In Songbai Town, after Lin Qi saw Qin Sang off, he immediately began reorganizing the troops.
The first task was to reintegrate the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army who had been scattered.
Then, he arrested the captains of each squad.
Lin Qi did not plan to deal with the other soldiers just yet; the epidemic prevention Qin Sang mentioned required manpower, so he could consider letting them redeem themselves through service.
After finishing these tasks, Lin Qi began writing a memorial to the throne, clearly reporting the vice-general's crime of killing civilians to claim military credit. He then wrote another memorial regarding epidemic prevention and sent them to the capital via 800-mile express.
Lin Qi then wrote letters to the Southern Army, hoping they would take the epidemic seriously to avoid devastating loss of life...
Once the letters were sent off one by one, Lin Qi finally wrote a letter to his family:
Father,
I hope this letter finds you well. Have the Northwest Tartars been harassing the border lately?
You are getting on in years and hold great power; you can leave matters to your subordinates. I truly hope you take care of your health and remember the doctor's words to drink less alcohol.
On the third day of the ninth month, I suppressed the civil unrest in Linchuan County. I am now encamped in Songbai Town. Here, I met a woman; she is a master of painting who risked her life to save mine and helped me reclaim the Zhenbei Army's tiger tally.
There is another important matter: she informed me that there might be a major plague in the south. I have attached the epidemic prevention strategies she generously shared. I have already reported this to the imperial court. I believe these strategies are a panacea for the world, and some measures can also be implemented in the Northwest Army. I hope you will consider them.
Sister-in-law Qin has helped me greatly. I am currently in the military camp with no worldly possessions to repay her. I hope...
Qin Sang didn't know Lin Qi was thinking about how to repay her for saving his life; she was currently digging for Charcoal Stone in Chen Family Village.
Qin Sang really did find a Charcoal Stone mine; the pitch-black Charcoal Stone blocks had a high Charcoal Stone content.
Qin Sang was now considering whether to dig and make Honeycomb Coal on the spot or bring the Charcoal Stone back to the camp first.
The former was convenient, while the latter was more discreet.
"Everyone carry one basket of Charcoal Stone back for now, and we'll figure out what to do later."
No one questioned Qin Sang's words; after all, every single thing Qin Sang had done proved to be right.
Especially this time, although it was risky and they lost contact for over ten days, the result was meeting a general.
When the villagers heard Hei Zi's animated description, they were beyond shocked.
After all, they had farmed this land for decades, and few had even seen a county magistrate, let alone a general.
Moreover, according to Hei Zi, Qin Sang had saved the general's life, and he now treated her with great respect. In the eyes of commoners, she was about to soar.
The Medicinal Herbs had long been placed in Hunter Xu's home in Tianjia Village. Everyone filled their baskets with Charcoal Stone. Qin Sang, worried it would be too heavy, told them half a basket was enough:
"Take some back for experiments first. If it works, we'll use Mules and Horses to transport it later."
Everyone nodded, but they still didn't intend to unload any.
On the way back, Qin Sang stood at the mountain pass looking at the village below:
"Is that river outside Chen Family Village the same one outside Tianjia Village?"
Tian Yougen nodded:
"Indeed. It's good for crops to be near a river. Most of the villages I know around here are near the river.
Looking at the terrain, Chen Family Village should be upstream."
Qin Sang's eyes lit up:
"That's good."
When the time came, she could get a few boats. Once the Charcoal Stone was dug, they could just go downstream by boat.
With a plan in mind, Qin Sang's pace became much lighter.
The consequence of no rain for over half a year was that once it started, it seemed like it wouldn't stop. In less than two hours, it started raining again.
It took nearly two days of stopping and starting. Everyone was carrying over a hundred catties of Charcoal Stone and was exhausted.
Seeing Da Huang running toward her, Qin Sang smiled and said to everyone:
"Everyone, put down your baskets and rest. I'll have Da Zhuang and the others come."
Tian Yougen and the others said it wasn't necessary since it wasn't far, but Qin Sang insisted. Although no one mentioned it, she could see that the skin on their shoulders had been rubbed raw.
"Everyone, get some good rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll need you to deliver another load of Medicinal Herbs. This is what I agreed upon with General Lin. From now on, my Medicinal Herbs will be supplied to them first."
"Of course, I won't let you work for nothing. It's fifty wen per trip, plus five catties of rice and one catty of salt."
Qin Sang was always generous, so generous that the villagers felt embarrassed to take it:
"Da Zhuangs Mother, it's just carrying some Medicinal Herbs, no trouble at all. There's no need for both money and food."
"Yeah, let's forget the money; the rice and salt are enough."
"Exactly. We already exchanged those Medicinal Herbs for rice once; how can we take money again?"
While tying a note to Da Huang's neck and feeding him snacks, Qin Sang smiled and said:
"It's not easy. A round trip takes two or three days, and there's some danger. Just take it; I won't lose out."
The Mall had already made back its principal plus several times the profit. Selling Medicinal Herbs was purely to accumulate money and provide benefits for the villagers.
If Qin Sang wanted to live a comfortable life, everyone else had to live well too.
Only when everyone profits could she earn more.
Everyone knew Qin Sang's temperament; when she spoke, she meant it, without any hypocrisy. Since she said she wouldn't lose out, they felt relieved.
With Da Huang's four-wheel-drive-like speed, Qin Sang soon saw Da Zhuang and San Gui leading the village's young men with Mules and Horses to meet them.
The cart Hei Zi brought came in handy, carrying five or six baskets of Charcoal Stone.
Tian Dazhuang and Tian Sangui both came before Qin Sang:
"Mother, why were you gone so long? We were worried sick."
"Eldest Girl said earlier that Da Huang had dashed out. My heart skipped a beat, guessing that Mother might be back. As it turns out, you are."
Qin Sang shared some of the less dangerous parts as they walked home:
"Da Zhuang, after we get back, go notify the village chief and the patrol members to come to the house. I have something very important to say."
Tian Dazhuang acknowledged and quickened his pace:
"Then I'll go notify them now."
Looking at her son's increasingly sturdy figure, Qin Sang couldn't help but say helplessly:
"Da Zhuang is too impatient. What's the rush for a few moments?"
Tian Sangui said with a grin:
"Mother, Big Brother is just happy to see you back safe and sound.
The villagers are waiting too. I reckon the old village chief is already at our house by now."
The villagers behind Qin Sang let out heartfelt laughs.
Finally home, Eldest Girl thoughtfully served tea. Qin Sang was surprised:
"How is it still chrysanthemum tea?"
Eldest Girl said in a happy, clear voice:
"Grandma, I picked these chrysanthemums with Sister Caoer nearby. Eldest Paternal Aunt said chrysanthemums can clear the liver and improve vision, and can be brewed into tea."
Qin Sang gave a thumbs-up in approval:
"Indeed. Not only chrysanthemums, but also Osmanthus, roses, and many other flowers can be used for tea. They can even enhance your beauty."
Eldest Girl immediately said excitedly:
"If Grandma likes it, I'll go pick more flowers tomorrow."
Qin Sang nodded and said to Si Jin:
"Later, weigh out ten catties of Flour and two catties of Sausage for each of the ten people who went this time. Also, count out fifty wen for each person.
Give Hei Zi an extra ten catties of rice."