Yan Qingqing had a very pleasant year, a rare moment of relaxation for her in the past three years.
After the New Year, Yan Qingqing will start working hard again.
She worked hard for two or three years, only to have it all come back to square one.
It was only then that Yan Qingqing felt a pang of heartache; over 400,000 taels of silver!
It was all hard-earned money that she and Li Xiang'an had painstakingly earned, bit by bit.
However, Yan Qingqing didn't dwell on it for long, because she had already thought it through when she took it out.
There are gains and losses in everything. She can earn the money back, it just takes time.
Chengyang County has been fully opened to the outside world. Yan Qingqing has also devoted herself wholeheartedly to making money.
The workshops, embroidery workshops, and cosmetics workshops have all commenced operations.
Due to special circumstances, we were unable to distribute any New Year's benefits to everyone this year.
Yan Qingqing asked Li Xiang'an to prepare a New Year's red envelope for each of the workers, with 188 copper coins in each envelope.
The workers in the workshop were all beaming with joy, but they were too embarrassed to accept the money.
Because they all knew that Yan Qingqing had emptied her savings to raise funds and pay for the disaster victims.
How could they possibly accept Yan Qingqing's New Year's red envelope when she was so understanding and righteous?
However, once Yan Qingqing has given something away, there's no reason for her to ask for it back.
After giving everyone a strong pep talk, the Li family's various businesses officially began production.
With Chengyang County setting an example, other counties and prefectures also began to take a series of measures for the disaster victims.
The disaster situation in the seven southern prefectures has been completely resolved.
Xiao Mochen's side also arrived at the Northern Pass in time with 200,000 dan of grain.
With ample provisions, the morale of the Great Yan army naturally soared.
When Marshal Huang and General Ling learned that the Ninth Prince Xiao Mochen was escorting the grain supplies, they personally lined up to welcome him.
They all knew that the Ninth Prince had disappeared a year ago, but they never expected that his reappearance would bring them such a big surprise.
When Xiao Mochen told them that the grain and fodder had been purchased by the people of Mingzhaoshuo out of their own pockets, they were even more shocked.
Marshal Huang personally issued an order that the entire army must always remember the kindness of the Ninth Prince and Lady Mingzhao.
Xiao Mochen's long journey to deliver provisions naturally won over the hearts of the soldiers in the northern border.
Now that Xiao Mochen has made his appearance, he naturally cannot return to Chengyang County.
Marshal Huang and Magistrate Ling personally hosted a banquet to thank Xiao Mochen. Xiao Mochen looked at the table full of beef and mutton and felt speechless.
Perhaps his intelligence was wrong. In fact, the soldiers in the North have no shortage of food. Look at how good their meals are; even he is envious.
But the way Marshal Huang and General Ling's eyes lit up when they saw the grain didn't seem fake.
Xiao Mochen did not make his intentions clear, but looked at Marshal Huang and General Ling and said, "I am truly unworthy of such praise. Our soldiers of Great Yan are guarding the border, and I, Your Highness, am merely sending some provisions, yet Marshal Huang and General Ling are so grateful. I am truly ashamed to face them."
Marshal Huang immediately cupped his hands to Xiao Mochen and said, "Your Highness may not know, but the army camp has indeed run out of food. The beef and mutton we are eating now were stolen from the army camp by a centurion of our army from the Northern Liang people."
For the past two weeks, we've relied entirely on these cattle and sheep to survive.
Even though Li Xiangjian brought back a lot of cattle and sheep from Beiliang, the cooks didn't dare to squander them.
They would cook every single cow or sheep until all the bones were gone before they were willing to slaughter another one.
Even if it's just some soup with a little oil, they can drink enough to fill their stomachs and survive.
Even so, these cattle and sheep won't last much longer.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen became quite interested in the centurion that Marshal Huang had mentioned.
He originally wanted to ask Li Xiangjian how he was doing in the army camp, but now he wanted to meet the centurion first.
So he said, "It is a waste of talent for such an extraordinary person in the army to only hold the position of a centurion."
"Bring him in. I want to see him. When we return to the capital, I will definitely report to my father and have him highly commended."
Upon hearing this, General Ling immediately sent someone to fetch Li Xiangjian.
At the same time, he was also thinking to himself that this kid had hit the jackpot. Once he caught the Ninth Prince's eye, he would definitely rise to prominence.
Li Xiangjian was soon called in.
He was clearly taken aback when he saw Xiao Mochen.
Xiao Mochen saw Li Xiangjian smiling happily and said that Li Xiangjian's aunt had taught him so diligently before he joined the army, so how could he remain inconspicuous in the military camp?
When Marshal Huang mentioned the centurion, he should have thought of Li Xiangjian.
General Ling, seeing that Li Xiangjian was usually quite clever, was now looking rather dull, said with a hint of disappointment, "This is the Ninth Prince. Ming Zhaoshuo personally purchased 200,000 dan of grain and specially entrusted the Ninth Prince to deliver it to us."
What are you standing there for? Quickly pay your respects to the Ninth Prince!
Li Xiangjian then came to his senses and bowed to Xiao Mochen, saying, "Greetings, Ninth Prince."
Xiao Mochen had always thought that Li Xiangjian was unaware of his identity, so it was understandable that he was momentarily confused.
So he stood up and returned the greeting to Li Xiangjian, saying, "Third Brother, how have you been?"
Xiao Mochen's address of "Third Brother" stunned both Marshal Huang and General Ling.
Their first thought was when the emperor had an illegitimate child.
However, he later rejected the idea.
Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of Marshal Huang and General Ling, Xiao Mochen explained, "This is the third son of Ming Zhaoshuo. Since I call Ming Zhaoshuo my aunt, I should naturally call him my third brother."
Marshal Huang and General Ling were even more shocked; the amount of information was simply too much.
Li Xiangjian is actually the son of Ming Zhaoshuo? This guy is so low-key!
He had been in the military camp for over a year without revealing a single word.
Moreover, the Ninth Prince even addressed Li Xiangjian as Third Brother and Ming Zhaoshuo as Aunt.
This shows that Xiao Mochen's relationship with the Li family is exceptionally good.
However, this is not something they can inquire about.
The two of them couldn't say too much in front of other people.
Marshal Huang and General Ling were quite sensible. After having a few drinks, they made an excuse that they had something to do and gave the place to Xiao Mochen and Li Xiangjian so that they could catch up.
Xiao Mochen did not stay in the military camp for too long.
News of his delivery of supplies to the military camp would spread quickly. Therefore, he needed to return to the capital before the news reached it.
After parting ways with Li Xiangjian, Xiao Mochen led his men straight to the capital.
Li Xiangjian stared at Xiao Mochen's retreating figure, lost in thought for a moment.
General Ling patted Li Xiangjian on the shoulder and said, "You've been hiding your true colors quite well, kid."
Our entire battalion must now be grateful for the kindness of Ming Zhaoshuo.
When you return home to visit your family, please be sure to convey my gratitude to them.
Li Xiangjian chuckled twice upon hearing this. The reason he didn't reveal his identity was that he didn't want others to think highly of him because of his mother.
He hoped that one day his mother would be praised because of her son, rather than because others would do favors for her because she was the son of Ming Zhaoshuo.
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