The left pri minister spent less and less ti at the Cao mansion as he was always called for impromptu court etings at the imperial palace where the emperor and ministers could discuss the situation at the borders.
The nation's coffers were almost empty because the output of grains and rice this year was abysmal. General Shang had been situated at the Northern border and reinforcents had been called from the Western border.
The capital was right in the middle so the soldiers from the West would have go through there on their way to the North. The plan was for the soldiers to pick up supplies from the vassal states and villages along the way but with the low crop output, things were looking bad.
Very bad.
The emperor had been receiving correspondence from the soldiers at the North who were trying to hold off the enemy. The general going missing had weakened their morale and the lack of supplies had further beaten them down. They wouldn't hold on for more than three months.
Less even, if the enemy were persistent.
It would take one month for the reinforcent to get to the capital and another month for them to get to the Western border. They were running out of ti! Out of all the borders, the Western border was the hardest to defend.
If the enemy broke through, it would beco progressively harder to drive them back and they would lose a lot of their villages and even the trading port Southwest would be easily captured by them.
Whilst the ministers were all wrought with worry, good news finally cast a bright light on their weary hearts. Cao Long had received news from two of his farming settlents. Their crop output was massive and he was willing to offer it to aid the soldiers.
The crop output would only last the soldiers three months but this was more than enough ti. If they added the grains from the coffers and from various vassal states, they could increase the ti to six months.
Farrs all around were already planting fast yielding crops. They would be able to make it. Cao Long received high praise from his fellow ministers and even the emperor expressed his goodwill. The people were more vocal about it and praised the left pri minister to the high heavens.
When Cao Long got back that day, he went straight to his study, ready to send out letters of instructions to those farming settlents of his.
Cao Luoi wasted no ti in rushing up to her father's study and He Yuan, who had been keeping an eye out, contemplated a bit before following after.
When he got closer to the study, he heard Cao Long's strained voice. "Luoi, that's a war zone. Your safety isn't guaranteed. I don't think I can let you supervise the transfer of resources."
He Yuan raised a brow and walked closer, imdiately the guards tried to stop him, he sprinkled so paralysis dust on them and watched as they plopped to the ground. He did not have ti for their whining.
He stood before the door and listened. Cao Long's and Cao Luoi's voices weren't loud but he'd been practicing the [Strongest Martial Arts] diligently for two years so this body had undergone minor improvents and his hearing was much sharper.
"You know soone from our family has to go with the Cao family seal. How else would the workers release the grains to the soldiers? You're needed in court and Cao Feng is your heir and he just started attending court, he can't leave too. Who else is there?"
Cao Luoi argued. She had been inexplicably saddened by the news of the general going missing. The man was a hero admired by all. She felt a strong need to go there and even after ignoring it, the urge only beca stronger. She needed to go to the Northern border, she needed to be there for him.
He Yuan rolled his eyes. If anything happened to Cao Feng, Cao Xiwang was there to inherit the title but it seed in Cao Luoi's eyes, her half siblings weren't part of the family.
He pushed the door open and ca to a stop before their bewildered figures. "I'll go."
Cao Long didn't even think twice before nodding. "Alright."
He Yuan had to hold back a choke. Cao Long had been vehently against Cao Luoi going in fear for her wellbeing but he had no qualms sending Cao Yuei, who was also his own daughter, to the war zone. Wasn't this man's double standards a little bit... Too high?!
"Father!" Cao Luoi exclaid and eyed He Yuan disdainfully. "Were you eavesdropping? What an undignified thing to do!" She looked back to Cao Long. "Father, are you really going to let such a person handle such an important matter? What if she brings disgrace to our Cao family?!"
Cao Long massaged his forehead. "Luoi, there's no other option. If I could send you, you know I would."
"So you don't trust , is that it? You don't think I'm reliable enough?" Cao Luoi's eyes turned red as she pressed on.
"I lost your mother and I would not lose you too!" Cao Long shouted and Cao Luoi froze. Even He Yuan's eyes widened. Wow. Just wow.
The old man had never shouted at Cao Luoi before. He must really an business this ti. But to show so much care for one daughter whilst you send the other daughter to the sa situation you're protecting the first one from. Tsk.
He Yuan curtsied. "I beg to take my leave father. I need to go and prepare for the upcoming journey." He smiled secretly at Cao Luoi as he continued to speak to Cao Long, "Now that you have found reliable enough and entrusted this task upon , I can't fail you."
Cao Luoi burst into tears and ran out of the study before Cao Long could stop her. The pri minister turned to glare at He Yuan but He Yuan's smile only increased as he walked out of the study.
He Yuan spent the next few weeks gathering dicinal ingredients and refining as much dicine as he could. He had never been to a war zone but he didn't need to to know that it was a place rife with sorrow and fatal wounds.
The more dicine he had, the more secure his life would be.
"Big sis~"
Cao Xiwang had been pestering him for weeks. The ten year old had burst into tears at first and refused to let him leave, thinking he was going to die.
He Yuan had placated him with food and soft words. In fact, there was no need for the kid to worry too much. He would be staying at the rear of the camp where it was safest. The soldiers would not let any harm co to him.
Even if Cao Long did not like Cao Yuei much, she was still part of the Cao family and they would not dare offend the Cao family by letting a Cao family child lose her life under their care.
"Hmm?" He Yuan answered as he sorted so dicinal ingredients. Whatever he couldn't refine into dicine, he planned to pack in airtight bags.
"Can I co with you then?" Cao Xiwang said with puppy eyes.
He Yuan placed a palm over the boy's eyes and said ruthlessly, "No." How could he take Xiwang with him? Even if he was on hard drugs, he still wouldn't have the guts to risk the little boy's life.
"But why? You said it was safe!" Cao Xiwang pushed He Yuan's hand away and eyed him distrustfully. "Did you lie to ?"
He Yuan sighed. "No. You're still quite young that's why. Father wouldn't let you."
Cao Xiwang snorted. "I'm pretty sure if I go with you, he wouldn't notice until the day we return."
He Yuan had nothing to say to that. As sad as it was, the boy's words were actually true but he still would not take him. This was a child he personally raised! How could he let him anywhere near a possibility of harm?
"I'm really sorry, Xiwang. I just can't take you." When the boy opened his mouth to continue to argue, He Yuan picked up a at bun and stuffed in his mouth.
Ti flied and the soldiers finally arrived at the capital and He Yuan packed up his stuff to go with them. When he went to Cao Long's study to get the Cao family seal, he t a proud looking Cao Luoi and a tired Cao Long.
"I've finally decided to let Cao Luoi go to the frontline. She is the first daughter after all so she would handle the Cao family seal. The both of you would need to look after each other."
He Yuan said nothing and just nodded. He'd been eager to go to the frontline in Cao Luoi's place in order to keep her from eting the genius doctor. Looks like his efforts were wasted.
Cao Long mobilized a quarter of the Cao family's bodyguards and even twenty secret guards. He Yuan rolled his eyes. The old man had been planning on leaving him in the care of the soldiers.
But now that Cao Luoi was coming, he mobilized a part of the Cao family's forces. What a great father. He Yuan wasn't too disgruntled by this fact though. He had practiced martial arts for two years but he was nowhere near the level of hardened soldiers.
Extra protection would hurt no one. His hand went to the whip at his waist, he'd had it made a year ago and had been practicing with it ever since. He was reassured by the fact that he could, at least, defend himself a little if he ran into enemy soldiers.
He Yuan and Cao Luoi boarded a carriage in front of the reinforcent. The soldiers numbered a total of ten thousand n and the procession was imposing.
They soon got on their way to the frontline. The farm settlents belonging to the Cao family were on the way there.
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