Chapter 107: Tang Chen, You've Gone Too Far

However, when the young man thought of the meager grain supplies remaining in the military camp, he gritted his teeth and whispered to himself, "If you don't risk the bait, you won't catch the wolf. It doesn't matter; I'll just be careful."

"Alright." The youth looked up, the cold wind brushing against his face and stirring his hair.

The Chu Army retreated another mile.

Outside the vast, white expanse of Kangding City, a brief silence fell, broken only by the whistling of the wind.

The dull sound of a city gate opening shattered the stillness. Once again, columns of soldiers emerged from the city in an orderly fashion, carrying grain.

This time, they did not deliver it in small, separate groups. At a single command, they all marched forward together.

The youth stood with his arms crossed over his chest atop the snow-covered mound, watching the grain with intense focus. At least now, the food supply was secure.

When the last of the supply soldiers had finished their delivery, the hundreds of men began to march back in lines.

Just as they were a few meters away from Tang Chen, the soldiers let out a low growl. Like rabid dogs, they charged toward him, hissing and baring their teeth.

Startled, the youth turned on his heels and bolted, but the madmen pursued him relentlessly, cutting off all paths of escape.

"General!" the Chu troops cried out, preparing to charge forward.

"Use the poison needles!" the Liao soldiers shouted, each pulling out a bamboo pipe and blowing toward Tang Chen.

The scene descended into chaos and noise.

Suddenly, the youth’s foot slipped on a patch of ice, and he tumbled heavily into the snow. A sharp, stinging pain followed instantly in his neck.

Before the Chu Army could reach him, Tang Chen was hoisted up by the Liao soldiers, with a cold blade pressed against his throat.

It had all happened in the span of a few breaths.

"Stay back!" The Liao soldiers retreated, dragging Tang Chen with them. The Chu Army pressed forward, but neither side dared to make a rash move.

Tang Chen felt dizzy, his eyelids heavy as lead. He lacked the strength even to open his mouth, yet his mind remained crystal clear.

He understood clearly: he had been captured! And he had been captured because he slipped! A dignified deputy general, taken prisoner because he had slipped on the ice!

"Don't worry about me! Fall back and report to the Commander immediately!" the youth gasped, his voice weak, as he verged on losing consciousness.

"General!" The Chu soldiers were frantic, desperate to rescue him.

"Retreat!" Tang Chen mustered all his remaining strength to roar at his men. If they did not retreat, the leaderless Chu Army would be vulnerable to an attack from the city, with disastrous consequences.

The leading young officer gritted his teeth and made a decision. "Withdraw!"

Tang Chen’s eyes had narrowed to mere slits; only when he saw the Chu Army retreating did he finally succumb to unconsciousness.

...

At the Yecheng Pass, Chu Junhan was studying the grain transport route map, strategizing how to cut off the enemy's supply lines.

A soldier rushed in, dropped to one knee before the child, and panted heavily. "Report! Deputy General Tang has been captured at Changming City!"

The child’s hand trembled. She stood up abruptly, staring sternly at the messenger. "How long ago did this happen?"

"Five days ago!" The soldier lowered his head, his breathing steadying.

"Who is leading the hundred thousand brothers now?" The child stepped forward to help the soldier up, her face etched with anxiety.

The soldier kept his head bowed, his voice growing softer. "It is General Wang, only a sixth-rank officer. Everyone is uneasy, and morale is low. We don't know whether to retreat or attack!"

"Prepare the horses. We leave at once." The child clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. If any harm came to Tang Chen, she swore she would raze Kangding City to the ground.

Fang Meng chased after her, vaulting onto a nearby horse with a determined expression. "My Lord, I will go with you. It has already been five days; Ziyun may have been moved by now. We must plan this carefully."