A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

Chapter Eight: Fortune Turns Around

The Eastern Qi Kingdom was composed of nomadic peoples, all of whom were warlike, but among them, there were only two truly powerful leaders.

Whether in the southern borderlands, the Central Plains, the Western Qi, or the border regions, their names are exceptionally renowned.

One is Meng Baobao, the current king of Dongqi, who is nearly forty years old, incredibly strong, and a brave and skilled warrior.

The other was his younger brother, Tuotuo'er, the Flying Tiger General of the Eastern Qi Kingdom.

The two brothers joined forces and transformed Dong Qi into an invincible and fearsome force.

It was still unknown which one of them was leading the army. Wutong, Li Duwei, and the others were extremely anxious, wishing they could sprout wings and rush back to support Abudo.

Thirty thousand people!

Dagua Town is just a small town; if you arrive too late, you'll probably be trampled flat by their horses!

The group traveled day and night, but just as they were about to leave the border of Jingzhou, they were stopped by a group of people.

The person in the lead looked familiar; it was Vice Minister Liu.

After being trapped on the mountaintop for several days, Vice Minister Liu and the other officials finally found an opportunity to escape.

However, after reporting to his superiors, he received instructions that Tian Weitang should continue flood control efforts and, once the floodwaters receded, immediately bring him to the capital and imprison him in the imperial jail to await his fate.

Once Tian Weitang's power was suppressed, Jingzhou became their territory.

When everyone learned that Commandant Li had returned with his troops to retrieve the horses, they rushed over and blocked the three thousand soldiers, ready to vent their anger at their previous predicament!

They rode on horseback and blocked the way for the procession.

Vice Minister Liu rode in a horse-drawn carriage, sitting inside with a smug expression.

What goes around comes around, and this year it's his turn.

Lieutenant Li's face darkened, and he no longer showed him any courtesy, coldly saying, "Get out of the way!"

The owner of the pet exclaimed, "How dare you! A mere captain dares to tell us to get out of the way? Are you tired of living?"

Lieutenant Li took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said in a deep voice, "Moon Gate Pass is under siege. We need to return as soon as possible to support General Abdo. Please, gentlemen, make way."

When the officials heard that Yuemen Pass was under siege, they did not react much.

Yuemen Pass belongs to the Southern Frontier and is the only border between the Southern Frontier and the Eastern Qi. The Southern Frontier is a vassal state of the Great Western Dynasty, with its own strong power. It has long been separated from the Central Plains, and the King of the Southern Frontier only obeys orders and not summons.

These officials only had power in the Central Plains. Even if they held high positions like the prime minister, they were merely figureheads in the southern border regions and had no real authority to issue orders.

Therefore, in their minds, they no longer consider the southern border as their territory.

Since it's not a matter of territory being invaded, what does it have to do with them? They can only sit back and watch the dogs fight.

The owner of the pet sneered: "You were ordered to come here for disaster relief, and now that the floodwaters haven't even receded, you're already leaving? What kind of logic is that?"

Lieutenant Li swallowed his anger and said, "The situation is urgent, so we have no other choice."

"I'm afraid your support is just a pretense, and your real intention is to slack off, isn't it?" He rolled his eyes, raised his chin and said, "Everyone go back and repair the river embankment for Jingzhou City. The boats have already been prepared for you, so don't say you're being treated unfairly."

Wutong, unable to bear it any longer, clenched her fists tightly: "Stop your nonsense! The battle at Yuemen Pass is fierce. Once the pass falls, Dongqi can take advantage of the situation and invade. We are going to provide support in order to protect our homeland!"

The man retorted, "Protect my ass! Your job is disaster relief; nothing else is your concern!"

The soldiers were in an uproar; their hearts had long since flown to the Moon Gate Pass, but they were stuck here, unable to move.

Wutong quietly lifted her leg, her heel pointing towards Fufu's horse's rump, preparing to find an opportunity to rush forward and knock those people unconscious.

Lieutenant Li caught a glimpse of her movement out of the corner of his eye, immediately pressed down on her shoulder, and shook his head.

With the two sides deadlocked, the officials grew impatient.

"What? You dare disobey orders?"

Lieutenant Li slowly gripped the hilt of his sword, lightly kicked the horse's flank, and moved forward a little.

He looked up at those people, his voice barely suppressed.

"What if we insist on going there?"

The owner of the baby was about to speak when he saw the sharp glint of the blade. He was shocked and shouted angrily, "Are you going to cut us up with this knife? Are you trying to rebel?!"

Lieutenant Li remained expressionless, his face taut: "Whether or not to cut is up to you, not me. If you yield, I won't cut; if you don't, then there's nothing I can do."

"Ha ha ha ha ha……"

A cold laugh came from inside the carriage. The guards lifted the curtain, and Minister Liu stepped out.

With his hands behind his back, he looked at Lieutenant Li with unbridled arrogance.

"You can take action if you want, but you'd better take a look at this first."

He took the items out and showed them to everyone.

Before Commander Li could speak, Nan Xing gasped and muttered, "The Imperial Sword..."

Wutong found it strange and asked him in a low voice, "How do you know this person?"

In this day and age, without television, how could a beggar recognize an imperial sword?

Nanxing pursed her lips and remained silent. Wutong wanted to ask more, but her attention was drawn to the conversation between Vice Minister Liu and Commandant Li.

Minister Liu said, "Seeing a sword is like seeing the Emperor. You are a soldier from the Southern Frontier. If you lay a hand on me, it means the King of the Southern Frontier has killed the Emperor. This crime..." He narrowed his eyes and raised his voice, "Can you bear the responsibility?"

Lieutenant Li's face instantly turned cold, and his hand holding the knife trembled visibly.

"These bastards..."

Wutong was so angry she was about to cry.

Abudo is about to die. Are they really willing to lose Moon Gate Pass just for this personal grudge and face?

They claim to be well-versed in classical Chinese literature! They're worse than pigs and dogs!

Nanxing hid his face behind her back, gently hugged her waist, and gave her warmth.

After a long while, Lieutenant Li lowered his head helplessly and sheathed his sword.

"Follow Lord Liu's orders and return to Jingzhou."

Since joining the army, he has given countless orders to his soldiers, but never before has he felt so powerless.

Although the soldiers had to obey orders and turn away, their eyes involuntarily drifted towards the Moon Gate Pass, their expressions filled with reluctance.

Only Vice Minister Liu and the others laughed heartily, while the owner of the precious child stood with his hands on his hips, looking triumphant and arrogant at Wutong.

"Hurry up," Nanxing suddenly said.

Wutong was puzzled, so he pulled on the reins to make Fufu go faster.

Just as he was about to overtake "Baby", Nanxing suddenly made a move, drawing a short sword and stabbing the horse's rear end beneath him!

After a mournful neigh, the horse galloped on relentlessly, carrying him several miles away at breakneck speed.

Everyone only managed to hear two screams from him before they were all caught up with him and could only watch helplessly.

Nanxing, as if nothing had happened, calmly withdrew his hand and sheathed his short sword.

Having traveled so far, it's all for nothing to have to turn back.

Because they were on horseback, the three thousand men and horses could not travel by water and could only head towards the center of Jingzhou City by land.

That night, after setting up camp to rest, Wutong tossed and turned, unable to sleep, his mind filled with the horrific scene of Abuduo being besieged.

He was a tough guy, but even the toughest can't withstand swords, spears, and clubs. If he gets beaten too many times, he'll still die.

She looked at the sky and sighed with worry.

A thin, slightly cool hand reached out and gently covered her eyes; it was Nanxing.

Wutong's eyelashes tickled Nanxing's palm. He moved his fingers, brushing them across her eyelids, and said, "Let's go to sleep."

Wutong knew he meant well, but how could she possibly sleep at a time like this?

End of this chapter