General's wife comes to aid
The camp was waiting impatiently for the three to return back from the capital with the loads of weaponary. But they were far behind schedule. Without proper weapons, the elaborate plan made, was doomed. Despair, impatience, irritation, restlessness and anger all these emotions were circling the camp base of General Guoqiang. Superintendent Wan had already left to clear out Zijinguan villages. Commander Yuan was waiting for the weapons before he could depart to attack the enemy's Yanmen pass. Commander Chen was to attack the Juyong pass along with general himself. All other plans halted without weapons. The longer the delay the stronger the enemy becomes. That is when the horn blows were heard and every soldier, stepped out their tents in anticipation of weapons. The gates of the base camp opened, and hoards of wagons entered the camp. It was more than expected. Soldier Yi got off his horse, and entered General's tent, before he could speak a word, Commander Chu started yelling, "You were supposed to be back A WEEK AGO! What took you so long!?"
Soldier Yi : "We are sorry for the delay, but we were able to successfully get loads of weapons, armour and rations."
Commander Yan : "How did you manage all of it?"
Soldier Yi : "It was General's wife that helped us. She sold a painting in her possession…" Guoqiang grabbed him by his collar, drilling straight into his eyes with mad fit and with gritted teeth, he said "I have be married for tow months and you made my wife sell her dowry!?"
Frightened little soldier Yi did everything in his power to calm general's wrath and remembered that Madame had send him with a letter for general.
Soldier Yi : "No general… it, it is not like that… Madame has send a letter…" He franticly searches his pockets for the letter and hands the letter to General. Until the letter made appliance Guoqiang did not loosen his grip around soldier Yi's collar. General walked away, outside to tent to read his wife's letter. The letter read:
'General I wanted to be of help, I hope I did not overstep my boundaries. My concern was that there won't be enough rations, so I asked them to buy rations as well along with the weaponry
I pray for your safe return
Lu Wei.'
Meanwhile in the tent, soldier Yi had an expression of relief when general left the tent. "Next time start with Madame's letter before you speak, it will save your life," said Commander Yang. Who would have thought, just a letter from Madame would change his temperament immediately. Soldier Yi asked all the commanders to head out towards the wagons to show something they uncovered during their journey.
Soldier Yi: "General please follow." Yi guided them to the wagons of weapons, where the other to soldier stood. As soon as Yi came out with other officials. The two soldier uncovered the cloth off the wagon and opened the box of weapons. Soldier Yi took one spear and showed it to genera. "General look."
General immediately recognised the markings. Commander Chen stepped forward with look of disbelief, he then went to look at other weapons in the trunk. "These are Tianxia armoury weapons!" Said commander Chen.
Soldier Yi : "Replying to commander Chen, yes they are.
They were stolen from the imperial armoury and sold to anyone willing to pay a heft price. Mostly wayward bandits purchase it. It's a complicated network of people stealing from the imperial armoury and replacing the weapons with phoney pieces. They sell them at Tian city outskirts, in seclusion under the guise of scrape iron merchants. They hide it somewhere else only when they verify your identity they take you to their storehouse for purchase. The location makes it difficult to raid by officials and they have an court official's backing. We disguised ourselves as bandits that's how we got into their base."
Guoqiang : "Well done!"
Commander Chen : "How did you manage to get this information?"
Soldier Yi : "Madame did. She sold the painting to a merchant, so she could get money for the rations. Her maid went a restaurant to make the dealings and that merchant gave this information to trade as he was short on money.
Guoqiang : "Yuan take your share and leave immediately for Yanmen, with one portion of the weaponry and rations." General left for his tent to plan out the attack. They were to stick at the earliest and finally put an end to this four month extended period of hot and cold battle.
Without general's presence the rest of the officials continue to converse. "Madame is really amazing!" Said Commander Chu. "Truly, no women would go this extra mile for her husband's sake, one especially whom she haven't met." Added Commander Yuan, while he was noting down the weapons his elite squad would take with them.
Commander Yang : "Since Madame married General she must have wished to assist him."
Commander Chu : "Indirectly getting general to finish his expedition to come home soon. Huh general what do you think?" They were conversing deeply that they had not noticed that general had gone to his tent. Only to find out none of them followed him except Commander Yan. General himself stepped off the tent to gather everyone for the next set of plans. Commander Chu after saying his part, realised immediately that they were required to be in the tent. They straightened themselves and stopped gossiping. General did not comment on their conversation. Lastly General spoke :" Commander Chen let's prepare for tomorrow's showdown."