The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Ming heard from the scouts that Goding's army set their base just a mile away from the city walls but the expected cavalry and aerial support didn't come. Not even the anticipated general hadn't arrived.

Zhang Wei sent a report that they have eight hundred able-bodied men ranging from sixteen to sixty years old. But only three hundred, the present city guards, had undergone military training. The rests were simple farmers or carpenters.

All villages lay empty while the city crammed with people, young and old alike, staying in abandoned estates and began foraging to survive. Storage houses gave porridge round the clock to fill two thousand inhabitants. However, the Governor's estate remained closed. He also stopped the construction to keep outsiders from entering his estate in this time of crisis.

Lifen hid the herbs in her room but protected by deadly illusion traps to keep thieves away. Knowing this, troubled Qinfen and thought of coaxing his mother for an herb later.

Ming prepared the north gate as an escape route toward the Shining Water Mountain while they shut the east and west gates tight and would only open for food caravans. The south gate was the remaining gate opened during daytime but with thorough surveillance and inspection.

In his residence, the three main persons of the city had a meeting today to solve their impending crisis, but Lifen reported first.

"Lei An and I renovated a former antique shop and the biggest restaurant in the city to become the makeshift hospital. We used these two buildings for they have enough space for a hundred to five hundred people."

Then she handed over the list of medicines available in the makeshift hospital but she included the medicines she made out from the herbs given by Xionmao but didn't mention it to keep Zang Wei from inquiring. Hearing this delighted Ming and commended his mother for her speedy decisions and actions.

While the two were discussing, Zang Wei's mind was not with them. Though he had seen Lifen for days now, the old bachelor couldn't help himself from staring at his Governor's mother. Ming had told him more than once about her actual age and openly announced that Lifen was her biological mother but Wei disregarded his words.

For who could blame the guy from falling in love with her? Aside from her beauty and being an herbalist, she was also a skillful fighter. Two days ago, he was so impressed that she volunteered to teach new recruits the basic stances and ways to fight strong enemies by hitting their vital points. Then her jolly character added plus points to his valuation.

The more he saw her unpretentious rough side, the more his impression heightened to the extent he wished to marry her regardless of her age and as the Governor's mother. If not for the war, he could have asked for her hand in marriage and live with her for the rest of his life.

Ah, a man in love. Even in this morning's meeting, Ming lifted a brow when Zang Wei came in with his back straight, serious face, and fully dressed in his shiny city guards' armor donned with a red cape signifying his status as a high-ranking official. The thirty-year-old man showed-off his manliness at Lifen, who in turn almost burst out into laughter if not for the governor's furrowing forehead in front of her.

In Ming's mind, 'Please, don't give me more headaches, Ma.' And while looking at her mother's beautiful face, Ming was thankful that the wealthy families had left, leaving him only one possible marriage proposer to handle.

Somehow, he felt mortified to let his Ma teach the young recruits for this caused a new worrisome issue. Besides Zang Wei, some youngsters and a few middle-aged men began waiting outside Cuxin's gate to 'walk' or 'help' their instructor all the way to the training ground. So today, he assigned Zhai for the training, making the new recruits heartbroken.

While he was thinking about these new suitors and stalking issue, suddenly, his mind zoomed out and saw problems he hadn't seen before. Ming was thankful for this slight distraction though his brain ached thinking for solutions to their problems for the last two days but because of this, he saw the greater picture and helped him refocused his attention... and saw some possibilities he missed in the previous days.

Then... "We'll end this meeting early today," he directly announced.

"What? But Governor, we still have the food shortage to handle..."

Ming interrupted by facing a palm at the other man. "Zang Wei, go to the headquarters right now and send more men to the walls. Close the gate. No one is allowed to enter the city starting today. For now, send the refugees to the left gate and tell them to wait there."

"But, my Lord…"

"We need to be vigilant. I just realized it now. Something could have happened outside that we don't know and the general might be traveling by land. I also missed checking for spies or the enemy sending people to come in undetected while we're waiting for the general's arrival.

"Or the general might be outside right now but in disguised. By the way, you must be with the people and wait for someone might approach you asking for Yang Lifen."

"Why would someone ask about Lady Lifen? Wait, is Lady Lifen and this Yang Lifen the same person?" Wei did not want any man to go near Lifen, most of all, people from the capital, so he was hesitant.

Lifen interrupted... "Because the General would possibly use that name to get the Governor's attention so they can come in undetected by the enemies. Do it, Zang Wei. This is for the people."

"But why would they come in disguise? Why not come right straight with their flying mounts?"

"It's only an assumption. In case I'm right then we'll be saved. Just do as I told you, Zang Wei," He shouted this last statement to stop the man from hesitating more.

"I fully understand, my Lord." Wei bowed and winked at Lifen before running out. Then after Zang Wei left, Ming faced Lifen saying, "Ma, I need your help."

"Speak."

"Ma, help me convince the old panda for a favor."