Little Ancestor, You Really Think Highly of Me

Qin Shan looked at him and asked, "What is the current situation in the court?"

Pei Yong said with a face full of frustration:

"The court is now firmly in the hands of that treacherous concubine and that dead eunuch."

They act recklessly up there, and we soldiers stationed on the frontier can only suffer being ostracized for no reason.

Look at our brothers, their armor is torn and tattered, patched upon patched, they're not fit to fight properly.

When I first received the transfer order, I thought I had landed a fantastic job, and I was incredibly happy.

To my surprise, this was the situation we found upon arrival. Military rations had been delayed for several months, the brothers were starving every day, and weapons were not being distributed.

We were truly desperate, so we thought of coming here to try our luck and make a fortune so that our brothers could survive.

Who would have thought we'd run into you?

A soldier standing nearby also sighed and said:

"General Pei is absolutely right. It's not just our troops; the other border garrisons aren't doing much better either."

Those in power are only concerned with vying for power and profit; they don't care about our lives at all.

Military pay was delayed, food supplies were intermittent, wounded soldiers went untreated, and old weapons were left unattended.

We were all soldiers defending our country, but in the end we couldn't even get a full meal or a decent piece of equipment.

Many people are disheartened, but what can we do besides endure it?

Qin Shan frowned and asked, "Which treacherous concubine are you referring to?"

Pei Yong said, "Naturally, it's Noble Consort Ning."

Shen Chaoge sneered and said, "Ning Yunshu was also my former fiancée."

Zhou Wanwan blinked and asked, "Shen Chaoge, did you have a relationship with Noble Consort Ning?"

Shen Chaoge gritted her teeth and said:

Do you know why I've ended up in this state? It's all thanks to that woman Ning Yunshu!

We grew up together, childhood sweethearts, inseparable since we were little.

I am a great general guarding this region, and she is a renowned lady from a prestigious family in the capital. Everyone thinks we are a match made in heaven.

He took a few deep breaths and said:

"I fought bloody battles on the border, my heart filled with the desire to protect my country and my dream of returning home in triumph and living a peaceful life with her."

But she did something else. She entered the palace, became a concubine, and climbed to a high position. Then she turned around and used me as a stepping stone to climb higher.

Before the news of my troops' departure could even reach the imperial court, she secretly leaked it to the enemy camp.

Not only that, she also colluded with treacherous officials in the court, fabricating all sorts of accusations against me before the emperor, saying that I was hoarding military power, colluding with the enemy, and committing treason.

"She secretly withheld military rations and delayed the distribution of weapons. My soldiers were short of food and clothing, and their equipment was in a terrible state."

Without supplies or reinforcements, I led my brothers in a desperate fight on the battlefield, but in the end, our army collapsed completely.

After the battle, most of our elite troops were lost, and I too became a defeated general.

She wouldn't give up, fabricating all sorts of baseless charges, confiscating my property, and demoting me from my official position.

They turned me from a glorious general into a despised and worthless nobody.

I've ended up in this state entirely because of her!

Zhou Wanwan truly hadn't expected that Noble Consort Ning was such a ruthless person.

Qin Shan snorted coldly and said, "I never expected that a dignified General who protects the country would raise such a daughter."

Pei Yong looked at the vegetable garden next to him and said, "Wow! Your mountain stronghold is quite well-off, you even have a vegetable garden?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Yes! Our mountain stronghold has everything. Since you're already here, let me show you around!"

Zhou Wanwan treated Pei Yong and his group as family, and led them on a tour of Black Wind Stronghold.

Walking from the front hall into the depths of the village, and turning a few corners, a neat row of houses comes into view; this is the village's school.

The dozen or so classrooms were packed Manman of children reading attentively, their voices ringing out even through the windows.

Pei Yong and his soldiers stared wide-eyed, and one of them couldn't help but lean forward and speak:

"Oh, you actually have a school in your mountain stronghold?"

If my son comes over, will he be able to read and write too?

Zhou Wanwan said calmly:

"Anyone from Black Wind Stronghold, whether adult or child, can come to school."

No tuition fees whatsoever, it's completely free.

Everyone was even more surprised, and someone immediately asked, "You don't charge tuition, and you even provide food, drink, and education for so many people. Can your village afford to support so many people?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled softly, her tone carrying a hint of confidence:

"Do you think everyone who can enter our Black Wind Stronghold is an ordinary person? They all have their own special skills."

Our village has rules; we never support idlers.

Either you have martial arts skills to guard the village, or you have craftsmanship to forge weapons, farm, or do business; everyone can earn a living through their own strength and abilities.

Not only can they support themselves, but they can also support the entire village and provide for the children's education; this will naturally not be a problem.

Pei Yong suddenly said:

"Master, does that mean if the information I provide is reliable enough, I can stay in the stronghold?"

This mountain stronghold is simply the village of my dreams!

Zhou Wanwan coughed and said, "Of course, that's fine, it just depends on what kind of information you want to provide."

Pei Yong chuckled and rubbed his hands together, saying:

"As you know, I am stationed on the frontier year-round."

Deep in the mountains over there, there are many good ores, including iron ore, copper ore, and even gold mines with considerable reserves.

"But all these mines are in the hands of the imperial court, which, in the end, is controlled by that treacherous concubine Gui Ning Yunshu."

She sent her own people to guard the mine, and we soldiers guarding the frontier couldn't get any benefits at all; even our military rations were embezzled by her."

His tone became increasingly sincere:

I know the location of that gold mine like the back of my hand, and I know the way there too.

If you trust me, I can take you there to have a look anytime.

The place was hidden deep in the mountains, and few people knew about it. The mine was heavily guarded by the government, and ordinary people couldn't get close at all.

As long as we can take over this gold mine, everyone in the village will benefit.

"We'll use the money to equip our brothers with weapons and expand our forces; then we won't have to worry about money anymore."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him approvingly and said, "I didn't expect you to know where the gold mine is! Why don't you go and rob it yourself?"

Pei Yong looked at her and said:

"Oh dear! My Little Ancestor, you think too highly of me. I only have tens of thousands of elite troops; how could I dare to do such a thing?"

"If I weren't planning to join you in the rebellion, how would I dare to reveal such an important matter?"

A soldier nearby offered a suggestion:

"The side we're guarding is separated from the Northern Desert Kingdom by only one border line."

The people of that country are very wild and do things unethically; they often cross the border to harass our people.

They've done plenty of thieving and assaulting people; they're incredibly cruel to our people."

"The nobles of the Northern Desert Kingdom amassed countless gold and silver treasures through border trade, herding, and commerce. They wore fine silks and used rare and precious items..."

One of the soldiers frowned and said, "But the Northern Desert Kingdom is incredibly powerful. Even we've suffered quite a few losses. Should we just give up?"