Chapter 220: Chapter 219: Heir Pei is Injured
Everyone else showed expressions of surprise and delight. Although this village was used to gather intelligence, the chaotic border inevitably led to encounters with some unruly folks or bandits, and injuries would occur during defensive conflicts.
Having a doctor in the village is certainly the best thing.
And just like that, Qu Fulan successfully won over their hearts.
Since she was considered an asset by the Big Housekeeper, her treatment was different from others, awarded with an independent room, after all, even Prince An had to squeeze in a room with others.
Prince An, for once, did not object as he knew venturing out meant no special treatment. Besides, being a man, sharing a room didn’t bother him, but it was different for Qu Fulan.
The village didn’t only consist of men; there were women and children too, living life just like ordinary villagers.
They also raised chickens and ducks on the mountain, and even pigs.
During the day, the women would watch over the house, feed the chickens and ducks, and take care of the children, while the men patrolled and rotated shifts down the mountain, ensuring no suspicious people or incidents occurred in the area.
Qu Fulan occasionally treated people’s illnesses, mostly common ailments like headaches and fevers.
A few days passed in this manner, when the brothers returned from the mountain with news. A group of people had been spotted, uncertain whether it was a merchant caravan or bandits.
If it’s a merchant caravan, they’d be checked and allowed to leave; if bandits, they’d fight if they could, repel them otherwise, and not let them pass through.
After all, they called the shots in this area, and considering the geographical advantage, in a real clash, the bandits wouldn’t have it easy.
This is how it’s always been.
The Big Housekeeper immediately called for the brothers to go down the mountain to investigate, and Prince An, eager to have some experience, naturally hurried along excitedly.
Qu Fulan thought it over and followed them.
Lately, she’s vaguely recalled some missing scenes from the storyline, and the original novel mentioned this Tuo Feng Village.
— Amid wartime chaos at the border, the Heir of Marquis Zhenbei was captured at Tuo Feng Village.
The enemy used this as leverage to force our generals to retreat, demanding Tongzhou in exchange for the Heir’s life. The Marquis Zhenbei was old, with only this one precious heir, almost agreeing to the enemy’s demands.
Because of this, Heir Pei fought the battle arduously, in a very passive position.
Later, Heir Pei, alone, took a shortcut and successfully killed the enemy’s chief through a rear assault, disrupting their troops and rescued the Heir.
However, Heir Pei was seriously injured and couldn’t receive timely treatment, leaving hidden dangers for later.
Tuo Feng Village was merely a name, a brief appearance in the original novel, hence Qu Fulan only now vaguely recalled such a plot.
Reading the novel, she didn’t sense anything amiss, but being immersed now, she felt things weren’t so simple.
The Heir of Marquis Zhenbei was captured at Tuo Feng Village, but Tuo Feng Village is clearly their own...
Thus, there’s only one possibility: before the Heir arrived, Tuo Feng Village had already fallen, becoming a stronghold for the enemy, and unbeknownst to the Heir, he walked right into their trap.
The group was still a few miles away from Tuo Feng Village, likely resting from exhaustion on their journey.
The Big Housekeeper led everyone along a hidden path to a secret spot to observe them up close.
"They seem like a merchant caravan; bandits and unruly folks wouldn’t have such conditions," said the Big Housekeeper.
Prince An was full of excitement, but couldn’t put in a word, as it was his first close-up involvement in such matters, lacking any experience.
"Then should we go down and inspect them, if they’re confirmed as a merchant caravan, proceed as per usual practice?"
The usual practice was to inspect closely and once confirmed harmless, they would leave a toll fee.
Just as the Big Housekeeper was about to announce this plan, a voice stopped him.
"They’re not a merchant caravan, but enemy troops."
The voice startled the Big Housekeeper and Prince An, turning to see in disbelief, "Why are you here too?"
The Big Housekeeper felt that this doctor looked so frail, seeming ready to topple at the slightest wind, what use could he be? In a conflict, a single slap and he’d be out cold.
Prince An knew for sure she was a woman, wondering why a woman would meddle in such matters?
If something happened, how would they explain back to the boss? But before he could speak, Qu Fulan began.
Ignoring their shock, she shared her understanding and analysis, "Their demeanor is calm and composed, not at all attentive to their cargo behind them. Merchants value profit above all, holding their goods almost dearer than life, and certainly wouldn’t appear like this. Look further at their orderly conduct, they’re clearly trained.
With Qu Fulan’s reminder, upon closer inspection, everyone indeed sensed something amiss.
"Although something seems off, there are women and children too, who goes to war bringing wives and children?"
"Who knows if the enemy is deliberately using this ruse to confuse? Bringing a woman and child to deceive the opponent, why not?"
"Then what should we do? If they’re indeed enemy forces, is their cargo behind them all weapons? Can we beat them?"
Tactics are crucial in battle, but weapons are even more so, otherwise with sufficient weaponry, anyone can go to battle.
"Let’s leave some here to observe, send others back to prepare, then launch a night assault, catching them off guard."
"What if they’re truly a merchant caravan?"
"Then we capture them all, waiting for Heir Pei to return for judgment. Better to capture wrongly than let go wrongly."
The Big Housekeeper found this reasoning very logical, immediately dispatching some to prepare and others to keep watch.
The village’s weapons were mostly kitchen knives, hoes, and some bows and arrows.
The front lines were scarce in weapons, let alone a place like this, where could more weapons be found?
Thus apart from a sneak attack, direct confrontation held no chance of victory.
The key was using geographical advantage, engaging in rock battles and the like.
Qu Fulan didn’t return up the mountain, worried that any changes here would lead the Big Housekeeper to trust the adversaries.
Otherwise, Tuo Feng Village in the novel wouldn’t have fallen.
And so they waited until nightfall.
This alone made Qu Fulan more certain they were the enemy, for otherwise why delay travel till night? Clearly they had nocturnal schemes.
After Tuo Feng Village prepared fully, they proactively confronted the enemy, who claimed innocence, saying they were a merchant caravan, journeying day and night for half a month, begging for a night’s stay with promised rewards.
Following Qu Fulan’s instructions, Tuo Feng Village’s people bound them regardless.
This didn’t sit well, who’d willingly be bound? The enemy revealed their true colors instantly, and a battle unfolded.
The cargo they carried hid weapons indeed, and in great quantities, if they had made it up the mountain, it’d be strange for the village not to fall.
However, Tuo Feng Village was now fully prepared, utilizing all sorts of advantages, and despite inferior weaponry, they held greater advantage attacking at night.
The battle lasted most of the night, eventually ending in the capture of the enemy.
Prince An participated in his first battle, and although he didn’t kill an enemy himself, he knocked one out with a stone, exhilarated beyond measure.
While everyone was still immersed in the joy of victory, bad news arrived from the front.
The Heir of Marquis Zhenbei was captured, Heir Pei attempted a night rescue but fell into a coma from severe injuries.
Qu Fulan: Why has the plot shifted again?