Even before summer’s onset, the weather was already unbearably hot, exacerbated by the prolonged drought. The scorching sun made it difficult for people to endure. However, in the fields near Ye City, countless individuals toiled tirelessly, sweating profusely as they worked in the fields. Most of the millet had already been harvested, and the stubble covered the ground. Following the steps of those wielding sickles ahead, groups of women and children hurriedly picked up the fallen grains before the birds could snatch them away. No one had the energy to care about others; the crops in front of them were their livelihoods.
A clamor arose in the vicinity, prompting one villager to look up towards the official road nearby. There, hundreds of ragged men, led by soldiers, were marching towards the city ahead. Normally, ordinary villagers might not encounter such a large number of strangers in several years, as they usually remained in their own fields, toiling away facing the yellow soil throughout their lives. However, this massive influx of people didn’t surprise the villager; with just a glance, he returned to his labor, resuming his hard work in the fields.
This situation has become all too common in recent months. Disasters are occurring everywhere, and locusts are crossing through Yu County and Yan County, where it’s said that nothing can grow. The number of refugees is far more than just a hundred. Initially, some people were concerned that these refugees might snatch away their food supplies. Now, it’s just a casual glance, at most followed by a sigh that they arrived too late.
Indeed, those who arrived early might have been able to get jobs repairing the city, but now they probably have been assigned to repair roads. Are roads easy to build? It’s probably more exhausting than farm work!
It’s still better to be in Ye City!
Such sentiments cannot be heard by Wu Yu as he walks through the crowd. Dressed in tattered clothes like those around him, he carefully keeps his head down, concealing his surprise.
Who could have imagined that in such a disastrous year, there could be such a scene?
In the fields, golden ears of grain fill the landscape as carts loaded with grain are transported into the city. Tall water wheels stand in the distance, with canals crisscrossing, most of them carrying a trickle of water. Even the farmers harvesting crops appear much happier. This is not just about avoiding hunger; it almost feels like a year of abundance!
In this way, is Ye City still taking in refugees? How much grain must there be in the city? Greed appears in Wu Yu’s eyes.
The General’s prediction was indeed correct!
Wu Yu is one of Shi Le’s trusted confidants. At the beginning of the rebellion, he was one of the “Eighteen Riders.” After several battles, with many of the brothers who rebelled with Shi Le being killed or injured, he miraculously survived and became a high-ranking officer in the army. After all, among the Eighteen Riders, there were very few Han people, and someone like him, without a typical nomadic appearance, was more easily able to command the refugees and surrendered soldiers.
For the likes of Shi Le, who was akin to a benefactor, Wu Yu always followed orders without question. This time, infiltrating the refugees, was for the General’s next target: Ye City.
Wu Yu had also participated in the siege of Ye City as part of the vanguard. He was very familiar with the city. However, back then, Sima Teng didn’t dare to defend the city, which led to a hasty defeat. If they were to defend it properly, Ye City, as one of the most formidable cities in the northern region, would not be easily conquered. But a direct assault might not work; however, a clever strategy might just do the trick. If they could sneak into Ye City and seize the city gates while the General attacked, wouldn’t the city be easily taken?
Thus, Wu Yu led 800 trusted subordinates and infiltrated the ranks of refugees. To appear as genuine refugees, he brought subordinates with accents from Yu County and Yan County, and they avoided the cities of Jijun and Dangyin, heading straight for Ye City. This journey took a good three to four days, with insufficient food and restless sleep each day. Mingling with the refugees, he aimed to make his subordinates resemble disaster-stricken commoners even more. Now, at the foot of Ye City, stopped by soldiers, he felt no fear. This group consisted of around two thousand refugees; who could discern their true purpose?
Wu Yu concealed his inner satisfaction, blending in with the other hungry and anxious refugees as they walked forward. However, contrary to expectations, this group was not immediately arranged to enter the city. Instead, they were assembled in the nearby wilderness and tasked with road construction.
“Here’s your shovel; if you break it, you won’t get any food! Hurry up and dig sand!”
As soon as they arrived, a low-ranking official handed over a wooden shovel. Stumbling a few steps after being pushed, Wu Yu felt a hint of anger. He was a military commander, accustomed to people flattering him, eager to build closer relationships. How long had it been since he faced such powerless treatment? However, for the sake of the mission, Wu Yu restrained himself and obediently followed the foreman to the side, starting to dig sand.
Due to the reshuffling, only around thirty of Wu Yu’s trusted subordinates remained by his side. Wu Yu didn’t bother to connect with others, focusing on the labor at hand. Road construction was no easy task; crushing stones, digging sand, and mixing lime soil, they worked tirelessly from dawn until noon. Exhausted and covered in sweat, the food they received was just a bowl of porridge. Inside, the husks were not entirely removed, making it painful to eat. However, the other refugees devoured the fare gratefully, despite it being fit only for feeding horses.
Wu Yu had no outlet for the fire inside his belly, and with hunger gnawing at him, he had no choice but to force down his meager meal. After hastily finishing the meal, he rested for half an hour and then resumed working. From early morning until evening, he toiled away, only stopping when the day’s work was done, returning to a grassy shed for rest.
Having been away from farm work for too long, the wooden shovel had left his hands sore, and his shoulders and back creaked with every movement. Lying in the pile of grass, Wu Yu gritted his teeth. Once he endured this, when the General arrived with the troops, he could finally achieve something. As a high-ranking general under Shi Le, he was well aware of the practices in various cities of Bing County. Whenever an enemy approached, the first consideration was to gather the nearby populace into the city. This misplaced kindness would inevitably bring disastrous consequences to Ye City…
In his daydreams, Wu Yu contemplated how to raid the city, seize silver and money, and obtain the legendary Shangdang brocades and white porcelain. Amid bodily aches and pains, Wu Yu soon drifted into a deep sleep.
※
“The time has finally come,” sighed Ge Hong, the governor of Ye City, in his residence.
He had been on edge for a long time, anticipating this day. Since taking over as the governor of Weijun, Ge Hong had spared no effort to develop the region. Close to Zhang River, Ye City had become a vital thoroughfare for east-west trade after opening maritime trade with Ji County. Countless cargo ships passed through Ye City daily, bringing in increased commercial taxes. With the additional revenue, Ge Hong could focus on dredging rivers and constructing water mills, restoring the former glory of Ye City from the Wei Dynasty.
It was these solid efforts that reduced the impact of the drought on Ye City when it finally arrived. It also made Ye City an important destination for sheltering refugees.
However, to protect the common people, one cannot neglect guarding against wolves. The Wei Commandery where he resided, along with several neighboring commanderies, was close to Yan County. The Shi Le army stationed there had always been a major concern for him. Cultivating fields, raising troops, building fortifications, and repairing walls, Ge Hong made thorough preparations. He also carefully settled the refugees, preventing spies from infiltrating.
All these measures naturally ensured the safety of Ye City. However, as the severe drought persisted, the situation deteriorated, making it challenging to defend against both nature and enemies. New military orders arrived from Jinyang.
“Since spies have infiltrated, within five days, Shi Le will mobilize his forces,” a man seated nearby spoke, “This is an opportune moment to annihilate the enemy forces, and Governor Ge must assist from the sidelines.”
“I am well aware of that,” Ge Hong responded. “With General Yi overseeing, Ye City will have no worries.”
Seated before Ge Hong was Yiyan, the Right Hand of Bing County and the General who inspired awe. With the ability to command three armies in Shangdang, he had an impeccable record in battles. His presence in Ye City relieved Ge Hong’s anxieties.
It was because of this arrangement that the stratagem devised by the headquarters could be implemented.
Shi Le’s movements had been under surveillance by Xinling. When he left Yu County and headed towards Si County, immediate military intelligence reports arrived. The rest could be easily inferred. Ye City was not an easy city to breach; using subversion and internal strife was the best approach for a siege.
Even though they were all Jin people with similar accents, the physique and temperament of refugees and bandits were markedly different. Thus, when the spies infiltrated Weijun, they were immediately identified. Ge Hong didn’t hesitate; he promptly implemented a plan to separate and isolate these infiltrators. Though they appeared to be working on road construction, among these spies, many Xinling troops had been arranged. Once Shi Le attacked, the majority of these infiltrators would disperse into nearby Wubao and be dealt with on the spot. Only a few would genuinely enter the city as bait.
This strategy was daring but deemed the best approach against an adversary like Shi Le, cunning in warfare and skilled in guerrilla tactics.
“This battle is likely to be quite challenging, and the crucial task of defending the city will still rely on Governor Ge,” Yiyan commented without showing any signs of relaxation. Shi Le’s invasion this time would not bring merely two or three thousand troops; it was likely a large army. The strategy of luring the enemy always carried significant risks and required careful execution.
“General, please rest assured! The city defenses of Ye City were built by my hands; I won’t let General down!” Liu Gong, standing on the side, spoke up, affirming this statement.
This gesture was somewhat impolite, but Ge Hong did not get angry. He smiled and said, “Lieutenant Liu’s words are indeed true. Ye City is no longer what it used to be and is far from being breached by a mere tens of thousands of troops. In this battle, we still rely on General’s decisive victory!”
He was not afraid of defending the city, but defeating the enemy required Yiyan to lead the troops. If this horde of bandits, comparable to locusts, continued to roam, it posed a significant threat to Si County and Ji County. It was time to make them stop.
※
Day after day, Wu Yu toiled relentlessly, with hardly a moment for rest. The road seemed endless as if it would never be completed. He felt anxious and frustrated; every day he opened his eyes, hoping for the imminent arrival of the army. However, the moment he had been waiting for came six days later.
The smoke of war billowed, and the alarm bells resounded. The once stagnant construction site became chaotic. The leading officer showed composure, immediately gathering the crowd and heading towards Ye City. Those who were farther away also began evacuating towards the nearby Wu Fortress.
Wu Yu was overjoyed; his group was heading towards Ye City! This was a perfect development. Signaling a few trusted individuals in his team, he suppressed the excitement in his heart and followed the crowd into the towering walls of Ye City.
“Someone will arrange for you to be in the outer city. In case the enemy attacks, you’ll assist the soldiers in moving defensive equipment like rolling logs and water barrels. Rest assured, you won’t be allowed on the city walls,” reassured the officer to the anxious crowd of refugees who had experienced the ravages of war. Hearing this, the people gradually calmed down. Wu Yu remained silent, following the procession towards the shanties beneath the city.
