In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Ma Qiumei, who was speaking, and the courtyard fell silent.
These people all depend on Liu Yingying for their livelihood now. Zhu Jianqiang has not only become an official, but he is also Liu Yingying's husband. However, judging from the attitude of Liu Yingying and the Zhu family, it seems that they are destined to fight to the death.
Sigh, why is life so hard for these villagers?
They simply don't want to offend either side...
During this time, Zhu Youcai and his wife dared not speak out against Liu Yingying, but now things are different. Their son, who is an official, will be back soon. We'll see how they deal with that wicked woman then!
The reason I'm making this clear in front of everyone today is to remind these villagers not to choose the wrong side, since that wicked woman is, after all, just an outsider.
Zhu Youcai said, "Nowadays, that Liu family doesn't take us seriously at all. We've all seen that, so we didn't dare say anything when she didn't come to visit on the first day of the Lunar New Year." After saying that, he lowered his head and puffed on his pipe.
Everyone felt a little awkward. After all, this was their family matter, and they didn't know what to say or want to say anything more. They could only offer words of comfort.
Some villagers who hadn't even found a stool to sit on stood in the courtyard for a while before taking their leave. Seeing this, the others followed suit.
Today, Zhu Youcai is deliberately trying to incite everyone to isolate Liu Yingying from now on.
However, none of the villagers in Taoyuan Village were fools. It was true that Zhu Jianqiang had become an official, but he was an official in the capital!
As the saying goes, a local official is more powerful than a distant one, and right now, the one who's actually in charge of their meals is Liu Yingying, the Lady of Ning'an County.
Although they were somewhat flustered when they first learned that Zhu Jianqiang had become an official, after all, they had made things difficult for the people at the Zhu family's old residence in order to curry favor with Liu Yingying.
But they soon realized that they didn't know whether Zhu Jianqiang could bring them any benefits.
But one thing is certain: following Lord Ning'an will definitely bring you good fortune!
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, after organizing all the women in the village to work hard for many days, they finally completed the production of a batch of cotton quilts, cotton shoes, and dry food made from potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Liu Yingying asked someone to rent several oxcarts from the town, all of which were fully loaded, and then asked Wang Dabing and a few others to escort them all the way to Zhennanguan.
Wang Dabing: "Sister-in-law, who are you going to give all this grain and quilts to?" Just ahead is Zhennanguan.
Are they sending it to the military camp?
Now Wang Dabing only calls Liu Yingying "sister-in-law." He is very smart and can see that Liu Yingying dislikes the Zhu family.
He didn't want to upset his sister-in-law because of the Zhu family.
Liu Yingying: "Do you know how I got this title of County Lady?"
"I know, didn't the Emperor already announce it to the world? Sister-in-law, you saved the entire population of Jinling..."
"Actually, I think that with your achievements, sister-in-law, you deserve not only the title of county magistrate, but also the title of prefectural magistrate!"
After Wang Dabing finished speaking, he scratched his head in confusion; "But... what does this have to do with us sending grain to Zhennanguan now?"
Liu Yingying smiled slightly, "Back when Jinling City was sealed off, if it weren't for General Huo's help, I'm afraid I would have died inside. If it weren't for General Huo's assistance, how could a woman like me have developed an antidote for the plague so easily?"
"Now that General Huo is guarding the southern gate, we still need to rely on him if we want to live a peaceful life for a long time. I'm just doing my bit..."
That's half true and half false; it's a bit of an exaggeration.
Wang Dabing was a smart man, so he could naturally figure out the hidden meaning in those words.
Liu Yingying wanted to reveal to him that she also had powerful backers, and those backers were not just ordinary people.
Once Wang Dabing learns of this, village chief Wang Delu will inevitably find out as well.
At that time, all the villagers of Taoyuan Village will have a scale in their hearts. Even if Zhu Jianqiang returns and they are irreconcilable enemies, they will have to think twice before taking sides!
"So it really is to deliver something to the Zhennan Army. Then, sister-in-law, we'd better hurry!"
Wang Dabing spoke with great excitement, urging the oxcart to speed up.
Seeing this, Liu Yingying's lips curled up slightly.
The imperial court's military pay has not been disbursed yet. Huo Huaizhi has submitted several memorials urging the payment, but the responses he has received have been perfunctory.
The Northwest Army suffered heavy losses in battle with the enemy two months ago. The court must prioritize supplying the Northwest Army with provisions and asks Huo Huaizhi to wait.
"Bang!" Inside the tent, Huo Huaizhi angrily grabbed the paperweight next to him and slammed it out.
"These damned parasites!"
The generals below stood there, eyes downcast, not daring to utter a sound.
They are now truly at their wits' end; the soldiers have been eating only two unleavened steamed buns since New Year's Eve.
Captain Chen Chuyi mustered his courage and stepped forward, saying, "General, our food supplies are running out. The 100,000-strong Zhennan Army will face the predicament of having no food. It's freezing cold, and the soldiers are both cold and hungry. If the southern border kingdoms unite and attack at this time... I fear the border will be in grave danger!"
The tent fell into a deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
Chen Chuyi's words were not an exaggeration; everyone knows that.
But what can they do?
In fact, everyone knows that the soldiers' pay was embezzled and misappropriated by those people in the court, all because of those damned civil officials!
Huo Huaizhi's expression grew increasingly solemn. Since arriving at Zhennanguan, he had used most of his wealth to cover the army's deficit.
However, it's still a drop in the ocean.
"Report!"
"General, a woman outside has brought a lot of grain. She says she is the Lady of Ning'an County and wants to see General Huo!" a soldier hurriedly reported.
Liu Yingying came to the military camp secretly last time, so apart from those few high-ranking officers, no one else knew her or that she had ever been to the camp.
Upon hearing that woman's name, Huo Huaizhi's lips unconsciously curved upwards, and he immediately got up and walked out.
Outside the military camp, Wang Dabing felt a little uneasy. "Sister-in-law, will General Huo really meet with us?"
"Yes, I will!" Liu Yingying replied calmly.
Before the words were finished, a powerful voice rang out.
"Madam Liu!" Huo Huaizhi, dressed in military uniform, was in front of her in the blink of an eye, his eyes filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"General Huo, I've come to deliver New Year's gifts to the soldiers!" Before Liu Yingying could finish speaking, Wang Dabing signaled everyone to lift the black cloth covering the oxcart in unison.
The generals who came with Huo Huaizhi, including Huo Huaizhi himself, were stunned by the scene.
"Madam Liu, what are you doing?" Huo Huaizhi asked with a look of surprise.
Liu Yingying smiled gently; "Nowadays, wars are frequent between countries, but the people of Furong County are able to enjoy peace and tranquility. This is all thanks to your Zhennan Army. It's the New Year, so I've led my fellow villagers to give the soldiers New Year's gifts!"
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