I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: The Emperor Orders us Brothers to Assassinate You

Aunt Liu arrived at the villa in the afternoon.

After three months apart, Aunt Liu had lost weight and her skin had darkened. Her hands were covered with a web of scars, which made Ye Mumu’s eyes well up with tears at the sight.

Quickly, Aunt Liu hid her hands behind her back. “It’s nothing, these are just cuts from gathering pigweed. They don’t hurt.”

When Aunt Liu saw the garden overrun with weeds, she was heartbroken. She rushed to the back garden, but it no longer resembled a vegetable plot at all—just a tangled mess of weeds.

With a pained expression, Aunt Liu lamented, “Such a fine piece of land, why didn’t you plant some cucumbers, eggplants, or peppers?”

“I’ve already called Old Zhang’s two wives. They’ll be over this afternoon. As for the security guard, Xu Qing, he’s out of a job now and said he’s willing to come back and work.”

“Four people should be enough to manage the house.”

Ye Mumu handed her 30,000 yuan in cash. “Auntie, I’m leaving this afternoon. Use this money for water, electricity, gas, groceries… if it’s not enough, just let me know.”

“You’re leaving this afternoon? Why such a rush?”

“Yes!”

Before leaving, Ye Mumu took Aunt Liu to the security room at the entrance and taught her how to monitor the surveillance cameras.

Aunt Liu learned with utmost attention.

Ye Mumu explained that the walls were equipped with electric fencing, powered twenty-four hours a day.

The Ye family wouldn’t be able to climb over the walls to enter the villa.

Aunt Liu promised firmly, “I won’t let them in.”

After settling everything, Ye Mumu drove off.

Aunt Liu accompanied her all the way to the gate of the villa complex.

By the time she left, it was already 3:30 in the afternoon.

Ye Mumu headed to the warehouse first. There wasn’t much new stock today—just a shipment of fabric.

Seeing Ye Mumu arrive, Uncle Yang packed up to leave, riding away on his electric scooter.

Ye Mumu closed the roller shutter and sent a note over, 「Zhan Chengyin, the fabric has arrived. I’m preparing to send it!」

The reply came quickly: 「Thank you, goddess. You’re responding late today—Yin was quite worried. Did something happen on your side?」

「Nothing major. Have you finished all your vegetables and meat? I’ve only been sending rice, completely forgetting about vegetables and meat.」

Zhan Chengyin replied, 「We still have vegetables. As for meat, we captured many barbarian warhorses in yesterday’s battle and brought them back to salt. So we have enough meat for the next few days.」

Eating warhorses?

In the intense heat of the garrison, could salted meat really keep?

She needed to figure out a way to send proper meat to Zhan Chengyin.

An incense stick’s time later, Zhan Chengyin messaged: 「goddess, you may send the fabric now.」

She transmitted all the fabric, including several dozen waterproof tarps.

Next, she contacted the meat vendors at the market.

Last time she had bought so many vegetables that everyone at the market now recognized her.

There was still meat available, though not very fresh—understandable since it was already four or five in the afternoon and the market was about to close.

Ye Mumu then contacted Master Huang, who drove a cargo truck, asking if he knew any factories that produced large blocks of ice.

She needed a truckload of ice.

Master Huang knew of an ice factory that specialized in producing ice for nightclubs to chill their drinks.

The ice wasn’t for consumption but for cooling beer and wine in water tanks.

Ye Mumu asked him to help transport a truckload, offering to pay market price.

After making arrangements, Master Huang left to get the ice.

Meanwhile, the market delivered half a truckload of pork, which she paid for on the spot.

She wrote a note to Zhan Chengyin:

「Dig a pit in the sand, line the bottom with waterproof tarps, layer the ice, place the pork on top, add another layer of ice, and finally cover it with woven straw mats.」

「If there are no mats available, two layers of waterproof tarp will suffice.」

「This way, no matter how hot it gets at the garrison, the ice inside won’t melt, and the pork will stay fresh for several days without spoiling.」

*

After receiving the third batch of fabric, Zhan Chengyin noticed the many waterproof tarps among them.

Reading Ye Mumu’s note about buying pork and a truckload of ice…

Zhan Chengyin now had a vague understanding of what it meant to measure things by the truckload.

He instructed Chen Wu: “Have men dig a large pit immediately and line it with tarps. Fresh pork will be arriving soon, along with plenty of ice.”

Hearing about pork and ice, Chen Wu was overjoyed.

Pork! The kitchen’s meat supply was running low, and they had been making do with horse meat.

Horse meat wasn’t nearly as good as pork—the warhorses were too lean, leaving an unpleasant gamey taste.

He much preferred pork.

And now, the god was even sending ice!

Ice! In the scorching heat of the garrison, having ice was previously unimaginable.

The garrison only saw a thin layer of snow in winter, which would melt away by the second or third day, leaving barely any water.

This region had never known ice.

Unlike the capital, where they cut ice in winter and stored it for summer use.

He eagerly anticipated the god’s gift of ice, missing that refreshing cold sensation.

Chen Wu immediately led a team to dig the pit.

At this moment, Mo Fan arrived at Chen Kui’s residence with Zhuang Liang and Jiang Yuan.

Seeing the abundance of fabric in the warehouse, he rushed inside to search through it.

Finding over ten rolls of beautifully patterned fabric, he was thoroughly satisfied and handed them to Jiang Yuan to take back for making clothes.

He then withdrew a small bamboo tube from his robes and presented it to Zhan Chengyin.

Zhan Chengyin solemnly accepted the tube, noting the Empress Dowager’s insignia upon it.

“This sealed letter is for you, Young Master?”

Mo Fan said, “Yes, but you should read it. News of the Zhan family army’s three consecutive victories has already reached the capital.”

Chen Kui frowned. “That quickly?”

“They have specially trained eagles that fly high and fast. Flying through the night, they can reach the capital.”

Zhan Chengyin unfolded the letter and read its contents.

The imperial court already knew that the Zhan family army had slain 100,000 barbarians and won three consecutive battles.

More crucially, they knew the garrison now had abundant food and water.

The citizens were well-fed, with plenty of water to drink!

Even the fact that their granaries were overflowing with rice had reached the court’s ears.

Now they had secretly ordered General Xu Huai, stationed two to three hundred li away, to lead 100,000 troops to take control of the garrison.

This included all the civilians, the army, and every resource in the city.

Seeing the letter, Chen Kui exploded in fury.

“When we were desperately fighting to hold the line, we sent Xu Huai three urgent requests for aid, and he completely ignored us!”

“Now that we’ve won our battles and have food and water in abundance, he shamelessly wants to take over and steal our victory, to command us!”

“They want all the benefits while we do the dirtiest, most exhausting work. By what right?”

Mo Fan turned to Zhan Chengyin: “The imperial court has been dissatisfied with the Zhan family army for years, starting from your father’s generation.”

“They won’t tolerate the Zhan family army’s existence because you don’t cooperate, don’t follow orders, and act independently in the field. This is their greatest fear!”

“Xu Huai is no match for you. They only think about seizing benefits, never considering the respect and devotion the soldiers and civilians have for you. They lack the people’s hearts.”

“That’s why I don’t believe they’ll succeed in taking over the garrison. I came to warn you in advance.”

“You should prepare. From two to three hundred li away, they’ll arrive in ten days at most!”

Chen Kui cursed. “Who do they think they are, to simply declare they’re taking over?”

Mo Fan then drew another secret order from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Kui.

“A private message from His Majesty to you Chen brothers.”

Chen Kui accepted it with both hands and opened the secret letter.

Reading quickly, his expression turned horrified, his voice trembling. “General, the Emperor has ordered my brother and me to assassinate you!”

“What are we going to do?”

How could he and his brother possibly raise their hands against Zhan Chengyin?