Chapter 52 The Greatest Enemy Is Hunger
Several days later...
The afternoon sun bathed the Patriarch's courtyard in a warm glow.
Instead of cultivating, Zan Yunxiao sat leisurely in a wooden chair beneath the shade of a large tree.
His eyes were half-closed as he enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.
The Spiritual Flower Pot rested nearby, continuously releasing gentle streams of spiritual energy throughout the courtyard.
For once, Zan Yunxiao simply chose to relax.
Just then.
A gentle voice called out from behind him.
"Husband."
Another soft, familiar voice followed.
"What are you doing all by yourself?"
Zan Yunxiao slowly opened his eyes and turned around.
Standing at the entrance of the courtyard were his two wives.
Xueyun wore a graceful smile, while Jin Feixue looked at him with a teasing expression.
Seeing them, Zan Yunxiao smiled faintly.
"I was just enjoying the peace."
The two women walked over and sat beside him.
Jin Feixue gently wrapped one of her arms around his shoulder, while Xueyun sat gracefully on the other side.
The quiet courtyard, once occupied by only one person, suddenly became much livelier.
For a brief moment, Zan Yunxiao pushed aside thoughts of cultivation, war, and the clan.
He simply enjoyed the peaceful company of his two wives.
The peaceful atmosphere in the courtyard continued.
Jin Feixue rested her head lightly on Zan Yunxiao's shoulder before speaking in a worried tone.
"Husband..."
"Aren't you worried about our daughter, Zan Feilan?"
"It's been years since she left the clan."
"We don't even know where she is."
Zan Yunxiao smiled calmly.
"Don't worry."
"She's safe."
Jin Feixue blinked in surprise.
Beside him, Xueyun looked at Zan Yunxiao with curiosity.
"How do you know?"
"You've been staying in the clan this entire time."
Zan Yunxiao merely smiled.
"I have my own way."
He offered no further explanation.
Naturally, he had no intention of revealing the existence of the Clan Interface or the system.
Xueyun and Jin Feixue exchanged a glance.
Although they were curious, they knew their husband well.
If he chose not to explain something, there was usually a good reason.
Neither of them pressed the matter any further.
Instead, Jin Feixue let out a sigh of relief.
"As long as Feilan is safe..."
"I can finally stop worrying."
Xueyun nodded in agreement.
"Our daughter has always been independent."
"Still, she'll always be our child."
Zan Yunxiao looked up at the clear sky.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Feilan is much stronger than either of you imagine."
"She knows how to protect herself."
Hearing his confident words, the last traces of worry disappeared from the two women's faces.
. . .
Eight months has passed quietly.
Although the war between the Crimson Empire and the Northern Alliance grew increasingly fierce, Zan Yunxiao never once stepped onto the battlefield.
Instead, he remained within the Zan Clan.
Many disciples wondered why their Patriarch had not personally intervened.
To them, if Zan Yunxiao made a move, the war could likely end in a single day.
However...
Zan Yunxiao had no intention of interfering.
Standing beneath the pavilion in his courtyard, he quietly gazed into the distance.
"This war..."
"...is not mine to fight."
He had already eliminated the Northern Alliance's five Nascent Soul cultivators before the war could escalate further.
That alone had greatly reduced the empire's greatest hidden threat.
As for the remaining battles...
They were trials the younger generation needed to face.
Whether it was the imperial army...
Or the disciples of the Zan Clan...
They could not remain under his protection forever.
A cultivator who never experienced life-and-death battles would never become truly strong.
Likewise, a clan that relied entirely upon its Patriarch would never stand on its own.
Zan Yunxiao calmly sipped his tea.
"As long as the war does not threaten the survival of the Zan Clan..."
"I will not interfere."
His duty as Patriarch was not to solve every problem personally.
It was to ensure that the clan could continue growing, even in his absence.
Only if an enemy beyond the clan's ability to resist appeared...
Would he draw his sword once again.
Just then.
A familiar figure entered the courtyard.
The newcomer walked with steady steps before respectfully cupping his fists.
"Father."
Zan Yunxiao looked up and smiled faintly.
"Oh."
"You're back."
The visitor was none other than Zan Wei.
After spending months in the imperial capital handling the Zan Clan's affairs, he had finally returned.
Zan Wei nodded.
"Yes, Father."
"I have just arrived."
Zan Yunxiao gestured toward the empty seat across from him.
"Sit."
Zan Wei obeyed without hesitation.
A servant soon brought over a fresh cup of tea before quietly withdrawing.
Zan Yunxiao took a sip before asking,
"So..."
"What's the situation on the frontline?"
Although Zan Yunxiao already knew much of what was happening through the Clan Interface, where he had been observing Shenyuu and the Zan Clan disciples, he still preferred hearing the report directly from Zan Wei.
His son had always been diligent.
Whether it was gathering intelligence, managing the clan's affairs, or analyzing the current situation, Zan Wei never disappointed him.
Zan Wei placed his teacup down before answering.
"Father, the northern frontline remains in a stalemate."
"The arrival of Shenyuu and the Zan Clan disciples prevented the complete collapse of the imperial army."
"They managed to stabilize the defensive line and buy valuable time for the other sectors to reinforce their positions."
He paused before continuing.
"However, the casualties on both sides continue to increase every day."
"The Northern Alliance possesses a numerical advantage."
"They have also begun deploying more Qi Refinement cultivators onto the battlefield."
"As for the Golden Core cultivators..."
"They have become much more cautious after losing two of their own. Thanks to the explosive talisman that they no longer act recklessly."
Zan Yunxiao nodded slightly.
Then, Zan Wei continued.
"Another matter."
"The imperial court has begun a nationwide conscription."
"They are recruiting soldiers from every province and city across the Crimson Empire."
"The casualties suffered on the northern frontier have steadily reduced the empire's standing army."
"If this continues, the imperial army will eventually run out of troops."
Zan Yunxiao remained silent, listening.
"Fortunately..."
"General Xu Jian's sacrifice has spread throughout the empire."
"The imperial court deliberately publicized his final battle."
"They honored him as a hero who gave his life to protect the empire."
"The news has stirred the hearts of countless citizens."
"Young men from every region have voluntarily enlisted."
"Many even said they were willing to die for the empire, just as General Xu Jian did."
Hearing this, Zan Yunxiao nodded slightly.
"A hero's sacrifice often inspires more people than a hundred speeches."
Xu Jian's death had not been meaningless.
Instead of breaking the empire's morale, it had united the people.
Zan Wei added,
"According to the latest reports, recruitment has exceeded the imperial court's expectations."
"Training camps have already been established in several provinces to prepare the new recruits before sending them to the northern frontier."
"Although these recruits are inexperienced, they will at least replenish the army's numbers."
Zan Yunxiao calmly took another sip of tea.
"The empire has chosen the correct course."
"An army without soldiers cannot defend a nation."
Zan Wei nodded in agreement.
"For now, the empire has bought itself some time."
"But if the war drags on for several more years..."
"Even continuous conscription may not be enough."
Zan Yunxiao calmly took another sip of tea before shaking his head.
"Don't worry."
"If this war drags on..."
"The first to collapse will be the Northern Alliance."
Zan Wei looked at his father in confusion.
"What do you mean, Father?"
Zan Yunxiao placed his teacup on the table.
"A war is not won by strength alone."
"It is also a contest of supplies."
He continued calmly,
"The Northern Alliance may have gathered several kingdoms under one banner."
"They may possess more soldiers at the moment."
"But maintaining such a massive army requires enormous amounts of grain, food, and other provisions."
"The longer the war lasts... The more supplies they will consume. Eventually, they won't be able to keep up."
"Their soldiers will go hungry. Their morale will decline. And once supplies run out... The alliance itself will begin to fracture."
Zan Wei's eyes lit up as he began to understand.
"So that's why you're so confident..."
Zan Yunxiao nodded.
"As for the Crimson Empire..."
"We're in a completely different situation."
He smiled faintly.
"Have you forgotten about Solhaven City?"
"The farmlands surrounding the city have expanded tremendously over the hundred year."
"They produce an astonishing amount of grain and wheat every harvest."
"The harvest is so abundant that it is enough to sustain the entire Crimson Empire for a hundred years."
Zan Wei suddenly understood.
"So even if the war continues for years..."
"The empire will never face a shortage of food."
"Exactly."
Zan Yunxiao leaned back in his chair.
"An army marches on its stomach."
"No matter how powerful cultivators may be..."
"What about a millions of ordinary soldiers? They still need to eat."
"If one side has food while the other starves..."
"The outcome is already decided."
Zan Wei couldn't help but admire his father's foresight.
A hundred years ago, when Solhaven was still just a small village, the spiritual energy emitted by Zan Yunxiao caused the farmland to flourish, allowing crops to grow at an astonishing rate.
Now...
That had become one of the Crimson Empire's greatest strategic advantages.
Zan Yunxiao looked toward the northern horizon.
"The Northern Alliance believes they're fighting a quick war."
"But if they fail to end it swiftly..."
"They will discover that the greatest enemy on the battlefield..."
"...is hunger."