Before Jialing Pass, Lay Down Your Blades

Outside Jialing Pass, two teams of troops stopped a mile apart.

The Spirit Hall grain-escort team stayed on the west side, while the Heaven Dou escort team stayed on the east. The crossbow ports on the city wall were all aimed at the road, yet the grain wagons still blocked the space between the two military formations, and several elderly drivers huddled beside the wheels, not even daring to go fetch water.

Yuan Yu pulled his white-coated outer robe back and dismounted first. Qian Renxue followed closely behind, and when several Spirit Hall guards tried to keep pace, she raised a hand to leave them in place.

Opposite them, Xue Beng also led men out of the military formation. Tang San walked at his side, Ning Fengzhi lagged half a step behind, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing stood on the side closer to the Star Luo military flag.

Once the identities of these people became clear, a young defending soldier on the city wall drew in a low breath, though his hand gripping the crossbow did not relax.

"You picked this place to hand people over?" Yuan Yu asked first.

Xue Beng lifted his chin toward the wall. "Inside the pass, they said Feng Ce is in their hands, and no one is allowed to bring troops into the city. Our men went to deliver poison two days ago, and they haven't come out since they entered."

Qian Renxue asked, "What about the two deacons escorting the grain?"

"Still hasn't been found."

Dai Mubai handed the Star Luo cargo ledger to Ning Fengzhi. "Our batch of salt and medicine has also been held up. If we talk until dark, the people in the rear will forcefully come up to take the cargo."

The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards