Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

”With your words, Old General, I am even more at ease!” Zhao Yan laughed.

Afterward, Zhao Yan turned to the assembled court of civil and military officials, his gaze lingering on Zhao Yi for a moment.

”My lords,” Zhao Yan declared coldly, ”the nation is in peril, and the Qin Army is at our gates. I will not waste words. Anyone who dares to secretly collude with Qin or betray Zhao will have their entire clan exterminated.”

Perhaps Zhao Yan was no wise ruler, but facing a national crisis, he naturally exuded a kingly aura. After all, his own survival was at stake. If Handan fell, his life would be forfeit. For that reason, he was exceptionally clear-headed at this moment.

”We swear to serve the Great King and Zhao loyally unto death!” cried the officials in the Longtai Palace Hall.

”Great King,” Pang Xuan spoke again, ”there is one more matter of critical importance to the defense of Handan.”

”Please speak, Old General,” Zhao Yan said immediately.

”Counting the 100,000 Frontier Army cavalry and their horses, Handan must have sufficient provisions and supplies,” Pang Xuan respectfully petitioned. ”An army of over 300,000 consumes a vast amount of food daily. If the Qin Army lays siege to the city, I fear Handan will be like a caged beast. Therefore, the matter of provisions must be handled with extreme care. This servant requests that the city’s provisions not be managed through the Chancellor Mansion, but be placed under my direct jurisdiction.”

Hearing this, Guo Kai grew anxious. He had always been in charge of provisions, and only he knew how much profit there was to be made. How could he simply hand it over? Besides, this might be another opportunity to serve Qin!

”Does the Shangjiangjun not trust my ability to manage the logistics?” Guo Kai asked, unwilling to concede.

”The Prime Minister exaggerates. It is not a matter of trust, but of prioritizing the overall situation,” Pang Xuan said, his tone implying his sole concern was for the state of Zhao. ”The provisions in the city can only sustain our army for three or four months. There are undoubtedly Qin spies in the city, and I do not wish to give them any opportunity to exploit a weakness. If our provisions are compromised, Zhao will be in grave danger.”

”Shangjiangjun...” Guo Kai began, still wanting to argue.