The golden sun sets in the west and the sky gradually darkens.
The training grounds for the soldiers gradually became deserted.
There was only a black figure, moving up and down in the corner, tirelessly practicing with a mixed iron steel spear, and it seemed that he had no intention of resting.
Yu Dunsu and several non-commissioned officers were carrying dinner as they passed by the parade ground. Yu Dunsu called out, "Qiaosheng, are you not going to rest yet?"
Mo Qiaosheng put away his spear, knelt down and saluted, saying, "Greetings, General Yu. I want to practice for a while longer."
His forehead was covered with sweat, dripping like rain, but his eyes were bright and his spirits were vigorous, not showing any signs of fatigue.
Yu Dunsu took two white flour buns from his bowl and put them in Mo Qiaosheng's hands. "It's good to be diligent, but don't be too tired. Eat something to fill your stomach first."
Mo Qiaosheng took the food with both hands and bowed his head respectfully to express his gratitude.
After walking a distance, a non-commissioned officer beside Yu Dunsu said, "That Mo Qiaosheng is really crazy. He can be seen coming to the training ground every day, practicing from before dawn until the moon is high in the sky."
Another person continued: "He is just a slave. What can he do if he trains more? Do you think he can become a general?"
"This slave has no idea of his own highness. When he saw General Yu, he dared not to bow down and just knelt down to do the deed."
"You don't know, this is a special permission from the lord. The lord loves him so much that he can even be exempted from the formalities in front of the lord."
Yu Dunsu said, "Although this man is of low status, he is indeed very skilled and brave on the battlefield, and has made great achievements. You should not look down on him like this."
Everyone curled their lips and stopped talking.
Yu Dunsu looked back at the figure who was practicing diligently in the setting sun, and thought to himself, such a tenacious person is truly a role model for the soldiers in our army. It's a pity that he is just a slave. I'm afraid you won't listen if I tell you.
The sky gradually darkened.
Mo Qiaosheng took his dinner and returned to his room.
Now he has a room of his own in the outer courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion.
Although the room was not big, it was neat and clean, with a comfortable bed and warm bedding.
There is a wardrobe in the corner of the room, with several sets of comfortable and durable clothes hanging in it, and even a locked box for storing some private things.
There was a simple table and chairs by the window. On the table was a set of "Seven Military Classics" given to him by his master, which had been flipped and had frayed edges.
Everything made Mo Qiaosheng feel happy and satisfied. The only shortcoming was that he was too far away from the inner courtyard where his master lived, so he could not always see his master's friendly face.
He didn't touch yesterday's dinner or today's breakfast at all, which were just placed on the table.
He packed all of this, along with the newly acquired dinner and the steamed buns given by Yu Dunsu, into a cloth bag, and then put all his medicines and bandages into the bag.
Mo Qiaosheng touched his hungry stomach, thought for a while, broke off a small piece from the steamed bun, and put it in his mouth.
It's really useless. I used to be able to endure not eating for two or three days. Now I'm so hungry after just one day and one night.
It's okay, I can eat it tomorrow morning. I'd better take these to Ah Feng.
Taking advantage of the night, Mo Qiaosheng went to the inn where Weibei Hou was temporarily staying.
When Weibei Hou Huayu entered the city yesterday, Mo Qiaosheng saw Ah Feng among the entourage.
Ah Feng was seriously injured on the battlefield and didn't seem to be in good condition.
Weibei Hou Hua Yuzhi and his entourage were settled by Cheng Qianye in a magnificent mansion.
Mo Qiaosheng used the small change given by his master as a reward and knocked on the side door of the house.
The guard at the gate recognized him, accepted his bribe, and ordered a slave to lead Mo Qiaosheng to the back room in the outer courtyard.
It was a small compartment, with nothing in it except a rotten plank bed and a tattered felt blanket. There was a dark brown bloodstain on the floor, and no one was in the room.
Mo Qiaosheng looked at the room and recalled the days when he had struggled in the mire. It was only a month, but it seemed like a long time ago.
There are so many slaves in the world, I am so lucky to be blessed by God and meet that master.
He sighed silently, put the food and medicine he brought on the bed, and prepared to leave.
"What are you doing here?"
A cold voice came from outside the door.
Ah Feng was wearing clothes and leaning against the door, holding the door frame with one hand.
The cold moonlight shone on his bloodless face, making him look particularly pale.
He walked into the room, pushed Mo Qiaosheng aside, looked at the things on the bed, and said coldly: "Since you have found a good master, why do you come back to a place like this?"
Ah Feng's personality has always been like this. Mo Qiaosheng didn't care about his sarcasm. He pressed his shoulders to make him sit on the bed, opened the medicine bottle and applied medicine to him.
Over the past few years, every time the companions escaped from death on the battlefield and barely managed to survive, they helped each other like this.
Although life is painful, everyone still hopes to live longer.
Mo Qiaosheng remembered that the first time he went to the battlefield, he was carried back by Ah Feng, who was already a veteran at the time. At that time, they had no medicine, and Ah Feng tore off a piece of clothing to barely stop the huge wound on his abdomen from bleeding.
The first time Ayun was seriously injured, he was carried back by himself.
Now, Ayun is gone.
Many familiar faces have also disappeared.
The lives of slaves were as worthless as those of ants. But each of them was a living being, and they all had such a strong desire to live.
Ah Feng took off her shirt and sat with her back to Mo Qiaosheng.
"Qiao Sheng, although you have met a good master, you must not forget that we are always slaves." His cold voice sounded.
"To the master, a slave is just a toy, a piece of property. No matter how good he is to you, you are just a more precious toy." When his expression could not be seen, Ah Feng's voice seemed to be much softer. "As long as someone can afford the price, as a master, he can abandon you and sell you at any time. I once..."
Ah Feng closed her mouth and did not continue to speak.
He once had not only a name, but also a surname, a surname given by his master.
He closed his eyes, and he could still hear the voice of his former master calling him: "Chu Feng, Chu Feng, come here."
It happened a long, long time ago. The master was a young nobleman from an aristocratic family. He was gentle and refined. He treated Xiao Feng, who had just been bought from the slave market, so gently. He fed him delicious food and dressed him in clean clothes. He was with him no matter what he did and took him with him wherever he went.
"You are like my brother, so you can share the same surname as me, Chu. From today on, your name will be Chu Feng."
I will dedicate my whole life to my master, Xiaofeng once believed in her oath.
Until that gathering of nobles.
"You have a good slave, sell him to me. One gold ingot? Not enough? Add another one?" Several noble men in gorgeous clothes and jade crowns stood in front of his master.
The dazzling gold was added one by one. The master finally nodded without restraint.
No matter how he cried and begged, it was of no avail.
The master left with the gold.
At that time, both his body and mind were completely shattered from the inside out.
Ah Feng woke up from his dark memories and closed his eyes painfully. "In short, don't trust the master and don't give your heart away easily. Otherwise, only more embarrassment will be waiting for you."
Mo Qiaosheng was depressed for a moment.
He thought of his first master, Wu Xueli. That master taught him to read and write, and was a very good master. But just because of a small mistake, he would not listen to his explanation and quickly sold him out.
Mo Qiaosheng said in his heart:
But now, I am deeply indebted to my master. No matter what my master wants from me, as long as I have it, I will willingly give it to him with both hands, and I don’t care about the consequences.
Ah Feng was hit by an arrow in the left shoulder. The arrow shaft broke, but the arrowhead was embedded in the body and could not be removed.
Mo Qiaosheng poured strong liquor on the wound, pulled out a sharp knife for cutting the wrist, and said, "Bear with it!"
With a flick of the knife tip, an iron arrowhead covered in blood fell to the ground with a clang.
Ah Feng's body went limp and she fell down.
Mo Qiaosheng caught him who had fallen into coma, bandaged his wounds, and helped him lie down.
Looking at the fainted Ah Feng, Mo Qiaosheng sighed silently. But he was no longer a slave here, so it was inconvenient for him to stay here for too long.
He left the food and medicine behind and hurried back along the same route.
When he was about to reach the corner gate, he heard a voice behind him that made his hair stand on end.
"Let me see who this is. Isn't this Qiao Sheng? What's wrong? Marquis Jin Yue treated you badly, but you still want to come back to see me, your old master?"
Hua Yu, with his big belly sticking out, led a group of servants and called out to Mo Qiaosheng.
Mo Qiaosheng bowed to the ground and said, "I deserve to die. I disturbed you while visiting an old friend. Please forgive me, you."
"Hey, we are both master and servant, there's no need to be so polite." Hua Yuzhi helped Mo Qiaosheng up and looked him up and down. "It's true that when you've been away for three days, you should look at him with new eyes. When you were here with me, you were insignificant. I don't know how the Marquis of Jinyue could make you so radiant."
Mo Qiaosheng took two steps back without leaving a trace.
Hua Yu stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Do you want to come back to me? For your sake, I can consider returning the yellow horse."
Mo Qiaosheng crossed his arms and saluted, "Please forgive me, my lord. My master has something else to ask of me, and I dare not delay any longer. Please forgive me for leaving first."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took two steps out of the corner door, displayed his skills, and with a few jumps, he quickly disappeared into the night.
Hua Yu stared at the figure that was catching up with him, and his face darkened. "Humph, it's ok that Marquis Jin Yue is arrogant and domineering, but now he has to bow his head under the eaves. Now even a lowly old slave dares to be so rude to me."
…
Cheng Qianye was walking on the path in the inner courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion, discussing the issue of refugee resettlement over the winter with Xiao Jin.
There was a slight sound from the trees near the wall.
The guards immediately raised their halberds and shouted, "Who is it?"
A man fell from the wall and knelt down to apologize.
It was Mo Qiaosheng.
Cheng Qianye walked forward and touched the head lying on the ground: "What's wrong, Qiao Sheng? Why are you running to me in a panic so late at night?"
Mo Qiaosheng looked up and saw the most reassuring smile in the world.
He unknowingly expressed his fear, "Master, don't return me to Weibei Hou. I will definitely work hard. I will be much more useful than that yellow horse."
Cheng Qianye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She took Mo Qiaosheng's hand and waved goodbye to Xiao Jin.
In full view of everyone, she held the hand of her "male lover" and slowly walked away in the moonlight.
The lord's voice could be heard faintly in the wind.
"You are so silly and adorable. I would not trade you for a horse, let alone a city."
"Hey, are you hungry? Isn't there enough food in the barracks? Come on, I'll take you to eat something delicious."