Chapter 8 (1/2)

”The king reduced our rations by half. In addition, your good days are coming to an end. Today, sun is expected to exchange 2000 kilograms of grain with me for you. The king also asked about you.”

Qin Huan said softly.

Mrs. Li's face turned pale for a moment. She took a deep breath and said, ”childe, it doesn't matter whether I live or die. Just take good care of Wan'er and don't let her be bullied. If you have a chance in the future, please send her to Xiangyang. My brother is an official there. If you don't want to stay here one day, you can go to my brother. I'll write a letter to you.”

”Niang, Wan'er, don't leave you.”

”Brother Xiaoyu, please don't take my mother for food. If you want to take it, take Wan'er for it.”

The mother and daughter hugged each other and began to sob again. Qin Huan waved impatiently.

”All right! Haven't you decided yet? I'll think of another way! Eat first! ”

”However, you can't eat dry food all day. Well, I'll spare an hour every day in the future. I hope you can teach those teenagers to read. As for you, just wash the dishes.”

………

For two days in a row, one bowl of porridge in the morning and one bowl in the evening. The teenagers are so hungry that they are listless. Do you still have the mind to learn to read?

Both mother and daughter were dizzy with hunger, and even the daily queue training was cancelled.

Thinking about it, Qin Huan had to go to Li Dingguo.

He's not going to borrow food.

Because there are provisions for the food of each battalion, if Li Dingguo lends food to him, his subordinates will certainly have an opinion, so he wants to do a vote for Li Dingguo.

”Brother Qin, Chuang Tzu near the valley city has been beaten down by the eldest brother. If you go to another county, the officers and soldiers in the county will certainly go out of the city to support. Now there are only more than 200 people under my command who dare to fight. The remaining 2000 people are young and strong who have not been on the battlefield. I'm afraid it's not easy to do!” Li Dingguo was a little embarrassed.

”How about discussing with other battalions and working together for him?” Qin Huan thought for a moment.

”Ah! Now everyone has food and drink, who will go to hell? ” Li Dingguo sighed.

”Then let's go it alone. I have more than 2000 kilograms of gunpowder and a cannon. I don't believe I can't even attack a landlord's stronghold?” Qin Huan bit his teeth and couldn't stand the day when he didn't cook rice.

”Brother Qin, you don't know. Some Zhuangbao are actually more difficult to fight than the county.”

”Oh! Why? ”

”Because those servants are much more desperate to protect the courtyard than the officers and soldiers, and those landlords will not hesitate to reward in order to protect their families, so even if the door is blown open, they will fight to the death.” Li Dingguo explained.

”No wonder everyone doesn't want to move. Otherwise, settle the country. How about we fight bandits and mountain thieves?” Qin Huan tried.

”Eh! This is feasible. ” Li Dingguo's eyes lit up.

Compared with Qizhuang castle, the mountain stronghold is really much better to fight. As long as the stronghold door is blown open, most of the bandits will surrender.

”Well, let's make a deal. You go to ask the king for instructions. I'll find out the target. What about the grain, gold and silver we get at that time?” Qin Huan was very happy.

”Yes!”

Li Dingguo nodded. He also knew Qin Huan's plight. He was really afraid that he would ask for food.

Then they went to work.

After several days of searching, Qin Huan finally targeted Niutou mountain, thirty miles north of Gucheng.

So they ordered their troops and horses, brought dry food, and went to the north.