I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: He Finally Asks for Her Portrait

The subordinates gazed at Zhan Chengyin with hopeful eyes.

But Zhan Chengyin countered with a question:

“Do you know why Chen Kui’s mansion stores such quantities of fabric, and why seamstresses sew clothes there?”

“It’s because Chen Kui and Madam Chen offered a box of treasures to the god, including two whole boxes of gold and silver jewelry.”

“And why does Mo Fan give two pairs of shoes to each servant when he comes for materials? Because he presented two chests of gold and jewels.”

“When dealing with gods, one should offer treasures willingly, not merely make demands.”

Zhan Chengyin’s words left the officers feeling deeply ashamed.

Wu erlang, Chen Wu, Chen Junlin, Bian Ziping, Li Yuanzhong, Lin Yijun, and He Hong… all rose, their faces flushed with embarrassment. They bowed to Zhan Chengyin, saying, “General, we’ll return home briefly and come right back!”

With that, they rushed out.

They returned swiftly on horseback, each bearing treasures.

Chen Wu brought a box of jewelry—golden hairpins, dangling ornaments, earrings, and bracelets—each piece crafted from pure gold with exquisite workmanship and perfect detail.

Wu erlang contributed two paintings by the Qi Dynasty’s most renowned artist: “The Fierce Tiger” and “Dreaming Orchids.”

This artist’s works were worth their weight in gold in the Qi Kingdom.

Chen Junlin offered an ancient zither, a precious family heirloom worth a fortune.

Bian Ziping, Li Yuanzhong, Lin yijun, and He Hong each brought boxes filled with gold ingots, nuggets, and bars.

They brought these precious treasures from their homes, hoping Zhan Chengyin would beseech the gods for more weapons, equipment, and gunpowder.

Even with Xu Huai’s hundred thousand men incorporated into the Zhan family army, they still needed bulletproof vests, armor, crossbows, and the Mo dao. With proper equipment, they might stand a chance against Chu and Yong.

With one hundred fifty thousand men against five hundred fifty thousand…

Without equipment, they had no path to victory!

Everyone looked at Zhan Chengyin with anticipation.

Zhan Chengyin’s brow furrowed slightly as he picked up his brush to write. He placed the note into a vase, then one by one added the jewelry, treasures, and wealth.

Together, they waited for the god’s response.

*

Ye Mumu was preparing to transport the explosives when she saw boxes of gold and jewels materialize before her.

There were paintings, zithers, and jewelry, but most abundant were the gold ingots, coins, and bars that formed a thick layer at the base of the vase.

She approached and opened the jewelry boxes first.

Each piece was exquisite, gleaming with golden light, clearly treasured and polished daily.

She then examined the two scroll paintings.

Opening “Dreaming Orchids,” she saw a lone orchid emerging from stone, painted with refined strokes and fresh, delicate colors, exuding quiet elegance.

The second painting, “The Fierce Tiger,” showed a majestic tiger so lifelike it seemed ready to leap from the scroll.

Both bore the seal of Lin An Jushi, clearly a renowned artist of the Qi Kingdom for the general to collect his works.

Ye Mumu carefully rolled the paintings and sealed them away.

The most striking item was the black wooden zither, its body adorned with gold inlays. When she plucked its strings, it resonated like a deep bell, stirring the soul.

Having learned piano, Ye Mumu instinctively knew this zither’s value exceeded all the gold and jewels combined.

She carefully stored it away before noticing Zhan Chengyin’s note.

Their previous exchanges had been brief, but today he had written at length.

Reading it all, she couldn’t help but feel anxiety rise within her.

Zhan Chengyin explained that Chu and Yong’s armies were stationed a hundred miles from Zhen Guan, poised to strike.

Yong had two hundred thousand troops while Chu had one hundred fifty thousand; combined they totaled three hundred fifty thousand soldiers, with another two hundred thousand from barbarian tribes lurking nearby.

If five hundred fifty thousand men launched an assault on Zhen Guan, it would surely fall.

But~

The Qi emperor had sent General Xu Huai with a hundred thousand men to seize Zhen Guan, coveting its water and provisions.

The court sought to strip Zhan Chengyin of his military power.

Reading this, Ye Mumu could barely contain her fury.

Zhan Chengyin fought valiantly at the frontlines, willing to die protecting the Qi Kingdom’s lands.

Yet the emperor doubted him, wanting to seize his power and send him to his death at Zhen Guan!

With such an emperor, it was miraculous the Qi Kingdom still stood.

Zhan Chengyin pledged to the goddess that he would survive.

He would turn Xu Huai’s forces and incorporate them into his own.

Fifteen thousand against fifty-five thousand!

It seemed hopeless.

But with enough explosives buried along the enemies’ path, perhaps they could halt their advance.

With a hundred thousand crossbows, two million arrows…

Fifteen thousand sets of armor, fifteen thousand bulletproof vests, and ten thousand Tang blades (Mo dao)…

Victory would be within reach!

So he offered these treasures, beseeching the deity for more weapons and equipment.

The Zhan family army had to prevent the three powers from devouring Qi.

So that was it?

So~

According to historical records, Zhan Chengyin was destined to die during this period.

Chu and Yong had long coveted the Qi Kingdom, waiting to strike.

When she chose to protect Zhan Chengyin~

She committed to protecting him until the very end.

She still hoped he would unite all of China.

She wanted to give him a world map, a globe, to tell him the earth was round, and star charts to show him the universe beyond…

She dreamed he would set sail and usher in an age of exploration.

…To conquer the world.

To make all peoples speak Chinese, write in Chinese characters, and become descendants of the dragon! (👀)

She had always harbored such grand ambitions!

So she wrote: 「I will help you, Zhan Chengyin. You must survive!」

「You haven’t yet seen all of China’s wonders—the water towns of the south, the snowy frontiers, the Kunlun peaks, the ends of the earth…」

「Your life belongs to me; you cannot die!」

She dropped the note.

When Zhan Chengyin read Ye Mumu’s words, his hands trembled and his eyes instantly reddened.

He lost composure and quickly exited the conference room.

Standing atop the city wall, gazing at the stars as the night wind whipped his battle robes, he whispered through tears, “I will live. I will certainly live!”

The soldiers, noticing their general’s unusual state, called for the Chen brothers.

Finding Zhan Chengyin’s eyes rimmed with red, they asked worriedly, “General, what did the god say? Did she refuse?”

“Was our offering too modest? Don’t worry, we’ll gather more.”

Zhan Chengyin shook his head, his voice thick with emotion. “The goddess promised to support us.”

“She hopes we win; we haven’t even properly seen our land’s beauty yet—she wants us to win so we can explore everywhere.”

Understanding dawned in the Chen brothers’ eyes, their reverence for the god growing even deeper.

Chen Wu exclaimed, “I knew the god would aid us! She considers everything, how could she let three nations overwhelm us?”

Chen Kui added, “Truly a benevolent god. General, the temple construction is complete.”

“They’re ready to craft her golden statue. The master asked how to depict the deity’s face.”

“Perhaps, General, you could request her portrait?”

Zhan Chengyin’s lips curved into a smile.

At last, he had a proper reason to ask for her portrait, to see her true appearance.

What did this mysterious goddess look like?

He could barely contain his anticipation!

Chen Wu continued, “Oh, and the riverside temple’s construction has begun.”

“Each day, common folk come to offer incense and paper money, kneeling by the river to thank the god.”