“That won’t do.” Although Fang Heng was generous, he still had his rules. “They should divide their own things.”
After saying that, he actually summoned Jiang Wu and the others to empty the entire carriage.
They also helped the unconscious young woman into the tent.
Before long, Jiang Wu and the others indeed sent out their belongings, leaving themselves only a bundle.
Zheng Ruqian saw all this and was completely speechless. He could only look up at the sky and keep his sorrow to himself.
"Second Brother." Fang Laosan approached cautiously, revealing the only remaining packet of pastries in his arms. "Look, I still have this packet left."
Yes, it was kept.
Jiang Sheng had spent most of the time moving the four and five children together, and after a long and arduous journey, he had finally managed to deliver this package, which was now all that remained.
"There's also a letter from my elder brother. If you're so capable, give it up too." Zheng Ruqian, still looking up, pulled a letter from his pocket.
Fang Heng smiled wryly as he opened the package. Inside was his elder brother's usual neat handwriting, detailing the events of the past six months, along with his instructions and greetings.
Scrolling further, I found information about the Fang family and news that Fang Yuan was going to take the imperial examination.
It's unbelievable that the Fang family, which started with military prowess and produced military generals generation after generation, has now turned to civil service under Second Uncle Fang.
But that's fine too, now he can roam freely across the entire frontier.
Fang Heng closed the letter and put on a smile again. "Second brother, don't be angry. It's not that we don't cherish the things sent from home. It's just that the border is harsh and cold, especially in winter when there is a lack of food and clothing. As the team leader, I can't eat meat myself and let everyone drink soup."
Zheng Ruqian remained silent.
"Second Brother, didn't you just ask me why the Fifth Squad has so many people?" Fang Heng sighed deliberately. "Actually, there's a secret here that shouldn't be told, but you are, after all, my own second brother..."
Zheng Ruqian immediately sat up straight, his thick eyebrows and big eyes full of gossip and inquiry.
Fang Heng smiled knowingly, "Because I share both happiness and hardship with my men, people come from far and wide to visit me. I also take in many surviving villagers, and gradually the number of people has increased."
After experiencing immense grief, almost all the young men were willing to take up long swords and fight the Tartars to the death.
The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled stayed in the tribe to tidy up and make arrangements so that the returning warriors could have hot soup and hot meals.
Everyone is doing what they can for the war effort.
From old to young, from men to women.
Zheng Ruqian followed behind Fang Heng and saw a man with a broken leg peeling cabbage leaves, a woman who had lost an eye kneading dough, and even children around ten years old washing mud off radishes.
"Not even a trace of meat?" Zheng Ruqian asked in surprise.
Fang Heng smiled without saying a word and continued to show him the newly rescued civilians in the tent. The military doctor was cleaning the wounds one by one, treating and bandaging them. Some of the broken legs needed to be set, and even people outside could hear the "crack" sound, but the people inside did not make a sound.
Doesn't he feel pain?
No, he had seen far more excruciating pain. Compared to the carnage of that moment, what was this pain?
When we arrived at the soldiers' tents, we found that the space was already insufficient because they had saved many civilians and taken in many new recruits.
What to do? Just squeeze in.
Previously, three soldiers slept in one tent, but now eight or nine sleep together. On the narrow cotton mattresses, everyone can only lie straight, and it is difficult to even turn over.
Compared to them, life in the dilapidated temple wasn't so hard.
Zheng Ruqian didn't say anything more, and sniffed.
Finally, we arrived at the captain's private tent, which looked a size larger than that of ordinary soldiers. But when we lifted the covers, we found at least ten blankets inside, proving that at least ten people slept there.
Zheng Ruqian turned around in surprise.
Fang Heng chuckled, "My tent is big and spacious, I can't enjoy it all by myself. It just so happens that Jiang Yi and the others are my guards, so they sleep with me. Occasionally, there will be a few wounded soldiers as well."
Zheng Ruqian moved his lips, but ultimately didn't say anything.
After a long while, Jiang came over to invite them, "Second Young Master, Captain, dinner is ready."
Zheng Ruqian looked up slowly and said, "You have all been stripped of your slave status and are now proper guards. You might even become generals in the future, so please stop calling me Second Young Master."
"Second Young Master is joking. We were freed from slavery because we needed to join the army. Without a captain, we don't know where we'd be begging for food." Jiang smiled. "In our hearts, you will always be our young masters and ladies."
"Yeah, yeah." Jiang Ba poked his head out from behind, grinning broadly.
Zheng Ruqian laughed too, but as he laughed, he noticed that Jiang Ba was missing a finger. Looking at his baby face that never seemed to grow up, he finally couldn't hold back his tears and covered his face, lowering his head.
“Captain…” Jiang Ba was at a loss.
Why did the second young master suddenly start crying?
Fang Heng waved his hand, telling them to go eat first, and then found a place to sit down and quietly keep them company.
The hardships in northern Xinjiang exceeded everyone's expectations.
I thought those years in the dilapidated temple were difficult enough, but I didn't expect it to be less than a tenth of what it was like in northern Xinjiang.
Fang Heng, the pampered young master of Fengjing, had a glorious family background, loving parents, and countless riches. If he hadn't encountered a great calamity, how could he have lived such a life?
Zheng Ruqian covered his face with his sleeve, trying to hide his heartache.
Fang Heng guessed what was going on and said slowly, "Second brother, there's no need to be too sad. I am indeed the young master of the Fang family, and I have indeed had a very high status. But the ancestral teaching of the Fang family is to fight for the country and to fight to the end to protect the people. I knew from birth that my father inherited my grandfather's will, and I will inherit my father's will."
War is cruel, fighting is brutal, and life can be lost at any time.
But when foreign enemies attack, there will always be people who rush to the front, and there will always be people who sacrifice themselves.
Grandfather has no regrets, father has no regrets, and Fang Heng has no regrets either.
Silence fell inside the tent.
Zheng Ruqian was trying to calm himself down when Jiang Wu's voice came from outside, "Captain, Second Young Master, the food has been brought to you. Please eat here."
Fang Heng took the two large bowls and two pairs of chopsticks and handed them to Zheng Ruqian, saying, "Eat quickly, they'll get cold."
Perhaps because of the addition of sausages and cured meat, today's meal had a richer meaty aroma, and Fang Heng ate with great satisfaction, chewing and swallowing heartily.
Zheng Ruqian counted and found that the large bowl contained only five slices of sausage and three slices of cured pork; the rest was all cabbage.
Looking at Fang Heng wolfing down his food again, Zheng Lao Er, who prided himself on being strong, had tears in his eyes once more.
He was too sick to eat, so he gave all the sausages and meat to his younger brother and went outside to find some hot water to drink.
Some soldiers were curious and even held up a bowl to ask him if he wanted to eat.
Zheng Ruqian, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the ordinary soldiers' bowls contained only a piece of sausage and a slice of cured meat.
Because it was so rare, they ate all the cabbage first, and then stuffed the cured meat and sausage into their mouths, enjoying the burst of oil in their mouths, and finally showed a satisfied smile.
It's just a piece of sausage and a slice of cured meat.
Zheng Ruqian's heart felt blocked up, and he couldn't open it up no matter what he did.
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