The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 256 - 252: The Entire Army Annihilated?

Chapter 256: Chapter 252: The Entire Army Annihilated?

How could Granny Lei not be anxious?

The former dynasty’s leading general was no pushover; wherever they went, it was like locusts had swept through.

Otherwise, why would so many ordinary people have rebelled back then, seeking refuge with the Xuanyuan Army?

They were truly driven to a dead end!

Xuanbao had never experienced the chaos of war, having been born into a world at peace.

But even that peace had only lasted a few years, and many villagers had lived through it.

"Xuanbao, we need to quickly gather and hide these grains, or else they’ll be gone. You must obediently stay close to Grandma these coming days and go nowhere else, understand?" Madam Liu had already picked up the sickle and set up the pushcart, and she along with Madam Lin hurried toward the fields, pushing the cart.

Granny Lei held Xuanbao in her arms and went to the old house to notify Master He and Mother He to alert the other laborers to quickly harvest the rice and medicinal herbs.

Rice and medicinal herbs were the army’s favorites.

Ruo Xuan saw the entire village, everyone holding sickles, hoes, and other farming tools, running to the fields.

Every household, men, women, young and old, had mobilized.

Those who harvested rice did so, those who collected peanuts did so, and those who hoed sweet potatoes did the same.

The villagers were very anxious; before Xuanyuan Country had pacified the land, most of the former officials were corrupt, and the common people had to give up half of the grain they produced to the Imperial Court, bearing severe exactions. Every household was starving, and if the Imperial Army were to be defeated and Shaxi County was again occupied by the remnants of the former dynasty, life would be unbearable.

Seeing this, Ruo Xuan gave up on persuading them.

It was no use.

She too joined the ranks of those harvesting rice, and along the way, she quietly ripened the family’s rice crop a bit more, hoping to add a few extra pounds to each acre.

By evening, Ruo Shui and his brothers had all returned from town and joined the team harvesting rice.

Granny Lei, tirelessly swinging the sickle, said to her sons, "Once we’ve hidden the grain, should our family go hide in the city for a while?"

"There are soldiers guarding the city; it’s somewhat safer than the village."

"But if the city gates are breached, it would be safer to hide in the mountains than in the city. That’s where we should go."

Ruo Shui reassured her, "Mother, you worry too much! Tan Cang was no match for the Feiyan Army back in the day; the remnants of the former dynasty are no longer a force to be reckoned with. Over the years, the Imperial Court has grown stronger, and the Feiyan Army has become even more invincible. Besides, I’ve heard that this time General He took the initiative to attack Nanyu Island, planning to eradicate the remnants of the former dynasty once and for all and reclaim the island. They won’t be able to reach us here."

Ruo Jiang added, "Right, if those remnants of the former dynasty were to attack, our brother in the camp would know and warn us in advance. Mother, don’t worry. Just as usual, we’ll do what we need to do! Once the grain in the fields is collected, we’ll plant whatever needs planting next."

Upon hearing that the Ruo brothers had returned, the village chief came over to inquire about the situation in town. After listening to their conversation, he felt somewhat relieved but still asked, "How are things in town? Has there been any movement at the Governor’s Office? Has the price of grain gone up? Has anyone fled to another city for safety?"

Shaxi County was rather close to Nanyu Island, and whenever there was a conflict, the wealthy families always seemed to receive advance notice, moving their entire households to other cities to avoid the fighting.

This was why some families could stand for hundreds of years without falling.

Ruo Shui replied, "We haven’t seen any wealthy families running away. Chief, don’t worry, everything in town is normal. County Magistrate Zhang has made his position clear: any grain shop that dares to raise prices will be raided."

Ruo Chuan chimed in, "Chief, just let everyone live their normal lives. We have to trust the Imperial Court, trust the Feiyan Army. County Magistrate Zhang checks the grain prices in town every day. The townspeople’s lives are going on as usual without much change."

Ruo Shan added, "The medical clinics haven’t been stockpiling drugs, nor has the Imperial Court made large purchases of medical supplies for injuries. Stay calm."

Ruo Jiang concluded, "With such a formidable Feiyan Army, what’s there to fear?"

He instead felt that this was an opportunity for his elder brother.

Their family should produce another General!

Ruo Xuan followed by saying, "Don’t worry, the fight won’t reach us, and it will be over in no more than three months."

Her eldest uncle still has to return for his wedding!

So it definitely won’t last more than three months.

The village chief, while feeling uneasy with everyone else’s words, felt somewhat reassured after hearing Xuanbao’s: "Xuanbao, after we harvest the rice, should we continue to plant the third season of rice?"

Ruo Xuan nodded her tiny head: "Plant, of course, we must plant! The seedlings are all ready, how can we not? Next year is going to be another good one!"

This time, the village chief felt completely at ease as if he had eaten weights.

Xuanbao’s words were like they had been blessed; whatever she said would come true.

He laughed and said, "Then I’ll notify the villagers to turn over the soil and plant the third season of rice immediately after the harvest."

The village chief walked away leisurely, hands clasped behind his back, a stark contrast to his hurried arrival.

That night, only the villagers of Xishui Village returned home to rest in the evening, while villagers from all other villages in Shaxi County were busy till the third watch before reluctantly going home to sleep, waking up before dawn the next day to continue the rush to harvest.

After more than ten busy days, the rice from all the villages was nearly all harvested. As the villagers relaxed a little and were busy planting seedlings, news came through: General He’s attack on Nanyu Island failed, and nearly the entire army of fifty thousand was lost.

With this news, the entire populace of Shaxi County panicked.

The soldiers stationed in Nanzhou were mainly new recruits totaling just over a hundred thousand. With fifty thousand lost, the majority of the remainder were new soldiers. Could they stand against the warriors of the former dynasty?

That person was a figure as fierce as the Great General Yan.

This time, significant households in the city really started quietly leaving for other cities.

The villagers from each village began to find ways to hide their food.

Ruo Xuan still said, "Don’t worry, they won’t be able to fight their way here."

But she couldn’t just sit by any longer and decided to spend the night at the manor and visit her eldest uncle with Divine Lord Xuanyuan.

Madam Xuanyuan gave Granny Lei a peace of mind: "They won’t be able to get here. The Great General Yan is already on his way back. The Feiyan Army will deploy, but it’s only because some glory-seeking Generals took advantage of the Great General Yan’s absence to try to make a name for themselves."

Madam Xuanyuan’s information was even more reliable; after the remnants of the former dynasty took over Nanyu Island, they colluded with some small overseas countries. The Emperor, concerned about their growing strength posing danger to the peace of Nanzhou’s border residents, intended to eliminate the leftovers of the former dynasty and reclaim Nanyu Island to prevent future troubles.

Yan Heng arrived at Shengping Prefecture to take up the post of Governor for this reason.

A plan was already set in motion, waiting to deploy troops to take down Nanyu Island. However, a traitor was discovered in the military camp, and at the same time, someone in the capital accused him of having an affair with a married woman.

The Emperor urgently summoned him back to the capital.

It was unforeseen that after Yan Heng returned to the capital, some were so recklessly ambitious and impulsive that they couldn’t resist being provoked to deploy troops!

This time, they fell into the enemy’s trap, and the casualties were severe.

However, most of the soldiers were heavily injured, and it wasn’t a complete annihilation.

Madam Xuanyuan was furious, but the Imperial Army was equipped with many life-saving medicines, provided by her younger grandson previously.

As long as Yan Heng could make it back in time, he would certainly turn the tide.

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