Chapter 114: Meeting on the Battlefield

Chapter 114: Meeting on the Battlefield

April was the busiest time for farming, just as Sui Yu had guessed. The government arranged for the garrison troops to take turns driving oxen into the fields to plow. In response to the call, volunteers from various villages helped with the planting, with households that had more men sending one or two to assist.

The camp prostitutes, small slaves left behind for cultivation, and laborers building watchtowers all headed to the fields in groups. Regardless of age, they carried loads, guided the plows, sowed seeds, and planted beans, busy with the spring planting.

In the vast fields, the moist soil was turned over by iron plows. Small slaves followed the oxen, breaking up clumps of earth with wooden sticks. Households with fewer people were assigned one or two camp prostitutes. These prostitutes worked alongside the women of military households, responsible for sowing seeds and dragging wooden rakes to turn the soil.

Sui Yu's household was assigned one camp prostitute and two young male slaves. It seemed the overseer had investigated beforehand; these three had no relation to Sui Yu's family.

The camp prostitute appeared lifeless, and the two thin children showed no signs of childishness. Their small bodies seemed to house the souls of the elderly. They were indifferent and calm, working tirelessly without drinking water or taking breaks, even more hardworking than the oxen pulling the plows.

For the spring planting, the shop closed, and Sui Yu went to work in the fields. Zhao Xiaomi stayed at home to cook and brought meals to the fields when it was time to eat. This time, the slaves helping with the work were fed by each household.

At noon, the garrison soldiers greeted Sui Yu before leaving. The male slaves led the oxen to graze, while the remaining slave and the camp prostitute continued their tasks of breaking up clumps of earth and sowing wheat seeds.

Sui Yu glanced around and continued turning the soil with a wooden rake, hoping to finish early and reopen the shop to earn money.

Zhao Xiaomi arrived carrying two buckets. She stood on the ridge and called out, "Third Sister-in-law, it's time to eat."

"Let's eat. Put down your tools," Sui Yu told the others.

The four of them rose from the field. Zhao Xiaomi served the food, handing out bowls of millet rice. The dish was pickled cabbage stewed with pig's blood, accompanied by a braised egg, and there was also half a bucket of shepherd's purse and tofu soup.

The camp prostitute took her bowl and walked away with the two male slaves, sitting on another ridge and eating quickly. They rarely got to eat oily dishes, let alone meat. The braised eggs in their bowls were moved back and forth, but they couldn't bear to take a bite.

Sui Yu occasionally glanced over. She turned to Zhao Xiaomi and said, "Tomorrow, buy two more bowls of pig's blood. Give everyone two braised eggs and add more oil to the dishes."

Zhao Xiaomi nodded, poking at the rice grains sympathetically. "They're so pitiful. When I handed them the bowls, I noticed one of the boys had white hair."

Sui Yu looked over but hadn't noticed.

Sui Liang ran over. He was now responsible for watching the pigs, sheep, and camels, gathering grass in the morning and returning them in the afternoon before coming to the fields to work.

Zhao Xiaomi served him food and pinched him gently, whispering, "You almost ended up like them."

Sui Liang kept his head down, silent.

Sui Yu turned to look at the trio opposite them, representing another possible fate for her and Sui Liang.

A large bowl of dry rice was quickly finished by the male slave shorter than Sui Liang. They held the braised egg and came over for soup. Seeing Sui Liang eating slowly, the boy with white hair spoke hoarsely, "Young Master, are you full? Can I have your leftovers?"

Sui Liang stared at him and handed over his bowl.

The male slave quickly snatched the bowl, fearing someone might stop him, and swiftly grabbed pieces of pig's blood to stuff into his mouth.

"Don't overeat. You'll have the same meal tomorrow," Sui Yu said.

"I won't overeat," the child, whose age was indiscernible, mumbled, forcing a smile uglier than crying. "Madam, you're kind. Thank you for your kindness."

Sui Yu felt a pang of sorrow, choking back her words.

Hastening footsteps approached from the edge of the field. It was Tong Huaer, walking hurriedly and looking around anxiously, her eyes uncertain as she scanned the standing and sitting male slaves.

"Tong Ge'er?" she called tentatively.

The two male slaves remained silent.

"Do you know Sui Song? His nickname is Tong Ge'er," Tong Huaer asked.

The two male slaves shook their heads.

Tong Huaer was disappointed. She exchanged a glance with Sui Yu and hurried off to search the next field.

"You can help me ask around if you find him...," Sui Yu looked around, but the vast fields offered no landmarks. How could a restricted child find anyone?

"Forget it, it's fine," Sui Yu changed her mind. "Pretend I didn't say anything."

She would let Tong Huaer search field by field.

Sui Liang's bowl was shared by the two male slaves. After finishing, they looked at Sui Yu nervously, hesitantly grabbing spoons. Seeing her unchanged expression, they happily scooped tofu from the soup bucket, barely able to stop despite feeling full.

Zhao Xiaomi took the spoon away, picked up the yoke, and carried the two buckets away, worried that the children might overeat.

The overseer's whistle sounded in the distance. The two male slaves jumped, one quickly leading the grazing oxen, the other picking up a wooden stick and resuming their work, once again becoming mere laborers.

The camp prostitute silently lifted her basket and continued sowing wheat seeds.

Sui Yu and Sui Liang resumed their work.

Though many people were scattered across the vast fields, their voices were drowned out by the wind. Apart from the sounds of the garrison soldiers and volunteers guiding the oxen, there was nothing else. This year's vibrant spring was filled with a stifling silence.

From April to May, the wild grass at the edge of the fields grew nearly knee-high. Sui Yu's forty acres were finally sown, with the earliest-planted wheat already sprouting, while the soybeans downstream were just being planted.

After finishing the fieldwork, the camp prostitutes and male slaves disappeared quickly and quietly, vanishing without a trace in this bustling city.

The food shop, closed for a month, reopened. Old Tu came to eat and said, "You missed the busiest month for travelers. How much business did you lose? How much money did you miss out on?"

"There was no choice. We couldn't abandon the fieldwork," Sui Yu sat by the stove, stoking the fire, and asked, "Any news from the front lines?"

"No news, don't know what's going on."

Sui Yu: "The big merchants haven't returned yet. Once they come back, we'll get news."

"Not exactly. I meant there's no news from the battlefield," Old Tu sipped his noodle soup. "While the big caravans haven't returned, the smaller ones running in the west should have heard something. Last month, they said the fighting had started, but this month, there's no news. There should be some word about victory or defeat, which is why I find it strange."

As they spoke, a group of weary merchants entered. Sui Yu judged from their clothes that they had just arrived in the city. She called out, "What would you like, guests? We have buns, braised noodles, and flat dumplings with eggs and pickled cabbage."

"We'll have everything. Serve us quickly; we're starving," the leader said.

Sui Yu pinched a handful of rolled noodles and tossed them into the pot, then counted out one hundred twenty dumplings to drop into the boiling water.

Zhao Xiaomi carried over a basket of buns and brought a small dish of vinegar. These travelers had hot tempers and dull tongues, preferring to dip everything in vinegar.

"Where are you guys from? Found a place to stay yet?" Old Tu asked.

"We came from Yumen Pass, and as soon as we landed, we headed straight for food."

Hearing this, Old Tu pointed next door and said, "I still have ten rooms available, with both dormitory-style and private accommodations. Stay with me, and you can eat right outside your door, convenient."

Sui Yu brought over two bowls of braised noodle soup and inquired, "How's the situation on the western front?"

"Some traitor must have leaked the information. Before our troops arrived, the Xiongnu army fled, leaving us empty-handed." The older traveler sighed and said, "As long as they don't come back and cause more trouble."

Old Tu clapped his hands and exclaimed, "That's good news indeed. The Xiongnu fled, and our men, though tired, will return safely."

"You're not wrong," the traveler nodded.

With the braised noodle soup and flat dumplings served, the travelers buried themselves in their meal, no longer speaking.

Old Tu sat for a while longer. When they were nearly finished eating, he asked, "Is this information reliable? If it is, I'll spread the word."

"The news comes from the Hu merchants who traveled from the west; it should be accurate." The older traveler waved at Sui Yu, "Boss, do you have any garlic? Bring me a few cloves."

"The garlic sprouts have already grown; there's no garlic left." Sui Yu walked to the corner, rummaged around, and said, "But there are a few cloves that have sprouted. Do you still want them?"

"Bring them over."

Sui Yu delivered them and asked, "Uncle, do you know which general is leading the troops?"

"Not sure. Give it a few days, and the news will come through." The traveler glanced at her, sizing her up, and teased, "Are you admiring the general or an old acquaintance?"

Sui Yu realized he misunderstood and withdrew her smile, retreating behind the stove. "My husband went west with Captain Chang. I don't know which army he's with."

The traveler's demeanor changed, and he said earnestly, "My apologies. Sister-in-law, you'll hear news soon."

When settling the bill, the traveler added extra coins as compensation.

As the travelers predicted, with the arrival of the Hu merchants, news from the battlefield quickly spread throughout the city. Sui Yu, opening her business daily, heard fresh updates from customers. She learned that the general leading the troops was not surnamed Chang, and besides their own forces, the Wusun army also participated in the campaign.

Meanwhile, the Han Army, having missed their target, was returning along the original route. Meanwhile, Captain Chang led the fifty-thousand-strong Wusun army northward, marching for half a month, and caught up with the fleeing Xiongnu army.

Under the clear sky, the sounds of battle echoed, as the Wusun army cut off the Xiongnu's retreat. The Xiongnu cavalry fought fiercely, trying to break through the encirclement.

Zhao Xiping stood atop a camel, blending in with the Wusun cavalry, clad in armor and wielding a bow and arrow to kill the fierce Xiongnu riders. People fell around him, the barren sand soaked with blood, and the desperate cries were drowned out by the clash of weapons. The camels, agitated by the sweet scent of blood, lost their footing, kicking wildly with their hind legs, lashing out at anyone nearby, and biting the horses with their sharp teeth.

Zhao Xiping tightened his grip on the reins, whistled briefly, and tapped the camel's belly with his knees, but the camel had lost control. The usually docile creature now charged recklessly, running amok.

Zhao Xiping quickly surveyed the scene, ducking under the camel's hump to avoid a slashing sword. As he looked up, he saw a Han face, scarred and bleeding, with a ferocious look that startled him. Without time to think, he hooked his foot around the reins, twisted his body, and drew his bow. In the next moment, an arrow struck the back of a Xiongnu rider sitting on Sui Wen'an, causing the rider's blade to lose its force and strike the ground instead.

Sui Wen'an threw the person off his body. He dropped the chipped kitchen knife in his hand, picked up the military knife that had fallen to the ground, and charged toward the direction where the military flag was swaying.