"Conscription? Is it that serious?"
Qin Yulin was very surprised. He despised Su Chang'an's incompetence, but if he still wanted to conscript soldiers, it meant that many people had died and there were not enough soldiers to kill the enemy.
It's freezing cold; I wonder how many more people will die.
"Yes, when I returned from the border town, he had already lost three battles and suffered heavy casualties. I rushed back, and I don't know if anything has changed in the past few days. I'm afraid the situation is even worse."
Zhanqi thought about it and felt that the situation was unstable. The New Year was approaching, but he was afraid that the New Year would not be easy to get through.
I thought Su Chang'an was at least somewhat capable, but I never expected him to be so incompetent and useless. He suffered three defeats, and the morale of the army was extremely low.
Many people in southern Xinjiang have already begun to flee with their families.
He has been gone for several days. I wonder what the battle situation has been like these past few days?
The news Zhanqi brought back informed everyone that the battle situation was not good.
Zhang cooked hot noodles for Zhanqi. She didn't understand warfare; she only knew that Zhanqi had come through the wind and frost and was still hungry.
"Have something to eat."
Zhang spoke gently.
Zhanqi smiled at Zhang Shi, then took the food and began to eat.
Qin Yulin poured Zhan Qi a glass of wine: "Have a drink. It's so late, why don't you stay at my place tonight?"
Zhan Qi felt a little embarrassed and subconsciously looked at Qin Shi.
Madam Qin smiled slightly and said, "Do you have any urgent business to attend to back home? If not, you can stay at my house for the night."
Zhan Qi shook his head: "No, no."
Even if there were any left, they wouldn't be. His clansmen were all well-managed, Zhan Yang was growing up quickly, and there was nothing for him to worry about.
The fabric shop was also doing well. War is cruel, but for merchants, it was a good time to make money.
Those who have caught wind of this have already started raising prices.
He sipped warm wine and ate a bowl of steaming hot meat soup noodles, feeling incredibly content.
"Uncle, Xiaoyu, it's time to start raising prices. If we have enough stockpiled grain, we can use it to make money in a while. What are your plans?"
Zhanqi asked why, even though he was in charge of Zhanchi Cloth Shop and had full authority over it, he still asked Qin Shi and Qin Tianhai about everything.
Qin Yulin didn't understand these things, so he didn't interrupt.
Qin looked at Zhanqi and said, "I won't raise prices. My shop won't raise prices. You have full control of the fabric shop, so you don't need to worry about us."
Not only did Madam Qin not think about raising prices, she also wanted to do good deeds to accumulate merit for her precious baby.
"Okay, then we won't raise the price."
Zhanqi paused for a moment before laughing and agreeing, saying that raising prices would earn more, but not raising prices would also earn money.
When Qin saw the gentleness in Zhan Qi's eyes, she looked away.
"It's getting late, get some rest."
Qin Tianhai spoke up.
Zhang arranged accommodations for Zhanqi, and the family went back to their rooms to rest.
After everyone left, Zhang and Qin Tianhai whispered to each other, "Did you see? Zhanqi likes our daughter. He even brought a gift for Yubao when he came back this time."
Zhanqi gave some things to Qin Shi, saying they were for the children to play with.
This sentiment is actually visible.
Qin Tianhai didn't deny it. He smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. If we're meant to be, we'll be together. If we're not, we won't force it."
Zhanqi may have the intention, and how he does it is his business; it doesn't mean that his daughter has to agree to his wishes.
Having gone through a marriage before, Qin Shi is more clear-headed than anyone else. She no longer wants to depend on anyone or get married. Zhan Qi is willing, but she has no interest.
"You're right. Do you think the enemy will attack this place?"
Zhang then started talking about other things.
In the midst of this war, it is always the ordinary people who suffer.
Qin Tianhai sighed, pulled the blanket over Zhang Shi, and slowly said, "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it."
These things are beyond our control; without Su Chang'an, a truly capable person would emerge.
Soldiers shed their blood to protect their country; this is their mission and responsibility.
On December 24th, rumors began to circulate in the city.
Marquis Anping suffered repeated defeats, unable to even discern the simplest of schemes, and was repeatedly challenged and humiliated by the enemy.
The enemy is coming in with great force and will march south. They will surely crush the Jin Dynasty's capital within three months.
People are filled with anxiety.
Everything started going up in price.
On December 26th, even worse news arrived.
Many refugees poured into the area outside Liuzhou city; they were all fleeing from southern Xinjiang.
The imperial court issued a conscription order.
If there are two or more men in the family, at least one of them must apply.
When this news came down, everyone looked worried and distressed.
This is a temporary conscription because the war situation is bad; it shows that the barbarians are too fierce.
While people were cursing Marquis Anping, they were also worried about losing their homes.
The Qin family members sat together.
Before Qin Tianhai could speak, Qin Yulin said, "Father, there's no need to discuss this. I will definitely go. I'm young and strong, and it's my responsibility to protect you."
Qin Yulin wasn't afraid to go to the battlefield. He felt that even if he wasn't particularly skilled, he could at least protect himself.
His father was a scholar who never neglected household chores, but he was almost fifty years old after all.
"Your wife is pregnant, you can't go."
Qin Tianhai looked at Qin Yulin and spoke in a deep voice, then stood up and said, "Don't think that just because your father is old, he is. I'm just a little old, killing a few enemy soldiers is no problem for me."
"No, that won't do. You're the family's wise tree at home. You can't go. You still have scientific expeditions to do."
Qin Yulin scratched his head, his expression resolute.
"Fighting the war won't interfere with scientific research. I'll be back in a few months."
Qin Tianhai easily shut him down.
Zhang sighed, torn between her husband and her son.
Zhao frowned slightly; unable to get a word in edgewise, she simply sat quietly.
Qin Shi remained quiet on the side. She hadn't brought her daughter over at this time, as these troublesome matters were for adults.
"Father, I can't argue with you, but you can't go, so I'll go."
Qin Yulin knew he couldn't win an argument with Qin Tianhai, but he resolutely refused to change his mind.
Su Chang'an is a good-for-nothing, but he isn't.
He made a mistake in leading the army. Other generals are capable, but they are just lacking in soldiers. They can be replaced by recruiting soldiers.
Qin Tianhai looked at Qin Yulin without saying much. He simply shook his head and said, "Father is still here. He'll take care of things even if the sky falls. There's no need to say anything more."
He is a father, so he should protect his children from the wind and rain. No matter how old the children are, they are still children in his eyes.
He can protect his daughter and his son.
Zhao was seven months pregnant. Her son was going to be a father and she was going to be a grandfather. At such an important time, her son Qin Yulin should not be absent, so only he could go.
Qin Yulin remained silent with a sullen face, then pulled Zhao Shi up and went back to their room.
Zhang held Qin's hand gently and said, "Let's prepare your father properly. It's cold this year, so he needs to wear thicker clothes."
Zhang knew Qin Tianhai best and understood his feelings. She felt sorry for him but wouldn't stop him. She would just take care of everything that needed to be prepared for him.
Qin nodded with tears in her eyes. The conscription order had been issued, and they would be setting off tomorrow. They would even spend the New Year on the road. No one wanted this, but they could only go along with it.
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