eurekapd Chapter 273 The battlefield is tense, the country is conscripting soldiers, yet some people are stil
Chapter 273 The battlefield is tense, the country is conscripting soldiers, yet some people are stil
It was late at night, and only a faint candlelight remained in the room.
Chu Ruohan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to the chirping of insects outside the window, her thoughts racing.
I'm setting off back to Beijing tomorrow. I wonder what the situation is like there now, and whether my parents are well? Where is Junze?
"Can't sleep?" Gu Cheng'an's voice suddenly rang out in the darkness.
Chu Ruohan was slightly startled and turned to look at Gu Cheng'an on the floor. "Yes, I'm a little worried about the situation in the capital."
Gu Cheng'an remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Don't worry, I will protect you and ensure your safe return."
Chu Ruohan didn't speak, but just stared quietly at the roof in the darkness.
"You really want to see your older brother, don't you?" Gu Cheng'an's voice was very soft.
Chu Ruohan's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected Gu Cheng'an to suddenly bring this up.
"Mmm," she responded softly, her voice barely audible. "He must be very worried about me."
Gu Cheng'an fell silent again, and after a long while said, "Get some rest, we still have to travel tomorrow."
Chu Ruohan closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
Her hand unconsciously went to her lower abdomen, where her and Junze's child was growing, which was her greatest concern and hope now.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Gu Cheng'an got up and started packing his bags.
He pushed the finished cart into the yard and laid thick straw mats and blankets on it to ensure that Chu Ruohan wouldn't have too much of a bumpy ride.
The old woman got up early and prepared a sumptuous breakfast, also packing a lot of dry food into a cloth bag.
"Eat something if you get hungry on the way, don't let the baby in your belly go hungry," the old woman instructed, her eyes full of reluctance.
Chu Ruohan nodded, her eyes feeling a little hot.
These days, the old woman had treated her like her own daughter. For someone who was not related to her by blood to treat her this way, Chu Ruohan felt extremely grateful.
"Grandma, we'll definitely come back to see you once we've settled in," Chu Ruohan said sincerely, holding her mother-in-law's hand.
The old woman patted her hand and smiled, "Okay, Grandma will be waiting for you."
A series of hurried footsteps approached from afar, bursting into the courtyard and breaking the morning's tranquility.
The leading soldier's gaze swept across the courtyard, finally landing on the old man, and he shouted in a gruff voice, "Old Man Li, the battle in Pingzhou is critical, and we are ordered to conscript soldiers!"
Upon hearing this, the old woman's face turned deathly pale, and she swayed as if the sky had collapsed.
The two of them had no children and had depended on each other for many years. The old man was already so old; if he went to the battlefield, would he be able to come back alive?
Gu Cheng'an, with a stern face, stepped forward and stood in front of the old man.
"The old man is sixty-seven years old this year, long past the age for conscription."
The recruitment leader looked Gu Cheng'an up and down, then glanced at the trembling old man beside him, and sneered, clearly not taking the rules seriously.
"Who cares about that?"
Villagers from the same village peeked out from the side and whispered among themselves.
"I heard that the Zhang family's son only avoided being taken away because he paid five taels of silver..."
Chu Ruohan frowned slightly, her gaze falling on the conscription order in the leader's hand, and questioned him in a cold voice.
"Since you have the imperial conscription order, why not recruit able-bodied men in their prime to defend the country, instead of conscripting these elderly people over sixty to make up the numbers?"
Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.
"If we send out only the old, weak, sick, and disabled on the battlefield, how can we possibly withstand the fierce and powerful army of Zheng?"
The recruitment leader was questioned to his face by a woman, and he was a little embarrassed, so he waved his hand impatiently.
"What do you know, you woman? Stop talking nonsense! Without money, everyone has to go!"
Gu Cheng'an's eyes sharpened, and he stepped forward, staring intently at the leader.
"Whose subordinate are you? Whose orders are you on? How dare you so forcibly conscript and levy taxes, disregarding the laws of the imperial court?"
The leader was intimidated by his imposing presence and subconsciously took a half step back.
Seeing this, a soldier nearby quickly mustered his courage and shouted, "We are men of Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of War! Who dares to disobey Vice Minister Liu's orders?"
Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of War.
Chu Ruohan and Gu Chengan exchanged a glance almost simultaneously, both seeing surprise and a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.
Is it him?
He was still in the Ministry of War, and his power seemed to have increased even more.
Upon hearing this name, Gu Cheng'an clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning white, as old hatred and anger surged within him.
Seeing that the leader was about to grab the old man again, Gu Cheng'an took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.
He reluctantly took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it over.
The jade pendant is warm and translucent, and its value is obvious at a glance.
This was given to him by the Marquis of Anyang, and he has worn it close to his body since childhood, making it extremely meaningful.
But without the old woman and old man taking them in and caring for them these past few days, who knows what kind of situation they would have ended up in.
It's likely that the child in Chu Ruohan's womb will also be difficult to save.
He must repay this kindness.
"This jade pendant is enough to pay for his head, isn't it?" Gu Cheng'an's voice was cold and hard.
The old woman and the old man looked at the jade pendant, then at Gu Cheng'an, their eyes filled with gratitude, their lips trembling, but they couldn't utter a word.
Seeing this, the surrounding villagers also gathered around, their faces filled with hope.
"Hero, please help us too..."
"Yes, we don't want to go to the battlefield to die either!"
"I've heard that the army of Zheng is incredibly powerful; their swords and spears are indiscriminate..."
The sounds of discussion and pleas rose and fell.
Looking at the terrified faces, Gu Cheng'an helplessly spread his hands: "I only have this jade pendant, and I have no other money on me."
The recruitment leader weighed the jade pendant in his hand, a greedy glint in his eyes, then sneered and shouted at the villagers, "Get out of here! None of you without money will escape!"
The villagers' faces turned ashen.
Having resolved the matter of Old Man Li, the conscription leader's gaze returned to Gu Cheng'an, filled with scrutiny and ill intent.
"Old Li has paid his share."
"But you haven't handed it in yet."
Chu Ruohan stepped forward, shielding Gu Cheng'an, and said coldly, "This jade pendant is of superior quality, worth at least twenty taels of silver, enough to cover two people's places! Don't push your luck!"
"Oh, young lady, you know about jade?"
The leader looked Chu Ruohan up and down, noticing that although she wore simple clothes, her beautiful and refined appearance was undeniable.
Especially those clear, bright eyes that held a hint of stubbornness, which stirred his heart and made his eyes gleam with lust.
"How much it's worth isn't up to you to decide!"
As he spoke, he actually reached out and tried to pinch Chu Ruohan's chin.
"How dare you!" Gu Cheng'an roared in fury, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, and his clenched fist was about to strike.
"Cheng'an!" Chu Ruohan quickly grabbed him.
You must not use your hands.
Their identities are currently unknown, and if they are exposed, it will cause even more trouble.
People have to bow their heads under the roof.
Gu Cheng'an's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at the leader, almost grinding his teeth to powder.