"Miss Huo, this is all the grain and fodder that Pingyang County can supply. Please take a look."
"An army marches on its stomach," said Li Jian, a tall, stern-faced woman, as she handed a notebook to Huo Xiaolong from behind.
"I'm going to war. You stay here and help me handle things back home. Whether I can get enough to eat or not is up to you," Huo Xiaolong said, turning back to look at her.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Upon hearing Huo Xiaolong's words, Li Jian pursed her lips; she also wanted to go with Huo Xiaolong.
"To be honest, not only you, but I want to keep all the older sisters."
Although the Spring Festival had passed, the border town was still in the depths of winter. The branches of the trees were bent low with the weight of snow, and the icicles gleamed in the sunlight. A girl in a red padded jacket walked to the window and continued speaking.
“But my sisters will definitely come with me. I can enjoy life without them, but I can’t endure hardship.”
"A sharp sword..."
The girl was about to explain something when Huo Pan interrupted her with his sharp sword.
"Miss Huo."
"Rest assured, Lijian will do everything in its power to ensure that our supplies are not cut off."
The woman raised her head and solemnly spoke to Huo Xiaolong.
The girl smiled, patted her shoulder, and wanted to say thank you.
She saw the person behind her clasp his hands in a fist salute and walk straight out of the room.
Miss Huo handed me her most important provisions. The woman looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. She still remembered the first time she ate "pig-killing feast" in that cold, dilapidated temple, when a child came over and stuffed nine pairs of cotton trousers into their hands.
She ensured they had access to education, a place to live, and enough to eat and wear.
Now, some of my younger siblings are in private armies, some are doing logistics, and some have gone directly to Xiao Lanyi's night watchmen.
The monkey said to itself before it left
"Big sister, I won't go for nothing. When I get there, I'll learn all their tricks and then we'll give Miss Huo a night watchman's job too."
Who isn't a fool? How could his younger siblings not know what Huo Xiaolong was planning? Rebellion—that's a capital offense.
"Sister, Miss Huo said she could help you pass the imperial examination and stand in the court just like those men."
“In that case, let’s do more for her. As the master said, those who achieve great things are the best at winning people’s hearts.”
When Huo Panlijian returned home, he was greeted by the strong smell of alcohol in the yard as soon as he opened the door. He had been talking about his white-bearded grandfather for over ten years, but he just couldn't shake his drinking habit. If it weren't for Miss Huo, he would still be drinking even after his bones had rotted away.
"Grandpa! I told you not to drink! Do you really have to drink?"
An old man with a white beard, carrying a wine jar, came out of the room.
"Aren't we happy?"
The woman snatched the wine jar from his hand and said...
“What’s there to be happy about? Chat with your granddaughter and make me happy too.”
The cold and sarcastic Huo Panlijian who used to speak so sternly outside has disappeared, replaced by a somewhat nagging her.
The white-bearded old man sat down in front of her and said...
“Miss Huo is going out to do something big, and I’m not happy about it.”
The divination wasn't for nothing; the old man knew almost everything Huo Xiaolong wanted to do. No wonder he was called the Purple Star; even when he rebelled, he chose the method with the fewest deaths.
As long as the Emperor allows her to enter the capital legitimately, Huo Xiaolong has a way to drag him off the throne.
When asked why they didn't just raise a big flag and march in, the girl in red explained.
That's the worst possible strategy. These private soldiers are all paid a fortune by me. I'd be heartbroken if even one of them died. A soft heart can't accomplish great things, but great things also require strategy.
It would be best if war could be avoided, but if it really breaks out, I'm not afraid.
"You can't drink alcohol, you're in such poor health."
"You keep saying I'm the God of Literature, and I heard that the current prime minister only got to that position at the age of sixty-six. I'm only twenty this year. Grandpa, can you live another forty years?"
The white-bearded old man clicked his tongue, paused for a moment, and then said...
"Why don't you give it a try, Grandpa?"
"What if?"
"Forty years is nothing, no problem."
"Would you like to hear what you're saying?"
"Miss Huo doesn't want you to go with her."
Seeing his granddaughter return from the brothel not long after going there, the white-bearded old man knew that his granddaughter probably hadn't gotten what she wanted.
Huo Panli nodded.
"I have to transport grain for Miss Huo from behind."
"This is more important, Grandpa's going to tell you..."
No one knows what happened during the subsequent conversation inside the cabin, but Huo Xiaolong is now determined to try and find a way out.
The girl in red stood before the back door of the brothel, realizing for the first time that stepping across this threshold required courage. It was dinnertime, and everyone was eating around the table when Huo Xiaolong entered, grinning widely.
"Time to eat."
"..."
Cen Ang looked up at his bewildered daughter, then asked...
"What's wrong, my darling?"
"Just say what's on your mind," He Yi chimed in from the side.
"Everyone in this room knows you, so speak up," Chunying said to her with a smile.
Huo Xiaolong took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and said to his sisters.
"It's almost the end of the year, and the Xiongnu issue has been bothering us for too long. I'm going to take care of it this time."
Everyone nodded, and He Yi then spoke.
"Alright, didn't we already discuss it with your father and Marshal Xiao? You'll lead the troops and attack directly."
"Well, so... can you wait for me at home?"
Huo Xiaolong looked at his sister and mother, who had paused for a moment, his eyes darting left and right. "Don't be silent! Give me some reaction! At least let my efforts be valued!"
"Huo Xiaolong, has it been too long since you've been beaten?" He Yi slammed down her chopsticks.
For the first time, the ladies of Fengyuelou cooperated so well. They split up the tables in groups of several, and a few of the ladies carried the dishes to the kitchen. Even the two sisters-in-law of the family picked up the bowls and went to the back kitchen.
Immediately after He Yi and Cen Ang stood up, the girl in red took two steps back as if sensing danger.
Inside the kitchen, the older sisters and the young maid from back then squeezed together to eat, watching the scene in the main hall as they ate.
"Long'er has never been beaten since she turned eleven."
"I've never seen two mothers fight together before."
"That's for sure. Look at Mom, she's even having trouble catching Long'er now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
