When Guo Jia arrived in Leping in the fourth year of Zhongping, it had been two years, and there was still one year left before the youth would officially take up his position.

Due to his role under the Governor of Bingzhou and his travels, he didn’t have to strictly follow the rules.

The well-educated young man, nurtured by Bingzhou’s environment and Leping’s food, bowed to Yuan Shao.

Although Yuan Shao was somewhat shameless, his frequent display of respecting talent was genuine.

Seeing that the envoy sent by Qiao Yan was a distinguished scholar both in appearance and demeanor, he treated this meeting with special importance and extended the usual courtesies.

Since Lu Zhi and Liu Bei were unwilling to borrow grain from Qiao Yan and had already made their own arrangements, Yuan Shao met with Guo Jia alone to discuss the matter of borrowing grain.

“Marquis Qiao’s intention is that since this effort is for the Han dynasty, it would be acceptable for Bingzhou to provide some grain. However, it’s not yet the harvest season in Bingzhou, so we can only use last year’s stock. At most, we can provide 50,000 shi.”

50,000 shi?

This amount far exceeded Yuan Shao’s original estimate.

He showed a hint of pleasure but maintained his composure and replied, “Marquis Qiao’s dedication to the state is truly commendable. If this battle can save the Emperor from treachery, Marquis Qiao will certainly be recognized for his great contribution.”

Guo Jia thought to himself that Yuan Shao had no right to make such promises.

Regardless, the Marquis Qiao didn’t need just empty words; he needed something practical.

Despite his thoughts, Guo Jia remained calm and continued, “It’s not difficult for us to provide these 50,000 shi, but as Yuan Zhonglang has seen, our Lord is facing off against Niu Fu on the great river. Any movement in our camp might be detected by the enemy. If the grain transport is known to Dong Zhuo, it would reveal our plans.”

Yuan Shao asked, “So, what does Marquis Qiao suggest?”

Guo Jia replied, “It would be better if Lord Qiao wrote a letter instructing the Taishou of Shangdang to transport the grain from Fuxu Pass, through Jizhou, to Suanzao. This route is closer and would not delay the campaign.”

As for how they would publicize this matter along the way, that was their concern.

If Yuan Shao’s friend He Yong were not in Luoyang, under Dong Zhuo’s pressure, but by Yuan Shao’s side, he would have raised an alarm seeing Guo Jia’s easy-going demeanor.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shao was oblivious to the scheming and was only thinking that once the grain was secured, he could look good among the allies and let Qiao Yan gain a little advantage.

Yuan Shao responded, “If it could be done that way, it would be even better.”

Guo Jia added, “Moreover, since this is a loan, it must be repaid. Although Lord Qiao is the Governor of Bingzhou, she is not a warlord holding her own territory.

The 50,000 shi of grain could be used for campaigns beyond the Great Wall.

Now it’s being diverted as a temporary measure.

Luckily, Yuan Zhonglang’s family has a long-standing reputation, and since you mentioned in your letter that debts will be repaid, you should honor that promise.”

“According to Lord Qiao’s plan, repaying this amount in several installments could be troublesome. If Yuan Zhonglang doesn’t mind, perhaps it would be simpler for one person to handle the entire 50,000 shi?”

Yuan Shao pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.

After all, whether he was the only one in debt or if everyone owed Qiao Yan, it made little difference.

With this response, further negotiations would proceed smoothly.

“But—”

Guo Jia cleared his throat. “Let me make it clear first. Right now, the top priority is the campaign against Dong Zhuo.

The governors of the various districts have just arrived, and even Yuan Shao is merely a nominal General of the Guard.

Therefore, if we are to repay, it will have to wait until the autumn harvest next year.

Bingzhou is not unreasonable; we can agree to repay by September of next year. But we need a formal IOU.”

“Yuan Shao comes from a prestigious family, so he is unlikely to default. However, we are poor and need a guarantee.

We won’t charge interest until September of next year.

But if the repayment is delayed by one day, Yuan Shao will need to add one grain of wheat to the 50,000 shi.

If delayed by two days, add two grains; by three days, add four grains; by four days, add eight grains, and so on.

If he defaults, I will have the right to demand repayment in person and make him count it!”

Yuan Shao was initially taken aback by the term “Nominal General of the Guard” and then bewildered by the strange terms of the delayed repayment.

The incremental grains of wheat seemed almost like a joke compared to 50,000 shi of grain. It was clear that the real focus was on the phrase “make him count it!”

Qiao Yan was already sixteen this year; if she were in another situation, she would be of marrying age.

It was surprising that she was still making such childish demands!

However, since Yuan Shao had already planned to default, the added grains of wheat were inconsequential.

After some consideration, Yuan Shao replied, “Then write it up. Qiao Bingzhou’s timely assistance is indeed valuable, and we certainly shouldn’t let you suffer.”

Suffer?

They were not suffering at all!

As Guo Jia left the camp with the official document bearing Yuan Shao’s seal and signature, he ran into Cao Cao.

Cao Cao had seen Guo Jia before when he was with Qiao Yan, during the military competition.

He recognized him immediately.

“Why has Marquis Qiao sent you here?”

Guo Jia replied, “I came here to discuss the grain supply with Yuan Shao, but right now, the priority is the attack on Luoyang. Other matters can wait.”

Cao Cao was taken aback and sighed, “Ye Shu is indeed a pillar of the Han Dynasty, and I am not her equal. However, she has really suffered a great loss this time.”

Cao Cao understood Yuan Shao’s temperament well enough.

Yuan Shao was not the type to return favors once he had gained benefits from others.

But he noticed that Guo Jia’s expression remained unchanged, and Guo Jia continued, “I remember that Cao Xiaowei and Yuan Zhonglang have been close friends since youth.

If I may ask something without being too forward, could you tell me if Yuan Zhonglang’s strategic skills have always been so poor?”

“…?” Cao Cao didn’t understand the question’s intent.

Guo Jia clearly wasn’t interested in Cao Cao’s answer and left the camp immediately.

Before heading to Suanzao, Guo Jia had already sent a letter from Qiao Yan instructing the governor of Shangdang to mobilize the grain.

He joined up with the grain transport team and then returned.

During this period, Qiao Yan had exchanged letters with the Suanzao coalition again to confirm the attack time on Luoyang.

The official start of the attack was set for five days later, which would be June 13th of the first year of Guangxi.

It was the rainy season in Luoyang, and the Yellow River had risen considerably.

Though the barriers at Mengjin and Xiaopingjin did not extend to the floodwaters, these were not regular checkpoints.

To guard against Qiao Yan’s army, they had expanded their troops and had to set up some soldiers outside the checkpoints.

The conditions were uncomfortable, especially with the muddy environment of the rainy season.

If the drainage in the camp wasn’t well managed, it would be even more unbearable.

Within the camp, Niu Fu heard many complaints.

The soldiers grumbled about having been stationed there for nearly a month and a half without seeing any victorious results.

Instead, they only felt the discomfort of the camp, while the Prime Minister seemed to be enjoying himself in Luoyang.

This seemed unreasonable.

Even though there was no moonlight at the beginning of the month and they hadn’t seen any boat attacks from the enemy, now it seemed even less likely they would.

The soldiers’ dissatisfaction, compared to the vitality of the enemy troops running and training along the riverbank, made them feel even more uneasy.

What they didn’t know was that, taking advantage of the lax defense of the river’s central island by the checkpoint guards,

Qiao Yan’s soldiers had been practicing on the section from the northern riverbank to the central island during the night, using sheep-skin bags.

Although some soldiers were initially unskilled swimmers, they learned to paddle with the help of ropes tied to floatation devices, even the least skilled swimmers had to learn to manage.

Everything was now in place!

Qiao Yan looked up at the sky.

Perhaps due to the rain expected tomorrow, the sky was covered with thick clouds, obscuring the moonlight.

Perfect timing and conditions!

With a signal from her hand, the commands for the transfer of operations were quickly passed silently through the camp.

The soldiers, dressed in leather armor and carrying weapons, swiftly moved towards their designated sheepskin bags and then formed up to leave the camp, heading west.

They needed to run about eight miles upstream with the sheepskin bags, cross to the river island, and then drift downstream.

Qiao Yan herself would officially depart an hour later.

This allowed the soldiers enough time to reach the river island, eat the jerky they carried, and recover their strength.

At the same time as her second command was issued, two large sheepskin rafts were carried to the riverbank and placed at a distance from the wooden boats, hidden from view across the river.

Each raft, made from six hundred sheepskin bags, could carry up to thirty tons, as tested by Qiao Yan.

This meant she could transport her heavily armored troops across the river using these two rafts.

Qiao Yan also boarded one of the rafts.

The rafts, equipped with three heavy oars at each end, made a somewhat muffled sound as they entered the water.

However, amid the howling night wind and the rushing river, this sound was unlikely to attract any attention, and people might just think it was the sound of waves hitting the riverbank.

Dian Wei and Qu Yi, whom Qiao Yan had ordered to join, each led two hundred heavily armored soldiers onto one of the rafts, using their shields to form a protective barrier at the front.

Even with the raft fully occupied, it remained steadily afloat on the water.

In the quiet, where even the sound of armor was barely audible, Qiao Yan raised her hand and issued the third command.

Set sail!

Each heavy oar required two people to operate, ensuring that the large rafts could move across the Yellow River.

Qiao Yan stood behind the first row of shields, looking forward.

Across the river, the Mingjin Pass was barely visible in the dim night, with only the faint flicker of firelight being clear.

As the commander, she shouldn’t be putting herself in such danger, but this river crossing was crucial.

She needed to oversee the crossing of the remaining troops and the blockade of reinforcements coming from Xiaopingjin.

Therefore, she had to personally oversee it!

Once they were in the river, any regret for being personally involved quickly faded away.

Who had ever seen such a method of crossing a river?

On this dark night, there was no romantic “waves carrying the moon away,” only two large sheepskin rafts carrying armored soldiers breaking through the waves.

Ahead, three thousand soldiers with sheepskin bags were floating in the river, moving downstream to the east.

Even though she couldn’t see each of their actions clearly, she could see a continuous black line leading to the landing point ahead.

They formed an unstoppable force that even nature itself couldn’t hinder!

Qiao Yan couldn’t help but grip her spear tightly.

Cross the river! Attack!