Chapter 40: The First Furious Outburst

“Young master, what should we do? It looks like there’s no one here,” a soldier beside Wei Wuji reminded him.

At this moment, Wei Wuji could only smile wryly; life rarely goes as one wishes, and now he truly understood that. “Don’t worry. Let’s go have a look first,” Wei Wuji replied calmly. He thought, at a time like this, there ought to be people at the quartermaster’s office; otherwise, how would supplies be distributed to the armies?

He led his men toward the quartermaster’s main gate, which hung slightly ajar. When they reached the eaves, he had someone peer inside through the crack.

“Well?” Wei Wuji asked, anxious.

The soldier assigned to spy didn’t answer at first, squirming to get a better look.

“Young master, there’s someone in there! There are people inside!” The soldier, as if he’d discovered a new continent, reported to Wei Wuji with excitement.

At these words, before Wei Wuji could speak, the rest of the soldiers immediately shed their gloom, hope for an extra meal lighting up their faces once again.

“You there—go knock on the door. Tell them we’re here to collect supplies,” Wei Wuji instructed, pointing to a few men and having them line up at the entrance, calling inside.

A few burly fellows stood at the door, bellowing at the top of their lungs.

“Open up! We’re here on orders to collect military supplies!”

“Is anyone there? We’re here for the provisions!”

As their shouts became more impassioned, some even stepped forward and began pounding on the door.

Bang, bang, bang.

The quartermaster’s office, being a sensitive area, had doors made of solid timber. The palms striking them gave off a dull, heavy sound.

It wasn’t long before angry voices rang out from inside. “What’s all the shouting for? Are you mourning the dead?”

Hearing this, the soldiers outside were instantly displeased, and the banging on the door grew even louder.

“Enough with the knocking! I’ll be right there,” came another impatient voice from within.

Wei Wuji judged that was enough. He gestured for the soldiers to stop.

Obeying Wei Wuji’s command, the men finally stepped back.

Soon, the door creaked open, and a head poked out.

“Who are you people?” the man asked, surveying Wei Wuji’s group.

Now it was Wei Wuji’s turn to step up. He walked forward, forcing a smile. “We’re here to collect supplies.”

He had little choice but to feel awkward; he’d come empty-handed, without the necessary paperwork—why would anyone give him anything?

Hearing this, the man inside looked even more baffled. “Supplies? Didn’t each camp collect theirs earlier?”

What? Wei Wuji felt as if he’d taken a blow to the head. He turned to the others, hoping someone could explain.

A man standing beside him quickly stepped forward and whispered, “Young master, we did come get supplies this morning, but while the others got pork and mutton, all we received was white flour.”

At the end, the soldier’s voice even hinted at grievance.

What? No wonder I’ve been eating nothing but gruel every day! So this is discrimination, and I thought the army was simply short on food! Wei Wuji seethed with anger.

After a moment’s thought, he came up with a plan. “We’re here for the rest of our share,” he told the man inside.

“The rest?” The man looked suspicious.

“That’s right. This morning, we only took white flour and forgot to collect the meat,” Wei Wuji lied glibly.

“Oh…” The man inside seemed to understand.

“Wait here. I’ll go report to my superior,” the man replied, warning them to be patient before heading further inside.

Left standing, Wei Wuji and his men exchanged helpless glances.

After quite a while with no response, Wei Wuji grew impatient—he was never one to wait idly.

He waved his hand to the soldiers, signaling for them to enter directly.

“Come on, let’s go in!”

With his order, the men had nothing more to say; they pushed the doors open and strode inside.

Once the door was open, the quartermaster’s office—solidly enclosed by wooden planks—revealed itself before Wei Wuji. Aside from scattered army tents, every corner was stacked with supplies: weapons, forage for the horses, provisions for the troops…

Busy soldiers bustled about the vast space.

Turning his gaze away, Wei Wuji led his men forward. The minor clerk who’d gone inside had yet to return, so Wei Wuji decided he would get to the bottom of this himself.

Pressing on, he soon came upon the largest tent in the office.

The soldiers outside, seeing Wei Wuji’s group marching in, hurried into the tent—likely to make a report.

Before Wei Wuji’s party reached the tent, several officers came running out.

The leading man called out as he walked, “Forgive me, young master, for failing to welcome you sooner!”

Wei Wuji hadn’t expected to be recognized, which made matters much easier. Given his status as a young lord, he could get whatever he wanted with a word.

“And you are?” Wei Wuji asked.

“I am Chen Qian, the supervising officer. How may I be of service, young master?” The officer, Chen Qian, replied with respectful composure, turning the question back to Wei Wuji.

“I’m here specifically to collect some meat for my men. They haven’t had a bite of it in days, and morale is low during training,” Wei Wuji explained, striving for patience.

“Your company collected supplies this morning, did they not?” Chen Qian replied, looking puzzled.

“Then why did the others get meat, while we received nothing but flour?” Wei Wuji demanded angrily. This fellow was being far too obtuse—was he trying to refuse him?

Indeed, Wei Wuji’s guess was correct. Chen Qian replied, “Ah, I see. But, young master, may I ask whether you have a written order from headquarters?”

A written order? What’s that supposed to mean? Wei Wuji was lost for a moment. He needed paperwork just to get supplies? Wasn’t that something for ordinary people? In his mind, as a noble son of Wei, he ought to enjoy certain privileges—like helping himself at a banquet, taking what he pleased.

Paying no heed to Wei Wuji’s wanderings, Chen Qian glanced at him and spoke quietly, “Young master, you don’t have one, do you?”

“You—” Wei Wuji, stung by the jab, was about to flare up, but restrained himself, realizing he was indeed in the wrong.

So, he decided to appeal to emotion.

He set aside his pride and reasoned, “Lord Chen, you must know we have just fought the Chen people, our men and horses are exhausted—it’s a time for rest and recovery.”

Chen Qian’s face showed respect. “Young master, your valor is known to all. Of course our soldiers, who have shed blood for the state, deserve proper care—I would naturally like to help.”

Wei Wuji felt gratified by this sensible quartermaster, and was about to praise him, when Chen Qian continued.

“But without an official order, I am powerless. The laws of Wei are strict, and I dare not act without authorization.”

Wei Wuji’s smile froze on his lips, his face trapped in embarrassment.

Collecting himself, he tried once more. “Lord Chen, just give me the goods now; I’ll get my father to send you the paperwork later.”

By invoking his father, Wei Wuji meant to put pressure on Chen Qian. If the young master didn’t intimidate him, surely the Marquis of Wei himself would.

Chen Qian, understanding perfectly who was being referenced, recalled certain instructions he’d received, and made a decision that took Wei Wuji by surprise.

With a cold voice, Chen Qian replied, “Young master, without the sovereign’s written order, I must decline.”

Wei Wuji flew into a rage. Damn it, how dare you! He drew his sword and pointed it at Chen Qian.

“I’ll ask you again—will you give it to me, or not?” Wei Wuji, abandoning all pretense, roared furiously.

Chen Qian was terrified, afraid that a single thrust from Wei Wuji would run him through.

He hadn’t expected the young lord to be so hot-tempered; had he known, he would never have spoken so bluntly. Being caught in the middle was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Young master, please don’t…” The soldiers accompanying Wei Wuji hurriedly tried to intervene—not out of concern for Chen Qian’s life, but fearing for Wei Wuji’s future.

But Wei Wuji was not one to back down; today, he was determined to frighten Chen Qian into submission.

So what if he was being unreasonable? What could a mere supervising officer do? Wei Wuji thought belligerently.

Chen Qian remained frozen, mind racing for a solution.

At last, he spoke: “Young master, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I truly have no power.”

Under Wei Wuji’s suspicious glare, Chen Qian explained helplessly, “Young master, all the pork and mutton has already been distributed. If you want more, you’ll have to wait five days.”

Distributed?