It was more than half an hour when Mrs. Qiao returned to Qiao's residence. Her two sons and daughters were waiting for her in the main room of the main courtyard. When they saw her return, they greeted her eagerly.
Qiao Shenyu was wearing a lake-colored golden brocade robe, her black hair was tied high with a white jade button, and she wore a dignified appearance; Qiao Ruolan was wearing a water-red poppie bright satin pink purple border with a long skirt , the pomegranate beads on the temples tremble slightly as she walks, elegant and beautiful.
Every time she looks at these wonderful children, Mrs. Qiao feels comforted by Lao Huai. Her husband is so incompetent, she can only rely on this pair of children.
"Mother," Qiao Shenyu asked impatiently after saluting, "What did uncle say?" He stared at Mrs. Qiao with burning eyes.
Mrs. Qiao glanced at Qiao Shenyu, did not answer immediately, walked in, and sat down on the upper chair, then nodded slowly and said: "I will go out in person, can your uncle not agree?"
"That's natural." Qiao Shenyu rubbed Mrs. Qiao's shoulders attentively, "Uncle, he has always been closest to you, mother."
Mrs. Qiao patted her son's hand, and said earnestly, "Brother Yu, last time the matter of appeasing the people in the Southwest finally offended your uncle. This time, I made your uncle nod in agreement because of my good words. Brother Yu , You have to live up to this errand. Let your uncle see your skills!"
"Mother, don't worry." Qiao Shenyu held his head up confidently, "Can you still not trust your son?"
Mrs. Qiao looked at her son with a smile, her expression was very loving: "Brother Yu, mother is just waiting for you to come back after earning military merits." Stomp on that Tian Detao hard!
Qiao Shenyu was high-spirited, as if he had seen the day when he would return home in brocade clothes, he cupped his fists and said, "Mother, then I'll go down and get ready."
Qiao Shenyu withdrew quickly, and Qiao Ruolan who was beside him had been holding back for quite a while.
Seeing her brother walking away, she bit her lower lip and asked anxiously: "Mother, he...has he ever..." She twisted the veil awkwardly, her face was full of peach blossoms, her eyes were shining brightly, and the corners of her lips were clearly full of affection. It just moved my heart.
Hey, Mrs. Qiao sighed secretly in her heart, there is a young girl in my family who has grown up, and it seems that my daughter is really attracted to An Yihou.
Mrs. Qiao hesitated for a moment, but still replied: "I asked your uncle, Marquis An Yi is not married yet." Even if she wanted to hide this matter, she might not be able to hide it.
Hearing this, Qiao Ruolan was ecstatic, a dazzling brilliance bloomed in her eyes, the corners of her mouth curled up, her heart beat wildly like a deer, and her imagination was running wild.
"Sister Lan," Mrs. Qiao frowned, and persuaded softly, "Listen to your mother, she thinks this An Yihou is really inappropriate. Although he has a high position and authority, he is in poor health... "There will be a lot of fun in the boudoir in the future, not to mention, if you die young, even if you were so beautiful during your lifetime, what can you do if you leave orphans and widows? ! "Sister Lan, mother is doing it for your own good. Mother has already inquired about it. The third son Fu has made great achievements this time and is the emperor's nephew. His future is boundless, and he is just around the corner..."
But before Mrs. Qiao finished speaking, Qiao Ruolan stood up abruptly, with a hint of impatience on her face, and said, "Mother, brother will be leaving in a few days, you must be busy with trivial matters and have many things to do." Prepare for your brother, and my daughter will not disturb you." After speaking, Qiao Ruolan left without looking back.
Mrs. Qiao's eyes widened in disbelief, and a fire rushed to her forehead. If others dared to treat her like this, Mrs. Qiao would have turned her back on her long ago. It happened to be my daughter!
My daughter has been obedient and talented since she was a child, so she didn't let herself worry about it. I didn't expect that the mother and daughter would have such a big disagreement in their marriage!
Mrs. Qiao's chest heaved violently, and she couldn't help complaining to Madam Hu beside her: "The old saying is really true, children are debts, and if you have no debts, you will not come!"
Mother Hu hurriedly comforted: "Ma'am, Marquis An Yi is the girl's savior, so it's no wonder that the girl..."
Mrs. Qiao was also very grateful to An Yihou, but this gratitude disappeared because of Qiao Ruolan's obsession. She said coldly: "I don't know what that An Yihou has done to Sister Lan." Daughter I was really fascinated by him!
Hu Nanny smiled apologetically, but dared not agree.
Mrs. Qiao pinched the handkerchief, frowned and said: "No, I have to quickly settle Sister Lan's marriage!"
Mother Hu reminded: "Ma'am, but the battle ahead is not over yet, and I don't know when Mr. Fu will come back..."
After Madam Hu mentioned this, Mrs. Qiao couldn't help feeling annoyed, and said: "Just now I should have asked the lord when the third son Fu will come back." gone.
But after all, she still has to wait for Fu Yunhe to come back to make a difference. At the moment, she still has to help her son prepare the luggage for going out.
Mrs. Qiao personally led people to Qiao Shenyu's place, helped to organize things, and ordered the maids and mother-in-law to prepare this and that. After working for nearly an hour, they finally sorted out these trivial matters.
After she returned to her room and drank hot tea to take a breath, she remembered that she had to tell Qiao Xingyao about her son going to Huiling City.
"Zisu, go and see if the master is back?" Mrs. Qiao turned her head and ordered.
The round-faced servant girl in blue-green trousers shrank suddenly, her eyes flickered, and she bent her knees and said, "Madam, master... Master has gone to Aunt Yu's place." Ever since he passed the door, he has been loved by Qiao Xingyao, and spends more than half of a month at Aunt Yu's place.
"You bastard!" Mrs. Qiao threw the teacup out of her hand, the tiles splashed, and the hot tea spilled all over the floor...
Let's not mention Qiao Zhai's frenzy for now.
Since the great victory came from the front, there are not a few families who want to send their children to Huiling City to gain military merits. For a while, all the mansions in Luoyue City are busy, relying on relationships and favors, it is very lively...
When Qiao Shenyu arrived at the camp in Luoyue City three days later, he saw two familiar faces in the accompanying team.
Qiao Shenyu's expression froze for a moment, and he greeted the two of them as if nothing had happened: "Young Master Yu, Young Master Chang!"
One of those two was Yu Xiufan, the fourth son of General Yu's residence, and the other was Chang Huaixi, the fifth son of General Chang's residence. Obviously, these two people want to go to Huiling City to make military achievements, how shameless! I must not be compared to them!
Qiao Shenyu swore secretly in his heart.
I don't mention what everyone thinks in their hearts, but on the surface they are all in harmony.
Not long after, Lieutenant Li arrived and saw that there were three or four more carriages in the team and they were all the personal belongings of these young masters. He became angry immediately and ordered each person to only carry one package of luggage, otherwise they should not go.
So, all the carriages were left behind, and the three of them hurried on the road with only a few changes of clothes.
Li Xiaowei led the supply battalion and set off in a mighty way.
When they arrived at Huiling City, it was several days later. Qiao Shenyu thought he could finally have a good rest, but he didn't expect Captain Li to rush there again after receiving Xiao Yi's military order from Situ Garrison. In Yanding City, Qiao Shenyu could only follow them non-stop.
A group of people finally arrived at Yanding City when the sun went down the next day.
As soon as they heard that they were here to deliver food and grass, the city gate guards checked the tokens and immediately opened the city gates to welcome them.
"Lieutenant Li," Shouzheng said excitedly, "I've been looking forward to it for you. After those damned Nanliang people occupied Yanding City, they slaughtered and looted the city. Now the people in the city are waiting How about the batch of food and grass you brought for emergency..."
During those dark days, the people were miserable. Although the son of the world ordered people to send some food and grass after he took down Yanding City, the food and grass were all from the Southern Border Army and Huiling City. Those who came down could barely last a few days... Fortunately, food and grass finally arrived! Seeing these grains and grass, Shouzheng felt grateful that Yanding City had finally survived!
The business is important, Li Xiaowei and Shouzheng entered the city without saying a few words, Qiao Shenyu rode behind Li Xiaowei, and looked around casually, Yanding City was desolate and dead, exuding a feeling of lifelessness.
Yesterday, Qiao Shenyu saw that Huiling City was well guarded except for entering and leaving the city, and other affairs in the city were in order, so he thought that Yanding City was similar, but he didn't expect that Yanding City turned out to be in such a depressed state. Few houses are full of broken walls and tiles, and there are still dark red blood stains on the walls and on the ground, and the vague smell of blood lingers on the tip of the nose.
Qiao Shenyu coughed uncomfortably, and adjusted his posture on the horse's back a little, feeling as if he was sitting on pins and needles. If it wasn't for military merit, he wouldn't be able to stay any longer.
A group of people soon arrived outside the garrison mansion. The soldiers were on standby outside the mansion, while Captain Li and the three young princes were welcomed into the garrison mansion.
Finally, I can rest. Qiao Shenyu yawned lazily and secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
"Li Xiaowei, the prince is waiting for you in the study, please follow me." A soldier hurriedly led Li Xiaowei to the outer study.
Qiao Shenyu thought that he was also Xiao Yi's cousin, so he also wanted to say hello, but a man who looked like Mr. Qian stopped him, cupped his fists and said, "Young Master Qiao, Young Master Chang, Young Master Yu, Yan Ding The city is now in ruins, and it is just when manpower is needed, when the Shizi heard that the three sons were coming, he specially ordered him to come down and pass on the military orders to the three."
Qiao Shenyu was startled, he didn't expect Xiao Yi's military order to come before he could catch his breath. Is this too urgent? Although he came here to gain military merits, he traveled all the way and wanted to rest for a few days before talking...
Yu Xiufan couldn't wait to ask: "Brother...cough, I mean, I don't know what orders the Master has?"
Chang Huaixi at the side quickly glanced at Yu Xiufan, keeping his expression on. He also grew up in Luoyue City, so he naturally knew that many dudes as famous as Yu Xiufan used to hang out with the elder son, called him brothers and brothers, and followed the elder son's lead. And this Qiao Shenyu is Xiao Yi's cousin, that is to say, he is the only one among the three who has no relationship or reason with the Shizi.
Mr. Jing Qian said sternly: "Young masters, when the city was attacked that day, both our army and Nanliang people were killed and injured. Many corpses were scattered inside and outside the city. If they were not dealt with in time, the corruption of the corpses would easily pollute the water source and cause The epidemic is prevalent. The son of the world has ordered all the soldiers and the people of the city to search the city for several days, and basically cleaned up and burned all the corpses in the city. Now he is cleaning up the corpses outside the city, and this matter has disturbed the three princes."
Clean up, burn the corpse? !
The corner of Yu Xiufan's mouth twitched, his handsome face almost collapsed, and he thought, "Brother is really ruthless!" ... There is no way, the order of the eldest brother, no matter how miserable it is... In fact, although burning the corpse is a bit disgusting, it is an easy task. Yu Xiufan felt a little hairy in his heart, so he could only keep comforting himself.
Chang Huaixi's complexion was also not very good-looking, a turbid air was stuffed in his chest, and he almost blurted out: Why? !
At any rate, my family is a three-generation general. Since my grandfather's generation, I have served under the old prince's command. The son of the world gave him such a lowly job, did he deliberately humiliate himself
Chang Huaixi clenched his fists, but in the end he didn't say anything, just observed Yu Xiufan and Qiao Shenyu without any trace.
Qiao Shenyu's entire face froze, and he couldn't believe his ears. His face turned pale and then blue, blue and white again, and he couldn't hide the disgust in his eyes.
"Brother," Qiao Shenyu clasped his fists and said to Boss Qian, "may I meet Yi... the son first?" He thought about asking Xiao Yi to change his errand for himself after meeting Xiao Yi!
Unexpectedly, Mr. Jing Qian, who was still pleasant just now, changed his face in an instant. His thin eyes with single eyelids were murderous, and the temperature around him suddenly dropped.
"Young Master Qiao," Mr. Jing Qian's voice was so cold that it was almost icy, "What I said just now is the military order of the prince! Isn't Mr. Qiao going to disobey the military order?"
Disobeying military orders? ! Qiao Shenyu's pupils shrank suddenly, and he resisted the military order. Last time, because of the matter of Fumin in the Southwest, he received a full 30 army sticks. He was beaten to pieces and lay on the couch for more than a month.
Qiao Shenyu laughed dryly with lingering fear, and quickly changed his words: "How could it be?! How could I disobey the military order?"
Yu Xiufan suppressed a smile secretly, looking at this Mr. Qiao, although he is his elder brother Xiao Yi's cousin, but he doesn't know much about his elder brother's temperament. . But this Qiao Shenyu insisted on hitting the knife's edge! Poor!
Chang Huaixi lowered his eyes halfway, and there was a flash of cruelty in his eyes. The son of the world probably wants to show them off, right? Hmph, just see the trick and break it!
Chief Jing ignored Qiao Shenyu, and said directly: "Three young masters, please come down with me..."
Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi followed one after another. Although Qiao Shenyu was full of unwillingness, he still took this step after biting his teeth.
Mr. Jing Qian personally led the three of them out of the city from the south gate. At this time, the sky was already dark yellow, only the western sky was still red.
On an open space outside the city, a huge wooden platform has been built.
From a distance, I happened to see a group of three soldiers escorting this boarded carriage coming here. As the group got closer and closer, they could vaguely see three or five corpses piled up in the carriage, and a strong smell of corpses wafted over...
As soon as the cool night wind blows, the stench hits the face and permeates the surroundings, making people sick and sick.
Qiao Shenyu's face was as pale as paper, his stomach churned and he almost vomited.
"Da da da… "
The surroundings were completely silent, except for the sound of horseshoes and wheels rolling as the carriage moved forward, which became louder and louder.
Those soldiers stopped in front of Mr. Qian and the others, and the leader of the team stepped forward and said, "Mr. Qian, the corpses within a radius of one mile have been cleaned up. Are you..."
During the speech, the board carriage stopped at the rear, and one could clearly see the horrific corpses piled up on top of them, dripping with blood. It was hot in southern Xinjiang, and most of the corpses had rotted away. Lively maggots squirmed, and flies gathered all around, making a "buzzing" sound.
Qiao Shenyu's ears were buzzing and he couldn't hear anything.
"vomit-"
He couldn't hold back his nausea anymore, turned around and vomited crazily towards the grass beside him...
Seeing Qiao Shenyu vomit, Chang Huaixi's eyes flashed contempt, and he suppressed the nausea in his heart.
"Ugh... vomit..."
For a moment, only the sound of Qiao Shenyu's vomiting could be heard in the air.
After a while, Xiao Yi, who was guarding the mansion, learned of what happened at the gate of the city.
"...that Mr. Qiao is not as good as women and children." Mr. Jing Qian said, "In the end, he will come to say goodbye to you in a few days." In the past few days, there have been many people in Yanding City. The old and the weak, women and children helped clean up the corpses in the city, who was as coquettish as Mr. Qiao, "The other two gentlemen seem to be fine for the time being." I just don't know what will happen when they really do it.
The corner of Xiao Yi's mouth curled into a half-smile, and he walked to the window, looking at the southern sky.
Given his distance and angle, he couldn't see outside the city gate, but he could see billowing white smoke rising madly into the night sky...
It must have started burning corpses outside the city again...
Since he settled in Yanding City, the corpses have been cremated basically every night at this time. Thousands of corpses have been found, most of which cannot be identified, and there is no time to identify them. The corpses must be incinerated as soon as possible!
This is war, cruel and helpless.
Xiao Yi raised his head and stared at the night sky for a long time before saying: "Don't pay attention to them, even if anyone wants to go back, he has to finish his work for this son!"
As soon as Qiao Shenyu, Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi arrived, Xiao Yi got the news. Obviously, these three people were sent here by their families for some military exploits.
Of course Xiao Yi understands that this kind of thing cannot be avoided, but if you want military achievements, you have to pay something. Whether it's Yu Xiufan, Qiao Shenyu or Chang Huaixi, as long as they have the ability, he will not refuse anyone!
In this city, many things are waiting for people to do.
"Yes, Master." Mr. Jing Qian clasped his fists to accept the order, and retreated respectfully.
After Xiao Yi stood quietly by the window for a while, he turned around and sat down behind the desk, and began to deal with official duties.
Every time a city is recovered from the enemy, it represents not the end, but a difficult beginning.
The original magistrate and garrison of Yanding City had already been sacrificed when the city was broken. Xiao Yi recently promoted a general of fifth-grade martial arts who had made meritorious service under his command to be the garrison of Yanding City, but the post of magistrate has to wait. It may take some time before the new magistrate takes office for the approval of the imperial court. Now the trivial matters in the city need to be dealt with temporarily by him.
Repairing the city wall, reorganizing the household registration and fields, counting the grain and grass in the warehouse, re-appointing the officials of the two cities, and dealing with the soldiers who surrendered in Nanliang... Xiao Yi was very busy with all kinds of affairs, so he could only comfort himself and wait for Xiaobai to come.
This night, after Xiao Yi finished his work, it was already the second watch.
Seeing that it was getting late, Zhu Zi who was guarding outside the study finally couldn't help but enter the room and persuade him: "Master, you should rest..." After finishing speaking, he added, "If you are exhausted, The Crown Princess will be worried."
Xiao Yi ignored him, and started to write quickly. After writing two full sheets of paper in one go, he stopped writing, handed it to Zhuzi and said, "Hurry up and send it to Princess Shizi!" A pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes shone in the candlelight Bright.
Zhuzi didn't need to read the letter, but he could guess that his eldest son was acting like a baby with his imperial concubine again in the letter. He took the letter paper, responded with a smile, and walked briskly.
Thinking of his stinky girl, Xiao Yi slept soundly all night. Early the next morning, as usual, he heard the chicken dance, punched a set, and after taking a bath and changing clothes, he just came out.
Then, surrounded by a group of generals, he inspected the defenses of Yanding City.
After the repairs in the past few days, many gaps on the city wall have been repaired. There is a significant difference in the color of the old and new stone bricks, like a piece of clothing that has been repaired repeatedly, revealing a sense of vicissitudes of life after the catastrophe.
Everyone walked forward along the city wall, and after a while, they saw many guards in armor repairing the city wall, some of them were building bricks, some of them were laying mud, and some people also came to help, making clanging and banging sounds from time to time.
Li Shoubei reported as he walked: "My lord, when the city was attacked that day, the catapults damaged a lot of the city walls. After several days of repairs, at least half of them have not been repaired in time. I am afraid that more people will be needed. In terms of bricks At the end of the day, the general plans to find a few unoccupied houses in the city and tear down their walls first to rescue them."
Xiao Yi looked at Mr. Jing Qian: "Can you call out manpower?"
Mr. Jing Qian hurriedly replied: "My lord, the corpses have been almost cleaned up. In two days, another one or two hundred people can be dispatched to repair the city wall."
Li Shoubei pondered for a while, and said again: "So, the city wall should be repaired within five days."
During the speech, the city gate appeared in everyone's field of vision, and there were two long teams lined up near the city gate. The people were all ragged and stooped. At a glance, most of them were old, weak and injured. Disabled.
Li Shoubei saw Xiao Yi's eyes looking over there, and explained: "My lord, the grain and grass arrived yesterday, so the general ordered people to start distributing rice grains immediately after counting them."
At the beginning, the people of Nanliang slaughtered Yanding City for three days, burning, killing and looting, doing all kinds of crimes, killing most of the young and middle-aged people in the city, leaving only the old, weak and disabled to be driven by them, and many women in the city suffered even more. Inhumane injury, unbearable humiliation, committed suicide.
Every time they see these poor people, the soldiers are filled with righteous indignation and empathy.
General Zheng Shen with a big beard said angrily: "It's still too cheap for those Nanliang people!"
"That's right!" Fu Yunhe said wistfully, "If we didn't have too few magic arm crossbows, that Ikaluo wouldn't have escaped that day!...Brother, this magic arm crossbow is really a magic weapon. Prepare some." As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Yi with burning eyes.
In the two battles of recovering Yanding City and Yongjia City, both the Divine Arm Battalion and the Divine Arm Crossbow played a huge role that cannot be ignored. Xiao Yi also wants to expand his staff, but the problem is, he has no money! This 3,000-strong magic arm battalion has almost used up all the food towns in the fiefdom of the stinky girl.
It's a pity that all the soldiers didn't know it, they all saw the power of the divine arm crossbow, so when Fu Yunhe said this, he responded repeatedly.
"If we set up two more God Arm Battalions, those damned Nanliang dogs will be beaten to the bum!" General Zheng said, his voice raised unconsciously, and his eyes happened to meet a three or four-year-old boy in front of him.
The boy's black eyes were round and round, and his mouth was slightly opened, as if he was frightened. In the blink of an eye, his eyes were already filled with tears...
The old woman holding the boy's right hand immediately noticed the boy's strange behavior, looked down at her, and asked worriedly, "Heizi, what's wrong with you?"
The boy's other hand tightly held the old woman's skirt, his lips were puckered, as if he was about to cry in an instant.
Zheng Shenjiang was stiff all over, he didn't do anything well at all.
Fu Yunhe on the side struggled to hold back a smile, and winked at Zheng Shenjiang unceremoniously, as if to say, who made you look fierce, and you are still scary outside!
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