Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1755: Setting Out Once More

General Liang also exclaimed, “Old Madam Gao’s strategy is excellent! Vice Minister Ban, you must ensure the relocation happens. The Northwest must not be left empty; we need people, or in a few years, there will be no source of soldiers!”

Vice Minister Ban nodded, “Don’t worry, General Liang. I will draft the memorandum tonight, and once the city gates open tomorrow, I will send it to the Capital!”

Saying this, he did not partake in the feast, instead pulling Magistrate Hao and General Liang aside to meticulously inquire about the relocation of the Northwest populace, the lack of residents there, and the abandonment of land.

Only by getting a clear understanding could he write the memorandum.

General Liang and the others had to endure hunger, explaining things to Vice Minister Ban for a full two hours.

Fearing he might forget, Vice Minister Ban took notes of everything they said. Once finished, he remarked, “I will first go back to my room to organize this information, so as not to delay sending the memorandum tomorrow. Please, take your time and enjoy your meal.”

With that, he hurriedly left.

Magistrate Hao and the others were extremely hungry and quickly began eating upon hearing this. But by then the food on the table had already gone cold, and it was all vegetarian dishes, nothing very appetizing. Once they had hastily filled their stomachs, everyone dispersed.

…

By the time Qin San Lang returned to the Lei Family’s Courtyard, washed up, and got into bed, Gu Jinli had already woken from a sleep. Smelling the soapwood fragrance from his bath, she laughed, “What delicious things did you have? This welcoming banquet lasted even longer than the dust-cleaning feast from a few days ago. Were there beauties serving you again?”

Qin San Lang hugged her, giving her chattering lips a kiss, and said, “Tonight was all vegetarian, no wine, no meat, and no beauties.”

Gu Jinli chuckled, “I was just teasing you. The government office has already sounded the gong to notify everyone that tomorrow there will be a ceremony to honor the fallen soldiers. I figured you would be eating vegetarian because a Vice Minister of Rites is here.”

The Ministry of Rites is very particular about these rules.

She then asked, “Will Vice Minister Ban be staying in the Northwest from now on? What kind of person is he? Is he as kind as he appeared during the day?”

A high-ranking Secondary Third-rank official, if he stays long in the Northwest, it’s best he is a good person. Otherwise, everyone will suffer.

Qin San Lang recounted the events of the welcoming banquet and some matters concerning Vice Minister Ban’s family, “Xiao Yu, don’t worry. Vice Minister Ban doesn’t have a prominent background; he’s someone who has endured hardships and truly studied the classics. Him staying in the Northwest will be beneficial for everyone.”

Gu Jinli was reassured, “That’s good then.”

Thinking about the ceremony at the government office tomorrow, she said, “Let’s sleep now; we have to get up early tomorrow.”

Qin San Lang nodded, responding with a soft “Okay,” leaned in to kiss her, and wrapped his arm around her waist. Yet, feeling it was not enough, he touched her silk lining, gently caressing her back.

Gu Jinli’s back tingled, and she twisted her body, discontentedly pinching his waist, “No fooling around, go to sleep!”

With the ceremony tomorrow, Qin San Lang wouldn’t misbehave, but whenever his palm touched her, he couldn’t help himself… His arm remained around her waist, though his hand clenched into a fist. After a moment of restraint, he finally calmed down, looking at Gu Jinli, who had already closed her eyes, ignoring him. He laughed, “Xiao Yu, goodnight.”

After saying that, he loosened his fist, cupped her waist, and pulled her closer.

Gu Jinli moved a little but did not get angry, snuggling into his embrace to sleep.

Qin San Lang laughed, “Xiao Yu is so well-behaved.”

His voice was as gentle as the night breeze, entwining her, making Gu Jinli’s face flush with a hint of annoyance, “You talk too much; hurry and sleep, or getting up late tomorrow would be disrespectful.”

Hearing this, Qin San Lang stopped his antics and held her as he fell asleep.

…

Thud thud thud!

At the crack of dawn, the government office sounded a series of orderly drumming.

Subsequently, drums resounded atop the four corner towers, their thuds carrying a sense of solemnity and reverence.

All who heard the drums got up; the men of each household prepared offerings for the road ritual, while the women brought out white cloths to hang at the doors. Those poorer families who could not afford white cloth used coarse hemp cloth instead, hanging it by their doors.

The Lei Family’s Courtyard was also bustling, with Ms. Gao Lei distributing white cloth to each courtyard, instructing everyone to cut it and tie it around their waists.

Qin San Lang and the other Company Commanders who were to participate in the ceremony bathed and changed into hemp clothing, tied white cloth around themselves, drank a bowl of cold water, and then assembled at the main city gate.

“Sijin, Wujin, follow your father and don’t run around. When you see your father kneel, kneel too; if you can cry, cry. If you really can’t, you mustn’t laugh. Anyone caught laughing will be beaten!” Mrs. Kuang instructed the Jin children attending the ceremony.

Other soldiers’ family members were also instructing their children to follow Qin San Lang and the others, not to run around, not to laugh!

“Don’t worry, mother. Old Madam Gao instructed us yesterday, we understand. We’ll only cry, not laugh.” A group of little ones thumped their chests, assuring.

Old Madam Gao had said that many fallen soldiers were without sons in the Northwest or were poor souls yet to marry. As sons of soldiers, they should share in the sorrow and wear mourning for a day for those fallen soldiers, to console their spirits and fulfill camaraderie.

Clang clang clang!

Zhang Tu clanged the copper gong, shouting, “Young sirs, line up quickly, it’s time to set off.”

Lin Er Ying was young, rubbing his belly, and complained, “So hungry, can we eat breakfast before we go?”

“No can do, today’s the ceremony. No food until after the ceremony, and only cold food when it’s over,” Zhang Tu coaxed the group of little ones, “Young sirs, endure a bit longer. In three days, we’ll give you candy and meat.”

“Oh, in three days? Can’t we have it tomorrow?”

With two slaps, the questioner’s father smacked him on the head, scolding, “Why are you so greedy? Hurry up and get in line. One more word, and forget about candy and meat in three days; I’ll make you eat stir-fried rattan right now!”

The little one cried out in pain. Seeing this, his father encouraged, “Hey, that’s it, keep crying.”

Wow, upon hearing those words, the little one cried even louder.

This sobbing scared the other younger ones into crying as well. By the time Qin San Lang led everyone out, the procession was filled with cries, fitting the solemnity of today’s ceremony.

Today’s ceremony was very grand. Besides the soldiers bringing their sons, every household’s men tied white cloth around themselves and came to the main city gate to set up an altar with Vice Minister Ban of the Ministry of Rites, to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

Thud thud thud!

The city’s grand drum continued to beat until it stopped just past midnight.

Perhaps God was also mourning those fallen soldiers, as a heavy rain began that night, continuing through until dawn.

The people rejoiced at the rain, as water was scarce in the Northwest, and a heavy rain could lessen drought.

For the next three days, the whole city observed a vegetarian diet.

Three days later, Vice Minister Ban and his group began preparations to head to Long’an Prefecture.

General Liang was quite frustrated; the cartloads of silver were not distributed among them but had to be taken to Long’an Prefecture!

But he did not dare to complain, instead reassuring his soldiers, saying that General Xu would not forget them and would certainly distribute their due military pay.

The soldiers of Xing’an Prefecture were rather deflated. Fortunately, the garrison camp received thirty carts of supplies, including battle armor, swords, bows, crossbows, and food supplies, which slightly alleviated their discontent.

Doctor Shi and Imperial Doctor Xiao Liu had been busy in the medicine store courtyard; if it weren’t for the Imperial Decree, they wouldn’t have wanted to leave.

But they each received a book of medical principles, three packs of the insect repellent medicine against the Rong bandits, and the notes of Senior Doctor Xu and Doctor Fang regarding the development of the insect repellent medicine against the Rong bandits. Thus, they did not leave entirely empty-handed.

Imperial Doctor Xiao Liu also made an agreement with the two senior doctors, “Let us exchange letters every half month to share research progress… If you two make any new breakthroughs with the insect repellent medicine, please notify me immediately.”

After saying this, he formally bowed to Senior Doctor Xu and Doctor Fang, making Senior Doctor Xu feel very honored.

By noon the next day, Vice Minister Ban and his group departed, accompanied by Magistrate Hao and all the government officials to see them off.

Qin San Lang and his group also went to send them off, as the Ministry of War personnel were in the entourage. These Company Commanders escorted them for ten miles before turning their horses back to the city.