Even before Laiyue had exined his actions, He Changdi had already guessed the situation.


    “No matter. This isn’t your fault. You’ve done well this time. Let’s head back and have a meal and some rest.”


    Laiyue made a sound of agreement before following one of He Changdi’s guards to a tent to rest.


    As Laiyue watched his young master turn back into his own tent with his brows tightly knitted together, he couldn’t help butment their current state.


    Third Young Master had really put his all into this gamble. His master had once been just like any of the other young noblemen living in the capital-pared to his current penniless state, it was toorge a difference. Laiyue couldn’t help but feel extremely sad.


    He didn’t understand why his young master had been so resolute in his decision toe to the northern border. His initial dissatisfaction towards Third Young Madam definitely wasn’t one of the reasons.


    They had used up all of the money they had brought from the capital, along with all the properties in Third Young Master’s name. There wasn’t a single valuable left. Right now, other than his rank as Captain He, Third Young Master had nothing else to his name. He was probably even poorer than those concubine-born sons from the third-rate noble houses...


    Through letters from home, Laiyue had also heard of the things that Chu Lian had done back in the capital. Third Young Madam was a really capable person. Who could have thought that a noble youngdy would be so good at earning money? Just going by ‘Guilin Restaurant’ alone, Third Young Madam’s pockets were likely filled to bursting.


    In the entire House Jing’an, it was probably Third Young Madam who had the most money now.


    Now that Third Young Madam had alsoe to Liangzhou, did that mean his wise and mighty young master would have to rely on his wife to keep himself fed?


    As Laiyue’s mind continued wandering through these thoughts, he felt that his foresight was excellent. He had to quickly recover from his fatigue and toss his lot in with the wealthy Third Young Madam.


    If He Sang were to find out that his manservant was thinking of switching sides, he would probably break all of the little bastard’s legs!


    The lights in He Changdi’s tent remained on untilte in the night. Exhausted, He Changdi rubbed his temples as he fell back onto his bed. His eyes stared straight up at the dark canopy of the tent as he listened to the howling wind outside. No matter how tired he was, He Changdi couldn’t muster up the slightest bit of sleepiness.


    He went through solutions in his mind the entire night, but none of them were actually useful.


    With Xiao Hongyu’s rhythmic snores as apaniment, He Changdi subconsciously smoothed his elegant hands over the fluffy, warm fleece nket covering him. The memory of the day Chu Lian hade to visit the camp floated into his mind.


    He turned on his side and took in a deep breath, wanting to get rid of the images in his head. However, there was a faint fragrance on the nket covering him that made his memory even clearer.


    He Changdi’s brows drew together in frustration, and he almost made to throw the nket onto the ground. Although that urge lingered in his mind, the hand he had ced on the nket refused to move.


    It wasn’t until the faint light of day had broken over the horizon that He Sang was finally able to slip into slumber.


    Time passed quickly. The Tuhuns had practically stopped all attacks on the frontline. They would only send small parties tounch sneak attacks from time to time, clearly trying to y the waiting game with the border troops.


    The Tuhuns’ living conditions had been poor from the start. This wasn’t the first time they had started eyeing the Great Wu Dynasty’s rich, fertile fields.


    The Tuhuns weren’t like the people of the Great Wu. They had been living on the grasnds and icy mountains of the region for generation after generation, and as a result, they were well-used to the harsh, bitter conditions, particrly the winter’s icy winds and snowstorms that the border troops had difficulties with. Furthermore, the Tuhuns had been plotting an invasion for years. They had their ways to pass this harsh winter.


    As the snow fell even harder and the days grew even colder, the conditions were turning more and more to their favour.


    It was an entirely different matter on the side of the Liangzhou border troops. The government had been spending huge sums to maintain the army at the border. There were quotas set on the military supplies sent every season. The rtive peacetime of the Great Wu Dynasty meant that the military officials didn’t have as much influence and respect in court. Meanwhile, the literary officials spread ideals of leading the nation with virtue rather than weaponry. This was most evident in the previous year, when the cab had argued for months over the budget set for military expenditure.


    When the turn of the year hade around, military spending had been cut down even further, rather than increased.


    Thus, the border troops were in imminent danger.


    Due to the early snows in Liangzhou this year, the army’s winter supplies hadn’t been able to make it here in time. It was as if their lifeline had been cut.


    The Tuhuns had spent a decade sharpening their des, waiting for this chance. Although their weapons couldn’t bepared to the Great Wu’s, they had the advantage, having prepared enough food tost the whole of winter. It was the Liangzhou border troops who couldn’t afford to wait.


    One of the officers had bristled with anger at the Tuhuns’ tactics. He suggested gathering all fifty thousand soldiers and feeding them a good meal before sending them out to trample the Tuhun army without leaving a trace!


    The Liangzhou army was under themand of Duke Lu, so they weren’t a bunch of cowardly soldiers. They had the courage to die on the battlefields to protect their country.


    The soldiers were good soldiers and the leaders were good leaders. However, the Tuhun army wasn’t stupid. They weren’t going to stand out and let the border troops attack them without fighting back, nor did they leave their supplies out for just anyone to discover.


    The northern border was a hugend with a sparse poption. Sometimes they wouldn’t even see a single soul out there on the grass ins.


    The Tuhuns were used to living in these conditions and scrabbling for survival. Gueri warfare and hiding were what they were good at, and this was well-suited to the northern border’srge space.


    The most likely result from the angry officer’s suggestion would be their fifty thousand soldiers dying of hunger or exposure after crossing the river without finding a single hint of the Tuhuns...


    Thus, all they could do was wait as their supplies dwindled down. If they wanted to bring supplies in, they would have to think of a way to get to the hearnds of the Great Wu.