Xiao Yili had a thoughtful expression on her face, could it be that...
No way
Although thinking so in his heart, Xiao Yi still stood up and looked at the sky outside the window.
In the blue sky, there is no cloud in the sky, and an indistinct eagle is flying high in the sky. Because the distance is too far, only a black shadow can be seen. getting louder...
Although he still couldn't see what it looked like, but Xiao Yi was sure of it in his heart, he hooked his finger and put it on his lips and made a loud whistle...
The eagle in the sky seems to have heard the sound from this side, and flew towards this side with a clear goal, spread its wings, flew lower and lower, and swooped down towards the yard outside the study...
"Small gray!"
Xiao Yi burst into a joyful smile, stretched out his right arm, and let Xiao Hui land on its right arm steadily.
Zhuzi came over hearing the sound, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, and stammered: "Master, Xiao... why is Xiaohui here?"
"It's not just Xiao Hui who is here..." Xiao Yi stroked Xiao Hui's shiny gray feathers and smiled meaningfully.
The stinky girl's letter arrived a few days ago, and half of the long letter was complaining that Xiao Hui was getting more and more wild, and actually went out with Guan Yubai for a whole day before knowing how to go home.
It seems that Xiao Hui has not been wronged, but has been "wild" all the way to Yanding City!
Xiao Yi couldn't help laughing, and flicked his left finger on its neck. Xiao Hui shook his head, bowed his head to peck his own wings.
Bamboo was confused and scratched his head. Who else came with Xiao Hui? It can't be the princess, right? … how can that be possible!
At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps outside, mixed with the sound of armor clashing, and a soldier said loudly: "Master, I have something important to report!"
"Come in." Xiao Yi said.
The soldier hurried into the study room, clasped his fists and said: "My lord, An Yihou is here, just entered the city gate." As he spoke, he couldn't help but glanced at the gray eagle on Xiao Yi's arm from the corner of his eye, but was immediately caught Xiao Hui's cold eagle eyes lowered his head, wondering: Didn't you hear that Shizi raised an eagle
Xiao Yi ordered: "Please come here to talk about it, Marquis An Yi!"
The soldiers were ordered to retreat.
An Yihou? ! Zhu Zi was a little dumbfounded, did he mean An Yihou just now
"How did Marquis An Yi get together with Xiao Hui?" Zhu Zi muttered softly.
Xiao Yi pampered Xiao Hui's wings again, and ordered: "Zhuzi, go and prepare some raw meat for Xiao Hui...forget it. Xiao Hui, I think there are a lot of wild game outside Yanding City, why don't you go find something to eat yourself?" Yes, bring me some by the way."
Xiao Hui let out a cry, but he didn't know if he understood.
With a wave of Xiao Yi's right arm, Xiao Hui immediately flew out, flaunting his skills and flying straight into the sky, uttering a resounding eagle cry.
The bamboo on the side is sweating profusely. The prince used to be raised by the concubine, but now he relies on his own eagle to feed
In fact, Zhuzi would like to say something: Although there is little food in the city, it is not so difficult...
After a while, there was another sound of chaotic footsteps outside the study. He knew that there were several people this time. Zhuzi hurriedly went out to meet the guests, and soon welcomed Guan Yubai, Li Yunqi and Xiaosi in, and the others accompanied him. People are waiting outside.
Guan Yubai walked in at a leisurely pace, with his usual calm and breezy appearance, while Li Yunqi behind him was bent tightly like a drawn bow.
When Li Yunqi was in the capital, he heard that the prince of Zhennan was arrogant and surly, and did whatever he wanted. This time, Marquis An Yi came here to check the battle between the Southern Border Army and Nanliang. You will feel that An Yihou is deliberately looking for faults, and you will feel displeased, so you can make things difficult for him.
Xiao Yi didn't even look at Li Yunqi, he cupped his fists at Guan Yubai politely and said, "Master Guan, long time no see, don't come here to be safe."
Guan Yubai clasped his fists back, and his attitude was also lukewarm: "Young Master Xiao, you are safe here." He then introduced Li Yunqi who was on the side, "This is Captain Li Yunqi."
Li Yunqi hurriedly saluted Xiao Yi: "I have met Xiao Shizi." Although he pretended to be relaxed, the feeling of stiffness had already been unconsciously exuded through his words and deeds.
"Lieutenant Li." Xiao Yi casually cupped his fists at Li Yunqi, "Lieutenant Li has worked hard all the way, my son, let me take Lieutenant down to settle down."
While he was speaking, Zhuzi had already walked up to Li Yunqi with knowledge and interest, and stretched out his hand to make a petition.
Li Yunqi's expression froze for a moment, this Prince Xiao's attitude was already obvious, he clearly wanted to send him away on purpose. Will Prince Xiao embarrass Marquis An Yi
Li Yunqi gave Guan Yubai a questioning look, Guan Yubai nodded slightly, so Li Yunqi could only say: "Thank you, Mr. Xiao, then I will take my leave first."
Li Yunqi walked out, and heard Xiao Yi's voice from behind: "Master Guan, this son received a letter from his father a few days ago. This trip of Lord Guan..."
Li Yunqi gradually walked away, and couldn't hear anything, and couldn't see Xiao Yi's narrow expression.
"Xiao Bai, sit down! Why are you being so polite to me!" Xiao Yi went to the window and sat down on an armchair, beckoning Guan Yubai to sit down too.
Guan Yu sat down in his white robe, caught a glimpse of a gray feather on the ground out of the corner of his eye, couldn't help but twitched the corner of his mouth, and said, "Xiao Hui has been here?" Back to Luoyue City, back and forth, very busy.
Xiao Yi nodded: "I sent it to find something to eat by itself."
While talking, Xiao Yi picked up the teapot on the side, poured a cup of warm tea for Guan Yubai himself, and said in a teasing tone, "Xiao Bai, I think your 'niao' fate is not bad, it's rare My Xiao Hui likes you so much. Why don't you raise an eagle too? Then we can be in-laws from now on!"
Before Guan Yubai said anything, Xiao Si's face turned dark, and he thought: This Xiao Shizi is still so out of tune!
At this time, the familiar eagle cry came from outside the window, and in the next moment, a group of colorful things were thrown in from the window...
After the carrier pigeon incident a few days ago, Xiaosi has become very proficient, and he caught the ball in his hand when he fished it casually.
It was heavy to start with, but this time, it turned out to be a colorful pheasant!
Seeing this, Xiao Yi happily showed off to Guan Yubai: "Xiao Bai, I just asked Xiao Hui to bring me some game, and it brought me back a pheasant! The eagle I raised is really different. unusual!"
The three people in the room all looked out the window, Xiao Hui had already stopped on a big tree outside, and was looking down at everyone with its usual haughty eyes, as if to say, if mortals don't know how to hunt, I will reward them. I'll give you something to eat.
The corner of Guan Yubai's mouth twitched into a slight smile, and said, "Xiao Hui is indeed smart." As he spoke, he took out a piece of tissue paper folded into long strips from his pocket, and handed it to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi still didn't know about the pigeons in Nanliang, so he unfolded the piece of tissue paper with a suspicious expression on his face. He was startled and surprised when he read the few words on it. This turned out to be...
Guan Yubai talked about how Xiao Hui sent him pigeons that day, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, put down the letter paper and looked at Xiao Hui outside the window, and praised: "Xiao Hui, you have done a great job. !" Now he has to write a letter to the stinky girl to defend Xiao Hui. Why did he spoil Xiao Hui? It is clear that if there is a master, there must be an eagle. Xiao Hui is like him. !
Seeing Xiao Yi's smug face, Xiao Si twitched his brows and looked away speechlessly.
Xiao Yi pinched the piece of tissue paper and read it again, then raised his eyes and said: "Xiaobai, you came at the right time this time, there is a swamp near Yanding City, when the two of my subordinates were surveying the terrain two days ago , and stumbled across a trail that leads around the swamp…”
Guan Yubai was thoughtful, clasped his knuckles on the table, and said, "Is this swamp in the southwest of Yanding City?" He already knew the map of southern Xinjiang by heart.
Seeing Guan Yubai's pensive eyes, Xiao Yi said courteously: "Xiao Bai, don't worry about this matter. You have come from a long way, and you haven't eaten yet? Hehe, Xiao Hui has kindly caught us a pheasant. Don't let it down, just roast and eat this pheasant! You don't need to do it, I'll do it!"
Xiaosi twitched his brows, and thought: Why does Xiao Shizi's words sound a little weird...
Guan Yubai said with a smile, "Then I'm going to try your handicraft today."
Xiao Yi proudly showed off: "My grandfather said that a man should be able to use the sky as his blanket and the earth as his seat. Even if he has no money, he can hunt a pheasant or a wild boar to eat by himself! When my grandfather was fighting , separated from the army again... Forget it, I will talk to you later while roasting the chicken."
As he said that, he sized up the pheasant in Xiaosi's hand, and said with some dissatisfaction: "This pheasant is not fat enough, and the feathers have been removed. There is probably not much left, and it must not be enough for us to eat!"
He walked to the window, and shouted to Xiao Hui outside the window: "Xiao Hui, I have guests here, go catch some pheasants and rabbits and come back."
Under Xiao Si's complicated eyes, Xiao Hui flapped his wings and flew high into the sky.
Xiao Yi watched Xiao Hui fly higher and higher, and said proudly: "My Xiao Hui is indeed the smartest eagle!"
At this time, the bamboo that Li Yunqi had settled down came back again.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw the colorful pheasant in Xiao Si's hands, he was dumbfounded, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he cursed: Xiao Hui actually brought back a pheasant for the eldest son! This is enough for the son to show off for a long time!
Xiao Yi ordered: "Zhuzi, go and prepare a grill and dry firewood. This son wants to roast chicken himself to entertain Xiaobai."
"Yes, Shizi!" Zhuzi hurried down.
Of course, Xiao Yi doesn't need to worry about doing things with bamboo. Not only the grill and dry firewood are ready, but also all kinds of seasoning jars such as oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, as well as tools such as daggers and iron forks are all ready. .
Even the pheasant was killed by someone, the colorful feathers and internal organs were removed, and it was just waiting to be roasted.
The two masters and two servants sat down in the backyard behind the study, Xiao Yi's movements were a little rusty, but he looked decent, Xiao Si secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After a while, the alluring aroma of barbecue filled the yard, and the fat on the flesh made a sizzling sound, which made people salivate when looking at, smelling and listening to it.
When the roast chicken turned golden brown, Xiao Yi's movements were already very proficient, and he said with a smile, "You can eat it right away!"
Before he finished speaking, the familiar eagle's cry came from the air again, and Xiao Hui came back, it swooped down suddenly, and threw the thing in its claws regardless of whether people could catch it or not. .
Xiaosi twitched his brows again, but he still ran over, caught it accurately and took advantage of the momentum to lose momentum.
This time, Xiao Hui hunted a mountain rabbit.
As a result, there was another naked roast rabbit on the grill.
Bamboo ordered the kitchen to cook some small dishes. The two ate tea and chatted with each other until the willows were on the top of the moon, and then went back to rest...
In the early morning of the next day, Xiao Yi, Guan Yubai and a group of seven or eight people left the city and headed southwest. The main purpose of their trip was to check the path beside the swamp. Fu Yunhe, Yu Xiufan and Chang Huai Xi is also among them.
Xiao Hui flew above them, flew in front of them for a while, and flew back again for a while, hovering above their heads, making loud and clear calls from time to time, as if urging them to hurry up!
October in southern Xinjiang is much hotter than Wang's. At this moment, the sun has fully risen, hanging high in the cloudless sky, and the sun is scorching hot and dazzling.
Fortunately, after driving a few miles on the official road, they drove into a dense forest, and the surrounding temperature dropped suddenly, only then did they feel the coolness of autumn.
Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi lead the way.
Yu Xiufan rode his horse back and forth in front of the trees, turned his head and said, "Brother, if you pass through this forest, there is a piece of grassland that borders the swamp, so everyone must be careful, if you accidentally fall into the swamp, you will be in trouble ..." Yu Xiufan's tone seemed to be a little emotional, which made the other people raise their brows.
Fu Yunhe was not polite to Yu Xiufan, and asked directly with a smile: "Little Fan, you didn't fall off, did you?"
Yu Xiufan seemed to have thought of something, wiped off his cold sweat and said, "That's not true, it was just a little bit close. Fortunately, Xiao Xizi gave me a hand." The wild boar encountered disasters step by step before his eyes, which really gave him a feeling of being there...
"Little Xizi, you are my savior now." Yu Xiufan looked at Chang Huaixi enthusiastically, "When I get back to Luoyue City, I will treat you to a drink...Everyone will have a share!"
After being greeted by him like this, everyone laughed, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed and happy.
Only Chang Huaixi twitched his brows because of the title Xiao Xizi.
The crowd continued to ride forward, and not long after, a bright light appeared in front of the woods, Yu Xiufan pointed ahead and said, "Ahead is the exit of the woods..."
It suddenly became clear outside the woods, in front of it was a large flat grassland, and further ahead was a large swamp, and some bright green aquatic plants and blue duckweeds grew sparsely on the dark gray mud...
Everyone slowed down, and there was a faint white mist above the swamp, mixed with a cold and rancid smell, which made people want to vomit.
"Everyone, be careful, there is miasma in the swamp, don't get too close. Also, try to walk along the place where there are trees growing, the trees are all growing on the hard ground..." Yu Xiufan reminded again, these days, he really fell. Hard work.
After everyone walked carefully along the swamp for more than two miles, a large lush thornbush appeared in front of them, raging rampantly, crowding out the surrounding shrubs with their thorny stems.
Ordinary people would be intimidated by the dense spikes, and would never go any further. They never expected that Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi would find a way here.
There was a hint of surprise in everyone's expressions, Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi, two pampered young masters, were very meticulous in their work.
"Hey," Yu Xiufan couldn't keep quiet for a while, rubbed his nose and said again, "I was going to hunt a rabbit to eat that day, and watched the rabbit pass through the thorn bushes, and I found that path by chance..."
When he saw that the gray rabbit passed through the thorn bushes safely without getting stuck in the swamp, he realized that the back of these thorn bushes might not be a swamp, so he hurriedly called Chang Huaixi over.
The thorns in this area are both hard and extremely resilient. It took a lot of effort for the two of them to cut off part of the thorns, and suddenly found that behind the thorns, there is a hole in the sky...
Yu Xiufan roughly recounted what happened that day, and everyone couldn't help laughing, which is considered a blessing for fools.
Chang Huaixi shook his head in his heart speechlessly, this Yu Xiufan really talked about everything...
The two young masters brushed away a clump of thorns used as a camouflage with their scabbards, and then, a narrow path interspersed with thorns was revealed to everyone. Although this path covered with weeds was narrow, But it is enough for two or three people to go side by side. Because the two sides of the road are covered with thorn bushes, so at a glance, this path is hidden in the thorn bushes, and no one has discovered it.
Both Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai were overjoyed and exchanged glances quickly.
"Little Fanzi, you lead the way."
In Xiao Yi's clear voice, they got on their horses again.
As Xiu Fan led the way, the others followed closely behind and filed in along the path. In the breeze, the grass was green and the horseshoes were flying. The figures of the people were faintly visible in the smog, and soon disappeared...
After walking for nearly half an hour, Yu Xiufan, who led the way, pointed to a grove in front of him and said, "Brother, after passing this grove, there is an official road."
However, the map in the hands of Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi is only for the area around Yanding City, so they are not sure where they are.
This area is full of war, and now the official road is deserted, and there is no one there. Even if Yu Xiufan wants to ask someone for directions, there is no one to ask...
A group of people quickly passed through the grove, stopped at the side of the official road, and dismounted again.
This official road is enough for two carriages to run side by side, and the two ends of the road extend straight into the distance, with no end in sight. It was noon, the sun was scorching, and the golden sunlight made the ground seem to be glowing, which was a bit dazzling.
Guan Yubai observed the surrounding environment silently, looking at the direction of the sun for a while, and the shadow on the ground for a while, thoughtfully, then pointed to one end of the official road and said: "This official road should be a Going to Dengli City."
Deng Licheng? ! Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi looked at each other, they were overjoyed at first, but then they thought that they didn't know how far it was from Dengli City. If it was too far away, they might not be able to achieve the effect of a surprise attack...
Guan Yubai seemed to have discovered something, strode towards the middle of the official road, and everyone looked at him in unison.
Guan Yu Bai Liao Pao squatted down and looked at several clear rut marks on the ground, the deep and concave ruts were clearly discernible. He lowered his eyes halfway, took out a handkerchief, picked up some soil, and twisted it a few times.
Xiao Yi walked up to him and asked, "Xiaobai, what did you find?"
Xiaobai... The corners of Chang Huaixi's eyes twitched, and he suddenly felt that the title of Xiao Xizi was actually pretty good.
Guan Yubai handed the handkerchief to Xiao Si, and said slowly: "These few rut marks are different from other rut marks, they should have been left in the past few days..."
Everyone thought of something, cheered up, and Yu Xiufan blurted out: "Could it be left by people from Nanliang?"
Guan Yubai measured the ground with his fingers, and said, "It should be. The gauge of the Nanliang carriage is different from that of our Dayu carriage. With such deep ruts, their carriage probably loaded a lot of things. There are several rut marks left here, it seems that their carriages should have been back and forth on this official road several times in the past few months... "
Xiao Yi said with a happy face: "So, this official road should be the place that Nanliang people must pass through." Since it was the track left by the carriage, nine out of ten of the goods transported in the carriage were materials, or Weapons, either military supplies, or food...
No matter which one it is, for them, there is a lot to do!
Today's trip was really rewarding!
For a moment, everyone was smiling.
Not many people came today, if this official road is really reused by Nanliang, staying for a long time will scare the snake, so Xiao Yi ordered to go back the same way. Make another plan after returning to Yanding City.
After walking through it once in the morning, both people and horses knew the way back by heart, and it took half the effort to get out of this trail than when we went there. Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi skillfully disguised the entrance of the path...
At this time, Xiao Hui's cry suddenly came from the air above, which attracted everyone to follow the sound, and saw that Xiao Hui, who was hovering high in the sky, seemed to have discovered something and swooped down in a certain direction.
Yu Xiufan was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile: "Brother, did Xiao Hui find some prey and went hunting?" He swallowed salivatingly, "I'll go and see, maybe I can get some prey." Xiaohui's light, eat some wild game..."
Yu Xiufan got on the horse swiftly, then clamped the horse's belly, speeded up the horse, and couldn't wait to chase Xiaohui to the direction of the woods. Chang Huaixi hesitated for a moment, but rode his horse and followed.
Xiao Yi said to Guan Yubai with a smile: "Xiaobai, let's take a look too, maybe there is another roasted pheasant to eat today..."
Before the words were finished, he and Fu Yunhe rushed out like lightning, Guan Yu looked at the four young men in fresh clothes and angry horses in front of him with a white smile, but followed behind at a leisurely pace, like an autumn outing Generally, comfortable and leisurely. Xiaosi still follows Guan Yubai like a shadow.
The official business that came out today has been done, and everyone's mood has relaxed a lot.
Yu Xiufan, who was walking in the forefront, chased Xiao Hui who was in mid-air and rode his horse for a certain distance, and saw Xiao Hui hovering around the mouth of the woods, uttering clear and clear cries from time to time.
Yu Xiufan moved his gaze down a little, only to find that under Xiao Hui, there were an old man and a young man standing under several big trees. To be precise, they should be an old man and a girl.
Because of the distance, he couldn't see the faces of the two people clearly for a while, he only saw that the old and the young were wearing blue clothes and carrying a bamboo basket on their backs.
Yu Xiufan subconsciously let out a "shoo", slowing down the horse under his crotch. He narrowed his eyes slightly, always feeling that the girl seemed familiar.
Chang Huaixi who was behind him also saw the two of them, and drove the horse to Yu Xiufan's side, squinting his eyes vigilantly. Although these two people look like ordinary old and young people, single and weak, but Yanding City was occupied by Nanliang before, and now the people in the city dare not leave the city at will, and people from other towns dare not come Come here, besides, here in the wilderness, what are the old and the young here for? !
Thinking of the Nanliang envoys who came to Yanding City a few days ago, Chang Huaixi became more and more vigilant.
Could these two be Nanliang spies
"My son..."
Chang Huaixi was about to turn around and ask Xiao Yi for orders, so he and Yu Xiufan went to find out first, but the girl in Tsing Yi pointed at Xiao Hui in mid-air and shouted: "Xiao Hui, you are Xiao Hui, right? ?...Grandfather, this must be Yue'er's little gray."
Chang Huaixi swallowed the words she hadn't said before, this girl knows that the son's eagle is called Xiao Hui, so could it be that the elder and the young are acquaintances of the son? !