was already sitting inside.

The Chu people still retained the tradition of sitting on the ground. At this time, food was being cooked in the large pot in the middle, and the fragrant smell of meat wafted through the air.

Qu Tiannan sat in the seat of honor.

"Greetings, Pillar of State."

"Greetings, Pillar of State."

Qu Tiannan did not seem to be in the mood to speak, and just waved his hand.

The young man was a little surprised. He rarely encountered such a cold reception, but he assumed that it was because the Yan army on the opposite bank had been constantly rotating their defenses recently, and there was also the hidden danger of food shortage in the city, so the commander was feeling a little depressed.

The Swordsmith silently sat down at the lower left seat. After sitting down, he flicked his long hair behind him.

The young man sat on the right side, his eyes fixed on the large pot in the middle.

People who are used to fine clothes and good food will find everything fragrant once they have really been hungry for a while. At this time, he was already impatient.

Qu Tiannan waved his hand, signaling one of his personal soldiers to scoop meat soup and distribute it to everyone.

He himself looked at the Swordsmith,

and said:

"Sir, I am not feeling well today."

The Swordsmith nodded,

and said:

"Everything is for the sake of Chu."

While they were talking,

the young man had already taken the large bowl in front of him and started eating the meat with his hands, without using chopsticks.

Qu Tiannan then said:

"If a person consorts with beasts, is he still a person?"

"Since ancient times, how few beasts have been domesticated by humans?"

"That's the principle."

"The principle that makes one feel comfortable in one's heart is the true principle."

"I am taught."

"Pillar of State is too polite."

The young man wiped his greasy mouth and smiled:

"I say, you two, with such delicious food in front of you, you still have time to talk about metaphysics. You're truly untouched by worldly affairs."

Qu Tiannan did not speak. With his status, even the Fourth Prince, who was about to ascend the throne, would be courteous enough. Naturally, he did not need to be manipulated in front of this young prince.

The Swordsmith pointed at the young man with his chopsticks and said:

"I don't know who only knows about romance and doesn't know about suffering."

"Ha? Me? You're joking. I've had some hard times."

"Since you've had hard times, how can you not know what kind of meat you just ate?"

The young man was stunned,

and looked down,

at the half-piece of meat left in his bowl.

The Swordsmith continued to ask:

"Mutton, is it delicious?"

"Ugh………………"