Moma Liangshan

Chapter 100 Two Consecutive Defeats, Desperate Counterattack

Chapter 100 Two Consecutive Defeats, Desperate Counterattack

Xiao Shanbie returned to the city and immediately ascended the city wall to pay his respects to the Princess of Shu. The Princess of Shu did not turn around, continuing to silently watch the dust raised by the Jurchen cavalry. Xiao Shanbie waited for a long time before slowly saying, "The Jurchens have declared they will come again tomorrow. I have been preparing overnight and will ensure they do not return!" The Princess of Shu shook her head helplessly, saying, "The morale of the Jianzu Camp is currently low, and a rift has formed between them and the Palace Guard. Although Liaoyang Prefecture has 30,000 troops, they lack the strength for open battle outside the city. If the Jurchens repeat their tactics tomorrow, the Jianzu Camp may mutini!" Xiao Shanbie, deeply alarmed, replied, "Tomorrow, only the Palace Guard will remain to guard the four gates. The Jianzu will remain in their camps and be rewarded with wine and meat." The Princess of Shu felt powerless, saying, "Although there is some grain stored in the city, it is not plentiful, and wine and meat are scarce. If only the Jianzu Camp is rewarded, it will inevitably cause discontent among the Palace Guard." However, preparing food and drink for 30,000 troops would be far too expensive. After much hesitation, Xiao Shanbie said, "The only solution now is to use the supplies reserved for the New Year's Eve in advance!" The Shu princess had considered the supplies for New Year's Eve, but this approach of robbing Peter to pay Paul was fraught with risks. She gritted her teeth and said, "The morale of the army cannot be compromised. Send out more scouts these next few days. If the Jurchens make any unusual moves, take immediate countermeasures." After a long pause, she added, "All reserve supplies are under your command!" Xiao Shanbie felt immense pressure and, for a moment, even hoped for Gao Que's return. He thought, "If Gao Que were still in the city, there would surely be better arrangements for provisions and supplies!"

That evening, Xiao Shanbie announced the news of a "troop appreciation ceremony the next day." Of the 20,000 soldiers, only a minority had suffered the loss of their families, and with the Shu princess intentionally suppressing the news, the panic caused by the Jurchens was quickly brought under control in Liaoyang. The following morning, the Shu princess's order arrived at the Tokyo treasury, and a massive amount of wine, fresh sheep, and cured meat were sent to the military camp. The quartermaster, standing in the empty warehouse, his face full of worry, said, "Eighty percent of the wine and more than half of the meat have been requisitioned in advance. What will become of the tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of officials on New Year's Eve?" Xiao Shanbie, looking at the agitated quartermaster, was momentarily at a loss for words. However, the quartermaster did not give up. Suddenly, he presented his official seal to Xiao Shanbie, saying, "The treasury is almost empty, and there is no need for me, the quartermaster, to remain. Please, Princess and Commander-in-Chief, take back the seal and allow me to retire!" Xiao Shanbie quickly pushed the seal back into the quartermaster's arms, saying, "The wine and meat are almost gone, but the grain is still plentiful. How can you have no use for me?" The quartermaster, his face full of sorrow, said, "According to the agreement, the seven thousand shi of grain from Liaonan should have been delivered to the treasury three days ago. However, there has been no news since then, and with the Jurchens' violence yesterday, the most likely outcome is that the Commander-in-Chief should not..." Unexpectedly! Those seven thousand shi of grain were everyone's New Year's rations. If this shortage couldn't be replenished in time, there was a risk of starvation. Xiao Shanbie's forehead was covered in sweat as he asked, "How many days can the city's grain last?" The quartermaster replied, "At most half a month!" Xiao Shanbie desperately wanted to retrieve the wine and meat that had just been transported, but the news had already been announced and there was no turning back. His face full of worry, he said, "I will immediately report to the princess; we will surely come up with a solution!" Watching Xiao Shanbie's departing figure, the quartermaster looked at the seal in his hand and said, "How did the Liao Dynasty, with its century-old foundation, fall to such a state?"

Princess Shu and Xiao Shan Bie carefully dealt with the situation, but Wanyan Zhamu was still a cut above the rest. Two thousand cavalrymen drove three hundred prisoners to the walls of Liaoyang an hour ahead of schedule.