Misfortunes

Tian Ge Prefecture, Tian Ruo Prefecture, with JinWan Pavilion officially entering Tian Ruo Prefecture's underworld, with their strength, and the importance they attach to the development of their own power in the Central Region of Dawu Country, JinWan Pavilion has made considerable investments these days.

The Black Heaven Gate side, of course, also noticed JinWan Pavilion's intention.

The Black Heaven Gate understands even more clearly that the person behind all this should be the prefect of Tian Ruo Prefecture, Lu Gaosheng. His purpose is undoubtedly the position of prefect of Tian Ge Prefecture.

However, for the sake of the prefect position and the plans that have been laid out for many years, the Black Heaven Gate, which has spent a lot of energy and money in the six prefectures of Tian Ge Prefecture, will never sit idly by and let Lu Gaosheng and JinWan Pavilion have their way.

And the Dark Tower is more like a hungry tiger that has been hiding in the dark, staring at the actions of the other two major powers without making a sound.

Under Tian Ge Prefecture, undercurrents are surging.

Just at this time, while the central part was gradually becoming unstable, a riot occurred in the "Hanwu Commandery", the northernmost part of Dawu Country.

The origin of the disaster was caused by the country's Northern Garrison Army.

In the past 20 years, the Northern Garrison Army has faced the 15 northern countries with an army, and the Northern Garrison Army, which has opened up the border for Dawu Country over the years, encountered its first failure and crisis when attacking the "Frost and Snow Country" this year.

The Northern Garrison Army originally had 200,000 troops garrisoning the borders. This year, General Wang Jue of the Northern Garrison sent 50,000 troops to attack the Frost and Snow Country, intending to seize 500 li of its land and the people belonging to it into Dawu Country.

This is also the main offensive strategy against the 15 small northern countries in recent years—nibbling away step by step.

This time, after fierce initial resistance, the Frost and Snow Country retreated step by step.

In fact, this was commonplace. Nowadays, the Northern Garrison Army, the first army division of Dawu Country, is even better than the former Southern Garrison Army. How can these small northern countries have the ability to resist, but when the 50,000 troops penetrated deep into enemy territory...

The Wolf Country and Snow Country, two relatively large northern countries, suddenly appeared in the Frost and Snow Country. The Northern Garrison Army did not receive any wind beforehand, resulting in the interception of the retreat and supply lines of the 50,000 troops.

The convoys on the grain and fodder supply line were all looted.

The 50,000 troops were in imminent danger.

At the same time, General Wang Jue, who received the news, immediately led 50,000 troops to leave the Northern Garrison Camp, and rushed straight to the allied forces of the two major northern countries of Wolf and Snow, vowing to open up the grain and forage transport routes.

Because Wang Jue knew very well that fighting in the cold north, once logistics were cut off, the 50,000 troops would have only one way to go—death!

Fortunately, Wang Jue is known as the number one general of Dawu Country after the white-clothed swordsman general 20 years ago!

He really lives up to his reputation. In just seven short days, he routed the allied forces of the two countries, not only opened up the retreat and supply lines for the 50,000 troops, Wang Jue even had the idea of ​​personally conquering the Frost and Snow Country.

But in the two days when Wang Jue hesitated whether to order the troops to retreat or take advantage of the situation to advance, another accident happened.

The Dong Lin Country and Wind Country, which had been hostile to each other in the north, unexpectedly joined forces, and somehow obtained secret information, actually sent troops around Wang Jue's 50,000 troops, as well as the other 50,000 troops still trapped in the Frost and Snow Country, bypassing the rear, and finding the largest granary of the 200,000 Northern Garrison Army.

Then set it on fire!

Facing the allied forces of the northern countries that came without warning, and conspired again and again, even a fool would realize that the five countries of Frost and Snow, Wolf, Snow, Dong Lin, and Wind must have formed an alliance in secret long ago.

From the current situation, General Wang Jue believes that there may be more than just a five-country alliance.

But Wang Jue is not afraid to fight, and neither is the Northern Garrison Army.

But they fear lack of food.

As mentioned earlier, in the cold north, as long as the logistics are cut off, without food and forage, not to mention 200,000 troops, even a million troops will starve and freeze to death.

This is the cause of the riots in Hanwu Commandery.

Due to lack of food, and unwilling to retreat half a step on the front line, General Wang Jue ordered [taking grain] from Hanwu Commandery.

Although it is said to be taking, it is actually robbing.

Now the largest granaries in Hanwu Commandery have been robbed by the invading Northern Garrison Army.

Although the north is rich in mineral coal and other resources, it is a place with little grain. As the famine in Ya Commandery ten years ago, 600,000 people starved to death in half a year, which shows how important grain is in the north.

In addition, the harvests in the six northern commanderies have been low in recent years, and they have to supply the Northern Garrison Army. Therefore, granaries have been built in various commanderies and prefectures in recent years, trying their best to stock up grain, just to get through difficult times. With the sudden invasion of the Northern Garrison Army, the accumulated grain in Hanwu Commandery was instantly emptied.

This time, although it was not a natural disaster, the man-made disaster was a hundred times more terrible.

How many more people will starve to death in Hanwu Commandery?

Perhaps an even more terrible famine than Ya Commandery that year is coming.

...

...

Tian Ge Prefecture, Tian Ruo Prefecture, is still peaceful for the time being.

The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and the weather is getting colder. It has been snowing for many days.

In front of the painting and calligraphy store, Zhang San swept away the snow on the ground, took a deep breath of the icy winter wind, and Zhang San, who was about to go back, saw Bai Fang walking slowly.

These days Bai Fang has come to the painting and calligraphy store several times, each time to deliver some tofu, soy milk and other things, saying it was to express her gratitude.

Zhang San did not refuse.

Because Bai Fang didn't give him a chance to refuse, leaving the basket behind and leaving directly every time.

Zhang San, who clearly felt Bai Fang's kindness and her indifferent personality, was very puzzled, and thought the world was too strange.

How could such a cold woman make Ming Qing and Lu Gaosheng, who seemed to have neither lack of money nor low status, infatuated?

Fortunately, I, Zhang San, have no feelings for women at all.

It seems that when Heaven bestowed me with talent in martial arts, it had already prepared the most perfect personality for me, otherwise how could I become a peerless master in the future?

Just as Zhang San was thinking randomly, Bai Fang nodded slightly at Zhang San, then walked into the painting and calligraphy store.

In the face of the daughter of the former Southern Garrison Great General, Zhang San did not dare to be negligent. Every time she came, even if Bai Fang's face was cold, Zhang San must greet her with a smile.

He went in with Bai Fang.

This time, Bai Fang said more than usual.

Putting the basket on the counter, Bai Fang asked, "Is your injury better?"

Zhang San politely said, "Much better, thank you for your concern, Miss Bai."

But Bai Fang said, "I'm not that young, much older than you, just call me Sister Bai. I'm relieved that you’re better.”

Zhang San felt a little bitter in his heart. Why do I feel that the relationship has become a little closer?

This is not good.

Bai Fang turned around. She was not a talkative person anyway. After the greeting, she was about to leave, which was also the scene Zhang San most wanted to see.

But as she turned around, Bai Fang saw Zhang San's painting, and Bai Fang stopped.

"Good painting," Bai Fang expressed admiration for the fearless spirit in the painting.

Zhang San was a little helpless inwardly. It seems that this Bai Fang also understands painting. But in order to avoid trouble, she still has to be sent away quickly.

Zhang San said, "Does Sister Bai like it? Unfortunately, this painting has been sold."

Bai Fang thought secretly, it must be Ming Qing.

Seeing that she hadn't left yet, Zhang San said, "It was bought by Prefect Lu. I don't know why he hasn't come to take it away yet."

Hearing Lu Gaosheng's name, Bai Fang's tone changed abruptly and said coldly, "He is not worthy."

Zhang San was stunned for a moment, but did not dare to pick up this statement, because no matter how to pick it up, it seemed there would be problems.

Bai Fang also noticed her slip of the tongue, and said again: "I just feel that the figure in white in the painting is very similar to an old acquaintance, and I was reminded of some past events for a while, please don't mind my careless words. Can I stay here and look at it for a while?"

Zhang San had no choice but to say, "Of course you can."