Chapter 23: Provisions Running Short

Not long after the orders were issued, more intelligence arrived. It detailed how Li Ye had ignited the soldiers' fighting spirit and promoted talented men among the ranks. In a very short time, he had already won over the entire army, restoring combat effectiveness to a group of old, weak, and disabled soldiers.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuantian found it incredibly hard to believe. "This was done by my son? Did he have some advisor plotting for him behind the scenes?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince has only his maid and his guards with him. We have found no evidence of any advisors."

Li Xuantian’s eyes lit up. He felt that sending Li Ye to suppress the bandits was indeed a good way to test his capabilities. "I never expected him to hide his true self so well! If he can truly defeat the bandits of Vulture Mountain with five thousand broken soldiers, it would prove he possesses outstanding military talent. His usual behavior was merely a facade."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate believes it is impossible for these five thousand weak soldiers to succeed. Three major armies have been sent to suppress these bandits before, the largest consisting of twenty thousand troops, yet they all returned without success. The terrain of Vulture Mountain is extremely complex and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Furthermore, the bandits have cleared much land and are self-sufficient. As long as they hold the key passages, no matter how large the army, they cannot force their way up. One can only lay siege to them; it is impossible to annihilate them."

Li Xuantian shared this view, but he wanted to see to what extent Li Ye could perform and if he could do better than the imperial generals. More importantly, Li Xuantian had noticed that among all the princes, only Li Ye dared to challenge the Yunlu Pavilion. The other princes were obsequious toward Shi Wushuang, which made Li Xuantian look at Li Ye with new eyes while feeling immense anger toward the others. It was clear the Dayuan Dynasty held a higher status than the Yunlu Pavilion, yet they had failed to maintain their dignity. If any other prince were to inherit the throne, it was obvious the Dayuan Dynasty would easily fall under the control of the Yunlu Pavilion. The rapid growth of the Yunlu Pavilion in recent years had made even Li Xuantian feel a sense of dread. Weakening their influence had become imperative.

The only one who showed a glimmer of promise was the Sixth Prince, who was usually looked down upon. Thus, he decided to send Li Ye to suppress the bandits to test his true abilities.

Li Ye led his troops to set out. He did not force a rapid march; instead, he allowed the soldiers to rest for a quarter of an hour every hour.

When it came time to eat, the soldiers were given full portions, including meat. This became too much for the officer in charge of military supplies to bear, and he sought out Li Ye directly to explain the situation. He even began to suspect that Li Ye lacked the most basic common sense of military command. If they continued to eat like this, the provisions would be exhausted long before a battle even began. Meat, in particular, was in short supply, and consuming it at every meal would deplete their stores even faster.

"Your Highness, if we continue like this, our rations won't even last a month! While you are compassionate toward the soldiers, we must consider our supplies. The Ministry of Revenue has only allocated three months of provisions, and we will receive no further supplies for that duration."

Li Ye glanced at him. "That doesn't sound right. How are you managing these supplies? If three months of rations can't even last for one, has someone been embezzling them?"

"Of course not! I wouldn't dare to commit corruption in front of Your Highness. The Ministry of Revenue allocated the full amount; the quantity is correct," the supply officer insisted.

"Then why is there such a massive discrepancy?" Li Ye asked, puzzled.

The supply officer sighed and explained, "It seems Your Highness is unfamiliar with military operations. Campaigns consume vast resources. Therefore, before a battle, soldiers are limited to half-rations, two meals a day. When stationed, they only receive thirty to forty percent of a full meal. Meat is entirely out of the question. Only during an actual battle are soldiers given full meals and extra meat. By having the army eat their fill at every meal, with meat every time, we are naturally running out. Even the imperial court cannot afford such consumption."

Li Ye was speechless after hearing this. If they couldn't even eat their fill on a daily basis, how could they have the strength to fight? It was no wonder the Dayuan Dynasty’s elite forces numbered fewer than one hundred thousand; they simply couldn't afford to feed them. This was also the reason they often lost against fierce foreign tribes. The territory was too vast and needed protection in too many places; they couldn't afford to maintain such a large army. Thus, most troops were relegated to defending cities, barely scraping by on meager rations. Only in times of extreme danger were elite forces dispatched. It wasn't that the soldiers were incapable; it was that the logistics failed them.

"Look at these soldiers—they are thin and gaunt. If they don't eat well and have enough meat, how can they have the strength to fight? Don't worry about anything else; continue to provide meals as ordered."

After saying this, Li Ye remembered something important. "Based on current consumption, how long will the rations actually last?"

"Twenty days at most!" the supply officer replied.

"The march there and back will take ten days, leaving ten days for the battle—that should be enough!" Li Ye nodded.

"Ten days? Does Your Highness intend to wipe out the bandits in ten days? That seems impossible."

"If the rations only last this long, what would you have me do?" Li Ye asked sharply.

The supply officer was speechless. Capturing Vulture Mountain in ten days was a fantasy; it was simply impossible.

"What if we fail to take the mountain in ten days? Our rations will be exhausted."

"If we can't take it, we retreat and report to the Emperor that I lack the ability! What else can I do?" Li Ye shrugged.

The supply officer finally realized that the Sixth Prince had no intention of actually capturing Vulture Mountain. It was all just a show from beginning to end. They would wander around with the troops and then head back.

"Go back and do your job. I will take full responsibility for everything."

"Yes!"

The supply officer retreated, feeling deeply suspicious. Yet, he thought this might not be a bad thing. At the very least, this expedition allowed everyone to eat well, and it was all just for show. As long as they didn't engage the enemy in a hard fight, there would be no casualties, and they would all return alive. Once he thought it through, he continued to follow Li Ye's orders, ensuring all the soldiers were well-fed.

With full stomachs, the soldiers' spirits lifted significantly. Their marching speed increased quite a bit. In less than five days, they reached Vulture Mountain.

Li Ye followed his original plan and issued a series of orders. He first sent troops to hold the key passages, then dispatched scouts to investigate the surrounding situation.

The arrival of five thousand soldiers could not be hidden from the bandits on Vulture Mountain. They immediately prepared their defenses, retreating all their people up the mountain and sealing the gates. They prepared large quantities of logs and boulders; as long as the imperial army dared to attack, they would pay a heavy price.