Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Xie Mingxu Sent a Letter Back

「An hour later.」

Shen Ningning arrived with great fanfare.

Chen Ye, along with three or four village women including Sister-in-law Liu, followed Shen Ningning into the military camp, each carrying basins of food.

The Deputy Captain and a crowd of soldiers stared, dumbfounded.

"Commandery Princess, what is all this...?" the Deputy Captain began, but then trailed off.

Shen Ningning gestured for Jiang Zhi to come over.

"Brother Jiang, don’t worry. You can eat your fill of this food."

"It’s all from the monthly allowance I receive as a Commandery Princess."

"Do you have any good friends here in the army? Or any other soldiers who aren’t getting enough to eat like you? Tell them to come and join you. There’s more than enough for everyone!"

Jiang Zhi was utterly astonished.

She looked into Shen Ningning’s bright, clear eyes and instantly understood the little girl’s intentions.

Jiang Zhi took the initiative and called over a few of the soldiers she was on speaking terms with.

They were either timid or honest and dutiful—in any case, they were also the ones who were frequently bullied in the camp.

"Thank you, Commandery Princess, for bestowing this meal upon us!" Jiang Zhi led them in expressing their gratitude.

Then, she picked up a bowl, and Sister-in-law Liu immediately handed her a pair of chopsticks.

Seeing Jiang Zhi tucking in and enjoying the food immensely, the other scrawny soldiers also picked up their bowls.

The men standing behind the Deputy Captain, who had been mocking Jiang Zhi just moments before, could no longer bring themselves to laugh.

They stared at the dishes Shen Ningning had brought.

Spicy stir-fried chicken, a feast for the senses.

Braised pork with cabbage, steaming with a savory aroma.

Even the steamed buns were large, white, and round, looking wonderfully soft.

There was also a large basin of shredded chicken mixed with chili oil.

This was far, far better than the food in the military camp.

Even the Deputy Captain couldn’t help but swallow hard.

He stepped forward and said to Shen Ningning with a fawning smile, "What is the meaning of this, Commandery Princess?"

"Surely you don’t mean that you’ll be responsible for Jiang Zhi’s meals from now on?"

Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "Weren’t you the one who said the army couldn’t afford to feed him?"

"So I’m using the allowance the court gives me as a Commandery Princess to help you all out."

"When Uncle Emperor asks, I’ll tell him the truth—that there isn’t nearly enough food in the military camp and that many soldiers are going hungry!"

The Deputy Captain’s expression changed at her words.

If Princess Funing actually reported this to the Emperor, it would be a disaster.

Everyone knew that the Emperor placed great importance on the development of military strength.

Even during the worst of the drought, the military pay and provisions allocated by the court were never short by a single cent.

There was more than enough to feed the entire army two bowls of rice per meal, let alone just enough for Jiang Zhi to eat his fill!

The Deputy Captain hastily apologized.

"Commandery Princess, you are a magnanimous person. Please don’t stoop to the level of a crude man like me."

"I’m not good with words and spoke rashly. Please forgive me."

With that, he called out to Jiang Zhi with a grin.

"The cooks should still have some food. Little Brother Jiang, whatever you want to eat, I’ll have someone fetch it for you right away."

Without looking up, Jiang Zhi continued to shovel food into her mouth. "No need."

"What the Commandery Princess has given me is excellent. I wouldn’t dare eat your food. I’m afraid if I did, you’d accuse me of eating the Chen Family Army out of house and home."

The Deputy Captain’s face froze, and he looked thoroughly embarrassed.

Just then, the soldiers whispered, "The Young General is here."

Everyone looked up and bowed. Jiang Zhi quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks as well.

Chen Shaobei walked over, his expression grim.

His gaze first fell upon Jiang Zhi.

Then he cupped his hands in a salute to Shen Ningning. "Commandery Princess, I heard these soldiers angered you?"

Shen Ningning pouted, gesturing with her chin toward the Deputy Captain.

"He said there wasn’t enough food in the camp, so he was letting Brother Jiang go hungry."

"And besides, Brother Chen Shaobei, didn’t you assign Brother Jiang to train the household soldiers?"

"So how is it that when I arrive, I find Brother Jiang washing their clothes instead, unable to even dream of getting a full meal?"

Chen Shaobei’s eyes instantly darkened, his piercing gaze sweeping over the Deputy Captain and the others.

They lowered their heads, a guilty conscience weighing on them.

Shen Ningning felt that was enough.

She put on a bright, clever smile. "I’ve been out for a while. I should be heading back now."

Chen Shaobei temporarily suppressed his anger.

He said to the little girl, "I will see the Commandery Princess off."

Shen Ningning left with Chen Ye, Sister-in-law Liu, and the others.

On the carriage ride back to the village, Sister-in-law Liu chattered excitedly.

"That was my first time inside a military camp. Oh my heavens, it was so impressive."

"But our Ningning is the most amazing of all!"

"Did you see that big lug of a Deputy Captain? Weren’t you able to put him in his place with just a few words, Ningning?"

Shen Ningning rested her chin in her small hands.

She mumbled, "I didn’t want to do that either, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to help Brother Jiang."

The little girl sighed to herself.

’If I had known, it would have been better to just make Jiang Zhi my personal guard.’

「Meanwhile.」

Back in the military camp after Shen Ningning’s departure, a dead, apprehensive silence fell over the crowd.

Chen Shaobei’s heavy footsteps paced slowly in front of each man.

Although he was young, the sharp aura he had honed through experience was more than enough to intimidate all the soldiers.

Chen Shaobei won first place in the annual martial arts competition every year.

His steps finally came to a halt in front of the Deputy Captain.

His voice was chilling as he spoke. "So, the camp is short on provisions?"

The Deputy Captain’s face was deathly pale, and his voice trembled.

"N-No, Young General, the Commandery Princess misunderstood. She..."

Before he could finish, Chen Shaobei cut him off coldly. "Effective immediately, you are stripped of your title as Deputy Captain and demoted to a cavalryman. Furthermore, in accordance with military regulations, you will receive fifty strikes with the military rod."

The Deputy Captain’s head snapped up, and he stared blankly at Chen Shaobei.

"Young General! This humble soldier..."

"Seventy strikes with the rod!" Chen Shaobei interrupted again, his expression severe. "If you say another word of nonsense, I’ll add more."

The Deputy Captain lowered his head in resignation and departed with a look of utter defeat.

The others fell even more silent, standing in the cold wind, none daring to even breathe too loudly.

Chen Shaobei glanced at Jiang Zhi.

With his hands behind his back, he reprimanded everyone.

"The Emperor is currently troubled by the Changliu Country’s surprise attack on our border."

"The fighting at the border is grim. We have suffered not only from natural disasters but also from an enemy invasion. This is a twofold trial for Cangyun Country."

"You could be called to the battlefield at any moment. At a time like this, if anyone is caught playing mind games or forming cliques to ostracize others in this camp, don’t blame me for being merciless."

The soldiers and officers hurriedly replied, "Forgive us, Young General."

Chen Shaobei nodded. "Disperse and return to your training."

As the men left one after another, he turned and saw Jiang Zhi was also about to leave.

"Jiang Zhi, stay."

Jiang Zhi turned back to look at him, her eyes flickering slightly.

Chen Shaobei walked up to her and said, "You don’t seem like the type to let others bully you. What happened? Did you run into trouble in the camp?"

Jiang Zhi shook her head. "I just don’t want to cause trouble."

"I know I won’t be here for long. After a month of training, I’ll be going to the General Mansion. I won’t have to deal with these people, so I was willing to endure it."

Chen Shaobei’s expression softened.

He said, "You’ve certainly matured."

Jiang Zhi said nothing, picking up her rice bowl and preparing to leave.

Chen Shaobei called out to her once more.

"Jiang Zhi," he said, his gaze calm and frank, "if you run into trouble again, you can come to me for help."

Jiang Zhi nodded. "Thank you."

「The next day.」

Shen Ningning left the National Academy and rushed directly back to the Xie Mansion.

Because a letter had arrived from Xie Mingxu at the border!

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