The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2286 - 2261: Extravagance

As for who Bai Shan might be disgusted with, he didn’t specify.

Manbao said, "Next time I get the chance, I must ask Junior General Meng."

"Why not ask Guo Zhao?"

"Not familiar with him, so it’s harder to ask." Manbao replied, "Junior General Meng at least has the medicine connection."

Recently, she and Zhou Liru made some medicine, and Junior General Meng sent someone to purchase a batch. He felt the efficacy of Zhou Man’s medicine firsthand, so he’s been working hard to build a good relationship with them.

However, his interaction with Zhou Man was mostly during the medicine purchases; more often, he communicated with Bai Shan, so he’s more familiar with Bai Shan. While sitting in the restaurant opposite, watching the buzz, and seeing the two standing outside the crowd, Junior General Meng immediately wanted to wave them over.

But as soon as he raised his hand, he felt the pull of his abdominal wound and immediately refrained from waving. He slowly put his hand down and covered his belly, took a breath, and sent his guards to invite them.

Well, although a bit slow, at least it doesn’t hurt the belly.

Bai Shan glanced at Bai Erlang and Liu Huan, still in the crowd, took Manbao’s hand, and headed up the tea house. For the first time, he didn’t stand with his pals but watched them from a different angle.

It felt... quite unique, and definitely not bad.

Manbao was also watching with relish, standing by the window for a while before sitting at the table and drinking tea. She asked Junior General Meng, "Aren’t you staying at the Protectorate? Is it okay to come out and watch General Guo’s excitement?"

Junior General Meng laughed, "Xizhou City is only so big; what happened yesterday has become known to almost everyone today. Whether I’m here or not makes no difference, and General Guo is busy and surely doesn’t have time to care where I go."

"But your abdominal wound hasn’t healed yet, and you’re supposed to lead the troops to deter Tubo, right? When can you get back to the battlefield?"

Junior General Meng: "...Lord Zhou, although you’re a physician, when it comes to healing injuries, I indeed have more experience than you. How could you always lie at home with this kind of external injury? That would only slow down the healing."

He said, "Such wounds should be walked off outdoors more; as long as you don’t pull on the wound and cause it to split, it’s fine."

If Manbao weren’t a doctor, she would definitely believe him, because when he said it, he was so earnest, as if it were true.

Bai Shan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, asking, "And what about Junior General Guo, has he gone out to suppress bandits again?"

"Yes, this time he’ll go a bit further and probably won’t return in three or four days."

Bai Shan then straightened his expression, "In that case, there’s an issue that can’t wait for him to return. We’ll have to ask Junior General Meng."

Junior General Meng was curious, "What matter?"

"Does Junior General Meng know about the grudge between General Guo and Minister Liu?"

Junior General Meng: "This issue? Wouldn’t it be better to ask Young Master Liu?"

Why ask him? Speaking ill behind someone’s back is not good, right?

Bai Shan said, "Liu Huan doesn’t know, that’s precisely why General Guo keeps sending things to our courtyard recently, yet there’s some unpleasant gossip outside, so we find it odd. We just don’t know if General Guo is being friendly or..." The meaning was clear.

Actually, it’s not strange. This group is all very sensitive to people’s likes and dislikes. Whether General Guo’s intentions are malicious or kind, they sensed it when entering the city on that day.

Junior General Meng found himself in a dilemma.

Bai Shan lowered his voice, "Junior General Meng, just say whatever you know. Originally, we wanted to ask Junior General Guo; it’s just unfortunate he went out. Otherwise, we’d have to ask General Guo himself."

"No," Junior General Meng hurriedly stopped him, "Asking the person directly, you wouldn’t get honest words, and might even truly anger the person."

Bai Shan was troubled, "Indeed, but we can’t just endure it silently, right? General Guo keeps sending gifts, but the gossip outside is unpleasant."

Junior General Meng glanced at their guards.

Bai Shan paused for a moment but still nodded at Daji.

Daji then took people out to stand guard at the door; Junior General Meng’s guard also went out. Only then did he say, "I don’t know much either, just heard that Minister Liu disapproves of General Guo’s ways."

"What ways?"

Junior General Meng appeared awkward; it was the first time he spoke ill behind someone’s back but felt a little excited. Yet he remained cautious and didn’t spill everything like beans, but instead tilted his head and thought carefully before saying, "General Guo is rather... extravagant."

He awkwardly chuckled, "It’s understandable, considering he’s from the wealthy Guo Clan in Xuzhou. Growing up affluent, he did suffer during the chaos, so his daily expenses became a bit luxurious."

Thinking of the recent indulgence living at the Protectorate made Junior General Meng uneasy, "Minister Liu, on the other hand, is frugal. Originally, their styles differ, but as long as no crime is committed, it’s merely a matter of disapproval, yet..."

He glanced outside at Liu Huan, "But Liu Huan’s grandmother is General Guo’s maternal aunt, so their relationship is quite close. Minister Liu can’t help but offer some advice, and over time, their relationship deteriorated."

Junior General Meng paused and lowered his voice further, softly saying, "There’s one incident I’ve heard my father talk about. One year, General Guo independently led another army against Xue Yantuo’s tribe. It was in late autumn and winter with snow falling early, causing many soldiers to freeze to death. At that time, General Guo reported them as casualties, only for the supervising army to report that it was due to the Ministry of Revenue not providing sufficient winter clothing, resulting in freezing deaths and injuries."

"However, Minister Liu reviewed the records and concluded that no one in the military should have frozen to death. Due to frequent wars at that time, national treasury expenditures were severe, leading the Ministry to strictly control military stock. But my father said, although it was strict, the Ministry calculated meticulously on what to provide."

He lowered his voice, "For instance, that year my father also sent out troops. The numbers and supplies were the same as General Guo’s, both targeting Xue Yantuo, but one took the Eastern route and the other the Western route. Yet our troops didn’t suffer any losses, because the previous year we fought the Eastern Turks and collected considerable spoils, allowing my father to retain a portion for military resources and distribute enough to the soldiers for family use."

"The Ministry of Revenue knows all about these." Junior General Meng said, "Such tacit understanding wouldn’t be pursued by the Ministry but would provide fewer supplies. And the military, having leftover spoils from the previous year, could supplement this reduced portion. Moreover, soldiers who received distribution would buy their own winter clothes if the supplies fell short. But..."

Bai Shan understood, "But General Guo didn’t have any?"

Junior General Meng sighed, "Who knows? Anyway, the soldiers under General Guo are quite poor."