Chapter 326 War is about to begin
He stood aside, watching Jiang Ling explain the meaning of the text in an extremely simple and easy-to-understand way. He watched as those naughty children who usually scratched their heads in his class were now listening quietly. His eyes occasionally flashed with surprise and deep thought.
I never knew teaching could be done this way.
The day was sunny and windless.
Seven or eight children were sitting in the courtyard, following Jiang Ling as she wrote the four characters "spring, summer, autumn, winter" on a stone slab.
When Jiang Ling talked about the character "秋" (autumn), she mentioned "禾" (grain) and "火" (fire), explaining that in autumn, the crops ripen and turn golden, as if dyed by fire, which can also be interpreted as the harvest season.
Master Yan came to listen in again today. Upon hearing this, he nodded and stroked his beard, seemingly deep in thought.
During the break, the children ran to the side and had a writing contest on the snow with twigs. Jiang Ling felt a little tired and leaned back in her chair to rest.
Master Yan strolled over, sat down on the low stool beside him, and after a moment of silence, spoke:
"The young woman's teaching method is excellent. She uses metaphors that are close to the local customs and are easy for children to remember. This method is wonderful. I have been teaching for many years and never thought of such a close-to-the-land approach."
"Master, you flatter me. Children's thoughts are all unconventional, and it's easy to find it boring to have them listen to the lesson quietly and obediently. That's why I came up with this method."
"If the young lady could continue teaching here, these children would benefit greatly, and their future might be improved. It's just a pity..."
Master Yan changed the subject, a hint of gloom settling over his brow.
Jiang Ling instantly had a bad feeling: "Why do you say that, Master? Has something happened outside?"
Master Yan sighed heavily. “The other day I went to town and heard some rumors that war might break out in the south. Although our Shijia Village is remote, it is on the border. If a war really breaks out, we will be the first to be hit and there will be no peace.”
Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat, but she tried her best to remain calm, only slightly frowning: "War? Didn't the Great Sheng Dynasty and the Great Yu Dynasty just make a marriage alliance to seek peace?"
Master Yan sighed heavily, “Alas, this marriage alliance has gone terribly wrong! People in the town are saying that the princess sent by the Great Yu Dynasty for the marriage alliance was attacked by bandits near Yanxia Pass after entering our territory. The entire marriage alliance suffered heavy casualties, and that princess of noble birth… also did not survive and perished!”
Despite knowing the plan beforehand, Jiang Ling still felt a complex mix of emotions upon hearing the news.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the old blanket covering her knees, her voice a little dry:
"Such a thing happened... So, what happened afterward?"
Master Yan shook his head, his face full of worry. "The princess died within our borders, and it is said that the entire Great Yu Dynasty is outraged, accusing our dynasty of inadequate protection, and even... there are rumors that someone in our dynasty deliberately allowed bandits to commit the crime and sabotage the marriage alliance. The court has sent important officials to negotiate, but according to the merchants coming and going in the teahouses of the town, the Great Yu Dynasty's border troops are frequently mobilizing, and the passes are heavily guarded. I'm afraid... they won't let this go easily."
He looked up at the snow-covered mountains in the distance, a place that had once been a peaceful border, but now seemed to him filled with the invisible smoke of war.
"Life had just begun to settle down for a few days... how could it have turned into this mess in the blink of an eye! It's truly a bolt from the blue..."
Jiang Ling was overwhelmed by a jumble of emotions and didn't know how to reply.
Instead of the expected relief, I felt as if a huge, cold stone had been placed on my heart.
She never imagined she would be in this situation one day.
It's truly a cruel twist of fate!
If she had never met the people of the Great Sheng Dynasty, and had never had any interaction with them.
She only felt that war was a matter between countries, and casualties were inevitable.
Now she lives in the Great Sheng Dynasty and receives the blessings of the people.
I know they are also flesh and blood, and all they want is a peaceful life.
How can I tell them that she was also involved in planning this war?
Just then, the voices of several villagers talking could be heard outside the courtyard gate, their tones also filled with anxiety.
"...Have you heard? Are they really going to fight?"
“My brother works in the county government. He said the official documents are almost here, asking each village to count the able-bodied men and prepare for the worst…”
"If this war breaks out, will there be any chance of survival? And taxes will be increased again..."
"It's all those damned bandits' fault!"
"Then what should we do? If a war really breaks out, we won't be able to protect our fields and houses, and our children won't be able to go to school."
The sound gradually faded away, but like icy snow water, it seeped into Jiang Ling's heart.
A-Zhu was coming out of the house to add hot water for Jiang Ling when she came in and saw Jiang Ling sitting blankly on the edge of the bed.
A-Zhu walked over and squatted down next to Jiang Ling's chair.
"Is Sister Xiaoqiu worried about the war? It's okay, we can hide in the cave. We always hide like this when there's a war, it's quite fun to squeeze together in the cave."
When spring comes, the mountains will have everything: wild vegetables, wild mushrooms, and even pheasants and rabbits. I'm really good at hunting pheasants, and I can even set traps. I'll take my sister with me then. Don't worry, Sister Qiu, I'll protect you."
Jiang Ling looked at that innocent face and heard her say that she would protect her, and her heart ached for a moment.
Ah Zhu, this battle may be more terrifying than any previous one.
It was a world-destroying force; wherever it went, smoke filled the air and corpses littered the ground.
"The war will eventually end. Once it's over, the trade routes will be open, and you'll be able to find caravans and go home! It definitely will!"
Jiang Ling did not sleep well that night.
In my dream, there was no tranquility of a winter night in Shijia Village.
A deafening roar replaced the sound of the wind, and blinding flames turned the sky red.
The muffled explosions of gunpowder continued incessantly, and the earth trembled.
Smoke filled the air, and wherever it passed, earth and stones flew, houses collapsed, and familiar fields were turned into scorched earth.
Jiang Ling witnessed firsthand how the villagers, armed with simple farming tools, charged at the invading soldiers, only to be easily defeated like moths to a flame. Blood stained the snow, and corpses littered the fields, a horrifying sight.
This war was more brutal than any previous one.
"Sister Xiaoqiu! Run!" Azhu's voice rang out between the explosions.
Jiang Ling turned around and saw A Zhu's still-childish face covered in soot, desperately pulling her towards the depths of the mountains.
Ah Zhu's hand was so tight that it hurt her heart.
They stumbled and staggered through the burning woods and collapsed field ridges.
Suddenly, the dust cleared ahead, and several bloodthirsty Dayu soldiers ran into them, their eyes gleaming with ferocity as they raised their still-dripping swords.
"Watch out!" Ah Zhu exclaimed, and without thinking, she stood in front of Jiang Ling.
"Thud—" The sound of the blade piercing flesh was clearly audible.
Jiang Ling watched helplessly as the long knife pierced through A Zhu's chest and back, blood gushing down the blade and instantly congealing into a glaring red stain on the ground.
Azhu turned around, managed a weak smile, and whispered, "Sister Xiaoqiu...run..."
After saying that, she collapsed softly to the ground.
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