Ying Commandery.
The Wei family was already packing their belongings. There wasn't much, but everything—food, clothing, and daily necessities—had to be brought along.
Looking at the pile of stuff they'd gathered, Wei Qinghuai scratched his head: "Mother, we can't bring that much. It'll be hard to carry. Let's just sell it all for money."
Liu Lanniang was reluctant: "Don't we have a horse cart? We can squeeze it all in."
The family used to have three carts, but times were hard now, so they'd sold two and kept only one for daily use.
Wei Qinghuai shook his head: "The cart needs to carry people. We can't overload it with goods, or we won't be able to keep up speed."
Liu Lanniang sighed: "These are all old things. They won't fetch much money."
Wei Qinghuai was just as helpless: "Whatever we can get is better than nothing."
Liu Lanniang gritted her teeth: "Fine. Do it quietly, don't let anyone see. And you should also go return the lease on this courtyard—say we're renting through the end of the month."
No one had told them exactly when they'd leave, only that it would be in a few days. She gave themselves a little extra time so they wouldn't end up with nowhere to go.
Wei Qinghuai agreed to everything one by one.
Liu Lanniang looked at the courtyard, her expression a little dazed. After a long while, she sighed: "At least we can go to your elder sister's place. Otherwise, I don't know what we'd do."
A few days ago, the Jiao army surrounded Ying Commandery. No one knew when the fighting would break out.
Wei Qinghuai felt downcast too, his spirits low. Though they were going to join his sister, he was still full of worry and fear about the unknown ahead.
Liu Lanniang reminded him: "Don't go to the main house these next few days. Don't let them catch on to anything."
Wei Qinghuai nodded softly: "Don't worry, Mother. I know what's at stake."
As a matter of fact, he hadn't visited the main house in a long time. When his father was still alive, they'd had a good relationship with the head family, and he used to play well with the cousins of the clan.
But after moving to Ying Commandery, a lot of things changed, and he saw the true nature of many things clearly.
Liu Lanniang put on an outer robe: "I'll go check on the Meng family."
The Meng household was likewise in a flurry of activity at that moment.
Chen Zuilan pulled her into the inner room so the two could talk properly.
"What happened? Didn't you say only the eldest branch was going? How come now..." Liu Lanniang asked in surprise.
Chen Zuilan shook her head helplessly: "Now that Ying is completely surrounded and no one knows when the fighting will start, the family got anxious. That's why..."
Liu Lanniang hesitated, as if on the verge of saying something.
Chen Zuilan shot her a playful glare: "Since when can you keep anything from me?"
Liu Lanniang looked a little embarrassed: "Alright, I'll tell you the truth. Fengzhou is far away and the road is full of dangers. Try to bring as little as possible."
At this point, she didn't know they'd be traveling by boat. She only assumed someone would escort them overland to Fengzhou.
Chen Zuilan nodded: "I know. Not all of these things are coming with us."
Liu Lanniang breathed a quiet sigh of relief: "Good. But... everyone's going? I'm a bit worried that if things over there aren't so good..."
Because of her daughter, the Wei family already owed the Meng family a debt. Yet the Mengs, holding no grudge, had continued to look after the widow and her children all along.
As for going to Fengzhou, Liu Lanniang was determined, even if it meant death, because her daughter was there. She had only one son and one daughter in her life, and both were her very life.
The Meng family was different.
Though Ying Commandery was currently under siege, the Meng family could still pull some strings to reach other counties in Sizhou.
Ying had a dock, so water routes were available. It would be impossible for the Jiao army to starve them out completely.
Chen Zuilan sighed: "My father-in-law made the decision. I can't change it. But don't worry too much—we're keeping the house, and we'll leave a few servants here. If Fengzhou doesn't work out, we can always come back."
"Still, I wish we could go by water route. Then we'd be able to rent a boat."
Liu Lanniang shook her head: "I don't know the details either. The other party only said they'd come fetch us when it's time. We'll see how they arrange it."
Ge Feng.
Mu Ning reported in high spirits: "Milord, Qu Zhao has indeed started attacking Ze'a Commandery."
A look of joy appeared on Jiang Jin's face: "So they've already engaged?"
Mu Ning nodded: "Yes. When do we make our move?"
Jiang Jin smiled: "No rush. Let them push deeper first."
She turned to Zhou Sui: "Send four thousand elite troops to Xunfeng Island, on standby."
While the atmosphere here was tense and everyone prepared for battle, Mu Wanbai began directing the villagers to turn over the earth, clear snow, and repair the irrigation channels and water-storage works damaged by winter snow.
Mu Qing led experienced farmers in starting seedling cultivation and compost preparation, busy without a moment's rest.
Lin County was likewise bustling. Following the plan, they began tearing down old, abandoned houses and laying foundations for new construction.
Another new day dawned. As the warm morning light touched the city gates, Qiu Liao and Nan Wen watched the figures of Ye Shang's group recede into the distance.
Qiu Liao's face carried a hint of worry: "I just hope they succeed."
Jiang Jin had once asked Ye Shang and the others what they wanted to do after recovering from their injuries—whether they preferred a military post or a civil one, the choice was theirs.
Ye Shang chose the hardest path: continuing as a hidden operative. He wanted to scout the road ahead for his lord's expansion.
Unexpectedly, Ji Xin and Li Qian chose to follow him as well.
Perhaps having endured too much darkness, they craved the light.
Since there was no peace to be had, they slipped back into the shadows, crawling low, hoping only that one day the light would come. And they firmly believed that day was not far off.
Nan Wen was deeply melancholy: "If only young General Chu Qing were still alive."
Qiu Liao shot him a sidelong glance: "That drawing you just gave them—was that of General Chu?"
Nan Wen nodded: "Yes. I spent two days on it. I hope it might be of some use."
His rashness back then had caused Qiu Liao to be separated from Chu Qing, and he'd been burdened with guilt ever since.
So when he learned Ye Shang's group was headed to Chongzhou, he worked hard to draw Chu Qing's portrait.
Qiu Liao closed his eyes, feeling utterly resigned: "Have you ever considered that your drawing might mislead people?"
Nan Wen didn't understand: "Mislead? What do you mean?"
Qiu Liao gave a cold snort: "Don't you know there's something wrong with your painting skills?"
Nan Wen took offense: "That's not fair. My painting skills are actually quite decent."
Qiu Liao was already done talking to him and turned to walk into the city.
Nan Wen scratched his head and muttered under his breath: "That old man's temper is getting stranger and stranger. I clearly drew it really well."
Ye Shang studied Nan Wen's artwork, his brows furrowed so tightly that they could crush a fly: "This... is this supposed to be a person?"
Wen Ping took one look and quickly looked away. Not only was the drawing bizarre, it made him visually uncomfortable. It was simply—too ugly!
He now felt like going back and chopping off Nan Wen's hands. Could those hands, capable of producing something like this, really be called hands?
A dog's paw would draw better.
Ji Xin couldn't help but laugh: "He probably thinks his hand is a hand."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Xin Bai said helplessly: "The drawing was unnecessary."
The Northwest Army was familiar with Chongzhou. For this trip, Ye Shang's team was assigned ten soldiers from the Northwest Army, and Xin Bai was one of them.
Ye Shang folded the paper: "Indeed, it was unnecessary."
Li Qian looked at the hundred or so elite soldiers behind them and asked, "Are these people going to set up contact stations in Chongzhou?"
Ye Shang nodded: "Chongzhou hasn't had a single contact point yet. We not only need to establish stations—if we can get people into some of the counties and districts, even better."
Jiang Jin's previous network of contact points had all been built along the route from Ge Feng to Sizhou. She truly hadn't put any in Chongzhou at all.
Wen Ping said with a grave expression, "Chongzhou was the first region of our Yan nation to be invaded, so everyone must be extremely careful."
