Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 369 - 367

Chapter 369: 367

The stench was unbearable!

"Shall we keep moving forward? This place stinks too much." Xiao’er dared to speak only after covering her mouth and nose with a piece of cloth.

Using a handkerchief would have been too girly, so she had to make do with a piece of cloth.

The soldiers, upon hearing her words, rolled their eyes listlessly.

Move? Who doesn’t want to move? Can they even move?

"What happened with today’s breakfast?" Shangguan Xuanjun asked Lin Hu, the head of the cooking class, with a glum face.

Lin Hu shook his head: "I don’t know, we ate the same stuff last night too!"

Last night everyone ate the same gruel made from grassroots and tree barks, and no one had any issues.

"Is there any leftover food?" Shangguan Xuanjun, clutching his stomach, asked again.

Dammit, here we go again! The stomach pain is back.

"I still have some leftovers!" declared a soldier as he raised his hand.

Shangguan Xuanjun began to walk towards him, but after only a couple of steps, his stomach revolted against him, forcing him to quickly turn around and run towards the hill.

Splat! Xiao’er quickly covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

Shangguan Xuanjun was visibly upset by Xiao’er’s laughter, his pale face growing even grimmer.

His dignity as a prince was completely ruined.

If he found out who was responsible, he vowed to flay their skin and break their bones!

Even Shangguan Xuanhao, the nominal military doctor, couldn’t hold back a laugh. However, now was the time for him to actually do his job.

He walked over and picked up the bowl of gruel, sniffed it carefully and noticed no smell of purgative (of course there was no smell, Xiao’er had specifically processed them to remove the odor). He then carefully examined the bowl of gruel and discovered bits of rhubarb and diarrhea-nut leaves.

Unable to contain himself, he blurted out, "Which idiot ate rhubarb and diarrhea-nut leaves!"

"..." Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

What were rhubarb and diarrhea-nut leaves? They couldn’t tell them apart!

During the march, they had to move fast and to lighten the soldiers’ load, they couldn’t carry much food. Therefore, they had to rely on locally sourced ingredients for food.

So they usually ate gruel made from wild vegetables or grassroots and tree barks.

The army doctors usually taught the soldiers which grassroots and tree barks could be eaten, and although sometimes they got it wrong, it wasn’t unusual, and occasional diarrhea wasn’t uncommon. But this severe case was a first.

Both rhubarb and diarrhea-nut leaves are potent. Taking them together, it’s no wonder their legs feel wobbly!

"Who the hell dug these? Step forward. I swear I’m gonna stomp you to death!"

"Yes, whoever made the mistake, come out now. I promise I won’t kill you, just break one of your legs."

"Who was it? Admit it now, let’s see if I don’t feed you a pound of rhubarb every day!"

...

Everyone was making threats, but secretly, they all felt a little guilty. The louder they shouted, the guiltier they felt. They could only pick things to eat when the sun had set or before it had risen. Who could pay attention to details then? There was nothing strange about making a mistake! They cursed the unfortunate abundance of rhubarb and diarrhea-nut leaves in the vicinity which were impossible to guard against!

Seeing the soldiers react this way, General Dingyuan too felt they were acting guilty. This lot must have indiscriminately dug up anything they could find to satisfy their hunger!

Hence, he thought, perhaps this really was an accident.

But he himself was also drained from diarrhea, too weak to consider anything else.

He hoped they could rest for an additional day!

What an incredible stroke of bad luck, this diarrhea was just too coincidental!

After relieving himself, Shangguan Xuanjun was walking back when he stepped on a pile of leaves, beneath which was a squishy sensation. Upon lifting his foot and looking, he almost retched! He immediately roared, "Who the bloody hell covers their mess with leaves after shitting!"

Hearing the angry roar, a soldier quickly lowered his head.

He simply wanted to do the trick in a classier way, really!

Who knew the general would be so unlucky as to step in a pile of shit luck!

Shangguan Xuanhao burst out laughing after hearing his words!

Xiao’er also started laughing uproariously.

The rest of the soldiers held back their laughter, daring not to laugh out loud. They could only admire Xiao’er’s fearless spirit.

...

After identifying the cause of the diarrhea, Shangguan Xuanhao prepared a medicine. They had it boiled and drank by the cooking team.

After resting for four hours, the army managed to regain some of its vitality and began marching again.

Spotting an eagle circling in the sky, Xiao’er knew Shangguan Xuanyi’s arrangement had already been put into action.

She excused herself to go to the restroom and slipped into the forest, calling the eagle down. She untied the bamboo cylinder, took out the paper note, and replaced it with a new one.

The eagle took to the skies once more.

Because they had been delayed for several hours and everyone was still feeling a little weak, they proceeded slowly. The army, originally projected to pass through Yueluo Valley today, would now have to wait until tomorrow.

Just as everyone was getting ready to camp, a soldier arrived with a report.

After receiving the message, Shangguan Xuanjun said, "Everyone hurry and eat something. After eating, we’ll keep marching. Tonight, we’re going to cross Yueluo Valley in the dark."

"Why should we cross Yueluo Valley at night, Fourth Prince?"

"Our food supplies were ambushed by soldiers from Xiyue Country. I’m worried that there might be an ambush in Yueluo Valley, so we’ll stealthily cross the valley in the middle of the night! When we march later, no one is to light a torch, and the horses must be led by hand. Tread lightly! Understand?"

Everyone was infuriated. They dared to steal our food again! Absolutely outrageous!

The Yueluo Valley was exceptionally calm that night; even the stars seemed unwilling to disturb the peace, hiding themselves away.

The night grew deeper, the cold intensifying.

"General, we’ve already been waiting so long, when will Minze Country’s army show up? Should we withdraw?" the deputy general asked, lying on the ground. He felt as though he’d frozen stiff, his limbs numb from the cold.

"Wait a bit longer. Yueluo Valley is especially vulnerable to surprise attacks. Shangguan Xuanjun always proceeds with caution, he may choose to sneak through in the middle of the night," Dalu insisted optimistically!

This was a golden opportunity to fight one against a hundred, even a thousand. Even if it meant waiting another full-day and night, he was willing.

As the night deepened, the dew grew heavier. The soldiers from Xiyue Country who were hiding on the mountain almost froze into ice pops.

But their survival situation at home was already harsh, and they’ve long coveted the Central Plains’ abundant land and resources. They desired to make it their own and live there.

Even if they couldn’t completely take it over, owning half would be pretty good.

Just when all of them thought that Minze Country’s soldiers wouldn’t pass through, the hoof-beats sounded like heavenly music in their ears.

Closely followed by vague shadows of rows marching past.

They’re here!

Anticipation surged within the soldiers from Xiyue Country.

They stared fiercely at the black shadows below.

The people of Minze Country were indeed cunning, choosing to cross the valley in the dead of the night!

Luckily their endurance was beyond ordinary! Otherwise, they would have missed out on this golden opportunity!

Dalu stared intently at the figures below. When the figures almost filled the entire valley, he issued the command:

"Shoot your arrows! Roll down the rocks! Charge, surround and wipe out Minze Country’s army. Leave no one standing!"

The arrows flew thick and fast, like rain.

Huge rocks rolled down ceaselessly.