No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

Su Chuang stared at her for three breaths, then suddenly grinned.

He reached out and pinched Lin Ruxue's cheek: "Alright, then I'll accept this medicine."

Lin Ruxue blushed, but instead of dodging, she leaned forward:

"Brother Chuang, when are you planning to make your move?"

"Five days later."

Su Chuang tucked the porcelain bottle into his pocket.

"Robbing goods on Black Wind Road and using medicine from Wolf Dwelling Mountain, a two-pronged approach."

He paused, then added, "But before that, we need to take care of something."

"What is it?"

"Stockpiling."

Su Chuang rubbed his hands together. "Goods for winter."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

The clouds pressed down even lower, and the dampness in the wind grew heavier, feeling like knives against my face.

"The snow will come in three days at most."

Su Chuang said.

"Once the snow falls, the trade route will be cut off, and our group of over a thousand people will have to spend the whole winter at Wangbeitai."

He turned to look at Lin Ruxue:

"You just said you've worn out the palace's local chronicles, but do you know what's the hardest thing about winter in the northern frontier?"

Lin Ruxue pondered for a moment: "It's not that I'm cold, it's that I'm bored."

Su Chuang was taken aback: "Huh?"

"In winter, heavy snow blocks the mountains, preventing people from getting in and people from getting out."

Lin Ruxue said slowly.

"The soldiers had nothing to do but sit around the fire in a daze."

"If this goes on for too long, morale will drop, and there's even a possibility of unrest."

She paused:

"What's more troublesome is that if we don't have enough supplies and run out of food and medicine, we'll collapse on our own without the enemy even attacking."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up.

This girl is definitely not just a pretty face.

"right."

He nodded. "So we need to get everything ready before the snow comes."

"Not only do we need to prepare food, medicine, and firewood, but we also need to prepare some... entertainment."

"Fun?"

Lin Ruxue blinked.

"For example, alcohol, gambling paraphernalia, and storybooks."

Su Chuang grinned.

"The brothers need to have something to do, otherwise they'll go crazy if they stay cooped up all winter."

As I was talking, that thing in my head suddenly went off.

It wasn't the usual alert tone; it was a low, urgent alarm sound.

Su Chuang's expression changed.

[Urgent Mission Issued]

[Mission Name: Survival in the Dead of Winter]

[Mission Description: Winter in the Northern Frontier is like a tiger that devours men. Survive until the following spring at Wangbeitai, ensuring your troops' morale remains above 60 and your supply reserves are above the safety threshold.]

[Task Deadline: Until March of next year]

[Mission Rewards: SS General Card x1, S-Rank Random Talent Summoning Card x2]

[Failure Penalty: Randomly remove three summoned talents and trigger the "Snow Disaster" event, resulting in a 30% loss of troops under your command.]

Su Chuang's breath hitched.

The punishment for failure... is too harsh.

Randomly stripping three talented individuals?

What if he draws Yue Fei, Zhao Yun, or Jia Xu? What's the point of playing then?

Not to mention the "snow disaster," which directly resulted in the loss of 30% of the troops...

"Damn it..." Su Chuang gritted his teeth, "This damn system really knows how to pick its timing."

Seeing that his expression was off, Lin Ruxue asked softly, "Brother Chuang, what's wrong?"

Su Chuang waved his hand without saying a word.

He quickly calculated in his mind.

Currently, I have a total force of 1,500 men under my command, and morale is... around 70, which is not bad.

Our supplies include 12,000 shi of grain, enough for four months if we're careful. We also have enough medicinal herbs, firewood, and furs.

But the question is, what is the "safety line" that the system refers to?

And then there's morale... With nothing to do during the winter, morale is bound to drop.

We need to find a way.

Su Chuang closed his eyes and brought up the system panel.

Current military merits: 1641

【Redeemable List:】

1. Five thousand shi of fine grain (150 military merits)

2. 10,000 catties of refined iron (400 military merits)

3. Three hundred warhorses (300 military merits)

4. 100 Xuanjia Modao Guards (1000 Military Merits)

5. Five hundred jars of strong liquor (80 military merits)

6. 1000 sets of winter cotton-padded clothing (120 military merits)

7. Simple gambling equipment x 50 sets (20 military merits)

8. One thousand live sheep (200 military merits)

9. 500 catties of sulfur (60 military merits)

10. 500 catties of saltpeter (60 military merits)

......

The list goes on and on, with dozens of items.

Su Chuang glanced around, his mind racing with calculations.

These are the military achievements we have; we must use them wisely.

"Exchange for 3,000 shi of refined grain, 1,000 sets of winter cotton clothing, 300 jars of strong liquor, 500 live sheep, 300 jin of sulfur, and 300 jin of saltpeter..."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I'll exchange another fifty sets of gambling equipment and thirty sets of card games."

[Redeem successful]

【消耗军功：90+120+48+100+36+36+20+12=462】

[Remaining Military Merits: 1179]

The supplies have been delivered to the warehouse in the valley behind the mountain.

Su Chuang didn't stop and continued scrolling down.

[Special Exchange: Gunpowder Recipe (Beginner)]

[Required for exchange: 500 military merits]

[Effect: Obtain the basic black powder recipe and simple manufacturing process]

Su Chuang's eyes lit up.

gunpowder!

If this thing were made, wouldn't we be able to do whatever we want in the northern border region?

"Exchange it!" he gritted his teeth inwardly.

[Redeem successful]

[Military Merit Consumption: 500]

[Remaining Military Merits: 679]

The gunpowder formula has been distributed, and related materials have been placed in the warehouse.

Su Chuang breathed a long sigh of relief.

There are still over six hundred military merits left, which need to be kept for emergencies.

He opened his eyes and looked at Lin Ruxue: "Let's go to the back mountain."

A warehouse in a depression behind the mountain.

It was called a warehouse, but it was actually just a pit with a shed on it, supported by wooden stakes on all four sides and covered with thatch on top.

But it was packed full.

The newly redeemed grain was stacked in piles, cotton-padded clothes were bundled together, and wine jars were arranged in a row.

And the flock of sheep, kept bleating incessantly in the makeshift fence.

Jia Xu was already standing at the warehouse door, holding an account book, directing several veteran soldiers to take inventory.

"My lord." He bowed and greeted Su Chuang as he approached.

"Wenhe, have you counted everything clearly?" Su Chuang asked.

"I've taken stock." Jia Xu nodded. "The newly arrived supplies, plus our previous stock, are enough to last us until spring."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But there is one thing I don't understand."

"explain."

"Where did these supplies come from?"

Jia Xu raised his eyes, his half-closed eyes gleaming. "The warehouse was only inventoried this afternoon; these items weren't there then."

Su Chuang grinned.

He leaned closer to Jia Xu and lowered his voice: "Wenhe, some things, if you know too much, can lead to a short life."

Jia Xu remained silent for three breaths, then bowed and said, "Your subordinate understands."

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply turned around and continued counting, as if nothing had happened.

Su Chuang patted him on the shoulder: "By the way, I got my hands on the gunpowder formula."

Jia Xu paused, "My lord, are you referring to... the 'Heavenly Thunderbolt' that's been circulating in the army?"

"almost."

Su Chuang took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Jia Xu, "This is the recipe. Find a few reliable craftsmen and study it secretly."

"Remember, this must be kept secret. If this gets out, we'll be in big trouble."

Jia Xu took the formula, glanced at it, and his pupils contracted slightly.

"The ratio of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal is..."

"right."

Su Chuang nodded.

"But the specific combination needs to be tested. Remember, safety first. It's better to be slow than to kill someone."

"Understood."

Jia Xu carefully folded the recipe and tucked it into his robes. "Rest assured, my lord, I will personally oversee it."

Su Chuang gave a few more instructions, then turned and left the warehouse.

Lin Ruxue followed beside him and whispered, "Brother Chuang, those supplies... did you conjure them up?"

Su Chuang turned to look at her, blinked, and asked, "Guess?"

Lin Ruxue smiled and said, "I won't guess. It's a good thing that Brother Chuang is capable."

"sensible."

Su Chuang chuckled, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, "Come on, let's go back and have a drink. We'll have a good chat tonight."

For the next two days, Wangbeitai was extremely busy.

Yue Fei led his Mo Dao Guards to reinforce the walls, dig deeper trenches, and set up more than a dozen simple catapults on the walls.

Although the range is not long, it is enough to scare people.

Zhao Yun led his White Horse Cavalry on patrols around the perimeter, traveling hundreds of miles each day and thoroughly familiarizing themselves with the terrain within a fifty-mile radius.

Li Cunxiao was in charge of moving heavy objects, and that wide knife became his best tool. He was good at everything from chopping wood and digging holes to moving stones.

Jia Xu was the busiest, having to take inventory of supplies and arrange winter meals.

He had to keep an eye on gunpowder research and development while also finding time to scheme against Ye Qingyue and Wanyan Honglie.

Su Chuang was the most idle.

Every day, he would wrap himself in a mink coat, squat on a mound of earth, and look at the scenery, always holding a handful of sunflower seeds in his hand, cracking them open with a deafening "crack, crack."

Occasionally, a veteran would pass by, and he would grin and ask, "Hey buddy, how old are you this year? Who else is in your family?"

The veterans were initially reserved, but later they found that the Duke was approachable and started chatting more freely.

Through this conversation, Su Chuang learned everything about everyone's background.

Whose wife just gave birth? Whose mother is bedridden? Whose son is getting married...?

He kept it all in his heart.

On the evening of the third day, it finally started snowing.

At first, it was just a few scattered drops, but then it got heavier and heavier, like goose feathers falling down.

Su Chuang stood on the earthen wall of the beacon tower, looking at the vast expanse of white outside, and rubbed his hands together.

"It's snowing."

Lin Ruxue walked to his side and handed him a bowl of hot ginger soup.

Su Chuang took it, gulped down a large mouthful, and grimaced from the spiciness: "Awesome!"

"Brother Chuang, will the Black Wind Path operation proceed as planned in five days?" Lin Ruxue asked.

"As usual." Su Chuang grinned. "The heavier the snow, the better, it'll cover our tracks perfectly."

He paused for a moment: "But before that, we need to settle things at home first."

He turned around and called down, "Uncle Chen!"

Chen Dashuan was directing people to move firewood into the warehouse when he heard the shout and rushed over: "Lord Duke, what's the matter?"

"Extra food tonight."

Su Chuang said, "Slaughter fifty sheep, make mutton soup, steam buns, and plenty of wine."

Chen Dashuan was stunned: "Lord Duke, this...this is far too extravagant..."

"What a waste of money," Su Chuang waved his hand. "It's getting cold; the brothers need something hot to eat. Go and get it done."

"Hey!" Chen Dashuan's eyes reddened, he nodded heavily, and turned to run away.

That night, the North Table was brightly lit.

More than a dozen large pots were set up on the open ground, with mutton bubbling and steaming inside.

Steamed buns were steamed one basket after another, piled up like a small mountain.

The wine jar was opened, and its aroma wafted far and wide.

Su Chuang carried a wine jar and went from table to table offering toasts.

"Old Wang, I heard your wife just gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy? Congratulations! This jar of wine is a congratulatory gift!"

"Old Li, is your mother's rheumatism any better? I have a jar of ointment here, you can take it home and try it."

"Hey Zhao, I heard you want to get married? Need money? If you do, just tell me!"

He was flushed and his voice was loud, but every word he said touched people's hearts.

The soldiers' eyes were red.

For so many years, I haven't met a commander who treats his brothers like human beings.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became lively.

Some people started playing drinking games, some started singing, and others brought out the gambling equipment that Su Chuang had exchanged, and gathered around to play dice.

Su Chuang ignored it and instead joined in placing bets.

"I'm betting big! I'm betting ten taels!"

"Open! Four, five, six, big! Hahaha, I won! I won!"

He smiled like a nouveau riche, but he immediately gave away the money he won to the old soldiers watching the spectacle.

"Hey bro, take this and buy some beer!"

Lin Ruxue sat not far away, watching Su Chuang weave through the crowd, a smile curving her lips.

This man... he's really good at pretending.

But she knew that beneath those hazy, drunken eyes lay a calculation more clear-headed than anyone else's.

It was late at night, and the snow was still falling.

Su Chuang had drunk a bit too much and was helped back to the earthen house by Lin Ruxue.

As soon as he entered the room, he collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), muttering with his eyes closed, "Ru Xue, pour me a bowl of water..."

Lin Ruxue poured water and held it to his lips.

Su Chuang gulped down the drink, opened his eyes, and his gaze had cleared considerably.

"It was exhausting pretending," he said, rubbing his face. "But it was worth it."

"Brother Chuang, you don't need to do this," Lin Ruxue said softly. "Even if you don't pretend, the brothers still respect you."

"To submit is one thing, to be completely devoted is another."

Su Chuang sat up. "What I want is not for them to obey me, but for them to be willing to risk their lives for me."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "That's how my father led his troops. He said that leading troops isn't like leading livestock; it requires care and attention."

Lin Ruxue looked at him without saying a word.

"Brother Chuang," she suddenly asked, "are you really planning to spend the New Year in the northern frontier?"

"Otherwise what?"

Su Chuang grinned.

"But Sister Xu..."