Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Chapter 817: Chapter 823, Chapter 824: Mother, Is She Also Jia’Er’s Aunt?

As winter peaks, snow flies across the vast landscape beyond the pass.

Ying City is nearly buried beneath the accumulated snow, yet in this cold December weather, the city remains bustling with life, with smoke rising from the stalls of various residences, brimming with the breath of life.

Two years ago, Ying City was in a state of ruin, its population dwindled, but following King Wei leading his army to nearly annihilate the eighty thousand barbarians of Jin Xia, and marching all the way to Haiyan Pass, seizing all people and horses within.

This battle not only pained Jin Xia, but also quelled any further intent of Jin Xia to commit invasions, securing peace for the Great Song’s borders.

With peace, comes the opportunity for development.

In just over two years, aided by the Court’s policy shifts, Ying City has gradually restored its people’s livelihood.

Since the beginning of the year, internal chaos broke out in Jin Xia, with the Jin Xia Court waging war against the Beidi Tribe, involving several small tribes around the Beidi Tribe, affecting hundreds of thousands of Jin Xia citizens. The outbreak of war caused a shortage of living supplies in the Jin Xia war zone.

Shortage means huge profits, and with profits comes rampant smuggling business along the border of the two countries.

Because Great Song needs development, it has almost adopted a laissez-faire approach towards such smuggling businesses.

This has led to an increasing number of traders coming and going from Ying City, which is growing larger and larger. At its peak, there were as many as three or four thousand traders gathered in the city.

Unfortunately, the overall strength of the Beidi Tribe is far from that of the Jin Xia Court, hence more than two months ago, the Beidi Tribe was annihilated by the Jin Xia Court, then the Jin Xia Court conducted concentrated governance and pacification over the former war zone, gradually restoring local living supplies to normal levels.

With the loss of lucrative incentives, smuggling businesses have begun to decline, and the traders visiting Ying City are becoming fewer.

However, with the flow of people, Ying City still maintains some bustling scenes during the day.

On a snowy day, there are few pedestrians on the streets, but the vendors are still shouting vigorously.

At noon, the sound of hooves rang out on the streets.

A Divine Brave Guard Warrior rode a warhorse, holding a copper gong in hand, and after the gong sounded, the warrior shouted loudly: "General Chang En orders immediate lockdown of the city and closure of the gates."

"General Chang En orders immediate lockdown of the city and closure of the gates."

"Ding ding ding..."

The sound of the copper gong was very clear, and both the pedestrians and the people in the shops and residences on both sides of the street craned their necks and perked up their ears, casting their gazes over.

In the central army tent at the barracks stationed in Ying City.

Chang En sat at the head, his bright armor making him look exceptionally valiant. He was no longer the naive young lad from the mountains; over two years in the military life had seen him grow into a competent general.

On the left and right below, sat Cui Shuang, Song Shiming, and those who had come from Xiangyang like Li, Gan, and Xiao, including Xiao Yi and Gan Yao.

At this moment, their gazes were all focused on the scout in the tent.

According to the scout, Jin Xia’s Haiyan Pass has recently increased its troops, making the defense even more stringent.

Xiao Yi, after listening, frowned and said: "Jin Xia has just quelled its internal chaos, could it be planning to invade us again? Perhaps King Wei did not scare them enough last time."

"These barbarians have not given up their intent to end us. Though the Eastern Army was heavily defeated, the Western Army remained relatively unscathed, even benefitting in Longyou. Now having resolved internal issues, they might take advantage of our unrecovered state to attack us again, which is not impossible." Song Shiming said gravely.

"We were able to hurt them the first time, naturally we can hurt them the second time. If they dare to come again, I’ll definitely give them a severe thrashing." Cui Shuang said fiercely.

"Regardless of what they plan with troop reinforcements, we must not be complacent. The most crucial thing now is to identify the commanding officer for this reinforcement at Haiyan Pass and report to the Court, letting the Prince make the decision." Chang En pondered.

All generals nodded.

Chang En said: "The Prince once told me that unless the enemy moves, we do not move. Before orders are issued from above, we just must guard the Border Pass and must not act rashly."

"Okay."

"Report——"

At this moment, a soldier walked in briskly, raised his hand in salute upon arriving: "General, General Han and his troops have arrived."

"General Han?"

Xiao Yi, Gan Yao, upon hearing this, turned their heads, with puzzled expressions in their eyes.

Evidently not very familiar with this General Han.

Chang En and Cui Shuang’s expressions lit up with joy, the former said: "Quickly, invite them in."

Very soon, a tall figure walked into the military tent.

Seeing the visitor, Chang En quickly stepped down from the head seat, went forward to warmly grasp the visitor’s hand, and smiled: "Since receiving General Han’s letter, I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

The reason Chang En treated him this way was because the visitor was Han Wu, who not only was an early follower of Chen Mo but was also kin to Han Anniang.

Han Wu breathed out white mist, shivering cold from his hands, he said: "I’ve kept General Chang waiting, the road was blocked by snow and the weather was cold, which caused some delay, but fortunately the transported supplies are unharmed."

"No delay, no delay, please sit." Chang En invited Han Wu to sit, then shouted outside the tent: "Someone bring a brazier."

Han Wu sat beside Cui Shuang, the two were already familiar with each other, Cui Shuang poured Han Wu a cup of strong liquor, and said: "It’s cold here in Youzhou, have a sip of wine to warm up."