Chapter 105: Chapter 105: The Sorrow of the Two Sisters
The news of Nanyang’s fall had yet to reach the sisters’ ears a quarter of an hour beforehand.
During this time, Xia Zhining had also adjusted to life in Pingting County, after all, she understood that complaining wouldn’t change this reality.
Every day, the sisters’ lives involved staying in the attic, practicing swordplay and playing the piano, eating, and sleeping.
Although boring and dull, this was a woman’s daily life, as unmarried women are not permitted to show themselves constantly in public.
Even ladies of noble birth are the same.
In the attic, the elder sister Xia Zhiqing was practicing a new melody, while the younger sister Xia Zhining lay on a couch, looking at the military books that Chang Yuan had specially found for her.
Beside Xia Zhining was a plate, holding some pastries.
Unlike her sister’s gentle and virtuous demeanor, even when lying on the couch, Xia Zhining was crossing her legs, showing no ladylike elegance.
She picked up a pastry, took a big bite, and started reciting, "Build and fortify broadly, strictly assemble the crowd, avoid and then demonstrate pride, lure and then exhaust, attack the unguarded, strike unexpectedly, must aim to endure. A good book, a good book..."
Beneath the couch, Xia Zhiqing’s ten long, slender fingers plucked the zither strings. Suddenly, for some reason, her heart fluttered with unease, followed by a "twang," and the string broke.
Xia Zhining sat up in surprise and said, "Sister, what happened? Are you not in the groove?"
Since the age of ten, Xia Zhining had never seen her sister make a mistake playing the zither, let alone breaking a string.
Xia Zhiqing gently furrowed her brows, raised her hand to rub her chest, and said softly, "Don’t know why, but my heart aches slightly."
"Not feeling well?" Xia Zhining raised an eyebrow slightly, then said, "I’ll go find Uncle Song and ask him to get a doctor to take a look at you."
Speak of Cao Cao and he shall appear.
No sooner had Xia Zhining finished her words than the voice of a guard rang out from outside the attic: "Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Lord Chang is here and has something to discuss with you two young ladies."
"Please have Uncle Chang wait in the living room, and I’ll be right over with my sister," Xia Zhiqing said.
"Understood."
...
In the living room.
"Impossible..." After hearing what Chang Yuan had to say, Xia Zhiqing’s face turned pale, her body swayed as if to collapse, and Xia Zhining quickly supported her sister to prevent her from falling.
Xia Zhining wasn’t in much better condition, her eyes teared up as she said, "Uncle Chang, this can’t be true, right? This must not be true, father... how could father possibly be dead."
Chang Yuan sighed, handed the letter to Xia Zhining, and said, "This is what I received last night, it’s the farewell letter written by the teacher himself.
The court ordered the teacher to hold Nanyang to the death. Knowing that Impatiens was lost, the teacher was sure Nanyang couldn’t be defended, so he prepared this letter in advance, entrusting you to me. I am committed to remembering the teacher’s last wishes and taking good care of you."
Chang Yuan spoke these words with absolutely no ill intentions, entirely in the spirit of an elder caring for juniors.
The teacher was like a parent, and the teacher had been very kind to him, so he certainly wouldn’t betray the teacher’s trust.
Most importantly, it was about repaying the teacher’s kindness.
Secondly, although Xia Liangqing had died, his political resources remained.
This letter was indeed penned by Xia Liangqing himself; the sisters recognized their father’s handwriting, and after finishing the words of farewell in the letter, the sisters burst into tears.
Chang Yuan was also deeply sorrowful.
...
The setting sun slanted to the west.
"Heh."
"Ha."
Chen Mo stood in front of the Divine Brave Guard, teaching them sword techniques, saying, "Your horse stance is incorrect; this sword technique requires using the bow step, with one leg behind to stabilize the body on the ground and one leg in front bent in a bow shape. This way, the force applied will maximize the power of the slash."
"Watch carefully. Use the legs to generate force, transfer it through the waist..."
Chen Mo held the Tang Blade, took his stance, and swung the blade forcefully. As he slashed, the front foot that appeared to be in a springing stance suddenly stomped, delivering a powerful strike.
After teaching, Chen Mo stood up straight, straightened his back, sheathed the blade, and said, "Practice this technique once as I taught you. Whoever finishes first can rest early. Begin."
"Understood."
Everyone practiced diligently.
Wang Ping walked over to report on the refugees taken in today, "Immortal Master Chen, today 365 refugees were taken in. Among them, 107 are youths and adults below forty-five, including one blacksmith, two literate individuals, two carpenters, one pottery master, and an apprentice from a pharmacy who can stop bleeding and treat minor injuries."
"The usual process: integrate the youths into the Divine Brave Guard’s reserve team. Once they adapt to the training intensity, assign them to the Divine Brave Guard." Chen Mo said.
The so-called reserve team was a concept Chen Mo had established a week ago.
The reason was that some refugees newly integrated into the Divine Brave Guard couldn’t keep up with the current training intensity, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, severely hindering the Divine Brave Guard’s training.
Because of this, Chen Mo established the reserve team, assigning newly accepted refugees there, with Han Wu in charge, and the training intensity is only half that of the Divine Brave Guard.
By the way, the fishing team has been disbanded, and villagers can freely fish at Dadong Lake without paying taxes.
Additionally, the mountain stronghold has been completed, and the construction team has been incorporated into the reserve team.
The reserve team currently has over 500 people.
The Divine Brave Guard has 1,326 members.
"Understood." Wang Ping replied.
"What are the names of the pottery master and the pharmacy apprentice?" Chen Mo asked.
"The pottery master is named Liang Jian, forty-six years old, a native of Nanyang, claiming to have ten years of pottery experience. The pharmacy apprentice is named Ma Fanglin, also from Nanyang, thirty-one years old." Wang Ping replied.
"Take Liang Jian to the pottery workshop, let Liu Gui assess him, and have Liang Jian create a pottery jar and bring it to me for review. Weren’t there a few members of the Divine Brave Guard who were injured by blades? Let Ma Fanglin treat them, and if he succeeds, he will be greatly rewarded." Chen Mo would certainly prioritize someone with medical skills far more than a pottery master.
"Understood."
...
One day later, at night.
A convoy of nearly a hundred people left the county city.
Though Pingting County City was entirely sealed, the Wang Family, being of the noble clan, was naturally exempt from such restrictions.
After leaving the city, the convoy entered the official road and headed southward.
Little Gaoshan.
"Slap."
Zhang Fusheng slapped a mosquito biting him to death, sitting in a tree and watching the official road in the distance.
This road had to be passed whether going south from the city or heading towards Fu Ze Village or the Wang Family Manor.
And tonight, it was Zhang Fusheng’s turn to keep watch.
Suddenly, Zhang Fusheng spotted a team of horses and men approaching from a distance.
Zhang Fusheng’s expression shifted in surprise, as the team numbered at least a hundred people, clearly emerging from the city.
He quickly told the two men under the tree, "Someone’s left the city, Erwa, hurry back and report."
Immortal Master Chen had instructed that regardless of whether the people leaving the city were headed toward the village or not, if the number exceeded ten, they must report back.
The man called Erwa nodded, headed to the back, untied the rope securing the horse, mounted it, and rode towards Fu Ze Village.