Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Qidao was the only mountain road connecting Shu (Sichuan) to Liangzhou.

Qidao is only 300 li away from Liangzhou as the crow flies.

However, this mere 300-mile mountain road completely separated Guanzhong and Shu into two different worlds.

The mountain path is difficult to traverse; in its widest section, three people can walk side by side, while in its narrowest section, only one person can pass at a time.

If there are livestock such as mules or horses, the roads become even more difficult to travel.

Upon arriving at Qidao, Jiang Chong immediately ordered the trees to be cut down and a camp to be set up.

At the same time, looking at the narrow mountain path overgrown with thorns, I couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"How much longer until we get out of this dead end?"

He let out a long sigh.

Just then, Vice General Zhao Can reported: "Your Highness, the army's available provisions are less than half a month's supply."

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Chong frowned even more deeply.

Two hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder were transported to the Qidao camp in just one month, and after the people and horses ate and ate on the way, less than thirty thousand shi were actually received.

The daily rations for the 60,000 soldiers and 20,000 livestock in the army are astronomical. To get out of this predicament, the only option is to continue transferring grain from the Dongzhou camp.

Fortunately, the granaries are full, so there is no need to worry about food shortages.

"Didn't we notify Cao Meng and ask him to send the grain as soon as possible? Judging by the time, he should be on his way. New grain will arrive in half a month, so the soldiers can rest assured."

"Yes."

After the guards left, Jiang Chong looked at the mountain path and felt a chill run down his spine.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to Li Ye and widened the Qidao Road. Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

When Jiang Chong entered Shu, Li Ye was the first to insist on going with him and put forward many feasible plans for governing Shu.

Among these tasks, repairing the mountain roads in Sichuan was of paramount importance, especially the Qidao (歧道), which was a primary target for those vying for supremacy.

However, Jiang Chong had just entered Shu and had just experienced the chaos of the succession struggle. It was a time when everyone was on edge, so he did not adopt Li Ye's suggestion to build roads.

Even after the late emperor passed away, and his worries were finally relieved, he still did not agree to the road construction plan.

Of course, Jiang Chong also had his own reasons for refusing to build the road.

After all, Liangzhou was occupied by the Qiang and Xia at that time, and repairing the Qidao Road might allow the Qiang and Xia to use it as a route to launch an attack on Shu, which is one reason.

Secondly, the cost of repairing Qidao was simply too high; the manpower and material resources alone were beyond what Jiang Chong could afford at the time.

Third, road construction would inevitably lead to increased corvée labor, resulting in poor harvests, which Jiang Chong feared would incite a popular uprising.

Finally, the repair of the forked road would take too long, at least five years, making it impossible to realize its strategic value immediately.

So the road construction plan was shelved, and he focused more on expanding the army.

Now, looking at the narrow and difficult road before him, Jiang Chong was filled with deep regret.

According to his calculations, not counting auxiliary supplies, it would take at least a month for all 60,000 soldiers to pass through Qidao and enter Liangzhou territory.

This is still an optimistic figure. If there are flash floods or rainy weather, things will be delayed again.

Rumbling--

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a faint rumble of thunder could be heard from the sky.

Jiang Chong looked up and saw a dark cloud gathering overhead. He sighed and shook his head.

"Damn it, of all times it had to rain, of all times..."

He knew that the march could only end here for today.

"Order the entire army to set up camp in flat terrain and preserve their provisions."

After saying that, he shook his head helplessly and turned to go to his main tent.

……

On the other side, the 100,000 shi of grain prepared by the Dongzhou camp was once again transported towards Qidao.

By this time, the grain transport army had been away from the capital for three days.

Seeing that it was getting late, Huang Yuan, the grain transport officer, decisively ordered: "Let's rest for today. Quickly set up the pot and cook a meal. We'll continue tomorrow at four in the morning while the weather is still cool."

After saying that, he rubbed his sore lower back, took off his armor, wiped his sweat-soaked shirt on his face, and then picked up the water bag hanging from his waist and gulped it down.

"Sir, this is not a place to rest."

"You see, the mountain walls here are steep, and the left side is densely forested, making it easy for villains to hide. Please, sir, order that we rest after we leave this place."

The person speaking to Huang Yuan was Liang Zhi, the supervisor of the supply convoy.

Huang Yuan scoffed at this, saying, "I've walked this road hundreds, if not thousands, of times. What bad guy could there be? Liang Zhi, don't try to scare me."

Liang Zhi grew anxious: "Sir, better safe than sorry. Transporting grain is a matter of great importance; how can we treat it so lightly?"

"How dare you!" Huang Yuan was furious. "Liang Zhi, who do you think you are, daring to lecture me?"

What do you mean by "one in ten thousand"? Under the Prince's rule, the people and the army live in harmony; it's a prosperous era where no one picks up lost items.

Are you implying that the Prince's rule is ineffective? Based on what you just said, court-martial would be too lenient for me!

After being scolded, Liang Zhi looked miserable and said, "My lord, I was only thinking about the safety of the grain supplies. How can you say I'm questioning the prince? If anything goes wrong, wouldn't you be the one who suffers?"

Huang Yuan's eyes widened, and he pointed at Liang Zhi, cursing, "Well, well, Liang Zhi, I knew you were coming for me. You're resentful that I took away your job as the grain transport officer, aren't you?"

"I do not have."

"Whether it's true or not, I'm your boss now, and you have no right to speak here."

Mind your own business and stop daydreaming about other things, understand?

Liang Zhi stepped aside and dared not utter another word.

"Brothers, let's get the pots and pans ready and get some rest!"

"it is good!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers in the supply corps immediately began to remove their armor and clothing, take out pots and pans, and set up a campfire to start cooking.

In the dense forest not far away, Shen Lang quietly watched the army transporting grain busily, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

……

In the dead of night, the sound of snoring rose and fell beside the grain carts on the official road.

Snapped--

Huang Yuan lay on the grain sack, feeling what seemed like mosquito bites on his face. He slapped them off, fiddled with them a few times, then rolled over and drifted back to sleep.

Several soldiers on guard duty in the distance were also sitting back to back on the ground, taking a nap.

As for the laborers carrying loads, needless to say, each of them was exhausted after carrying hundreds of kilograms of grain for dozens of miles. When they lay down after dinner, they went straight to sleep.

Even Liang Zhi, who had been on high alert, was overcome by drowsiness after keeping watch until late at night and seeing that everything was alright. He soon dozed off, clutching his broadsword.

The entire official road was peaceful and serene.

In this peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, Shen Lang, who was hiding in the dense forest, covered his face.

"Do it."

At his command, more than a dozen Jingwei warriors behind him pulled out Molotov cocktails, lit them, and leaped out of the dense forest.

"Ok?"

Even the slightest noise startled Liang Zhi, who was not sound asleep.

When he opened his eyes, he saw several balls of fire shining brightly in the darkness, heading towards the grain cart.

"Not good! There's an enemy attack!"

Liang Zhi shouted, but it was too late.

boom--

A Molotov cocktail was smashed directly onto a grain truck, instantly igniting a raging fire.