The people in the room saw the King of Zhen anger, and stood frozen, not daring to breathe. Zhang Heng, who had just entered, wished he could retreat.
But he steeled himself and found Zhao Jiaqi. "Wangfei, Xiao Ce is here."
Xiao Ce?
He had been making waves in the capital these past few years. His arrival at this time could only mean trouble.
"Bring him in!"
Xiao Ce, clad in armor, strode into the county office with steady steps.
Seeing this, Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi were transported back to their younger days, to the times when they fought side-by-side.
In the blink of an eye, those were years ago!
He saw Xiao Ce. Apart from the traces of time etched on his face, he hadn't changed much.
Fan Zehao sized up the newcomer, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Well, well, where did this Marshal of the Troops come from? Such imposing authority!"
Xiao Ce strode forward and punched Fan Zehao in the chest. "Being sarcastic, do I have as much authority as you? You're the only one in the Yun Kingdom who dares to strike a prince!"
"Spit it out or get lost. I don't have time for idle chatter!" Fan Zehao sat back down, too lazy to even glance at him.
Zhao Jiaqi sighed helplessly. With all these troublesome characters showing up, it was unlikely to be good news. It would be more practical for her to focus on gathering provisions.
She pulled Fan Xudong away, lest this hot-headed young man say something that could lead to a grave charge of disrespect.
"Second brother, go with Song Fei to gather provisions. You must secure a batch within two days. Send more people to the south as well. Huangfu Xian has a considerable amount of grain. Gather as much as you can."
Fan Xudong did not dare to delay. He followed Song Fei to collect the silver notes and left.
After a day of frantic activity, he finally lay on his bed at night for a well-deserved rest.
"Why is Huangfu Xu here instead of returning to the capital?"
Fan Zehao, with the lights out, let out a long sigh. He said with a heavy heart, "He suffered a defeat and has no face to return. Knowing that Xiao Ce, the Grand Marshal, along with General Xue Wei, have arrived, he wants to stay and prepare to fight the Jin Kingdom again!"
This man, though he didn't look like much, cared greatly about his reputation. He knew returning to the capital would be a disgrace.
Zhao Jiaqi turned over to face him, her eyes bright and luminous, as brilliant as stars in the night sky.
"Didn't they say Xue Wei's official ship would arrive the day after tomorrow? Why did Xiao Ce come early?"
"Xiao Ce rode ahead on a fast horse to see the situation here and to consult my opinion on how to fight this war!"
The Jin Kingdom's soldiers were like they'd been injected with chicken blood. They were determined to take down the Yun Kingdom in one go. Their onslaught was formidable and difficult to deal with.
Before dawn, Fan Zehao was summoned away, indicating that the war situation on the front lines was quite tense.
Once he left, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't sleep either. She got up and thought about what else she could do.
Around noon, Zhao Jiaqi learned from Zhang Heng that the Jin Kingdom had sent an envoy to persuade the prince. They promised him supreme glory and wealth if he would not deploy troops and instead defect to the Jin Kingdom.
Fan Zehao had ultimately sent the envoy away.
Zhao Jiaqi almost choked with laughter. Here, they were already enjoying glory and wealth. Why would they need to betray their country and go to the Jin Kingdom with the title of traitor?
"Chasing them away was too lenient. If they dare to come again, we'll just drive them out!"
Zhang Heng smiled. "The Prince said the same thing as the Wangfei."
Indeed, they were a couple, their words, actions, and even expressions so alike.
In the following two days, while the front lines discussed the war, Zhao Jiaqi focused on the rear, procuring grain and medicinal herbs. She even managed to invent instant noodles. They didn't look appealing, and the taste was mediocre, but they could be eaten by simply adding boiling water.
There were no seasoning packets. Instead, they used an old broth when making the dough, giving the noodles a savory flavor. Compared to the hard, dry rations, these were considered a luxurious meal, and the soldiers were overjoyed.
On the fourth day, Xiao Ce departed for the battlefield. Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi saw him off, feeling a pang of reluctance, mainly fearing for their good friend's life.
Before leaving, Zhao Jiaqi handed him a large bundle. "This contains various medicines, all prepared by Doctor Qi. The battlefield is unforgiving. Fight if you can, hide if you can't. While they're drowsy, take their lives!"
Xiao Ce grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, though his beard had grown considerably, making him look more weathered. "Thank you, sister-in-law. Don't worry, Brother Fan, and you. I promise to return safely!"
He slapped his armored chest with a resounding thud, his confident demeanor somewhat spirited.
Huangfu Xu mounted his horse, his armor giving him the look of a true soldier, though he seemed like he was just going through the motions.
"Go. When you return victorious, I'll host a victory feast for you in Panan County!"
Xiao Ce and Huangfu Xu waved goodbye and, leading their men, galloped away, gradually disappearing from sight.
Their wait was anxious. Meanwhile, Fan Xudong's provisions continued to arrive from Huangfu Xian.
The supply of grain was abundant, and there was also plenty of medicine for treating injuries. In fact, the pharmacies in their fiefdoms had generously donated all sorts of hemostatic and fever-reducing medicines, making a significant contribution.
As winter approached, the fighting slowed considerably, but both sides remained locked in a stalemate, with victories and losses evenly distributed.
After finishing his affairs in his fiefdom, Huangfu Xian hurried to Panan County and joined Fan Zehao, both closely monitoring the situation on the front lines.
The first snow fell later than usual. It was on such a snowy day that the Jin Kingdom caught Xiao Ce and Xue Wei off guard.
Xiao Ce went missing, Xue Wei died in battle, leaving only Huangfu Xu to resist the enemy alone.
Upon hearing the news of Xiao Ce's disappearance, Fan Zehao's eyes turned red. He slammed his fist onto the table, cracking it instantly.
"They've gone too far!"
Fang Jingchen and Zhang Heng looked at Fan Zehao. "My Prince, your subordinate has made all preparations. I request to go to their aid!"
"Granted!"
A single word conveyed Fan Zehao's unwavering resolve.
That morning, the garrison soldiers became the vanguard. Led by Fang Jingchen and Zhang Heng, fifty thousand troops set out to rescue Xiao Ce and help Huangfu Xu repel the invading army.
By the end of January, battle reports arrived one after another, astonishing Fan Zehao.
Not only was Xiao Ce not found, but Fang Jingchen was also seriously wounded and unconscious, Huangfu Xu was captured, leaving only Deputy General Zhang Heng!
Zhao Jiaqi looked at Fan Zehao, realizing that her husband would have to go to war.
"Wife, if the country is lost, our home will cease to exist. I cannot stand idly by. Forgive me, but I cannot accompany you on our leisurely rural life!"
Fan Zehao caressed her face, speaking to her with the gentlest words he had ever used.
"Go. I will take care of things here. You don't need to worry. We will wait for your triumphant return!"
Zhao Jiaqi buried her face in his shoulder, and after a moment, reluctantly pulled away. "I believe you will defeat the invaders!"
Reluctantly, Fan Zehao had to leave. "Wait for me!"