A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

The cook was young and unmarried, and he already felt uncomfortable traveling with two young women. When General Liu was mentioned, he became even more nervous.

When He Jinglan suddenly asked about something else at this critical moment, the cook was completely caught off guard.

He immediately asked in surprise, "How did Miss He know?"

The cook had barely uttered his honest words when he froze, instinctively raising his hand to cover his mouth.

This news was only rushed into the military camp late at night the day before yesterday.

Even if it has already spread throughout the world, it is not a secret.

However, it would take time for the news to spread to the border areas through word of mouth and informal channels; it was simply impossible for it to be so fast.

He Jinglan gave Gu Xixi a meaningful look, then asked, "Was the person who came back to life the former second-rank Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Lord Mu Nanzhao?"

The cook covered his mouth, not daring to speak.

But the answer was obvious from his wide, surprised eyes.

He Jinglan's smile deepened as she gently comforted the cook:

"Don't be afraid. Now that this matter is out in the open, it will be known to the whole world sooner or later. So, you won't be considered to have revealed secrets or violated military regulations."

"Besides, you didn't say anything explicitly, so what I guess in my mind is none of your business."

Gu Xixi also said, "When I see General Liu later, I will only be busy working and will not have time to chat at all."

The cook looked at the two men and then breathed a sigh of relief.

Judging by the timeline, it was around the day the battle began that countless people saw Lord Mu Nanzhao, who was supposed to be dead, appear on the front lines of the two armies.

This man was the most trusted minister of the late emperor, which is why he was feared by the current empress dowager's faction. They set a trap for him when the late emperor passed away, determined to kill him.

It has been almost a year and a half since then, just as the imperial court in the capital has gradually forgotten the power of Lord Mu.

He appeared alive before the imperial army and dealt a heavy blow to them with a great victory.

Such a shocking scene was like a boulder smashing a long-frozen lake.

That very day, the news spread like wildfire through various channels to all the important figures in the Daye Dynasty.

Mu Nanzhao could have remained hidden behind the scenes, strategizing and planning.

The reason for such a high-profile announcement was to let the entire Da Ye know that Mu Nanzhao had returned.

It not only conveys a signal, but also gives many people time and opportunity to weigh the options.

Tell the government and the public whether they want to be hostile, neutral, or cooperative.

It's time for them to give this serious consideration and make a decision as soon as possible.

border.

The Northwest Army had reclaimed far too much land, so Gu Xixi adopted a more efficient approach.

Moving from south to north, once she determines that an oat field is mature, harvesting can begin immediately.

At the same time, she and He Jinglan rode horses to inspect the fields and take samples for preservation.

Two full days passed, and in the end, except for the dozen or so acres in the north that still needed to wait three more days, the oats in the rest of the fields were ripe, and the yield was no less than that of the village where the family members lived.

Sunset at the entrance to the military camp.

General Liu beamed with joy as he watched truck after truckload of oats being brought in.

"I never imagined that oats, which are common in the wild, could be grown to such a large yield."

"In this way, the General won't have to beg and plead for food this winter!"

"Boss Gu, you are truly a benefactor to our Northwest Army!"

Gu Xixi can be considered to have completed her mission ahead of schedule.

After days of running around outside, both she and He Jinglan had gotten a tan.

Both of them looked tired due to lack of sleep from working long hours.

She smiled at General Liu, said lightly, "I dare not accept such praise," and then handed him two pieces of paper.

"The first picture shows how to make oat noodles, which is more complicated than making regular wheat noodles. It takes six steps from oat grains to noodles to make the noodles. Only in this way can the noodles be chewy and smooth."

General Liu nodded solemnly, "This is easy. I'll give it to the cooks in a bit and let them study it carefully."

Gu Xixi continued, "This second one is even more important."

"I wrote down how to hoe, till, fertilize, and water the oat fields after harvesting, and the specific times for each step."

"The alfalfa fields can be maintained, and they will grow back next year after they wither in autumn and winter."

“Understood,” General Liu said. “Just follow the same procedure as before and after we started clearing the land.”

He thought for a moment, then asked the question that had been bothering him, "Since these fields are already producing grain and the yield meets your expectations, why not strike while the iron is hot and continue to plant some other things?"

“I know that coarse grains like millet, yellow millet, and sorghum have a shorter growing season than wheat, so it’s perfectly fine to plant them now.”

Gu Xixi said, "That's why I say the second piece of paper is more important."

"The soil here is not good enough to begin with, and planting only one season of oats has not yet achieved improvement."

"If we rush to plant other crops at this time, it will only accelerate soil deterioration, and in the long run, it will be a losing proposition."

General Liu's ability to remain in the rear is undoubtedly due to his exceptional qualities.

After listening to Gu Xixi's explanation, he understood: "Draining the pond to catch all the fish, killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, is certainly not a good strategy."

Gu Xixi said, "However, I also have other plans. It would be a real waste to leave so much land idle for half a year."

"Let it rest and recuperate for about a month, and then we can plant another batch of short-term crops."

"Currently available options include yam, sweet potato, kudzu root, and pumpkin."

"However, I will have to go back and examine the soil samples before I can make a final decision on the specific seeds to be selected."

"General Liu can send someone to Huachidu Village to find me in half a month."

"I have written the details in the letter, and you will have ample time to purchase the seedlings."

General Liu's hometown was also a farming area.

In the past, he would have secretly scoffed, thinking, "It's just dirt, why do you need to test it?"

It's not poison, how can you test it?

Whether crops will grow or not, you can tell by sowing the seeds; that's how farmers have been doing it for generations.

Aside from sowing, tilling, watering, fertilizing, and weeding, the rest is entirely up to the heavens.

But over the past six months, Gu Xixi's abilities have been proven step by step.

General Liu still found it mysterious, but he had no doubt about its mystery.

He carefully tucked the two pieces of paper into his sleeve, then solemnly bowed to Gu Xixi, saying, "Then I'll trouble you, Boss Gu, to take care of it."

"I will report this bumper harvest, and thanks to Boss Gu's help, to the General in the military report without missing a single word."

Gu Xixi smiled with satisfaction, "Then we won't come to say goodbye since we're setting off tomorrow morning."

She willingly works hard here.

But this contribution must be made known to the right people as soon as possible.

After all, Huo Jiang still owed her that generous payment.

He Jinglan, influenced by her surroundings, also picked up Gu Xixi's money-grubbing habits.

On the way back to the village, she said with a smile, "I hope General Huo receives the military report and can pay you soon."

“I hope so too,” Gu Xixi said. “I also want to buy a carriage.”

If people were fleeing famine due to war, mule carts could be used to haul grain, while horse-drawn carts could carry the whole family, making the journey faster.

At this time, He Jinglan was unaware that Gu Xixi had such realistic (and frightening) foresight...