"My buddy went in to deliver the docunts and heard the mistress saying this," said the soldier, softening his voice to mimic Qi Yue's.
"Ahem... Well said, take soone's hand and you feel soft, eat soone's food and your mouth feels tender. Those captives, after taking our copper coins, would feel embarrassed to just leave. Even if they did leave, they'd feel awkward to fight against us next ti. And even if they fought, they'd surrender, waiting to get more copper coins. This, you see, is just human nature!"
"..."
The crowd of soldiers went silent.
They looked at each other, and couldn't help but put themselves in the captives' shoes for a while, finally all nodding in agreent.
"Seems like that actually makes sense."
"So we should still feed these people?"
"Of course, haven't you seen the several carts of food and that large flock of sheep?"
"Ah, so the captives get to eat the sa as us!"
"Absolutely, the mistress said this is treating everyone equally, to let those captives know about our good life."
"I'm just worried they'll eat it all, and we'll have nothing left."
"Worrying for nothing, haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Ever since the mistress took over the housekeeping, several storehouses have been packed full, no place to even stand inside, more food than we can eat."
"I have heard that, which shows the mistress is really kind-hearted."
"Indeed she is kind-hearted. Even the heavens like our mistress—haven't you noticed the well water has been sweet lately?"
"Noticed it, and drinking it makes you feel energetic too!"
"You just do your job well; my buddy said that, follower our master and mistress, we'll never be short of benefits!"
"...."
While they were enthusiastically chatting, suddenly a troop of horsen rushed towards the city from outside, kicking up so much dust that one couldn't make out the soldiers' uniforms.
"Who's coming? Could sothing have happened?"
"It isn't a revolt of the captives, is it?"
"You crow's mouth, always babbling nonsense—it's General Fat arriving!"
Scolded with a hefty slap behind the ear by the city-guarding officer, the few chattering n finally shut their mouths.
From amidst the cloud of dust, a large black horse charged forth, majestic and imposing.
Atop the black horse sat a large, chubby man, whose size matched that of the horse beneath him. He wielded a broadsword, his face beaming like a blooming flower.
"Quick, open the gates wide and welco General Fat back to the city!"
At the officer's command, the gates that had just been closed were imdiately pulled open, emitting a thunderous rumble.
The chubby man led the way on horseback through the city gate, heading straight for the forr Yewang Prefecture, now the Marquis Residence.
Those curious had followed along to inquire, and soon it was known that General Fat had scored a major victory at Shifang Mountain, capturing Song Chengye's reserve forces stationed there.
"Amazing, I heard General Fat only took three thousand troops with him!"
"Three thousand against a hundred thousand, how did he win such a battle?"
"I heard General Fat had a secret weapon called 'Sky Net.' With it spread open, only five hundred n were needed to block the entire valley mouth. Another two thousand shouted from all directions, making the Donggao Army believe we had an imnse force. They panicked and fled towards the valley, but then... each one of them fell right into the net..."
"What sort of net could be that big? And even if there was such a big net, couldn't they just cut through it with knives?"
"What do you know? I heard that the net was crafted by the mistress's own hands, impervious to knife cuts and fire—it's a rare divine object!"
"The mistress is that remarkable?"
"Of course she is. She's also the Divine Doctor, you know!"
"....."
The mont was early morning, and the streets were full of townsfolk.
Many had gathered at the city gate to read the announcent and were asking questions of the nearby soldiers.
Many of their family mbers had taken part in the previous night's 'call your sons ho' operation, so they were also waiting at the city gate, hoping for good news.
After confirming that there hadn't actually been a battle the previous night and that many soldiers had been taken prisoner, the people eagerly hoped to see their loved ones return.
The discussions among the soldiers quickly spread among the civilians, and those who heard couldn't help but feel happy about having chosen such a good master for themselves.
"I really hope the Marquis stays here and doesn't leave!"
"If the Marquis doesn't leave, Miss Qi Yue won't leave either, right? I heard that Miss Qi Yue opened a dicine factory in Beiyuan. The pills they produce are miraculous; both adults and children can be saved without the bitterness of decocting dicines!"
"I know about that too. Last month my elder brother went to Beiyuan to escort goods and brought back two kinds of pills. My son had a fever at that ti, and we used them that very night, they truly are divine dicines!"
"Is that really true?"
"Of course, it's a pity we can't use them. If only we were people from Beiyuan!"
"Exactly, Miss Qi Yue and the Marquis will have to return to Beiyuan sooner or later, right?"
"Are you guys dumb? Right now, we don't belong to anyone, we're neither from Beiyuan nor from Donggao. We're truly the people of the Marquis and Miss Qi Yue; they won't neglect us!"
"That's right, we are the people of the Marquis and Miss Qi Yue!"
"..."
Before long, the city gates opened again, and Yecheng welcod the first batch of prisoners who were permitted to return ho.
So ca with their parents, and others ca in groups.
So were still young, while others were already elderly.
Faces wet with tears, these people stepped into their holand that they had left so many years ago!
Soon, voices filled with surprise and joy were heard at the city gate.
"My son, your mother has finally seen you."
"Dad, your son is back!"
"Dad, dad is back, dad didn't die!"
".....woohoo..."
Cries of speech and sobs ca together, echoing at the city gate for a long ti.
When Qi Yue awoke, she heard the maids and old won in the house also discussing last night's battle.
These people had all been in the residence previously, and since King Ye Song Chengye had seldom lived here after its establishnt, many had never served the Song father and son, but they were still usable. After inspecting them, Qi Yue thought they were okay and decided to keep them on.
Moreover, these people were all locals of Yecheng, with relatives in the area, so they dared not do anything rash.
The maids spoke of how their brothers had also been conscripted to serve in the army over the past few years, unsure if they were still alive. If alive, they should be able to return this ti and never have to go to war again.
The two old won were also weeping, one talking about her son who had been away from ho for many years, and the other about her nephew who had joined the army.
After listening for a while, Qi Yue felt a bitter taste in her heart and instructed them to find the steward to open the storeroom, take so monthly allowance in silver, and so food to go ho and check on their families.
The maids and old won all knelt down like they had received amnesty, each full of tearful gratitude.
"Madam truly has a compassionate heart, a grace as if bestowed by immortals."
With them addressing her as 'Madam,' Qi Yue felt a bit embarrassed.
But thinking about it, she let it be, since she and Zhao Xiyan were bound to get married anyway—it was only a matter of ti.
Having sent the maids and old won away, Qi Yue did not go to find Zhao Xiyan at the front.
She could guess the general situation of the battle from last night.
When they were setting the strategy, she had already anticipated the result.
What she hadn't anticipated was how surprisingly smoothly the fatty had gone to Shifang Mountain.
Having heard the maids' and old won's accounts, she now believed the words Zhao Xiyan had said—that of the four people characterized by height and size, the most skilled in kung fu and wits was the fatty.
It was just that he usually acted so unreliably, making him seem untrustworthy.
This fellow had actually been carrying the net she had casually given him a year ago, and had even found a use for it—to say he was ticulous would be an understatent.
"Never underestimate the fatty, eh!"
Qi Yue smiled and shook her head as she closed the door and entered her space.
After today, Zhao Xiyan would have at least an additional 150,000 soldiers under his command. With the threat from Yecheng gone, it was ti to start thinking about the next steps.
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