Chapter 328 Hungry?

Chapter 328: Hungry?

Cui Ji's gaze swept over his thin sleeping clothes, but he didn't refuse outright. He simply turned and walked back in silence.

Without a word, he took the thick garments hanging by the tent wall and shook them out one by one.

First the inner lining, then the padded jacket, then the heavier outer robe.

His movements weren't particularly practiced—even a little clumsy—but they were extremely careful and thorough.

He took Cheng Ge's arm and helped him put each layer on, fastening every strap securely.

Cheng Ge let himself be handled like an oversized doll. With so many layers, his arms were pushed out from his sides by the thick clothing, unable to rest flush against his body, making him look like a clumsy penguin.

Cui Ji still seemed to think that wasn't enough, so he fetched a furry vest and slipped it over him.

Finally, he picked up the veiled hat with its light gauze, carefully set it on his head, and adjusted the veil to make sure no wind could get in.

Throughout the entire process, Cheng Ge cooperated fully, even tilting his chin up slightly to make it easier for him.

His gaze passed through the gauze and landed on Cui Ji's face, so close to his own.

He watched the dark stubble on his jaw, starkly visible in the dim light, giving off a rugged, intensely masculine vibe.

Cheng Ge blinked. *If I grew some stubble too, would I look that handsome?*

The thought popped into his head out of nowhere, and his gaze unconsciously lingered on that stubble for a few extra seconds.

The idea made his throat inexplicably dry, and he instinctively swallowed hard.

The faint sound was unusually clear in the quiet tent. Cui Ji, who was just fastening the veil's ribbon, paused briefly.

He looked up, meeting Cheng Ge's shifting gaze, and asked casually in a low voice, "Hungry?"

Cheng Ge: "..."

Cheng Ge felt his cheeks flush. Fortunately, the veiled hat hid it, or he would have gone up in flames right there.

He hesitated for a long moment before muffling a reply from deep within his thick scarf.

"No... Maybe it's just all these layers. My throat's a little dry."

Cui Ji glanced at his figure, now practically round from all the layers, and said nothing more.

He bent down, picked up the waterskin from the table, and reached over to lift the tent flap for him.

Cheng Ge took a deep breath of cold air, trying to shake off the lingering heat on his face and the jumbled thoughts in his head.

He stepped out with his clumsy, padded gait, following Cui Ji.

When the two arrived at the council tent, the other commanders who had received the urgent orders were already mostly there. A heavy, tense atmosphere hung over the large tent.

Cui Ji's tall figure appeared at the tent entrance, followed by a figure bundled up tight.

Everyone inside instinctively turned to look. Upon recognizing Cheng Ge, barely concealed surprise flashed across their faces.

The General's Wife now held a unique place in the army. Though she held no official high-ranking position, word of those two miraculous arrows from the city wall that day had already spread through the entire force—she'd saved the Chief Commander and killed the enemy leader. Her military achievements were impressive, and no one dared underestimate her.

The Great Zhou had seen female generals before, but her sudden appearance here, especially as the general's wife, was still unexpected.

Cui Ji's gaze swept across the faces in the tent before he walked straight to the head seat and sat down.

Cheng Ge felt the eyes on him but didn't pay it any mind.

He glanced around and spotted Zhao Cheng standing at the front-left position, catching his eye.

He quietly shuffled his bulky, heavily clothed frame over to a spot slightly behind Zhao Cheng and carefully took his place.

Zhao Cheng gave him a small nod by way of greeting.

Cui Ji wasted no time and cut straight to the point. He pointed at the location marked on the makeshift sand table before him—Huzhang Ridge.

"You all know our grain and supplies were cut off at Huzhang Ridge. Given the situation, what do you all think?"

The moment he finished speaking, after a brief silence, the tent exploded with discussion.

An impatient Assistant General spoke first, his voice carrying barely contained anger and worry.

"General! The terrain at Huzhang Ridge is tricky. The enemy picking that spot to ambush us means they planned this well in advance and know our supply route inside out!

Now that the grain has been burned, the loss is massive. The priority must be to immediately send troops to recover the remaining supplies and launch a full investigation to root out the mole!"

Another seasoned Deputy General frowned deeply and added worriedly.

"Assistant General Wang has a point, but Huzhang Ridge is a ways from camp. With the enemy situation unclear, sending out a large force blindly—if we walk into another ambush—would only make things worse.

And the most pressing matter now is: how many days can our stored grain last us? We need to take stock immediately and plan accordingly."

"If our stores are insufficient, should we request more grain from the rear? But that's a long way off—distant water won't help a nearby fire!"

"Could this be a trick to lure us out? To split our forces?"

Voices rose one after another, the atmosphere growing heavier and tenser.

Grain was the lifeline of an army. With that lifeline cut, no wonder they were on edge.

Cui Ji listened to the discussion in silence, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the edge of the sand table, his gaze drifting over the terrain map before him.

Meanwhile, Cheng Ge, standing behind Zhao Cheng, listened quietly, his brow furrowing a little beneath the veiled hat.

After a moment's thought, Cui Ji raised his hand amid the heated debate, and the tent fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on him.

"Zhao Cheng, draft a military report immediately. Write up the Huzhang Ridge incident in detail for the rear command and state clearly that our grain is critically low. Request that they allocate supplies as soon as possible and get them here as fast as they can."

"Yes, sir!" Zhao Cheng clasped his fist in acknowledgment.

Cui Ji's finger tapped the Huzhang Ridge spot on the sand table. "Assistant General Wang, I'm putting you in charge of a squad of elite light cavalry. Leave right away. Don't engage the enemy—your job is recon.

You need to find out the enemy's strength and movements, plus how much of the burned grain is left and whether it can be saved."

"Understood!" Assistant General Wang perked up.

"Deputy General Li," Cui Ji turned to the seasoned commander, "you'll immediately take stock of all the grain stores in camp. I need to know exactly how long we can hold out.

At the same time, issue orders to the entire army: starting now, rations are cut in half."

Half? That hit everyone hard. This was no small matter—if someone with bad intentions used it against them, it could wreck morale.

But no one spoke up. After all, in times like these, staying alive was what mattered most.

"Additionally," Cui Ji continued his deployment, "strengthen vigilance at the main camp and all strategic passes, and double the patrol units."

Just then, the tent flap was lifted again, and a figure, somewhat aged yet still upright, strode in bringing a gust of cold air.

The newcomer was around fifty-five years old, with graying temples and a face lined by hardship.

His face bore the marks of time and frontier winds, but his eyes remained sharp and spirited, his steps steady and firm.

His old-style general's armor, though somewhat worn, was kept spotless.

This man, surnamed Han, with the given name Zhen, was a veteran who had served under the Old Prince Zhenbei.

Having risen through the ranks from an ordinary soldier to the position of Assistant General, he was the oldest and most senior commander in the army.