Four years later
"Second Brother, Second Brother!" A shout of excitement came from far and near with the sound of rushing footsteps. Before seeing him and hearing his voice, he could outline a picture of a happy boy in his mind.
Yuan Sikong was lying on the neatly stacked grass (reading) haystack reading a book. The hay, which had been exposed to the sun for a day, was warm and exuded a green and simple smell, which was very pleasant to smell. His eyes were still fixed on the yellowed scroll, without blinking, he lazily replied: "Here."
The next moment, I saw a young man in green clothes rushing into the stable, ran to the haystack in a few steps, and flipped up neatly, the haystack was only shaking slightly. The agility of the movement shows that the foot is stable.
"Second brother!" The young man threw himself on Yuan Sikong, his eyes shifted to the book in his hand, "'"Yiwenzhi"'... What evil book are you reading?" He reached out to snatch it.
"What evil book, this is the book of yin and yang spells." Yuan Sikong pushed his paw away.
The young man snorted: "You see the sky forces me to recite Confucius and Mencius, but I have the leisure to read these books."
"Then did you recite it?" Yuan Sikong sat up, pretending to be serious and staring at the young man's handsome face, feeling a little absent-minded for a moment. Even after so many years, sometimes he still couldn't help but sigh with emotion, how could people who have no blood relationship be so similar in appearance.
Sitting on the haystack were two teenagers of the same age and appearance, even wearing Tsing Yi. They looked like they were carved out of the same mold, but the two had very different temperaments. One was full of innocent youthfulness, while the other had Steady beyond age.
This boy is the most beloved youngest son of the Yuan family—Yuan Nanyu.
Yuan Nanyu smiled: "I recited it."
"Really? Let me test you..."
"Oh my second brother." Yuan Nanyu said coquettishly, "I haven't remembered it yet, next time."
"You're carrying a ghost." Yuan Sikong laughed and cursed, he tugged at Yuan Nanyu's clothes, "How many times have I said, don't dress like me."
"You went out before dawn, I don't know what clothes you are wearing." Yuan Nan Yufu became excited again, "Second brother, Li Yuan's family in the south of the city is getting married today, it's very lively. Wow, purple nanmu beat you The big box requires two strong men to carry it, and it contains sixteen boxes of dowry! Dad is going to drink later, there must be a lot of delicious food, let's go together."
"No, it's not that our family is marrying a wife." Yuan Sikong said, "You can read books and practice martial arts when you have time, so don't go and join in the fun."
"Father is also going to join in the fun."
"Nonsense, is dad going to join in the fun? Last year, Li Yuanwai donated 2,000 winter clothes to the soldiers. This year, he will repair the southern city wall, and he will also ask the gentry and country tyrants in the state to raise funds. You are really in the mood to have a wedding banquet as a dad."
Yuan Nanyu scratched his head, seeming to understand: "Shouldn't the court pay the money for buying winter clothes and repairing the city wall?"
Yuan Sikong's eyes suddenly turned cold: "Which year will Liaodong's military salary arrive on time? If not, my family..." Bitter past events appeared in front of him, and he stopped talking in time.
Although Yuan Nanyu was the same age as him, he was full of childlike disposition, and it was useless to talk to him. He was too intelligent earlier than his peers, which seemed heretical.
"If you don't go, then I won't go either." Yuan Nanyu said disappointedly, "I'll watch the horse with you."
"There are people in the stables, neither I nor you need to look at them. Either you go to help elder brother, or you go back to accompany mother."
"I accompany my mother every morning and evening. The elder brother is boring. I like to be with the second brother." Yuan Nanyu said with a smile, "Yesterday my father even praised you to my mother, saying that your horse is well-raised."
Yuan Sikong looked at the row of stables not far away, the horses in the stables were healthy and well-groomed, all of them were of good quality, one could tell they were good horses at a glance. In the past four years, apart from studying and practicing martial arts, he has spent the most time on these horses. He can't help but feel a little proud: "Our horses are horse seedlings from Hebei Road, with Khitan blood. Only good horse seedlings can breed good horses."
Yuan Nanyu seemed to be in a relationship with You Rong: "I also want my second brother to take care of me well."
"It's a pity that father still won't let me cut a horse..." Yuan Sikong was rather disappointed.
"Father said that would violate the military law."
"Pedantic." Yuan Sikong put away the book, "Let's go back and have dinner."
"Hey."
—
At dusk, the two returned home, but they saw Yuan Mao in the courtyard who should have gone to Li Yuanwai's house for a wedding.
Yuan Mao was leading a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy out, and said something, the boy was tall and straight, handsome, dressed in light armor, and handsome.
"Father?" Yuan Nanyu asked in surprise, "Why haven't you gone yet?"
"Father has something to do, you go eat." The young man was Yuan Mao's eldest son, Yuan Shaoxu, who had already joined the army.
Seeing Yuan Mao's expression was unusual, Yuan Sikong didn't dare to ask more questions, and led Yuan Nanyu to the main hall.
"Konger." Yuan Mao stopped him suddenly.
"father."
"Come here, Dad will ask you a few words."
Yuan Sikong walked over.
Yuanmao has not changed much from four years ago, but the brows are more resolute and calm: "Kong'er, do you know how many war horses Guangning Wei, including the surrounding counties, can mobilize at most?"
Yuan Sikong's head shook.
Yuanmao is the garrison of Guangning Guard. The biggest duty is to guard Guangning City. There are other troops guarding Huangshui. Yuan Mao asked him about the war horse, could it be... this day is finally coming
Since abandoning the seven prefectures in northern Liaoning, the Sheng army retreated to the south of Huangshui, the imperial court negotiated peace, and opened up trade and exchanges, in exchange for three years of peace. The situation changed last year. The Jinren attempted to cross Huangshui in vain, but were forced back by the Sheng army. In fact, they all understood that this was not a plan for long-term safety. Liaodong, which had no natural dangers in northern Liaoning, had already been exposed to the iron cavalry of the Jinren. The midwinter is approaching, and Huangshui is about to freeze again, and a bridge is being paved for the Jin invasion.
Yuan Sikong clenched his fist secretly: "It should be possible to mobilize two thousand good horses."
"Okay, I'll let Xu Hu arrange it, and you let him choose."
"Father." Yuan Shaoxu frowned and said, "Kong'er is still young, how can he appoint a child for such a big event."
"Kong'er has been raising horses for many years. He is good at studying and raising horses better than anyone else. He is also good at judging horses. I asked him to learn a lot from Xu Hu, so he can't be appointed."
Yuan Sikong heard his heart beating wildly: "Father, is it... the gold thief is coming?" He was born in northern Liaobei, and grew up with stories of golden men eating people and drinking blood. The tragic situation of the city looted by the Jin people is even more because of the ruins of the Jin people. He is afraid of the Jin people, but his hatred is even stronger.
"Not yet. It is the General Soldier of Datong who asked us for horses."
"General soldier of Datong?" Although Yuan Sikong didn't know much about the situation, he read military books diligently and knew that Datong was still some distance away from them. Guangning was not a good place to breed horses, and the limited horses were all supplied to Liaodong. Come to Datong Mansion to ask for it.
"They will enter the city tomorrow, father still has a lot of things to prepare, we will talk about it later, Shaoxu, let's go." After Yuan Mao finished speaking, he left in a hurry.
"Brother, what's going on?" Yuan Nanyu grabbed Yuan Shaoxu's sleeve, "Datong is not far away from us."
"It's not too far away." Yuan Shaoxu's expression was a bit complicated, "King Jingyuan led his troops to pursue the defeated Oirats, and chased them to Nekar in one go. In the end, he was almost ambushed, and he threw away his luggage before he retreated. Now we need Come to Guangning to supply, or you won’t be able to go back.”
Yuan Nanyu was puzzled and said, "Wouldn't it be closer to go to the capital for supplies?"
"Nonsense." Yuan Shaoxu patted him on the head, "I don't understand anything, go eat quickly." After speaking, he chased after Yuan Mao.
After Yuan Shaoxu left, Yuan Nanyu was still confused: "What, Datong is quite far away...Second brother, do you understand?"
"Hmm." Yuan Sikong walked into the house while thinking.
The commander-in-chief of Datong is the famous Jingyuan King Feng Jianping, the only king with a different surname in Dasheng. King Zeng Qin saved the country, turned the tide, and made great military exploits for Dasheng. Twenty years of guarding the border, Xuanfu and Datong's defense lines are as solid as gold, and Oirats fought north and south, expanding their territory with the force of fierce tigers. I heard that they have all gone to the Rakshasa. Only the Central Plains, which is rich in water and soil, they have coveted for many years and can't get in. That is Because there is King Jingyuan guarding the border.
So Datong Mansion wanted to move Guangning City back, not to mention horses, and the court might agree.
Of course, it is true that King Jingyuan cannot go to the capital to supply supplies, and it is a big taboo for those who have a heavy army to approach the capital hastily.
Although it wasn't the call from the Jin man, which made Yuan Sikong feel a little relieved, but he was still quite unhappy when he thought that the horse they worked so hard to raise would be given to an outsider.
"Wow, then won't we be able to meet the Feng Family Army tomorrow? I heard it's impressive, Second Brother, we must go and see it tomorrow!"
"Okay." Yuan Sikong was also like many Dasheng men, full of curiosity and fascination for the Feng family army, who is known as the number one army in the world, although he still couldn't bear his horse.
As soon as the two of them entered the room, they were greeted by the tangy aroma of rice.
"Mother, big sister, we are back."
Yue Qingshuang came out from the back kitchen, holding a pot of hot bone broth in her hand.
"Mother, why are you going to the back kitchen?" Yuan Sikong ran over in a hurry, took the soup in her hand, put it on the table, and complained, "There is so much oily smoke in the back kitchen, you should have chest tightness again."
Yue Qingshuang said with a smile: "It's okay, it's not too cold these days, I feel a lot more comfortable in my heart and lungs. You see, your father and your elder brother went to a wedding banquet, and we should eat something good at home."
"Dad, he..."
Yuan Nanyu was about to say something, but Yuan Sikong stopped him with his eyes.
Yue Qingshuang's body is weak and she suffers from asthma, especially in winter, they don't want her to worry about many things.
Yuan Nanyu immediately fell silent, grabbed a piece of roasted pork with sauce, and threw it into his mouth. The roasted pork was steaming white just out of the pan, and it rolled between his lips and teeth as soon as he took it in. He jumped and screamed : "Wow, it's so hot, wow, it's delicious!"
Both Yue Qingshuang and Yuan Sikong couldn't help laughing.
"You are the youngest in the family, and you are the most unruly." A melodious female voice came from behind. The voice was as sweet as a nightingale, but it was not as soft as an ordinary woman, but clear, crisp, and refreshing. .
The person who came was a cardamom girl, Yuan Weiling, the daughter of Yuan's patriarch. She was famous in Liaodong for her refined beauty and sassy personality, and she was the twin of Yuan Shaoxu.
The blood of the Yuan family is unique. Yue Qingshuang gave birth to two pairs of twins, and so did Yuan Nanyu, but Yuan Nanyu's compatriot brother died young, so four years ago, on a cold rainy night, Yuan Mao resolutely met Yuan Sikong. Bringing him home and adopting him as an adopted son made one feel the strangeness of fate.
"Elder Sister." Yuan Nanyu giggled, "Mother's roasted pork with sauce is so delicious."
"Mother, I've told you many times, don't cook by yourself." Yuan Weiling pushed Yue Qingshuang into the chair, "I can also roast pork with sauce, I'll do it next time."
"Hey, let the eldest sister do it, and the pig will die unjustly."
"You son of a bitch, are you looking for a beating!" Yuan Weiling rushed over to beat him, but Yuan Nanyu dodged through the chair.
Yue Qingshuang feigned anger and said: "Your father is not here, so you dare to be presumptuous at the dinner table." After she finished speaking, she laughed first, and she took Yuan Sikong's hand, "Konger, you should be steady, look at it." This one is big and small, the daughter doesn't look like a daughter, and the younger brother is naughty, if you don't take care of him, I'm afraid he won't go to the house."
Yuan Sikong said: "Yu'er is actually very sensible, but just loves to play." Looking at the Yuan family siblings who were laughing and chasing after each other, his eyes were filled with a gentle smile.
When he felt that God had taken everything away from him and had completely abandoned him, he let Yuanmao descend in front of him like a god and gave him a warm and happy home, and he was already content.
His only wish is to gain fame in the future and serve the country with his own body, so that the barbarians will never be able to touch the people of Dasheng.