“Didn’t you want to eat braised pork? This pig seems to be still immature, with tender and smooth meat. It should taste delicious! Besides, I also want to try what braised pork tastes like... so I killed this beast while I was at it.”
Upon hearing this, the villagers who had not yet dispersed were completely bewildered!
Just... casually? They had been chasing him for hours, nearly losing their lives from exhaustion, and this man had just taken care of him so easily...
Sure enough! Comparisons are odious! Is this person really an ordinary human? Are you sure they're not some kind of mountain spirit or monster??
In the end, however, they could only watch enviously as Wang Yan dragged the wild boar home, while they could only drink bamboo shoot soup.
That evening, after Qin Qing returned home, even though it was already midnight, she still made a grilled fish hot pot. The aroma was irresistible, and she felt incredibly happy.
The wild boar was also placed in the yard; since it had just died, it wasn't rotting yet.
The next morning, every household in the village brought food and stood in front of Qin Qing's house, waiting for her to come out.
Around eight o'clock, Qin Qing came out, and several pairs of eyes stared straight at her, which startled her.
"Village chief, what's going on here?"
Over the past few years, she has become somewhat familiar with the village chief.
When the village chief heard her call his name, he excitedly rushed forward.
"Madam Wang! It's like this, everyone knows that your family has wild boar meat. We were thinking of coming over to exchange some grain with you. Such a big wild boar, your family of two probably can't finish it, right?"
Qin Qing was taken aback. So they were here to exchange for grain. Feeling a little annoyed, she thought of the two ugly sweet potatoes Aunt Zhang had given her last time. She pouted and went to open the door.
The village chief quickly came over.
"This is pickled cabbage that my wife made herself. It's not anything special, but... could you exchange it for two ounces of pork instead? Two ounces will do."
Qin Qing was taken aback when she heard this. So much pickled cabbage for such a small amount of pork?
Seeing that she didn't speak because she thought it was too much, the village chief hardened his heart and quickly said.
"One tael, one tael will do!"
Qin Qing snapped out of her daze and shook her head with a smile.
"What are you saying? There's so much pickled cabbage, enough for a pound of meat! I've been craving pickled cabbage fish lately, thank you, village chief!"
After saying that, she ignored the village chief's shocked and excited eyes and shouted into the house.
"Ah Yan! Come out and cut the pork!!"
Wang Yan quickly came out, looked at the large group of people at the door, and his face darkened...
He was once a great general, now a marquis! Yet he's reduced to cutting pork to exchange for grain, and he doesn't even complain!
Then, everyone saw the tall, imposing, cold-faced man's knife skills were clean and swift, the cuts were neat, and the weight was almost exactly the same...
Even the village chief couldn't help but sigh in amazement upon seeing it!
"What a skillful butcher! Madam Qin, I think your husband is quite talented; he's born for this!"
Qin Qing: "Pfft! Hahaha!! The village chief is right! Hahahaha!"
This once mighty general, who commanded a large army, has a real talent for cutting pork! Haha! There's nothing funnier in the world than this!!
Immediately afterwards, Qin Qing saw the boy from last night and then asked Wang Yan to cut an extra pound of food.
"My husband was able to kill this wild boar thanks to the villagers who went up the mountain yesterday, so any family that comes here can get a pound of meat for free!"
Upon hearing this, the people in line all showed gratitude, and the village chief smiled with great satisfaction.
After she accepted everyone's things, she noticed that there was only about fourteen or fifteen pounds of wild boar meat left. Qin Qing then told Wang Yan to put the meat away, saying they would have braised pork for lunch today!
The two of them lived a leisurely life in the village, eating and drinking every day...
But things aren't so easy on the other side!
Time flies, and soon it was the end of winter, when the snow on the ground had not yet melted.
Heavenly Dragon Kingdom!
Inside the Imperial Palace in the capital!
"Report! Your Majesty, the Ice Mountain Grassland tribes are approaching the border and will surely attack Liuyun City within three days!"
"What?!"
With a shocked roar, the old emperor suddenly stood up from his dragon throne.
Liuyun City, like Qingcheng, is one of the four cities surrounding the Tianlong Kingdom! The Ice Mountain Grassland Tribe's actions are tantamount to pissing in the old emperor's face!
Before he could process the news, another person shouted out from outside the main hall!
"Report! Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Duxing has refused to provide assistance! The King of Duxing has refused to even see the envoy, citing illness, and has only sent Crown Prince Xiyiji to make excuses. Your Majesty, I have failed to complete the mission!"
"Thump!"
With a muffled thud, the old emperor slumped onto the dragon throne, his eyes filled with rage and shock.
Now it is all too clear that the Ice Mountain Grassland Tribe came prepared, and other countries probably will not help them. They want to take advantage of the fact that the Heavenly Dragon Kingdom is recovering from its injuries and launch a surprise attack!
His angry shouts were so loud that even the guards below the palace steps could hear them clearly!
Clearly, the old emperor is starting to panic this time!
"Chang Chen-yue! Huang Zhong! Step forward!"
Deputy General Zhang and Huang Zhong, who had been silent all along, finally stepped forward.
"Your Majesty is here!" "Your Majesty is here!"
The old emperor held his breath, his expression incredibly sinister.
"I hereby appoint Deputy General Zhang as the commander-in-chief, leading all the troops, with Huang Zhong as the deputy commander. The two of you will immediately lead 100,000 elite troops from the imperial city to Liuyun City to defend against the enemy! You must deliver a fatal blow to the Ice Mountain Grassland tribe! Success is the only option!"
After the old emperor finished roaring, he couldn't catch his breath and his vision went black. He gasped for air as he looked at the two of them...
At that moment... the entire room fell silent!
Deputy General Zhang had no choice but to accept the order, while Huang Zhong looked up in shock and said incredulously.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Ice Mountain Grassland tribe has an army of 300,000... Why have you only given us 100,000! This is simply..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was shut down by the words "old emperor"!
"Dismiss the court!"
Huang Zhong was stunned. He called out "Your Majesty" several times, but the old emperor refused to turn around!
"Wait a moment," Huang Zhong asked, looking unconvinced.
"What exactly does Your Majesty mean? 100,000 against 300,000? And they have reinforcements too. What about us? Are we just going to our deaths?"
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang quickly covered his mouth. The two of them had just stepped out of the main hall, and the officials had not yet dispersed. If someone with ulterior motives were to overhear them, they would be doomed.
"Don't be impulsive! His Majesty is just in a fit of anger. After all, he hasn't said when he'll send troops. He might withdraw tomorrow... Be careful what you say now, or you'll bring trouble upon yourself! Then both of us will be in grave danger!"
Huang Zhong reluctantly shut his mouth, but Deputy General Zhang shook his head, a bitter look on his face.
"With the general gone, the only military positions left in the capital are those held by you and me! His Majesty now personally commands the army, with 300,000 elite troops in the city, plus 200,000 in Qingcheng, and the other two cities combined totaling less than 500,000! In other words, the Tianlong Kingdom's current military strength is less than one million. Although the Ice Mountain Grassland tribes are coming with great force, their total army will not exceed 800,000!"
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