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

As the ice and snow begin to melt and the spring chill lingers, it also signifies that a great battle is imminent.

Ouyang Zheng once again suggested that his disciples return to the south, but of course, the two rascals managed to get away with it and ultimately stayed.

"Sigh, you two, are you trying to drive your master to his death!"

"Master, calm down. We really don't know how long this battle will last. That's why we should stay!"

Think about it, my senior brother and I are just two young kids who need guidance from our elders. What if we go astray if we're not by your side for a long time?

You wouldn't want your two beloved students to be ruined like this, would you?

“Junior brother is right!” Li Haisheng agreed.

"Besides... is going south really safe?"

Forget about heading south; even leaving the city might be difficult now. The barbarians have been starving all winter and are going crazy right now...

Master, do you think too highly of me and my senior brother, that we are so skilled in martial arts that we can escape all the barbarians' raids?

But if you really think our martial arts skills are decent, shouldn't you let us stay? Perfect, let's test what we've learned."

Jiang Xiaoqi deliberately set a trap, implying that since their martial arts skills were not good, they couldn't go back and would easily be eaten by the barbarians if they left the city.

If they say their martial arts skills are decent, then it's a good opportunity to keep them to test their skills. In any case, the final result will be that they stay.

People can actually laugh when they're angry, and Ouyang Zheng was so angry with his little apprentice that he laughed.

However, I am also very pleased, pleased that my young apprentice is quick-witted and has a resemblance to my younger self.

He was gratified by his children's loyalty, righteousness, and filial piety. He knew that a big reason they stayed was because they were worried about his old body.

However, he felt he could still fight!

"Master, please agree! We won't cause any trouble, we just want to stay by your side."

"Me too!" Li Haisheng echoed again, feeling that his junior brother had said everything he wanted to say, saving him trouble.

"Very well! Then follow me, and together we will reclaim our lost territory and our homes for the people of our Great Zhou!"

Upon hearing Ouyang Zheng's words, the two men's eyes lit up, filled with eager anticipation.

"Li Mo, why are you cleaning your knife again? You don't even have to go to the battlefield, yet you're so diligent. Instead of helping out at the medical station, you're always sparring with the soldiers. Aren't you tired?"

"What's so busy about the medical ward? There are only a dozen or so patients left, and they're all able to take care of themselves. What use are we?"

"You can't just run around with the soldiers. You're the young master's man, so you should always put him first!"

And that Ah Niu too, always chopping around with two axes all day long! You two are just wasting your time!

Wenbin plopped down on the woodpile next to Li Mo. These were all chopped with the two new battle axes that A Niu had recently acquired. That guy had gone crazy lately and was dreaming of becoming a general.

Don't they know their place? Instead of being proper servants to the young master, they're all so restless!

"Wenbin, everyone has their own ambitions. We don't think there's anything wrong with you staying in the military medical department. You don't need to talk to us like that."

We have no ill intentions towards the young master, but with war about to break out in the northern border, and the young master unwilling to return to Yunqing Mountain, we naturally will not return either.

If you choose to stay, you must know what you are about to face. There's nothing wrong with you learning bandaging techniques from the military doctors and with us improving our martial arts skills.

After all, these will be used in the upcoming major battle.

When Wenbin heard Li Mo spout such a long speech for the first time, he was momentarily taken aback.

He felt there was some truth to it, but didn't want to admit it, so he pursed his lips, got up, and went back to the military medical station.

校场

"Good! Awesome! Ah Niu, go for it! Attack his lower body!"

"Wang Wu, don't let the new guy keep going! Take him down! Take him down!"

Two axes clashed with two halberds, producing a series of ear-piercing clangs as the weapons clashed.

Both were large men, both wielding blades with both hands, and it was difficult to determine who was better for the time being.

The two, who were not soldiers, fought fiercely, while a group of proper soldiers surrounded the city to watch the spectacle, which even attracted the attention of several generals from various camps.

The two fought to an increasingly fierce and evenly matched degree, which aroused the interest of several generals watching from the sidelines, who inquired which battalion the two belonged to.

They were even more surprised when they learned that one was a cook and a servant, and the other was a follower who had come to the military camp with his master.

However, he also considered transferring people to his own command. It was easy to deal with the cooks; having one more or one less servant wouldn't make a difference.

But this valiant man wielding two axes—it remains to be seen whether Master Ouyang's youngest apprentice will release him.

He wielded those double axes with such skill that if they were on the battlefield, they might not necessarily lose even in a duel between generals.

That axe weighs dozens of kilograms; one hit from it would cause someone to cough up blood and die. It would certainly be a deadly weapon on the battlefield.

Jiang Xiaoqi was unaware that one of his followers had caught the eye of a general in the army, and he was completely focused on sparring with his senior brother.

After all, winter had passed, and he was pleasantly surprised to find that he had grown taller, now half a head taller than last year.

His growth spurt came out of nowhere; it seems like it's his turn to grow taller this year?

The snow gradually melted away, but a thin mist slowly rose, shrouding the entire battlefield in a veil.

Marshal Mu stood atop the high city tower, gazing in the direction of the lost city.

After many days of careful planning, we finally decided to open the city gates wide and launch a proactive attack on the barbarians!

He was not a reckless person, but rather it was all the planning that Mr. Ouyang had been making for him recently that gave him the confidence to win.

At a command, the heavy city gates slowly opened, emitting a dull thud.

Marshal Mu took the lead and charged ahead, followed closely by a group of well-trained and high-spirited soldiers.

With firm and powerful steps, they marched in a mighty procession toward the place where blood and tears had once been shed.

With sufficient food supplies, the war lasted for two full years. In those two years, the Great Zhou recaptured the three lost cities and forced the barbarians to retreat thirty miles, retreating back to the banks of the Huai River.

The people of the North were able to catch their breath and enjoy peace for several years.

Of the barbarian army of 100,000, less than 40,000 remain. With no food supplies, they have begun slaughtering their warhorses.

Without warhorses, there are no cavalry, and the gap in military strength between the two sides widens further.

Mu Yuanqing wanted to press on and march directly to the barbarian royal court.

However, an imperial edict, ordering the army to return to the capital to receive their reward, also stopped Mu Yuanqing from leaving.

"Alright, the emperor has his own concerns. Now that this matter is settled, Marshal, go back and receive your reward. This old man must also take his leave!"

“Mr. Ouyang! Come back to the capital with me! This victory and the recovery of lost territory are all thanks to your meticulous planning and series of strategies.”

Ouyang Zheng waved his hand, interrupting Mu Yuanqing: "No need, Marshal, you don't need to mention me when you return to the capital. I only hope that you will take good care of my two disciples in the future."

Mu Yuanqing choked, then thought of the two incredibly brave young men on the battlefield. Could it be that Master Ouyang actually wanted his two disciples to join the army?

"However, they will be taking the provincial examinations in a few years, and they won't have much of a chance to come to the North again. Oh well."

"These two children are actually scholars!" Good heavens! To put two scholars in a real battle on the battlefield, Mr. Ouyang is truly no ordinary man!