Bad news...
The messenger, a foot soldier, stammered, looking troubled.
Cui Zhi, who looked tired and weak, took a deep breath and secretly suppressed the discomfort caused by the backlash of his literary energy. That circular high wall that had kept the raging fire at bay had been created by him. Gongxi Chou had probably noticed something and damaged it while counterattacking Zhongli Fu.
Cui Zhi had borne the backlash alone, sparing the other scholars from suffering as well. To avoid showing weakness before the Sovereign of Qi Country, he forced himself to act as though nothing was wrong. In truth, his qi and blood churned inside him, and his literary energy flowed in reverse. His injuries weren't severe, but they weren't minor either; he would need several days of rest. He barked, "Whatever it is, say it. The situation can change in an instant on the battlefield. Are you trying to delay military affairs by being so evasive?"
The foot soldier could only shut his eyes and steel himself to deliver the bad news.
The bad news was—
The terrain where the granary had stood had been destroyed. It was now a marsh.
A tiny crack finally appeared in the Sovereign of Qi Country's flawless expression. In an incredulous tone, she asked, "A marsh?"
The allied forces had long been prepared for Kang Country to strike at their granaries. They had divided their provisions among several different locations. None of those places could possibly be a marsh. A marsh was a place where water and vegetation gathered—in more familiar terms, a swamp. To keep grain from spoiling, granaries needed to be protected against damp and leaks, and built in dry, well-ventilated places.
A granary in a marsh?
In a few days, the provisions and supply vehicles would be moldy