Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1581: Siege Assault [3]

General Liang frowned and shook his head, saying, "Just a small Company Commander, won’t cause much trouble, don’t bother with him."

He asked again, "Has that Old Devout Woman not left yet?"

The soldier nodded, "No, judging by the stance, she seems willing to continue this standoff."

General Liang laughed coldly, "Haha, let her go on then. She’s an old woman nearly in the grave. I wonder how long she can keep this up!"

He further instructed, "No need to send them food and water. They’re not part of the camp, not qualified to enjoy camp meals."

General Liang thought he had already shown enough courtesy to Ms. Gao Lei, but since she didn’t appreciate it, he saw no need to respect her.

The soldier was taken aback, wondering if this was excessive, but it was General Liang’s order, and he dared not disobey. He nodded, "Yes."

After speaking, he turned and walked away, instructing the young soldier guarding the yard gate, "The general orders not to pay attention to the Old Madam Gao, let them stay, no food or water deliveries, let them resolve it themselves."

The young soldier guarding the gate replied, "Yes."

Thus, when Master Xiao Yu of the Lei Family’s protectors took silver to request water and meals from the young soldier at the gate, he received a brief reply, "Resolve it yourselves."

This response was only due to the ten taels of silver offered.

Master Xiao Yu was very angry and reported to Ms. Gao Lei, "Old Madam, this is General Liang deliberately making things difficult, wanting us to back down."

Ms. Gao Lei had long anticipated this move from General Liang and said, "It’s alright, you all have water and dry rations with you, we’ll just make do."

Ms. Gao Lei had endured all kinds of hardships before, why fear hunger now?

Master Xiao Yu, however, didn’t want Ms. Gao Lei to suffer at her age and sent one protector on horseback to the outskirts to buy meals and water and deliver them to the camp.

Upon seeing Ms. Gao Lei was not troubled, General Liang’s people were displeased and did not want the protector to bring in food and water, but Master Xiao Yu had timed the reception correctly and leveraged Elder Lei Wu’s name, leaving the camp soldiers no choice but to let the protectors in.

As Ms. Gao Lei ate, Niu Dabao and his group reached the Old Madam Gao’s separate yard in the Prefecture.

The separate yard was not elegant but indeed spacious, with many rooms, and consisted of two connected large residences with five entrances each. Everyone crowded together, but there was enough space.

When Niu Dabao arrived, the courtyard was lively, relatives were choosing rooms and starting fires to prepare meals.

Mrs. Kuang was scolding someone, "Er Zuo’s wife, are you asking for trouble? You’re pregnant, aren’t you aware? Still rushing for food; you’ll get your share, now get aside and rest. If you miscarry, don’t come crying to me!"

Lin Erzuo’s wife was berated, went to stand under the corridor, yet her eyes remained fixed on the piles of meat in the yard, fearing the meats would be claimed by other camp relatives.

"He called for you!" Niu Dabao saw Mrs. Kuang and greeted her with a hearty smile.

"He called you back." Seeing Niu Dabao, Mrs. Kuang quickly went over: "Finally, I see you! Has the message been sent? No need to leave again, right?"

Niu Dabao shook his head, explaining the need to send messages seeking aid to Yongcheng Prefecture and Daliang Prefecture.

Mrs. Kuang cursed upon hearing it, "What’s with that Liang fellow? Why won’t he listen? We indeed killed some Rong people that night!"

Niu Dabao replied, "Stop shouting. I came back just to check on you before leaving with Brother Peng."

"Leaving now?" Mrs. Kuang panicked, quickly said, "Wait, I’ll get San Lang’s Wife to prepare some poison for you to carry, useful in emergencies."

Using poison is safer and faster than using a blade.

Not waiting for a response, Mrs. Kuang already ran several meters away, beyond Niu Dabao’s ability to stop her.

Gu Jinli heard Niu Dabao’s group would seek aid from other prefectures and, with Nanny Tao and Nanny Gui Zhi, followed Mrs. Kuang, asking Peng Wen, "Uncle Peng, are you familiar with the Eagle Food Gang?"

Peng Wen was startled, nodded, "Of course."

Everyone in the Northwest is aware.

Gu Jinli continued, "Uncle Peng, I heard the Eagle Food Gang uses message eagles. Is it true?"

Peng Wen nodded, frowned, "Why do you ask?"

Gu Jinli replied, "Yongcheng Prefecture and Daliang Prefecture are too far. The Rong people may attack at any moment. Instead of people, why not have the fierce bandits in the Eagle Food Gang send the request for aid via message eagles..."

Her words were interrupted by Mrs. Kuang saying, "Yes, yes, yes, have the Eagle Food Gang send messages; eagles flying in the sky are faster than humans running. I heard though they are a bandit group, they despise Rong people. They’d love to help!"

She then turned to Niu Dabao, pretending to wipe tears, "Oh, you can’t run back and forth anymore, what if something happens on the road? What would I and Gold do?"

Niu Dabao saw Mrs. Kuang actually tearing up, feeling conflicted, realizing Mrs. Kuang, despite her toughness, is a woman. If the Rong people attack, she would surely be frightened and unwilling to leave Xing’an. He turned to Peng Wen, asking, "Brother Peng, do you think this will work?"

Peng Wen had been frowning in thought, finally saying, "I’ll ask the Old Madam first."

Without waiting for Niu Dabao’s reply, he rode quickly out of the city to the camp, met Ms. Gao Lei, and relayed Gu Jinli’s proposal to have the Eagle Food Gang send messages.

Ms. Gao Lei frowned upon hearing it, "That girl has courage, to come up with a plan to use a bandit group for sending messages."

Peng Wen added, "I too was shocked upon hearing it... But perhaps she knows of our connection with the Eagle Food Gang, hence bold enough to propose asking them for help?"

Ms. Gao Lei nodded, "Elder went south for goods, even gave small copper plates to Qin and Gu families, probably has said something about the Eagle Food Gang."

After a moment’s silence, she decided, "Contact the Eagle Food Gang, let them send messages requesting aid... Message eagles indeed fly faster than people."

"Yes." Peng Wen having received the instruction, immediately rode back to the city, made it inside before the gates closed, first found Niu Dabao, informed him no need to personally deliver messages, then rushed to the Lei Family’s Trading Team shop to have their people contact the Eagle Food Gang.

The Eagle Food Gang and Lei Family’s Trading Team had covert ties and deeply loathed Rong people. Besides, Lord Ying personally traveled to Beicang Prefecture to fight Rong people. Hence, upon receiving the news, they agreed to help, dispatching message eagles for aid.

That very night, two message eagles flew out of the city, circling above the Prefecture before heading towards Yongcheng Prefecture and Daliang Prefecture.

The Eagle Food Gang had members in both Yongcheng Prefecture and Daliang Prefecture, where the eagles delivered their messages. Their people ensured delivery to the main generals of both prefectures.

Should the main generals hesitate to dispatch troops, the Eagle Food Gang members would bind their families and force them to comply.

In short, the Eagle Food Gang proved far more effective than Niu Dabao and other Company Commanders.

The next day, Gu Jinli confirmed the message eagles had gone to deliver aid requests, breathed a sigh of relief, ordered You An and Feng Jin to go purchase large quantities of food, medicine, and other supplies outside the city.

In warfare, these are lifesaving resources.

She also briefly informed Nanny Gui Zhi, prompting the Lei Family’s Trading Team to dispatch personnel to transport large amounts of grain and medicinal supplies into the city.

Just as they began their aggressive preparation, spying Rong individuals received a message from the General of Da Rong, commencing troop gathering from all directions to attack Xing’an Prefecture.

The General of Da Rong’s premature assault decision wasn’t because Qin San Lang led a cleanup unveiling Rong people but due to the news brought by Tuogude.