All's Fair in War

Lin Jin guessed that Dugu Xiong had assembled his troops too hastily in order to pressure Iron Blood Pass, so not all the provisions had been transferred.

Lin Jin immediately hurried to the warehouses. Sure enough, several enormous storehouses stood open.

Inside, mountains of grain sacks, dried meat, bundled arrows, and oil for maintaining weapons filled almost his entire field of vision.

He immediately realized that these supplies were far more valuable than simply burning them!

"A Tu!"

"Here!"

"Immediately inventory all captured supplies and sort them by category! Post guards around the warehouses. Without my orders, not a single grain of rice is to be touched, and no one is allowed near them to set a fire!"

"Yes!"

Lin Jin's mind raced as the outline of a bolder new plan began to take shape.

"Tie Shan!"

"Here!"

Lin Jin gave another order:

"First, take full control of Gray Rock City Defense. Entry is allowed, but no one leaves! Cut off every channel of communication!"

"Second, immediately interrogate the captured Star Luo Officer and City Lord's Mansion Clerk. I want the detailed handover process for these supplies, the passwords, and specific information about the Escort Team and Transport Route!"

"Third, select one hundred of the sharpest and most capable brothers. Have them change into Star Luo Military Uniforms. We have work to do!"

"Yes!"

Then Lin Jin called someone else over. "Return tonight and tell General Qin Yue that Gray Rock City has been taken. We seized supplies enough for Fifty Thousand People for half a month. Have him investigate the supplies at Iron Rock Fortress, and at the same time launch a counterattack so they have no time to worry about Gray Rock City."

"Yes!"

After receiving his orders, the chosen Blood Blade Warrior did not delay in the slightest. Under cover of night, he followed the safe route they had scouted on the way here and slipped toward Iron Blood Pass like a ghost.

Within Gray Rock City, Lin Jin's orders were carried out with remarkable efficiency.

The city defenses were swiftly taken over. Blood Blade Warriors changed into the uniforms of the Star Luo Garrison and stood atop the walls. From afar, nothing appeared different from usual, except their gazes were sharper and the atmosphere more murderous.

Every Carrier Pigeon or person attempting to leave the city to deliver news was silently intercepted.

Interrogations were also underway in the City Lord's Mansion dungeon.

Under the Blood Blade Warriors' "professional" methods, the captured officers and clerks soon revealed the intelligence Lin Jin needed.

The scale of the supply transport, the agreed Delivery Order, and, most importantly, the Transport Route.

With this information, a smile appeared on Lin Jin's face.

All Lin Jin could do next was wait for Qin Yue's reply.

Meanwhile, at Iron Blood Pass.

After a day of brutal offensive and defensive fighting, Star Luo's assault temporarily ceased.

The pass walls were scarred everywhere. The soldiers seized the time to rest, treat the Wounded Soldiers, and repair the fortifications. The atmosphere was heavy and weary.

Qin Yue stood atop the pass walls, staring at the endless lights of the Star Luo Camp in the distance, his brow tightly furrowed.

Although they had successfully held back the enemy's fierce assault, their own losses were not small. Moreover, Star Luo had abundant troops. If this continued, Iron Blood Pass would sooner or later be ground down.

Just then, a Personal Guard led a battle-worn warrior, drenched from head to toe in Night Dew, before him.

"General, Lord Lin has sent someone back!"

Qin Yue perked up. "Speak!"

The Blood Blade Warrior dropped to one knee and swiftly, clearly repeated Lin Jin's words. "Lord Lin has successfully captured Gray Rock City and seized provisions and military equipment sufficient for an army of Fifty Thousand People for half a month! The Colonel asks the general to investigate the supply situation at Iron Rock Fortress and seize the chance to launch a counterattack, tying down the enemy's main force so they have no time to look back!"

"What?! Gray Rock City was taken so quickly?! And he captured so many supplies?!" Even Qin Yue, hardened by countless battles, could not help crying out in shock. His face was filled with ecstatic disbelief.

He slammed a hand against the battlements. "Good! Good boy! You've really done me proud!"

He immediately realized that the crucial turning point of the battle had arrived.

"Pass on the order!" Qin Yue's voice boomed like a great bell, all his previous exhaustion swept away. "Send out every Scout we have. Focus on investigating the logistics movements behind Iron Rock Fortress! All unit Commanders, report to the Commander's Mansion for discussion."

"Tell everyone to eat their fill tonight. No rationing."

"Damn it, we defended all day today. Tomorrow morning, I'll personally lead the counterattack!"

Following Qin Yue's orders, the previously silent Iron Blood Pass instantly became like a waking Giant Beast, gathering the thunderous force of a counterattack.

"Have you found Lin Jin's location?" Zhu Chenfeng, Captain of the Netherworld Squad, asked Ye Shang.

"Captain, we searched all night and never saw him. I don't know whether Lin Jin received the message and hid himself," Ye Shang replied quietly.

"Damn it. Qin Yue is coming back. Withdraw for now and continue searching tomorrow," Zhu Chenfeng said helplessly.

Not long after the Netherworld Squad hid themselves, Qin Yue also received news from the Scouts.

"General, we've confirmed that the supplies in Iron Rock Fortress can support them for five days at most."

"Good. Go back and tell Lin Jin this," Qin Yue told the Blood Blade member.

"Yes, General."

One day, two days—five days passed in the blink of an eye amid the tense struggle between both sides.

At noon on the sixth day, Dugu Xiong returned to the Barracks after repelling an attack by the Heaven Dou Soldiers, only to find no food waiting for him.

"Where's the Cook? Where the hell is my lunch?" Dugu Xiong was seething with rage. Heaven Dou's main force had gone mad, launching frenzied assaults utterly unlike before.

It was already the sixth day, yet there was still no news from the Netherworld Squad.

"Reporting to the general, the supplies haven't arrived yet," the Deputy General could only say.

"Impossible! The supplies were supposed to arrive on the fourth day. How could they not be here yet?!" Dugu Xiong's roar echoed through the Commander's Tent as he grabbed the Deputy General by the collar.

Just then, the Cook's voice sounded from outside.

"General, the supplies from Gray Rock City have arrived."

"What are you waiting for? Go cook!"

At one in the afternoon, the Star Luo soldiers who were happily eating suddenly heard the bell signaling Heaven Dou's attack.

"Damn it, can't even eat in peace. Engage the enemy!" Dugu Xiong immediately ordered.

However, the moment they reached the fortress walls, the Taxi Soldiers who had eaten lunch suddenly began collapsing one after another in weakness, vomiting violently.

"What's going on?! What the hell is going on?!" Dugu Xiong asked blankly.

"General, General, the food is poisoned!" a Deputy General cried in pain, clutching his stomach.

As if to confirm his words.

On and below the walls, throughout the Barracks, more and more Star Luo soldiers who had eaten lunch began showing symptoms. Some of the severely afflicted even collapsed unconscious on the spot.

The once-orderly defensive formation collapsed in an instant. Cries of agony and vomiting rose one after another as Iron Rock Fortress descended into chaos and panic!

Dugu Xiong stared at the scene before him, as though a plague were spreading, his mind going blank. Then boundless fury and bone-chilling cold surged into his heart!

The food was poisoned? The supplies delivered from Gray Rock City?!

A terrifying thought exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt!

Gray Rock City had fallen!

Not only had Lin Jin captured Gray Rock City and seized the supplies, he had even brazenly used those supplies to send him a "Last Meal"!

No wonder he had received no news of Lin Jin these past six days. He had thought Lin Jin had fled, but who would have expected this?!

"Lin Jin... you Little Beast!!! I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces!!!" Dugu Xiong threw back his head and let out a shrill roar, his voice filled with towering hatred and a trace of despair.

Meanwhile, Lin Jin had already led the Blood Blade Army to a point two li behind Iron Rock Fortress.

"Dugu Xiong, weren't you waiting for provisions? Do you like the grand gift I sent you?"