Fighting Bloody Battles To Defend The Border, The Love-Brained Empress Ordered The Troops To Withdraw? - Chapter 12

After being occupied for quite some time, it was already late in the day.

The soldiers were famished.

Li Yunfei himself also felt the gnawing hunger.

Food is the foundation of an army—essential for both body and morale. Fortunately, many of the troops had brought some rations with them when they left camp.

Following Li Yunfei’s order, the soldiers halted to rest and eat.

Once they’d finished their simple meal, he gathered them and prepared to return to Shanhe City.

Just then, a group of villagers approached from afar, led by an elderly woman. Their faces were lit with relief and gratitude.

“General Li,” the old woman called out with a warm smile, “we’re so happy to have found you. We were afraid you might have already returned. Heaven blessed us with the chance to catch up.”

Several women followed, each carrying two large wooden buckets—more than a dozen in total.

“General, you and your men must be starving after such a long day,” one of them said. “The barbarians took nearly everything from our village. This is all we could save. We turned it into a meal—please don’t turn us away.”

As they spoke, they set the barrels down and removed the lids. A fragrant wave of hot food wafted into the air.

Even before the lids were opened, the scent had already reached them. Li Yunfei had noticed it earlier, and the soldiers, too, had caught wind of the aroma.

It was the smell of freshly cooked rice—warm and comforting.

Now, with the steam rising visibly from the food, the smell became even more intense.

Hunger clawed at their insides. Stomachs growled. Even Li Yunfei had to swallow as his mouth watered.

But he didn’t accept the offer right away.

With a gentle but firm smile, he declined. “Auntie, I truly appreciate this, but I’ve issued a strict order: our troops are not to take anything from the people. How could I break that order myself?”

He added, “Please take this food back. You need it more than we do.”

He tried to make it as easy for them to accept as possible. But despite his kind refusal, the old woman dropped to her knees.

The rest of the villagers knelt too.

“General, you saved our lives. Without your bravery, we wouldn’t have survived to see winter,” she said. “This is only a small gesture. Please let us offer you this meal.”

Tears welled in some of their eyes as they pleaded sincerely, their voices full of emotion.

“If you reject it, we’ll feel unworthy of your protection,” another villager said.

Li Yunfei knew—if he turned them down again, their hearts would be heavy with guilt and disappointment.

He walked toward the buckets and looked inside.

Beneath generous portions of rice, there were dishes—well-prepared and plentiful. He even saw pieces of meat—mainly chicken, but also a bit of other kinds.

His heart ached.

These people had been ravaged by war—robbed of their food, livestock, and dignity. And yet, they had managed to offer such a meal.

All because he had done what any soldier in his place should have done.

How could he continue to refuse such genuine gratitude?

So, finally, he accepted. But he also exchanged a subtle glance with Duan Peng, who quickly slipped away to investigate where the food had come from.

It was evident the meal was a collective effort—but it was nowhere near enough for an army of 2,000.

Li Yunfei took only half a bowl and encouraged moderation. The food was indeed delicious—especially in their famished state.

The soldiers also took just small portions, out of respect. Some had tears in their eyes as they ate.

When the meal ended, the villagers gathered their empty buckets with smiles of fulfillment and headed home, their expressions brighter and prouder than before.

Soon after, Duan Peng returned, his face solemn.

“General,” he said quietly, “I’ve looked into it. The food they brought was all they had left. It was originally hidden to survive the barbarian raids, but most of it was stolen. What little remained was scraped together for this meal.”

“Many of them even sold their few remaining possessions to buy ingredients.”

Li Yunfei’s heart sank. Just as he had suspected.

Duan Peng went on, “And it’s not just this village. Several others did the same. They’ve been scouring the area trying to find us, hoping to give us food.”

“Most have been turned away by our men. But some are still searching.”

“And with the harvest not yet in and fields barely productive, many of them may not survive the winter.”

Silence fell.

Li Yunfei rose to his feet.

“Prepare the troops. We’ll head back. We can’t keep troubling these villagers.”

His orders were quickly followed. The army moved like the wind back to Shanhe City.

But Li Yunfei didn’t stop to rest.

He summoned the commander in charge of army provisions.

“How much longer can our rations last?”

“General, less than ten days.”

“Then distribute half our stores,” Li Yunfei commanded. “Send them to every village around Shanhe City.”

“Assign teams to carefully assess each village—take note of population and available supplies, and distribute accordingly. I trust you to carry it out properly.”

He added sternly, “Not a single civilian is to die of hunger before the harvest comes in or new supplies arrive. Understand?”

The officer saluted. “Yes, General. I swear I’ll make it happen.”

“Good,” Li Yunfei nodded. “But be prepared—many villagers will refuse the aid. Tell them clearly: we need them alive. Only by surviving can they stand with us against the barbarians.”

With that settled, Li Yunfei sent for the army inspector.

He had to get to the bottom of something.

The barbarians had somehow bypassed the defensive line and reached these villages without warning. That shouldn’t have been possible.

Li Yunfei was sure—this wasn’t just an accident. There had to be treachery involved.

And if it wasn’t exposed, it would remain a lurking threat—one that could cost countless innocent lives.