"Alright, then I'll have Song Fei collect the grain and herbs in advance and send them over. It would be best to also send over the team you trained. Have them infiltrate Huangfu Xu's fiefdom. If a real fight breaks out, let them cause some deliberate damage and gather information!"
Fan Zehao stroked his wife's long hair. With her around, he never had to worry about the rear.
The next day, he called Fang Jingchen over and explained the matter. To his surprise, Fang Jingchen said bluntly, "The Great General of the Western Frontier is Wang Ziyan. This man is extremely arrogant. He has fought several battles. Although he is old, his reputation is still well-known!"
Hearing the implied meaning from his godfather, the western defense line would not be easily breached. This was indeed the best news of the day.
Fan Zehao did not dare to be careless about sudden emergencies: "Still, be prepared, just in case!"
Soon, Fang Jingchen's soldiers began to move, heading towards Songling Prefecture in batches. They were stationed in Pannan County, which was under Songling Prefecture's jurisdiction. They began to expand the population from the villages into the county town. After making deployments in Pannan County, they also made some camouflage in the nearby villages.
The local people had no reaction to the soldiers occupying villages and county towns. For several years, there had been two so-called military drills every year, and the common people cooperated with the soldiers.
The common people had no idea that this time it was for real. They thought it was just another drill.
They could still go home every day, farming and living their lives without interruption. In the evening, they would go to the county town to reside in the arranged places.
Fan Zehao's deployment in this matter was swift. As soon as they finished their research, the soldiers had already been mobilized. Zong Han watched all of this with great emotion.
This was clearly not him retiring from military life. Although he was no longer a general, the soldiers in the camp still listened to him and obeyed his commands.
Even a battle-hardened old general like Fang Jingchen was obedient to Fan Zehao. It could be seen that Fan Zehao had already become powerful to the point of being indispensable, even a deeply ingrained faith within them.
Zong Han provided much assistance to Fan Zehao this time. He said, " You can rest assured about our side of the border. If a war breaks out, our country's soldiers will obey your orders. You can also rest assured leaving your rear to me. If anything happens on your end, I won't have peace either."
Fan Zehao smiled and squeezed his shoulder, then nodded. "Thanks!"
He felt awkward because of the man's serious face. Zong Han, somewhat uncomfortable, clasped his hands behind his back and said, "I'm just repaying the favor for those grains from years ago that helped us through our crisis. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with you!"
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi exchanged smiles.
During the locust plague, their country had suffered a severe locust infestation. Zong Han had pleaded with them, and the couple had helped Zong Han overcome this difficult period, owing them a favor. They never expected this favor would be used in this way.
Before the start of autumn, news of the war in the west quickly spread throughout the Yun Kingdom, with people in every street and alley discussing it.
However, Fan Zehao and Zong Han received the latest news: General Wang Ziyan had died on the battlefield, his body brutally dismembered.
Fang Jingchen and Zhao Jiaqi both felt their hairs stand on end.
"It seems this war won't be an easy one!"
Zhao Jiaqi said dejectedly, and everyone fell silent.
That afternoon, Zhao Jiaqi ordered people to spread the word, urging the common people to quickly harvest their leafy vegetables, corn, and sorghum. She did not want the crops that the common people had worked hard to grow to be ruined by the approaching enemy.
She also did not want these grains to become rations for the Jin army.
As Zhao Jiaqi gave her orders, everyone became a soldier. Whether in the county town or the prefecture, every household had a few cleavers, sickles, and kitchen knives.
Within a few days after the start of autumn, the Jin army advanced like a surging tide, successively capturing several cities. Within a month, the Jin army had conquered all the prefectures within the fiefdom of Prince Xiaoyao.
Refugees began to appear in Pannan County one after another. In response, Zhao Jiaqi opened her doors to them. All refugees were gathered together uniformly. After screening, as long as they were not spies, they would be assigned to the various prefectures.
However, some spies did infiltrate. They were arrested for interrogation and then executed!
Fang Jingchen and Fan Zehao were at the Pannan County Magistrate's office, listening to Zhang Heng report the latest intelligence: "The Emperor has dispatched General Xue Wei with a twenty-thousand-man army by ship. They will arrive at Songjiang Wharf the day after tomorrow!"
Fan Zehao nodded. "Mm, have the Songjiang County wharf make preparations. The people in the county town should stay indoors and only venture out after the soldiers have departed!"
Zhang Heng lowered his head and said softly, "Your Highness, there is one more matter. The Emperor has sent a secret report, requiring Your Highness to... guarantee the provisions for these soldiers. They left in a hurry, and their provisions are insufficient!"
Fang Jingchen's brows furrowed fiercely. Fan Lao Er immediately exploded, "What does the Emperor mean? It's said that when armies clash, provisions come first. What, does he really think this is....."
"Fan Xudong, silence! You may withdraw!" Zhao Jiaqi, sensing the situation was amiss, stepped forward and immediately stopped Fan Lao Er's outburst.
"Deputy General Zhang, obey the Emperor's arrangements. Our Prince's Mansion will do its utmost to supply the provisions. However, our strength is limited. We hope the Emperor can mobilize provisions to prevent more soldiers from being casualties! Please submit a memorial to the Emperor as I have instructed."
Zhang Heng glanced at the Prince and the General, who remained silent. He then turned and left.
Fan Lao Er was so angry he was hopping, "Sister-in-law, I feel extremely wronged. This Emperor is clearly trying to exploit you. Why should we be the fool who willingly falls into the trap!"
Fan Zehao, hearing this, angrily slapped Fan Xudong. "What do you mean by fool? Those are the lives of twenty thousand men, all your compatriots, all people going to war like you. On the battlefield, it's either life, death, or injury. Do you think your money and provisions are worth more than their lives?"
Zhao Jiaqi understood Fan Xudong's feelings. She separated the brothers. "What time is it? Can we stop infighting!"
"Twenty thousand men's provisions are no small matter. The Jin Kingdom's current offensive is fierce, and the soldiers are arriving by ship. It's understandable to resist the Jin soldiers first. Provisions will also be sent from the rear, but since we are closer, we are providing immediate assistance. The Emperor will not ignore this. Use your brain and think carefully!"
They were all husbands and fathers, yet they were still so impulsive!
Even if the Emperor did not care about these twenty thousand soldiers, they would not abandon these people. They were all lives.
In the back hall of the county magistrate's office, Huangfu Xu listened to Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi's words and felt deeply ashamed.
Dressed in a coarse cloth robe, he entered with the guards by his side. This was a stark contrast to his usual refreshing and handsome demeanor.
"The Prince and Princess are magnanimous. I am deeply ashamed."
Everyone in the room looked at him. Fan Zehao, seeing that he had actually hidden in his own fiefdom, angrily stepped forward, grabbed Huangfu Xu by the collar, and punched him in the face.
He unleashed his anger on him, roaring, "You have ruined such a good fiefdom! Wang Ziyan's army of over two hundred thousand was virtually wiped out, and you, the Prince, how did you let this happen!"