Chapter 112: Let me touch you. She placed her hand on her well-defined breasts.

In the Fancheng market, pedestrians are walking hurriedly, carrying many miscellaneous items in their hands. Even if they meet familiar friends, they will just exchange a few words and leave quickly.

In the shops, necessities such as grain, oil and salt became scarce goods. Many people went to the incense and candle shops to inquire, but usually returned empty-handed.

There were obviously many more soldiers patrolling the city. They focused on maintaining order in front of several large shops in the market because some people had taken advantage of the situation a few days ago to hoard grain, causing people to scramble for food overnight. Then the prefect Song Xingzhi ordered severe punishment for the profiteers and posted a notice to inform the people that Xiangyang Prefecture had enough grain, enough to feed the city's population for three years. This reassured the people and they did not need to panic. The momentum of the unrest in the city was finally suppressed.

Even so, when the people in Fancheng learned that the rebels had successively conquered important cities such as Kaifeng, Ruyang, and Xunyang, and were advancing with great momentum, and that the number of rebels had reached nearly 200,000 in just half a month, they finally realized the seriousness of the situation, began to become uneasy, and prepared for a rainy day.

The teahouse was quite deserted. The owner was chatting with a few customers, and the content of their conversation was naturally inseparable from the current situation.

The shopkeeper's voice was clearly agitated. "...The thief king led his men in a hurry back to Nanyang. Halfway through, he heard that the granary had been completely burned down. He was so angry that he even vomited black blood..."

A man downed a bowl of liquor and said, "That villain was about to order a roundup of the soldiers responsible for this incident, but before he could finish his words, he ran headfirst into our ambush!"

"Hahahaha, we haven't even started fighting seriously yet, and those losers have already lost over 3,000 people! Well done to the Fu Bo Army! They really gave us a chance to vent our anger! It's so satisfying!"

The child who was standing in front of the teahouse heard this and said to the adult holding his hand: "General Shen is so powerful. Mom, I want to join the army too!"

The woman spitted a few times and cursed in a low voice: "Spit and say it again, whether you want to do it or not, you have to do this!"

Long before the King of Chu went south, Shen Changfeng had already recruited civilians to fight against the bandits. Now he ordered each household to count the number of male adults, one out of every three men and two out of every five men, and quickly gather able-bodied men to resist the rebels.

That woman's husband was drafted, leaving the family with no one to tend to their crops and a much lower income. Furthermore, this wasn't a military recruitment exercise; not only was there no pay, but there were also penalties for not responding.

However, Lord Song also said that young men from poor families could report to the government office, and the government could temporarily lend them food to tide them over the crisis. However, some people were inevitably worried and could not stop complaining.

"That Chen Fubo promised to provide subsidies based on the number of able-bodied men, and that those who have made contributions can enjoy a three-year tax exemption. But that is a matter of the future, after all. Who can say for sure? Promises are not something you can eat!"

"He's a bit too tyrannical! What he says is what he means. Qingniang next door is an orphan and a widow. Her son just turned sixteen last month. Qingniang cried until her voice was hoarse, but her son was still taken away."

Several women sighed softly, and someone else said, "A tall tree attracts the wind. We're doing fine in the city, so why did he take the initiative to provoke that bandit king? Now, let's burn all the food and supplies in Nanyang. What if that bandit holds a grudge and comes for revenge..."

Someone suddenly coughed softly.

Everyone looked up and stopped talking, greeting the person walking towards them, "Eleventh Lady, are you done?"

Lin Meiju smiled and nodded slightly.

I don’t know if Lin Meizhu heard it or not. After all, it’s not appropriate to speak ill of the government in front of Magistrate Song’s family, so they quickly dispersed.

Lin Meiju led the horse and hurriedly passed by pedestrians. The blacksmith shop was busy with the sound of ping-pong. The carpenter shop and the tailor shop were also extremely busy, stepping up the production of various military supplies. Only the children were ignorant of worries. They gathered in groups in front of these shops to watch, and were scolded by the patrolling soldiers, asking them to go home early.

As the rebels approached and the number of refugees increased, Shen Changfeng, Chu Qi, and others discussed the matter and ultimately decided to partially open the city gates, strictly screen those entering, and only admit a limited number of people. However, this undoubtedly increased the pressure on the soldiers. To prevent spies from entering the city, they not only had to conduct strict inspections, but also increased the length and frequency of patrols exponentially. To strengthen control and comply with the curfew, the morning and evening markets closed earlier than usual.

When the patrolling soldiers saw Lin Meizhu, they hurriedly stepped aside. The soldier leading the team was very respectful and bowed to Lin Meizhu in greeting.

You must know that Lin Meizhu is not only a relative of Prefect Song, but also has a special relationship with Shen Changfeng. More importantly, at this time when military funds were in short supply, the government called on the gentry to donate generously. It was Lin Meizhu who took the lead and donated one thousand taels first, which solved the urgent need of the Fu Bo Army.

Not to mention, for the past half month, Huishengtang has set up a tent to distribute porridge, and Lin Meizhu and the first-class waiters have been rushing around every day, personally going to the city gate to receive and treat the wounded.

After a busy half month, the Zhaoye Jade Lion was already stained red with blood. Although Lin Meizhu cleaned and wiped it every day, she had to watch helplessly as it turned from a white horse to a pink horse. The jade lion looked at her with increasingly sad eyes, and from time to time it would rub against her and hum a few words. The child felt wronged, but he just couldn't speak.

The rebels suffered a setback this time, and the small-scale fighting outside finally came to a halt. Lin Meiju also had a chance to catch her breath. She brought the jade lion to the moat, intending to give it a good wash.

During the slack season, the moat would be bustling with activity: women washing clothes, farmers watering cattle, and children playing in the shallows. Sometimes, she would join Chuqi fishing from the shore. As the sun set, they would count their catches and slowly walk home. Chuqi would make fish soup from the large fish in his bucket, and she would feed the smaller fish she caught for fun to Xianchan and Xiaohua.

The roar of the river brought Lin Meizhu back to reality. Looking out, the water shimmered, a faint red hue lingering downstream. Soldiers returning from battle waded through the water, leading their horses in twos and threes, onto the shallows, their voices mingling with laughter as they left a trail of messy footprints as they headed towards the barracks.

The noise gradually faded, leaving only the sound of wind and water. The river seemed unusually empty. The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the moat a golden red and also stretching the solitary figure into a long shadow.

Shen Changfeng led the horse into the river, leaned over to scoop up some river water, and wiped his face twice. The cold water droplets rolled over his tightly closed eyelids. He pressed his hand on his forehead, exhaled heavily, then took off half of his clothes, picked up the wooden bucket and poured water over himself to shower, washing away all the black, red, dirty, light or heavy stains on his body.

This surprise attack on Nanyang was proposed by Shen Changfeng.

As the main rebel force marched south, all officials unanimously advocated defending the city and clearing the countryside. Only Shen Changfeng advocated a surprise attack on Nanyang. The rebels' southward advance would inevitably require passage through Xiangfan. The King of Chu, knowing a fierce battle was inevitable, would undoubtedly rely on the Han River, using Nanyang as a logistics base to provide a steady supply of food and fodder to the front lines. Destroying the enemy's granaries, or even retaking Nanyang, would expose the King of Chu to attack from both sides. This would undoubtedly disrupt the enemy's morale, disrupt their offensive plans, and inflict heavy damage.

But his position was low, his influence limited, and such a proposal was extremely risky, undoubtedly meeting with unanimous opposition. Forget about how many troops the King of Chu had left in Nanyang, and whether they could successfully locate the granary. Even if Nanyang were captured, how would it be defended? Who would defend it? Henan province had already fallen into the hands of the rebels. If the King of Chu, angered and humiliated, turned back, Nanyang would be surrounded by enemies and could fall overnight.

No one is willing to expend military power on a business that is likely to lose money at this time.

But Shen Changfeng believed that whether Nanyang could be defended was secondary; he needed to buy time. The imperial court had yet to issue a unified order to suppress the rebellion, and not only Xiangyang and Fancheng, but the remaining cities were under-defended. Even though Xiangyang City managed to muster 50,000 troops, and Fancheng had 20,000, these men had barely trained, let alone wielded swords in battle. In the event of a real battle, they would serve only as bait and cannon fodder.

The imperial reinforcements would arrive in at least two weeks, assuming the shortest possible timeframe, omitting the bickering among civil and military officials, ensuring smooth rationing, and ensuring the commander's efficient and effective execution, all working day and night to provide assistance. Shen Changfeng needed time. He knew that with only 70,000 troops, even with the 10,000 under Qi Shouyi of Jingzhou, there were only 80,000 men left. Defeating the King of Chu was an impossible task. Even if Fancheng simply resisted, it was unlikely to hold out for long.

Xiang and Fan are closely linked. Moving down the Han River, the rebels would first engage the garrison at Fancheng on the north bank. If Fancheng were to fall, Xiangyang, a strategically located city, would be left vulnerable and vulnerable, losing its support and quickly falling. Once Xiangyang fell, the Jianghan Plain, a major granary, would fall into the hands of the rebels, drastically reducing the southern regime's combat effectiveness and forcing it to retreat to the Yangtze River, where it would be vulnerable to defense at every turn.

Shen Changfeng needed time. Whether the King of Chu turned back or simply slowed down his advance, he would have achieved his goal.

Shen Changfeng hadn't expected that it would be Chu Qi who, despite all the opposition, granted him permission to dispatch troops. Consequently, his name appeared at the head of the victory report for the first time, as it was Chu Qi and Qin Yan who submitted the military report. It was foreseeable that upon receiving the report, the court would likely promote him and appoint him to take charge of the defense of Fancheng and its surrounding areas.

For the first time, Shen Changfeng felt that Chu Qi wasn't that annoying. But that was just the beginning. Shen Changfeng scoffed. He wouldn't call Chu Qi "brother" for that.

Shen Changfeng had just finished brushing Ah Chou's fur when he heard the cheerful clatter of horse hooves from the shore, followed shortly by the neighing of a horse. Before he even looked up, he was already laughing.

It is the Jade Lion Zhaoye.

The Jade Lion Zhaoye rushed into the water and came to him on the crest of the waves.

Shen Changfeng smiled and opened his arms to catch it. The jade lion nudged his chest and licked his face, its tail wagging like a puppy, completely forgetting itself with joy. He glanced at the person on the shore, and seeing that she showed no displeasure or intention to stop him, he hugged the jade lion's horse neck, pressed his face against its neck affectionately, and finally stroked its nose and mouth, saying a few words.

The jade lion kept barking all the way and rolling around in the shallow mudflats. Occasionally, it would stop, glance at Shen Changfeng, and invite him to come over and touch its belly.

Ah Chou watched the jade lion playing childish tricks, raised his head and paced around it with a look of disdain. After two circles, he also rolled in the mud and started playing wildly.

Shen Changfeng was splashed with mud, but he was not angry. He just smiled and watched the two horses run wild. When they had enough fun, he asked them to stand up and wash themselves.

Lin Meiju looked at the shore for a while.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the surface of the river, like a layer of soft golden light. The jumping and floating golden fragments wandered on Shen Changfeng's tight chest and back, making those intricate scars look less hideous.

Lin Meiju thought to herself that he seemed to have lost some weight.

I rarely seem to remember seeing Shen Changfeng smile so heartily. In fact, since our reunion, he's smiled much less than before. His brows are always furrowed, his eyes heavy. Whether he's walking or sitting, he seems constantly lost in thought. Only at this moment, at the hazy edge of dusk, can I glimpse the relaxed figure of the past, unburdened by the weight of rules and burdens.

There were several carts parked by the river for transporting the wounded. Lin Meiju didn't care about the dirt at this time. She pushed some dry rice straw off the carts, sat down on the cart, rubbed her calves, and relaxed her sore ankles.

Shen Changfeng raised his head and looked at the river bank again, and the smile on his lips deepened.

She was still there. She was still looking at him. He loved her looking at him like this.

Shen Changfeng washed the horses, let them run on the shore, and looked at her again.

At this time, the sky gradually darkened and everything became quiet. One could faintly hear the shouts of soldiers training or the footsteps of patrolling soldiers passing by in the distance.

Although Lin Meizhu was allowed to pass during curfew due to her identity as a doctor with a special token, she did not want to delay too late, so she stood up, waited for the horse to come back, and then went home.

Wait a minute, the Jade Lion still hadn't returned, she tilted her head to look, and when she turned back, she was faced with a wall of steaming naked chests.

She heard a voice floating above her head, "Are you happy?"

Too close, Lin Meizhu tilted her head back, her nose brushing against his collarbone. She felt wet and itchy. She hurriedly stepped back and asked warily, "What?"

"Is it a little different from before?"

"What's the difference?"

Shen Changfeng suppressed his smile, pressed her hand on her well-defined chest, and said, "Is there something different about my body?"

"Which do you prefer?"