Song Mancang, with a grim expression, beat the gong at his doorstep. The villagers, hearing the sound, felt their hearts suddenly gripped by something, tense to the point of breathlessness.
The last time the gong was beaten was during the canal construction when the county yamen conscripted laborers.
Thinking of the ongoing war at Hanyan City, everyone had a guess in their hearts.
It wasn't until they gathered at the village chief's house that their uneasy premonition was confirmed.
Song Mancang's tone was low and suppressed, "The county yamen is requisitioning civilian laborers to transport provisions to Hanyan City. The list of names from each household is already here."
He read out all the names from the roster.
"Everyone, go back and prepare. We must assemble at the county yamen early the day after tomorrow."
Old Man Song listened as the names Oldest Song and Second Song were called, feeling dizzy and faint.
Transporting provisions was a hundred times more dangerous than building the canal. Having already lost one son, was he now to lose two more?
Since buying a shop in the city, Song Jinzhao had been living there with her three children, only occasionally returning to Song Family Village.
She learned the news about the labor conscription on the following day.
Old Lady Song came over in the morning, her eyes swollen.
"Your eldest and second uncles both have to go. When will this war ever end?"
Old Lady Song sat on a stool, wiping her tears. The thought of the perilous journey ahead left her heart unsettled.
Song Jinzhao thought of Song Qiming, who would turn twelve after the New Year. In three more years, he would reach the age for corvée labor, and her heart grew anxious.
Seeing that the Shuobei Kingdom was restless, if the war dragged on for three to five years without cease, and if he couldn't pass the imperial examinations to become a scholar, his turn would come eventually.
When Song Qiming got up to practice martial arts the next morning, he found Song Jinzhao's demands on him had become much stricter.
The next day, Oldest Song and Second Song, with uneasy hearts, arrived at the county yamen. A dense crowd of people were all led to the canal dock.
Five large ships were moored at the dock, their holds so full of grain that half the hulls were pressed into the water.
Constable Zhao, holding his sword, watched over the dock. "These military provisions were urgently transferred from the south. Hanyan City is pressing hard. The number of grain transport conscripts this time is double that during the canal construction."
Hearing this, Song Jinzhao looked up at him, surprise in her eyes.
"Transporting grain from the south? Have the provisions from the autumn harvest taxes in the border regions already been consumed?"
Normally, it shouldn't have been this fast.
Constable Zhao shook his head. "Although grain taxes were increased this year, the amount collected is actually about the same as last year."
"The court is transferring grain from the south first, to prevent a scenario where if Hanyan City falls and the army retreats to other cities, there would be no food available within the walls."
Song Jinzhao clenched her hand at her side and pressed, "What is the current situation at Hanyan City? Can it hold out?"
War tests not only a commander's ability to lead troops but also a contest of resources.
The enormous consumption of manpower and supplies is no small burden for the Shuobei Kingdom either.
If they cannot capture Hanyan City for a long time, it becomes a test of endurance.
Constable Zhao neither nodded nor shook his head.
"Although the court took precautions in advance, the enemy's forces outnumber ours. Lord Zhang stays up until midnight every day, unable to sleep. The war situation is likely not favorable."
From Xining City to Hanyan City, walking took over half a month. With provisions in tow, the speed was halved.
Gazing at the torrential rain pouring from the sky, Second Song's complaints never ceased.
"Rain when it shouldn't, no rain when it should. Heaven is simply tormenting us."
Oldest Song pushed the cart, sweating profusely, his trousers soaked in mud from the knees down.
"Save your breath and stop talking. Push harder."
Six men pushed one provision cart, yet Second Song kept chattering non-stop.
The others suspected he was slacking off. After three days on the road, they had lost count of how many disdainful glances they had thrown his way.
If not for Oldest Song's constant reminders and urgings, Second Song would have been beaten up long ago.
Hanyan City was still at war. Delivering these provisions earlier meant they could return home sooner.
If they arrived too late, just as the city fell and they couldn't retreat in time, what chance would they have to escape with their lives?
In the council hall of Hanyan City, Qin Yunqian, his hair and clothes slightly disheveled, reported, "He Mingnan has transferred fifty thousand troops from Yingmen Pass. They will arrive at Tiejia City the day after tomorrow."
Suspecting that Shuobei would reinforce their troops, Chu Liuyun had sent Qin Yunqian to infiltrate Shuobei in disguise to gather intelligence.
Traveling day and night, he had returned just a quarter of an hour ago.
Chu Liuyun's eyes darkened like a deep, bottomless pool.
"They are growing impatient. Once the fifty thousand troops arrive, He Mingnan will surely order the attack on the city immediately."
Qin Guo clenched his fist, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on Tiejia City on the map.
"Then let us strike first. A night raid on Tiejia City, catching them off guard."
Chu Liuyun's fingers tapped continuously on the table.
After long contemplation, he declared heavily, "At the third watch tonight, we raid Tiejia City."
In the dead of night, He Mingnan, who thought himself the hunter, never imagined Chu Liuyun would take the initiative to raid Tiejia City.
As the city's granaries were set ablaze, flames shooting into the dark sky from all directions, he was nearly driven mad with rage.
Chu Liuyun burned and fled, leaving no time for He Mingnan to react.
By the time He Mingnan led his troops in pursuit to the walls of Hanyan City, a skyful of arrows descended like a net from heaven, catching them completely unprepared.
With the granaries burned, the one hundred and thirty thousand troops left in Tiejia City had no food. He Mingnan had no choice but to postpone the attack on Hanyan City and request provisions from Yandu.
At this critical moment, an event occurred that was enough to change the course of the war.
The Emperor of Shuobei suddenly fell critically ill, urgently summoning the Second Prince, He Mingnan, back to Yandu, while simultaneously sending envoys to Dongzhao Kingdom for peace talks.
The war at the border was paused at this moment.
In the harsh winter, Oldest Song and Second Song returned safely from Hanyan City.
Icicles three meters long hung from the eaves. Song Jinzhao's family sat on the heated kang to warm themselves.
The young Song Anhao crawled onto Song Jinzhao's lap, pulling at her arm.
His large, watery eyes were as clear and lively as a bubbling mountain spring, and he called out indistinctly, "Eldest sister, eldest sister."
Song Jinzhao couldn't resist holding him in her arms and giving him an affectionate squeeze.
Even though Shi Xue spent the most time with him, whenever the three of them were together he would stubbornly cling to her.
Seeing Song Jinzhao playing with their youngest brother, Song Qiming felt a hint of envy in his eyes.
Eldest sister had taken care of him plenty when he was little, but unfortunately, he was too young then, and now many of those memories had faded.
"Sister, the shop doesn't have a heated kang. Maybe after the Lantern Festival, you all should stay in the village. I can go stay at the teacher's house by myself."
The private school originally started in March, but considering the county-level imperial examinations in February next year, the students of the advanced class had to return after the Lantern Festival.
The weather was bitterly cold, the roads icy, and it snowed heavily from time to time.
In previous years, those who lived far outside the city would stay at Scholar Zheng's house.
Song Jinzhao said, "Six people sharing one room certainly won't be as comfortable as home. The shop may not have a heated kang, but we can burn charcoal. It's fine."
Song Qiming shook his head. "Gao Li and the others will be there. Staying at the teacher's house makes it convenient to seek guidance in the evening. There's only one month left; I want to push myself a bit harder."
Hearing him say that, Song Jinzhao agreed.
Her only thought regarding Song Qiming now was to study hard and strive to pass the imperial exams next year.
The Emperor of Shuobei urgently summoning the Second Prince back was surely to pass the throne to him. In a few years, He Mingnan would certainly make a comeback, and when that time came, another fierce battle would be unavoidable.
