Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Chapter 1347: Merge

Gu Jinli watched him obediently standing beside Old Bao’s wife, silently eating the pie, and smiled. She said to Old Bao’s wife, "You all share a mule cart with Aunt Bo’s family. If anything happens on the road, just go to Aunt Xiong, don’t be polite."

"Ah, thank you, madam." Old Bao’s wife replied with a broad smile and patted her foster son, "Brother Kang, quickly thank the madam."

She continued, "This child was both sick and injured when he first came to our home. He lay in bed for over a month before he came back to life. My husband and I gave him the name Bao Fukan, hoping he would be healthy and well for the rest of his life."

Gu Jinli smiled and said, "That’s a good name, with a great meaning."

Old Bao’s wife smiled even more joyously upon hearing this.

After Brother Kang saluted and thanked Gu Jinli, the mother and son went to the mule cart where Aunt Bo’s family was.

Seeing that the goods from both families made the cart too cramped, Old Bao’s wife said, "Sister-in-law Bo, it’s too crowded. Let’s hang those items that can withstand snow, like woks, hoes, shovels, raincoats, and radishes, outside the cart."

Aunt Bo agreed after hearing this, and with Brother Kang’s help, they moved the items that could withstand the rain out of the cart, either hanging them outside the cart or tying them to the top of the cart.

Seeing Bu Ling holding the child and shrinking inside the cart, Old Bao’s wife called her, "Bu Family girl, why are you huddling there? Come help. We are farmers, not young ladies, and we need to see the work that needs to be done."

Bu Ling was afraid of embarrassing her family, so she was hiding in the cart. But after hearing this, she felt she couldn’t hide anymore and came out to help with the work.

After Aunt Xiong came over and reported this to Gu Jinli, Gu Jinli was very satisfied. Old Bao’s wife was quite good. Looking ahead, if she stays aligned with them, she could be of great use.

Once Gu Jinli had arranged for the families of the accompanying soldiers, she sighed with relief. By her calculation, among Brother Qin’s confidants, Zhang Zhong was still the least burdensome. With many brothers back home and parents being looked after, and since he wasn’t married, he could go to the Northwest without any burdens.

Soon, County Magistrate Zheng, County Captain Jiang, Jiang Dahu, and the others arrived, exchanged a few words with Qin San Lang, and soon the sound of drums echoed.

Dong dong dong!

Upon hearing the drums, the soldiers immediately stood upright, their bodies as straight as spears.

Qin San Lang stood on a high platform, one hand on the knife handle, the other holding the Token, his gaze sharp as a blade. He surveyed the neatly standing soldiers and raised his voice, saying, "The Rong people have breached three cities of the Great Chu, slaughtering countless of our brothers and sisters. This time, we go to the Northwest to defend our borders and seek revenge. We can only win, not lose! The Rong people are ruthless. If anyone is afraid of death, stand out now, and I will let you leave unharmed. But if you dare to flee once in the Northwest, it won’t just be you who suffers the nine punishments of the military camp, but also your family and clansmen."

The military camp had its punishments, divided into nine levels. Levels five and above were for enemies and traitors. Qin San Lang had taken soldiers from the Military Office to the Prefecture Punishment Camp to see it. The soldiers knew what the nine punishments represented.

Qin San Lang had supervised the Military Office for over three years. These soldiers, trained by him personally, were not afraid of death or hardship. Hearing Qin San Lang’s words, they responded with strong voices, "Slay the Rong bandits, and return only upon victory!!"

Their voices pierced the sky, and after finishing, they let out three howls like a pack of wolves.

"Good! That’s the spirit!" A flash of satisfaction crossed Qin San Lang’s eyes, but his gaze quickly turned stern. He turned his body, picked up a stone bow, strung an arrow, and shot it towards the high flag in front of the camp.

Swoosh!

The sound of cutting through the air was heard as the sharp arrow flew like lightning, striking the copper bead at the top of the high flag.

Clang!

The copper bead fell and landed in the copper plate below the high flag.

The copper plate was placed on an incense table, and County Magistrate Zheng and County Captain Jiang stood in front of the incense table.

"The marching bead has fallen, the offering is done, slay the Rong bandits, and return only upon victory!" County Magistrate Zheng was the first to kneel, shouting, followed by County Captain Jiang and Jiang Dahu.

Qin San Lang also knelt down, "Slay the Rong bandits, and return only upon victory!"

The soldiers, seeing this, immediately knelt, followed by shouting the vow and knocking their heads on the ground three times before standing up again.

Qin San Lang descended from the high platform and approached the high flag. With a strong arm, he pulled the flag out of the copper pillar with one hand, shouting, "Zhang Tu, hold the Military Flag!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Tu quickly ran over, took the flag with both hands, and held it high.

Qin San Lang looked at him and said, "This Military Flag represents the honor of Tianfu County’s Military Office soldiers. If it’s lost, bring your head to see me!"

"Yes!" Zhang Tu responded, gripping the flag tightly in his hands.

Zhang Tu was Zhang Zhong’s cousin. Although not as skilled as Zhang Zhong, he had great strength and a tenacious spirit. Qin San Lang trusted him with the flag.

He shouted, "The soldiers have sworn an oath, and there shall be no changes. Place your fingerprints in front of the incense table on the military orders, and then go receive your medicine bags. Depart at three-quarters past Chen time!"

They had risen at dawn, so it was just past Chen time at that moment.

"Yes!" The soldiers responded and, led by their respective small Section Leaders, came one by one to the incense table, pressed their fingerprints on the military orders, and then went to receive their medicine bags.

The medicine bags were provided by the Gu Family. Doctor Dai, Ye Dakou, Mai Dong, and San Qi had already unloaded many of the medicinal materials from the mule cart, distributing them to the soldiers bag by bag.

Ye Jingzi, Qing Hui, and Qing Pu were also distributing the medicine bags to the families of the soldiers. Each family received a large bag of convenient medicine for treating cold and knife wounds.

The soldiers, seeing this, were very grateful: "Our Lord Company Commander is truly blessed with a wife, marrying such a wealthy lady, and even giving us medicine bags."

Just a little ugly, I heard she has pimples on her face, and they fester, which looks quite disgusting.

County Magistrate Zheng, seeing this, felt quite ashamed. These should have been provided by the county government, but the court had increased taxes this year and planned to recruit soldiers before the year ends, sending a batch of soldiers to the Northwest... The conscription order even stated that cold-weather clothing for these new soldiers should be solved by the local county government, so he could only save the silver to buy cold-weather clothing for the new recruits beforehand.

However, County Magistrate Zheng gave a Zheng Family Token to Qin San Lang: "Among the grain officials for this campaign against the Rong, one is Old Lord Zheng’s disciple. As for weapons and supplies, I can’t guarantee, but with this Zheng Family Token, you can get your share of rations for your soldiers."

The share of rations was fixed—there was no way to get extra—but this was already a great help. The Northwest region was not abundant in grain; it was often either in drought or barren, and rations were extremely scarce. When the court sent rations there, they were divided among high-level officers before the food carts even touched the ground. A small Company Commander like Qin San Lang, unless sent to die in the vanguard, would often get deprived of rations.

Qin San Lang accepted it, "Thank you, sir."

County Magistrate Zheng patted him on the shoulder and told him to be careful, then allowed him to bid farewell to the Jiang family.

Jiang Dahu and Jiang Qi didn’t say much. They had explained everything clearly on the day Qin San Lang got married, mentioning only a few things and finally saying, "Return victorious!"

Qin San Lang solemnly saluted Jiang Dahu, Jiang Qi, and County Magistrate Zheng, then swiftly turned around and shouted to the soldiers who had already received their medicine bags, "Move out!"

With that order, Qin San Lang mounted his horse and led the soldiers to set off in grand, imposing ranks, heading to Luan’an County to rendezvous with soldiers from other counties.