After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

After their supplies were cut off, the enemy, as expected, did not give up and once again sent troops to harass the villages and towns outside the city.

Fortunately, Ouyang Zheng and Peng Qing had made arrangements in advance, and the army disguised as villagers ambushed the intruders and successfully killed them all.

Some of the grain and fodder left in Linmen Gorge were also salvaged. After the grain and fodder were transported out, the "lever" was used again to put all the large stones blocking the road back in place, blocking the gorge entrance.

This was also to prevent the enemy from quickly coming to salvage the supplies. Even if the enemy slowly cleared the roadblocks, most of the supplies inside would be unusable.

The snowstorm continued to rage, and Marshal Mu ordered the army to remain in the city and not venture out.

Although these attacks have dealt blows to the enemy, the barbarian army is still a force to be reckoned with. The most important thing now is to strengthen the city's defenses and not give the enemy any chance to launch a surprise attack.

Our military strength is currently insufficient, and we must make thorough preparations before launching a proactive attack outside the city.

Marshal Mu's thinking was also recognized by Ouyang Zheng. More and more soldiers were catching colds, and marching and fighting in winter would put them at a disadvantage.

On this day, the chief medical officer of the military medical department followed the marshal's personal guards into the marshal's tent, exclaiming, "Marshal, Marshal! The soldiers of the medical battalion are all well, all well!"

"Oh? Has the fever subsided?" Mu Yuanqing put down his military treatise.

"Yes, Marshal, I don't know what happened, but suddenly everything gradually got better!"

It's possible that the recent increase in military food supplies has given everyone more strength, which is why they recovered so quickly.

The chief medical officer beamed with joy. The problem that had been troubling him for days had been solved by the military rations. He really should thank that old man, Ouyang.

"Excellent, excellent! I never expected that intercepting the barbarians' military supplies would yield such an unexpected gain. This is all thanks to Elder Ouyang!"

"Yes, our medical department is short of supplies and can't gather enough medicine. It's only thanks to the soldiers being able to eat their fill that we've managed to get through this. Otherwise, it would have been really tough!"

"Come on, come on, I'll go with you to the patients' camp!"

Jiang Xiaoqi also learned about the patients' camp from Wenbin and Li Mo, which put her mind at ease.

Of course, he also took the time to visit Yang Guozhong, the Marquis of Chengen, who was also running a fever.

There was no fever reducer, and the man was indeed still weak, so let him continue to lie in bed. It would be best if he couldn't stand it anymore and went back to the capital.

After all, that would be better for everyone, including the Northern army. Once the winter snow melts, war will definitely break out, so this guy shouldn't hold the soldiers back here.

With the tents so close together, continuing to live side-by-side, he wasn't sure what he would do next.

Besides, if that person knew I was here, wouldn't they also have ulterior motives?

After all, he had escaped from his grasp time and time again; this man was probably seething with rage, waiting to unleash it.

Hmph! We won't give him that chance; we'll strike while the iron is hot and kill him. That's the "way of the gentleman."

Sigh, I'm just idling around anyway, might as well try to get closer to that handyman who serves in the warlord's tent!

As the last snow falls, the New Year festival approaches.

This is the first time Jiang Xiaoqi has spent the Lunar New Year without any family members, but she has adapted well.

Because they were disciples of Ouyang Zheng, a great hero in the army, the soldiers were very friendly and polite to Jiang Xiaoqi and Li Haisheng.

On the 26th of the year, chickens and sheep were slaughtered, and fat pigs were driven into the military camp one by one. The soldiers sharpened their knives, ready to slaughter the pigs and sheep. Jiang Xiaoqi, on the other hand, was thinking of getting a piece of pork belly to make a plate of braised pork for his master and senior brothers.

The cooks in the barracks didn't know how to make braised pork; they just needed it cooked through. As for the taste? Hard to say.

Because he had become familiar with Wang Wu, the handyman in the governor's tent, he got back more than two pounds of pork belly without much effort.

Wang Wu used to work in the kitchen. Because of his strength, he was well-liked and had a certain amount of influence.

Jiang Xiaoqi thanked him and decided to save a portion for Wang Wu when the dishes were ready, as Wang Wu was his first good buddy in the army.

Wang Wu, 35 years old: ? I treat you like a nephew, and you treat me like a brother?

Jiang Xiaoqi: Haha, let's each have our own opinions!

Celebrating the New Year in the military naturally involves skipping many formalities; everyone simply eats meat, lights a bonfire, and has a lively time.

At most, everyone would take turns showcasing their talents. The soldiers, who rarely had a chance to relax, would eagerly take turns performing, which surprised even a modern person like Jiang Xiaoqi.

Clapper talk? Breaking a boulder on one's chest? Erhu? Acrobatics? Cross-dressing? Magic tricks? Ventriloquism?

One act ends and another begins; the main theme is to create a lively atmosphere!

Don't tell! You really shouldn't tell!

The soldiers in the barracks are... pretty good!

This was the most lively Lunar New Year that Jiang Xiaoqi had experienced in the past seven years, and she also celebrated the New Year with the most people. Such an opportunity is truly rare.

The soldiers' laughter and shouts, along with the crackling of the campfire, only added a negligible background noise to the lively scene.

The firelight shone on every vibrant face and in every eye, blossoming into magnificent and passionate flowers in this bitterly cold land enveloped in ice and snow.

There are no firecrackers or fireworks here, no lanterns or delicacies; all that remains is the determination to defend our homeland and safeguard our territory!

Those who offend my country will be punished!

-

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Guojiu remained bedridden and unable to get up, and began to consider returning to the capital.

Compared to military merit, life is more important. However, once we return to the capital, I will definitely impeach Mu Yuanqing!

We'll accuse him of hiding in the mud and being cowardly and lazy in battle! Of course, most importantly, we'll show him no respect as the warlord and the emperor's brother-in-law!

Marshal Mu was not surprised when his personal guards reported this, and ordered that a carriage be arranged to escort him.

"Marshal, this Yang Guozhong is probably up to no good!"

The bodyguard was a rough man, and he spoke very bluntly.

"Ahem, hey~ you shouldn't say that, lest someone overhear."

Mu Yuanqing nearly choked on his tea and quickly told his subordinates to stop talking.

"Understood, Marshal. I'll only say this in private; I won't announce it outside!"

"Uh! Fine, whatever you want. Sigh, how could I not know his purpose and plans? He didn't gain any advantage or military merit during his visit to oversee the army, so he's probably already holding a grudge."

But he is the emperor's brother-in-law, and we can't just detain him and prevent him from returning to the capital. Even if we do detain him for a while, he will eventually have to go back.

Could it be that they can give us a result? After all, they are the Empress's maternal clan.

Go ahead and sue! It's like everyone else has connections. Mu Yuanqing also has powerful backers.

He is loyal to the monarch, and the emperor is his greatest support. The current emperor is wise and will not listen to the words of petty people!

If the emperor's heart has changed, then it's because he misjudged the ruler, and he can't blame others...