Changgeng's voice was low and muffled. Even if he pressed his lips against Changgeng's ear, Gu Yun could not hear him clearly. Puzzled, he tilted his head to look at Changgeng and asked, "What did you say?"
Changgeng's gaze swept past Gu Yun's eyes that were covered by the glass mirror. His strength was exhausted, and his blood was still boiling. It was so hot that his mouth was dry. For a moment, he wanted to hug Gu Yun in front of everyone and be intimate with him. However, when he looked around, he saw Master Liao Ran's face from afar. He suddenly laughed and realized that he had forgotten himself. He silently reflected for a moment and let go of Gu Yun's waist. He pulled Gu Yun's hand and calmed himself down with the weak but stable pulse, "It's nothing. I just saw the messenger heading north. Was it to send a memorial to the capital?"
"Yes," Gu Yun nodded. "This time, the imperial court has taken the initiative to send people to contact the foreigners. We have been passive before, but this time, we should have some confidence."
Changgeng asked, "You want to negotiate?"
"No," Gu Yun said faintly. "How can I allow others to sleep beside me? Besides, the debt of blood has not been paid. Jiangnan's fertile land is occupied by this group of beasts. It's disgusting even in my dreams."
Changgeng immediately reacted. "You plan to drag them out and swallow them up bit by bit."
On the one hand, he would release a peace signal to let the enemy, who was already powerless, feel lucky and leave them some leeway for internal consumption. On the other hand, he would occasionally make excessive demands and create small-scale regional disputes to slowly force the enemy's front line to retreat. At the same time, he would train the troops during the battle. When the time was right, the north was completely prepared, and the young Jiangbei navy was mature, then he would attack the south in one fell swoop.
Gu Yun grunted and allowed him to drag him by the wrist into the commander's tent. He reached out and wiped Changgeng's face. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, your face is smudged."
Changgeng's bones melted from his sudden tenderness. However, he immediately became alert. He felt that his gentle attitude was definitely not a good thing.
As expected, Gu Yun sat at the side and held Changgeng's hand. She squeezed it in her palm and rubbed it for a while before saying, "There's one more thing."
Changgeng raised one of his eyebrows and looked down at him expressionlessly.
Gu Yun held Changgeng's palm with one hand and covered the back of his hand with the other. She lowered her head and kissed his cracked fingertip. "I plan to drag them along and deal with the north first."
Changgeng asked, "You're going back to the northern border?"
Gu Yun nodded.
Changgeng: "When?"
Gu Yun: "… Very soon."
When Gu Yun said 'very soon', he basically meant that he would move out at any time according to the movements of the western enemy and the damage of the Jiangbei navy. If he felt that the situation of the Jiangbei encampment was still alright, he would leave that night. If there was a need for him to make adjustments, he would give the order overnight and leave early the next morning.
Changgeng asked, "What do we do after that? Run from both ends?"
Gu Yun did not say anything, which was a tacit agreement.
He suddenly felt very sorry for Changgeng. That year, on the way to the Western Regions, Gu Yun vowed to Chen Qingxu that even if Changgeng went crazy in the future, he would take care of him until the end. But recently, he was faintly worried that he would be powerless in the future. Gu Yun was not afraid of aging and dying. With General Chung's mourning hall by his side, almost all the elders around him, whether they were kind or malicious, and those who had taught him or harmed him, had left. He knew that no matter how unparalleled a hero was, he would not be able to escape such a fate. There was no need for people to compete with him. He was just afraid that he would not be able to protect this little lunatic forever and would instead create more trouble for him.
Gu Yun's implicit and deep apology made Changgeng feel at a loss for a moment. At first, he did not react, but after a long while, he realized that someone had opened a hole in his heart. His blood was flowing aimlessly everywhere, but it did not converge to a single place.
He could not suppress his heartache, so he could only force a smile.
"Okay," Changgeng said in a light and not overboard tone, "Don't worry and go. Did you see the blueprint I clipped in your clothes? It will be very fast. By the time you finish dealing with the barbarians, who knows, maybe my steam railcar will have been repaired. Do you believe me? "
Soon, he would be able to push Daliang into the world. Perhaps at that time, the Xuan Tie's Third Battalion would only need to guard the entrance of the Ancient Silk Road to maintain the order of trade, or they might as well collectively open up wastelands at the border. His Great General would be able to drink grape wine at the border or return to the capital to quarrel with the birds. He would be able to do everything at ease. There would be no need for him to rush about or be forced to do so.
Gu Yun said helplessly, "Why are you panting after just fighting a small battle? You should think about how to return to the Grand Council first."
Changgeng bent down, "If I succeed, how will you reward me?"
Gu Yun said generously, "What do you want?"
Changgeng thought for a while, then leaned close to Gu Yun and whispered something in his ear.
It was unknown what kind of shame His Royal Highness Yan Wang had secretly lost. As a half-deaf person, Gu Yun could not bear to listen anymore. He laughed and scolded, "Get lost."
His scolding happened to hit the face of Lord Yao, who came to report the situation after the battle. Yao Zhen was baffled, "Where does the Great General want this lowly official to get lost?"
Changgeng leisurely put his hands behind his back and straightened his back with an unfathomable look on his face. He stood like a noble and reserved famous flower.
However, when Gu Yun was focused on talking to Yao Zhen, he retracted his deliberately pretended complacent smile and his expression gradually became serious.
"I'm running out of time," Changgeng thought silently.
Gu Yun stayed until the next day. He accompanied Changgeng to burn incense for General Zhong Chan and ate a bowl of hot porridge that Yan Wang personally cooked in the commander's tent. As usual, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the green contents of the porridge and vaguely stated his ambition to "not let the sheep live". As usual, he was ignored. In order not to become a sheep, he could only swallow the porridge without chewing it.
Then, he set off for the northern border early in the morning the next day.
When Gu Yun arrived at the northern border, he was gratified to find that Shen Yi did not drop the ball. They really managed to defend the northern border against the crazy barbarians.
The crazier Calais Yinghou was, the closer the doomsday of the eighteen tribes was. As Gu Yun expected, after four to five days of fierce fighting, the barbarians' offensive clearly slowed down. One of the strongholds was overrun by General Cai who took advantage of the victory to chase after the barbarians. When he went in to take a look, he found that there were only some purple gold that had not been burned in time. The barbarians had already retreated.
Cao Chunhua gestured with his spittle flying everywhere, "Calais being able to take action means that the previous rebel forces have been eliminated or at least suppressed by him. However, he still has to fight and he still needs people. It's impossible for him to kill all the subordinates of the other major tribes. At most, he will punish a few of the leaders and kill one to warn the others. The rebel forces might be able to revive from the ashes."
Shen Yi said, "There needs to be an opportunity."
"That's right," Cao Chunhua said, "General Cai told me that a while ago, there were barbarians secretly exchanging purple gold for supplies. General Cai was careful at that time and secretly monitored the transactions. He recorded every transaction. Those who came frequently even left behind portraits. I went to take a look that day and really did see an acquaintance."
As he spoke, he took out a simple scroll painting from his sleeve and spread it out on the small table. He pointed at the portrait and said, "This person is a slave who is in charge of horses under Calais Yinghou's camp. I know this person. He is one of the Head Chief's people. Usually, when he has nothing to do, he uses the Head Chief's authority to abuse his power … I think that after many years of war, the people have not been able to make a living. Those who are dissatisfied with Calais Yinghou are not only the ambitious people of the eighteen tribes.
Gu Yun asked, "How confident are you?"
Cao Chunhua gave him a coquettish look and said with his tongue curled, "That depends on how much resources the Grand Marshal has prepared for me."
Gu Yun thought, "If this child had stayed by my side for a while when he was young, I would have beaten up all of his bad habits."
Out of sight, out of mind, he waved his hand and dismissed the delicate Cao Chunhua.
Before Shen Yi could ask about the specific plan of action, the bodyguard came to report that Chen Qingxu had arrived.
Gu Yun clicked his tongue in amazement as he watched Shen Yi, this fellow, go from staggering to sitting upright. His cheeks were taut as if he was facing a great enemy. He was not even this serious when he was facing the Emperor.
Chen Qingxu came to inform them that she planned to go with Cao Chunhua to explore the secret of Calais Firefly's goddess voodoo.
Shen Yi was anxious when he heard this. He hurriedly gave Gu Yun a look. Gu Yun looked at the sky and the ground, pretending that he did not know anything. After knowing each other for so many years, he knew a little about the Chen family's temperament. Miss Chen just came over to greet them out of courtesy, not to ask for advice.
Gu Yun could not be counted on at this critical moment. Shen Yi had no choice but to personally speak with his half-paralyzed mouth, "A divine doctor like Miss Chen is very precious. She shouldn't even come to the front line. Sneaking into the enemy's army is too childish. What if something happens again … Isn't that right, Grand Marshal?"
Gu Yun could only say, "En, yes, what Jiping said is reasonable."
Chen Qingxu said, "The reason I came north this time was to sneak into Calais Yinghou's commander's tent to find their lost voodoo secret. Wouldn't it be better if I can help a little while I'm at it? I know what I'm doing. Thank you for your concern, General. "
Gu Yun sighed, "I'm really sorry to trouble Miss Chen."
When he mentioned this, Chen Qingxu remembered that Changgeng's questioning letter was still on his table. He said with a pale face, "You don't have to, Grand Marshal. I'll occasionally mention my difficulties in front of His Royal Highness Yan Wang."
Shen Yi, "…"
Just now, he said that he was reasonable. Why was he 'troubling Miss Chen' now?
This bastard with the surname Gu could never be firm in his position!
Shen Yi tried to rack his brains to find all kinds of reasons. Danger in the enemy's camp?
With Miss Chen's skill and courage to break into the prison under heavy Beidaying guard, this reason was somewhat difficult to say.
Does the wounded barracks need you?
If Miss Chen was willing to stay and help, it was a favor. If she wasn't willing, it was reasonable. The wounded barracks had their own military doctors. Most of them simply and crudely bandaged and amputated limbs. It was also a disgrace to the Divine Doctor Chen.
Chen Qingxu wasn't a talkative person. When Shen Yi was at a loss for words, she felt that she had finished speaking. She cupped her hands and turned to leave.
"Miss Chen!" Shen Yi stood up in a panic and almost knocked over the table in front of him.
Gu Yun silently reached out to cover his face.
Shen Yi had a lot of words lined up in front of his chest. He was waiting to pour out his heart. Unexpectedly, when the words were about to come out of his mouth, he couldn't open the last gate. He could only block it all in his throat. In the end, he dryly spat out a sentence that was half bitter but not bitter, "Is Miss Chen doing this for Yan Wang?"
Gu Yun, "…"
Did he think that he was dead?
As soon as Shen Yi said that, he wished he could slap his own mouth. It was too inhumane.
Fortunately, Chen Qingxu didn't like to think too much. She just replied seriously, "Since Yan Wang holds my Linyuan wooden tablet and has a high position and power, it is my responsibility to get rid of Wu 'er Gu for him. Moreover, the voodoo secret of the 18 tribes has no contact with the Central Plains. There are many strange poisons that can't be found. There are very few ways to cure diseases and save people. Since I have this kind of opportunity, I have to try my best. Even if there are some things that can be passed down in the future, it won't be a waste of effort."
When Shen Yi heard this, he felt a chill in his heart. He, who only thought about his wife and children all day long, and this Miss Chen, who cared about the future generations, was as far apart as the distance between the capital and the northern border.
The family style passed down by his father, who retired early and only knew how to play, and the Chen family, who had lived in seclusion for generations and guarded the Linyuan wooden tablet, were as far apart as the West from Daliang.
Even the Black Eagle, which was emitting white smoke all the way, couldn't fly over!
Shen Yi looked at her pale face and had nothing to say. Therefore, he took out a small signal flare from his arms and handed it to Chen Qingxu, "This was recently sent by the Lingshu Temple. It doesn't need to be lit with an open flame. Just throw it into the air. As long as it is high enough, it will spontaneously combust in the air. It can be seen from a hundred miles away. If something happens … I … you …"
This incoherent manner of speech made Gu Yun feel a toothache when he heard it.
Chen Qingxu's hand was stuffed with a small signal flare with body temperature. No matter how careless she was, she also felt something at this time. She looked at Shen Yi with an indescribable gaze.
Shen Yi couldn't help but look at her. He quickly dug a hole and buried himself. He hurriedly found an excuse to bid farewell to Gu Yun and ran away.
Chen Qingxu, "…"
Gu Yun slowly stood up and said to Chen Qingxu seriously, "If the barbarians have any strange movements, don't force yourself. Send out a signal and we will immediately send someone to support you. Pay attention to your safety … When you return in triumph, ask Shen Jiping to sing a song."
Chen Qingxu nodded when she heard the first half of the sentence. The more she listened, the more she felt something was wrong, "What song?"
The frivolous Gu Shuai smiled and said, "Yue Ren Song."
That night, Chen Qingxu and Cao Chunhua crossed the line of defense of Bei Man, who was absent-minded, and quietly entered the core of the eighteen tribes.
Although it was called the "core", it was actually just a lively tribal settlement. Except for the occasional murderous barbarian warriors, most of the civilians by the roadside were in ragged clothes.
Children who had starved to death were lying on the roadside. Women with dull faces who were coveted by wild dogs looked around for a moment. Then, they accepted their fate and got up to leave like zombies.
In the middle of the magnificent noble's tent, there were heavily armored wizards patrolling. Goshawks and eagle armor circled in the sky together. The smell of rotting corpses and blood filled the air … There was a subtle fragrance of purple gold mixed in the air.
Under the banner of Wolf King in the middle, a man with a medium build walked into the Wolf King's residence with a bowl of medicine. The guards on both sides greeted him respectfully in unison, "Chief Steward." The Chief Steward didn't even lift his eyelids and replied with a "Hmm". He walked into the Wolf King's tent with the medicine.
A haggard young man came out and took the bowl of medicine, "Let me do it."
The Chief Steward looked at his expression and asked, "Prince, how is my king today?"
"Same as usual." The prince shook his head and entered the tent with him.
The thick blanket was separated to two sides, revealing a ray of sunlight. Under the sunlight, there was a wheelchair with a golden box. On the wheelchair sat a tall "skeleton". Hearing the noise, the skeleton slowly turned the wheelchair to face the newcomer and opened his eyes a little.
His eyes were not cloudy yet. They were surprisingly bright, and all of his energy was concentrated in these fierce eyes.
It was Calais Yinghou himself.
Before the New Year, Wolf King Calais Yinghou had a serious illness. He suddenly had a stroke and fell into a coma. After waking up, he couldn't even speak clearly and was bedridden for a while. Several tribal leaders of the Eighteen Tribal Alliance thought that he was done for, so they joined forces to launch a coup. They put Wolf King's son under house arrest and pushed the cowardly second prince to the throne. They were busy trying to curry favor with Daliang and sent people to negotiate.
But who would have thought that Wolf King, whose personal bodyguard captain had "betrayed", was still able to make a comeback. First, he secretly ordered his bodyguard captain to sneak into the peace delegation and cause a change in Daliang's northern border. No one knew that he still had a batch of heavy armor sent by the foreigners as a trump card. While the tribal leaders were busy dealing with Daliang, he secretly raised money and took down the rebels in one fell swoop. He washed the Alliance Wolf King's banner with blood and then gathered 100,000 pounds of purple gold to counterattack Daliang.
The Chief Steward lowered his head and didn't dare to look at him. He respectfully listened to the conversation between Calais Yinghou and the prince. This man was too scary. Every strand of his hair reeked of blood.
Suddenly, Calais threw the bowl of medicine in his hand at the prince's face, "Trash!"
The Chief Steward trembled.
The prince cautiously said, "Father, the supplies are really not enough. This year, more than half of the elderly and children in the tribes have starved to death. There are corpses everywhere that couldn't be cleaned up in time …"
Calais roared, "Useless thing. If you don't have enough purple gold, go dig more. If you don't have enough supplies, go rob the Central Plains! If you don't have enough, ask those nobles to donate! "
His tongue was still not good enough, so the words that came out of his mouth were stiff and unclear. The prince said with red eyes, "Father, we can't get past the Black Iron Battalion at the Central Plains. The nobles can't donate anything anymore. They …"
His words were once again interrupted by Calais Yinghou's angry scolding. The news that the Western Navy had started a war with Daliang in the south had already spread. However, the news was still blocked. The navy's sneak attack failed and they were still on their way back. Calais Yinghou firmly believed that after the north and south were surrounded, it was only a matter of time before they could advance rapidly.
He was indeed still fierce, but he was afraid that he had gone a little crazy.
The Chief Steward watched as Wolf King beat and scolded the prince. He sat on the ground and was hit with a cup. A bruise appeared on his forehead. Only then did he silently leave and go straight to his tent. Several of the nobles in the tribe and the distinguished guests of the Central Plains were waiting for his news.
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