CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 383: HE MUST BE SAVED

Since Tang Zan became a general, the food in the camp hasn’t improved much.

Pei Shu’er instructed those who raise wild chickens and rabbits to send one chicken and one rabbit to the camp each week for Commander Zhang to nourish Tang Zan.

The kitchen has also expanded, as many people continue to come to the Deserted Mountain to buy pastries daily.

With a smile on her lips, Pei Shu’er felt everything was moving in a positive direction.

Wonderful.

Pei Shu’er took another stroll around the Deserted Mountain.

In truth, every household there made tofu, and since only the people of the Deserted Mountain knew how to make it, those who wanted tofu could only come to the Deserted Mountain to buy it.

Seeing the endless stream of merchants arriving early, Pei Shu’er couldn’t help but smile.

The Deserted Mountain now truly had the feel of a small town. Given a little more time, it would become even more bustling and lively.

She continued sending people to set up stalls at trade points, attracting even more merchants.

If the merchants needed large quantities, they would come directly to the Deserted Mountain to purchase.

After all, the prices were the same.

Moreover, the merchants allowed into the Deserted Mountain were all of good character.

If the Deserted Mountain wanted to develop, it couldn’t remain isolated.

With more merchants coming and going, some families with extra houses even spontaneously turned them into inns, charging a reasonable thirty coins per day.

Simultaneously, taverns and noodle shops sprouted up, offering cool tea, noodle dishes, and stir-fried meals.

Never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients; they had their insights and ideas.

It’s not just modern people who know how to make money.

Now that Pei Shu’er had set up a platform for these people, how they developed was up to their own abilities.

What she really needed to do was step in when they veered off track and ensure the Deserted Mountain’s overall direction was maintained.

While inspecting outside, whenever residents saw Pei Shu’er, they’d run home to fetch some food to give her.

Pei Shu’er knew they were sincerely offering her these things, but she couldn’t accept and kept refusing. She knew she couldn’t start this precedent.

Otherwise, they’d try to give her even better gifts next time, turning goodwill into a burden for these residents.

When Pei Shu’er returned, Tang Zan had already finished his morning training, his skin glistening with sweat, exuding a masculine charm.

When he looked at Pei Shu’er, her face flushed, and her heart raced.

Her man was oozing hormones.

Tang Zan raised an eyebrow, "Want to bathe together?"

Pei Shu’er waved her hands repeatedly, instinctively stepping back several paces.

"No... no need."

However, her protest was in vain; Tang Zan still scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom.

Pei Shu’er suddenly thought, thank goodness Tang Zan wasn’t a king, or he’d be a ruler blinded by beauty!

Not until after lunch did everyone head to the Gulan Military Camp.

At noon, the soldiers ate with great gusto, as if that meal were their last.

Originally, their holiday officially ended on the eighth, so going on the seventh was completely fine.

Even at noon on the seventh, the soldiers were reluctant to leave.

They felt they were missing a dinner.

The food at the Deserted Mountain was so delicious. Even the restaurants in the Capital couldn’t compare.

Upon arriving at the Gulan Military Camp, everyone had dinner there. Even though the food significantly improved from before, it still felt hard to swallow.

After all, their palates had been spoiled by the cooks at the Deserted Mountain.

If they opened a restaurant, business would surely thrive.

...

On the tenth day of the New Year, a rumor suddenly spread through the camp.

Jing Ci was abducted by Commander Tang, along with Commander Tang disappearing as well.

The one spreading this rumor was Commander Qian, and it was the Third Prince who instructed this to be spread.

The Third Prince watched the rumors spread, a leisurely smile playing on his lips.

"As long as this rumor persists a bit longer, the soldiers in the Gulan Military Camp will no longer trust Tang Zan. Then, we won’t even need to act; his position as general will be lost."

There’s no such thing as a completely leak-proof wall; others saw Tang Peizhong abduct the person, not just the prison guard.

Following the trail, he even discovered the truth.

The Third Prince’s lips curled slightly; once Tang Zan is defeated, Pei Shu’er would still be his own.

Commander Qian exclaimed excitedly, "His Highness is truly impressive."

There were many rumors, but Tang Zan took no action, continuing to eat and train with Pei Shu’er as usual.

This, in turn, puzzled the soldiers a bit.

The gravity of the situation should have prompted General Tang to suppress it, right?

Or perhaps he hadn’t heard about it.

How could Tang Zan not have heard? It’s just that whatever he says now could be easily used against him, so he might as well feign ignorance.

If things blew up and he had to present Jing Ci and Commander Tang, it would be unfavorable for him if he couldn’t produce them.

On the day of the Lantern Festival.

Di Yi, who was sent to find Tang Peizhong, returned.

"Reporting to the General, Commander Tang is indeed in the Tazi Camp. Previously, Jing Ci carried him into a tent, and when he left, he was escorted by others."

Tang Zan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Tang Peizhong’s whereabouts were known, the situation wasn’t as grave.

He felt both complicated and a bit happy.

His father hadn’t betrayed Dayan.

He was still the Tang Peizhong who cared for Dayan.

Yet, he was in the hands of the Dazi, and who knows if he’ll eventually reveal something detrimental to Dayan.

But since the Dazi hadn’t attacked yet, it indicated his father hadn’t spoken.

Otherwise, the Dazi would have come already.

However, they still needed to rescue him. If only to take away one of the Dazi’s leverage points.

After all, since Jing Ci could get Tang Peizhong to break someone out of prison, she might also extract other secrets from Dayan under a honey trap.

Over these days, Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan moved together, even working by his side.

After listening to Di Yi’s report, Pei Shu’er already had an idea.

She looked at Tang Zan, "Are you going to save Dad?"

Tang Zan nodded, "He must be saved."

No matter the reason.

Pei Shu’er nodded, thought for a moment, and wrote some words on paper.

[One saltpeter, two phosphorus, three charcoal]

When Tang Zan saw this, he looked at Pei Shu’er, puzzled.

Pei Shu’er’s lips curled up.

"This can be used to make an earth bomb. It’s highly destructive and easy to make. As for the raw materials, I know a place where they can be found."

Tang Zan looked deeply at Pei Shu’er, "We’ve never seen this earth bomb before."

Pei Shu’er raised an eyebrow, "Once it’s made, you’ll be the first to see its effect."