Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I'm much better." Xie Wanqing's voice was still gentle, but her complexion was better than the previous two days, and some color had returned to her pale face.

"The city was under heavy police alert last night; is there an enemy presence?"

"A few Di and Rong cavalry harassing us, we have already repelled them." Lin Feng said calmly, his gaze falling on the book she had put down, a common copy of the Book of Songs.

"Miss Xie, do you have a refined taste for poetry and literature?"

"I browse through these books in my spare time to pass the time," Xie Wanqing said, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. "Sir, do you have any news of my uncle?"

"I've already sent people to Shuofeng to inquire, but the roads are difficult due to the snow, and it will take some time," Lin Feng said, looking at her.

"Miss Xie, do you remember if you noticed anything unusual before you got separated from the caravan? Or heard any rumors about the northern border?"

Xie Wanqing paused slightly, as if recalling something, and shook her head after a moment: "The caravan traveled north, and I only heard that the north had been quite unsettled in recent years, with the Di and Rong tribes frequently raiding the borders, but I didn't know the specifics. The attack that day was sudden, and I really... can't remember any more."

She paused, then said softly, "Sir, is there something important happening at the border?"

"The Di and Rong tribes covet our territory; there has never been a peaceful day on the border." Lin Feng stood up. "Miss Xie, please take good care of yourself. If you remember anything, please inform the guards at any time."

Even after leaving the West Courtyard, Lin Feng's doubts remained. Xie Wanqing's behavior seemed reasonable, but her excessive calmness and the occasional flashes of clarity in her eyes that didn't match her delicate appearance made him feel that this woman was not simple.

In the following days, the city of Ironwall was under heavy guard.

Scouts outside the city reported a significant increase in Di Rong cavalry activity in the northeast, but no large-scale gatherings were observed. The captured Di Rong people remained silent, offering no further valuable intelligence. Lin Feng knew that beneath this calm, a storm was brewing.

That afternoon, Lin Feng was watching the soldiers practice archery and horsemanship at the drill ground when a personal guard came to report that Miss Xie Wanqing wanted to see him and had something important to tell him.

Lin Feng was slightly surprised. He returned to the garrison headquarters and met her in a side hall.

Xie Wanqing is now able to walk, although she is still weak, but her demeanor is much more composed.

Today she changed into a clean, moon-white cotton dress, over which she wore a slightly worn blue satin vest that Yun Li had sent her. Her hair was simply tied up and fastened with a wooden hairpin. She had shed her initial disheveled appearance and looked even more elegant. She was holding a small cloth bag in her hands.

"What can I do for you, Miss Xie?" Lin Feng gestured for her to sit down.

Xie Wanqing did not sit down. She placed the cloth bag on the table and opened it. Inside were several dried leaves of different colors and unique shapes, and two inconspicuous gray-brown stones.

"Sir, please look at this." She picked up a leaf with serrated edges, a dark green front and a silvery-gray back.

"This plant is called 'Silverback Artemisia' and it grows mostly on the sunny side of cold mountain slopes in the north."

He then pointed to a stone with dark red veins, saying, "This is raw hematite. Although it doesn't contain much iron, you can often find loose stones like this if there is a large vein nearby."

Lin Feng's gaze sharpened: "What does Miss Xie mean?"

"I felt drowsy after taking the medicine the day before yesterday. I overheard the soldiers on duty chatting and they mentioned that the army's reserves of iron and arrows were not sufficient."

Xie Wanqing's voice was clear and steady, no longer as weak as before.

"When I was young, I traveled with my father as a merchant, and thus gained some knowledge of the local products. Near the 'Ghost Cry Forest' where I fainted that day, I vaguely saw patches of silver-backed wormwood growing on the cliffs, and among the pebbles in the stream below, there seemed to be hematite. If you, sir, send someone to investigate and confirm this, it might alleviate our urgent need for iron. Furthermore..."

She then picked up a withered leaf with curled edges that resembled a bird's feather. "This is called 'feather-leaf grass.' When burned, it has a pungent smell that can repel insects and snakes. If a small amount is mixed into horse feed, it may prevent horses from being bitten by poisonous insects in the border areas."

After she finished speaking, she looked quietly at Lin Feng, her eyes clear and calm.

Lin Feng was shocked. This woman was not only literate, but also knowledgeable about minerals and herbs?

Is she offering these things now to gain trust, or does she have ulterior motives? Is what she says true or false?

"Thank you for your great knowledge, Miss Xie. I am grateful." Lin Feng said calmly.

"I wonder what business your father runs, young lady, that he knows so much about these things?"

Xie Wanqing lowered her eyelids slightly: "My father was a craftsman in the army in his early years. He was discharged due to injury and turned to business. He had some knowledge of mining, metallurgy and herbal medicine. I have been exposed to it since childhood and know a little bit about it. I hope you will forgive me, sir."

A descendant of artisans in the army? That makes sense. But could a craftsman's daughter possess such poise and manner of speaking?

"I will send someone to verify what you say, young lady. If it is true, you will be credited with a favor," Lin Feng said.

"I dare not claim credit, but only hope to do my utmost to repay the kindness of taking me in and treating me." Xie Wanqing curtsied and said, "Sir, you are busy with military affairs, so I will take my leave."

Lin Feng watched her leave, then looked at the leaves and stones on the table. What was this woman's background? Offering these things now seemed like extending an olive branch, or perhaps a test.

"Han Tao," he called out.

"exist."

"Send two clever men, along with guides familiar with the local forests, to the vicinity of Ghost Cry Forest. As she instructed, check for silver-backed wormwood and hematite. Be careful not to alert any Di Rong spies who might be lurking there."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Lin Feng paused, "from today onwards, Miss Xie's meals will remain the same, but the guards can be slightly relaxed, allowing her to move around in the west courtyard of the mansion for some fresh air. However, if she leaves the mansion or approaches important locations such as military camps, armories, or city walls, she must be stopped and reported to me immediately."

"clear."

Xie Wanqing returned to her room in the west courtyard, closed the door, and let out a soft sigh.

What I just said was partly true and partly false. My father was indeed involved with military craftsmen, but he wasn't an ordinary craftsman. His knowledge of mining and planting wasn't entirely superficial either. But it was the best way I could think of at the moment to demonstrate my value and gain some trust without revealing my true abilities.

She walked to the window and looked towards the main courtyard of the garrison. Lin Feng… was more difficult to deal with than she had anticipated. Calm, astute, and not easily trusting. But perhaps it was precisely because of this that he was more… worthy of her trust?

But how do we take the next step?

Her gaze fell on a withered tree in the courtyard, covered in snow, and her eyes gradually hardened.

The news brought back by the two men sent by Han Tao greatly shocked Lin Feng. There was indeed a large patch of silverback wormwood growing on the sunny side of the cliff on the northeast side of Ghost Cry Forest.

Not only were scattered hematite stones found in the stream below the cliff, but also signs of an exposed, darker-colored iron ore vein were discovered in a collapsed area half-hidden by snow!

Although the extent of the reserves is unknown, for Ironwall City, which is facing a severe shortage of iron, it is like a timely fire in the snow.

"Shoulder, although that place is remote, if we can actually mine it, even on a small scale, it will be a great help to us in forging arrowheads and repairing armor!" Han Tao couldn't hide his excitement.

Lin Feng stared at the location of Ghost Cry Forest on the map and pondered, "The location is good, but it's too close to the Di Rong's activity area. Mining there requires manpower and is quite noisy, easily attracting Di Rong attacks. This matter needs careful consideration; for now, military preparedness is the priority. However..."