Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

The northwest region has been plagued by severe drought for years. The once lush, vibrant landscape of this vast expanse is long gone. The nomadic peoples living nearby have seen their vegetation gradually dry up due to a prolonged lack of rain. The once vast grasslands are now largely barren and desolate.

For these herding peoples, the grasslands are the foundation and lifeblood of their existence. However, now, without abundant grass and water resources, countless cattle and sheep can no longer enjoy a sufficient food supply. Hunger looms large over the tribes, and herds of cattle and sheep struggle in agony, ultimately collapsing helplessly on the ground, becoming mere shrunken corpses.

Faced with such a dire situation, internal conflicts intensified. Seeking a way out, their Khan, after careful consideration, made a difficult decision: to march south. He believed that the most effective way to completely resolve the current predicament was to divert internal conflict outward. Only by conquering foreign lands to plunder more wealth and resources could he alleviate the immediate crisis and ensure the livelihood of his people. Thus, a massive war was about to begin...

Li Ruoyue was concentrating on treating a wealthy patient in her shop. She carefully observed the patient's pulse, her brow furrowed as she pondered the best treatment plan. However, at that moment, the rapid and loud sound of horse hooves echoed through the streets, shattering the originally tranquil atmosphere.

The sound of horse hooves grew closer, carrying an unstoppable force. Then, shouts rang out: "Eight hundred miles, hurry! The Huns are invading! Eight hundred miles, hurry! The Huns are invading!" The sound reverberated in the air like thunder, stirring a sense of nervousness and unease.

Li Ruoyue's heart trembled, and her movements unconsciously paused. She raised her head and looked out the door, a hint of worry in her eyes. A Hun invasion? She had almost forgotten the news. In her previous life, it was also today that the northwest was hit by a severe drought, with no grass growing. Then came a heavy snowfall, rare in a century. She knew all too well the cruelty and ruthlessness of war. Once it broke out, it would bring endless suffering to the people.

By now, the street outside the store had become noisy. People stopped to listen, expressions of fear on their faces. Some began to hastily pack their belongings and prepare to flee the city; others anxiously discussed their options. The whole scene was chaotic, filled with panic and helplessness.

Li Ruoyue took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. As a doctor, she understood that this was the most important moment for her to remain calm and composed. Although she was filled with concern for the safety of her country, she knew that her first priority was to complete the task at hand and help the patient recover. So, she refocused her attention on the patient and continued to diagnose him.

After carefully diagnosing the patient and prescribing an appropriate medicine, Li Ruoyue turned to Luzhu and whispered, "Let's take a day off today and keep the doors and windows closed." Once everything was settled, Li Ruoyue quickly packed up her belongings and hurried back to the mansion. Entering the courtyard, she immediately called Liu Ye and solemnly ordered, "Go and get Uncle Fu!"

Liu Ye took the order and left without delay. He quickly brought the butler, Fu Bo, to the young lady's boudoir. After entering the room, Fu Bo bowed respectfully to Li Ruoyue, then asked, "Young lady, I wonder why you summoned me here? Is there an emergency?"

Li Ruoyue didn't beat around the bush and asked directly: "Uncle Fu, have there been any letters from my father in the northwest recently? The Han and Xiongnu in the north of the capital have repeatedly invaded the border. Have there been any letters sent back from my father?" Her eyes were full of concern and worry, and she obviously missed her relatives far away in the frontier very much.

Uncle Fu looked at the anxious young lady in front of him, and felt helpless and worried in his heart. However, he did not choose to conceal the truth. Instead, he also showed a sad face and said softly to the young lady: "Miss, I know that you have always been thinking about the master and always looking forward to receiving a letter from the master. However, no letter has been delivered so far. Perhaps the journey is long and something happened on the way, resulting in the delay of the letter. But please rest assured, Miss, I believe that in some time, there will be news." After that, Uncle Fu sighed slightly, his eyes full of worry.

Li Ruoyue's face faltered upon hearing this, but she patiently discussed it with the host. "If my father comes home with a letter, please let me know immediately. To be honest, I'm deeply concerned about his safety. Furthermore, if your family has any spare cash, I'd like to purchase some food and fodder for my father. After all, the northwest is suffering from a severe drought, and the imperial government's relief funds may not arrive quickly. In my opinion, only by relying on our own reserves or purchasing food can we alleviate the local disaster." Her tone was firm and sincere, her eyes filled with concern for her father and the affected people. It was as if she could already imagine the dry, cracked ground of the northwest and the suffering of the victims.

Uncle Fu respectfully accepted Li Ruoyue's instructions, exchanged a few brief pleasantries, and then bowed and left the room. After Uncle Fu left, Li Ruoyue fell into deep thought. She recalled events from her past life, the strategies those rugged men from the northwest had employed when faced with adversity. It was as if time had flown back, and that long and arduous battle came vividly to her mind.

At that time, the Xiongnu cavalry advanced with fury, sweeping across the northwest like a raging storm. However, the Han people of the northwest refused to yield easily. They rose up in resistance, engaging in a series of thrilling battles. But the war proved exceedingly difficult, with both sides clashing back and forth, refusing to yield, and engaging in a series of battles, large and small, resulting in heavy casualties.

After three years of fierce fighting, the Han people of Northwest China, with their tenacious will and fearless courage, finally managed to drive the Xiongnu out of the region. Even with the women and children taking up arms and axes to defend the city gates, they were finally able to do so. Even so, the cities of Northwest China remained locked in a prolonged stalemate, the ravages of war and the people's livelihoods were in dire straits. This devastated the once prosperous Northwest region, leading to economic decline and a sharp decline in population. Despite decades of efforts to rebuild, restoring the region to its former glory proved difficult.

Li Ruoyue frowned at this thought, a wave of worry welling up in her heart. She knew the lessons of history couldn't be forgotten; she must learn from the past to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Thus, she secretly resolved to find a more effective way to ensure peace and stability in the country, and to prevent the people from suffering from the chaos of war.

Li Ruoyue pondered inwardly, knowing full well that she was a reborn being. She could not stand by and watch the Northwest Region and her beloved father suffer heavy losses and crippling damage in this long and brutal tug-of-war. Doing so would inevitably weaken her forces against the detestable Huang Zi, putting them at a disadvantage in this tense standoff. Therefore, no matter what, she had to rack her brains to devise a foolproof strategy to end this war in the shortest possible time and minimize casualties.

However, the most daunting challenge now was the lack of sufficient food supplies and manpower. This undoubtedly became the crux of the entire war and one of the greatest obstacles to victory. After all, even the best cook cannot cook without rice! Now that she had lost the support of powerful forces and the actual power she held, how could she cope with such a difficult situation? Li Ruoyue could not help but feel deeply troubled...

Li Ruoyue was feeling extremely upset, as if she was in a tangled mess that she couldn't sort out. She decided to take Lizhu out for a walk, hoping to find some inspiration to solve the problem. However, as they turned a corner, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, Luzhu grabbed Li Ruoyue's hand tightly, put her lips close to her ear, and said in a low voice: "Miss, look over there! Doesn't that person look very familiar?" Li Ruoyue looked in the direction Lizhu pointed, and her eyes instantly froze on a figure not far ahead.

That's right, wasn't that the young master Baili, with whom they had once taken shelter? They had only met once, and had even shared a long, difficult rainy night under the same roof, but now that they were together again, that familiar feeling still welled up in their hearts.

At that moment, Baili Xi seemed to sense someone was watching him. He looked up, and his gaze met Li Ruoyue's. Instantly, his surprise was palpable. He opened his mouth slightly and let out a soft cry, "Hey, you're here too! Are you coming to the capital as well?"

Li Ruoyue's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile as bright as a blooming spring flower, and she nodded gently as a greeting. Her gentle voice echoed like the sound of nature: "Master Baili, why have you come to the capital as well?"

Baili Xi, on the other hand, had a generous and open-minded demeanor. His laughter was like the resounding sound of a bell. He answered loudly and cheerfully, "Ah! It's because my master's orders cannot be disobeyed! My master insisted that I go to the capital to pay him a visit. What else can I do? It's better not to mention it. The moment I do, I burst into tears of bitterness! Anyway, my master asked me to come, so I can only obey his orders!"

Baili Xi's face lit up with a sincere smile as he softly said, "It is truly an honor to have Miss Li here today. As the saying goes, meeting is fate. I wonder if you could give me the opportunity to treat me to a meal?" His eyes revealed a hint of anticipation and earnestness. Then, with a slight frown, he continued, "To be honest, I've only just arrived in the capital and am still quite unfamiliar with everything here. I may encounter some difficult situations in the future, and I'm afraid I'll need your care and attention!" He sighed softly, seeming genuinely helpless and lost. Yet, despite this, he remained polite and humble, which made people feel friendly.