Chapter 829: Family Sacrifices Reveal Closeness and Distance

Jia Zhao Year 15, the 29th day of the 12th lunar month, New Year's Eve.

Xuanfu Town, southeast direction, Donggang Town. This place is located in the north, where winter is long and harsh, with heavy snow flying for several days without stopping.

In the morning, the Sun family charcoal shop north of the town had its shop front boards closed, having been shut for two days, waiting to reopen after the New Year.

As the north wind outside became more urgent, one of the shop front boards was opened, and a young man walked out, sturdy in build and ordinary in appearance.

He stretched slightly against the biting cold wind, as if he had just gotten up from his bed, and looked unconsciously toward the north of the town, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.

That was exactly the location of the valley military grain warehouse. Since a grain transport team from the south arrived the day before yesterday, there had been no more grain teams from the south yesterday...

The Chen cloth shop next to the charcoal shop opened for business as usual early in the morning, even on New Year's Eve, but the entrance was deserted.

Seeing the young man come out, he smiled, "Boss Sun, today is New Year's Eve. There is no business in the shop, so I'll go home to spend the New Year after noon.

I see you are also a bachelor, having to guard the shop for the New Year. Someone sent me two catties of beef here; why don't you and I have a drink together?"

Boss Sun smiled, "It just so happens I still have a pot of good wine. I'll go get it right now."

Manager Chen set up a small table in the shop, steamed and roasted the beef on the stove, and in a moment, an alluring meaty aroma wafted out.

Boss Sun came over carrying a wine pot. Outside the door, snow filled the sky, while inside the shop, the stove fire was burning brightly, and heat was rising.

The two shared the beef, clinked glasses to drink, and chatted about interesting things in the market, which was quite interesting.

Just as they were drinking happily, they heard the sound of carriages and horses crushing the snow on the street, continuous and sounding quite large in scale.

Boss Sun looked back and saw a team walking from the south of the street, all of them border soldiers in armor, numbering about two hundred.

Dozens of large carts followed one after another, extending a long path, with wheels rolling and horse hooves thundering, coming toward the north of the town.

Boss Sun looked at this team of people, his eyes shining slightly, and his expression became a bit more solemn.

Manager Chen of the cloth shop on the side said, "Boss Sun, this looks like a grain-collecting team from the north.

There have been many grain transport teams from the south in the past few days, but grain-collecting teams like this are rare. This seems to be the first one in these few days."

Boss Sun drank the wine in his cup in one gulp and said casually, "In the past few days, they were all grain transport teams from the south. I suppose the grain warehouse north of the town is already full.

Naturally, there are grain teams from border towns coming to collect grain. These dozens of large carts can transport several thousand shi of grain, enough for a pass military camp to spend the New Year.

These soldiers are all destined for toil; they don't even rest on New Year's Eve..."

Manager Chen heard him speak in detail and thought he was very familiar with military camp matters, but he was just a cloth shop manager, so he naturally wouldn't think too much.

Boss Sun spoke while looking around casually, but his expression carried caution.

He saw two people riding side by side at the front of the two teams. One of them was riding a military horse, with a sturdy build, a straight back, and a calm and composed demeanor.

He wore the common military uniform, with a sleeveless sheepskin coat over it, and a standard Yan Ling saber at his waist, which was slightly different from the sabers worn by ordinary soldiers.

He remembered that his cousin had once said that those who wore this steel-reinforced standard Yan Ling saber were at least a battalion commander in the military.

This young battalion commander had come to the town to collect grain more than ten days ago and had also come to the shop to buy charcoal, leaving a deep impression on Boss Sun.

Riding side by side with this young battalion commander was a young man in his twenties, wearing a thick fur coat, a fur hat on his head, and a fur scarf wrapped around his neck.

He was wrapped tightly from head to toe, curling his body on the horse, unwilling to let out a single bit of heat from his body.

Compared to the young battalion commander's firmness and steadiness, his demeanor was curled and slippery, forming a sharp contrast between the two.

The young man who was curling his body pushed up his lowered fur hat and said, "Finally arrived at Donggang Town. This ghostly weather is truly unbearable.

I am a grain warehouse clerk; I know the grain storage in the pass city best. It's enough to last until the 15th of the first lunar month. I originally thought I wouldn't have to leave the pass before the New Year.

Why are we suddenly in such a hurry to collect grain? We're still tossing about on the road on New Year's Eve. I originally wanted to curl up and spend a good New Year, but this time it's all ruined."

Guo Zhigui smiled slightly and said, "Bao Er Ye doesn't know. Two days ago, the Ministry of War sent an 800-li urgent report that the imperial court and the Mongols have reached a peace agreement.

But Anda Khan of the Tuman tribe is treacherous by nature and has always been uncertain about war and peace. The Ministry of War asked all border towns to strengthen their vigilance and not relax their vigilance because of the peace agreement between the two nations.

Commander Liang is a famous general of the current era and has repelled the Tuman tribe's invasion many times. He is familiar with Anda Khan's habits of using troops and is even less daring to have the slightest slack.

He calculated that the grain warehouse in Donggang Town would be full in these two days and issued military orders to the battalion commanders of various passes in Liaodong, asking various cities to seize the time to collect grain before the New Year.

Today it is our turn to come and collect grain, tomorrow the Yonglan Pass grain team will also come, and other pass cities in Liaodong will not be left behind.

Now the war between the Great Zhou and the remnants of the Mongols is unclear. Being prepared is always right. As long as we soldiers have grain in our hands, we are not afraid of anything."

Jia Lian heard this, his eyes turned, as if he had thought of something, and smiled, "Since you put it this way, I know the reason.

Our Commander is truly a shrewd person. The grain warehouse in Donggang Town happens to be full before New Year's Eve. As long as various border towns have grain in storage, they will always care about spending the New Year.

Unless it is a last resort, who would come out on New Year's Eve to toss about? The Commander is seizing the gap to fill the Liaodong Town grain warehouse first.

If we wait until around the 15th, everyone will come to collect grain, and the grain warehouse will have to close when it is halved. If we come then, we probably won't be able to catch up."

Guo Zhigui smiled, "Bao Er Ye is worthy of being material for a grain warehouse clerk. I really didn't think of this careful calculation, but it makes a lot of sense.

I heard Third Brother say before that the victory of using troops is not in wartime, but before the war. If the troops and horses don't move, the grain and grass go first. That is the principle.

I suppose the Commander continuing to collect grain before the New Year is also to be prepared for any eventuality.

As for how to spend the New Year, it doesn't matter. Both Bao Er Ye and I are alone outside, and there are no relatives by our side. As long as we are safe and sound, any day is New Year's Eve."

Jia Lian smiled, "What you say is reasonable. We are both lonely ghosts, and there are no women waiting for a warm bed. Where is it not New Year's Eve?

Look at the scene of this town. On New Year's Eve, there is no human spirit. Everyone is going home to spend the New Year. Staying for a long time is not interesting.

According to my meaning, we will collect grain and load the carts today, and set off on the return journey before sunset. Returning to the city early is the right thing."

Guo Zhigui said, "Bao Er Ye's words are extremely correct. That is also my meaning. We have military duties, so coming early and returning early is always right."

Jia Lian patted his waist and smiled, "A few days ago, I just received silver from the prefecture, and my hands are just loose. I'll go buy some fresh wine and food later.

When we reach the lodging place at night, let's brothers have a good drink. It will also be quite interesting, just as if we are spending the New Year ourselves."

Guo Zhigui laughed loudly, "Bao Er Ye still knows how to live. Zhigui will listen to you."

In the Chen cloth shop, Boss Sun and Manager Chen were drinking happily. The pot of fine wine was not left with a drop, and the two catties of beef were almost gone, both very satisfied.

Boss Sun returned to the charcoal shop a bit drunk. Just as he had dismantled the door boards, a young man came from across the street, looking a bit scholarly and dusty.

He said, "Boss, the last batch of charcoal has been delivered. The customer is very satisfied. It's really closed for business this time."

Boss Sun's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "That's great. Come in and talk."

The two entered the charcoal shop and closed the shop door boards. Boss Sun asked, "How are things in the north?"

The young man said, "The news has already been sent to the main camp. The Khan is very satisfied. The main camp retreated ten li four days ago and moved west another five li yesterday.

It is keeping a parallel with the Xuan-Da line and hasn't closed the distance, so it hasn't aroused the vigilance of the border troops.

New Year's Eve is approaching, and it coincides with the peace talks between the two nations, so the frequency of patrols and scouts on the Xuan-Da line has decreased.

Yaozi Pass is a remote pass gap, with rugged terrain and few people, a place that no one cares about.

The scout teams of the Xuanfu Town and Jizhou Town Lintun Camp patrol here daily.

But this place is cold and desolate. During the New Year, people's hearts are restless, and there is always a slip in a hundred.

The secret files laid out by the Sun family for many years have long figured out the pattern, so naturally, they can succeed secretly."

The young man took out a secret letter, covered with red oil seal lacquer, and stamped with a seal mark.

He said, "The secret letter sent from the main camp asks Dali to seal it personally and then pass the order to various places. According to the itinerary, the mission should also arrive on the return journey."

Boss Sun dismantled the letter and scanned it quickly, his expression cold and serious, and handed the letter to the young man again.

He said coldly, "You go to various places to deliver the secret letter and let them act according to the plan.

Tonight is New Year's Eve. These soldiers can't stand the loneliness, so there will be excitement when the time comes..."

Donggang Town, north side valley, Nine Borders Military Grain Warehouse.

Jia Lian and Guo Zhigui stood at the gate of the grain warehouse, checking the identity waist tags, grain collection documents, and border town official seals with the grain warehouse officials.

After all the procedures were handled, dozens of large carts of the Liaodong grain team lined up and entered the grain storage camp.

At this time, an official walked out of the camp. Jia Lian's eyes lit up and he asked, "Is this the Second Brother Chen of the Qi State Duke's Prefecture?"

That official was the grain transport officer of the Five Military Governor's Office, Chen Ruichang, the second grandson of the Qi State Duke Chen Yi.

Because he transported grain to Donggang Town at the end of the year, he missed the time to return to the capital to spend the New Year. Because there was a beautiful private prostitute in the town who was his old lover, they were having a hot time.

He couldn't bear the tenderness of a foreign land for a while and used the excuse that the yamen had already entered the ten-day holiday, simply staying in Donggang Town for a few more days, waiting until he had enough fun before returning to Shenjing. ===== CHAPTER 830 =====