The flames of war suddenly ignited seven
When Wang Pan'er woke up again, it was already past midnight.
A small fire burned in front of her shack. Wang Xiaoyao sat on the ground beside the fire, using the firelight to write furiously on rough straw paper with a pen made of charcoal.
Wang Chengxi rested his head on her lap and was fast asleep.
Wang Pan'er propped herself up; her heart had returned to normal, but there was still a faint, throbbing pain around her temples, like a rubber band snapping.
Hearing the commotion, Wang Xiaoyao turned around to investigate, and Wang Chengxi, who was lying on her lap, also sprang to her feet.
Seeing that her sister had woken up, she immediately went to her sister's side, took her hand and took her pulse.
"He is out of danger."
Wang Xiaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and put down the straw paper in her hand: "Sister, do you know that when you fell headfirst, you scared Skinny Monkey so much that he started stuttering? It was Sister Hongxiao who was calm and decisively carried you down the mountain to find Sister Taoshuo."
Wang Pan'er frowned and asked, "What's wrong with me?"
Wang Chengxi quickly replied, "Sister Pan'er has been overworked and is now grieving, so her heart and blood vessels are weak. She needs to take good care of herself during this period. She should keep her mind calm and avoid extreme joy or sorrow."
It wasn't that Wang Pan'er's emotions were fluctuating too much; it was just that the news was too sudden for her to process. People who were joking and laughing not long ago are now lost in the flames of war—how many people could remain unmoved?
Holding Wang Chengxi in her arms, Wang Pan'er said, "Life is unpredictable, but fortunately I still have you all."
Wang Xiaoyao followed, resting her head on her sister's shoulder: "Once things are settled, we'll go together to pay our respects to the people of Da'an Town."
Mentioning them, Wang Pan'er couldn't help but shed tears again. She choked back sobs as she hugged her two younger sisters, nodded, and agreed.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about to turn somber again, Wang Xiaoyao quickly changed the subject, saying, "By the way, sister, while you were unconscious, General Li sent us a letter. Would you like to read it?"
Wang Pan'er sniffed and said, "Let me take a look."
This is a very sincere thank-you letter.
The military camp has received the supplies they delivered, and the soldiers no longer need to go hungry for the next few days.
For the first time in many years, Li Decheng had received support from the people during wartime. The soldiers, who were known for their iron will, were moved to tears as they ate the wild vegetables dug up by the refugees in the mountains. Everyone was extremely grateful.
After expressing his gratitude, Li Decheng expressed his remorse.
The day the strategist defected to the enemy, he opened the city gates, allowing the Northern Di to easily invade. However, Jinzhou Prefecture was well-defended, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its armory contained a large quantity of gunpowder and cannonballs. Every time the army launched an attack, they returned empty-handed. The soldiers ate the people's food but could not reclaim their homes, and they felt ashamed.
Li Gu Decheng consulted with his deputy general. Jinzhou Prefecture wasn't the main battlefield; their job was simply to prevent the Northern Di from continuing their offensive and spreading. The main force at Yanmen Pass was also suffering from food shortages, and offensive operations consumed far more resources than defensive ones. It would be better to transfer supplies from the camp to Yanmen Pass to strengthen the main force. If the Wang sisters were worried about embezzlement within the military camp, they could also infiltrate camp personnel into the transfer teams.
This is the most important content of the letter.
Wang Pan'er closed the letter and said, "You've already made your decision, haven't you?"
Wang Xiaoyao nodded: "You said that General Li and my brother-in-law are on the same side, so I naturally trust him. Besides, my brother-in-law is also at Yanmen Pass. Sister Pan'er, your desire for victory at Yanmen Pass is no less than that of the soldiers, is it?"
Wang Xiaoyao was quite displeased with Wang Pan'er's decision to get married in the capital without saying a word, and he took every opportunity to tease his older sister.
Wang Pan'er was already numb from the teasing, and said with a forced smile, "In the whole camp, you're the most talkative one. Look at you now, you're so bold you could poke a hole in the sky. You should take Chengxi back to rest, Chengxi is still growing."
.
In the middle of Yanmen Pass.
The soldiers transporting grain arrived at the front-line army's camp from Jinzhou Prefecture under the moonlight.
There was unusual activity during the night, and the sentry sirens blared and the military whistle sounded.
After the entire army assembled, what awaited them was truckloads of grain and fodder.
General Han Zhang was dumbfounded.
The message sent by carrier pigeon to the capital took only four or five days, so how could the grain have been delivered?
He confirmed several times that the soldiers escorting the supplies were indeed his own men before he went to check the supplies in the truck.
They mostly ate wild vegetables and root vegetables to fill their stomachs, and the only meat they had was small animals that looked like wild birds and rabbits. This was just enough to fill their teeth.
He asked the soldiers transporting the grain, "Where did you get the grain? Are you trying to fob us off?"
The soldier clasped his hands and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to the general, it was the refugees from Jinzhou Prefecture who heard that the army was short of food and supplies, so they went to the surrounding mountains to hunt wild vegetables and game. General Li said that even if we ate them, we would not be able to bring them back to Jinzhou Prefecture, so he transported these foods to the army."
Upon hearing this, the disdain in Han Zhang's eyes immediately turned into admiration.
The people of Jinzhou Prefecture were themselves displaced, yet they still wanted to supply the army with food. The soldiers were on the verge of starvation, and now they had accepted this food to alleviate their immediate crisis. Anyone who dared to complain would be punished according to military law.
He hurriedly instructed his subordinates: "Go quickly and invite the Prince back."
With supplies running low, Mu Chuan took Mo Feng and Xian Ying out hunting in the mountains. When they were invited back, the atmosphere in the military camp had changed dramatically.
Mu Chuan took down the bow and arrows and handed them to Mo Feng, then directed the men to move the game carried on the horse's back to the stove.
The weather has turned cold, and frost has fallen in the mountains at night. Many small animals have begun to hibernate, making hunting difficult.
They spent their days traversing the dense forest, and what appeared plentiful was merely a meal's worth of rations for the army. If they continued hunting in the mountains for an extended period, their prey would only dwindle.
Mu Chuan, unsure what had excited Han Zhang so much, asked, "Has something happened?"
Han Zhang pointed to the carts of food parked on the flat ground in front of the camp: "Look!"
Mu Chuan followed Han Zhang's gaze in the direction he was pointing, and his pupils widened in shock. Mo Feng's mouth formed a wide grin.
Xianying rubbed her eyes, making sure she wasn't seeing things, and asked, "Where did this come from?"
The soldiers are ready to fight at any time, and they need to rest during their free time. Where do they get so much food?
Han Zhang handed over a letter: "This was sent by General Li."
Han Zhang had already read the letter. The contents were very simple, only stating that the food was delivered from a refugee camp on the outskirts of the city and that it was safe to eat.
Xianying casually rummaged through the items and looked at Mu Chuan: "Was this done by the Princess and the Second Miss?"
Mu Chuan looked at the cartloads of food and gently curled the corners of his mouth.
This style seems familiar.
He had just stepped into the territory of Jinzhou Prefecture when he was chased and seriously injured by the forces of Liuyun Chamber of Commerce and Prefect Zhao. Fortunately, he was spared death and ran into Wang Pan'er.
First, they were spared from death by Wang Pan'er. Then, thanks to Wang Pan'er's help in digging for wild vegetables in the mountains to fill their stomachs, the two of them managed to survive for three days in the funeral parlor, a place that everyone avoided, and successfully got through the most dangerous time.
Going into the mountains to hunt was most likely Wang Pan'er's idea, which was then put into action by Wang Xiaoyao leading the refugees.
Seeing that Mu Chuan did not deny it, Xian Ying excitedly said to Han Zhang, "Then eat with peace of mind. The princess and the second young lady, who is also the leader of the refugee camp, run a medicinal cuisine restaurant and are knowledgeable in medicine. These wild vegetables may be hard to swallow, but they are definitely non-toxic and can fill your stomach."
Upon hearing this, the soldier delivering the food clasped his hands and said, "General Han, we've been eating this for several days without any problems. We'll deliver more food tomorrow after the people in the camp have dug up some new vegetables."
"And another thing!" Han Zhang exclaimed incredulously, "There are quite a few refugees in their camp. They can't just focus on the soldiers and ignore the lives of the civilians!"
Mo Feng said, "General Han is overthinking it. The Second Miss and her men have moved all the granaries from Jinzhou Prefecture. The food in the refugee camp must be better than ours."
The soldiers present: "!"
What a spirited young woman! She's capable of such courageous acts. The acting prefect's clerk abandoned the city. If they hadn't transported the grain out of the city, this rice and flour would have become rations for the Northern Di army. The Northern Di are already a powerful and well-equipped force; acquiring such a large granary would be a major headache.
Han Zhang put his mind at ease and bowed deeply to Mu Chuan: "On behalf of all the soldiers, this humble general thanks the Princess. We will return in triumph soon. Please lead the way, Your Highness. This humble general will definitely offer three cups of wine to the Princess and the Second Miss!"
Mu Chuan's eyes gleamed with undisguised pride: "General Han is too kind. We will make sure the soldiers have a good meal tomorrow, so as not to disappoint the people."
The news that the refugees had dug up wild vegetables and brought them to the military camp quickly spread among the soldiers.
After enduring the cold for several days, they were finally able to fill their stomachs with hot food again, and it was impossible not to be moved. Despite the rough wild vegetables and game, they felt even more energetic after eating them than if they had eaten military rations.
Those corrupt officials in the court are extremely hateful for delaying military operations, but as soldiers, their duty is to protect their families and the people. Moreover, these are civilians who specially hunt and deliver food to them to prevent them from going hungry.
In an instant, the morale of the Zhenbei army soared, and the previously stalemate began to clear.
The army successfully won its first victory, shattering the myth of the invincible new king of the Northern Barbarians, and subsequently won one victory after another.
By the time the imperial baggage train arrived in Jinzhou, the Northern Barbarians had already been routed.
There is a saying in the army that one should not pursue a defeated enemy, but the Northern Di had already been defeated and were no longer a threat. Han Zhang saw the situation clearly, gave an order, and the army rose up to pursue and encircle them, successfully taking the head of the new king of the Northern Di.
After decisively defeating the main force of the Northern Barbarians, the Zhenbei Army began to recover lost territory along the way.
Jinzhou Prefecture was the first place they wanted to capture, but before Han Zhang could even give the order, the Northern Di soldiers who were left to defend the prefecture began to abandon their armor and weapons, some leaving and others scattering.
Han Zhang effortlessly reopened the city gates and wiped out all the Northern Di people who hadn't had time to escape.
A relieved smile finally appeared on his face: "Your Highness, the task of bringing the refugees back to the camp is now entrusted to you!"
News of the great victory reached the refugee camp before it reached Muchuan, and the people had already begun packing up their belongings to return to their homes.
Knowing that General Li would definitely send someone to inform them, Wang Pan'er and Wang Xiaoyao stood at the camp gate with their packs on their backs, eagerly waiting for the definite news.
Finally, the sound of horses' hooves gradually came from outside the valley.
To everyone's delight, the messenger was not a soldier delivering a message, but Mu Chuan.
Wang Pan'er recognized her figure from afar and excitedly grabbed Wang Xiaoyao's arm and shook it several times.
Wang Xiaoyao felt very uncomfortable: "Sister, you suddenly seem frighteningly unfamiliar."
Wang Pan'er glared at him, and Wang Xiaoyao obediently shut his mouth.
Mu Chuan, travel-worn, saw Wang Pan'er at the forefront, her eyes shining brightly.
Wang Pan'er opened her arms to him, and he tactfully jumped off his horse, embraced her, and spun her around several times: "We won!"
Wang Pan'er wrapped her arms around Mu Chuan's neck, grinning from ear to ear. After Mu Chuan put her down, she immediately pulled him to the front of the crowd: "Let me introduce you, this is my husband!"
Wang Xiaoyao felt a little jealous, pouted, and muttered in a strange tone, "This is my husband."
Mu Chuan had excellent hearing and immediately glanced over. Wang Xiaoyao, somewhat unconvinced, held her hand up to Mu Chuan and said, "Where's the change-of-address fee, Brother Mu Chuan!"
It's normal to feel jealous. My sister went on a trip and then inexplicably held a wedding. Normally, even her family would find it hard to accept.
Mu Chuan understood, but he didn't have any money on him right now, so he could only coax his sister-in-law in a gentle tone: "We're planning to hold another one in Jinzhou Prefecture, and we'll definitely give you a big red envelope then!"
There wouldn't be a better choice for a sister-in-law than Mu Chuan. Wang Xiaoyao knew this perfectly well and wouldn't really put Mu Chuan in a difficult position: "That's more like it."
Just then, a delicate little face squeezed in, and a slightly hoarse voice asked softly, "Do I have one too?"
Mu Chuan was pleasantly surprised and tugged at the small bag on her hair bun: "Yes, yes, yes, of course Xiao Chengxi's can't be missing!"
Xianying was also quite shocked. After squatting down next to Wang Chengxi, she couldn't help but tease her: "Our Chengxi speaks so fluently now, so tell me, what should you call me?"
Wang Chengxi's face flushed bright red instantly. After fidgeting for a while, she stammered, "Brother Xianying."
Even her hoarse voice couldn't suppress the sweet and gentle tone in those four words, and everyone laughed when they saw it.
Wang Pan'er detected a hint of coquettishness in Wang Chengxi's coyness. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was chatting and laughing, she pulled Mu Chuan aside and asked in a low voice, "Is Xianying married yet? Does he have a girl he likes?"
Mu Chuan chuckled: "Him? He's still a blockhead who hasn't figured things out yet."
As he laughed, he sensed something deeper in Wang Pan'er's meaning: "What, do you want to play matchmaker for Xianying?"
There's no need for matchmakers. Wang Pan'er pointed at Wang Chenxi and said, "Chengxi seems to like him quite a bit. If Xianying doesn't have the same feelings, or if he dislikes that Chengxi isn't a virgin, I will personally dissuade Chengxi from having any ideas."
Mu Chuan shook his head: "This is not Cheng Xi's fault. She is the victim. How can she bear the malice of others? If Xian Ying looks down on Cheng Xi because of this, he doesn't need to stay by my side."
Seeing Xianying making Wang Chengxi stomp her feet and pout, Mu Chuan added, "Chengxi was found by Xianying, and she clung to him the most back then, so there must be some kind of fate between them. Let them play by themselves. As for us, it's time to go home!"
He waved, let out a long neigh, and happily approached his long-unseen mistress, nuzzling her affectionately.
Wang Pan'er stroked the mane on its nose, then mounted the horse: "Let's go home!"
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