In winter, the weather is very cold. The winter in Liangzhou is a bit colder than that of the capital. It's fine in the daytime. You can also warm your body during training, but it's not too much. At night, you will feel the chill. The firewood burning in the pot is far from enough.
There were also a lot fewer soldiers who went to Wulu River to take a bath, and they all went to boil hot water to wash themselves. He Yan was the same, in a blink of an eye, Xiao Jue had been gone for more than half a month.
She estimated that Xiao Jue had probably arrived at Zhangtai by this time. But the instructors don't talk about it on weekdays, and He Yan has no way of knowing the situation on the other side of Zhangtai. She still trains with the recruits every day, but because her body is not yet fully recovered, she cannot follow the "three times daily training" that Xiao Jue said.
On this day, He Yan and the new recruits were training in the martial arts field. As the evening approached, the training was dispersed, and He Yan and Hong Shan were talking.
Hong Shan rubbed his hands together and breathed into his palms: "Ahe, do you think it's been too cold these few days?"
"It's okay." He Yan said. When she was in the Fuyue Army, she fought by the riverside in winter, and the camp was stationed on the shore. The river was windy at night, and there was no firewood to burn. The soldiers slept together at night to ward off the cold. It was freezing cold.
"It's still your young people who can bear the cold." Hong Shan sighed a few words and looked in the direction of Baiyue Mountain, "Why is it snowing every day in Liangzhou, it's just one night."
He Yan followed his gaze, and the Baiyue Mountain in winter was no longer as green and green as in summer. At a glance, it was covered with snow, and the mountain was covered by heavy snow. Their recruits go up the mountain every few days to chop firewood, but they can no longer go above the mountainside.
"Actually, this weather is the best for hunting," Mai came over and said, "My eldest brother and I used to make food and make wine during the day and throw it next to the cave. There was nothing to eat in winter. Go out to pick it up at night, and there are prey everywhere. It’s effortless and simple. Baiyue Mountain is so big, there should be a lot of rabbits and foxes.” He licked his lips.
"Stop," He Yan urged, "I think you have given up on this idea. The terrain on the mountain is complicated and the snow is deep. Don't you become a rabbit before the rabbit hits it."
"Brother Ahe looks down on people too much." Mai muttered.
Just as he was talking, he saw the end of the horse road leading to Baiyue Mountain from the martial arts field. A group of recruits walked down. The one in the middle was the doctor girl Shen Muxue in a coat and skirt.
She was wearing a moon-white coat skirt, a long cloak with apricot embroidered plums, and her hairband was also white. When she came slowly from the snow, she became more and more lucid and beautiful.
Hong Shan's eyes went straight, and he said, "There is such a woman in the world, who is very beautiful and has a very kind heart. In such a cold day, a weak woman goes up the mountain to collect medicine for her injuries. Only a fairy can be so merciful. Heart." At the end, he asked He Yan, "Do you think so?"
He Yan: "Not bad."
The recruits took turns going up the mountain to chop firewood every few days, and Shen Muxue would also follow along. There are some medicinal herbs on the mountain, and some can be found in winter. There was a shortage of medicinal materials in the guardhouse, especially in winter, when some soldiers caught wind-cold, it was difficult for them to recover for a while. Shen Muxue ordered some concoctions to ward off the cold and packed them in wooden barrels, one bowl per person. After drinking it, one would sweat profusely, which was very good for the body.
She looked like He Yan was not as strong as He Yan, soft and weak. It was really commendable to be able to go up the mountain with the recruits in such a cold weather.
"Who is the recruit behind her?" Stone asked with a frown.
When everyone saw it, they saw the recruits following Shen Muxue, with a person lying on his back. This man did not wear uniform armor, so he was not a recruit of Liangzhou Guard at first glance. Before they could speak, curious recruits rushed over to find out what was going on.
Not long after, a recruit who heard the news came back and told his companions what was going on. He Yan listened carefully and heard someone say: "That man is a hunter from the other side of the mountain, and the poor family can't open the pot, so he ventured up the mountain. Came to hunt, but was trapped in heavy snow. When Miss Shen and the others met this man on the way, the man was buried half of his body in the snow, but the guys dug him out of the snow and came back with half his life.”
"Then he is also blessed with great fate. Bai Yueshan is surprisingly cold. I'm afraid that if he stays for a few more moments, the immortals will be difficult to save."
"you do not say!"
Wheat muttered: "It's really fatal to go up the mountain in this weather."
"That can't be helped, the life of the poor is not a fate, and the family has no money to eat, where can I take care of other things." Hong Shan sighed.
After watching for a while, the crowd dispersed.
But the matter was not over. At night, Cheng Lisu came back and said that he wanted to live in Xiao Jue's house. He Yan said oddly, "Didn't you refuse to move back?"
Cheng Lisu frowned and said, "The person that Dr. Shen rescued today lives in our house, and I was kicked back. I can't let him live in my uncle's room. When my uncle comes back, he will definitely kill me. Forget it. , I'll stay for a few days, and after a few days he leaves, I'll move back. Brother He, can you accompany me back tomorrow to get the box, I can't move it alone. "
"Of course you can, but I'm afraid you haven't lived here for a few days, but for a long time." He Yan shook his head.
"Why?"
He Yan smiled and didn't answer, but Lisu quickly knew why He Yan said that.
On the second day, after the daily training, He Yan accompanied Cheng Lisu back to pick up a few boxes in the Tongpu house, and happened to meet Shen Muxue to give medicine to the hunter rescued yesterday.
He Yan glanced at her hands. In addition to some qi-boosting decoctions, some wound medicines for frostbite, there were also some trauma medicines. He Yan asked, "Miss Shen, is that person injured?"
"There are wild beasts in the forest. He encountered a bear and was attacked by a bear. When he was dodging, he fell off a cliff and was buried in snow. It was a little trauma."
Cheng Lisu asked, "Then he is seriously injured? Do I have to stay in Liangzhouwei for a long time, and it will take a long time before I can move back."
"Young Master Cheng," Shen Muxue said helplessly, "Even if he recovers, he can't leave Liangzhouwei for the time being. He came from the other side of the mountain. Now Baiyue Mountain is covered by heavy snow, I'm afraid it will have to wait for the snow to melt. Or he can go up only after the sun has been clear for a few days, and now let him go back, he will only freeze to death on the mountain again."
Cheng Lisu almost didn't jump up when he heard the words, "Wouldn't that have to wait for a winter day!"
"When the Second Young Master comes back, maybe there will be another way." Shen Muxue said with relief.
He Yan noticed that when Shen Muxue said Xiao Jue, he did not call him "the Governor" but "Second Young Master". While thinking about it, several people have already arrived in front of the house.
There was no one else in the room at the moment. After the training in the martial arts field, everyone went to eat and rest. He Yan used to lie on the edge of the wall, and now there is one person lying there. He was wearing a thin single coat and wrapped the quilt tightly, as if it was cold. Shen Muxue put the medicine tray on the table and turned to call him, "Hu Yuanzhong?"
The person lying on the bed heard the words, the bedding moved slightly, and for a moment, he supported the bed with both hands, and slowly sat up.
This was a man in his mid-thirties, with dark skin and chapped lips. He looked a little thin. He lifted the quilt and faced Shen Muxue and said hurriedly, "Shen, Dr. Shen."
"It's time for you to change your dressing." Shen Muxue said, "Sit by the bed and pull up your trousers."
The man named Hu Yuanzhong looked even more nervous, rubbed his hands, and murmured, "How can I trouble the doctor girl, I'll do it myself." He bent down, and the moment he moved, there was a "hiss" in pain.
Seeing this, Shen Muxue crouched down in front of Hu Yuanzhong and rolled up his trouser legs for him. Sure enough, the legs were covered with scars deep and shallow, probably scratched by rocks and branches on the mountain.
"Not yet," Shen Muxue said, "I'll take more medicine today."
Hu Yuanzhong nodded blankly.
"I'll do it." At this moment, He Yan's voice interjected. Before Shen Muxue could react, she reached out and snatched the medicine from Shen Muxue's hand, and squatted down: "Miss Shen, get up first."
"This..." Hu Yuanzhong was a little surprised, "this little brother..."
"My name is He Yan, the piece of land you are sleeping on now belongs to me. Miss Shen is a girl after all. It's inconvenient. I'm here to rub the medicine for Brother Hu. It should be fine, right?" He Yan smiled and looked at Hu Yuanzhong.
Hu Yuanzhong breathed a sigh of relief: "Dang, of course, I don't want to bother Doctor Shen either."
"He Yan, stop fooling around," Shen Muxue frowned slightly, "There are no men and women in front of the doctor, you don't know how to apply the medicine."
"I will still wipe the wound medicine. Doctor Shen, don't be nervous. You should show Cheng Lisu first. I saw that he had a cough this morning, but don't suffer from the cold."
Cheng Lisu said: "Yes, Doctor Shen, I feel that my throat is a little dry."
Shen Muxue was startled and said, "Really?" Then she stood up and said to Cheng Lisu, "You follow me outside, I'll take a look first."
The two of them left, and there were only Hu Yuanzhong and He Yan in the room.
He Yan first cleaned the oozing blood on his legs, put a thin layer of wound medicine on him, and asked, "Brother Hu, your injury is a little serious, does it hurt a lot."
"It's okay," Hu Yuanzhong said, "It's just some trauma." Even so, the voice came out through gritted teeth, and it looked very difficult.
He Yan moved his hand for a while, and then started a little harder, Hu Yuanzhong cried out in pain, "Ah—"
"I'm sorry, Brother Hu," He Yan frowned, "I was not careful."
"it's okay no problem."
"It's still Doctor Shen who is attentive and thoughtful. I'm a big man who is clumsy and hurts Big Brother Hu. Big Brother Hu, don't mind."
Hu Yuanzhong reluctantly smiled and said, "Where is it?"
He Yan smiled and lowered her head to continue taking the medicine, snorting coldly in her heart.
Just now, she could see clearly, although this man surnamed Hu refused to say that he wanted to take the medicine himself, but the moment he moved, he felt pain. When Shen Muxue squatted down, there was a glimmer of joy in this man's eyes. Although it was well concealed, He Yan still saw it. She naturally hated people who were so jealous. Shen Muxue saved Hu Yuanzhong's life, and Hu Yuanzhong could have crooked thoughts towards his savior, who is this
When he opened his trousers, He Yan could clearly see these so-called "serious injuries". It was quite serious to look at the mess, but in fact they were all skin injuries. He Yan, a girl who suffered more serious injuries than this, could not say a word. This person is already poor and desperate to go to the mountains to hunt, so she shouldn't be so delicate. When people are hungry and can't afford to eat, how can they rack their brains to make crooked ideas.
In a few words, you can probably see the character of this person. Shen Muxue was kind and simple, and he was a doctor looking at the wounded, so he didn't despise these twists and turns, but He Yan's bystanders could see it clearly, and only felt uncomfortable.
"What's your plan after Big Brother Hu recovers?" He Yan asked.
Hu Yuanzhong scratched his head, "I... I didn't think about it."
"Why don't you stay at Liangzhou Guard, as a soldier, you have enough to eat, but you won't be hungry." He Yan joked.
"...Alright." Hu Yuanzhong smiled naively.
Is it okay to say? He Yan was even more surprised now. She joked casually, but Hu Yuanzhong agreed without saying "I'm so sorry". It can be seen that he didn't feel grateful, and secondly, he never thought about the future Intend.
A person who doesn't know the way forward should always worry about how to plan for the future. How can he be so hasty? He Yan felt unhappy in his heart. Could it be that he wanted to rely on Liangzhou Wei to take advantage of Shen Muxue all the time
Thinking of this, He Yan gave him good medicine in two or three times, and brought him the medicine bowl on the side, saying, "Brother Hu, drink the medicine first."
Hu Yuanzhong reached out and took it: "Thank you."
He drank the medicine quite refreshingly. He slammed his neck and gushed after drinking it. He handed the medicine bowl back to He Yan. He Yan reached out to take it. red rash.
He Yan made a move.
Hu Yuanzhong noticed He Yan's movements and asked, "What happened to Brother He?"
"Brother Hu, do you want to ask the doctor to take a look at the rash on your hand?" He Yan said, "Is it also done on the mountain?"
Hu Yuanzhong was stunned for a moment. He put his hand on his wrist and rubbed it twice. He smiled and said, "No, it should subside in a few days. It's not a serious illness. Don't bother the doctor."
"So," He Yan nodded and smiled, "Then it's nothing."
She stared at Hu Yuanzhong, but didn't speak for a while. She felt uncomfortable staring at Hu Yuanzhong. She touched her face and said, "Brother He, but is there something on your face?"
"No." He Yan smiled and shook his head, "I will take out the empty bowl first. Although Miss Shen is a doctor, she is still a girl after all. I have nothing to do these days, so I will run errands for Miss Shen, Brother Hu's wound medicine. Let me deliver it all." Well, pretending not to see the loss in Hu Yuanzhong's eyes, he turned around and walked out the door.
When she was out the door, Shen Muxue was asking Cheng Lisu to stick out her tongue to look at it. Seeing He Yan came out, she asked suspiciously, "So soon?"
"There aren't many wounds." He Yan asked, "How about Cheng Lisu?"
"It's been too spicy these days, and my throat is smoking." Cheng Lisu said embarrassedly, "It's not a big deal."
"Then it's all right, let's go back." He Yan returned the medicine tray to Shen Muxue, and said to Shen Muxue, "Big Brother Hu and I have also agreed that I will deliver Big Brother Hu's wound medicine for the past few days. From tomorrow onwards, I will come to Miss Shen's room at this time every day to pick up the medicine and deliver it to Brother Hu, and Miss Shen will not have to run again."
Shen Muxue was still a little hesitant: "This..."
"That's it, it's just a thank you from Miss Shen for giving me the box of scar-removing muscle cream." He Yan took Cheng Lisu's shoulders, "Then let's go ahead."
He and Cheng Lisu went far away.
On the way, Cheng Lisu asked him, "Brother He, what's the matter with you?"
"What?" He Yan returned to his senses.
"After you came out of that Hu Yuanzhong's room, you stopped talking. What happened in the room just now? Did you quarrel?"
"No." He Yan took two steps, thought for a while, then stopped and said to Cheng Lisu, "Go back first, I have something to do with Hong Shan and the others."
"But you haven't eaten yet."
"I'll just go and ask for two steamed buns." He Yan waved his hand: "You go back and wait for me first. See you later."
…
Hong Shan and Mai were drinking porridge. When they saw He Yan coming, they made room for her and said, "Why are you here so late today, I thought you weren't coming."
"There is something on the way." He Yan took over a steamed bun. He didn't gobble it like usual. He only took a bite and then stopped. He pondered for a long time before saying, "Brother Shan, Shishi, I need your help with something."
"Why are you so serious?" Hong Shan put down the bowl in his hand, "What else can we use?"
"Yesterday, the hunter Hu Yuanzhong rescued from the mountain by Shen's daughter is in your house, right?" He Yan said, "These days, I just need to train during the day. Can you help me keep an eye on him at night?"
Hongshan and Shitou looked at each other, but Hongshan asked, "Why don't I understand what you said, what happened to Hu Yuanzhong? Why are you staring at him?"
"… I don't think there's anything wrong with him."
At this time, even the wheat didn't care about eating, the atmosphere became solemn for a moment, and Shitou asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
"Maybe I'm thinking too much, but I'm not sure yet. It's just that I don't think it's a coincidence that he was rescued by Doctor Shen on the mountain."
Hearing this, Hong Shan widened his eyes: "Spy?"
"Keep your voice down," He Yan said, "I was just suspicious, so I asked you to help stare at him to see if there was any movement or unusual behavior at night."
"No," Hong Shan still felt unbelievable, "you have to tell us what's wrong with him first, so that you suspect that there is something wrong with him."
He Yan took a deep breath and said, "I'll tell you in a few days, and now I can only ask you to help me watch."
"I wish I thought more," she said softly.
…
At night, after parting with Hongshan and the others, He Yan returned to his room.
It was an accident to see Hu Yuanzhong today, but who knew that in the end, she would be upset and unexpected, and she just felt uneasy.
What they said to Hongshan was not made up by He Yan. She did suspect that Hu Yuanzhong was a spy who had infiltrated Liangzhou Wei and had other purposes. As for how she discovered the doubt, it was because she handed the decoction to Hu Yuanzhong today, and when Hu Yuanzhong handed it back, she taught her to see the rash from the tiger's mouth to the inside of the wrist.
It reminded her of the Qiang people.
The place where the Qiang people live is covered with dense forests, and the climate is humid all year round. The soldiers of the Qiang ethnic group usually hold knives, and it is easy to have such red rashes from the tiger's mouth to the wrist. When He Yan was General Feihong, he also specially searched for military doctors to study together. Even if these Qiang people came to enter the Central Plains, the rash could not disappear in a while.
Therefore, when she saw the rash on Hu Yuanzhong's tiger's mouth, she almost didn't think about it, and immediately thought of those Qiang soldiers. It's just not completely certain, because the rashes in the world all look the same, maybe because of the humid climate, or because of touching some sensitive things. There's really no need to suspect each other just because of a rash.
But it was probably because He Yan developed the habit of acting cautiously when he was a general, especially in the face of the Qiang people. It may also be because Hu Yuanzhong's obscure thoughts about Shen Muxue were noticed by He Yan, and he had a bad impression of being preconceived, and now he is immediately suspicious of him.
Thinking about it carefully, there are indeed some doubts. For example, the snow on the mountain is so heavy, the other side of Baiyue Mountain is shaded, and the snow will only be deeper. Their recruits couldn't even get over this side, and how did Hu Yuanzhong get over from the other side alone. Since he said that he was a poor family, he couldn't solve the problem, and he went hunting in the mountains because he was desperate, why didn't he find some gentle ways? For example, going to the wharf to help people move goods and do some cool work for others can at least temporarily resist hunger and cold. You must know that hunting in Baiyue Mountain is the best case to hunt wild animals and relieve the urgent need, but more likely, it is to die on the mountain , both people and money are empty.
Putting aside the easier road and taking a difficult road that seems unimaginable, this is not facing the difficulty, it is stupid. Judging from the fact that he pretended to cry out pain and deceived Shen Muxue to take care of him, he didn't look like a fool.
The more He Yan thought about it, the more suspicious she became, but unfortunately now that Xiao Jue was not around, she couldn't remind Xiao Jue. But even if Xiao Jue was there, she couldn't directly express the most important doubts. The Qiang people and Shuojing are separated by thousands of miles. It is impossible for the recruits of Liangzhou Wei to have seen Qiang soldiers. Even Xiao Jue may have never fought against the Qiang people. How could He Yan, who was born in the capital, know the secret habits of the Qiang people? , I am afraid that when she says it, it is not Hu Yuanzhong who is suspected first, but herself.
Back then, she led Fu soldiers to pacify the Western Qiang Rebellion. The Qiang leader Ridamuji was killed in battle, and the rest of the Qiang surrendered. In the following years, they were peaceful and peaceful. The Qiang people were very stable, and they had never heard of turmoil. But... that doesn't mean you can really relax.
If this is really a Qiang, an ordinary unarmed civilian, how could it happen to go up Baiyue Mountain on such a snowy day, and was picked up by Shen Muxue and entered Liangzhou Wei.
Too many coincidences are not coincidences, and someone must have done them deliberately.
Now that Xiao Jue is away, if there is any conspiracy, how to deal with it.
Xiao Jue is not here... Xiao Jue is not here
In an instant, He Yan sat up, a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.
Why is there such a person here when Xiao Jue is not alone? Could it be that the calls for help from Zhangtai are all fake? "It is said to attack the east, but in fact it is to attack the west." She had forgotten this item in the military book that she had to memorize every day
At some point, the snow stopped.
He Yan raised his eyes and looked out the window, the wind was quiet outside, the snow covered the ground, and even a needle fell on the ground could be clearly heard.
But under this calm, there may be a shocking undercurrent hidden in the sky, and only when the time comes, the flood is monstrous.
- off topic -
This article is fictional, the names of places and countries are fictitious. The Qiang people are not the modern Qiang people, but just a fiction. I also have friends from the Qiang people, who are very hospitable. (really no regional black meaning)