Zhang San was rendered speechless by Lin Wanwan's nonchalant remark, "They're all here to help." His face turned a deep purple, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
What could he say?
They say others shouldn't give their nephew special treatment? But he himself enjoys giving special treatment to his cousin more than anyone else every day.
He's saying those soldiers shouldn't have come to help? But they came voluntarily during their rest time, so why should he stop them?
He could only watch helplessly as more and more soldiers abandoned the unpalatable pig feed in the mess hall and rushed headlong towards "Lady Lin's" canteen, which exuded an enticing aroma of meat. He felt that the logistical system he and his cousin had painstakingly built was being completely undermined and destroyed by this woman of unknown origin in a way he couldn't comprehend!
In the end, Zhang San could only slink back to Qian Canjun, filled with resentment and anger, to complain.
As Lin Wanwan watched his disheveled departure, the gentle smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, calculating glint.
Her chess game was already set up.
Next, it's up to the "new recruit Xiao Shisan" on the other side of the chessboard to personally checkmate the opponent's commander.
...
Time returns to that night of raging flames.
Fueled by the cold wind, the fire in the supply depot burned ever brighter, almost illuminating half the sky.
Xiao Che had just issued an urgent order: "Send an urgent message to the capital to request the Vice Minister of Revenue to collect the body." His extremely arrogant words, coupled with the scene of Qian Canjun being scared unconscious, had an unparalleled impact on all the soldiers present.
Looking at this excessively young emperor, they felt not only awe but also an unprecedented fervor!
This was an emperor who truly cared for his lowly soldiers! He was an emperor who dared to confront the powerful figures in the capital!
Just as the crowd inside the supply depot was in a state of high spirits, a cacophony of shouts and hurried footsteps came from outside the depot, growing louder as they approached.
"Fire! Help put out the fire!"
"Quick! The bucket! Where's the bucket?!"
Immediately afterwards, an unexpected "team" poured into the gate of the supply depot that had been smashed open.
It was a huge procession of over a thousand people. Leading the way were hundreds of female soldiers' wives carrying buckets of water, their faces filled with anxiety. Behind them followed nearly a thousand soldiers, also carrying buckets, basins, and even pots and pans!
Although this "firefighting army" had a variety of equipment, they moved with extraordinary speed and clear objectives, heading straight for the fire.
"Lady Lin!"
"Madam Lin, are you alright?!"
Leading the way was Li Daniu's wife. The moment she rushed into the fire, she saw Lin Wanwan standing by the flames. Seeing that she was safe and sound, she breathed a huge sigh of relief, tears welling up in her eyes.
"We heard the warehouse was flooded, and we thought it was you..."
The military dependents and soldiers following behind were also relieved to see that Lin Wanwan was safe and sound. They were all stunned when they saw the towering flames and the fully armed soldiers around them, as well as the distinguished "Master Xiao" standing side by side with Lin Wanwan. They were completely confused about the situation.
Out of love and gratitude for "Lady Lin," they spontaneously organized themselves the moment they heard that the supply depot was on fire, and rushed over to put out the fire with everything they could find, including water containers.
Looking at this spontaneously formed "women's army" before her, and seeing the genuine concern on their faces, Lin Wanwan felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She knew that her efforts these past few days had not been in vain.
Meng Wei, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded.
He stared blankly at the "fire brigade" composed of women, children, and ordinary soldiers, then at the raging fire that veteran Li Daniu had personally lit, and then recalled what his wife had told him in the past few days about "Lady Lin's" various "righteous deeds" in opening the workshop and canteen...
A single thought, like a bolt of lightning, instantly shattered all his doubts!
He finally understood everything!
He finally understood why His Majesty had personally enlisted as a new soldier!
He finally understood why the Empress had disguised herself as a merchant's wife and gone deep into the homes of military families!
This is not a spur-of-the-moment undercover visit!
This was a long-planned, well-organized, and decisive counterattack aimed at striking at the heart of the enemy!
His Majesty was on the "front lines," personally experiencing the hardships of military life, gathering evidence of crimes, and confronting corrupt officials!
The Empress, operating "in the rear," used swift and decisive measures to win over the hearts of the people, stabilize the families of the soldiers, and strike at the root of the problem!
The emperor and empress, one open and one covert, one firm and one gentle, worked together seamlessly, uprooting Qian Canjun and his gang of scourges that had been entrenched in Zhenbeiguan for many years in just a few days!
What a display of courage! What remarkable skill!
Looking at the young emperor and empress standing side by side in the firelight, Meng Wei felt nothing but endless shock and fervent admiration!
He took a deep breath and did something that made all the soldiers and civilians present freeze in shock.
The supreme commander of Zhenbeiguan, a first-rank general, suddenly stepped forward and came to Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan.
Then, to everyone's disbelief, he slammed his heavy helmet off, revealing a face covered in sweat.
Immediately afterwards, he knelt heavily on one knee, bowing deeply to his upper body, and in a voice filled with awe and loyalty, a voice that could resound to the heavens, he shouted:
"Commander Meng Wei of Zhenbei Pass pays respects to Your Majesty! Pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!"
...
Dead silence.
A deathly silence, like that of a tomb.
Meng Wei's earth-shattering "kneeling down" and the thunderous shouts of greeting seemed like a curse, instantly draining all sound and air from the entire fire scene.
The thousands of soldiers and civilians who had just arrived to put out the fire were all frozen in place.
They all stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, dumbfounded at the unbelievable scene before them, their minds completely blank.
Your Majesty... Your Majesty?
Empress...Your Majesty?
Their gazes, like rusty gears, creaked and stiffly moved slowly, inch by inch, from the kneeling General Meng Wei to the two figures they knew all too well.
One of them was Xiao Shisan, the unfortunate "connected" recruit who had been eating black steamed buns with them these past few days, being bullied by the squad leader, and even personally cleaning the entire team's toilets.
The other one is Lin Niangzi, the gentle and kind-hearted Jiangnan wealthy businesswoman who has been paying their wages, running a canteen for them, and whom they regard as a living bodhisattva these past few days.
Is he... His Majesty?
She... is she a concubine?
This realization was like a million bolts of lightning striking everyone's minds simultaneously, blasting them away and leaving them utterly bewildered.
The young recruit who had once stuffed black steamed buns into Xiao Che's hand was now standing dumbfounded in the crowd. The water bucket in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," splashing water all over his trouser leg, but he didn't even notice. He was just staring blankly at "Xiao Shisan," the boy who had once shared a dormitory with him, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it.
Good heavens! I...I actually...stuffed the current emperor with a black steamed bun?!
Li Daniu and his wife were completely dumbfounded. Li Daniu stared blankly at His Majesty, who had personally handed him the torch and addressed him as "Old General," and at His Majesty, who had personally visited them and led all the military families out of their predicament. The old couple felt their legs go weak and they were about to kneel down.
The entire scene descended into an extremely bizarre state, as if everyone's brains had gone blank.
Finally, someone, I don't know who, was the first to recover from this earth-shattering storm.
"thump!"
A dull thud as a knee struck the ground.
Then, like dominoes being toppled.
"thump!"
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Thousands of soldiers and civilians, including the young recruit and Li Daniu and his wife, all knelt down in a sea of black! They looked at the emperor and empress, who looked like gods in the firelight, and their minds were blank with endless shock!
Immediately, an even more frenzied and deafening roar erupted from their chests, soaring into the sky and almost shaking the stars down!
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
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