Jiang Wan looked around Er Lang's tent. There wasn't much to see. He was a rough man, and his tent contained only some clothes, weapons, military books, and a few jars of wine.
After a while, Jiang Wan couldn't stand the smell in the tent.
The conditions of marching and fighting were harsh, and water was scarce in the northwest. So many grown men together, and they were all dirty. Er Lang lived alone, and the smell in his tent was quite overwhelming. She couldn't imagine how terrible the smell in the larger tents would be.
Jiang Wan's mouth twitched. She simply lifted the tent flap to let in some fresh air, then walked out herself to admire the scenery of the northwestern frontier.
The military camp was full of men. The sudden appearance of a fresh, young girl was too eye-catching. Before long, Jiang Wan noticed that the patrols in this area had become too frequent. One squad hadn't even left before another arrived.
Jiang Wan's mouth twitched again. She simply returned to the tent, took out the men's clothing she had brought, and changed into it.
Unfortunately, her skin was fair and tender, and her figure was slender. Even in men's clothing, she still looked out of place in the military camp, like a delicate, handsome scholar, and continued to attract attention.
Jiang Wan decided not to care anymore. Let them look. Would it cost her any flesh?
After waiting for two hours, Er Lang finally finished his training and ran back, reeking of sweat.
As soon as he returned, Er Lang went to Jiang Wan's side. Jiang Wan flinched and retreated, "Second Brother, don't come over. The smell on you is really too strong."
Er Lang raised his arm and sniffed it himself, "I just sweated a little. I'm a man, who doesn't have a bit of sweat smell?"
Jiang Wan's mouth twitched. She thought she had just seen a tiny crawling creature on her second brother's head, commonly known as a louse.
The thought that she had sat in her second brother's tent for so long, and might now have them on her too, made her feel a little unwell.
It wasn't that she was disgusted. In these sanitary conditions, getting lice was a very normal thing. It was just that she had been pampered at home for so many years and was not used to it for a moment.
So, Jiang Wan suppressed the urge to scratch her head and quietly cast a supernatural ability on herself and her second brother.
Er Lang immediately felt the itching on his scalp disappear. But he had no idea what had happened, only thinking that the lice had eaten their fill and temporarily calmed down.
Jiang Wan felt relieved.
Er Lang smiled and said, "It's time for dinner. Let's go eat. After dinner, I'll chat with you about family matters."
Jiang Wan was also hungry, so she followed Er Lang towards the dining area.
As they walked, she saw large numbers of soldiers lining up to get food. The soldiers greeted Er Lang respectfully when they saw him, and then stared intently at Jiang Wan.
News that Deputy General Jiang's sister had come to the military camp had already spread. Everyone wanted to see what the deputy general's sister looked like. After all, the deputy general himself was handsome, so his sister must also be beautiful.
Therefore, even though Jiang Wan was dressed as a man, everyone immediately guessed her identity.
The northwest region was extremely harsh and cold. The local girls all had rough, sallow skin. Jiang Wan's fair skin dazzled the soldiers.
Er Lang became a little displeased and roared, "What are you looking at! If you keep looking, I'll gouge out your eyeballs and use them as cannonballs!"
The soldiers flinched at his roar, but still couldn't help but cast glances at Jiang Wan.
Er Lang was truly exasperated. He simply pulled Jiang Wan and walked back, "You go back to the tent and wait. I'll bring the food back for you."
Jiang Wan quickly used some strength to pull him back, "Second Brother, I want to see General Han."
Er Lang, caught off guard, stumbled from Jiang Wan's pull.
How had this girl's strength increased so much? And had anyone seen it just now? If people saw it, it would be too embarrassing.
"What do you want to see the general for?"
Jiang Wan said, "What? Can't I see him? Aunt Hongye asked me to bring a message to the general."
"Oh, oh, so that's how it is. Let's go then."
The generals' dining area was not far from General Han's main tent. At this moment, more than a dozen people were gathered in a tent preparing to eat.
General Han swept his gaze across the tent, "Where is Deputy General Jiang? He's usually the most eager to eat. What's with the sun rising from the west today that he's late?"
Someone smiled and said, "Reporting to the general, Deputy General Jiang's sister has arrived."
General Han was stunned when he heard this, "Jiang Wan, that little chubby girl, is here? Nonsense, she's traveled so far. Isn't she afraid of any accidents on the road, being such a young girl!"
Jiang Wan, who had just arrived outside the tent, heard these words and then said with a smile, "Uncle Han, don't worry. I was safe all the way."
Everyone turned their heads upon hearing the voice and saw Jiang Wan standing there with grace, cupping her hands in greeting, "Greetings, Uncle Han, greetings, everyone."
General Han gasped, "You've grown so tall, girl? I always thought you were this small."
He said this while gesturing with his hand to indicate her height.
Jiang Wan couldn't help but laugh, "Uncle Han, I wasn't this tall seven years ago, was I?"
General Han also laughed, pointed to the seat next to him, and said, "Come in quickly. I've always been thinking about you, girl. You're incredibly capable. Why have you come to this bitter place at this time?"
Jiang Wan entered the tent and walked to the seat next to General Han and sat down, "I was bored at home and wanted to go out for a walk. I haven't seen Second Brother for years and missed him dearly, so I came straight here. Uncle Han, Aunt Hongye asked me to bring you a message. After dinner, you can arrange a place, and I'll tell you what she said."
General Han showed a rare hint of embarrassment, but then quickly laughed heartily, "Alright, let's eat first. You've come a long way, you must be hungry. Come, try the food of our Han family army!"
The food in the military camp was indeed rough. Even though the generals' food was cooked separately, the taste was really mediocre. However, there was enough oil and fat, almost all meat, with only dry preserved vegetables as the vegetables.
Jiang Wan knew that these things were collected by her father and Magistrate Cheng last year and sent here.
The Han family army was an insurgent army, without the support of the imperial court. Everything they had was obtained through their own efforts.
The food supply for two hundred thousand troops was a massive number. These provisions were all collected and purchased through Jiang Pan, Magistrate Cheng, and General Han's other contacts.
They were hard-won.
Jiang Wan ate very seriously, leaving nothing behind.
Although she had grown accustomed to fine dining over the years, she had retained the good habit of never wasting food.
General Han was worried that she wouldn't be used to the food and was about to ask someone to get some dishes suitable for young ladies. However, he saw her eating heartily without any sign of disgust, and his heart was immediately filled with joy.
The daughters of the Jiang family were truly not at all fussy!
After dinner, General Han took Jiang Wan and Er Lang to his military tent.
As soon as Jiang Wan entered the military tent and confirmed her safety, she said in a low voice, "Uncle Han, there is a spy in your military camp!"