There wasn't enough space in the military camp, and the prisoners of war who had just finished fighting didn't know where to go, so Dani waved her hand and told them to return to their previous posts.

Anyway, with sentries watching, troops can be dispatched at any time if there is any unusual activity.

Huo Xiaolong, his hands wrapped up like rice dumplings again, looked at the group of Mediterranean men sitting on the ground with Wang Dani'er. The girl in red armor nudged her friend twice and said...

"Can't you grassland men change your hairstyles? A receding hairline, does that look good?"

When Da Ni'er was little, she didn't feel anything, but after looking at those men in brothels for a long time, she also felt a bit ashamed.

She nodded and said

"You'll definitely change it later; it really is a bit ugly."

Mu Feng was a warrior from a small tribe on the grassland. Although he was not as powerful as the followers around the Second Prince, he could still make a living under him and receive a small gold bead every month.

Just when he thought the Windstone tribe had been wiped out, he saw Windstone Terrace tilling the land with pebbles.

Only the people of the Central Plains knew how to cultivate crops.

He wanted to go forward and chat with his old friends, but the soldiers' spears and swords prevented them from getting close.

"Father, Uncle Mufeng."

Little Stone, with his sharp eyes, spotted the tall, dark-skinned man immediately.

"Sir, could you let us pass over and have a word with them? That man is my friend."

Little Stone is now a child who can speak the Central Plains dialect. He skipped and hopped along, pulling Feng Shitai to the Xiongnu camp. Looking at the boy who had gained weight, Mu Feng felt a little touched.

“I thought you were all dead,” the man said.

"No, General Huo is a very nice person. Uncle Mufeng, look, haven't I gotten a lot stronger?" Xiao Shizi showed the other person the results of how much weight he had recently gained.

Zhang Mama and Wang Da Niang were truly well fed. Huo Panlijian would send several months' worth of provisions to Xiao Lanyi first, and then have Xiao Lanyi send them here. Depending on the time, some meat and fruits would also be delivered. All that was missing was a menu.

Mu Feng nodded, somewhat envious.

Unlike his son, Feng Shitai blushed, looking a little embarrassed.

After all, the adults felt a little ashamed that the Fengshi tribe had surrendered to the Central Plains people.

Seemingly noticing his friend's unease, Mu Feng said to him...

"It's alright, as long as we're alive, at least Little Stone has food to eat, and the whole tribe can still farm and be self-sufficient."

"But Mu You wasn't so lucky."

"What's wrong?" Feng Shitai asked his friend.

Mu You is his friend's only son, earning one gold bead a month. The people in the tribe can't possibly treat Mu Feng's son badly.

“A while ago, the tribe sent a letter saying that we were short of food in winter, so the children ate the adults’ earthen cakes. Children don’t know how to control their portions, and they accidentally ate too much.”

Eating too many earthen cakes can kill you, Little Stone listened silently from the side.

If you eat too much and can't poop, your belly will get as big as those pregnant women.

Feng Shitai and his friend sat silently on the grass, lamenting the unfairness of fate. Neither of the two men spoke; at times like this, words were unnecessary, simply being by each other's side was enough.

It's beyond saving.

Unless you cut open the stomach and take out all the soil.

The child didn't understand these things, and said while holding Mu Feng's hand.

“Uncle Mufeng, we can go and beg General Huo. We can ask her to save Muyou. It was one of her doctors who cured me when I was sick.”

“It’s different,” Feng Shitai said, stroking his son’s head.

"How can it be different? General Huo must have a way!"

With a turn of his head, the little boy vanished. Only the two adults remained, exchanging glances and shaking their heads.

When Xiao Shizi arrived at the commander's tent, several of his girlfriends were having dinner inside. He paced back and forth at the door for a long time, unwilling to come in.

Asking General Huo for help is easy, but repaying her kindness is difficult.

Last time, he promised General Huo that he would become Sister Ha Die's slave if he saved her. Now that he is her slave, what else can he give her?

Xiao Cao went inside to report, and Huo Xiaolong had someone bring in Xiao Shizi.

"General Huo, all is well."

"What's wrong? Did you need something?"

Seeing the little boy stammering and hesitant to speak, Dani spoke up.

"Speak quickly, men of the grasslands never beat around the bush, hurry up."

“I have an older brother, we’ve been playing together since we were little, and he’s dying now. I’d like to beg General Huo to save him.”

Huo Xiaolong didn't care; the matter of saving lives depended entirely on Hou Xiangxiang's mood, and ultimately, he needed to consult the child's sister. After all, this wasn't a matter for the military camp.

The dark-skinned girl raised an eyebrow, then asked...

"You're mistaking Huo Xiaolong for a witch doctor from your grassland tribe?"

Da Ni'er's words struck a chord. The red-armored girl's lips curled up, knowing that Da Ni'er was standing up for her, and then she scolded her playfully.

"Don't scare the child."

Little Stone was so ashamed by Dani'er's words that she couldn't lift her head. If this situation had happened in her previous life, or even if they hadn't attacked the grasslands, Huo Xiaolong probably wouldn't have helped.

But now it's different; they've come with a purpose.

"What happened to your older brother whom you've known since childhood?" Huo Xiaolong continued to ask.

"He...he ate too much dirt, and now he's going to die."

I've only ever read about eating dirt in literature, about famine in some place where people had to eat dirt to survive. The moment this actually happened was quite touching.

Hou Xiangxiang opened her mouth and said

"There's no guarantee he can be saved; there's only a 10% chance."

Little Stone nodded, unsure how to express his gratitude. Huo Xiaolong, sensing his thoughts, spoke to him...

"When a person is at their wit's end, being able to ask for a way out is already a remarkable thing. Even if you don't have the corresponding resources, you have done everything you can."

"Being a slave is all you can do, isn't it?"

"Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, just a tiny bit, what if that person helps you?"

"In this way, you will not regret it."

"It's alright, you've always done a great job, just like with the Hadie incident."

Huo Xiaolong's words were like a gentle spring rain, touching people's hearts. Xiao Shizi knelt down and kowtowed to the group, then skipped out of the command tent.

“You’re just too soft-hearted,” Dani said from the side.

"Am I soft-hearted?" The girl remained noncommittal.

I wielded my sword swiftly on the battlefield, cutting from east to west, and you dare say I'm soft-hearted?

“If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t care about them. If we conquered them, they would all be slaves, and they would all have to work for me,” the dark-skinned girl said, holding a bowl.

"You see, if your mother hears this, she'll beat you up. We're here to assimilate them, not to tame them like dogs."

"Is there a difference?" Dani asked, puzzled.

"The difference is that it can stop the people on both sides from fighting and from suffering such hardship and hunger."

Da Ni'er pouted; she understood, but found it too troublesome. Then, the dark-skinned girl put down her bowl, picked up her chopsticks, pointed at Huo Xiaolong, and said with a touch of arrogance...

"Don't tell my mother!"