Chapter 987 – Battle at the Northern Border (24)
“Don’t be skeptical! As a big shot in the Federation, my subsidies are quite generous!!!”
Jiang Pengji, a genetically-engineered warrior, faced many high-risk missions, which meant the subsidies from the Federation military were considerable.
Of course, her salary, compared to other military leaders, might as well be trash.
Others had connections — be it from noble families or inherited power — but she had clawed her way up entirely on her own.
You could say it’s quite inspirational!
The only regret? After decades of striving, the little savings she scrimped together never even saw the light of day.
Having fought for the Federation for over thirty years, she hadn’t collected a single year of pension.
Feng Zhen rolled his eyes internally, “Just how much of that yellow liquor did our lord sneak today?”
If it weren’t for too much drinking, why would she be spouting nonsense?
Feng Zhen had gotten used to the occasional bursts of craziness from his lord.
The camp was calm with a sign on display declaring there was no war, refusing to venture out no matter how much the Northern Border called for challenges. Instead, they secretly built bamboo rafts and wooden boats.
While Jiang Pengji remained calm, the situation on the Northern Border was beginning to crumble.
It wasn’t for any other reason, but simply because the Mairnu tribe was running low on supplies and couldn’t sustain the needs of tens of thousands of soldiers.
Jiang Pengji could afford to wait, but the Northern Border simply couldn’t.
The Third Prince could only think of one solution: borrowing food.
However—
“…It’s all that fool’s fault! Which major tribe hasn’t he offended?” The Third Prince rubbed his temples in frustration. He shamelessly sent letters asking for grain from the tribes near the Chuan River, but they all refused at the mere mention, each one crying poverty.
The previous Dai Wang had already exploited them; if the Third Prince asked them for grain again, the tribe’s herders would starve.
“The tribe’s reserves will last only ten days. If this problem isn’t solved soon—”
The Third Prince was a lot more trustworthy than the previous Dai Wang. After all, he was a student of Wu Libai, armed with both ambition and brains.
Facing the food shortage, he considered many strategies, yet none of the other tribes were willing to budge.
Those willing to lend grain demanded exorbitant prices, making the Third Prince’s face darken with anger.
He tugged at the braids atop his head in irritation, “Does Master have any brilliant ideas?”
The Northern Border was in a dire state.
When seeking grain from the other tribes proved futile, a sneak attack on Jiang Pengji to catch the autumn breeze — pfft, Wu Libai was a cautionary tale.
In this calculus, there seemed to be no other way out.
Wu Libai glowered at the flickering candlelight on the table.
It was infuriating to see the Northern Border squander its strong position and reach this pitiful state.
However, no matter what, Wu Libai wouldn’t easily give up on the Northern Border—unless he was dead!
The next day, things took a turn.
The Third Prince’s face was a deep shade of green as he watched the man before him, the former Eldest Prince.
The other had brought an elite force of thirty thousand soldiers and five hundred thousand stones of grain to the front, claiming to be support, but was really there to seize power.
Wu Libai coldly observed, sneering, “I truly misjudged you. Who would have thought the lackluster Eldest Prince had such depth? Using all sorts of means to tarnish himself and even being discarded by the Eldest, yet secretly, he amassed thirty thousand elite soldiers and such a bounty of grain.”
Was the Northern Border completely doomed?
The princes weren’t united against the enemy but rather returned to their respective fiefdoms to connect with maternal ancestral powers, creating a scene of brotherly discord.
Wu Libai couldn’t help but wonder.
Had Liu Xi predicted this scenario long ago?
Did she deliberately avoid battle just to drain the food supplies of the Northern Border camp and watch the princes fight amongst themselves?
With a major enemy around, instead of thinking about how to fend them off, they were caught up in internal strife — were they all losing their wits?
Little did Wu Libai know, his words would soon ring eerily true—
Everyone’s heads were really losing it!
“Recently, the rain has been pouring, and the water levels of the Chuan River have risen to match the riverbank—it’s going to happen soon—”
Feng Zhen removed his damp poncho, surprised that even the Northern Border could experience such terrifying downpours.
Jiang Pengji asked, “Are the boats and bamboo rafts ready?”
“Enough to use.”
Two days later, in the dead of night—
The citizens of the Mairnu tribe fell into a deep slumber, only half awake. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the sound of roaring waves seemed to echo in their ears.
Many herders jolted awake, bewildered to find water seeping into their tents, and soon the water level reached their calves.
What was happening?
The herders were at a loss, finally realizing the Chuan River had burst its banks.
“Everyone, wake up— the Water God is angry—”
“Wake up— folks, wake up—”
“The Water God is angry, everyone run for your lives—”
The sky was pitch black, with the veil of rain obscuring their view.
At that moment, rain poured ceaselessly from the sky, the roaring waves getting closer, and the ground shaking more vigorously.
“What is that—”
Someone shouted in terror amid the commotion, as a shadow on the horizon approached them.
Wu Libai and the Third Prince convened overnight to discuss military tactics. As the rain grew heavier and the Chuan River swelled, they finally reacted.
Their first instinct was to order the Northern Border soldiers and tribe herders to evacuate from the riverbank, moving toward higher ground.
“The heavens are abandoning the Northern Border—”
Wu Libai and the others acted relatively quickly, being privileged enough to enjoy the first rights of escape.
In the dim night, he could barely see the surging river below, powerfully sweeping everything away.
Too many herders and soldiers were caught unprepared and carried off by the roaring current.
Faced with Jiang Pengji, Wu Libai could still persuade himself that this defeat could lead to victory next time.
But against an unresisting natural disaster, he couldn’t summon a shred of resistance.
How could man possibly contend with the heavens?
The Third Prince shook Wu Libai from his stupor, saying, “Master, don’t be in a daze— even though it’s the rainy season, the Chuan River hasn’t shown any abnormalities. The tribe’s elders are experienced and haven’t detected any signs of flooding—there must be something shady going on—”
If it were a natural disaster, at least there would be a warning, but this time it came so suddenly.
More like—
More like someone had intercepted the upstream water, waiting for the Chuan River to rise to the bank and then released it all at once.
Looking at the situation, all the tribes along the Chuan River were suffering!
But— was that something humans could do?
A bone-chilling cold spread wildly within him, impossible to resist.
Though the Chuan River wasn’t the largest river in the Northern Border, the surrounding lands were among the most fertile, hosting numerous tribes, big and small. If all these tribes were affected, the death toll would be unimaginable!
This flood came unexpectedly and left just as abruptly.
By late night, the water level had subsided significantly.
“Wait— what is that?”
The Third Prince, Wu Libai, and the grim-faced Eldest Prince gathered, pooling what little remaining forces they had, their expressions as dark as could be.
At that moment, a soldier’s whisper caught their attention.
They widened their eyes, barely able to see countless black dots floating on the river’s surface.
“Those things are coming towards us—”
Everyone looked closely, and sure enough, the black dots were indeed approaching them.
Could it be reinforcements?
