Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“A small harvest indeed, it is worth returning home to celebrate.”

The means to celebrate is to gather to eat either roasted meat or hotpot. Already three branches of the Gourmet House have been established but the people have just settled down which may be why the business is currently rather slow. Over in Xiangyang district, the Gourmet house is often a full house. As the weather is getting colder every day, the eatery has introduced popular hotpot and roasted dishes to their menu.

People’s sole priority is to eat well and have warm clothes, have four dishes and one soup but Jiang Pengji and the rest must consider an even deeper issue. For example, how are they going to dominate Wanzhou next year?

Wanzhou is where Fengyi county, Chengde, and Shangyang county intersect. Presently all four districts in Fengyi county are in Jiang Pengji’s hands. The imperial court was in a helpless situation and they had no time to focus on the situation in the North. Moreover, the county chief of Fengyi had been frightened away by Jiang Pengji’s and he doesn’t have the guts to demand the county back from her.

Chengde county is under the rule of the Red Lotus group but after experiencing the summer drought, they are also in dire circumstances. No matter how adept they are at brainwashing, they cannot prevent the continual influx of refugees. The outflow of people from Fengyi county is rampant.

Finally, there’s Shangyang county. Speaking of Shangyang county, one cannot leave Feng Jin out because he indeed hails from there.

Shangjing that once existed was removed from Shangyang county before Dongqing decided on Shangjing as the capital city. But it belonged within Shangyang county. After Dongqing moved the capital to Chenzhou then naturally, Shangjing once again belonged to Shangyang county.

After the earthquake last summer, the north suffered massive losses. Thereafter, they lived under the tyranny of the Tsing Yi army and the Red Lotus group consecutively who ravaged their lands indiscriminately. It was not an exaggeration to term it as hell on earth as starving people abounded across the plains, bones were lying ubiquitously on the ground, a sight few could bear.

“Chengde county is under the control of Red Lotus group, Shangyang county is yet to fall into anyone’s hands.”

The Feng family is after all one of the four great families in Dongqing. As you would expect, they possess private troops. The numbers may be relatively few but there will be 3000 to 4000 men. Their might was to be feared, especially when coupled with their reputation in that land. When Tsing Yi army and the Red Lotus group went around robbing and tyrannising the lands, the Feng family already had solutions to mobilise the people to defend the city.

They had money, enough supplies, and these were coupled with inside information. The Tsing Yi army and the Red Lotus group were not united inwardly or outwardly, and they kept pulling each other down, so eventually neither of them managed to conquer Shangyang county. Although presently the people of Shangyang county were living in dire states, they were better off than those refugees out there.

Yang Si glanced at Feng Jin then asked, “Does district magistrate Liu intend to raise an army against Shangyang county?”

As he finished speaking, Feng Jin’s brows were discreetly knitted, he seemingly didn’t approve of this.

She answered, “Let’s start with diplomacy before violence, but we will eventually have to conquer it.”

Use peaceful measures before going into war? This is intriguing, doesn’t the Emperor enjoy raising an army and going to war?

Wei Ci was also at the meeting in the government office and he looked sideways at Feng Jin. Jiang Pengji was willing to use diplomacy before going to war out of consideration for Feng Jin.

Feng Zhen looked at Feng Jin as if smiling, then he asked Jiang Pengji, “I wonder if the lord has a suitable person in mind?”

Without waiting for her to speak, Feng Jin bowed respectfully and said, “Jin is willing to head to Shangyang county.”

She nodded in approval, there was none more suitable than Feng Jin for this matter. If they could occupy Shangyang county without a fight, that would be the best scenario. If they cannot reach an agreement, then war is inevitable. With regards to Shangyang county, this piece of land, it is imperative for her to possess it. By taking down Wanzhou and its surroundings, the borders of Hu county, which is connected to Chongzhou, the Liu’s can then consolidate their military power.

If they are unable to occupy Shangyang county, it would be equivalent to having one’s weak spot exposed so that someone can come from behind at any time with ulterior motives and do them harm. Feng Jin also understood the importance of this; thus, he must think of a solution to convince his father. Although the Shangyang county chief isn’t one of the Fengs, they are all interlinked. The Fengs’ standpoint will influence the choice that Shangyang county adopts.

The northern powers in Dongqing have started to reshuffle; Prince Changshou and the Emperor are also embroiled in the heated battle. Prince Changshou initially thought he could lend the strength of the three tribes of the North borderlines to completely exterminate Chenzhou. Unfortunately, he didn’t expect that the powers in the north borders would initially agree then suddenly go back on their words! Who knows how long he took to reassure himself before he consented to the demands of the north borderlines for women, cities, grain, and gold. Those countless exorbitant terms. He held back his anger and disgust and agreed. However, they didn’t keep their word!

I have something in mind “**”, but I don’t know if it should be voiced out!

Prince Changshou received news that the North borderlines declined the meeting. He almost vomited blood. Another exasperating issue is that as they went from Zhangzhou to conquer Chenzhou, they’ve had grain offered to them as army supplies. Prince Changshou had intentions to rebel right from the start, he had made preparations materially and strategically. Yet no matter how ready he was, he never imagined Chenzhou would withstand his military attacks for one and a half years! Chenzhou could harvest grains readily, yet their troops had to transport them from Zhangzhou.

But it was unfortunate; this year’s summer was particularly dry, and more than half of the farm crops died. The amount of rice harvested in autumn was less than 30% of the past year, so the people did not have enough for themselves. How could they afford the expensive taxes on their grain to support the army?

Thus, now that a lack of rations has become a problem for Prince Changshou’s army, the amount of supplies offered by the grain squad is significantly lesser. In the past, the soldiers were provided with food twice or thrice a day. Now they only had one meal daily. From cooking rice to cooking porridge. If he cannot defeat Chenzhou anytime soon, he must lead his troops in disappointment back to his allocated land.

After the Emperor recovers his breath and consolidates his army and warhorses to attack Zhangzhou, it will then become the time when Prince Changshou meets his death.

A group of sullen faced strategists and military generals trembled in fear as Prince Changshou’s temper got worse daily. The wind carried the sounds of groaning.

“No — this is not a long-term solution —”

He hadn’t slept for two days which had inevitably resulted in dark circles below his eyes. He had ten thousand fearsome soldiers, their fighting prowess surely without doubt. If not for Yang Si who played a prank on them before he left, he would be sitting on the throne already. He’d be revered with “long live the Emperor”. How can he be vexed over the lack of military supplies within his camp?

Thinking of Yang Si whose mouth was full of lies, Prince Changshou seethed with anger. Those in Chenzhou had also discovered Prince Changshou’s dire situation where they lack in rations. They were both rejoicing and in turmoil.

Rejoicing?

They only need to do so for a while, Prince Changshou will surely have to retreat because his rations are declining.

Worried?

Never mind that Prince Changshou’s army were lacking in rations, within Chenzhou, there was also a shortage. Both sides were starving. Now, we’re waiting to see who gives up first. If they continue to persist, both parties could wait it out, except that now, someone interrupted.

After hearing the news, Prince Changshou sat in his camp burning with fury. From outside, a soldier tasked to report entered and he almost vented his anger on him.

Once the reporting soldier was chased out, that middle-aged strategist, who enjoyed flattering, seized the opportune moment to meet with Prince Changshou. He couldn’t resist asking the soldier who looked anxious standing outside the tent… then his pupils widened and lit up and he almost couldn’t contain himself.

“My lord, my lord, there’s good news!”

“What is the source of this joy?” Prince Changshou asked impatiently.

The middle-aged strategist was rejoicing madly. “The Meng family from Cangzhou have sent their secret envoy. They expressed their desire to discuss the affairs of the world with my lord.”