Nangong Yue was wearing a middle coat and leaning against the big welcoming pillow of the beauty's couch, her long black hair hanging down her shoulders with a little dampness.
A faint scent of calming incense lingers in the room.
Nangong Yue was holding a book of stories in her hand, her mind had already gone somewhere, and she didn't turn a page for a long time.
At this time, it was the three o'clock of Xu time, the night was a little dark, and the little movement outside seemed a little harsh.
Baihui said understandingly: "Your maidservant, go out and have a look."
Not long after, Baihui came back and reported: "Concubine Shizi, the guards are searching."
Thinking of the man in black just now, Nangong Yue nodded and said nothing.
It has been less than two months since they moved into Bixiao Hall, and the defenses are not yet complete, it is the time when all the secrets are sparse.
If there is an uncertainty, there will be another, and it is only natural to search the entire Bixiaotang, Xiao Yi has always acted vigorously and resolutely.
The guards did not enter the main courtyard, but with Xiao Yi and the hidden guards present, Nangong Yue was sure that the main courtyard was extremely clean. Today, the spy hadn't moved at all, but Xiao Yi found his trace. If he had the courage to sneak into the main courtyard, he might have died long ago.
The hustle and bustle outside soon disappeared, Nangong Yue yawned, and flipped through the script even more absent-mindedly.
"I've seen my son."
Nangong Yue's eyes lit up, she sat up, and then she saw Xiao Yi pushing the door and coming in, strode to her side and sat down.
Seeing that Nangong Yue was still waiting for him so late, Xiao Yi felt distressed, but the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Ayi, are you hungry? I asked the small kitchen to prepare a supper, do you want to use some?"
Before he could respond, Nangong Yue hurriedly asked Baihui to prepare, and after a while, two bowls of steaming wontons were served.
Xiao Yi was really hungry, he ate one for two, and he ate everything in a short while. Nangong Yue looked at him with a smile, and gave him half of the wontons in her own bowl.
After supper, the maids packed up and retreated. Before Nangong Yue could ask, Xiao Yi said without any concealment: "... I caught one in the back room."
The back room is the residence of the servants, and there is a small alley next to the wall. It seems that the spy planned to escape from there.
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "Who sent it?"
The two were sitting side by side on the beauty couch, Nangong Yue's long straight hair was hanging down her shoulders, causing Xiao Yi to run his fingers through her hair, combing it softly, and said casually: "I'm on trial, It shouldn't last more than three days."
There was a small poison sac on the back molar of the spy, as long as the teeth were bitten lightly, the poison would flow out and kill him immediately. However, the hidden guards saw a lot of this kind of method. After catching him, they immediately removed his jaw, making him unable to commit suicide, and then took out the poison sac.
Of course the spies would not take the initiative to name the main messenger, Xiao Yi directly threw the person to the secret guard and came back.
Nangong Yue's scalp was a little numb from his fingers, she leaned lazily in his arms, and said: "I just disturbed Grandma Yongyang. Fortunately, Grandma Yongyang is not an outsider. We will go to accompany her tomorrow morning Bar."
Xiao Yi responded, remembered something, and said: "By the way, Grandmother Yongyang will take Liu Niang to Kailian City to see Xiao Hezi tomorrow."
Nangong Yue raised her head and looked at Xiao Yi with her black pupils without blinking. Grandma Yongyang and Fu Yunyan came all the way to Southern Xinjiang. Naturally, they wanted to see Fu Yunhe, but they chose this time...
Could it be...
Nangong Yue just mentioned yesterday that she would hold a banquet in Bixiao Hall in a few days, and she proposed to go to Liancheng today. Did she guess her real intention for this banquet? So she avoided it on purpose
There is nothing wrong with Yong Yang's grandmother's concerns.
The banquet at Bixiaotang was originally intended to test out, among the various houses in southern Xinjiang, which ones are inclined to Xiao Yi, which ones belong to the King of Zhennan, and those who follow the golden mean, neither of which wants to offend... If If Grandma Yongyang stays here, I am afraid that some fools will come to Bixiaotang to have a banquet in the name of meeting the eldest princess. With this name, these fools will not offend Xiao Yi, but also prevaricate King Zhennan.
In this way, it will affect the original intention of hosting the banquet.
Grandmother Yong Yang was too considerate for them, just like a real grandmother.
Although the two of them have encountered many setbacks along the way, and even some people deliberately obstructed them, they have also met many noble people at the same time. These people should be remembered far more than those worthless villains...
The night passed quietly, and in the morning of the second day, Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue went to the courtyard where Yong Yang lived, apologized to her for the disturbance last night, and had breakfast with her, afterward, Yong Yang took Fu Yunyan set off.
It took nearly three days to travel from Luoyue City to Kailian City, even though Yong Yang was escorted by guards, Xiao Yi specially ordered Zhou Dacheng to accompany him so that he could take care of him.
Luoyue City only learned of the arrival of the Eldest Princess Yong Yang yesterday, and some mansions couldn't help but start to move, thinking about replying to Bi Xiaotang, but they were surprised to hear that the Eldest Princess had gone to Kailian City, and they didn't know what to do for a while.
Nangong Yue could almost imagine how sad those wives would be, maybe several strands of their hair would be gray.
On the third day after Princess Yongyang left, Xiao Yi said enthusiastically early in the morning: "Stinky girl, I sent a group of Xuanjia troops here, and they arrived at midnight yesterday, you have to go with me Try the crossbow at the camp?"
Nangong Yue's eyes lit up, and she said happily, "I'm going!"
As a human being in two lives, she hasn't been to a military camp yet, and that crossbow that can fire ten arrows in succession will definitely change the battlefield pattern in the future. The first official crossbow test, of course, she was excited and eager to try!
Looking at her star-like eyes, Xiao Yi deeply felt that his decision to take her with him was really wise!
Nangong Yue quickly went back to the house and changed into a light men's attire, and then took Baihui, who was also disguised as a man, and rode with Xiao Yi to the camp outside Luoyue City. In addition to the accompanying guards, they also brought a carriage, which was loaded with the ten repeated crossbows sent by Guan Yubai this time. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are worth as much as a thousand gold.
Tian He and Yao Lianghang, who had received the news a long time ago, were waiting in a school yard at the northwest corner of the camp.
At this moment, there are still nearly a hundred soldiers wearing black armor of one color standing in the school yard, and they are the Xuanjia army that Xiao Yi specially dispatched to test the crossbow. These hundred soldiers stood awe-inspiring, motionless, like clay puppets.
When Tian He and Yao Lianghang saw Xiao Yi coming, they stepped forward and respectfully raised their fists at Xiao Yi as a military salute.
Hundreds of soldiers behind them knelt on one knee and saluted: "I have seen you!"
Hundreds of thick voices overlapped neatly together, like thunder piercing the ears.
It was the first time Nangong Yue saw such a scene, and she couldn't help being awed, the corners of her lips raised high.
"Excuse me."
Xiao Yi raised his hand, and the soldiers stood up in unison again, and returned to their original standing posture. They didn't make any unnecessary movements, and they seemed to be well-trained.
Tian He, Yao Lianghang and the others naturally also noticed a strange young man standing beside Xiao Yi, and couldn't help but take an extra look.
Ever since she got to know Xiao Yi, Nangong Yue has disguised herself as a man for countless times, but she has a lot of experience. It's a pity that she is not a heroic girl like Fu Yunyan after all, there are always many flaws in her appearance and demeanor, old and hot as Tian He can see some clues at a glance.
Is it a girl
On the day Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue returned to Luoyue City, it was Tian He who personally brought people to the city gate to meet her. At that time, Nangong Yue was in the carriage and Tian He had never seen her. But seeing that Shi Ziye brought a girl to the barracks and stood side by side with him, Tian He immediately guessed that this must be Shi Zifei.
Although there used to be Princess Yongyang who led an army alone and opened up territories, but that was in troubled times.
How many female generals have there been in battles in ancient times
Southern Xinjiang is not as strict as the royal capital, but there is no reason for women to come and go from the barracks at will. It's not that the Shizi is ignorant of this, but he brought the concubine without hesitation. It seems that the master really has a lot of affection for the concubine...
Tian He gave Xiao Yi a meaningful look.
"My lord," Yao Lianghang's gaze fell impatiently on the dozen or so guards behind Xiao Yi, each of whom held a mahogany box in their hands, "What kind of weapon is it?"
Xiao Yi asked them to rush to Luoyue City in the name of experimenting with new weapons. Although Yao Lianghang didn't know what kind of weapon it was, he was sure that it was definitely not some trivial matter just because he was so cautious!
Xiao Yi made a gesture, and Zhu Zi immediately lifted the wooden box in his hand, and opened the lid in front of everyone.
Anyone can see that this is a continuous crossbow, a continuous crossbow with iron arrows as arrows.
Ordinary people can only see this if they don't have the blueprint of Guan Yubai, but Tian He is a veteran who has galloped in the battlefield for decades, and he has seen all kinds of weapons including the Liannu. Seeing some tricks, he eagerly picked up the repeating crossbow, played with it for a while, stared at the arrow box on the crossbow, and said in surprise: "Couldn't this repeating crossbow be able to fire ten arrows in a row?"
Before Xiao Yi could answer, Yao Lianghang blurted out: "Fire ten arrows in a row?!" Ordinary Liannu can only fire five arrows in a row at most.
"Old General Tian," Xiao Yi smiled flamboyantly, and pointed to the archery target hundreds of paces away, "Do you want to try this Liannu?"
Tian He was so shocked that his pupils shrank again, and he said in disbelief: "This place is at least six hundred steps away from the target!"
As we all know, the continuous crossbow can shoot arrows continuously, with high speed and great lethality. It is a sharp weapon on the battlefield, but the arrows of the continuous crossbow are iron arrows, and there is no arrow feather at the tail, so that the iron arrows will lose their balance and roll when they fly for a long distance. This will limit the range.
Of course, the son of the world will not make a lot of quibbles easily, that is to say... Tian He couldn't help but look happy, staring at the Liannu in his hand as if seeing a unparalleled treasure in the world.
He collected himself, raised the crossbow and pointed it at the target, then hung the string, drew the bow, and released the arrow!
"Shh! Shh! Shhh..."
The ten iron arrows were shot out with lightning speed, but in the blink of an eye, a few "clank" sounds were heard, and several iron arrows were inserted into the archery target in the distance, and even the archery target was slightly shaken by the impact. Check out its power!
Xiao Yi stared at the target, narrowing his eyes in satisfaction.
In the past, the crossbow presented by Han Lingfu on the emperor's birthday was not only easy to fall apart, but also less than half accurate... But now, after careful improvement by Guan Yubai, eight out of ten arrows can hit the arrow target.
Moreover, the closer the range, the higher the accuracy. The spy that night turned into a hedgehog in the end.
Yao Lianghang on the side was already stunned, and couldn't help pinching his thigh fiercely, his face wrinkled in pain.
This crossbow is really too powerful!
The crossbow body is light and handy, has a long range, fast winding, can shoot ten arrows in a row, and has high accuracy! It can be called a magic weapon!
I don't know where he got it, if it is for the three thousand Xuanjia army...
Thinking about it, Yao Lianghang became excited, his chest was full of pride and ambition, not only him, but also the hundreds of Xuanjia soldiers on the school field, every young and dark face seemed to be shining , I thought: With this continuous crossbow, the 3,000 soldiers of their Xuanjia army will be like a tiger with wings added, and they will be invincible! Who dares to attack from all over the world!
Looking at the shocking appearance of the crowd, Xiao Yi couldn't help showing color in his eyes. He cleared his throat and said to Yao Lianghang: "Ahang, you divide these hundred soldiers into two groups..." He whispered to Yao Lianghang, Yao Lianghang nodded repeatedly, and soon took orders to arrange to go.
Yao Lianghang quickly drew 60 out of 100 Xuanjia soldiers and divided them into two teams, "Qian" and "Kun", each with ten shield players and twenty archers. The only difference is that there are ten archers in the dry team who use continuous crossbows, while the Kun team uses ordinary bows and arrows.
The continuous crossbow is so powerful that one mistake may cause accidental injury, so the arrows of each arrow are covered with coarse cloth during the drill.
Yao Lianghang gave an order, and the drill began.
The archers on both sides shot countless arrow feathers at each other at the same time, and the target was the row of scarecrows behind the shield player. With a limit of one stick of incense, whichever team shoots more scarecrows at the enemy camp will win. .
Of course, Team Kun understands that their team was at a disadvantage from the very beginning of this exercise, but at this time, they can't easily admit defeat, especially in front of Shizi, they must let Shizi see their resilience!
"Whoosh whoosh--"
Wooden arrows and iron arrows intertwined together, forming a dense rain of arrows.
The archer shoots one arrow, but the crossbowman can shoot ten arrows in a row. The wooden arrows collide with the iron arrows from time to time, making a crisp impact sound, one after another... Although Team Kun's shield hand quickly blocked many iron arrows , But they blocked this wave, but they didn't have time to cover the other scarecrows.
In the blink of an eye, I saw the scarecrow behind the Kun team full of holes, nailed like a hedgehog by black iron arrows... The Kun team was already sweating profusely in a short while, one to ten, they fired ten arrows, and the opponent was shot To shoot a hundred arrows, it is as if the opponent has nine times more archers than himself.
How can one be against ten?!
The Kun team struggled to support them, but under the overwhelming offensive of the Qian team, their support became so weak that in the end, the captain could only gather all the shield players together, so that they would not have to be exhausted, but just stick to it. Although the small area was in a state of embarrassment and helplessness, they managed to protect the five scarecrows who were intact after the incense stick, and finally they were not completely wiped out!
The Xuanjia soldiers who watched the battle were full of emotion, and counted quickly. The number of scarecrows surviving in the main team was thirty, and twenty of them were shot by arrows, and ten of them could be rated as "slightly injured".
Compared with the five surviving scarecrows of the Xia Kun team, the other scarecrows who were hit by the iron arrow looked really horrible, almost a taste of what is called "thousand arrows piercing the heart".
The Xuanjia soldiers who counted the points felt a little bit numb, and couldn't help thinking, what if the arrows were not shot by these scarecrows, but real people
Tian He's eyes were fixed on these scarecrows like fire. If he hadn't worried about the presence of the Shi Ziye and Shi Zifei, he might have shed tears long ago regardless of his image.
Back then, when the old prince first arrived in southern Xinjiang, he was ambushed and trapped in Longling by the southern barbarians for a whole month. If there were such crossbows at that time, they would have been able to break through the siege with a fierce attack, and they would not have killed so many soldiers. Even the old prince was left with hidden wounds, and he left early within a few years.
This continuation crossbow... this continuation crossbow...
It will definitely bring earth-shaking changes to southern Xinjiang!
Xuanjia soldiers were busy cleaning up the school grounds, while Xiao Yi, Tian He and his party went to Xiao Yi's camp together, including Nangong Yue.
After everyone sat down one by one, Yao Lianghang played with one of the crossbows as if it were a treasure, and he was very proud: If Mo Xiuyu knew, he would be jealous of himself to death!
After Xiao Yi took a sip of hot tea, he said: "General Tian, I plan to set up a battalion of divine arms, just like the Xuanjia army, with 3,000 men and equipped with this crossbow."
Hearing that the Liannu was not for the Xuanjia Army, Yao Liangyao couldn't help crying, and looked at Xiao Yi pitifully.
Xiao Yi ignored him, and continued: "General Tian, I would like to ask you to select 5,000 elite soldiers first, and after training, the best ones will enter the God Arm Battalion."
Tian He respectfully accepted the order, "Yes, my lord." He paused, and then said, "Is this Liannu going to be produced immediately?"
Xiao Yi nodded slightly, raised a finger and shook it, and said: "Let's make this number first."
"Ten thousand?" Tian He's eyes lit up.
"One thousand." Xiao Yi immediately shattered his fantasy, "One thousand crossbows, one hundred thousand iron arrows." Before he could ask, Xiao Yi spread his hands and said, "No way, I don't have enough money for your family. .”
When it came to money, Tian He's fiery heart calmed down, and after the initial ecstasy, he immediately thought of the key point, "My lord, this continuous crossbow needs to use iron as the arrow, and it is indeed expensive. …”
In order to raise soldiers, for the recuperation of the mansion and Kailian, the money of the son of the world was spent like water. If we add a thousand crossbows and 100,000 iron arrows this time, it will be a large amount of money!
Thinking about it, Tian He's dissatisfaction with King Zhennan came to his heart again. Originally, father and son were united in one mind, and their profits cut through gold. Their southern border could be more stable and prosperous, but why...
Xiao Yi naturally saw what Tian He was thinking, but he didn't take it seriously, and said with a smile: "Fortunately, my grandfather helped me this time, otherwise the one hundred thousand iron arrows might shrink even more."
Thinking of the Fang family's iron mines, Tian He's whole body was shaken. This is clearly the blessing from the heavens to help the son in the future!
A thousand is a thousand.
Don't worry, they will take it step by step, and one day they will be able to achieve great success!
Tian He settled down and continued to discuss serious matters with Xiao Yi. Today they still have a lot to discuss, first of all is the craftsman who made the crossbow. It is necessary to find a group of reliable and skilled craftsmen, and the number should not be too many. Although it may slow down the process of making crossbows, it is necessary to choose the importance.
Xiao Yi had already discussed this matter with Guan Yubai, and said, "Old General Tian, look at this."
Xiao Yi spread out a piece of tissue paper on the desk, Tian He saw it, clapped his hands and laughed, "Wonderful! Really wonderful!"
The person who drew the picture disassembled dozens of structures of the Liannu, and then drew them. Then they can let each craftsman only be responsible for a few steps, and even the process of assembling is dismantled step by step. Then the real core of Liannu can be grasped in their own hands. In this case, not only is it safe, but the process of making the crossbow should also be much faster than he expected before.
Tian He estimated: "If this continues, as long as the materials are prepared as soon as possible, I believe that this batch of crossbows and iron arrows should be completed in about a month." Lenovo said that during today's drill, the soldiers will be able to master the crossbows in a short time Apply, presumably that magical arm battalion will be formed soon!
All the people in the camp talked to each other, and they talked very lively.
Nangong Yue didn't say a word from the beginning to the end, but just quietly looked at Xiao Yi's handsome face with high spirits.
Xiao Yi is like the rising sun in the sky. He was born with a dazzling radiance, and he unconsciously attracted more and more people to him. People must trust him and respect him, that's why they are willing to join him and put their lives in his hands...
How lucky she is!
…
At this time, Han Lingfu had knelt in Huangjue Temple for seven days and seven nights in the royal capital thousands of miles away.
Ten days ago, the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill and had a persistent cough. After consultation at the Empress Dowager Hospital, she only said it was a cold, but she was unable to recover for a long time, and instead became bedridden. The emperor was worried, and Han Lingfu, who was imprisoned in the mansion, invited him to go to Huangjue Temple to chant scriptures and pray for the queen mother, and the emperor agreed.
Since Han Lingfu went to Huangjue Temple, he has been devoutly kneeling in front of the Buddha until now.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Xiao Mianzi, Han Lingfu's personal eunuch, happily entered the Buddhist hall, and said to Han Lingfu, "Congratulations, Your Highness, the queen mother has woken up. The emperor announced you into the palace."
Han Lingfu was overjoyed.
After learning that the queen mother fell ill, Bai Muxiao gave him an idea, asking him to invite him to pray for the queen mother. Once the queen mother recovers, he will be filial to the world, and even if the queen mother's condition does not improve, there will be no loss.
So, Han Lingfu did as he did, and now it seems that he made the right bet!
He is now in a difficult situation and must plan step by step.
Han Lingfu stood up and knelt for a long time. He almost lost his footing, so Xiao Mianzi hurried to support him.
"We enter the palace!"
Finally, he has a glimmer of hope to stand up, he must not miss it!
Han Lingfu took Xiao Mianzi into the palace and stayed in the imperial study for a long time. It is said that Han Lingfu knelt in front of the emperor, weeping loudly, admitting that he had done something wrong because of being forgetful for a while, and only wished to use the rest of his life to atone for his sins. He is not allowed to leave the mansion without permission, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that the third prince has turned over.
When the news reached the second prince's mansion, Han Lingguan's face was so gloomy that it was about to drip water.
He planned painstakingly and spent so much effort to bring down Han Lingfu. He didn't expect that Han Lingfu would still have a chance to stand up just because he was soft-hearted for a while and didn't kill them all!
Han Lingfu already knew that he was secretly instigating that incident, and once he turned around, he would definitely not let him go.
Outside the study room, a young eunuch stood with lowered eyebrows and said to a beautiful woman: "Concubine Zhang, Your Highness is not seeing anyone now. Please go back."
Concubine Zhang glanced unwillingly at the closed study door, but she didn't dare to force her way in, so she could only leave with Bu Tang and the maid with a look of pity.
No one noticed that the little eunuch secretly slipped a note to an accompanying little maid.
Not long after, this note arrived at the Mansion of Marquis An Yi...
Guan Yubai took a look at it, then threw it into the brazier casually.
His brows and eyes were as gentle as before, and he told the two people in the study: "...it's time to reveal the truth about the Queen Mother's poisoning last year to the emperor."
"Yes! Young Master."
"...the king's capital is going to be in chaos." Guan Yubai's voice was unhurried, as if he was talking about an unimportant matter.
The princes are all adults, and for that seat, the fight will only become more unscrupulous.
The emperor's temper was too soft, and his control over the court was too weak, which fueled the ambitions of the princes.
It's a pity that until now, the emperor can't see through...