Just after the New Year's Festival, the west of the Zhou Dynasty had begun to actively prepare for war. There are merchants in Tokyo who come and go to Guanzhong, and they talk about the states that are successively transferring grain to Fengxiang; At the beginning of February, some scholars from Qinzhou rushed to Tokyo thousands of miles away and wrote to the emperor requesting that troops be sent to recover Qinzhou and save the people from fire and water.

Concerned about the suffering of the people in his homeland, the emperor accepted the request of the scholars of Qinzhou and decided to transfer troops to the west.

In mid-February, the emperor accepted the recommendation of Wang Pu and other prime ministers and appointed four people. with Wang Jing as the main general of the Western Expedition; Xiang Xun led the Zhen'an elite soldiers, and Guo Shao led the 12 commanders of the guard division, which was divided into deputy generals; The guest province made Zan Jurun from the expedition, the main diplomacy.

Wang Jing waited in Fengxiang, Xiang Xian soldiers out of Zhen'an, Guo Shao and the provincial envoy led the forbidden army out of Tokyo, and the people from all walks of life gathered in Fengxiang. The next day, Guo Shao went to the Guards Division and received an order from the Privy Council: he would go on the expedition in five days.

The commander of the Guards Department commanded Li Chongjin and Du Yuhou Shi Yanchao to personally meet with Guo Shao and the generals of the Hujie Army at the official office, and the commanders of the First Army and the Second Army of the Hujie Army on the left side of the Hujie Army and Du Yuhou and others verified the Privy Council's troop transfer order on the spot, and then returned to the barracks to understand the whole army...... As always, the middle and lower ranks only need to do what they are told; The above generals confirmed that the transfer of troops was true, and if something went wrong, they would not be able to get out of it.

Guo Shao went home first as usual, informing Li Chuyun to come to the rendezvous, and preparing the things he accompanied him. Yulian helped him pack his clothes and living utensils, and he only chose the weapons and armor to bring. One short dagger, two melee obstacle knives, and three bows of different strengths, Guo Shao did not make good use of long weapons, so he did not bring them with him; Last time, the inner sanctum was given a brand new armor of ring lock armor, which he was going to wear when he went on the expedition, and he was also going to bring a pair of breastplate armor...... The swords and arrows on the battle formation are not long-sighted, and it is worth wearing two layers of tired points.

Jing Niang asked to follow again, Guo Shao was reluctant to take the woman in the army, but she said that she knew some Taoist people in Shu, Guo Shao thought about it and no longer objected.

At that moment, the blacksmith came in and reported, "Someone outside the door asked to see her, and it was a woman who brought this thing in." ”

Guo Shao took it, curiously unfolded the rolled paper and saw that it was a six- or seven-inch piece of paper, with two words written on it, Guo Shao still recognized it as an ancient version of semi-literacy: Li. He said casually: "This is called a famous post, a door." "Guo Shao really received this thing for the first time, Zuo You and other people who often come to the door knock on the door, and they don't pay attention to these things at all.

Hearing that the yellow blacksmith said that it was a woman, Guo Shao suddenly guessed that it was probably Li Shiyun's daughter Li.

Guo Shao paced two steps, remembering Li Niangzi's words when she was in Fengxiang: I haven't seen you for thirty-two days, like thirty-two years...... The little lady was affectionate, and she was Li Chuyun's daughter, Guo Shao felt that she should meet her, so she could say something to make her feel relieved.

He was about to ask the yellow blacksmith to invite Mrs. Li in, and thought that it would not be good to let an unmarried woman enter the door alone, so he stuffed the paper in his hand into his pocket, turned around and went out.

Guo Shao walked out of the gate and saw a carriage leaning on the side of the street, a groom sitting in front of him, and a maid standing outside. Guo Shao recognized the maid and confirmed that the person who came was Li Chuyun's daughter, so he stepped forward alone and said, "But Mrs. Li is visiting?" ”

A crisp voice inside said, "Let's talk in a different place." ”

"There was a shop on the street where I had dinner. This will not be the time to eat, the upstairs must be quiet, how about drinking tea and eating some snacks in the upper shop? Guo Shao said.

Li's voice said: "Listen to Guo Du's arrangement." ”

So Guo Shao walked slowly to the street with the carriage, not far anyway. They walked to the door of the wine shop, Guo Shao touched the bag, took out a whole string of money and handed it to the maid: "You can buy what you want to eat." ”

The maid smiled with joy on her face, nodded and did not speak. Xiao Er in the store was lying on the table lazily resting, found that there was a customer, and when he raised his head, he couldn't help but look at Li twice, the woman at this time was still relatively free, Li was good-looking, but it didn't make people feel strange.

Guo Shao and Li found a place to sit down and asked for two teas, one fried almonds and one glutinous rice dim sum.

Li Shi lowered his head and didn't speak, and his hand pinched the corner of his clothes, which affected Guo Shao and made him feel a little nervous inexplicably. He had never been in love in his previous life, he had no time and no extra money, that kind of experience only came from Yulian, his mind was blank for a while, and he didn't know what to say, and the cold atmosphere suddenly became slightly embarrassing.

At this moment, Guo Shao is not as good as Li, but Li took the initiative to speak, and said embarrassedly: "I sewed two pairs of insoles, one for my father and one for you; When the warrior wears the armor, the body is heavy, and the insole should be soft and strong, and ordinary people will not sew such ...... When I heard that you were going on an expedition, I hurried to give it to you. With that, she took out a beautiful peach-colored silk bag.

Guo Shao was stunned, not knowing what it was like in his heart.

Li Shi said again: "Since Guo Duzhi has seen me, I don't want to take the initiative to look for you again...... I feel so humbled in front of you, and to do so will make you look down on you; But after all, this pair of insoles took a lot of work. ”

"No, no." Guo Shao touched his forehead, and hurriedly said, "I'm not saying that there is no effort, but that there is no contempt or anything like that, I think it's ......."

Li Shi listened to him before he finished speaking, and couldn't help but ask, "What do you think?" ”

Guo Shao was in a hurry, fidgeting for a while, dressed in sophisticated clothes, and said kindly: "Guo heard that Mrs. Li is quite famous in Pizhou and other places, and there are countless admirers...... I just happened to memorize a song in the Li Mansion and asked you to see it by chance; After that, you and I were masked only two or three times, and after a few faces, the lady probably didn't know what kind of person I was, and most of them relied on their own imagination. When a person has a good impression, of course he will think of everything as good. Some things are just illusions. ”

"Hallucinations?" Li Shi frowned and thought for a moment, "What does Guo Duzhi mean by saying these words, is he telling me not to pester you anymore?" ”

Guo Shao hurriedly said carefully: "That's not the intention, in fact, it's too late for me to be happy...... What man is not complacent in the center by a beautiful lady? ”

Lee's face was confused.

Guo Shao felt that he had said a bunch of useless, turned his head and found that the branches of the light tree outside the window were full of flower buds, so he said: "Spring is coming, ancient poets often used things such as falling flowers and flowing water to depict such affection, which came and went quickly. Keep the memories, and it will feel good to think about them occasionally in the future; If you are not careful, you will destroy everything that is too fragile. ”

Li Shi followed his gaze to look at the branches, muttering "falling flowers, flowing water", as if he was seriously thinking about Guo Shao's words. After a while, she became inexplicably angry: "How can it be so fragile!" Come quickly, go quickly, do you want to say that I am a woman with watery poplars? ”

Guo Shao was stunned.

Li pushed the beautiful silk bag on the table over, and said angrily, "Take it!" Wait, I'll show you what kind of person I am. ”

Guo Shao hurriedly said: "Wait! ”

"When?" Li looked at him with wide eyes. Guo Shao seemed a little embarrassed, and after a pause, he said: "It's not that I don't want to accept your affection, and it's not that I don't think you're good." It's just that I can't make decisions about my marriage for the time being, can I accept your love, and I will finally abandon it? It would be better to refrain from the beginning. Please forgive Mrs. Li. ”

…… Li Niangzi returned to her residence in Tokyo and was told by her mother, but she usually listened to her father Li Chuyun, but she was not afraid of her mother. But Li Chuyun was also busy preparing for the expedition, and he didn't have the heart to take care of his daughter.

Mrs. Li finally asked her father after dinner: "Does Guo Duzhi have parents alive?" ”

Li Chuyun pondered for a while and said, "No." What are you still thinking about that? Last time, your Uncle Luo had already mentioned that matter, since Guo Duzhi had no thoughts, could we still be strong? ”

Mrs. Li muttered after hearing this: "My parents are gone, I can't make the decision when I say anything......

Li Chuyun stroked his beard and wondered, "Have you been to Guo Du's envoy?" What can't be deceived? Seeing that her daughter's face was slightly red, and she didn't answer angrily, Li Chuyun suddenly stood up and paced back and forth.

The little lady was very familiar with her father's habits, and when she saw this, she casually asked, "What does Dad think is strange?" ”

Li Chuyun pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Last time you mentioned Uncle Luo, Guo Duenvoy not only has a relationship with the prime minister in Tokyo, but also the queen's person...... Are you sure that Guo Duling personally said that he can't make decisions about marriage? ”

The little lady frowned, nodded and said, "He said it himself." ”

Li Chuyun suddenly lowered his face, and said with a straight face: "You are not allowed to go to Guo Du in the future!" ”

Her father was very fond of her, not to mention that she was also obedient and well-behaved, and when she saw that her father's face was very uncommon at this time, she was startled: "What makes my father want to teach me such a lesson?" ”

Li Chuyun seemed to be impatient, and said with his sleeves brushed: "Don't worry about the elders, children, just listen to your father!" What you think in your heart, I know at a glance that you must not go out to entangle and practice in the future! Suddenly, the little lady's eyes were full of tears of grievance, and Li Chuyun realized that his words were serious, and he hurriedly breathed a sigh of relief: "Dad is also guessing, if Guo Duzhi is really the nobleman's confidant, the nobleman may make the decision for him and marry in the future." What is our Li family going to do together? ”

Seeing that Li Xiaoniang couldn't help crying, Li Chuyun was a little upset, and said, "Looking for you to cry, I still have a lot to consider." ”

……

The people of Tokyo made some preparations, and in late February, the army left Beijing. The provincial envoy Zan Jurun also traveled west with Guo Shao.

Guo Shao rode on a horse, turned her head to look at Yulian in the crowd, she took Dong Sanmei and a few female Taoist priests, and followed the army on the side of the street, and did not take her eyes off Guo Shao for a moment. The reluctance made Guo Shao feel a little uncomfortable. Last year, it was probably this time, and this year it is.

But Guo Shao doesn't think there's anything wrong with him. He remembered his childhood, when his parents went out to work and could only come home once a year.