Chapter 210 [VIP]
The book in Wang Ying's hand fell to the ground. "What did you say?!"
Chen Qingyan bent down to pick it up and said, "This morning, news came from the border that Khan Jieli is leading 300,000 Turkic troops toward Yangguan Pass. They are probably already pressing in on the border by now."
"How come... so suddenly? Didn't the Turks send envoys to the capital last year, and the two sides signed a peace treaty, intending to reopen the Longxi market? How did they suddenly start fighting?"
Chen Qingyan said, "Last winter, the Turks suffered a once-in-a-century snow disaster. I heard that countless cattle and sheep died. If we don't fight this year, we may not even have enough to eat."
Yes, natural disasters affected the Turkic pastures, so they turned their attention to the Central Plains. From the very beginning, this barbarian tribe never gave up attacking the Wu Dynasty.
What should we do now?
Chen Qingyan held Wang Ying's hand and said, "I have already notified Bai Guan and Qian Guan, and they will escort you and Yuanbao back to Jizhou tomorrow."
"And what about you?"
"I can't leave for now. Shanzhou is right next to the pass and is the main support for the army. It can't be in chaos here. I have to stay and keep watch."
"If you don't leave, I won't leave either! I can't leave you here alone!"
Chen Qingyan reassured her, "Aying, listen to me. Going back isn't just about seeking refuge. We have experimental fields there, so if the border lacks food supplies, they can be transported over in no time."
"You want to use the experimental fields to transport grain?!"
"This is just a temporary plan. You must not use this ability unless absolutely necessary."
Both men knew that once the experimental fields were used to transport grain, their capabilities would be exposed; what was a miracle in wartime would become their death warrant after the war.
Wang Ying didn't have any grand ambitions or aspirations, nor did he want to sacrifice himself for others. He was just an ordinary person who wanted to protect his family and friends.
He would never want to reveal this ability to others unless absolutely necessary.
After a moment of silence, he said, "Then I'll pack my things. You must be careful while you're staying here alone. If anything happens, come back from the experimental field immediately!"
"good."
Chen Qingyan looked around the courtyard and thought to himself: This battle came at the worst possible time. Shanzhou has only just begun to develop. Who knows how many years it will take to recover after this battle.
After packing, Wang Ying only took a few sets of clothes and Yuanbao's books with her. That evening, she mentioned the matter to Yuanbao.
"Only the two of us are going back. Isn't Father going back?"
Wang Ying didn't mention the war to him. "Your father is too busy with official duties to leave. You'll be twelve next year, and I plan to let you take the imperial examination."
Upon hearing that it was an exam, Yuanbao immediately perked up. "So it's about going back to take the preliminary exam. When do we set off?"
Chen Qingyan said, "We'll leave tomorrow. I've already prepared a carriage for you. When you get there, listen to your father and help him fulfill his filial duties to your grandmother."
"good!"
Yuanbao was overjoyed at the thought of going back soon to see his grandmother and relatives, unaware of the somber expressions on his father's and grandfather's faces.
The next morning, Huang Baiguan drove his carriage to the courtyard. The four of them were traveling light and traveling simply.
The shop's business still needs Chen Zhandong's help, so he can't leave for the time being. Chen Ju, who is in charge of taking care of Chen Qingyan, also stayed behind.
Wang Ying, with Yuanbao in tow, boarded the carriage. Looking at Chen Qingyan, she had a thousand words in her heart, but in the end, she could only say, "Take good care of yourself."
"Go on your way, be careful on the road, and have a safe trip."
News of the renewed fighting on the border quickly reached Shanzhou, and many people in the city began packing their belongings to flee. Long queues formed at the government office to obtain travel permits.
Of course, those who run away are all rich people. Ordinary people won't leave. They've lived here for generations. Where can they escape to? Will they survive if they run away?
Without money or food, they would all starve to death on the way. It would be better to stay in Shanzhou, where at least the crops would soon be growing and they wouldn't go hungry after the autumn harvest.
Chen Qingyan began to busy himself with collecting provisions and weapons, while Governor Feng was not idle either, gathering troops to prepare to support the border.
Currently, there are only 40,000 troops stationed at Yangguan, which is a huge gap compared to the 300,000 troops of the Turks. If reinforcements are not sent in time, the enemy may be able to advance unimpeded.
*
Two days later, Lin Sui and Qing'er were escorted to Shanzhou by a troop of soldiers.
Upon receiving the two inquiries, Chen Qingyan immediately asked, "How is the border war going? Is the Marquis alright?!"
Lin Sui said wearily, "The Turkic army is pressing in, and the Marquis is leading his troops to defend Yangguan to the death. When we left, the two armies were still facing each other. We don't know what the situation is now."
"Did the Marquis give any instructions?"
Lin Sui shook her head, "The Marquis only instructed me to bring Qing'er back to Jizhou."
“Ah Ying just left a few days ago. Why don’t you rest here for a couple of days before continuing your journey?”
Lin Sui stopped trying to be strong and took Qing'er to the guest room to rest. The worries along the way had left him exhausted. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Li Mu injured. He was so upset that he couldn't eat or sleep.
Qing'er was also worried about her father, but she still comforted Lin Sui, "Father, don't worry, he's so strong, he'll definitely be alright."
"Um……"
After a short rest of one day, Lin Sui and Qing'er continued their journey eastward. The warhorses were stamina-rich and fast, and after chasing for half a month, they finally caught up with Wang Ying and her group on the banks of the Yellow River.
The two hugged each other upon meeting, their eyes welling up with tears.
"Sui Di, when did you arrive?"
"I arrived just a few days after you left, and after chasing you all this way, I finally caught up with you."
"How is the border now? Qingyan received the news and hurriedly sent Yuanbao and me back."
Lin Sui shook his head. Although he didn't understand military affairs, he could tell that the situation was not optimistic. "The Marquis said that the imperial court has sent troops to provide support. We just need to hold out until the main army arrives."
Both of them were preoccupied with their own thoughts, and after exchanging only a few words, they boarded the raft to cross the river.
Wang Ying remembered riding this sheepskin raft before, and she was terrified then. She was still scared to come again, but thankfully she made it through safely without any major incidents.
Perhaps due to excessive worry and exhaustion from the journey, Lin Sui fell ill shortly after crossing the Yellow River.
He suddenly developed a high fever at night, his forehead was burning hot, and he kept talking nonsense. Qing'er couldn't wake him up, so she was frightened and ran to call Wang Ying for help.
"Uncle, what's wrong with my father?" The little girl cried anxiously.
Wang Ying took out some typhoid fever pills from her luggage and gave them to him. "He must have caught a cold on the way. Take some medicine first, and we'll go to a nearby town early tomorrow morning to find a doctor."
"Um."
Neither Wang Ying nor Qing'er dared to sleep that night. As dawn approached, Lin Sui's fever finally subsided, and she woke up.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing here? Cough cough cough..." Lin Sui's voice was frighteningly hoarse.
“You had a high fever last night, which scared us. Don’t talk for now. The nearby county town is less than 20 miles away. Let’s rest for a few days after we get there before continuing our journey.”
"Don't delay the journey..."
"It can't be delayed, your health is important."
After having breakfast at the post station, the group changed their route and went to the county town, where they found a clinic and took Lin Sui there.
The doctor took his pulse, stroked his beard, and shook his head. "Young master, why are you so angry? You need to think things through and not let things weigh on your mind, otherwise it may shorten your lifespan. I'll prescribe some herbal medicine to clear heat and reduce inflammation. Take it and come back for a checkup."
How could Lin Sui not be furious? Her husband was fighting on the border, his fate unknown. If they were defeated, he might be reduced to ashes...
Back at the inn, Lin Sui was still in a daze. She took several doses of medicine, but it didn't help. She also looked extremely haggard.
This can't go on. Wang Ying knew that he was troubled by this, so she advised him, "Sui Di, you have to think it through. Right now, we can't go to the battlefield to help. Are you going to abandon Qing'er? If you don't take care of her, who will?"
Lin Sui said with tears in her eyes, "I understand everything you're saying, but I'm still feeling terribly sad."
Lin Sui had suffered a lot in her early years. Since arriving at the border, she was cherished and pampered for the first time.
When he first arrived at the border, Li Mu was worried that he wouldn't be used to the local food, so he specially sent someone to find a cook from Jizhou. Once, when he fell ill, Li Mu took care of him without leaving his side, getting up in the middle of the night to cook him egg custard and feeding him spoonful by spoonful. In his spare time, Li Mu would also take him riding horses across the grasslands and tell him local tales of the strange and supernatural...
If it were always bitter, that would be one thing, but he was given a taste of sweetness in his bitter life, how could he bear it?
"If something were to happen to him on the battlefield, I wouldn't be able to survive either..."
Seeing that he was like this, Wang Ying knew there was no way to persuade him, so she simply revealed her secret, "Brother Sui, do you remember when we opened a shop in Jizhou? Aren't you curious about where my vegetables came from?"
"Why did you suddenly bring this up?" Lin Sui asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I'll show you something." Wang Ying took his hand and silently chanted to open the experimental field.
The scenery before their eyes changed instantly; one moment the two children were in the inn, and the next they were in an unfamiliar place.
Lin Sui stared in disbelief, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you...?"
"This is my secret to growing vegetables in winter."
Wang Ying walked straight to a fruit tree, picked an orange and threw it to Lin Sui, "Not only can I open this experimental field, but your cousin can open it too. He can take out whatever I put in."
Wang Ying paused for a moment and then said, "So, come back to Jizhou with me to collect grain and fodder. Qingyan will find a way to transport the grain and fodder to the border!"
Lin Sui's eyes lit up, and she quickly took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Wang Ying, "This is the silver that the Marquis gave me. With this token, I can withdraw 50,000 taels of silver from the bank. Sister-in-law, please take it and use it!"
"Then I'll accept it for now. You must get well soon!"
Wang Ying told Lin Sui this secret for two reasons: first, she didn't have enough money; second, she needed a helper; and third, Lin Sui's status as a young master of the Marquis's mansion made it easier for him to collect grain.
Now that we're all prepared, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!
After resting in the county town for three or four days, Lin Sui's illness was almost fully recovered, and the group continued their journey.
On the way back, they encountered a caravan transporting medicinal herbs. These herbs were originally intended to be sold in Suzhou, but news of fighting broke out on the border halfway there, so the caravan had to turn back.
During their conversation, Wang Ying learned that most of these medicines were for treating injuries from falls and blows, including Panax notoginseng, safflower, Drynaria fortunei, and dragon's blood. In particular, dragon's blood was a highly effective medicine for treating external injuries. In the event of war, this was a rare and valuable commodity that money couldn't buy.
"Shopkeeper, where do you plan to transport this medicine?"
The boss sighed and said, "Let's go back the way we came. We'll find a chance to sell it cheaply when we get to Songzhou, so we don't end up with a bad deal."
Although these medicines could fetch a high price if transported to the border, one had to be alive to get there; they dared not take the risk.
"Why don't you sell these medicines to me? How much would it cost?"
The three cartloads of herbs were quite expensive, and the caravan owner hesitated, asking, "Can my lord consume so many herbs?"
"You name a number, and I'll see if I have enough money to keep it; otherwise, forget it."
"At least two thousand taels of silver. There are three seven-six stones in the cart. We usually sell them for seventy taels of silver per stone. Two stones of safflower are worth three hundred taels of silver, four stones of bone-strengthening herb are worth five hundred taels, and six stones of blood-draining herb are worth one thousand taels of silver. This is the purchase order from when we came here. We didn't add a single penny. This doesn't even include our expenses on the way."
Herbs are not easy to store. If they get damp and lose their medicinal properties on the way back, they will be a complete waste.
"I'll take these three cartloads of medicine. Do you want cash or to pay at the bank?"
The caravan manager slapped his thigh with delight, "Anything is fine! Where should I send this medicine to you? Herbs are hard to store; they'll be unusable if they get damp."
Wang Ying thought for a moment and said, "Just drop it off when we get to the county town ahead, and I'll have someone come and take it back."
"Thank you very much, sir!"
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