CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 274: THE MASTER IS STILL IN THE MILITARY REPORT

Chen Yongsheng’s mind was still fluttering with unease; he thought their stored grain had been discovered.

Chen Yongsheng pulled Fan Lizheng aside: "Why are you meddling?"

Fan Lizheng said, "So what are you doing then? Storing grain for the war effort, is that it? Giving it secretly to General Song?"

"Just in case," Chen Yongsheng replied, "we planted more grain this year."

Fan Lizheng straightened his back: "We’ve planted quite a bit too; why should only you have the right to store grain? Although there are few men in our village, we’ve had several who married into the village this year, all before the spring planting. Don’t think the women of Chen Family Village are the only ones who can work, ours are not any worse."

Chen Yongsheng didn’t know what to say to Fan Lizheng and wondered what good they were arguing over.

Fan Lizheng said, "Also, don’t think I don’t know your village has not only grain but also medicinal herbs. We should contribute some effort. There’s not much, but if you really refuse to take it, we’ll just leave it at the mountain base and you deal with it."

Chen Yongsheng didn’t know what to say.

Fan Lizheng said, "Everyone is anxious about Baimaling’s battle, especially with General Song as the commander; we all hope he returns victorious. It’s best if the grain can be used, if not... let’s consider it a contribution to Zhenzhou’s charitable granary."

When Miss Xie mentioned the charitable granary, everyone agreed, but each village’s circumstances were different, like Beishan Village, which had only twelve households remaining before; how much grain could they produce? Even though refugees later registered, they needed to rebuild their houses and were consumed with their own survival, leaving no extra effort.

But Fan Lizheng managed to gather grain and medicinal herbs from the village.

"You earn more, you take more," Fan Lizheng said, "Our village boys have said that Chen Family Village mixes coarse grain in their meals, and doesn’t make meat pies anymore."

Upon hearing this, Fan Lizheng realized the granary doesn’t just store surplus; it’s saved from the entire village.

If Chen Family Village can save, why can’t they?

During spring planting, everyone used the government tools and oxen equally.

Chen Yongsheng couldn’t win against Fan Lizheng and repeatedly asked, "I won’t even ask if the rice is enough; whether it’s rice or coarse grain, is it enough for the entire village to eat?"

"Enough," Fan Lizheng replied, "We brought all the millet without leaving any for ourselves. Miss Xie said it’s good for storage, and there’s some rice; the village can eat coarse grain, and the few kinds of medicinal herbs are kept without selling."

Chen Yongsheng sighed, agreed, and followed Fan Lizheng to deliver the goods to the shed, carefully recording every detail.

These nights, the entire Zhenzhou seemed restless.

Several villages secretly hid grain and medicinal herbs, with everyone pushing themselves to exhaustion until their eyes turned red. During the day, they acted as if nothing had happened, going about their usual activities.

When Xie Liangchen showed Qu Chengmei the shed, Qu Chengmei’s nose turned sour, nearly shedding tears.

Zhenzhou had paid its taxes and prepared military rations, and most of the remaining grain in hand was delivered to the shed. Thinking about how hard everyone worked during spring planting, and now everything was given out again.

Xie Liangchen said, "We might not necessarily need it; it’s just in case." For real needs, if the grain is insufficient, these medicinal herbs turned into finished medicine can last for a while.

This is considered leaving a backup plan for General Song.

After all, Zhenzhou is General Song’s territory; they must make some plans outside the court for General Song. Xie Liangchen hopes Song Xian returns safely.

Not being injured at all is unlikely, but hopefully, the injuries are not too severe.

With the army heading north, Xie Liangchen often found herself unable to sleep at night with too many thoughts running through her mind.

Sometimes she’d suddenly recall her past life; in the past life, Song Xian didn’t take this path. In this life, he changed the plan, and whether it will succeed is uncertain.

Especially when Xie Liangchen saw Song Xian’s letter mentioning he had taken people to Dai State and found Old General Zhang, her heart felt again.

Song Xian was still the fearsome Song Xian from the past life; there was no task he wouldn’t dare take on.

Before the great battle, bringing people across the checkpoints and deep into Dai State must have been a situation where secrecy was paramount, and surely not many were brought along to avoid alerting former dynasty people, because once detected...

Wouldn’t it be easy for former dynasty troops to encircle Song Xian?

No one else would dare to take such risks.

Xie Liangchen instructed Chang Yue: "Notify me when there’s news from Baimaling."

Chang Yue furrowed his brows and hesitantly asked, "Miss, do you want to know about the military report from Baimaling or about the master’s situation?"

"If it’s the military report, I’ll have people constantly inquire about the battle situation; if you’re concerned about the master, I’ll have people inquire whether the master has fallen ill or been injured."

Xie Liangchen furrowed her brow, suddenly recalling the words Song Xian had said to her; Chang Yue really was...

Xie Liangchen struggled: "What’s the difference?"

Chang Yue looked serious: "Even if they won the battle, people could still get injured. Previously, when fighting against the Liao people, the master collapsed after returning to camp and didn’t get up for several days. The people I can mobilize are scarce; watching over the camp is not the same as watching over the master. If I’m told to watch both, when there are no emergencies, it’s fine, but in urgent situations, one has to pick one."

Seeing Chang Yue’s intent to explain things clearly, Xie Liangchen hurriedly raised her hand to stop him: "Just inquire about the master! If Song Xian is fine, the battle shouldn’t have any mishaps."

Chang Yue responded: "Alright, I’ll have people watch over the master then." This was the right approach; there are no incompetent subordinates, only masters who couldn’t convey clearly.

On the official roads, carriages and horses continued to pass through without stopping.

On the first day of August, Daqi dispatched troops to the eight states, Song Xian was appointed by the court as the Western Expedition General and along with Du Zhuo, separated forces to attack the eight states’ cities.

Though Daqi initiated the dispatch, the Northern States and counties were still affected; the number of merchants traveling significantly reduced, and the streets were no longer as bustling as before.

Some fled with their families to avoid the turmoil.

However, on the mountains, the people busy collecting medicinal herbs remained plentiful.

Old Mrs. Chen now had two additional tasks each day, praying in front of the stove every morning and evening, asking the Kitchen God to bless General Song with victory.

Afraid Old Mrs. Song might be worried, Old Mrs. Chen frequently took her granddaughter and grandson to the Song Family, accompanying her in many conversations.

Old Mrs. Song appeared in good spirits, seemingly accustomed to it, chatting and laughing with Old Mrs. Chen and even enthusiastically took the three to see Song Xian’s study.

Old Mrs. Song pointed here and there: "Look at this, does this look like the room of a child in their twenties? I think people in their seventies are no different. People should do what’s appropriate for their age; if it’s time to wet the bed, wet the bed, if it’s time to play, play, and when it’s time to marry, choose a good girl to bring home."

Old Mrs. Chen nodded repeatedly, and when urine was mentioned, she glanced at her grandson.

Chen Zigeng just wanted to remind Old Mrs. Chen not to focus on him; when the General brother sleeps next to him, he doesn’t wet the bed.

Old Mrs. Chen laughed and said, "Once General Song wins the battle, wouldn’t it be easy for you to find a match for him? Any family’s daughter can be married, and no one would refuse."

Old Mrs. Song shook her head and sighed: "I doubt it. My grandson is like this, he doesn’t know how to speak or please people, and even if there’s a matched marriage, the girl’s family might still find him unappealing."