Chapter 524: Gu Er Lang never cries in pain [Bowing in thanks! Bowing again! Debt of chapters]

North bank of the Yellow River,

Winter sun setting,

Golden sunlight,

Without the shining of the noon sun, it felt much colder.

The bare trees all around added a lot of desolate and biting winter atmosphere.

Trees were planted on both sides of the official road south of Changyuan County, and although there were no leaves, they also blocked the view at the turn.

On the official road,

Three people and three donkeys were walking not slowly, breathing out white air.

The donkeys had already changed their fur at this time, and the thick black fur was dense and warm.

Pack saddles were fixed on the donkeys' backs, and there were thick pads under the pack saddles to protect the donkeys' backs.

Four large wicker baskets, convenient for loading things, were tied to both sides of the pack saddles.

Walking at the very front, the donkey driver, whose face was frozen red, looked into the distance, pulled the donkey in his hand, looked back, and said:

"Father! Brother! Look quickly!"

The two donkey drivers behind looked up and saw two riders riding tall and sturdy horses appearing from behind the trees at the turn in the distance, walking their horses toward this side.

The sunlight shining from the west made it vaguely possible to see something on the riders' bodies flashing with light.

"Father, what should we do?" The donkey driver who spoke just now said with some panic.

The old donkey driver looked behind him and then glanced at the side of the road. The terrain here was flat, and there was no place to hide at all.

"We should have had a drink in the city, and we wouldn't have encountered... if we had left the city later."

"Shut up!" The old donkey driver reprimanded with a slight panic in his eyes.

After reprimanding, the old donkey driver looked at his three donkeys and then looked up into the distance.

During the time they were talking, more riders appeared at the turn in the distance.

"Walk along the side, let's give way to the road, and uncover the linen cloth on the baskets."

"Father, why uncover the linen cloth? If they see what we're carrying and rob us, what then?"

Listening to his younger son's words, the old donkey driver slapped his shoulder directly: "Listen to you, or listen to me? Quick! I'll walk at the very front!"

The three of them skillfully uncovered the linen cloth covering the baskets and walked along the side of the road leading the donkeys.

Soon,

The three of them were getting closer and closer to the two riders walking in front.

At this time, the old donkey driver at the very front finally saw clearly that the two riders were wearing winter scarves, only revealing their eyes, and the gaze they looked at him with was full of scrutiny.

The old donkey driver led the donkey and hurriedly bowed.

"Old man, what are you carrying in the baskets?"

Behind the thick scarf came the muffled voice of a rider.

"Replying to the Chief Manager, dates, dried dates."

Saying this, the old donkey driver turned sideways, stood on tiptoe, grabbed a handful of red dates from the basket: "Entered the city today, didn't finish selling them."

The rider nodded, looked at the other two donkey drivers, and then lightly kicked the horse's belly and walked forward.

The old donkey driver didn't move forward anymore, but stood quietly by the side of the road, watching a line of carriages and horses gradually approach.

"Clang! Clang!"

Among the party, a black horse with an exceptionally sturdy build passed by, and the sound of its thick hooves stepping on the ground was also different.

Looking at the white air exhaled from the horse's nose,

and feeling the gaze of the rider looking over, the old donkey driver hurriedly smiled.

"Making a living in winter, old man, you are truly hardworking."

"Sigh, not hardworking, not hardworking. It's also not easy for the Chief Manager to be outside in winter."

The rider on the black horse nodded slightly, looked at the appearance of the three, turned around, and said: "Give them a gourd of wine!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

A rider behind replied.

Hearing this, the two behind the old donkey driver looked at each other in surprise.

The rider who spoke had already passed by, and the rider who replied behind him handed over a gourd.

"Thank... thank you for the reward, Chief Manager!"

"Old man, you're welcome, drink some wine to warm up your body."

"Yes!"

While speaking, the old donkey driver saw something bloody hanging on the saddle of a rider behind, which scared the old donkey driver into hurriedly lowering his head.

After the end of the team passed by for a while, the old donkey driver finally dared to look back, and then breathed a sigh of relief: "It turned out to be a rabbit!"

"Father, where did these riders come from? This horse is truly handsome, and the people are also polite."

"Coming from the south, and with such a divine mount, eight out of ten it's from Bianjing."

Saying this, the old donkey driver pulled out the gourd stopper, sniffed it, and his eyes lit up.

Just as he was about to take a sip,

"Father, be careful that there's poison in the wine!"

The old donkey driver looked at his son and said with disgust: "Why would there be poison in such good wine? For these three donkeys and six baskets of dates of ours?"

Saying this, he took a sip, smacked his lips, and said beautifully: "Good wine!"

Looking at his father's appearance, the donkey driver who spoke just now licked his lips greedily.

Subsequently, the three of them each shared a small sip of wine and continued to walk south along the official road leading the donkeys.

After passing the turn,

The three of them walked for another stretch on the official road, turned onto a small path leading to a village, and soon, their figures disappeared into the village.

The sun had already set,

The sky was red,

There was no one on the official road, and the sky began to darken.

When the sky darkened to the point where a lamp was needed and stars lit up in the sky, a white figure stood up from the snowy ground beside the official road.

Rolling up the wolf skin pad on the ground, the figure walked toward the official road.

After waiting for a while,

The sound of horse hooves came from the direction of the county town.

Outside Changyuan County,

Post station,

The horses that had run all day were eating fine grain with a snort.

Alan and Zhi Que were carrying hot water buckets and mixing warm water, preparing to feed the horses.

In the house,

Xu Zaijing and his party gathered together. The stove for the floor heating was burning vigorously, and an iron pot was sitting on top, with soup bubbling inside and rabbit meat churning.

Xu Zaijing, who had taken off his coat, stood in the middle of the earth bed, looked around at everyone, cupped his hands, and said: "I am deeply grateful for everyone's company this time!"

"Fifth Young Master, let's not say such polite words between us!" He Guan said.

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Brother He is right! But this time going to Beizhou is not for sightseeing. The situation ahead is unknown, and I have a feud with Zhang Shipan! So I think... it's better for us to be prepared for anything on the road."

Team Leader Gao, sitting on the bed, nodded repeatedly: "Fifth Young Master is right, how should we proceed?"

Xu Zaijing said: "We definitely can't fight on our own when we encounter a situation. It's best to have a commander."

Hearing this, looking at Xu Zaijing's sweeping gaze, Gu Tingye was eager to try.

"Therefore, on the road, I recommend Brother Gao Puyu as the commander! After arriving in Beizhou, it will change to Brother Zhao as the commander. What do you think?"

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, Zhao Meifeng showed an approving expression and said: "I agree."

He Guan smiled: "Brother Gao has followed the Gu Marquis for many years and is familiar with all matters along the way north. I have no opinion."

Seeing Xu Zaijing look over again, Gu Tingye nodded hurriedly: "Me too."

Gao Puyu hesitated, looked at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Fifth Young Master, I heard from my Marquis that you have led troops in battle in the West Army and made quite a few achievements. Why recommend me as commander? Er Ge'er's arrival was decided this morning. If you hadn't come, what would you have done?"

"Uh, Brother Gao, if you hadn't come, I would naturally have discussed it with Brother Zhao and Brother He."

Gao Puyu smiled, cupped his hands, and said: "Then, how about Fifth Young Master still being the commander on the road, and I will assist from the side?"

Xu Zaijing hesitated slightly: "Time, place, and people! It's freezing cold, we don't have the time! I also wanted to borrow Brother Gao's familiarity with the route to occupy the place and people."

"Haha, so Fifth Young Master treated this as a battle! Very good! But Fifth Young Master, you have quite a bit of decisiveness in the Northwest, and there are some things I don't think I can do better than you. So, I'll still assist from the side! Everyone?"

Looking at Gao Puyu's eyes, He Guan thought for a moment and agreed.

Zhao Meifeng said: "Team Leader Gao's words are reasonable."

Xu Zaijing pursed his lips, nodded, and said: "Since that's the case, let me say a few words, and everyone can deliberate."

"We will rest in the city for one night, and tomorrow morning we will start rushing. We will pass through Chanzhou without entering until Nanle."

"The day after tomorrow we will pass through Guantao and go north along the Imperial River (Wei Canal) to Beizhou."

Zhao Meifeng frowned: "Fifth Young Master, are we going to Beizhou so openly? Don't we need to hide our tracks? And at this speed, the Imperial City Department really can't arrange it in advance."

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Brother Zhao, I am going to Beizhou by His Majesty's oral decree, why hide?"

"This, what if there's an ambush on the road..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Meifeng smiled and shook his head: "If there's nothing wrong in Beizhou, then why would there be an ambush."

Gao Puyu to the side said: "Fifth Young Master, I've heard about the encounter between you and Er Ge'er before! Looking at Zhang Shipan's scheming, there's no ambush on the road, but perhaps there are some insidious tricks waiting for us."

"It's better to be careful about food and drink on the road."

Watching Xu Zaijing nod, Gu Tingye interjected: "Jingge'er, the Guangjie Army under the Gan family is stationed near Guantao, and Liang Jing, the elder brother of Liang Liu Lang, is also in the Guangjie Army. When the time comes, we might be able to borrow some."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "That's fine, and at the same time, we will arrange night sentries along the way, just in case."

Everyone nodded.

At this time,

Someone entered the room with a cold chill.

Looking at the person who came, Zhao Meifeng said: "How is the situation?"

Gao Yunqing blew on his palms and said: "Chief Manager, there's no tail behind. I'll sleep early tonight, and I'll go to the front at the Chou hour (1:00 AM to 3:00 AM)."

Zhao Meifeng waved his hand: "No need, tomorrow we will go to Nanle County together."

Gao Yunqing was stunned: "Ah? That's far enough."

Subsequently, everyone returned to their respective rooms.

When Xu Zaijing was writing and drawing in the room, Qingyun walked in with a bowl of rabbit meat and said: "Young Master, there is a Chai family manager outside the post station asking to see you."

"Hmm, Chai family?"

"Yes, the manager of the coal shop in the city."

"Please invite him in."

Not long after,

The middle-aged man wearing ear muffs and dressed in silk was led into the room by Qingyun.

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master! The proprietor sent a message, asking the little one to prepare two carts of fine grain, which I have already brought."

Xu Zaijing, who had stood up, was stunned again and said with a smile: "Then, thank you, Manager!"

"Don't dare, don't dare. Does Fifth Young Master have any other instructions?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Well, please prepare a few more carriage horses, thank you."

"Fifth Young Master is too polite! The little one will go and prepare immediately! Farewell."

Xu Zaijing nodded and gave Qingyun a look.

Not long after,

Qingyun returned to the room and shook his head: "Young Master, the manager wouldn't take our reward money no matter what!"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Hmm, sleep early, the sentry at the Chou hour is you and Alan."

"Yes, Young Master!"

After dinner,

Gu Tingye and Zhi Que were preparing to sleep in the room. When taking off his clothes, Zhi Que grinned and said: "Young Master, do your inner thighs hurt?"

Gu Tingye: "Hiss! No! What's this little distance."

Zhi Que raised his eyebrows.

At this time, a voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, it's me, Gao Puyu."

"Enter!"

Team Leader Gao entered the room, turned around to close the door, placed a bottle of ointment on the table, and said: "Young Master, the pain-relieving and blood-activating medicine that the Marquis ordered me to bring this morning."

Hearing this, Gu Tingye looked at the porcelain bottle in a daze, with a happy expression in his eyes.

"And, the night sentry was told to me by Fifth Young Master, and you and I are at the Hai hour." (9:00 PM to 11:00 PM)

Gao Puyu continued: "Young Master, the Chou hour is Alan and Qingyun, and the Yin hour is Fifth Young Master and Master He."

Gu Tingye nodded, looked at Gao Puyu, who was hesitant to speak, and said:

"No need to say, I know in my heart. Fifth Young Master is taking care of me. From the Chou hour to the Yin hour, it's always the time when people are most exhausted."

"On a winter night, these two hours are also the coldest. If there is a sneak attack, it will likely be in these two hours! I understand!"

Gao Puyu bowed: "Yes, Young Master!"

Saying this, Gao Puyu exited the room.

After applying the ointment, the candle in the room was extinguished. It was only the You hour (after 6:00 PM) at this time.

Gu Tingye lay on the bed, smelling the cold air without incense, looking at the firelight through the window paper, which was emitted by the fire basin warming the room in the courtyard.

"Zhi Que, do you think Jingge'er's inner thighs hurt?"

"Young Master, I didn't see it."

"Hmm, it's so cold sleeping in the post station, how uncomfortable it must be to sleep in a tent!"

"Young Master is right, but let's sleep early."

"Hmm."

Night,

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

The floor heating that had been burning for a long time made the hall very warm.

The Emperor sat behind the imperial desk, frowning, quietly looking at the memorial in his hand.

Although the Emperor's gaze was on the memorial, the great eunuch knew that the Emperor was already absent-minded at this time.

A moment later,

"Pfft~"

The memorial was thrown on the imperial desk by the Emperor, and the breeze brought up moved the candle to the side.

On the flat memorial, there were vaguely the words 'frequent troop movements in the Northern Liao Xijin Prefecture'.

"At this time, where have they reached?"

The great eunuch bowed and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, they had to leave the city and cross the river today. The road after the snow is difficult to walk, so they should be staying overnight in Changyuan County tonight."

"Hmm, I heard that the Xu family sent letters to several families last night?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

There was a hesitant expression in the Emperor's eyes, and he said: "Hmm, you say, am I..."

He said half a sentence and didn't continue.

The hall was quiet.

The great eunuch who had accompanied the Emperor for many years bowed his head and said softly: "Your Majesty, actually, Jingge'er has always been a good boy with filial piety."

"Although his temper is a bit urgent, he is also straightforward! This slave often thinks, if I get old and can't serve Your Majesty, I still want to beg Your Majesty for a favor, and let that slave send Jingge'er some good things!"

The Emperor raised his eyes and looked at the great eunuch, with a smile on the corner of his mouth: "Are you willing to give that kid the good things you've saved up for decades?"

The great eunuch bowed and said: "Over these years, the number of times Your Majesty has smiled has increased more and more. Not to mention those things, even this slave's life, this slave is willing to give."

The Emperor looked at the bowing great eunuch and laughed, pondered for a long time, and said: "I heard that the Jin Kingdom's strong soldiers still maintain combat effectiveness in winter. In that case, let a unit from the Duke of England, the Ningyuan Marquis, and the Zhongjing Marquis each go to the vicinity of Beizhou for military exercises, eight..."

"Obey the decree."

"By the way, the new cavalry army under the Zhang family's eldest son has been training for a long time, let them go and exercise as well."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 525 =====