Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, covering the entire world in a pristine white hue.
On the official road, a group of people were struggling forward against the howling, biting wind.
The road winds and twists, stretching northwards towards the distant and cold north.
As the group continued northward, the weather grew increasingly cold, with a biting chill following them everywhere.
Sitting in the carriage, Wang Xiuxiu felt the chill penetrating her even though she was wrapped in several layers of thick cotton clothes.
At this moment, she wished she could wrap herself up like a ball.
"Patriarch, please be patient a little longer, we will be arriving in Lizhou soon."
The speaker was none other than Zisu, the leader of Wang Xiuxiu's guards.
Although Zisu has a cool and aloof appearance, she has a delicate heart.
She took great care of Wang Xiuxiu along the way.
Before this, Zisu had always addressed Wang Xiuxiu as "Madam".
Later, only after Wang Xiuxiu insisted did he change his address to "Head of the Family".
To avoid attracting attention, they disguised themselves as a caravan on their way to the North.
This caravan was large in scale, with many people, and was fully equipped with wagons, horses, and supplies.
Upon entering Lizhou City, their grand procession immediately attracted the attention of many people in the city.
However, Wang Xiuxiu and the others did not intend to deliberately conceal their identities. Instead, they openly checked into the largest inn in the city.
Lizhou, a city located on the far border of the vast territory of the Great Gan Dynasty, is a strategic location closest to the northern border.
It is not only a necessary route for Wang Xiuxiu and others on their journey north, but also the most impregnable military strategic location on the northern border of the Daqian Dynasty.
For a long time, this place has been guarded by the Ming family army, which is known as the "Great Army of Dragons and Tigers".
The Ming family army has suppressed the northern border for many years and has long been an impregnable wall protecting the border.
Despite occasional unrest in the northern border, over the years, under the pressure of the Ming family army, these have only resulted in small-scale conflicts and frictions.
The current general in charge of guarding Lizhou is Mingjia Liulang—Minglang.
Legend has it that this person, despite his young age, possessed ruthless methods.
When he was only sixteen years old, just as the Ming family was on the verge of collapse, he stepped forward and single-handedly took up the banner of the Ming family army, which symbolized glory and responsibility.
It was because of his existence that Lizhou enjoyed nearly ten years of peace.
Prior to this operation, Emperor Lu Nancheng granted Wang Xiuxiu a special right.
That would mean she could request the Ming family army to cooperate with her important task of trade.
Ultimately, how much help she could get from the Ming family army depended on herself.
Before her departure, Wang Xiuxiu had conducted extensive and detailed research on the situation in Lizhou. However, when she actually set foot on this land, she was surprised to find that the actual situation was far more complex than she had previously understood.
The people of Lizhou are martial and highly vigilant towards outsiders.
These unique local customs undoubtedly added many difficulties for Wang Xiuxiu and others who were new to the area.
When the northern border is mentioned, the people of Lizhou are all filled with resentment, gritting their teeth and wishing they could get rid of it immediately.
The reason is simple: the brutal war with the North more than a decade ago is still vivid in everyone's memory, an indelible scar.
At that time, war raged, and Lizhou City was on the verge of collapse.
Countless civilians surged onto the city walls, took up arms, and engaged in a fierce battle with the northern enemy.
Even the renowned Ming family mobilized the entire clan to fight in order to protect the people of the city.
In the end, almost all the adult men in the Ming family died on the battlefield.
How could such a deep-seated national and personal vendetta not cause one unbearable heartache?
Therefore, when Wang Xiuxiu learned that General Ming was too busy to meet her, this unexpected guest, because he was out of the city on patrol, she was not very surprised.
He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
The border region is bitterly cold, far less so than the capital, and the wealthy and powerful in the capital have always admired the furs and medicinal herbs from the north.
In contrast, the people of Lizhou scoffed at these things, considering them nothing more than flashy but impractical items.
As the leader of the Ming family army, General Minglang has always been disgusted by the extravagant lifestyle in the capital and looks down on those rich and noble people who only know how to enjoy themselves and are unaware of the hardships of ordinary people.
It's understandable that he felt disgusted by his actions, which seemed like running errands for powerful figures in the capital.
Wang Xiuxiu traveled a long way to this place in the hope of reaching a cooperation agreement with the Ming family army to jointly open up a trade route with the northern border.
But to achieve this goal, we must first get past General Minglang.
In Lizhou, the Ming family army holds absolute power. If she cannot properly handle her relationship with General Minglang, all her efforts in coming here will be in vain.
As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way." Just as Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times in ancient times, Wang Xiuxiu, determined not to give up until she achieved her goal, waited outside the city gate for several days in an attempt to catch up with General Minglang.
As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. After several days of waiting, Wang Xiuxiu finally got her wish and successfully caught General Minglang, who had just returned to the city!
Minglang looked at the newcomer, his brows furrowing involuntarily, his face full of displeasure. "What, it's you again?"
Wang Xiuxiu stepped forward quickly, her face beaming with smiles, and hurriedly explained, "General Ming, please don't be angry. This visit is not to persuade you to agree to trade. To be honest, Sister Su specifically instructed me that if I encounter any difficulties in Lizhou, I can ask you for help!"
Hearing this, Minglang's tense expression finally relaxed slightly, but he still looked somewhat suspicious and asked, "What happened? Tell me."
"Actually, this is not a big deal. The main thing is that I have long admired the Ming family army and especially long for the opportunity to witness the heroic spirit of the army you command!"
Upon hearing this, Minglang's face darkened. "Stop beating around the bush and speak plainly!"
"Alright, alright, but could you please let us in and out of your military camp?"
Minglang's brows furrowed again. "Why are you going to the military camp for no reason?"
"My purpose in coming to Lizhou this time is not only to conduct trade, but also to carry out a research project."
"Research? What research?" Minglang stared at her with a puzzled look.
"To be honest, our team has meticulously developed a medicated ointment specifically for preventing and treating frostbite. However, the actual efficacy of this ointment is currently unknown. As we all know, the climate in Lizhou is extremely cold. I imagine your soldiers, who have been guarding the frontier here for many years, must also suffer greatly from frostbite..."
"You want to use the soldiers in my tent to test the effects of that ointment."
“That’s right, that’s right!” Wang Xiuxiu nodded repeatedly.
"Could your ointment cause harm?"
"Don't worry, although the efficacy is not yet clear, I assure you that this ointment is made with the finest and most precious medicinal materials. Even if it cannot completely prevent frostbite, it will definitely not cause any harm to the human body!"
"Can."
Wang Xiuxiu wanted to say something to move him, but then she suddenly realized what was going on.
Does this mean he's agreed?
"You agree?"
"Agreed."
"Aren't you afraid I might have malicious intentions?"
“You are someone Sister Yingxue trusts, so naturally I can trust you too.”
He had barely finished speaking, and before Wang Xiuxiu even had a chance to say another word, he flicked his whip and galloped away.
Wang Xiuxiu stood there for a long time.
After a long while, when Zisu gently touched her and handed her a pass token, she suddenly woke up as if from a dream.
Wang Xiuxiu looked closely and saw that the token was clearly inscribed with the three large characters "Ming Family Army," the characters were vigorous and powerful, revealing a sense of majesty.
With the pass token, Wang Xiuxiu would frequently visit the Ming family army camp.
She didn't just go by herself; sometimes she would bring several doctors with her.
"Have someone keep a close eye on them and don't allow them to approach key military areas," Minglang paused, then added, "The rest, cooperate as much as possible."
"yes!"
The accompanying doctors were also very obedient and sensible; they never ventured into any place other than the soldiers' barracks.
Moreover, to express her gratitude and respect to the soldiers of the Ming family army, Wang Xiuxiu would often spend her own money to buy them delicious food as a reward.
However, according to military regulations, every item that Wang Xiuxiu and others brought in, regardless of size or quantity, had to be sent to Minglang for inspection first.
As time went by, the relationship between Wang Xiuxiu and the Ming family army grew more and more harmonious. They could even chat and joke with each other.
As she had more and more opportunities to interact with them, Wang Xiuxiu was surprised to discover that the Ming family soldiers, who were usually so imposing and serious during patrols and battles, were actually just a group of teenagers in private.
They would affectionately call Wang Xiuxiu "Mr. Wang" and ask her about various things in the capital with curiosity and anticipation.
"Sir, sir, is the capital really as decadent and extravagant as Mother described?"
"That's not entirely true. The people of the capital and the people of Lizhou are not that different."
The young man seemed somewhat incredulous and pressed on, "Really? Does that mean every household in the capital can eat white flour every day?"
Wang Xiuxiu was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Why do you think that?"
The man lowered his head and said softly, “My family works hard all year round, and we can only afford to eat white flour once a year during the New Year. I was better off in the army, and I could eat it before each patrol. Once, I secretly saved up the white flour I had saved, wanting to take it back to my brother and sister-in-law to try. Who knew that my mother would kick me out of the house in the middle of the night…” As he said this, his eyes reddened slightly.
Why is this happening?
The young man sniffled and choked up as he explained, "My mother was very angry at the time. She said that this white flour was specially for the soldiers to eat so that they would have the strength to defend their country. If everyone did what I did, then no one would be willing to join the army and fight a war."
After hearing his words, Wang Xiuxiu, who was listening quietly to him, couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in her heart.
At the same time, she also felt a deep respect for her mother, whom she had never met but who was full of great wisdom.
Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but slowly reach out and gently pat the honest-looking boy in front of her, who was only a teenager.
"Even the common people in the capital are busy and struggling to make a living every day. Don't worry, how to make the common people live a good life is something that the big shots have to think about. We little people are just doing our best to live our own little lives!"
Upon hearing this, the boy was slightly taken aback, then nodded vigorously.
"Yes! General!"
In an instant, the boy seemed to be startled. After letting out a quick cry, he took off running without hesitation.
Seeing the scene before her, Wang Xiuxiu couldn't help but burst out laughing, but she still couldn't resist taking the opportunity to make a few sarcastic remarks.
"You're usually so strict! Look how scared the child is!"
Minglang listened with a serious expression and retorted, "What do you know? I call this 'strict generals produce excellent talents.' How can things get done if you're not strict!"
After saying that, he slowly sat down on a small mound not far from Wang Xiuxiu.
"Alright, alright, you're absolutely right. However, I've been in Lizhou for quite some time now, and there's something I've been wondering about that I'd like to ask you."
Minglang raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at her with interest, and asked, "Oh? Tell me about it."
After gathering her thoughts, Wang Xiuxiu slowly said, "I always feel that the people of Lizhou seem to have a vague hostility and dissatisfaction towards outsiders. Moreover, this attitude is not only directed at the enemies in the north, but also towards the people from other states in Dagan."
After listening to Wang Xiuxiu's words, Minglang turned and gave her a deep look, then asked in a calm tone, "Do you really want to know the reason?"
Wang Xiuxiu nodded.
Minglang, unhurriedly, reached out and picked up an inconspicuous little grass from the ground, holding it up to Wang Xiuxiu. "Do you know what kind of grass this is?"
"Eleusine?"
"That's right, but you may not know that in the vast land of Lizhou, only the seemingly inconspicuous goosegrass can grow and spread so recklessly."
Wang Xiuxiu stared at the person in front of her with a puzzled look on her face, while her eyes, bright and clear, gazed at the fiery clouds on the horizon, as if trying to see something through the blazing clouds.
“Lizhou has always been barren and cold, and the people living here have suffered endless turmoil brought about by war. Due to the long years of war, most of the farmland has been abandoned and cannot be cultivated normally. The people of Lizhou can only rely on the relief and support from other states to make a living day by day and year by year.”
At this point, he turned his head slightly, his eyes revealing an indescribable sadness and helplessness. "Do you know how people in other places refer to us Lizhou people?"
Minglang didn't seem to expect a response, and instead muttered to himself, "They call us pit bugs."
These two words struck Wang Xiuxiu's heart like a heavy hammer, making her face turn pale.
For so many years, the people of Lizhou have endured the heavy suffering brought about by war.
They selflessly sent their loved ones and friends to the battlefield filled with smoke and bloodshed, all to protect the peace of their homeland and country.
How could such a brave and fearless group of people tolerate being labeled with such a humiliating and unbearable name as "parasites"?
Wang Xiuxiu's lips trembled slightly. She wanted to say something to comfort the young general, whose heart was filled with grief and pain.
However, at this moment, all words seemed so pale and powerless.
Those who have never personally experienced these hardships, no matter how many words of comfort they offer, cannot truly empathize with the people of Lizhou, let alone have any right to offer them solace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com