Chapter 797 Capture
That night, Qi Heng led a mixed force of Wucheng and Daqi troops from Wucheng into the area, directly encircling Daqi's northwestern border city. The alien tribes were caught completely off guard and were attacked right in their lair, taking them by surprise.
Gu Yi led the strong men selected from among the common people, and together with Qi Heng's troops, fought a bloody battle for three days before they were able to initially recover the lost territory.
The foreign tribes retreated thirty miles from the northwestern border city, suffering heavy casualties.
When Lin Yuesha received the news, it was already noon on the fourth day. She had been teaching the people who stayed in Wucheng how to make instant noodles. One of the steps involved deep-frying, which made them easier to store. As a result, there wasn't enough oil in Wucheng, and they urgently needed to buy some from the surrounding areas.
"Miss, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Lin Yuesha was looking at the account book when she was interrupted by Bai Cha, who had just entered the room.
"Let's hear the good news first."
After taking notes, Lin Yuesha looked up. She didn't want to hear bad news, especially bad news related to her.
"The good news is that the Qi soldiers have returned to the border, and the foreign tribes didn't have long to be triumphant. But the bad news..."
Bai Cha looked at Lin Yuesha, hesitating to speak.
"Is it because Qi Heng got into trouble that I'm going to become a widow?"
Lin Yuesha's heart pounded, but she wouldn't admit that she was nervous at the moment. Qi Heng hadn't been seen in front of her at all these past few days, something that had never happened before.
In the past, when the war was urgent, he would come to see her whenever he could spare a little time.
Lin Yuesha reflected deeply, realizing that she wasn't entirely indifferent to him after all.
"Don't worry, you're not a widow yet."
Bai Cha's face was serious. This was terrible news, and she had to tell her mistress.
"Tell me, I can handle it."
Lin Yuesha took a deep breath, her heart sinking slightly.
"Lord Xu was captured while protecting Madam Xu and is now in the hands of foreign tribes."
Bai Cha spoke each word with great difficulty. Rather than letting her young mistress hear the news from someone else unprepared, it was better for her to say it herself.
"My cousin has been arrested?"
Lin Yuesha stood up abruptly, her head throbbing, and everything went black before her eyes.
"Miss, please have a cup of ginger tea."
Bai Cha was so frightened that she stepped forward to support her young mistress. She herself was also startled when she heard the news.
"I'm fine."
Lin Yuesha sat on a thick cushion. She was having her period these past few days, and because she had caught a chill the night before, she was suffering from severe abdominal pain. As a result, she had to drink a lot of brown sugar ginger tea every day to warm her body and relieve the pain.
At this time, everyone was busy, and Lin Yuesha didn't want to trouble Doctor Yan and Lian Qiao.
Fortunately, she had learned some common sense at the girls' school before, and she could handle the minor ailments that women are prone to.
On the battlefield, swords and spears are indiscriminate and full of variables. Xu Da, as one of the commanders, was captured and fell into the hands of foreign tribes. His chances of survival were slim.
Lin Yuesha forced herself to calm down, wanting to know more about the cause and effect.
Bai Cha stammered, saying she only had the news but didn't know the specifics.
The two, master and servant, looked at each other in silence. Just as Lin Yuesha was about to leave, Wuya arrived on a fast horse.
"Moonlight Gown, did you bring any pills?"
Uya jumped off her horse and rushed into the room, speaking urgently.
Which pill?
Lin Yuesha asked Bai Cha to bring her backpack, from which she took out a large package containing various small porcelain bottles.
From the capital to the Northwest, Lin Yuesha made ample preparations, including preparing plenty of hemostatic powder.
"Are there any treatments for heart disease?"
The last hope lies with Lin Yuesha; otherwise, things might not go well for her future mother-in-law.
Madam Xu suffered a heart attack and fainted. Wuya searched all over Wucheng but couldn't find such a pill. The only way was to go to the old doctor, but when she went to inquire, the old doctor had already gone out for a stroll and his return date was uncertain.
Yan Yan said that she had given Lin Yuesha some pills for this purpose.
"Yes, I brought it!"
Lin Yuesha remembered that Yan Yan gave her a light purple bottle, which left a deep impression on her because the bottle resembled modern nitroglycerin tablets.
She kept them on hand because she was afraid of being frightened by the war, and she prepared them specifically for herself.
"Okay, I'm leaving then."
Uya didn't have time to say much. She grabbed the small medicine bottle, mounted her horse, and disappeared into the courtyard in a short while.
Lin Yuesha couldn't find anyone to ask, but at least it confirmed that the information about the white tea was accurate; otherwise, Madam Xu wouldn't have suffered a heart attack.
"Bai Cha, come with me to see Doctor Yan."
Lin Yuesha gestured to Bai Cha to take the package. Yan Yan is a doctor, and if someone continues to use the medicine, they will definitely think of Yan Yan first, just like Wu Ya, and come to her again, so as not to waste time.
"Miss, shall we keep some?"
The white tea felt quite heavy in the package, as the group had come by carriage and the young lady had brought a considerable amount with her.
"Keep one bottle of wound medicine, and send the rest away."
Lin Yuesha wasn't going to the battlefield, and there were others who needed medicine more than she did.
The master and servant left the courtyard and headed straight for the outskirts of Wucheng. Yan Yan was still busy treating the wounded in the Daqi camp.
"Driver, why are you going so slowly? Can we hurry up?"
Lin Yuesha leaned against the carriage wall. She had been working and checking accounts all night without rest until dawn. She hadn't taken a nap at noon either. After being hit by the bad news, she felt weak all over and desperately wanted to find Yan Yan to find out what was going on.
"Young Madam, there are people all over the area ahead. It looks like they're looting the grain."
The coachman stopped the carriage. There were too many people in front, forming a long line. Everyone was holding a cloth bag, and some were carrying basins. They were queuing in front of the grain store, waiting to buy grain.
The large group of people left no gaps between them, and pedestrians had to detour, so the carriages naturally couldn't pass. The locals were very cautious and refused to give way to the group, believing that they were trying to cut in line.
In just two days, the price of grain has gone up. Coarse flour used to cost five coins a pound, but now it has risen to eight coins. I heard that the price is even higher at the border, more than doubling.
Wucheng was not short of food, but since it was incorporated into the territory of Daqi and the city gates were opened, the people felt insecure and panicked. It was the time when food was scarce and new crops had not yet been planted, so having stored grain at home made them feel less anxious.
Furthermore, with the New Year approaching, having no food at home and feeling uncertain, it wouldn't be good to just stay home and starve.
"If you want to buy grain, just line up. We have so many eyes watching you, so don't try anything funny."
Someone in the crowd spoke up, and the people in line nodded in agreement.
"I heard that although the Great Qi has taken back the border, the foreign tribes burned the grain and fodder when they withdrew, and the soldiers have nothing to eat. We are suffering too. If we can't eat, we will starve to death."
The people whispered among themselves, wondering why Wucheng couldn't accept the idea of uniting with Daqi. After ruling themselves for over a hundred years and integrating into Daqi's territory, they suddenly became like prisoners.
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