With the grain delivery finished, Xiao Cao's worries were put to rest. Now, even if Xiao Lanyi wanted to send someone to buy more grain, there wasn't much left at home. The grain they had now was enough to feed the garrison for at least half a month. The elderly people in the family were stuffing food into the corners and scraps, including meat and vegetables.
As the group hurried back, Huo Xiaocheng returned to the camp with the food supplies.
"General, it's villagers from outside Pingyang County who have brought us grain."
The black-armored general lifted the tent flap, his hands still stained with blood, and went inside to report.
"Not Long'er?" Xiao Lanyi asked.
He still thought that the person holding the fireworks communication device was Long'er. After all, Pingyang County was no longer the same as before, and there was still a possibility that it could be attacked and then counterattacked.
Huo Xiaocheng shook his head, gave the man in front of the desk a wink, signaling him to dismiss his attendants, then sat down opposite him and whispered something to him.
"It's Long'er's... bodyguards. They came to deliver food to us while the Xiongnu's defenses weren't stretched out. Pingyang County is now completely surrounded, with about 20,000 people."
How many more months can we hold out?
"We don't have much food left. With the supplies we just brought back, we'll only last a month at most."
"Given the current Xiongnu offensive, they won't engage us in a direct confrontation. Going back to provide support is impossible. If we can break through to their rear and then circle around to Pingyang County, we can escape our current predicament."
Huo Xiaocheng nodded, looking at the map in silence. It was no easy feat to launch an attack, and after the attack, they would need to leave people at their base in case the enemy launched a surprise attack.
"The most important thing right now is to defend the garrison, General. If there are any changes in the military situation in Pingyang County, someone will come to inform us."
Even if the carrier pigeons can't fly out, Long'er's private soldiers will still come.
Xiao Lanyi was anxious, and so was he. After all, everyone's family was in the county.
For example, like now, Huo Shuwen is circling around his biological son, and he also thinks that his daughter has brought people over. Hearing that Pingyang County is besieged, Xiong Ying is a little anxious to go home.
"Dad, can you please stop beating around the bush?"
"Could you ask Xiao Lanyi for leave to go home?"
The black-armored general looked at his father, who was nearly forty years old, and sighed deeply. Sometimes he really couldn't tell who was the father and who was the son.
"With a major battle imminent, Father, you should obey military orders."
“I wasn’t ignoring it, I was just asking.”
The middle-aged man was dressed in silver armor, which Long'er had made for him herself. Neither of his two older brothers had it, and he was the only one who did. The little girl had stayed at the Mo family's work site for almost half a month because of this armor, and her amorous peach blossom eyes under her sword-like eyebrows revealed her dissatisfaction.
"Dad, it will only take a month at most. Don't worry, there will definitely be a way."
Huo Shuwen nodded. He would find a way even if there was no other way. Even if he died, he would die with Ayi.
Then, the eagle stood up, put the sachet in his bosom, and his sentimental mood disappeared, replaced by an icy expression. Sunlight shone on his side, casting his shadow on the ground, highlighting his tall figure and sharp features. With a red-tasseled spear tucked behind his back, the man strode into the command tent.
"Send me next time, I'll be furious and have nowhere to vent my anger."
Xiao Lanyi nodded at Huo Shuwen. Erhei had just finished talking to him, and now his father was trying to steal his job. They really were from the same family, with identical thought processes.
The autumn night was a bit chilly. Huo Xiaolong, wearing a black fur coat, stood on the rooftop as a blue firework rose from the distance.
With a 'bang', in just a moment, the girl understood and leaped off the roof, her toes barely touching the ground.
"What's wrong? Did Xiaocao suddenly send you a message?" Hou Xiangxiang asked, standing next to Huo Xiaolong.
The girl's eyebrows were slightly raised, and with her serious expression, she looked extremely sharp. She had been eating less these past few days, which made Hou Xiangxiang and Da Ni'er, who spent every day with her, a little anxious.
From childhood to adulthood, when has Huo Xiaolong ever been anything but enthusiastic about cooking?
"The grain from the nearby villages has been sent to Xiao Lanyi," the girl replied.
"That's good. Don't worry too much. There's always a way out. We'll get through this."
Huo Xiaolong shook his head and said
“I’m not worried about the outside world now. We’ve been surrounded for several days, and the Xiongnu haven’t made a move and are keeping their composure. I’m afraid the people in the county won’t be able to keep their composure.”
"Doesn't the prefect have the constables and constables patrolling the streets every day to appease the people? Surely not..." Hou Xiangxiang felt uneasy hearing her friends say this. Being besieged isn't just one person's problem; don't put yourself under so much pressure.
The girl in the black fur coat licked her lips.
Ouch, that hurts a little.
I've had big blisters on my lips these past few days, it's because I've been anxious, but it's not that serious.
I'm eating very little mainly because of the pain.
"Long'er's worries are justified."
As she spoke, Da Ni'er climbed over the wall and continued speaking while looking at Huo Xiaolong.
"The Xiongnu are in the city; they just came looking for me again."
"Are they still looking for your treasure?" Hou Xiangxiang asked.
Wang Dani nodded.
"Yes, didn't I kill one before? Maybe they don't know it was me who killed him, or even if the person is dead or not, so they came looking for me again."
"With the Xiongnu causing trouble inside the city, it's not certain that the people can be appeased."
Huo Xiaolong pulled Hou Xiangxiang and Dani back to the study. It was so cold outside; she wouldn't have stood on the roof in the wind if it weren't for waiting for the signal. Now that everyone was there, they went inside to talk.
The girl habitually took the black fur coat that her friend had taken off; both of them were like that, throwing their clothes away casually every day.
The girl hung up their clothes, then turned to look at Long'er, who had been resting with his eyes closed. Suddenly, Huo Xiaolong opened his eyes, wrote something on the desk, handed it to her, and said...
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