Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue were talking outside, while He Yan was in the room and wanted to eavesdrop, but even if he put his ear to the door, all he could hear was the wind outside the door. She originally wanted to wait for Xiao Jue to finish speaking and come back to ask what the situation was, but she couldn't wait for Xiao Jue to return to the house for a long time. He fell asleep without realizing it, and when he woke up the next day, Chu Zhao and Ying Xiang were no longer in the Liangzhou Weili.
They left early in the morning with an escort.
After Chu Zhao left, Lin Shuanghe was the happiest. He Yan didn't quite understand this. It stands to reason that there was no unpleasantness between Lin Shuanghe and Chu Zhao. However, seeing Lin Shuanghe's happy energy, he was probably sincerely happy for Chu Zhao's departure.
After all, Xiao Jue no longer spoke in the same yin and yang manner as in the previous days, and He Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Zhao's early departure may be a good thing for him and others.
Liangzhou Wei regained his calm, and his daily training was still daily, but He Yan knew that the peaceful days would not be long. As Chu Zhao said, changes have already occurred, and the appearance of the Uto people will bring shock to Da Wei.
On this day, He Yan was training bow horses with the soldiers of Nanfu. It's already mid-May, and summer in Liangzhouwei comes earlier than in other places, and the heat of summer shrouds everyone. As the days became longer, the daily training time for both Nanfu soldiers and Liangzhou guards doubled.
She climbed over the mountain and got off the horse, and she was soaked wet, as if she had been pulled out of the water. He picked up a handkerchief from one side and wiped his sweat. This was the last lap. Tian Lang looked at He Yan and nodded slightly. The recruits from Liangzhou Guard can keep up with the Nanfu soldiers, and even the bow and equestrian skills are different among the Nanfu soldiers, which is really good.
The martial arts field on the other side of Liangzhou Wei had long since dispersed, and a few people from Hong Shan, who were waiting to eat with He Yan, were watching. He Yan tied the horse and returned the bow and arrow before striding towards them.
Wheat stared at him with bright eyes: "Brother Ahe, why are you getting better at archery now? I just saw it clearly, you hit the red heart every time."
However, in more than a year, the wheat has grown a lot taller. He Yan was able to hang his shoulders on tiptoes before, but now he has to look up at him slightly. She smiled and said, "You are also much better."
"What's the point of you two complimenting each other," Wang Ba poured cold water on them, "Can you boast a flower?"
Everyone knows his temperament, and they don't care about him, they just go to the place to eat. After arriving at the place, they brought the steamed buns and vegetable porridge. Everyone found a place to sit down at will. He Yan lowered his head and took a sip of porridge. He heard Jiang Jiao say, "Do you know Rundu?"
"Rundu?" Before He Yan could speak, Huang Xiong spoke first, "When I was chasing down my enemies, I passed by Rundu. It's a small town. That place is rich in grapes. The grapes are like purple jade, and the grains are sweet and big. "
"Really?" Mai licked his lips, "Is Runduyuan? I've only eaten sour wild grapes, but never sweet ones!"
Huang Xiong thought for a while: "It's about a month's journey from here."
He Yan asked, "Why did Brother Jiang mention Rundu?"
Jiang Jiao sighed: "I went to Teacher Shen today, and wanted Teacher Shen to send a letter back to Beijing for me, asking for a new spear. When I went in, I happened to hear Teacher Shen and Teacher Ma talking."
Everyone looked at Jiang Jiao, waiting for him to finish the rest.
"It turns out that in the previous battle of Huayuan, the Utuo troops were divided into two groups, all the way to attack Huayuan, and all the way to attack Rundu, which is not far from Huayuan. Huayuan is more populated than Rundu, and there is General Feihong guarding it. Although the losses were tragic, in the end it was held. The situation in Rundu is not very good, it is a small city, and there are not many soldiers and horses in the city.
"It's so serious?" Hong Shan was taken aback.
They are far away in Liangzhou, which is almost the most remote place in Dawei. Chickens don't lay eggs and birds don't poop. They can't get any news. The situation outside is already so bad
"Then what should I do?" Mai was young, and he said in a hurry, "I can't just let a city's life go."
"Huayuan is close to Rundu, and the Uto people in Huayuan retreat. General Feihong can take the rest of the Fuyue Army to support Rundu." Shitou said seriously: "Run will not fall."
"That's good," Hong Shan felt relieved. "With General Feihong and the Fuyue Army, Rundu will be saved."
When everyone was talking, Jiang Jiao looked at He Yan: "Brother He, why don't you speak?"
I don't know when, He Yan lowered her head and said nothing. She didn't move the food in front of her. She didn't know what she was thinking. When she heard the words, she raised her head. was startled.
"...Are you all right?" Wang Ba waved to her suspiciously
He Yan took a deep breath: "It's okay."
She asked Jiang Jiao, "Do you know what's going on at Rundu?"
Jiang Jiao shook his head: "I only listened to half of it before I was discovered by Teacher Shen. Teacher Shen didn't want to tell me the details, because he was afraid that Liangzhou Wei's heart would be unstable." He sighed again, "But I just don’t understand, we come to such a far place and train hard every day, not just to defend our country when foreign enemies invade. Now the people of the Wei Dynasty are suffering, but we are still training as usual. What's the point of joining the army?"
The young men had a fire in their hearts, and when the enemy came to the door, they couldn't help but take a sigh of relief. It's really hard to get them to pretend they don't know like a tortoise with a shrunken head.
"What you said is wrong," Hong Shan said. "If you don't need us, it means that the situation is not that bad, and the Uto people are not very rampant. If you really need us, it means that the gaffe has reached an irreversible point, Da Wei. The people suffered more, wouldn't it be worse?"
Jiang Jiao thought for a while, and felt that what Hong Shan said made sense, so he stopped talking.
Mai asked: "Brother Ahe, do you think that after General Feihong supports Rundu, will he lose or win?"
"What's the point?" Wang Ba replied without thinking: "150,000 Fuyue troops, I heard that they lost less than 50,000 when they were in Huayuan, and there are still nearly 100,000. Rundu is just a small town. , There are not many Uto people who want to come to Gongrundu, plus the soldiers and horses in the city, even a fool can win. General Feihong has even defended Huayuan. There is no reason for such a small city to be unable to defend. You are all worrying, you have the mind to worry about others, it is better to worry about yourself, when will we be able to eat meat all at once!"
He never liked his words, and everyone didn't bother to pay attention to him. Mai looked at He Yan again: "Brother Ahe, do you think General Feihong will win?"
He Yan looked down at the porridge in the bowl. The porridge was so thin that it could be used as a mirror to reflect her face. She spoke slowly, her voice calm: "I don't think he will support Rundu."
…
After having dinner with Hong Shan and the others, He Yan didn't talk to them as usual, but only said that he was tired from daily training today and wanted to go back to rest early.
On the way back, He Yan kept thinking about what Jiang Jiao said earlier.
Uto people attack Rundu? In fact, just looking at the distance between Huayuan and Rundu, it was only natural for He Rufei to support him. Everyone thought so, and because of this, when He Yan said that He Rufei would not support Rundu, even the most ambiguous wheat on weekdays refused to believe it.
"Why? General Feihong has already won the battle, and Hua Yuan can't keep it. He can't help but die, can he? General Feihong is definitely not a person who can't help but die!"
He Yan didn't know whether to be happy or sad when he heard this. The joy is that the hard work of the past few years has been seen by everyone, and as this General Feihong, he has done a very competent job. The sad thing is that others will give He Rufei all the many impressions of her, and they will be completely defenseless against He Rufei, giving that person countless opportunities to take advantage of.
Of course He Rufei would not go to support Rundu, because Li Kuang, the city chief of Rundu, worked with General Feihong for some time. Li Kuang knew "General Feihong", and He Rufei, the counterfeit, would be exposed as long as he had a little contact with Li Kuang. He Rufei knew this, so he would definitely try his best to delay it. He was afraid that it would not appear until after Li Kuang died and Rundu fell.
In order not to be exposed, He Rufei couldn't do it with a city's life.
At that time, she also stayed in Rundu for a short time, but it was not the Utuoguo who harassed the people of Rundu at that time, but the people of Xiqiang. He fought in Rundu and forged friendships with the people there. Now that I hear the news of Rundu again, I can't be indifferent whether it is public or private.
The house is in front of you, looking through the window, Xiao Jue's house is lit with lights. He Yan walked to the door of his house, hesitated for a moment, and knocked gently on the door.
"Enter."
He Yan pushed the door and walked in, Fei Nu stood aside, Xiao Jue held a letter in his hand, after He Yan came in, he put down the letter. The door was closed behind him, and He Yan came over and said, "The Governor."
He glanced at He Yan, saw He Yan's worried appearance, and asked, "What's the matter?"
"... The governor of Rundu already knows about it?"
Xiao Jue raised her eyebrows: "You are also very well informed."
"I found it by chance when I overheard Headmaster Shen talking to someone." He Yan stepped forward, "Captain, will Rundu be attacked by the Uto people?"
Xiao Jue pulled the corner of his mouth: "No, He Rufei is in Huayuan. The distance between Huayuan and Rundu is only three or four days."
He looked relieved.
He Yan gritted his teeth, "So, what if General Feihong refuses to support Rundu? Or what if there is something on the way that is delayed?"
As soon as these words came out, Xiao Jue raised his eyes and looked at her. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp, as if to see through her, and only said, "Do you think so?"
He Yan knew that he was suspicious, but he could not sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of people. She said perfunctorily: "I have never seen General Feihong, although the world says he is powerful, but he is not sure that it is just a word of mouth. He brought 150,000 Fuyue troops and went to fight the Utuo people a few days ago. Even after tens of thousands of discounts, it is so difficult to win in Shengdu. It is not as powerful as you and me in Jiyang City. Maybe he is actually very poor... He is a coward. Hearing about Rundu, he temporarily retreated and refused to move forward. Go support and be a tortoise!"
It was He Rufei who was scolding, He Yan was unburdened, and Fei Nu, who was listening to one side, couldn't help twitching, and couldn't help but say, "No, General Feihong also supported him everywhere during the Xiqiang Rebellion in the past. He has also been stationed in Du, and he is even an old acquaintance with the general army of the city. As long as Rundu asks him for help, General Feihong will never die."
He Yan thought to himself that it was precisely because Li Kuang and her were old acquaintances that Rundu was in great trouble!
It's just that he couldn't tell others about it. He Yan was anxious and angry. He didn't expect that the good reputation of the past few years would spread too far. Now he wants to smear it, but no one believes it.
Xiao Jue looked at her thoughtfully, "What are your plans?"
Is this to listen to her opinion? He Yan considered his tone, "Commander, we have been training in Liangzhou Guard for more than a year, and Liangzhou Guard and Nanfu soldiers add up to a lot. Regardless of Nanfu soldiers, Liangzhou Guard's recruits have long been If you want to see the real battlefield, you might as well take advantage of this time to train them. How about we go to support Rundu?"
She stared at Xiao Jue expectantly, hoping that Xiao Jue would agree to her request, although the hope was extremely slim.
Sure enough, Xiao Jue heard the words and sneered: "From Liangzhou Guard to Rundu, it takes only three or four days to travel from Huayuan to Rundu. Without asking for Huayuan's support, Liangzhou Guard's troops traveled across mountains and rivers to support. , He Yan, your brain is broken?"
He Yan also knew that normal people would think that way, and Li Kuang would not dare to think so. But she still had to fight for the people of Rundu city, He Yan insisted: "Captain, think about it again, Rundu is just a small town, but why should people from Xiqiang or Utuo fight for this? A piece of land? As long as the Rundu is captured, the adjacent Jinling will suffer, and all the way north, the Utuo people are heading for the imperial capital.”
"Rundu, you must not lose it!"
The young man's tone was stubborn, Fei Nu couldn't help but said: "Young Master He, we all know that Rundu cannot be lost. But now even if the young master wants to go to Rundu, he has to ask His Majesty's permission. It has been two months since he came and went. I'm afraid the war in Rundu has already ended. Besides, General Feihong will not go to support, the possibility of this happening is too small, you don't need to worry at all."
In their eyes, He Yan's move was really unfounded.
Xiao Jue said: "The soldiers of the Nanfu have the position of the soldiers of the Nanfu, so stop your thoughts, and you don't need to mention them in the future."
It was a refusal.
He Yan sighed in his heart, Fei Nu's words were not without reason. Xu Xiang was staring at him in the court, and Xiao Jue came to Liangzhouwei just to avoid his edge and keep a low profile. If you act rashly now, you will inevitably lose your tongue. It is true that Xiao Jue cannot be involved in this matter, but what should the people of Rundu do
She replied in a low voice: "I see." She said goodbye to Xiao Jue and returned to her room.
After He Yan left, Xiao Jue looked at the beating candle in the oil lamp and said, "He Yan is wrong."
Fei Nu asked, "Does the young master doubt her?"
Xiao Jue shook his head, and after a while he said, "Go and find out what happened to Rundu recently."
…
After returning from Xiao Jue's house, He Yan was preoccupied with grooming before lying on the collapsed. The lights had been blown out, and the moonlight from outside the window came in and fell on the ground in front of the window, like a layer of hoarfrost, which made the summer night a little colder.
The last time I went to Rundu was several years ago. At that time, she was not General Feihong, but was already a lieutenant, and along with the Fuyue Army, she resisted the Xiqiang people in Rundu. Rundu is a small town, and the people of the Western Qiang kill people outside Rundu, and hang their heads on flagpoles outside the city to show off their power.
At that time, the soldiers and horses of the Fuyue Army who went with them all hated them very much. Even if the number of soldiers was not dominant, they defeated the Xiqiang people after the fierce battle. The injury on her shoulder fell at that time. During the battle, there was no way to draw the arrow. When the battle was over, he pulled the arrow out by himself and nearly fainted.
On the second day, Li Kuang's concubine came over, brought a large basket of washed and shiny grapes, and looked at her with a smile: "There is nothing good in Rundu, these are the best grapes, Deputy General He eats slowly." Behind her, all the people of Rundu rushed forward, this person was carrying a chicken and the other was holding two eggs, all of them came to express her gratitude to her.
Soon after that battle, she was promoted.
He Yan has deep feelings for every place where he fought bloody battles. She knew very well in her heart that He Rufei would not go to support Rundu, and Li Kuang was just waiting to die while guarding Runcheng. Without support, the people in the city will eventually die under the sword of the Uto people.
She couldn't let this happen. If the Nanfu soldiers and Liangzhou guard recruits couldn't move, even if she was alone, she would go to Rundu. Rundu's soldiers and horses may still have a chance of survival.
But how can she go to Rundu? If she runs away privately now... If she is caught in the future, it will be a crime of disregarding the military order, and it will be a crime of beheading to be dealt with by the military order. He Rufei's true face has not been revealed yet. If she dies now, there will be nothing left in the future. That's all, if she can save the lives of tens of thousands of people by dying alone, it's worth it. But she was in the Nanfu Army. If someone used this to blackmail Xiao Jue, thinking that it was Xiao Jue's order, what would she do
But, she couldn't just watch Runcheng tens of thousands of people waiting to die.
This was a dilemma. While thinking about it, He Yan touched something cold under the pillow with her finger. She subconsciously looked at the moonlight and found that it was a delicate seal. A small "Wu An" is engraved on it.
Wu Anlang's seal, when the imperial decree arrived in Liangzhou, was handed over to her along with the crown suit. It's just that this official position has no real power, and He Yan didn't take it to heart, so she put it under the pillow, but now she saw a sudden flash of inspiration, she sat up at once, and held the seal in her palm.
Yes, she is now not only a soldier of the Nanfu soldiers, but to be precise, she is also Wu Anlang, who was proclaimed by His Majesty. Chu Zhao is right in saying that she is dominated by Xiao Jue, but she is not Xiao Jue's soldier. If she goes to Rundu here, as long as there is a seal, it can be said that it is her own will, Xiao Jue does not know. Even if he is investigated in the future, Xiao Jue will not be implicated.
As for herself...
In a way, Rundu has her reasons for the current situation. She took the Fuyue Army to defend Rundu once, and she will definitely be able to defend Rundu for the second time.
She had to go to Rundu herself.
…
Since he made up his mind at night, on the second day, He Yan was no longer as tangled as the first time. Since she returned to Liangzhou Wei, her daily training has never been missed, so there is no need to worry about her skills. Using the reason of training bow horses, I touched the selected horses in the stable several times, and kept the one I liked the most in my heart, and took it with me when I planned to leave.
Others, such as hidden weapons and whip medicine, had some left in her house before, and He Yan packed them all. That's all, the most important thing is that she had been to Rundu before, but she didn't try to set off from Liangzhouwei to Rundu. After all, Rundu is difficult to endure every day. If it goes wrong, it will not only delay time, but also human life.
There is always someone in the camp who knows the way.
He Yan pretended to be very interested in Rundu affairs. Except for the daily training, he went to talk to people who had been to Rundu. Ask them what they are going through on the way from Liangzhouwei to Rundu, they may take a fork in the road. In fact, Huang Xiong had been there too, but Huang Xiong didn't know the way, so he had to give up.
Mai asked: "Brother Ah He wants to go to Rundu to eat grapes, why is he suddenly so concerned about Rundu?"
Shitou looked at He Yan's spirit of talking to others, and lowered his head thoughtfully.
In two days, from Liangzhouwei to Rundu, a complete map was drawn. He Yan spread out the map on the table, and according to the shortcut on the map, if she hurried on the road without rest, she might be able to reach Rundu in less than a month. But... Li Kuang, can it really last for a month
It doesn't help to think too much, the priority is to start now. He Yan carried the burden on his back, and before leaving, he looked at the two things on the bottom layer of the wooden drawer. Two things were brought out in Jiyang. One was the noodle maker Xiao Jue bought for her during the Water God Festival. Now the dough is shriveled, and she carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief. The other is a wood carving painting given to her by Mu Yi. The female general Xing standing on top of it is majestic and majestic.
He Yan looked at it, then laughed, shook his head, put away the things, and put them back in the wooden drawer. She couldn't take them away either. If they stay here, they will probably be discarded like the things next to this room.
He had already brought everything, and when he was about to go out, He Yan looked back at Zhongmen again. The middle door was tightly closed, it was late at night, and Xiao Jue had already fallen asleep. She left quietly this time and went to the dangerous battlefield of Rundu. It was difficult to know whether she would be able to see Xiao Jue alive next time, but even if she was alive, she would not know what the scene would be like when they met again.
"Goodbye." She said silently in her heart, turning around and gently pushing open the door in front of her.
The night outside was dark and dark, the moon was obscured by dark clouds, and only a few scattered stars illuminated the distant mountains and forests. He Yan was stunned for a moment, and in an instant, it was like returning to the scene many years ago when she packed up her bags for the first time and left home from the He family. At that time, she was also like this moment. She didn't know what the future was going to be, whether she was happy or sad in the future, so she walked forward with such big strides.
It's just that now it's different from many years ago. She is no longer confused, no longer at a loss, she knows the direction she is going, and she is sure of every decision she makes.
Just like that, move forward without regrets.
- off topic -
Yan Yan: I have gone to my career, and I am beautiful alone [struggle]