Those small, colorful little garments held in hand were extremely cute!

Tang Si chattered on and on about many things…

The topics all revolved around children.

Ji Yun Shu listened silently.

At this time—

A young soldier came to report.

He said that Young Master Jing had sent someone with news. Everything had gone very smoothly. They had rescued Bai Yin from the Yue Dan military camp and also burned their grain and fodder. Now the Yue Dan military camp was in chaos. But they still needed to stay there to prevent any unexpected changes in this battle. Once they won this battle, they would return immediately.

Ji Yun Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In a moment, she sighed again.

Tang Si didn’t understand and asked, “A’Ji, shouldn’t we be happy? They’re fine now, and the Yue Dan people’s grain and fodder has been burned. They definitely can’t hold out much longer. Soon they’ll surrender and get out of this grassland.”

The reason Ji Yun Shu was worried was because of Bai Yin.

Jingrong and the others had rescued him from the military camp, which meant Huhe Hao had indeed intended to kill him. For someone who regarded Huhe Hao as a brother, this would probably be hard to accept for a time.

Forget it. It was good to see clearly sooner.

She looked at Tang Si, smiled with pursed lips, and said nothing.

Then suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, how is Miss Qin?”

You only just thought of her!

Tang Si’s eyes rolled as she said with a laugh, “Her? She’s like a fish in water now, couldn’t be happier.”

“…”

“You don’t know yet, but I played matchmaker.”

“Matchmaker? You mean Miss Qin and Big Brother Lang?”

“Right! If it weren’t for me, that big fool would still be acting all coy like a woman! The night before my father led the troops out, the two of them already shared a tent. I thought you knew.”

She didn’t know!

But yes, she wasn’t one for gossip, so naturally she wouldn’t know.

After all, what pregnant woman had time for that!

Ji Yun Shu was naturally happy for them. “Miss Qin is a very good person. When we were captured and taken to the Yue Dan military camp, she always took good care of me. For Big Brother Lang to be with her, they really are well-matched.”

“Miss Qin isn’t just a good person, she’s also very beautiful. But look at that big fool—he’s as rough and burly as A’San and A’Si. Where is he as refined as my A’Mu? For Miss Qin to fancy him, it’s his fortune from eight lifetimes of good deeds. He probably laughs himself awake from dreams.”

Elbows turning inward!

…

These past two days, Lang Bo had fallen madly in love with making congee.

Right now, he had cooked another pot and brought it before Qin Xi.

He ladled out a bowl for her!

Eyes full of expectation. “Try it. This time it’s definitely better than last time.”

Qin Xi shyly took a sip.

The taste was indeed good.

“How is it?”

“Delicious.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“Then drink more.”

“Mm.”

She drank an entire bowl.

Lang Bo just watched her like this, grinning the whole time.

Looking like he’d found treasure.

Qin Xi put down the bowl, looked up at him, touched her own face, curious. “Why does Big Brother Lang keep staring at me? Is there something dirty on my face?”

“Of course not!” Lang Bo hurriedly waved his hands, his face reddening. He lowered his head to explain, “It’s because you’re too beautiful to look at. For a moment… I was spellbound.”

Pfft—

Qin Xi bit her lip and smiled.

Shy and bashful.

The two were lovey-dovey, clingy and affectionate.

So sickeningly sweet!

Shi Ziran, that single dog, found it very exasperating.

Two days later.

Hou Liao and Yue Dan went to war.

This battle was fought extremely fiercely. Both sides were evenly matched—neither gained the upper hand at the opening.

Yue Dan had lost their reinforcements, and with insufficient grain and fodder, they fundamentally couldn’t hold out much longer. Even if grain was transported from the west, riding at full speed, it would take half a month. But Huhe Hao didn’t seem anxious at all. He continued to hold on stubbornly, leading his people in bloody battle against Hou Liao, continuing the stalemate, absolutely refusing to withdraw troops or surrender. Even if he fought down to his last soldier, he would spare no expense.

And the Yue Dan people were indeed born to fight—they were much fiercer than the Hou Liao troops. So even without reinforcements, they remained unstoppable.

After several hard clashes, neither side gained any advantage.

Mu Zha’er immediately summoned his subordinates to discuss what to do next.

“Their grain and fodder will soon run out. They can’t hold on much longer. We should pursue while victorious and eliminate them early, not giving them any chance of survival.”

“Behead Huhe Hao and see if those Yue Dan people will surrender or not.”

“Leader, we should immediately gather troops and attack.”

“They’re about to collapse. We can’t miss this opportunity.”

…

Everyone’s morale was high.

They all recommended pursuing while victorious.

Mu Zha’er sat in the primary position, his expression grave. He neither agreed nor disagreed.

After thinking thoroughly, he said, “Not pursuing a desperate enemy is the victor’s style.”

Everyone could only wait quietly for orders!

Mu Zha’er looked toward Geta and ordered, “Geta, tomorrow you take your troops and set up camp on the south side of the Yue Dan military camp first.”

Geta: “Yes!”

He ordered again, “Alashan, you take your men and set up camp behind the Yue Dan military camp. Wait for orders to attack in one stroke.”

Alashan stood up to receive the order.

This person was very young and didn’t look at all like their grassland people. His build was similar to Central Plains people, and even his appearance was very clean. His eyes held no ambition or desire, cold and indifferent, showing no emotion. If it weren’t for the tiger skin armor he wore, at first glance you’d think he was a scholar. He had no imposing aura at all.

Four years ago, several Hou Liao herdsmen got into trouble in the western grasslands and were detained by tribesmen from another tribe, who demanded that Hou Liao exchange one hundred sheep, fifty cattle, and a stretch of open grassland for them. Alashan’s father went on Mu Zha’er’s orders to rescue them, but an accident occurred and he was shot to death by the other side’s arrows. Thus, Alashan inherited the land and troops his father left behind. At a young age, he commanded tens of thousands of soldiers. But he seemed born without the makings of a military commander or leader. So not long after taking his position, he handed all real power over to trusted people around him to manage, while he himself just held the title in name.

Mu Zha’er gave orders one by one to several nobles commanding major forces to lead troops out tomorrow, implementing a strategy of dispersed encirclement, surrounding and attacking Yue Dan from all directions—east, south, west, and north—to completely crush them.

He also ordered Third Master, “Our grain and fodder aren’t abundant either. Hechi, you take men back to transport grain. This battle might have to be fought for a long time yet. The grain and fodder absolutely cannot be cut off.”

“Yes!”

The next day.

The noble generals set out with their troops as ordered.

Effectively dispersing them to various places!

Mu Zha’er remained at the camp.

He was examining a tiger skin map in his tent.

The wind outside lifted the curtain and blew in, lightly lifting a corner of the tiger skin map. His thick, calloused palm immediately pressed down on it.

Pressed down with a muffled sound.

At the same time, a line of blood suddenly spattered on that fluttering curtain.

The soldier guarding outside fell down.

Mu Zha’er was not alarmed. His gaze remained on the map before him.

Someone came in.

Iron boots trod the ground, making a series of cold, sharp sounds.