The four tall horses headed southeast along the swamp and had to drive for nearly ten miles before they bypassed the swamp. There were several undulating mountains in front of them. At the foot of the mountain was a small village with only a dozen or so tile-roofed houses.
Looking from a distance, one can feel a sense of depression coming, the tile-roofed houses are dilapidated, weeds are overgrown around the village, and even some cultivated land is deserted.
Guan Yubai dismounted slowly, and took out a roll of kraft paper from the bag on the horse's side. The kraft paper was part of the map after unfolding, but the map was still in draft stage, and it was covered with traces of alterations.
A few days ago, Xiao Yi ordered several teams to survey the surrounding terrain of Yanding City. This sketch was drawn based on the situation they returned from the survey combined with the original map.
After arriving in Yanding City, Guan Yubai immediately asked Xiao Yi for this sketch, and after studying it carefully for a few days, he got busy.
Every morning, he would bring Xiaosi out to compare and revise the sketches. Occasionally Xiao Yi would come with him when he had nothing to do, just like today.
Guan Yubai raised his eyes and looked around, observing the nearby scenery.
Xiao Yi also drove his horse to stop beside Guan Yubai.
A gray eagle was circling in the sky above their heads, chasing the nearby birds excitedly, bursts of loud and clear eagle calls resounded through the sky.
"Ayi," Guan Yubai said, pointing to the small village in front of him, "I remember that the old map didn't include this village, right?"
Xiao Yi nodded and said: "Xiaobai, your memory is really good. This small village has only been here for more than ten years, so naturally it will not be on the old map." The old map was also more than 20 years ago. What Nan Wang perfected after he came to Southern Border has changed a lot.
"This small village was flooded by the Yanlai River more than ten years ago and flooded a village downstream. Some of the people in that village moved to other places, and some moved here as well." As he spoke, Xiao Yi pointed to the direction of the swamp, " There is also the swamp. According to the people of Yanding City, the swamp area has spread a lot in the past few years. There should be a grassland between the mountains and the swamp on the original map, but now it has been completely swallowed by the swamp. .”
Xiao Yi looked down at the sketch in Guan Yubai's hand again. Although it took a lot of manpower and time, it seems that the energy spent was not in vain.
Guan Yubai took out a charcoal pen, marked a few strokes on the kraft paper, and the four of them continued on their way.
Bypassing these mountains from the left, everyone passed several small villages one after another. The war in Yanding City this time will inevitably affect these nearby villages. Some villages are already empty, leaving only one or two elderly people in their twilight years, which is embarrassing.
Guan Yubai and Xiao Yi stopped their horses from time to time, compared the sketches, and recorded the places that needed to be revised...
Before I knew it, more than half a day had passed, and there were more and more records on that sketch, some were just a few strokes, some would be written in a long paragraph, and I would occasionally draw some pictures on it, there was an old pine, There are boulders, ancient wells...
It's been a slow journey.
Xiao Yi and Xiao Si are martial arts practitioners, but they are in good spirits, but Guan Yubai is different, his body is weaker than ordinary people, and after riding a horse for a long time, his face has long been unable to hide his fatigue.
Of course Xiao Yi also noticed it, and said, "Let's call it a day."
Guan Yubai looked at the sun, nodded in agreement, and said with a smile, "Okay then, let's go back first."
A map cannot be completed in a day or two. After returning, Guan Yubai will rearrange it again.
A few people embarked on the opposite journey, and returned to Yanding City in about half an hour. It was the time when the sun was shining brightly at noon.
Xiao Hui swooped down from a high altitude, landed on a branch outside the room, lowered his head and lightly pecked at his wings.
Xiao Yi raised his hand to it, signaling it to go play by itself, and entered the study together with Guan Yubai.
After lunch and resting for a while, Guan Yubai went straight to the inner room of the study separated by four partitions, and unfolded the large kraft paper hanging on the wall. The kraft paper was less than one-fifth completed. For the map, Guan Yubai would complete the map here every day after he went out, and Xiao Yi would sometimes watch it from the sidelines and help to add it.
A map slowly appeared under Guan Yubai's pen.
Xiao Hui was still on the branch, it poked its head into it curiously, occasionally fluttering its wings, as if urging the people in the room to play with it. Seeing that no one paid attention to him, Xu Shi flapped its wings, flew into the room through the open window, and landed on the desk. Its golden eagle eyes coldly looked around the people in the study room, then looked down at the desk, as if it had found something interesting, raised its paws to fiddle with the ink anchor on the table, and the splashed ink drops fell on the white Xuan paper, extremely dazzling.
Xiao Yi only looked back, and said cheerfully, "My little Hui is really good."
This show off made Xiao Si look speechless, this is connivance, right? This is definitely pampering!
"Master." Zhuzi came in and reported back: "Master Fu is back, and he is asking to see you outside."
Xiao Yi smiled and said to Guan Yubai: "It seems that the little crane has returned with a full load!" He ordered Zhuzi to let Fu Yunhe in, and went to the outside room.
Not long after, Fu Yunhe in military uniform strode into the study room. After saluting to Xiao Yi, he couldn't help but glance at Guan Yubai on the other side of the partition window, and then said with a smile, "Brother, I'm back!" His young handsome face was still smeared with dried blood, and he smiled, and said, "Brother, only a dozen or so soldiers of the Thousand God Arm Battalion I brought with me were slightly injured, and none of them were killed. Liang twenty carts of grain and grass, and the Nanliang soldiers escorting the grain and grass will be killed."
Fu Yunhe smiled from ear to ear, and as he spoke, he thought of something again, and added: "Brother, don't worry, the secret road next to the swamp is absolutely not exposed, we have deliberately walked in the direction of Dengli City according to your instructions Wuli, ambushed beside a side road, and it was done with one blow!"
"Little Crane, you've done a good job!" Xiao Yi praised without hesitation, "Having these grains and grasses can solve our urgent needs!"
Although Luoyue City has sent two batches of grain and grass over these days, it can't stand the large number of people in the city. In addition, the Nanliang Army slaughtered Yanding City and its surrounding areas, and most of the farmland in the countryside was destroyed. Even if the war ceased, Yanding City Both Yongjia City and Yongjia City need a long period of time to recuperate.
The whole city is living a life of saving food and clothing, and now that there are twenty carts of grain and grass, they can slow down again.
At this time, Zhuzi came in quickly and said, "My lord, Li Shoubei is here."
"Let him in."
After a while, Li Shoubei strode in, with a look of joy that couldn't be concealed. Fu Yunhe led a thousand soldiers of the God Arm Battalion back, and brought back twenty carts full of food and grass. The news spread throughout the city like wings.
This is great news!
For a moment, Li Shoubei looked at Fu Yunhe with extremely warm and loving eyes, and Fu Yunhe shuddered inexplicably.
After Li Shoubei greeted Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi ordered: "Li Shoubei, half of the twenty carts of grain and grass seized this time will be sent to Yongjia City, and the other half will be left to Yanding. city."
Li Shoubei solemnly clasped his fists and said, "The general thanked the elder son on behalf of the people of Yanding City! The general will send someone to distribute it immediately..." After that, he hurriedly retreated.
The matter of food distribution is urgent, it seems that tonight will be busy until midnight. Li Shoubei left in good spirits.
After Li Shoubei left, Fu Yunhe stretched lazily, "I'm so exhausted!... Big brother, then I'll go back to rest early today?"
"That can't be done!"
Xiao Yi vetoed it with one word, Fu Yunhe couldn't believe his ears, and looked at Xiao Yi up and down. Doesn't that sound like what the elder brother said
Xiao Yi glared at Fu Yunhe, pointed at his right arm, and said angrily, "You, why don't you go to the military doctor!" Did he think he didn't see the white cloths that were randomly wrapped around his upper arm
Fu Yunhe scratched his head, then remembered, and said with a smile: "Brother, it's just some flesh... Okay, I'll go to the military doctor right away."
Fu Yunhe was frightened by Xiao Yi's eyes, and walked away dejectedly. As soon as he left the house, he yawned lazily, hesitating whether he should be obedient and obedient, but he heard Zhuzi say in the next moment: "Mr. , Shi Zi said that you can think about it, should you go by yourself or should he tie you up and send it to someone?"
Fu Yunhe laughed dryly: "Zhuzi, you don't have to bother big brother." Saying that, he hurriedly walked towards the gate of the Garrison Mansion.
Unexpectedly, before he had walked a few steps, he saw Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi coming towards him.
"Little Hezi, I've heard that you've made a great contribution this time!" Yu Xiufan patted Fu Yunhe's shoulder with a big laugh, winked and said, "Little Hezi, didn't you mention this time last time?" Please invite Xiaoxizi and me when you come back..."
As Yu Xiufan said, his eyes fell on the wound under Fu Yunhe's shoulder, and he frowned, "Little Hezi, are you injured?!"
Fu Yunhe shrugged casually, "It's just a small injury." He seemed to feel the torch-like eyes of the bamboo behind him, and hurriedly said, "I'm going to the wounded barracks to see the military doctor."
"Why don't Xiao Xizi and I go with you." Yu Xiufan grabbed Fu Yunhe's uninjured right arm and hurried away. Chang Huaixi naturally followed.
Seeing Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi leaving with Fu Yunhe, Zhuzi breathed a sigh of relief, and ran into the study to report to Xiao Yi.
The three of Fu Yunhe quickly reached the gate, and the guards at the gate immediately brought their horses.
They were about to get on their horses when they saw a strange male voice coming from the direction of the gate: "... this little brother, I saw the notice posted by Mr. Li on the bulletin board at the gate of the city... There is a notice in my family that was handed down by an ancestor." Fang Zi, once taken, it will work, I have asked someone to help me write it down."
Fu Yunhe followed the sound and looked over, and saw a middle-aged man in his forties standing outside the door, his skin was dark and rough, and he obviously relied on physical strength to make a living.
"Brother, please, I'll find someone to register for you..." The concierge politely invited the middle-aged man into the mansion, and a servant led him away.
Fu Yunhe was confused and raised his eyebrows in doubt.
Seeing this, Yu Xiufan explained: "Little Hezi, you also know that right? During these days, many people in the army have suffered from acclimatization, so the eldest brother specially ordered Mr. Li to post several notices in the city." Ask for a good prescription, if the prescription works, you will be rewarded with a lot of money." As he spoke, he glanced at the direction where the middle-aged man left, "The number of people who came to the garrison mansion to offer prescriptions in the past few days was an endless stream. I don’t know if the elder brother has found a suitable prescription…”
Fu Yunhe raised his eyebrows even higher, "You said it was the eldest brother who ordered the prescription?"
"That's right." Yu Xiufan nodded of course.
While talking, the three rode out of the house.
Fu Yunhe, who was riding at the forefront, was thoughtful, thinking with great interest: I don't know what kind of tricks the elder brother is playing again? Mrs. Lin's medical skills are extraordinary, and my eldest brother has a genius doctor by his side, so why do I need any prescriptions! … Uh-huh! Maybe there will be another good show to watch!
Thinking about it, Fu Yunhe couldn't wait any longer, clamped the horse's belly, and let the horse under his crotch run faster.
Yu Xiufan in the rear shouted while chasing, "Little Crane, you are still injured, please ride slower."
Three horses galloped through the street, and within the time of a cup of tea, they arrived at the wounded barracks.
Today's wounded barracks is very "lively", except for those soldiers who are not acclimatized, the wounded soldiers who were injured in the magic arm battalion that Fu Yunhe brought back this time also came here to seek medical treatment for them. The house was packed to the brim. Fortunately, none of the injuries were serious, so it was enough to bandage the wounds.
However, when Fu Yunhe saw so many people, he couldn't help but feel withdrawn, so he had two "yamen servants" beside him, and forced him to be escorted in.
The military doctors were already busy running around, and none of them touched the ground, wishing to give birth to three heads and six arms.
Among a group of tall and thick men, a slender girl in Tsing Yi stood out from the crowd. At this moment, that girl was squatting by a straw mat, focusing on bandaging the wound of a soldier with a wounded calf.
Fu Yunhe blinked, first surprised why Han Qixia was here, but then laughed again. Cousin Xia is now studying medicine with Mrs. Lin, if she is not here, where can she be!
Of course Yu Xiufan also saw Han Qixia, and tentatively said to Fu Yunhe: "Little Hezi, isn't this your cousin?"
As he said that, Yu Xiufan carefully observed Fu Yunhe's expression, and was extremely curious about Han Qixia's identity in his heart, like a bug scratching his heart. Since she is Fu Yunhe's cousin and the granddaughter of Mrs. Lin, the grandfather of Shi Zifei, this girl is not an ordinary person after all? Why do you practice medicine with old master Lin so casually? ... Wait a minute, so the concubine Shizi and the Fu family are still related by marriage
Thinking about it, Yu Xiufan looked at Chang Huaixi again, trying to find some sympathy from him, who knew that Chang Huaixi had an indifferent face and a pair of calm eyes.
Hey, Xiao Xizi is so boring. Yu Xiufan looked at Chang Huaixi with "sadness".
At this time, a tall and burly soldier walked by the three sons, and a thin soldier with a sallow complexion came over to greet him in the hall: "Old Xu, isn't your wrist healed? Why are you here again?"
The tall soldier named Lao Xu stretched out his right wrist which was wrapped with a few laps of white cloth confidently and said, "My sprain is not healed yet. The military doctors even asked me to change the dressing!"
"Why are you pretending!" The skinny soldier curled his lips disapprovingly, pushed his chin in Han Qixia's direction, and said in a low voice, "I think you want Miss Han to give you medicine?"
"Hehehe..." Lao Xu scratched his head and giggled a few times, without denying it.
The skinny soldier elbowed Old Xu, with an expression of "I can understand", and said: "Old Xu, you have a good eye. I also think Miss Han is good-looking, kind-hearted, and down-to-earth." These days, she comes to the wounded barracks to help every day, no matter how dirty or tired she is, she has no complaints. Although both her parents are dead and there is no brother to help her at home, according to my brother, this girl’s family is the best and the most real... "
The skinny soldier was still talking endlessly, and Fu Yunhe's entire face was almost dark when he heard it. His cousin is the eldest daughter of King Qi, and the blood of the clan, so there is no room for them to be picky!
"Cousin Xia!" Fu Yunhe didn't want to listen any more, he yelled as if nothing had happened, and walked towards Han Qixia briskly.
At this time, Han Qixia had just bandaged the wound on the wounded soldier's calf. When she heard a familiar male voice calling her, she hurriedly got up, followed the sound and looked at Fu Yunhe who was striding across the threshold, her face beamed with joy, and she shouted : "Cousin He, you are back."
For a moment, many wounded soldiers and several military doctors in the hall all looked at Fu Yunhe, including the old Xu and the skinny soldier who were talking just now. Most of these people knew Fu Yunhe, especially the soldiers of the God Arm Battalion, they all clasped their fists together and said, "Captain Fu!"
"You don't need to be too polite." Fu Yunhe waved his hand with a smile, his attitude was very casual and friendly.
The soldiers of the God Arm Battalion have also followed Fu Yunhe for a while, knowing that Captain Fu has an easy-going personality. When he is not on the battlefield on weekdays, ordinary soldiers like them can drink, laugh, and eat meat. This son of a family has a dignified look. After they saluted, they just chatted and healed their wounds on their own.
As for that old Xu and the skinny soldier, their expressions were a little awkward. Old Xu looked at Han Qixia strangely. Miss Han is Captain Fu's cousin? Then, in his own capacity, he might not be able to climb high... Thinking, he couldn't help but glance at Fu Yunhe again, feeling a little uneasy in his heart: I don't know if Captain Fu heard what he said just now.
Old Xu rubbed his hair in embarrassment, and wisely went to find another military doctor to change his medicine.
"Cousin He," Han Qixia walked towards Fu Yunhe, wanted to greet him, but saw the wound on his left arm, frowned and said, "Are you injured? Come here quickly! I'll help you treat the wound .”
Han Qixia turned around and went to get the medicine box again, beckoning Fu Yunhe to the side room next door, Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi also followed.
The ear room was quiet, and there were a lot of medicinal materials, medicine boxes, cotton cloths, medicine rollers and other tools in it. Obviously, this ear room has been temporarily requisitioned by military doctors recently.
"Brother He, please sit down first." Han Qixia pointed to a top chair by the window.
The side room is not big, and there were a lot of things there, but with the addition of four people, it seemed a bit crowded, so Yu Xiufan and Chang Huaixi simply stood by the door curtain.
"Miss Han, don't bother with us. Just hurry up and help Xiao Hezi apply the medicine, and we'll just wait here." Yu Xiufan said.
Han Qixia was not polite to them either, and got busy. She opened the medicine box and prepared cotton strips, water, scissors, acne medicine, etc., then walked to Fu Yunhe and quickly removed the white cloth that was stained dark red by blood for him.
The wound had already stopped bleeding, and some gold sore medicine was randomly smeared on it.
Han Qixia frowned slightly, skillfully and carefully helped him clean the wound...
Seeing her serious expression, Fu Yunhe couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, and he had nothing to say: "Cousin Xia, in fact, I only have some skin trauma, and the wound has scabbed over a long time ago. Brother insists on me coming to see the military doctor..."
Han Qixia raised her eyebrows, and said calmly: "Brother He, you didn't clean up the wound, so you just took the golden sore medicine?"
"..." Fu Yunhe choked for a moment.
"Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep." Han Qixia continued, "Why are you still the same as when you were a child? I remember that one year you and my second brother He Tian Sigongzi and the others sneaked out to play, and accidentally rolled down the hillside and were knocked down by a stone. I don’t even mention a big wound, and my cousin discovered it because I had a fever in the middle of the night... "
Fu Yunhe pretended to be silly and smiled: "Cousin Xia, don't bring up the old things."
Yu Xiufan silently sympathized with Fu Yunhe from the bottom of his heart, his sister who knows his dark history and can give an example at any time is really a troublesome person!