C36. Autumn Harvest.

C36. Autumn Harvest.

After experiencing this display of power, Dadan became much more obedient. Amidst eating and drinking, he did not forget to ask Chuo Hechao for rewards, but he was easily dismissed with the excuse of "doing things for the court in exchange for rewards."

Dadan dared not speak out his anger, looking fierce and resentful while chewing the meat.

Despite accumulating a lot of anger, Dadan also tasted something different in this meal.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different, but there was a noticeable difference in taste, albeit subtle. Overall, it tasted better than what he usually ate.

At the end of the feast, Dadan was somewhat unsatisfied, but then someone brought a small plate of snow-white powder.

Dadan examined it closely, thinking it looked like salt, but unsure. He dipped his chopsticks in and tasted it, then was surprised.

His subordinates also tasted the salt and were shocked by the taste.

Yang Zhongfa looked at their expressions and felt pleased, mocking, "Lord Udan has never tasted salt like this before."

Dadan shook his head with an unpleasant expression.

Yang Zhongfa and the others laughed heartily. Even some of the generals who had never seen such fine white salt before managed to hide their astonishment.

After the laughter, Yang Zhongfa clapped his hands twice, and soldiers brought a cart of salt to the side of the banquet.

With a tone of jest, Yang Zhongfa said, "Recently, we obtained a batch of fine salt. We intended to keep it for ourselves, but considering your help in pacifying Pan County and Dili County, we decided to share a portion with you."

Dadaan's eyes lit up, and he walked to the cart, slicing open one of the sacks with his dagger, revealing the fine salt inside.

Although there was still some yellowish coarse salt mixed in, the quality of the fine salt was something Dadan had never seen before, with almost no bitterness. He was thrilled and greedily asked, "Are you giving all this salt to me, Lord Yang?"

Yang Zhongfa sneered, "Lord Udan, you're mistaken. This salt is for trading purposes."

Before Dadan could ask further, Yang Zhongfa stated the price for a bushel of salt, which was several times higher than the usual price. Hearing the price, Dadan's expression changed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "This price is too expensive!"

"If you don't want to buy, then don't," Yang Zhongfa dismissed him indifferently, turning to Yuan Lichang and sighing, "I didn't expect that Lord Udan from Shanggu County couldn't even afford this little thing. If he can't buy it, then we won't sell it! This salt is limited, sell less if we sell at all. Even a leader like Bolichike has never tasted it. Why should Lord Udan from Shanggu County have the first taste?"

Not even the leader Bolichike had tasted it.

Dadan suppressed his anger, feeling conflicted inside.

Yuan Lic smiled softly, speaking gently but with a hint of disdain that almost pierced Dadan, "The Udan people are only worthy of eating inferior coarse salt."

Dadan's suppressed anger suddenly flared, and he took the opportunity to point at Yuan Li and angrily shouted, "How dare a young man who hasn't even achieved a title insult me like this! Guards!"

Several of his subordinates immediately picked up their weapons and stood up.

Yang Zhongfa and several other generals also stood up, their faces filled with anger, standing beside Yuan Lichang without flinching, and retorted, "You underlings dare to lay hands on a Centurion in our army!"

"A Centurion?!"

Dadan was incredulous. He turned to Chuo Hechao and shouted, "What do you mean by this? Are you going to sit back and watch us being insulted by someone who hasn't even achieved a title? Do you still consider us Wuhuan people as barbarians like the Xianbei and the Xiongnu in your heart, even though we belong to Beizhou?"

Chuo Hechao raised his eyes and looked at Dadaan, asking slowly, "What do you want me to do?"

Dadan grinned ferociously, "I demand that this person's fingers be cut off as an apology to me."

At this, the others burst into laughter. Dadan was confused, seeing even Chuo Hechao laughing. Chuo Hechao turned to Yuan Li with a smile, "My dear brother's wife, Dadan wants me to cut off your fingers. What do you think I should do?"

Brother's wife?!

Dadan gasped in shock, looking at Yuan Li with horror, realizing belatedly that he had misspoken.

Yuan Li remained unchanged, innocently looking at Dadan, "Did I say something wrong? I thought that Lord Udan here was hesitant because he couldn't afford our fine salt, so I spoke the truth. Did I misunderstand?"

He stood up and declared loudly, "If Lord Udan can afford the salt, I must be blind. I will apologize to Lord Udan if I made a mistake..."

Turning to Yang Zhongfa with a smirk, he remarked sarcastically, "The fact that Wuhuan people are only worthy of eating inferior coarse salt should spread quickly."

Dadan found himself in a difficult position.

Buying the salt would cost him a considerable amount of money. Not buying it would make him seem stingy and be laughed at.

Dadan's expression darkened, "If I buy it, will you apologize to me?"

"If Lord Udan buys it, I will make a concession with the fine salt. For a portion of the salt, I will take gold and silver, but for the rest, we will exchange goods as a gesture of goodwill. For every bushel of salt, you can exchange it for fifty people. How does that sound?"

After hearing this proposal, Dadan was indeed tempted.

The captives were not important to them, as they would likely be treated as slaves. The Wuhuan people primarily relied on animal husbandry and had an excess of livestock. Exchanging the captives for fine salt seemed like a profitable deal for them.

After considering, Dadan reluctantly said, "Fine, I'll buy it. However, each bushel of salt can only exchange for thirty people."

Yuan Li was waiting for this response and promptly agreed, "Thirty people it is."

Dadan questioned, "Can you make the decision?"

Yuan Li remained silent, giving a quick wink to Chuo Hechao.

Chuo Hechao, playing along, asked teasingly, "Can you make the decision?"

Yuanli: "..."

Chu Hechao only teased Yuan Li for a moment before giving a definite answer, "He can make the decision."

They did not disclose to Dadan that the salt was obtained by Yuan Li to protect him from the Wuhuan people's interest. Dadan did not realize the connection between the fine salt and Yuan Li.

The Wuhuan people spent the entire night preparing the trading goods for the deal. While they carried the wealth and slaves with them, the livestock would be handed over to Chuo Hechao upon their return.

On the morning of the second day, they completed the trade, with Dadan feeling the pinch of the deal. He left without staying long in Zhuolu County, as his face trembled with regret, leading his men away.

After reaching a sufficient distance from Zhuolu County, Dadan's expression darkened as he told his subordinates, "Pass on a message to our leader, informing him of the changes we observed in Chuo Hechao's army. Also, keep an eye on the young man who hasn't achieved a title. Send someone to gather information about him and report back to our leader."

His subordinates promptly mounted their horses and departed.

Dadan's expression remained grim.

Clutching the reins tightly, he gazed at the overgrown road ahead, his mind filled with sinister thoughts.

The insult and the loss of wealth he suffered today would be avenged tenfold in the future.

After pacifying Shanggu County, the twenty thousand strong army departed from Zhuolu County.

Instead of heading back directly, they revisited the cities they had conquered, inspecting the condition of the fortresses built by the captives.

As they journeyed, the weather gradually cooled, hinting at the arrival of autumn.

Fields turned golden, signaling the harvest season.

Due to the turmoil caused by the war, many people had fled, leaving fields untended. In particular, tens of thousands of acres of land belonging to the wealthy remained unharvested even though the rice was ripe. Yuan Li suggested having soldiers assist in the rice harvest upon noticing this situation.

Chuo Hechao agreed.

With the combat strength of the twenty thousand strong army, the harvesting of the vast fields could be completed in a day. After each location was harvested, they would stay for several days to rest and organize. The soldiers not only threshed the rice but also had ample time to rest.

To motivate the soldiers, after each day of harvesting, they were rewarded with a bowl of freshly cooked rice.

The newly harvested rice was fragrant and sweet, boosting the soldiers' morale and energy levels, despite the hard work and exhaustion.

As the leader of the army, Chuo Hechao led by example, working in the fields alongside his soldiers. His actions inspired the other officers, transforming the fighters into field laborers.

Although the weather was not as hot as in summer, the sun was still scorching. Especially at noon, the intense heat made people dizzy and disoriented.

Chuo Hechao ordered the soldiers to begin harvesting before sunrise, take a break during the scorching midday sun, and resume work in the cooler afternoon.

Yuan Li also worked diligently, joining in the labor and helping to harvest the golden crops in the fields.

Before long, the sun rose high in the sky. The brief morning coolness dissipated, leaving a sweltering heat. The bugs in the rice fields crawled around, their spit evaporating instantly upon hitting the ground.

Soon, Yuan Li's face was flushed red, sweat streaming down profusely.

As he bundled the harvested rice and looked around, he saw several officers working shirtless, their robust figures unyielding to the heat.

Yuan Li glanced over at Chuo Hechao standing nearby.

Chuo Hechao, though he hadn't taken off his clothes, rolled up his sleeves, and beads of sweat soaked the front and back of his shirt. He worked much faster than Yuan Li, finishing his own plot of land and sitting on a pile of grass to rest. Sweat dripped from his chin down, and he looked relaxed.

Yuan Li couldn't help but ask, "General, there are many small thorns on the rice. Aren't you afraid of itching when you roll up your sleeves to harvest?"

Before Chuo Hechao could respond, Lang, who was nearby, interjected with a laugh, "It does itch! But don't worry, young master Yuan, there's a river nearby. After we finish harvesting the rice, we can jump in for a refreshing dip!"

Yuan Li nodded in agreement, recalling the nearby river.

Chuo Hechao gave Lang a cold glance before turning his attention back to Yuan Li. Seeing the redness on Yuan Li's face and the small thorns sticking to his neck, he picked a blade of grass, put it in his mouth, and suddenly asked, "Feeling tired?"

Caught off guard, Yuan Li nodded, "Yes, tired."

Chuo Hechao chewed the grass, releasing a sweet taste. He squinted, wiped the sweat off his chin, and asked, "Do you need help?"

Surprised by the offer, Yuan Li replied, "Really?"

Chuo Hechao smiled, patted the thorns off his pants, and casually walked away, waving, "See you tomorrow. If I see you tomorrow, I'll help you harvest the rice again."

Yuan Li couldn't help but feel there was more to his words. As he thought about it, a bead of sweat fell from his forehead onto his eyelashes. He raised his hand to wipe his eyes, but the debris on his hand accidentally rubbed into his eyelids, causing a burning sensation.

Realizing his mistake, Yuan Li closed his eyes and fumbled around for the towel to wipe his face. However, before he could find it, he nearly stumbled over a stone sickle.

Just as the sickle threatened to hit his foot, a strong hand pulled him to safety, into a warm embrace.

Chuo Hechao, panting heavily as if he had run from afar in a fit of anger, asked, "Why are you playing music and dancing here, my dear sister-in-law?"

Yuan Li, his eyes still shut due to the irritation, explained, "The thorns got in my eyes, and I can't open them."

Chuo Hechao muttered under his breath, his expression stern. He instructed Yuan Li to stand still and fetched a towel.

However, seeing the rice thorns on the cloth, he knew it would only worsen the situation if used for wiping.

Chuo Hechao returned to grab Yuan Li's arm, leading him towards the field embankment with determined strides.

Due to his impaired vision, Yuan Li proceeded cautiously, trying not to falter. However, after only a few steps, Chuo Hechao abruptly stopped in his tracks.

Feeling a mixture of itching and burning on his face, Yuan Li resisted scratching and inquired, "What's wrong?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Yuan Li sensed someone approaching from behind. Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around his waist, lifting him off the ground like a child. Following that, Chuo He Chao swiftly carried him towards the embankment.

As Yuan Lichang dangled in mid-air, his waist sore from the grip, he realized the awkward position he was in. His expression changed instantly.