Keep your troops in place
Chapter 29: Standing still
Xue Zhan reported the information he had found to Chu Huaibei. The farm was registered under the name of a merchant, and the clue seemed to end here.
Chu Huaibei gave his mother the merchant information he had found, "Mom, can you find out which family this merchant has dealings with?"
The imperial concubine spent two days uncovering the merchant's true identity, from its incoming and outgoing goods to its daily accounts and credits, and its cooperation with other merchants. The comprehensive information showed that it had close ties with the military supervisor Fan Liang and the Xuanwei general Yang Sui.
This seemingly truthful finding was subconsciously rejected by Chu Huaibei. As long as the emperor wasn't crazy, he wouldn't act this way. It wasn't that she was arrogant, but if the King of Zhenbei died, no general could control the Zhenbei Army. The emperor had long understood this, otherwise why would he always try to do something irritating to make Chu Huaibei miserable, but he couldn't really kill her.
Chu Huaibei called the deputy general and Xue Zhan and told them what he had found out. He then ordered Xue Zhan to secretly keep an eye on Fan Liang and Yang Sui, not to alert the enemy, but to keep them alive and lure out the people behind them.
After the deputy general returned, he felt more and more uneasy. He sent out his capable subordinate and ordered him to stay near Yang Sui's house and record the names of people who came and went in Yang's house every day, without missing even a single person.
On the other hand, after more than half a month of treatment, except for a dozen soldiers who were delayed in treatment and could not be saved, the others who were previously seriously injured in the military camp are out of danger and just need to recuperate well in the future.
Military doctors praised alcohol highly, saying that if it had been available earlier, many more patients could have been saved over the years. Previously, most patients died not directly from knife or arrow wounds, but from subsequent worsening of the wounds, especially in the summer, for which there was no effective treatment.
Chu Huaibei was delighted to see the good results. He believed that this was a step forward in promoting ancient medicine. Helping more soldiers survive during wartime was also a meritorious deed.
So it was the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the day when the dragon raises its head. This year, Aunt Wen prepared dragon tail pendants for the three of them. However, the dragon tails of the three of them were exactly the same, which made Hengheng very happy, because he thought he was no longer a child, and it would be best to be the same as his parents. Obviously, Aunt Wen had a very accurate control over Hengheng's inner thoughts.
Chu Huaibei tied the dragon's tail to his belt and went out to inspect the fields at the military settlement with his deputy general and Chen Sinong. This winter, there had been several heavy snowfalls, the heaviest of which was a foot thick. Taking advantage of the sunny weather today, she went to the military settlement to check on the wheat seedlings.
When we arrived at the military village, we saw neat rows of wheat seedlings. Although they were a little wilted after the cold winter, there was no large-scale death of seedlings. Once the weather warms up and we apply fertilizer, we will have hope for a good harvest.
"Chen Sinong, what kind of fertilizer was used in the military settlements in previous years?"
"Your Highness, it is gold water, but it is too little. It will only be used in fields where the crops are not growing well."
Chu Huaibei thought about it and realized that this was indeed a problem. He then told Chen Sinong the method he used in his previous life: "Dig a large pit, chop up the weeds, and mix them with human and animal feces in a ratio of five to one to ferment. After filling the pit, cover it with soil. After two months, open it and it will be ready for use. If you ferment it now, you can still make it in time for topdressing in April."
"Your Highness, I will arrange someone to do it right away!" Chen Sinong now believed in Chu Huaibei's words without a doubt.
The adjutant memorized the words and told his mother when he got back. He kept staring at Chu Huaibei's waist.
"I won't give you this dragon tail no matter how much you look at it! If you like it, ask your aunt to make one for you." Chu Huaibei pointed it out directly.
"Your Highness, I didn't ask for it. Besides, this is worn by a three-year-old child! You are so old now, and you are not ashamed..." The deputy general tried to defend himself.
"Humph, what do you know? This is a mother's love for her child. Who isn't a baby over 200 months old? You're just jealous!"
The deputy general was indeed envious. Today, his family also hung dragon tails on the younger generation. He thought it was normal before, and he didn’t need it at his age. But now he saw that the prince was wearing one and was so ostentatious in public. He felt a little jealous. His mother didn’t prepare one for him...
After inspecting the fields, everyone returned home. The deputy general first told his mother the method of composting that he had heard, and finally added that today the prince had tied a five-colored dragon tail around his waist.
Zhuang was originally thinking about how to arrange the manpower for composting, but her thoughts were interrupted by her youngest son's irrelevant words. She looked up at her youngest son and replied with a question word, "Huh?"
The deputy general saw his mother's confused expression. Well, he understood immediately, without explaining, shrugged his shoulders and turned to go to the training ground to practice with wooden stakes for an hour.
It was the personal nanny, Madam Huang, who was the first to react. She covered her mouth and laughed out loud, "Madam, the Third Young Master saw the prince's dragon tail and got jealous. You didn't prepare any for him, but the Concubine Dowager did."
"Ah? He is in a hurry all day long, with war in his heart and eyes. I have helped him to meet so many ladies from aristocratic families, but he didn't even look at them. You tell me that a person like this is unhappy because of Longwei, so how can he be thoughtful and considerate?" Zhuang's words were full of disbelief.
"Madam, I have never heard of the prince wearing this before. I guess he saw that the concubine even prepared something for the prince, so he took it to heart. I will make another one now, and you can send it to him?" Mother Huang thought that this was the only way. It was rare to see the childish side of the third young master.
"Okay, go ahead." Zhuang was still in shock. Her youngest son was actually acting like a spoiled brat with her! He hadn't done that since he was five, all he did was fight and kill. She also thought the way her youngest son shrugged as he walked out the door was adorable, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Chu Huaibei returned home early today, planning to attend Hengheng's class. Standing outside the Lancao Courtyard study, Du Jiping explained the Analects. Hengheng's occasional questions were answered with citations from classics and history. Wow, is this the brilliance of a runner-up? Thinking back to his father's teachings, he had to admit, the difference was significant.
But that's not the case. The military books my father taught me were excellent. Who could be as experienced as the King of Zhenbei? Thinking of this, Chu Huaibei straightened his chest. She was also one of the best at teaching military books!
Chu Huaibei quietly left the Orchid Courtyard without interrupting the two men's teaching. He sent for Xue Zhan and asked if anyone had appeared in the arrow-making room since then. Xue Zhan had someone on guard, and although no one had been seen entering or leaving, he didn't rule out the possibility of a secret passage. He asked if they should search the area within a mile.
"No need, just keep an eye on it. Searching will easily alert the enemy. If it is really the emperor, then the current situation is most favorable to us. Revealing it would be bad."
"Yes, I will obey your orders."
"It's almost dinner time. You should stay and have dinner before leaving." Chu Huaibei said, looking at the clepsydra in the study.
"Then I will obey your command respectfully. Thank you, Your Highness." Xue Zhan hadn't had a meal at the palace for more than a year, and he was still looking forward to it. The meals at the palace were of Beijing style and more refined, completely different in taste from the northern dishes made in his kitchen.
At dinner, Xue Zhan enjoyed the delicious food as he wished, but he was also shocked by the beauty of the prince's concubine. After a quick glance, he did not look up once for the rest of the time. He ate voraciously at the table, as if he had not eaten enough at home for several days. The concubine was worried that he was too full, so she told him to eat slowly and not to rush.
After dinner, Xue Zhan bowed and took his leave. His anxious steps seemed as if there were important matters waiting for him to discuss at home.
Xue Zhan left the palace, mounted his horse and headed straight for the Qin family. Qin Feng had just finished washing up when he heard the servants report that General Xue was looking for him. He thought that the prince had something important to tell him, so he quickly dressed himself and met Xue Zhan in the study.
As soon as Xue Zhan entered the room, he grabbed Qin Feng's shoulders with both hands and shook him vigorously: "You boy, why didn't you tell me that the prince's concubine is so beautiful? I didn't even dare to look up when I was having dinner at the palace today!"
"Hey, let go. Isn't it normal for the prince's concubine to be beautiful? You are already married, what is there to be embarrassed about? Why do you have such thoughts?" Qin Feng replied while struggling.
"What can I think? I'm too scared to even have time! Such a beauty would bring disaster to anyone's family, only the prince can keep her. You and I are so close, but you never reminded me. I ate so much at the dinner in the prince's mansion today. It's so unfair. But the minced meat rolls made by the prince's family are really delicious. I wonder if the cook in my family can make them." Xue Zhan was still complaining one second, and the next second he was already savoring the minced meat rolls.
"What is minced meat roll? Why have I never eaten it? Does the palace have new dishes?" Qin Feng, who had already started fighting, immediately let go and asked.
"Oh~~ So you haven't eaten it yet? Hey, I won't tell you." Xue Zhan's mood turned from gloomy to cheerful. He rubbed his arm that was hurt, turned around and prepared to go home.
"Hey, you come here to act crazy in the middle of the night, just for this?" Qin Feng saw him turning around and about to leave, and felt that this man was unreasonable!
"How could I be crazy? I was questioning you! Now that I have the answer, of course I have to go home. Why not go home and sleep in your room?" Xue Zhan turned around and answered seriously.
"Get out of here! Who wants to sleep in the same room with you? Your snoring sounds like a drum, it's so noisy. Go away!" Qin Feng pushed him out with force, pushed him to the door of the outer courtyard, and slammed the door shut.
Xue Zhan saw the guard turned his head to look at him and said, "Well, your General Qin is a little angry tonight!" He pulled the reins, jumped on the horse, and disappeared in a flash.
After being disturbed by Xue Zhan, Qin Feng's sleepiness disappeared completely. He rested his head on the cushion with his hands in his hands, one foot dangling on the ground, the other on the armrest of the small couch, and he didn't know what he was thinking about. He didn't return to bed until the early hours of the morning.
Chu Huaibei picked up Hengheng to sleep together today. Now Hengheng no longer needs to be coaxed to sleep. After washing up, he ran directly to the small bed, lay down, and coaxed himself to sleep.
Originally, Chu Huaibei wanted to prepare a separate yard for the child when he grew up, but was stopped by the concubine. Hengheng had been sleeping in the concubine's ear room. Either the ear room in Chu Huaibei's yard was cleaned up and he slept there in the future. It was stated that the child would not be arranged with a separate yard before he was fifteen years old.
Since his mother had spoken, Chu Huaibei made no further arrangements. Thinking back, he seemed to have lived in a courtyard of his own when he was fifteen years old. It might be a tradition of the Chu family, so he did not delve into the reason.
Sun Mingsi saw the Concubine's behavior. Besides Chu family tradition, there must be other reasons, just like the empty courtyard in the palace. In the aristocratic families of Fengjing, boys aged three would live in their own courtyard with servants, with a wet nurse to take care of all matters. The mistress of the house would only consult the wet nurse if she had any questions. Children were kept until the age of five at most; no family would keep a child until the age of fifteen. The Concubine was a member of the Feng family who valued etiquette the most.
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