The Horse Farm.
A solitary stone house stood alone on a slope several dozen ters high, nestled against the mountain forest.
Initially, this stone house was built by the horse farm to serve as a resting and observation place for the coachn who herded mules and horses during the spring and sumr days.
Although this place was designated as a horse farm, the surrounding area was barren, and continuous mountains could be found dozens of miles away. Packs of wolves frequently appeared.
When the coachn herded the mules and horses out, they had to remain vigilant at all tis.
Especially in autumn or spring, when wolves needed to hunt to fill their bellies, if they couldn’t find anything to eat nearby, the wolf packs would take risks and co to the horse farm.
Therefore, this stone house was built on the slope for safety, in a position that was easy to defend and hard to attack.
If there truly were wolf packs, even if there were only a few people, as long as they stayed inside the stone house without leaving and sent a signal, soone from the horse farm would co to assist.
At this mont, the house had beco the refuge for Song Chongjin and his companions.
In front of the stone house was a wall built of stones. Song Xiaoyin and Song Xiaomao were wrapped tightly, like bears, hiding behind the wall, peering through the stone cracks to observe what was happening down the mountain.
Inside the stone house, Song Chongjin and a few others sat. There was also so firewood stored here by the coachn in the fall, which was now burning, keeping the inside relatively warm.
The flickering crimson light cast unpredictable shadows, reflecting the heavy expressions on everyone’s faces inside the house.
Besides Song Xiaowei and Song Xiaowu, the siblings brought by Song Chongjin, the others were a few officials from the County Yan.
They looked disheveled, with mud and snow water staining their clothes, their hair in disarray, and scratches from tree branches and rocks on their faces and hands as they sat by the fire.
Their expressions were very unsightly. Quan Xiangsheng, the County Magistrate of Chicheng County, gritted his teeth while applying dicinal wine to his arm, cursing incessantly: "These bastards from the horse farm dared to plot against us! They’re rebelling! Wait till I get out of here, I’ll see how I deal with them! Ha, daring to trip your Grandpa Quan, you must be tired of living!"
It’s quite unlucky; in this freezing weather, they usually stayed ho, enjoying the warm bed with their wives and kids, heating up a pot of wine, with their wives frying so peanuts and soybeans. Now that’s what you call living.
This year, first ca a new superior, and after a month of assessnt, he discovered that the newly arrived Lord Song, though young, was just as skilled and strategic.
Not to ntion the Mr. Jian at his side, who was an old fox with a thousand years of wisdom.
What’s more baffling was Lord Song’s Madam, who seed to have given their won so kind of bewitching potion. After eting her once, they ca back complinting Lord Song and Madam Song as if they were flawless, always speaking well of them.
If he didn’t know his own wife was old and past her pri, he’d suspect Lord Song had used his charm on her.
Especially later, when Madam Song hosted a banquet and his wife and daughter attended, his daughter too seed enchanted, constantly praising Madam Song.
He thought it was just his wife and daughter, but even Old Wan’s wife and daughter seed equally bewitched.
Old Wan’s wife was even more impressive, directly stating that Lord Song and Madam were excellent, respectful and amiable, without any airs, advising him not to trip up Lord Song.
She also said, no matter who takes charge, it wouldn’t be him anyway. It’s rare to encounter soone respectful and amiable, so why not support them instead of stirring trouble?
Could they possibly want a superior who looked down on them, considering taking concubines every day?
Old Wan, that bastard, initially said they’d properly assess the new County Magistrate upon taking office. If the new County Magistrate wasn’t capable, they could take any liberties. They didn’t want a new superior who knew nothing but ddled in everything, leaving them to clean up the ss.
Unexpectedly, Old Wan was soft-eared and afraid of his wife. Within less than a month, he followed his wife’s advice and switched sides.
Couldn’t you at least inform ? Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to switch sides together?
One day, they planned on making things difficult for Lord Song, and the next day, Old Wan, that bastard, was diligently following orders like a chicken pecking rice, agreeing with everything Lord Song said.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly and changed his attitude imdiately, he would’ve been led astray by Old Wan, that scoundrel.
After their attitude shifted, they noticed a significant change in Lord Song’s attitude towards them as well.
Not only did he trust them more, but he also quietly increased their benefits.
For example, in the Yan, in the past, there was never enough charcoal, and the brothers froze while on duty. Every year at this ti, whose hands and feet didn’t suffer from frostbite?
But this year, the Yan had ample charcoal. Since winter began, there was a large pot of ginger soup simring over charcoal every day at the County Yan. Drinking it ward them up completely.
The Yan also stocked dicine for preventing frostbite, said to be concocted by the Madam herself. It’s said the Madam apprenticed under an Imperial Physician, making the frostbite ointnt invaluable.
Whether it’s invaluable or not, I don’t know, but this year, after using the ointnt, none of the brothers suffered from frostbite.
Not to ntion that with sufficient charcoal, everyone could bring food to the Yan and heat it over the charcoal at noon for a warm al.
No need to brave the cold wind walking ho for lunch and then back again, filling their stomachs with cold wind. Even an iron man couldn’t withstand that.
Moreover, later, the Madam had soone pass a ssage that if any brothers went out on patrol, they should inform the steward in the back courtyard so they could accompany them when making purchases.
It was said that the back courtyard lacked manpower and needed their help, but every ti they went, the purchasing steward bought several extra portions, saying everyone had a share for their effort in helping carry things.
The items didn’t appear to be precious, but they were practical. Sotis it was flour, sotis at, sotis even oil and vinegar—essentials for every household.
Helping a few tis each, the family could save half of their expenses.
After several instances, they understood—this was Mada’s way of finding support for them. Knowing that their salaries were fixed and that family life was barely manageable, with Mada’s subsidy, the won at ho said they had more leeway, and could even buy the elderly and children a thick garnt by the end of the year.
Everyone’s heart is made of flesh. Although Lord Song and Mada Song never ntioned anything, they could see the tangible actions.
Having such considerate superiors, which subordinate wouldn’t like it?
Especially compared to the previous one who only cared about his own enjoynt and ignored their lives, no one is a masochist. Naturally, they all stood by Lord Song’s side.
Otherwise, why, when there was trouble at the horse farm this ti, did the few of them on duty follow Lord Song into the horse farm without any hesitation?
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