Inside the Northern Barbarians’ main tent, the atmosphere, which was originally so heavy that it was almost suffocating, suddenly became tense and turbulent because of the sudden noise coming from outside the tent.

The firelight danced in the tent, illuminating the faces of the generals, whose fear had just turned into confusion.

Just when everyone had not yet fully recovered from Hailanhak’s pressure, the curtain was suddenly and roughly opened, and a scout covered in dust staggered in.

“Report to the general, our grain transport team has just been attacked by the rebels!” The scout knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, his face full of panic and anxiety, “Our supplies were set on fire, and the losses are extremely heavy!”

As soon as these words came out, the generals in the tent immediately fell into chaos. The generals who had been silent just now raised their heads, their faces full of shock and disbelief.

“What? The grain transport team was attacked?!” A general suddenly stood up, his face turned ashen, and his voice revealed undisguised fear and anger.

“The food and fodder were burned?”

The other general’s face immediately turned as pale as paper, as if he had heard the worst news.

His voice was trembling, and deep fear was revealed in his eyes. “That was the food we just urgently transferred from other places! Without it, we… wouldn’t we be facing the desperate situation of running out of food?”

The generals in the tent began to discuss, their voices filled with anxiety and uneasiness. The importance of food and fodder in war is self-evident. As the saying goes, “before the troops move, food and fodder must go first.” An army without food and fodder is like a beast without teeth. Even if it is strong in combat, it cannot last long.

“This… What should we do?” An elderly general frowned, his tone revealing obvious anxiety. “We are currently facing off against Chagan Wuli’s army, and the rebels are waiting outside to watch us. If we run out of food and grass, the army will be in chaos!”

“Report to the general!” The scout’s voice was tearful, and he was obviously frightened by this sudden disaster.

“We just urgently transferred that batch of food from other places, but now it has turned to ashes… I’m afraid that in a few days, all of us will face the threat of starvation! We absolutely cannot afford such consequences!”

However, just as the generals were in a panic, Hailanhak sat behind the desk like a cold statue, with no emotion on his face. His fingers tapped the desk lightly, making a monotonous “tapping” sound, as if he was thinking about something.

“Enough!” Hailanhak’s voice was low and cold, instantly drowning out the noise in the tent.

His eyes swept over the crowd coldly, and his tone was filled with unquestionable majesty, “A bunch of idiots who are always causing troubles and not being able to do anything! Just a batch of food and grass was burned, and you are so scared?”

Upon hearing this, all the generals lowered their heads and dared not speak again. Although they were still anxious, no one dared to offend Hailanhak at this time.

Hailanhak slowly stood up and walked to the center of the tent. His eyes were like knives, piercing the scout kneeling on the ground: “Tell me in detail, what exactly happened?”

The scout was trembling all over under Hailanhak’s gaze and said quickly: “Reply…Reply to the general, the rebels attacked our grain transport team at night.

There were not many of them, but they moved very quickly, and by the time we discovered them, they had already set the haystack on fire.

Our people tried to put out the flames, but… but the fire was too big to be controlled at all!”

“How much food and grass was burned?” Hailanhak’s voice was calm and low, as if he was asking about something that had nothing to do with him.

“Almost…almost all of it has been burned.” The scout’s voice was filled with deep fear. “Only a small amount of food and grass is left…it is no longer enough to support our army.”

“General, what should we do?” A general couldn’t help but speak with a hint of panic in his tone, “If the food and grass are cut off, our army will not be able to continue to stay here. At that time, not only will Chagan Uli take the opportunity to counterattack, but the rebels will also take advantage of the opportunity to move in!”

“Yes, General!” another general echoed, “Food and fodder are the lifeblood of the army. Without them, the soldiers will surely lose their morale and may even mutiny!”

The discussions in the tent arose again, and the faces of the generals were filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

Obviously, this food crisis has made them completely lose their composure.

Hailanhak glanced at everyone coldly, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: “You are all so anxious, do you think this war is already lost?”

“General, that’s not what we meant…” A general explained hurriedly, with a hint of panic in his tone.

“That’s not what I meant.” Hailanhak’s voice suddenly rose, with a hint of coldness in his eyes, “Then what do you mean? It’s just a batch of food and grass that was burned, but you are so scared.

If this gets out, won’t people laugh their heads off? “

He swept his eyes over the crowd, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty: “Remember, although the burning of food and grass is a problem, it is not a fatal problem.

Which of our northern barbarian soldiers did not come from a bitter and cold land? Which of them did not survive to this day by enduring hardships and hard work?
As long as we can stabilize the morale of the troops, what does this little difficulty matter?”

Upon hearing this, all the generals lowered their heads and dared not say anything more.

Hailanhak turned around and walked to the table. His fingers tapped the table lightly, and there was a deep light in his eyes.

“Pass the order down, mobilize food and grass from various troops, and give priority to ensuring the supply of the main force.” His voice was low and calm, with an unquestionable majesty. “At the same time, send people to nearby villages and tribes to collect food and grass. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!”

“Yes!” A general quickly accepted the order and retreated in a hurry.

Hailanhak paused, his eyes showing a hint of coldness: “Also, send out scouts to strengthen the investigation of the rebels.

Since they dared to attack our grain transport team, it means their main force is not far away.

I want to know exactly where they are and what they’re going to do next.”

“Yes, sir!” Another general bowed and turned to leave.

After all the generals left, Hailanhak sat alone behind the desk. His eyes fell on the map on the desk, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Rebels… it seems you are not willing to be alone either.” His voice was low and cold, revealing a sense of disdain and mockery. “But do you think that burning my food and grass can shake my army’s morale? How naive.”

He raised his head, his eyes were deep and cold, as if he could see the battlefield in the distance through the tent.

“Since you took the initiative, don’t blame me for being rude.”

His voice was low and meaningful, as if he was sneering at the night sky, “This war has just begun.”

After all the generals withdrew, the noise in the tent finally died down.

The originally lively atmosphere receded like the tide, leaving only a depressing silence.

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered gently in the breeze, and the light and shadows danced on the walls like restless souls.

The air was filled with a dull atmosphere, making people feel a little suffocated. However, this silence could not hide the rage boiling in Hailanhak’s heart.

At this moment, his face looked so cold and ugly under the flickering candlelight.

His sculptured face was tense at this moment, and the lines looked particularly stiff.

“Bang!” Hailanhak slammed his fist on the table, making a dull “bang” sound.

The sudden sound was particularly harsh in the silent tent. The map on the table trembled slightly, as if it was also frightened by the anger.

The wine in the glass splashed out and slowly flowed along the table. The traces of wine spread wildly like the anxiety in his heart.

His breathing was rapid, his chest heaving violently, veins bulged on his forehead, and his teeth were clenched.

Those hawk-like sharp eyes were now burning with rage, as if they were about to tear apart the air in front of them.

“The rebels…” He gritted his teeth and whispered, his voice full of endless hatred, “a bunch of despicable rats!” Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying deep resentment.

He stood up suddenly, walked to the desk, put his hands on the table, and stared at the area marked with the rebel position on the map.

There was a strong murderous intent in his eyes, as if he wanted to wipe that area off the map. His fingers were tightly gripping the table, and his joints turned white from the force.

Although he had just acted calm and composed in front of the generals, and even seemed to be indifferent, he knew very well in his heart what the interruption of food supplies meant to their army.

“Twenty to thirty thousand people, relying only on the remaining food and fodder…even if they live frugally, they won’t be able to hold out for long.” He whispered to himself, his voice revealing deep anxiety and helplessness.

Every word was like a heavy stone weighing on his heart.

Hailanhak’s eyes slowly swept across the map, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his mind calculating rapidly.

He knew very well that food and fodder were the lifeblood of the army. Once the food and fodder were exhausted, the army’s morale would be disrupted and the soldiers’ combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced.

“The news of food shortage must not be spread.” His voice was low and cold, as if he was giving orders to himself.

“Otherwise, the military morale that has just been stabilized with great difficulty will surely be shaken again.” His eyes were firm and resolute, as if he had already made some kind of decision.

Thinking of this, he gradually calmed down, slowly sat back behind the desk, crossed his hands on his chest, his eyes deep and cold.

His face still maintained his usual calm and dignity, but his heart was consumed by endless pressure and anger.

“Damn the rebels…” He cursed in a low voice, his tone full of deep hatred, “You think you can make me surrender by burning my food supplies? That’s wishful thinking!”

He raised his head, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. This emotion was not fear, but loneliness.

As the commander of the Hailan tribe, he shoulders the fate of the entire tribe, and all decisions and responsibilities fall on his shoulders.

He couldn’t fail, and he couldn’t let anyone see his weakness.

“In this war…” he murmured in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of coldness and determination, “Only the victor can leave alive.”

His finger lightly ran over the area marking the rebels’ position, his mind racing with countermeasures.

“The problem of food and fodder must be solved as soon as possible.” He whispered, his tone revealing an unquestionable firmness. The voice echoed in the silent tent, as if carrying an invisible pressure. “But before that, I must stabilize the morale of the army.” His brows knitted slightly, and the worry in his heart was like a dark cloud hanging over him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and a bold idea emerged in his mind.

This idea was like a flash of lightning in the dark. Although it was full of risks, he had no choice under the current circumstances.

He knew it was a big gamble, but he was willing to take the risk for victory.

“The original plan…” he whispered, with a hint of unwillingness in his tone, “was to wait until the rebels could no longer hold back, and then capture them all in one fell swoop. But now, the food and grass have been burned, and I don’t have much time.”

His fists clenched unconsciously, and the anger in his heart burned like a flame.

His gaze narrowed again, with a hint of determination in his eyes: “In this case, we can only move the plan forward.” His eyes became firm, as if he had made up his mind.

He slowly stood up, walked to the map, and his eyes fell on the position of the troops in front that were blocking the rebels.

His fingers tapped lightly on the map. The slight sound was particularly clear in the silent tent, as if issuing some silent orders.

“The blocking troops ahead…” His eyes were deep and cold, and he was calculating rapidly in his mind, “Withdraw, pretend to be unable to hold on, pretend to fight desperately with Chagan Uli… Let the rebels mistakenly think that we are in a desperate situation.”

The corner of his mouth curled up into a sneer, which was filled with deep mockery and murderous intent.

Thinking of this, a strong fighting spirit surged in his heart.

He knew that once this plan was implemented, it would bring huge risks, but he also believed that only in this way could there be a glimmer of hope.

“Rebels… aren’t you planning to take advantage of this opportunity to attack us? Then come on, I will make you regret stepping into this battlefield.” His voice was cold and firm, like a verdict from hell.

He slowly stood up and walked to the door of the tent. He opened the curtain and looked up at the night sky in the distance.

The moonlight shone on him, making his shadow look hideous and lonely.

In the night sky, the stars are twinkling, as if witnessing the coming storm.

“The Rebels…”

He murmured in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of cold murderous intent, “Do you think that burning my food supplies can shake the morale of my army? You are too naive.”

The corners of his mouth curled up into a sneer, and his eyes flashed with determination: “Since you took the initiative to provoke me, don’t blame me for being rude. In this war, I will let you know what true despair is.”

He lowered the curtain and returned to the tent, brewing a storm of decisive battle…

(End of this chapter)