Chapter 111: The Clash Begins

"Go and see what is happening over there."

Shen Zhao immediately sent someone to investigate. Before long, the scout ran back and reported, "They are fighting... they have started fighting."

"Who? Tell me clearly."

The young soldier panted, "The group has split into two, scrambling for food. Many people didn't even get a drop of soup, and now they are fighting over it."

Upon hearing this, the others immediately stood on guard and surrounded the kitchen, terrified that those starving wolves might come to snatch their own rations. Seeing this scene, Shen Zhao felt a pang of heartache. How much suffering had the Northwest Army endured to be this protective over a single meal?

It would not be like this in the future. She would absolutely never let them go hungry under her command again.

"Come, follow me to take a look." She truly had not expected that these people would turn on each other over a single meal.

By the time Shen Zhao arrived, the chaos was in full swing, and many soldiers were already nursing injuries. When someone spotted her arrival, they immediately stepped forward to voice their grievances:

"General... General, you have finally come. Someone is embezzling the camp's grain and withholding rations from the soldiers. Tonight's dinner was not even half of the usual amount. Many soldiers didn't get a single bite and are going to bed hungry. How are they supposed to train tomorrow?"

The man speaking was a deputy general named Yao. He was a unique case in the Capital Garrison; he belonged to no faction and had earned his position through sheer merit. Shen Zhao knew of him because he had once stormed the Grand General’s mansion on behalf of his men, forcing Chu Mu—who had already retired for the night—out of bed.

This deputy general commanded only five hundred soldiers. Like him, these men were outliers in the Capital Garrison. They were more hardworking and resilient than the others, never forming cliques, and stood as a separate force alongside the Northwest Army. Despite their small numbers, their status in the Capital Garrison was high, earned entirely through their own prowess. Most of these five hundred men were tall, sturdy, and young; the strength of the entire unit could not be underestimated.

Shen Zhao looked at the other deputy generals with a stern face. "What is going on? Where is the camp's grain? I personally secured daily rations for the camp, and the imperial court just replenished a month's worth of supplies. How is it that after only two days, the soldiers have nothing to eat?"

As soon as Shen Zhao said this, several people showed signs of panic. No one stepped forward to speak. What could they say? They certainly couldn't tell the General that they had embezzled the supplies. That was a capital offense.

Shen Zhao looked at Deputy General Han and said coldly, "Deputy General Han, you explain."

The named deputy general cursed silently. How was he supposed to explain? That there had been enough grain, but the General had insisted on moving the rations of the Northwest Army and her own subordinates away, leading to the current shortage? If he said that, he was certain General Chu would kill him.

He stammered for a long time before saying, "Perhaps... perhaps the cooks took too little grain from the storehouse tonight, resulting in the soldiers not having enough to eat. Your subordinate will immediately send men to prepare more."

"What a load of horse manure!" Deputy General Yao immediately jumped in. "Every meal is prepared according to the camp's standard specifications; it's not like they were cooking a single meal, so how could they take too little? Besides, I just sent men to check the granary, and there is not enough grain left to support the soldiers for the next half-month."

Deputy General Yao spoke with visible fury. He understood everything. The Capital Garrison appeared to be a major force among the three armies of Southern Chu, but it was not like the other two. The other two armies had a single true commander, and no faction could infiltrate them. The Capital Garrison was different. Although General Chu was its commander, he could only truly control his former subordinates. The others all served their own masters and operated in their own camps. He knew all their petty schemes and movements. In the past, his five hundred men had endured what they could, but now that they were literally starving, it was no longer a time for patience. Did they think they were the Northwest Army, to be molded and manipulated at will?

The others were too angry to speak; what kind of madness had taken hold of this man surnamed Yao? He only cared about eating, eating, eating—what was a few days of hunger? If it weren't for him leading his five hundred men in this riot, would he have been able to lure General Chu here?

"General Chu, your subordinate wishes to follow your example and move our five hundred men's rations out to start our own mess."

As soon as Deputy General Yao finished speaking, the other deputy generals became anxious. How could this man surnamed Yao dare to pour oil on the fire? If he moved his five hundred men's rations away, their own men would truly be left with nothing to eat but air.

"Granted," Shen Zhao replied before the other deputy generals could intervene. She looked at them with an understanding expression. "Since you cannot distribute the food evenly yourselves, it is better to start separate messes and manage your own food. That way, you won't end up with no food at all."

Deputy General Yao looked at Shen Zhao with excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, General! Your subordinate will immediately order men to move the grain."

Some were happy while others were worried; human joys and sorrows were not universal. Deputy General Yao happily led his five hundred soldiers to move the grain.

The faces of the other deputy generals were as dark as ink. Shen Zhao curled her lips into a cold smile and waved her hand. "The matter is resolved. We should return to have our dinner. Everyone has worked hard today; eat as much as you like at dinner—I’ll ensure you are all full."

When Shen Zhao said this, the faces of the other deputy generals grew even darker. Now that their own men had no food, she was talking about making sure everyone was full! Who was she trying to infuriate?

Just then, Zhang Liang and the others who had gone to fetch the physicians returned. The crowd cleared a path, and those who were unaware looked on in surprise. Why were there several ox-carts following behind Deputy General Zhang, and why were they piled high with supplies? Was this grain that General Chu had newly purchased for the camp?

Zhang Liang walked up to Shen Zhao and reported, "Your subordinate has followed your orders and invited the physicians from Qihuang Street, and brought sufficient medicinal herbs to treat the soldiers injured today."

As soon as Zhang Liang spoke, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. Even the deputy generals, who had looked so sour just moments ago, softened their expressions. This man surnamed Chu had finally done something decent; he knew how to look after the soldiers of the Capital Garrison.

Surely, the money for the physicians and the herbs must have come out of the man's own pocket. After all, their Capital Garrison was truly poor; the camp lacked even the most basic medicinal supplies, let alone extra silver to hire physicians from Qihuang Street and purchase such a large quantity of medicine. Looking at those dozen physicians and several ox-carts of herbs, it must have cost a fortune.

Someone immediately stepped forward to flatter her: "General Chu is wise. You have thought of the soldiers of the Capital Garrison, hiring physicians and purchasing herbs to treat their wounds, which fills us with admiration. I wonder how the physicians and medicine will be distributed? Will it be half for your men and half for us?"

As soon as the man spoke, everyone looked at Shen Zhao, waiting for her allocation. Many were whispering, "At last there is medicine in the camp. My knife wound was just hastily bandaged by the military surgeon and it’s still bleeding; now everything will be fine."

Shen Zhao curled the corner of her mouth, and with a solemn expression, she began to lecture them: