Chapter 89 How Can We Farm Without Water?

89 How Can We Farm Without Water?

Village Chief Zhao’s words made everyone perk up again.

They had been farming for a living, so the location did not matter much. “We’ll manage the land of Master and Madam in the future. We can’t let them suffer at all!” Bai Wutong and the others had protected them along the way. This was all they could do now.

Village Chief Zhao nodded in relief and agreed. “Yes.”

After the land they were going to explore was registered, they could collect the dry rations for their journey and prepare to set off.

!!

While they were collecting the food, Prime Minister Cui looked at his disciples and said, “You all have your own skills and talents. Ling Kingdom is in need of manpower. The Eldest Prince is in the tent in front. If you want to stay, go ahead yourself.”

Cui Shize’s will to serve a virtuous ruler had always affected his disciples. If Cui Shize did not like the Eldest Prince, how could they? Moreover, Duke Chu was in his prime age and might have other heirs. If they had chosen to follow the Eldest Prince, there would be no room for negotiation in future.

The disciples knelt on the ground and said, “Teacher, we still have many areas to improve. We want to join the government only after the imperial examination has been restored.” If Duke Chu had a discerning eye and saw that they were really talented after the imperial examination, he would definitely put them in an important position.

Cui Shize frowned. “If you follow me, you will have to start farming. You can only participate in the imperial examination once you have attained your household registration in Ling Kingdom. Moreover, it’s still unknown when the imperial examination will be restored.” If they obtained the Eldest Prince’s recognition, not only would they be able to soar, but they would also not have to go to the countryside to farm.

The disciples looked at each other and smiled. “If Teacher isn’t afraid of exploring wasteland and farming, why should we be afraid?”

Cui Shize saw the determination in their eyes and sighed. “Alright!” The current situation was uncertain anyway.

After receiving their rations, they were sent on their way by the soldiers of the Ling Kingdom.

Chu Tianbao knew that they were about to reach home. He excitedly raised Stinky high up to sit on his shoulders and ran a few rounds. Then, he used his qinggong and darted around.

Not only was Stinky not afraid, he even grinned and giggled happily as if he was used to sitting there.

Sheng Huaixuan watched worriedly and enviously. Lin Yue said, “Master, don’t worry. Master Chu won’t hurt our young master. His martial arts are very powerful!” His eyes were filled with admiration for Chu Tianbao.

Sheng Huaixuan was already used to it. He nodded and praised, “Brother is indeed very powerful.” Why didn’t he learn martial arts back then?

When they set off, it was already close to dusk. A horn sounded. The news that the Fengming City had been destroyed and Lord Ning Yuan and his soldiers had been killed spread. The entire camp was overjoyed.

After taking down Fengming City, they would enter Jiangyuan City and soon occupy Duke Ping’s lair, Huaiyang.

Once the food supply from Huaiyang was cut off, the entire Yan Kingdom would be at their mercy.

In order to prevent him from obtaining military merits, Gou Houxing was chased off the battlefield by Chu Mingji when the city was broken.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure in the group of refugees. He widened his eyes and was about to chase after when the Eldest Prince’s servant deliberately reminded him, “General Gou, the Eldest Prince has ordered that you are not to act on your own.”

Gou Houxing looked on with a dark expression. When he looked again, the refugees had already walked far away.

He lowered his head again. If the general was still alive, how could he have abandoned the empress?

The team followed the soldier who led the way and walked for eight days before finally arriving at Woqian Town.

After changing the group of leading people and registering everyone’s information, they were not allowed to stay in Woqian Town and was led to the Jade Spiritual Mountain.

In winter, the Jade Spiritual Mountain was covered in snow. They followed the officers who were in charge of leading the way. They walked along the dense forest for less than an hour and followed the rugged and steep mountain path made by a passerby for more than an hour before the officers stopped.

Bai Wutong was already sweating all over. This road was too difficult. If they wanted to set up their homes here, they would have to build a road in the future before they could let the carriage in.

Otherwise, a whole day would have passed by on foot.

The officers pointed at a slightly flat area in the mountains and said, “You can explore here in the future!” Then they pointed in another direction and said to Sheng Huaixuan politely, “Your land is there. If you lack anything, you can borrow it from a village nearby. Alright, we’ll be heading back first.”

Bai Wutong looked at the head bailiff. “Officer, didn’t you say that there was food for us to survive the winter?”

The head bailiff smiled. “There are so many refugees. How can the government afford it? The policies have changed, and there’s no food for you. Don’t you still have a day’s worth of food? Just survive on that. With so many strong men, you can find work to exchange for food. There’s also such a huge mountain that has plenty to eat. It’s better to rely on yourself than on others. Take care. I’ll bring people to count the manpower two days!” With that, he gave them a warning look and led his men away, as if he had just rid himself of a burden.

If the officials did not give them any food, weren’t they just leaving them here to fend for themselves?

At this moment, the villagers of Zhao’s Farmyard all felt a strong sense of being deceived.

When they was staying in Woqian Town previously, Village Chief Zhao had already gone to the food store to ask around. The food was as ridiculously expensive as in the Yan Kingdom.

All their assets added up could not feed them for an entire month.

Most importantly, they could not buy much food even if they had the money. As the two countries were at war, food became an important strategic resource and was strictly controlled by the government. Everyone could only buy a little food per day.

Bai Wutong said, “Let’s set up camp first. We’ll think about it after we’re full.” What else could they do? They could only be glad that they had settled down.

Everyone was used to sleeping in the wilderness. The environment here was considered good. There was so much wood that they could use to camp.

Everyone supported each other as they walked towards their uneven “home.”

Sheng Huaixuan’s place was beside the mountain. However, he didn’t have a house, so he made do with Bai Wutong and the others.

After setting up the tent for the night, everyone started a fire to cook. Bai Wutong realized that there was no water source around, so everyone could only boil snow water to cook.

The official said that there were mountains and rivers here. But she only saw mountains, where was the water!

How could they farm without water?

Bai Wutong frowned and said, “Go and see if there’s a water source nearby.”

Qingfeng replied, “Okay.”

Lin Yue followed Bai Wutong’s instructions habitually. After taking two steps, he stopped and retracted his feet. He should listen to Sheng Huaixuan’s orders now.

Sheng Huaixuan was a smart person. He said to him, “Go and see if there’s water around too.”

Lin Yue immediately flew out to follow Qingfeng.

Qingfeng and Lin Yue walked around the surrounding forest and entered the depths of the forest before discovering a frozen mountain spring.

If someone without martial arts had to transport water back and forth, he would definitely be exhausted and might even encounter wild beasts in the forest.