Chapter 112: The Enemy at the Gates

Cheng Qiong said to Chu Yun, "Our people from Pingba Village, located north of Chujia Town, have discovered an army. The leader belongs to the Shamanic Sect. It seems they may have sent troops to deal with you. But since you fled, it’s clearly too late now, and fleeing isn’t a long-term solution."

"That’s why I’ve sent you thirty dan of grain, and after I return, I will find ways to help you gather more. As long as you hold the city without engaging in battle and wait until the harvest season, the Shamanic Sect will naturally retreat empty-handed."

The grain delivery and the strategy he proposed closely matched Jiang Lin’s plan.

Chu Yun nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Baron Cheng Qiong! I was truly worried about food supplies, and I never expected you to send grain. I’m deeply grateful beyond words."

Baron Cheng Qiong smiled. "Count Chu Yun, there’s no need for thanks. In fact, I believe sending you grain isn’t just lending aid in dire times—it’s adding brilliance to what you already possess. I trust you are a descendant of the divine, surely with a strategy to repel the enemy."

Chu Yun waved his hand. "No, Baron Cheng, this is truly timely aid. You have relieved a pressing crisis."

He was genuinely moved.

After all, he had saved Lin Yang’s life, yet Lin Yang had neither sent him any grain nor informed him of the Shamanic Sect’s plan to attack Chujia Town.

Cheng Qiong was a stranger, and Chu Yun even owed him a favor. Yet in his moment of peril, Cheng Qiong extended a helping hand.

Chu Yun sincerely felt that Cheng Qiong was a person truly worth befriending.

Cheng Qiong said, "Count Chu Yun, no need for modesty. I know you must have a way to repel the enemy. I have full confidence in you."

Then he saluted and took his leave. "Chujia Town is a hundred li from Pingba Village. We must hurry back under cover of night. Let’s not waste time talking. When the opportunity arises, we shall drink together in good cheer."

Chu Yun nodded. "Very well, Baron Cheng! Thank you again. Once I overcome this crisis, I will repay you handsomely."

Cheng Qiong smiled faintly. "Count Chu Yun, you’re too formal. I help you because I believe in you and wish to be your friend, not for any repayment."

Chu Yun laughed heartily. "Ha! A friend like you, I have found for sure! When the Shamanic Sect retreats, I will seek you out to share a good drink."

Then Cheng Qiong ordered his men to leave the grain carts behind, and they rode horses back to Pingba Village, clearly eager to make haste and avoid detection.

After Cheng Qiong and his party departed, everyone’s admiration for Chu Yun deepened.

"My lord Count, you are incredible! When you said someone would bring us grain, it really happened—and not just once."

"Truly prophetic!"

"The thirty dan from before, plus the new thirty dan, total sixty dan, enough to feed over three hundred people until harvest."

Everyone sighed in amazement.

Yet Chu Yun said, "The Shamanic Sect’s army should be very close by tomorrow. If by the morning after there are still people who haven’t left Chujia Town, regardless of whether they followed me before, they count as my people. So from that morning on, prepare three meals a day for them as well."

Everyone was stunned by this.

Chujia Town still had at least seven hundred and fifty people. Feeding them three meals daily at current consumption meant three dan of grain a day.

Sixty dan only lasted twenty days.

Without including those four hundred plus people in the daily meals, they could just about make it to the harvest.

Though Jiang Lin and Cheng Qiong promised to send more grain, how could anyone deliver supplies with the Shamanic Sect’s army at the city gates?

Even if willing, they would be powerless.

They couldn’t quite understand this.

Yang Liu’er couldn’t help but ask, "Husband, do you really think more grain will be sent to us?"

Chu Yun smiled and nodded. "Indeed. But not in the short term."

Chu Wencai looked puzzled. "My lord Count, not in the short term? Then when the Shamanic Sect’s soldiers arrive at the city gates, how will others deliver grain to us? And if the Shamanic Sect tries to seize our grain, how can we compete for it?"

Chu Yun waved off the concerns. "Don’t worry about these matters. I’ve said before, the grain supply is completely secure."

Seeing Chu Yun’s confidence and remembering that two shipments of grain had already arrived, everyone believed him: more would come.

They also understood that Chu Yun took on responsibility for the remaining four hundred or so people in Chujia Town mainly because he feared that if they lacked food, disorder would break out inside the city.

Moreover, these people had chosen to stay and defend Chujia Town in its hour of crisis, standing alongside everyone else. They deserved to be treated well.

By dusk the next day, the Shamanic Sect’s three-thousand-strong army had set up camp less than twenty li from Chujia Town’s gates.

In this pristine environment, with clear skies and no pollution, visibility was high. From the city walls, the black mass of troops twenty li away could be seen, radiating a terrifying pressure.

"They’ve come. The Shamanic Sect has truly arrived!"

"So many of them—far more than all of Chujia Town’s people combined!"

"Run for your lives! Flee now!"

"If you don’t, you’re doomed! The Shamanic Sect will surely kill us all as followers of Chu Yun!"

Many cowardly townsfolk, seeing the massive, dark army, were petrified. They rushed home to pack and fled southward out of Chujia Town.

They had wanted to escape yesterday but thought the Shamanic Sect only targeted Chu Yun and wouldn’t harm them. Even if troops were sent, they believed the numbers would be small.

Now seeing such a vast force, far exceeding the town’s population, they dared not stay.

Nearly two hundred fled.

Meanwhile, Chu Yun’s sixty guards, along with Chen Ping and the former town officials, maintained order and guarded the grain strictly. No riot broke out.

Those who fled only took their families and belongings, not seizing anything else.

Of the more than three hundred who had adventured with Chu Yun outside the town for two months, none left.

Chu Yun and his administrators were pleased to see so many leave.

Nearly two hundred fewer mouths to feed meant a significant saving of grain.

More importantly, those who remained were truly willing to stay in Chujia Town, to be Chu Yun’s people, and to build a future with him.