Chapter 45

In the tent, a guard set up a chair for Mo Yin, who then sat across from He Xuan behind the desk.

Mo Yin knew that He Xuan had been observing from the sidelines just now; this was He Xuan testing him. Mo Yin had to earn He Xuan’s trust and respect; it was the only way forward.

Establishing prestige in the army was just the first step. What would He Xuan think when someday these soldiers only followed the strategist and not the general? Mo Yin wondered.

“Do you have any progress on the matter I assigned to you?” He Xuan asked, his expression and tone calm. Since their first meeting in Yongcheng, He Xuan has admired Mo Yin’s martial skills, courage, intelligence, and rapport with the people of Yongcheng. Today, Mo Yin once again demonstrated his exceptional archery skills on the shooting range. How could He Xuan not appreciate and admire him? However, He Xuan’s admiration was limited to He Zangfeng’s evaluation of Mo Yin, not necessarily a superior-subordinate relationship.

Mo Yin had been resting in the tent for the past few days. His confrontation with hundreds of enemies that night was reckless; his body couldn’t withstand such intense combat. Even with mental strength, it was still too much. Resting in Yongcheng for so long hadn’t fully recovered him, and rushing to the military camp on horseback had exhausted him.

Life was unfair to him. His body always had defects, while the protagonist was tall and robust, seemingly capable of knocking out a cow with a single punch.

Regardless of the truth of this world, how it was constructed, or who was behind the scenes, Mo Yin was certain of one thing—he genuinely wanted to eliminate the protagonist.

“No progress,” Mo Yin said straightforwardly and without shame. He Xuan raised his lips, but there was no smile on his face. His expression was stern, lacking the frivolity of youth, naturally exuding an oppressive aura. “The issue of food shortages is indeed challenging,” he added without deliberately making things difficult for Mo Yin.

Mo Yin thought He Xuan’s thick skin was not too much.

This ancient world could be referenced according to the history of ancient civilizations. In ancient times, with underdeveloped productivity and limited varieties of crops, food scarcity was an unavoidable challenge. Looking at the causes of the downfall of various dynasties, they all boiled down to internal or external factors, both related to the issue of food. People saw food as paramount; without enough to eat, they would turn into beasts. Beasts didn’t acknowledge hierarchical rule; hungry wolves would dare to attack tigers.

So, the problem He Xuan presented to him was the ultimate challenge of ancient civilization. This problem was pressing; unless he had half of his original mental strength in this world, he could control everything and transform stones into gold. Mo Yin had experienced such omnipotence in those false worlds; it was boring.

He Xuan giving him an unsolvable problem was no coincidence; it was just a show of authority.

“Do you have any ideas, General?” Mo Yin asked in return.

He Xuan’s eyes gleamed as he said, “None.”

The two exchanged a glance and then chuckled involuntarily, their smiles tinged with helplessness and resignation.

After his laughter, He Xuan quickly straightened his lips again. “While the people suffer from food shortages, military provisions cannot be tampered with in any way.”

“The military provisions are not plentiful either,” Mo Yin remarked casually.

He Xuan glanced at him, his gaze icy.

Mo Yin didn’t mind and continued calmly, “Although I’ve been in the tent these past few days, I’m well aware of the situation in the army. You don’t have to hide it from me, General.”

He Xuan remained silent, slightly turning his face away. Mo Yin noticed a hint of stubble on his tight jawline. He was still young. The stubble looked faint, like fuzz. Mo Yin touched his own chin and said, “The current difficulties can be solved temporarily, but in the long run, it’s not that difficult.”

He Xuan turned his face again, fixing his gaze on Mo Yin once more.

“The area is windy and sandy. Only small patches suitable for cultivation can grow crops. Yongcheng has better terrain and environmental conditions, so it’s the most prosperous. But if we can grow crops in the sand, the situation will change drastically. Although the issue of food shortage cannot be solved immediately, once we get through spring, we can be worry-free by summer.”

He Xuan silently watched Mo Yin.

What Mo Yin said was almost unbelievable.

Growing crops in the sand?

In the barren and cold land where even grass wouldn’t grow, how could they cultivate crops? The desert lacked water, so even if they managed to plant crops, how would they irrigate them? If they could grow crops, why would the border cities desperately seek help from the court?

Got it, here’s the corrected version:

Not shooting unless seeing the target indeed demonstrates remarkable accuracy, but if one’s hearing is extraordinary, capable of distinguishing wind directions, combined with solid archery skills, it’s not impossible either. He was able to shoot blindfolded at the age of twelve, which was not surprising. However, growing crops in the sand was not something that could be achieved through mere talent and practice.

Mo Yin stood up and bowed, “If General believes in the rules, then I shall take care of this matter.” Without waiting for He Xuan’s response, he turned and left the military tent.

Indeed, he didn’t have enough mental strength to create something out of nothing in this world, manipulating nature. But this bit of mental strength brought with it knowledge from his original self that surpassed this era. Food problems had long been solved in the history of natural people, unlike in the previous world, where he were almost completely restricted. He had to develop new skills out of necessity. However, those skills were like double-edged swords. Although they almost killed the Pei brothers, they ultimately became their pillars of strength.

As Mo Yin shook his head and walked away, he was intercepted again.

This time, it was still the soldiers from the shooting range, now dressed in military uniforms and standing respectfully in a row. “We didn’t know it was Master who resolved the siege of Yongcheng. Please forgive us for any offense,” they said.

After Mo Yin left the shooting range, the group of stunned people remained silent for a long time. When Mo Yin was out of sight, they still couldn’t come back to their senses. Once they did, they immediately surrounded Li Yuan, bombarding him with questions, eager to know who this mysterious person was and where this skilled master came from. What they witnessed was unheard of and unseen. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that such a skilled archer existed.

Li Yuan was also dumbfounded and couldn’t snap out of it. When he finally regained his senses, he was surrounded by the others, relentlessly questioning him. He wanted to tell them how Mo Yin had led the people of Yongcheng to kill the barbarians outside the city, but he kept silent.

“Master only looks frail, but his swordsmanship is unparalleled. With a simple sword and cloth, riding through flames, he slaughtered enemies like cutting grass. When the barbarians sought revenge, he stood his ground against hundreds.”

If it were a few days ago, when Li Yuan told them that a new recruit could single-handedly fight off a hundred barbarians, they would have laughed it off. But today, after Mo Yin’s display on the shooting range, they dared not doubt. With admiration and trepidation, they said, “We were truly blind.” They hurried to apologize to Mo Yin.

Mo Yin said, “What have you done to offend me?”

The soldier, who had been outspoken earlier, turned red-faced. He thought Mo Yin was going to settle the score and demanded an apology for being called a woman. He quickly bowed deeply, full of shame, and said, “I shouldn’t have called you a woman, Master.”

“It’s fine to mistake me for a woman. Does courage in battle know gender?” Mo Yin’s hands were behind his back, and his icy gaze swept over their faces. “Guarding the border is tough enough, yet you still have the time to insult each other based on gender. It seems you haven’t trained enough. What’s your name?”

“…Zhou Yong.”

“I’ll remember that,” Mo Yin said, turning away. “From now on, I’ll call you ‘focus only on one thing, remember only one thing.'”

Mo Yin didn’t say anything else. He lightly brushed past them, leaving behind a lingering chill in the air, sending shivers down their spines.

In the following days, Mo Yin stayed hidden in his tent again. This time, the soldiers dared not gossip about him “mooching off the military.” After completing their drills, they speculated in private whether this master was practicing some strange military tactics in his tent.

Every day, Li Yuan delivers water and meals, bringing what Mo Yin needs while also reporting to He Xuan, saying that Mo Yin is cultivating grains in the sand within his tent.

Upon hearing this, He Xuan’s expression remained unreadable, neither joyous nor angry, as he said to Li Yuan, “Serve him well.”

Planting crops in the sand sounded astonishing, but He Xuan didn’t believe Mo Yin to be someone who made empty boasts. Who exactly was this man? Proficient in martial arts, skilled in swordsmanship and archery, adept in tactics, and possessing considerable talent, such a perfect individual would only be content with being a merchant. Would such a person be massacred by barbarians? It seemed too contradictory.

The borderlands faced constant harassment from barbarian tribes. He Xuan led a small team to suppress the chaos. Although they inflicted heavy losses on the barbarians during the spring harvest raids, the retaliation was fierce. Among the border troops, only about a thousand were He Xuan’s elite soldiers, each personally trained by him and treasured greatly. However, their numbers were significantly smaller compared to the barbarians, and most of the veterans in the army were mediocre, slightly stronger than ordinary civilians. Few were proficient in horsemanship. If they were to engage the barbarians who grew up on horseback head-on, they would only meet their demise.

Nowadays, the various barbarian tribes are growing stronger and more organized, but they haven’t united yet, merely engaging in minor skirmishes. He Xuan led three hundred men to conduct guerrilla warfare along the border for over a month, finally managing to repel the barbarians. Upon returning to the camp, his personal guards kneeled before him, ecstatically welcoming him, “General, the strategist’s plan has succeeded! Congratulations, General!”

Dismounting from his horse, He Xuan, covered in dust, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Succeeded?”

“Succeeded. Planting crops in the sand, it’s miraculous, and it doesn’t require much water for irrigation. It’s truly unbelievable.”

He Xuan immediately wanted to see Mo Yin. His guard hastily said, “The strategist isn’t in the camp. He’s gone to teach the people in various cities how to plant crops in the sand.”

He Xuan’s heart raced, and his ears buzzed. “Planting crops in the sand, did you witness it with your own eyes?”

The guard, not knowing how to explain, bowed and said, “General, please follow me”

Hurriedly following the guard, He Xuan arrived at Mo Yin’s tent. As the guard lifted the curtain, He Xuan was stunned by the sight before him.

Beside a narrow bed, a circle was drawn on the ground, and within it, green shoots grew straight out of the sandy soil. He Xuan approached and gently touched the tender shoots, feeling them sway softly under his fingertips. A rush of warmth surged to his throat. He turned to the guard and asked, “Where did he go?”

Having finished his inspection in the city, Mo Yin was about to leave when the tribal chief presented him with a bowl and said, “I heard that sir enjoys lamb meat.”

“Heard?” Mo Yin raised an eyebrow.

The chief chuckled, “Sir’s name as the guardian of Yongcheng is known throughout the cities.” Unfortunately, there was no one fortunate enough in their city to encounter such a transcendent individual in the desert and learn how to cultivate crops in the sand. If this knowledge could be shared, it would be a great boon to their border city.

“Did you add chili?”

“Yes, we did.”

Mo Yin sat down and enjoyed a bowl of spicy stewed lamb. After finishing, even this ice-cold man was sweating profusely and coughing. The chief panicked, “Is sir alright?”

Mo Yin waved his hand and said, “Bring me some wine.”

After downing a large bowl of wine, his cough subsided. The spiciness relieved him, and Mo Yin’s originally pale face gained a slight flush. He stood up to take his leave, mounted the horse brought by his attendant, and left the city. Just as he exited the gate, he saw He Xuan waiting outside the city on a chestnut-red horse, accompanied by only two guards.

“How did you come up with the ingenious plan of planting crops in the sand?”

Riding side by side with Mo Yin, He Xuan gazed at him intently.

“I made the promise, so naturally, I was confident.”

Mo Yin replied calmly.

He Xuan stared at him intensely, with a mix of admiration, confusion, and suspicion. This enigmatic and formidable individual seemed dangerous.

As the sun set, the hazel eyes of Mo Yin seemed to be tinged with a reddish glow, and a flush appeared on his cheeks, contrasting with his fair complexion, like a red plum in the snow. He Xuan frowned and turned his face away.

Back in the camp, both dismounted, and the guards at the gate respectfully bowed, “General, strategist.”

He Xuan was taken aback.

He hadn’t formally introduced Mo Yin in the army, yet the guards already addressed him as a “strategist.” Looking at Mo Yin, who seemed unperturbed, he handed the reins to Li Yuan, who promptly took them, displaying utmost respect.

He Xuan watched Mo Yin’s figure with deep contemplation.

On the way back to their tent, they encountered soldiers who saluted them regardless of rank, addressing them as “General, Strategist.” The training grounds were filled with countless respectful gazes.

Entering the general’s tent, He Xuan chuckled, “I’ve been away from the army for a month, and you’ve already appointed yourself as the strategist?”

“I recall, General, that it was you who invited me to take on this role. How can it be considered self-appointment?”

Mo Yin replied sharply, then indifferently added, “They’re just following Li Yuan’s lead. Li Yuan is quite boastful.”

He Xuan chuckled, finding it hard to suppress his amusement. Then he straightened his expression. “Your background is unclear, and you possess great talent. I have to be cautious.”

Mo Yin also looked at him seriously, but seeing He Xuan’s candid gaze, he said, “Cultivating crops in the sand can solve the border’s food shortage and benefit the people for generations. Regardless of who you are, please accept a bow from Zang Feng.” He Xuan bowed respectfully, but Mo Yin remained indifferent, still sporting the rosy hue on his cheeks, softening his otherwise cold demeanor. He Xuan asked, “Did you drink strong liquor in the city?” Mo Yin shook his head, “The lamb was too spicy, but the liquor wasn’t as potent as you.”

He Xuan was momentarily taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter. “Come, let me treat you to some wine.”

They sat before the wine rack, drinking in silence. He Xuan’s expression softened. “If the crop planting goes smoothly, both the border people and the army will benefit.”

“It won’t be easy,” Mo Yin sipped his wine, his cheeks flushing even more, “But after planting, we’ll need to defend the crops.”

He Xuan’s expression turned grave.

If crop planting in the sand succeeded, the barbarians would surely covet it, and the raids for food would intensify.

“You’ve worked hard to suppress the chaos this time, General.”

He Xuan was startled for a moment, then his expression turned stern. “This is my duty. There’s no need to speak of hardship.”

“In addition to planting crops these days, I also observed the army. There are very few elite soldiers in the army,” Mo Yin said lightly, “Including the guards you took with you, I estimate there are only about a thousand.”

He Xuan fell silent.

“General, although the barbarians are few, they are fierce and strong. Our so-called hundred-thousand-strong army is no match for them.”

“True.”

“The barbarian tribes are growing stronger. In less than three years, there will surely be a major battle.”

“True.”

“You entered the border and immediately began to diligently train the troops and defend the cities, anticipating a life-and-death battle within a few years.”

“…True.”

He Xuan clenched his wine pouch tightly. He couldn’t believe that the person in front of him understood his thoughts and concerns so clearly, almost as if he were himself.

Those who know me worry about my concerns; those who don’t, question my intentions.

His confidant wasn’t in the capital or the southern regions. How could he appear in this desert? He Xuan couldn’t help but squint his eyes slightly. Who is he?

Mo Yin took a big gulp of wine. Its spiciness was what he desired. He turned and bowed, his eyes cold yet with unusual warmth, “Store the grain, train the troops, we’ll face the enemy in the future.”

He Xuan also took a big gulp of wine. Just returned from the battlefield, his face was dotted with stubble. He also bowed to Mo Yin, “Store the grain, train the troops, we’ll face the enemy in the future!”

They smiled at each other, and much of the suspicion seemed to dissipate.

Whoever he is, our goals align.

A true confidant is hard to find. If he is a confidant, how could he be untrustworthy?

After silently finishing the remaining wine, Mo Yin said, “General, I’ve resolved the matter of crop planting.” He Xuan smiled at him and said, “Good, a great accomplishment.” Mo Yin smiled back, and the rosy glow on his face spread further. “Then, may I also share the burden of training the troops, General?”