CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 183: THE WOOL COMES FROM THE SHEEP’S BACK

Three months later, the Emperor’s condition worsened, and information from the Capital suggested that the Emperor might not last long, leading several Princes stationed at the Southern Border to hastily return to the Capital.

Without the chaotic interference of ginseng, Yu Zhenwu found some peace of mind. After a year-long tug-of-war, they finally reclaimed all the lost territories.

Unexpectedly, however, despite reclaiming the lost territories, the common people were not particularly pleased. Some even began to miss the army of the Great Meng Country and Cao Chengtong.

Upon investigation, they discovered that after the Great Meng Country’s army entered the city, they neither burned nor looted; instead, they implemented a conciliatory policy, claiming that if one was willing to submit to the Great Meng Country, all oppressive taxes would be exempt for the first three years.

Those over eighty years old would also be given rice, meat, and wine monthly; elders over ninety would additionally receive silk and cotton.

For those entitled to rice, the County Magistrate had to personally inspect, with the rice delivered to their homes by the County Deputy or County Magistrate.

Gifts for elders under ninety would be delivered by the assistant or Commander.

The Great Meng Country also dispatched Capital Officers to supervise the various counties, punishing and urging those who did not comply with the decrees.

Thus, over the past year under Great Meng Country’s rule, the common people indeed gained tangible benefits.

Taking advantage, the people felt morally compromised, and having received favors from the Great Meng Country, naturally spoke well of such benefits.

Jiang Lin, upon mentioning the attitudes of the common people, became furious, accusing them of lacking any sense of patriotism.

The Great Meng Country offers the slightest perks, and the people immediately wag their tails for them.

One must realize, the superficial gestures made by the Great Meng Country are all with hidden motives.

Distributing rice and flour, the supplies used were all from the granaries of Great Liang landlords; not a single grain was brought from the Great Meng Country.

Sheep’s wool comes from the sheep themselves, yet they were overwhelmingly moved by this.

Jiang Lin couldn’t help cursing, "Ignorant."

Yu Xiaolian was also shocked by Cao Chengtong’s methods of winning people over.

In battles between countries, the defeated side’s people are destined to suffer.

Yet Cao Chengtong took an opposite approach.

Moreover, the Great Meng Country initially swept through like bamboo, capturing ten cities in succession; how could Yu Zhenwu just reclaim them in one fell swoop?

Yu Xiaolian voiced her doubts.

Jiang Lin hadn’t anticipated Yu Xiaolian would hit the nail on the head, but he couldn’t reveal that all of this was the deliberate action of Prince Jin and the Great General Yu.

Jiang Lin laughed off the topic, diverting the conversation.

Jiang Lin didn’t explain clearly, but Yu Xiaolian still made a couple of guesses.

When Jun Yian ascended the throne three years later, Cao Chengtong escorted Princess Luo Ning from the Great Meng Country to Great Liang for peace negotiations.

Logically, the Crown Prince of Great Liang died during the two countries’ war, forming what should have been an unending enmity, yet within a few years, they reconciled, leaving Jun Tingye dead for nothing.

It seems that Jun Yian and the Great Meng Country secretly reached several undisclosed agreements.

Indeed, those who become Emperors are never simple.

Yu Xiaolian curiously asked, "How old is Cao Chengtong and what does she look like?"

Jiang Lin replied, "Around twenty or more, probably under thirty.

As for her looks, she’s just average; she’s on the battlefield, armored heavily, making it hard to see clearly."

Yu Xiaolian asked further, did the Great Meng Country have no men to use? Why send a woman to lead troops in battle?

Now, Jiang Lin indeed out of curiosity, had inquired with the Great General Yu.

Cao Chengtong was originally the daughter of the Great Meng Country’s General of the Northern Defense. She grew up accompanying her father in military campaigns.

Hence, Cao Chengtong favored armor over attire and was even more fierce than some men.

By the age of ten, Cao Chengtong could ride horses and draw bows, able to hit targets at a hundred steps, and was skilled with swords and spears, particularly adept with a small silver spear, which she wielded like a dragon flying or a tiger leaping, reaching a level of mastery that left many men in awe.

Most talked about was the year Cao Chengtong and her father were surrounded by tens of thousands of Hu soldiers in Wan City. She volunteered to go out of the city to request aid.

That year, fourteen-year-old Cao Chengtong, leading over ten warriors, broke through the encirclement, summoned reinforcements, and relieved the siege of Wan City, successfully rescuing her father from danger.

As a woman, such bravery at such a young age, accomplishing such feats, surely deserved the title of a heroine.

From that time on, Cao Chengtong’s name echoed throughout Great Meng Country, receiving the admiration and praise of the Great Meng Country’s citizens.

Later, Cao Chengtong campaigned southward against the Hu Kingdom, defending against Great Liang in the north, achieving numerous extraordinary accomplishments.

The emperor of Great Meng Country broke precedent and titled Cao Chengtong as a female general, allowing her to have ’three wives and four concubines’ like a man.

It’s said that Cao Chengtong had over a dozen beautiful men in her mansion.

Yu Xiaolian smacked her lips.

Despite admiring her, there was also envy.

Cao Chengtong lived a life many women desired but couldn’t achieve.

If possible, she truly wished to meet this female general known to the world.

Yu Xiaolian asked Jiang Lin, about how long they’d stay in Luocheng? Where would they go after leaving Luocheng?

Jiang Lin replied, after finishing the campaign in Yu State, they’d proceed to Jizhou and Lu State.

Southern Border needed construction of defense works, hence, requiring a large number of soldiers.

Defense works not only involved reinforcing city walls but also required constructing numerous horse-repelling stakes and digging Horse Pits to resist the Great Meng Country’s cavalry.

Horse-repelling stakes were simple tools to hinder enemies, while Horse Pits weren’t just for halting enemies.

Horse Pits were small pits with a diameter of over ten centimeters and a depth of about thirty centimeters, spread wide; horses galloping over them could easily break their legs.

Some Horse Pits contained bamboo pieces and sharp wood stakes; once a horse stepped in, it would be severely injured, thus losing its battle capability.

Jiang Lin vividly described it, capturing Yu Xiaolian and everyone’s interest.

People are always curious about unknown affairs, as was Yu Xiaolian.

Originally, their family planned to go to Jie City, which was truly southern, perpetually spring-like.

Thinking back, fortunately, they didn’t go; otherwise, they’d be trapped in the chaos of war, without a peaceful life.

Merely listening to Jiang Lin’s depiction of the battlefield’s blades and clashes is thrilling enough, impossible to imagine if caught amidst it all, what such circumstances would be like.

Jiang Lin feared risking Yu Xiaolian’s worry, refraining from mentioning the worse events, only stating he received injuries at the Southern Border on several occasions, all minor wounds that were long healed.

Before leaving, Jiang Lin took out a silver note worth fifty taels, claiming it was to repay Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian refused, but Jiang Lin insisted she accept.

Helplessly, Yu Xiaolian had to take it.

As for Sun Fengshou’s matter, Jiang Lin assured it was but a matter of words for him, telling them not to worry.

When Yu Xiaolian saw Jiang Lin off, the night was already pitch black, the two walked a distance along the street, and Jiang Lin suddenly whispered to Yu Xiaolian, "Recently, the Crown Prince’s men captured a Witch Clan woman in Miaojiang."