Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1682: Making Things Difficult

"We took the remaining brothers and fled to the mountains to hide, that’s how we survived."

"However, we come down every day to investigate the situation. I saw a large army setting up camp, and upon seeing the Military Flag resembling that of Great Chu, I dared to come over and see." Xi Chief Commander recounted their situation with tears and snot.

Vice General Ma listened anxiously, knowing that the Insect Attractant hadn’t been delivered, he feared General Xu was in grave danger!

Vice General Ma: "No way, we must find a way to get the Insect Attractant into the city; otherwise, everyone inside will perish."

General Cheng frowned: "How to deliver it? The outskirts are all filled with Rong soldiers, we can’t even get close. Even if we try using strong crossbows or a Catapult to send it in, it won’t work; the distance is too great and beyond range."

Vice General Ma paced around the tent anxiously.

Soon after, he resolutely declared: "I’ll lead a batch of elite soldiers to carve a bloody path, and you follow behind pushing the Catapult. Once within range, immediately deploy the Insect Attractant."

General Cheng disagreed: "No, such a suicidal method can’t be used."

Vice General Ma, loyal to General Xu, replied: "It will be me and my soldiers who die, Brother Cheng need not be heartbroken."

General Cheng frowned and cursed: "What do you take me for? Am I afraid of death? But your method leads to too many casualties, it’s not worth it. It’ll attract the Rong bandits and obliterate all our reinforcements!"

Bam, Vice General Ma slapped the table and demanded: "Then what do you suggest? Do we just watch as the military and civilians of Long’an Prefecture die from poisonous insects?"

Duan Changling, listening from outside the tent, stepped in and suggested: "I have a method, but I don’t know if you’re willing to hear it?"

Vice General Ma saw him and internally scoffed, feeling as if a weasel wished the chickens a happy New Year, he ignored him.

Duan Changling persisted and spoke: "That brave Qin San Lang, who killed Leimuqin, has some undetectable Poison. Have him disguise as Rong soldiers to infiltrate the Royal Tent and assassinate the Heavenly Khan..."

"Vice Magistrate Duan, are you out of your mind?" General Cheng couldn’t hold back and frowned at Duan Changling: "Even though Vice Magistrate Duan holds a higher position, with enemies before us, I still must remind you not to seek personal revenge that harms a rising star."

Duan Changling’s face darkened: "I haven’t finished speaking, how do you know I’m seeking revenge? Besides, what personal vendetta could I have against a small Company Commander? Great Chu having talents like Company Commander Qin makes me happier than you."

He added: "He doesn’t need to kill the Heavenly Khan, just create chaos, forcing the Rong soldiers to retreat and save their leader, so Vice General Ma can easily send the Insect Attractant."

There’s some logic, but it’s still a bad idea.

"No way, such a suicidal mission can’t be used." General Cheng rejected.

That’s the Heavenly Khan’s Royal Tent, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops, even to cause chaos, it’s a one-way trip.

"Report!" Vice General Ma’s personal soldier came in to report: "Vice General, Company Commander Qin of He’an Prefecture seeks an audience with a few Company Commanders."

"Ha, let him in." Duan Changling laughed, that brat really wishes to court death.

Vice General Ma frowned, signaled to the personal soldier, who soon left and brought Qin San Lang and others in.

Qin San Lang cupped his fists in salute to the generals inside the tent: "Reporting to the generals, I just inspected the area, this is not suitable for camping. Rong soldiers have a habit of patrolling within thirty miles of the camp, although this is more than thirty miles from the Rong Army Camp, the Military Flag is too high, their patrol cavalry can still see. If discovered, they’ll send troops to annihilate us before reinforcements arrive."

Vice General Ma frowned upon hearing this, though he had been too eager to save General Xu to think of the flag height: "If we retreat further, we’ll be slow to respond if Long’an Prefecture is in danger."

Niu Dabao suggested: "We can hide in the mountains. San Lang inspected, said the mountain near the Prefecture is good, big enough to hide people. We enter the mountains, disperse the troops, hard for Rong soldiers to spot. Once Rong people attack the city, we can fight them nearby."

General Zhou’s eyes lit up: "Hide in Xiaolong Mountain, that’s a good idea."

When Xing’an Prefecture was besieged, half his troops were killed by Rong people, the rest survived by hiding in the mountains with him.

Duan Changling was dissatisfied but didn’t want to die, hiding in the mountain is indeed a good method.

He looked to Qin San Lang: "The method is feasible, but how to get the Insect Attractant into the city? We can’t watch as Long’an Prefecture’s populace dies from poisonous insects."

Now he said this, addressing Qin San Lang, clearly to make it difficult for him.

Qin San Lang calmly replied, with respect: "We can use messenger pigeons kept by the military."

"Wonderful, why didn’t I think of that?" Vice General Ma slapped his forehead delightedly: "The Rong bandits used birds to deploy poisonous insects in Xing’an Prefecture, naturally we can use messenger pigeons to send Insect Attractant to Long’an Prefecture. Plus, the Insect Attractant dose required is small, just the size of a soybean can save one person, the pigeon can carry it."

The only downside is, they have few messenger pigeons and the Rong people’s archery is excellent, they shoot down airborne birds to prevent requesting help with messenger pigeons.

Duan Changling turned green upon hearing, Qin San Lang indeed clever, knowing a lot of things.

However, Qin San Lang also knew another good method, which is adjusting the mechanism of strong crossbow carts and catapults.

Once adjusted, the power of strong crossbows and catapults increases, extending their range, firing from the nearest peak on Xiaolong Mountain to Long’an Prefecture has a seventy percent chance of delivering the Insect Attractant inside.

But he’s just a small Company Commander from the south, revealing ability to modify logistical weapons would be hard to explain.

Ignoring Duan Changling’s darkened face, Qin San Lang pleaded with Vice General Ma: "Generals, before Rong people discover us, please order to strike camp and enter the mountain quickly."

"Right, this must be done immediately." General Cheng urged, and Vice General Ma hurried to find General Dai to explain.

General Dai frightened to death, promptly ordered to break camp and enter the mountain.

The army immediately broke camp, erased traces, and stealthily entered the mountains via small trails.

As they entered the mountain, Rong soldiers renewed their assault on Long’an Prefecture, rumbling stones bombarded the city walls throughout the night.

The citizens of Long’an Prefecture were tormented by the sounds, coupled with the outbreak of poisonous insect disease within the city, some couldn’t endure and were frightened mad.

Xu You mounted the city walls despite his injuries, personally directing soldiers against Rong attacks, but bad news continued from within: "Great General, Lord Magistrate has contracted a strange illness, has fainted in convulsions... doubtful to survive the night."

The strange illness within the city came suddenly, many inexplicably fell then suddenly died.

Later, the military doctor sent by the Great General discovered insects emerging from corpses, that’s when they realized insects caused the deaths.

But this revelation was not better than ignorance.

News of insects burrowing into bodies spread through the city, causing panic, with Rong people launching an attack simultaneously, even if General Xu were a war god incarnate, Long’an Prefecture couldn’t be held.