Astronomical Figure

Zhang Shi’s heart sank like a stone into the depths of a lake.

As a man who had charged across the grasslands seven times and back, he knew all too well the importance of supplies. The saying that food and fodder must precede the army was the truth of the matter.

In fact, it could be said that in many battles, grain supplies were more crucial than the army’s fighting strength.

And grain…

The massive army that had marched out of the capital had never been particularly well-stocked.

When they first left the capital, everything depended on the imperial court’s provisions. Although the Duke held immense power and ensured nothing was lacking, feeding twenty thousand troops—men and horses alike—over the long journey from the court to Yun Jing had consumed unimaginable resources.

Fortunately, the campaign had gone smoothly so far, with successive captures of two major cities: Wu Sheng Pass and Huai’an City. Since neither had endured the ravages of war, their granaries had provided ample replenishment.

But that didn’t mean supplies were abundant.

After all, the entire Yun Jing region still lay ahead.

Thus, an unwritten consensus had formed among the troops: once a city was taken, the first priority was to seize its imperial granaries and resources for military use.

When Zhang Shi had set his sights on Yuan City, he had also planned to secure its resources. After all, an insignificant figure like Xu Shang wouldn’t have justified such a massive military expenditure.

But now…

What did it mean that the imperial granary of Yuan City was completely empty?

What did it mean that there was not a single ounce of gold, silver, or treasure?

Had Hu Shaoyou spent it all?

That didn’t add up. Even if the defense of the city had consumed vast amounts, it couldn’t have exhausted everything in such a short time!

“Go look again! Investigate further!”

“Forget it, I’ll go myself!”

Zhang Shi led a team personally to inspect Yuan City’s imperial granary, armory, and treasury. All were empty. The granary was the worst—not a single grain of rice remained.

“Then what the hell was the point of taking this city?” Zhang Shi felt his head pounding.

On the grasslands, he had roamed freely, unmatched by any foe. Even under harsh conditions, he had felt free and unfettered. But now, back in the Central Plains, with ample supplies on all sides, he felt constrained at every turn, uncomfortable no matter what he did.

Just as he was racking his brains for a solution, a personal guard hurried in to report.

“General Zhang Shi, the Duke has arrived.”

“What?”

“The Duke is here, less than ten li away.”

“Has the Duke truly come? Could he have foreseen that I failed to capture Xu Shang and lost Yuan City’s grain stores, and has come to hold me accountable?” Zhang Shi felt on the verge of tears.

But with the Duke arriving, he dared not delay. He quickly tidied up and went to greet him. Soon, at the city gate, he met Ren Tianye.

Looking closely, he saw that the visitors were numerous.

The Duke, Wang Ming, Su Jin, Pei Jingzhi… In fact, all the senior officers of their southern campaign had come.

“Your Grace!” Zhang Shi stepped forward to bow, his face bitter.

“What’s wrong?” Ren Tianye was somewhat surprised. “Didn’t this battle go quite well? A single cannon shot brought down Yuan City and killed the city lord Hu Shaoyou.”

“That should count as a merit.”

“So why the long face?”

“Your Grace…” Zhang Shi dared not hide the truth. “The imperial granary, treasury, and armory of Yuan City are all empty.”

He went on to explain the situation in detail.

Ren Tianye frowned as well.

This huge city of Yuan, completely empty?

After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Is that city lord, Hu Shaoyou, truly dead?”

“Yes, General. I verified it multiple times. He is indeed dead. His body is currently placed in the Gu family residence. His wife looked as if she was about to lose her mind from weeping. Since I saw no point in taking out my anger on a corpse, I only posted guards and took no further action.”

Ren Tianye nodded. “Let’s go there.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“By the way…” On the way, Ren Tianye thought of something and asked, “Where is Lu Shuang?”

“Your Grace, Lu Shuang went off on her own to investigate something. As a member of the Demon Suppression Bureau and sent by you and Su Jin to assist me, I never restrict her movements. As long as there’s no major issue, she is free to do as she pleases.”

Ren Tianye nodded again, and they proceeded together toward the Gu residence.

…

At the Gu residence.

Hu Shaoyou, who had been resolved to die from the start of the city’s defense, had long prepared a coffin. His body had now been placed inside.

The solid wooden coffin stood like an impassable chasm separating Gu Qing from him. She had been numb with grief, her eyes hollow, tears already spent, leaving only crimson-rimmed eyes.

Silence filled the hall, broken only by the crackling of candles.

The personal guards Zhang Shi had left behind did not disturb her, as sincerity like this—whether feigned or not—was impossible to fake so perfectly. The guards were human, too, and couldn’t help but respect a woman of such deep devotion.

Thus, they maintained a watchful distance without intruding.

Until…

Two voices suddenly wailed aloud.

“Son, oh, my son! How could you leave us like this? With you gone, what will your father and I do now?”

“My boy, my boy! We raised you for so many years, and now today we have to watch a father and mother send off their child in old age! What will your mother and I do from now on?”

These two shrill cries drew the guards’ attention, and they quickly recognized the newcomers.

They must be Hu Shaoyou’s parents.

This was an unexpected development.

A messenger was immediately dispatched to report to Zhang Shi.

Meanwhile, the other guards grew more vigilant.

Gu Qing, who had been kneeling on the floor, her eyes lifeless and numb, finally stirred. She turned her head slowly, as if seeing something, yet nothing at all.

Then, realization dawned.

She stood up abruptly.

Having knelt for so long, blood rushed to her head, and a dizzy spell washed over her. She reached out and grasped the coffin to steady herself.

Her face was now filled with urgency.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, how… how did you come here?”

“Didn’t you both return to your hometown?”

Before the battle for Yuan City, foreseeing a life-or-death struggle, Gu Qing had early on suggested that the two elderly retire to the countryside. She had even personally escorted them to the city gate.

So why had they come back now?

“My son is dead—how could I not come?”

“Daughter-in-law, Shaoyou is dead! He’s dead! Even if we must die ourselves, we had to come!”

Hu Shaoyou’s father and mother were both overcome with grief. After saying this, they threw themselves onto the coffin, wailing as if their hearts would break.

“Oh, my son! With you gone, what will become of all those debts?”

“My boy! You were so generous, giving money and grain to your fellow officials and soldiers. And yet, Yuan City still couldn’t be held! Oh, my son, you died so miserably!”

Gu Qing had been grieving alongside them. But upon hearing these words, she froze in surprise. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, what money and grain are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, given to fellow officials and soldiers?”

“What are you saying?”

Hu Shaoyou’s mother turned around, a trace of surprise on her face. “Daughter-in-law, didn’t you know? To get everyone to defend the city with their utmost, Shaoyou distributed all the money, grain, and resources from the imperial granary, treasury, and armory to his soldiers.”

“That’s right, they told both of us old folks, but didn’t they tell you? Ah, you must have been too strict with him in daily life; he didn’t dare to bring it up to you. He probably planned to wait until the battle was over to talk about it, but no one expected… he would fall on the battlefield!”

Gu Qing’s already pale face grew even whiter.

All the grain and silver in the Taicang Armory, the weapons depot, and the treasury had been distributed?

And he had borrowed supplies equivalent to four million taels of silver from the surrounding cities?

That was an astronomical sum!

……