The Blood Crown - Chapter 82

As expected, Ge Zhong managed to gather a thousand shi of grain, mostly through forced requisition from the common people.

After observing for two days in the city, when Ge Zhong had the grain ready, Yan Sikong privately instructed Feng Ye: “Send your own men to weigh it again.”

Feng Ye said, “Don’t worry, I’ve already ordered it to be checked, but time is tight. Lord Liang urged me to transport it immediately, so we could only weigh it randomly.”

When the grain arrived at the camp, it still needed to be counted. If it turned out to be insufficient, it would be the problem of the grain transport official. Feng Ye was responsible for escorting it, so even if it was not enough, Zhao Fuyi could not blame Feng Ye. That would be advantageous to those who took advantage of the situation.

Out of the thousand shi of grain, there were four hundred bags of grains. Feng Ye ordered forty bags to be randomly weighed, and surprisingly, each bag was underweight. Some were slightly deficient, and some were even short by ten to twenty catties. If each bag was short by ten catties, it would be a big problem.

Feng Ye’s face was extremely ugly, but not surprised. Every time grain was transported, various forces would exploit it in various ways. This was a common practice that couldn’t be avoided. Previously, with King Jingyuan stationed in Datong, there were fewer incidents like this when transporting grain to Datong. If someone truly dared to defy death, he would have to set an example to deter others. But now he was in someone else’s city and couldn’t arbitrarily exercise the power of life and death.

Feng Ye and Yan Sikong discussed. Yan Sikong said, “The military situation is urgent now, and we still have to rely on Ge Zhong to gather grain. In my opinion, let’s endure it for now. When we get to the camp, report the situation to General Zhao. He won’t blame you.”

Feng Ye snorted, “The situation is critical, and Ge Zhong still takes advantage of the opportunity to exploit. It’s clear that he has been embezzling a lot on ordinary days.”

“The court’s salary is meager. Without these ‘revenues,’ even families can’t survive. We can only turn a blind eye to it.”

As the mayor for three years, he received one hundred thousand taels of silver. This official rank was divided into two categories: officials directly dealing with the common people, such as governors, county magistrates, and county officials, who were in charge of taxation and labor. Corruption started from the lower level. Officials dealing with the common people had power over rewards and punishments, and they were often bribed. Officials not directly dealing with the common people had higher ranks. They couldn’t directly exploit the common people, but they had the power to promote or demote others, so they were not short of the officials dealing with the common people’s bribes. Both the upper and lower ranks were like this. If anyone claimed to be upright and damaged the rules, they might get themselves killed. In such a dark environment, those who took less and did more became clean officials.

The corruption of officials had penetrated every part of the court’s blood vessels, and it had long been incurable. However, in the current situation, what Ge Zhong did was despicable. In the past two days, Yan Sikong watched the officials collect grain improperly, and he was sure that Ge Zhong had embezzled a lot in ordinary days. As expected, this scum did not disappoint him.

Feng Ye discussed this matter with Liang Guang, and Liang Guang also had an angry look on his face, but he also believed that they should endure it for now. After all, Jingzhou was Ge Zhong’s territory, and it wasn’t convenient to offend him at this time.

Feng Ye then set off with the seriously short grain. Liang Guang also went to Ge Zhong’s mansion to speak kindly and begged him to gather more grain.

Yan Sikong watched from the side, seeing Ge Zhong step by step into the death trap he had set.

That letter from Ge Zhong had indeed delayed Liang Wang for several days. Yan Sikong wasn’t worried that Liang Wang would find out about the trick in the letter. Even if he did, given Liang Wang’s suspicious and self-confident character, he wouldn’t believe it and would be more cautious instead.

But the battle on Dongting Lake was still inevitable. They set up multiple defenses in the city to prevent any remaining forces of Liang Wang from causing trouble. At the same time, they eagerly awaited the frontline battle report.

Liang Wang launched an attack on a foggy morning. Sixty-two ships of the Zhao army were destroyed, and nearly ten thousand soldiers were killed or injured, and the navy suffered heavy losses, forcing them to retreat fifty li.

Upon receiving this battle report, everyone felt extremely heavy-hearted.

Strictly speaking, this was the first direct confrontation between the rebel army and Liang Wang’s army. Kuizhou surrendered without a fight, and Yueyang and Jingzhou were both siege battles. The water battle on Dongting Lake was the direct collision between the enemy and us. However, the result was so devastating.

Yan Sikong’s worry was deeper than when they were surrounded and trapped in the city due to lack of water.

Because once the rebel army was defeated, then all the deaths and injuries of the soldiers, and the suffering of the people, would be attributed to him. But unfortunately, he was not familiar with water battles and dared not easily give advice to the rebel army.

When he set up such a huge plan, besides revenge, there was also an important goal, which was to reduce the vassals. As long as the most powerful Liang Wang was wiped out, the other vassal kings would not dare to rebel. By then, the fundamental solution to the problem of the royal family’s expenditure, which had troubled Dacheng for more than two hundred years, would be achieved. Once the reduction of vassals was successful, the national treasury could be greatly enriched, and problems such as disaster relief, military expenses, and salaries would be solved. It could be said that as long as there was money, both internal and external troubles could be resolved. At present, it seemed that the reduction of vassals was the only feasible way.

But this move also carries the greatest risk, which is if Liang Wang wins. Although the current emperor is incompetent and not worthy of sympathy even if he is usurped, causing turmoil throughout the country is not Yan Sikong’s intention.

Nevertheless, the situation has reached a critical juncture, and with great achievements come great sacrifices. He must do his utmost to win this battle.

After discussing countermeasures, they all came up with ideas to target Liang Wang’s close relatives. Liang Wang left his own nephew and grandson to guard the city, and both were captured when the city fell. Considering that they were both royal relatives, they were still being treated with respect for now.

Feng Ye beheaded Liang Wang’s nephew and forced Liang Wang’s grandson to write a blood letter, which was then sent to the rebel army camp, along with a clear message that they had three days. If they didn’t surrender within three days, his grandson would be killed.

Their aim was to buy time and wait for the navy from Jiujiang to come to the rescue.

Indeed, Liang Wang did not attack within those three days. Instead, he sent an envoy to negotiate, giving the defeated rebel army time to rest and recover.

Liang Guang dealt with the envoy and continued to delay.

Feng Ye traveled back and forth between the front lines to transport grain and managed the security inside and outside the city. He hadn’t had a good rest for several days and nights. This evening, he actually started to doze off while eating.

Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye’s dark circles and furrowed brows, and his young and handsome face was full of exhaustion. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He nudged Feng Ye, “Feng Ye, if you’re tired, go to bed.”

Feng Ye woke up with a start and shook his head vigorously. He smiled, “It’s nothing, just taking a nap.”

“You’ve been too tired these days, and your injuries haven’t healed yet.”

“It’s just flesh wounds. They’re not a big deal.” Feng Ye took a bite of food and joked, “I remember when I was a child, following my father and brothers on military marches, I once fell asleep on a horse. Some soldiers were so exhausted that they could fall asleep standing up, so it’s not surprising that I fell asleep sitting down.”

Yan Sikong gently stroked Feng Ye’s cheek and couldn’t help but express his worries: “Feng Ye, can we win?”

Feng Ye rubbed his palm against Yan Sikong’s hand. “Don’t worry, we will definitely win.”

Yan Sikong sighed deeply in his heart. Feng Ye only knew that he was worried about the situation of the battle, but he didn’t know that his worry wasn’t just because he was a subject of Dacheng, but also because Liang Wang’s rebellion was secretly aided by him. If they lost this battle, all the sacrifices would lose their meaning. The guilt he would feel, even with his heart of stone, would be hard to digest.

Feng Ye put down his chopsticks. “Are you full?”

“I am.”

“Let me take you to see the stars.”

Yan Sikong smiled wryly. “You’re so exhausted. You should rest.”

Feng Ye looked out the window. “The night is dark and the weather is cool. It’s a good time to stargaze. Let’s go.” Feng Ye smiled and pulled Yan Sikong up.

“You are really…”

The two walked up to the attic, and Feng Ye pushed open the dusty window sill. They stepped out and sat side by side on the roof.

Above the vast and deep blue sky, the stars were scattered, shining brightly alongside the moon, emitting a deep and tranquil beauty that was intoxicating.

Yan Sikong sighed, “The capital is bustling with lights, making it hard to see such a starry sky at dusk.”

“When you’re in the court or the military, you rarely have the time to look up at the stars.”

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly. “Yes.”

Feng Ye hugged Yan Sikong’s shoulder, and the two of them leaned against each other, quietly watching the bright Milky Way.

“Kong’er, I really hope to spend the rest of my life looking at the stars with you like this.”

Yan Sikong’s breath stagnated, and suddenly his heart felt a sharp pain without warning, making him have to bend down slightly.

Feng Ye noticed his unusualness. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Yan Sikong forced a smile. “Yes, the situation is turbulent, and the seas are difficult to calm. Just sitting side by side like this, watching the stars… is not easy.”

He could already see the near future. If Ge Zhong’s affair was exposed, with Feng Ye’s intelligence, he would inevitably suspect him. He couldn’t pretend and hide in front of Feng Ye for the rest of his life. When necessary, he had to show his sharp edge and pierce the enemy with a thousand holes. By then, would Feng Ye still treat him with the same openness as he does now?

It’s hard to imagine, looking at Feng Ye with deep affection and joy now, how he would look at the real Yan Sikong one day.

And the path he chose couldn’t be turned back, and no one was on the same path. Sooner or later, he and Feng Ye would part ways. When that time comes, what will Feng Ye do, and what will he do?

Just thinking about these things made him extremely uncomfortable.

Unconsciously, this volume is almost finished. This book was originally planned to be sixty thousand words, but unexpectedly it’s already close to three hundred thousand words, and it hasn’t reached the climax yet. It seems that it will take eighty chapters to finish. Anyway, the next volume will really start to get brutal. _(：з」∠)_ (End of this chapter)