Zhang Xun seemed to want to say something very important, but when the words came to his lips, he wanted to stop talking, "Forget it, it's nothing ......"

"What's wrong? What's up? ”

"I didn't ...... It's okay......"

Gong Wanran could see that Zhang Xun was preoccupied, but Zhang Xun obviously didn't want to say any more, and Gong Huiran couldn't continue to ask, so he could only nod and say, "It's okay." ”

"That'...... Brother Gonghui, I'm leaving. ”

"Okay, I'll send you."

"No, no, no." Zhang Xun hurriedly shook his head, "Brother Gonghui, please stay, it's cold outside." ”

"It's good ......"

Zhang Xun said goodbye to Gong Wanran and left the courtyard, he did not go back to the general's mansion, but stepped on a fast horse and galloped towards the outskirts of the city alone.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xun had already left Gusu City far away, and the surrounding white expanse had long been deserted. He skirted a hill and through a grove of trees to a pool of water, which had formed a thin layer of ice covered with white snowflakes.

There are several huts by the lake, with more than a dozen horses tied to the outside of the huts, and the light of the fire shines through the windows, and the smoke of firewood drifts into the sky from the chimneys, making people feel a touch of warmth.

Zhang Xun pushed open the firewood door and walked into the thatched hut, only to see fifteen or sixteen people in the house roasting the fire. When everyone saw Zhang Xun, they immediately got up and saluted, and one of them was Yu Ke, who stepped forward and said, "General, the brothers are ready, just waiting for your order to set off." ”

Zhang Xun nodded and said to everyone: "Very good, brothers, drink some warm wine, check the equipment one last time, and let's set off." ”

"Whoa!" The crowd responded in unison.

Yu Ke led Zhang Xun to sit down by the fire, handed over a bowl of hot wine, and said, "General, it's cold, you can drink a little too." ”

Well, Zhang Xun nodded, and then drank all the hot wine in the bowl in one go, and suddenly felt a burst of warmth.

Yu Ke hurriedly filled Zhang Xun and asked, "General, this place is really remote and inaccessible, and none of us who were born and raised in Gusu have ever been here, how do you know how many houses there are here?" ”

Zhang Xun smiled, "Because these huts were built by me and a friend." ”

"Oh, I see." Yu Ke suddenly realized, and then exclaimed: "This place is really good, and after winter, the scenery must be great." ”

"Yes, great......" Zhang Xun walked to the window, pushed open the window and looked at the frozen lake outside, a small boat was motionless, frozen in the center of the lake, Zhang Xun sighed: "What a beautiful view, it's a pity that we have never had time to appreciate the ......"

At this time, everyone packed up their equipment and stepped forward to report to Zhang Xun together, Zhang Xun nodded and said to everyone: "Brothers, go!" ”

"Whoa!"

At the same time, in the workshop on the western outskirts of Huiji City, the craftsmen were shirtless and were in full swing. Several strong men shouted in unison, and worked together to pour a pot of molten iron into the stone trough. A snowflake drifted into the workshop, and before it could touch the red molten iron, it turned into a trace of steam.

Ji Zheng looked outside, and the white snow scene distorted above the molten iron, like an ethereal mirage on the sea.

"General, this batch of iron swords can be built a few years ago, we have improved the technology, this batch is not only sharper, lighter, but also cheaper!" Qu Fu pointed to the molten iron in the stone trough and introduced with a proud face.

Ji Zheng nodded and asked, "How much does it cost now?" ”

"A tael of gold is enough to make six."

"Qu Fu, don't think too much about the cost, the king said, no matter what, the whole army must be equipped with new iron weapons."

Qu Fu nodded and said: "The king is long-term and informal, but as a courtier, he has to be careful in his calculations. The lower the cost of forging iron swords for us, the more we will be able to increase the combat effectiveness of the whole army. ”

"Well, what's the capacity now?"

"Our craft has matured and we can now craft three thousand iron swords a month."

"Very good, in that case, by the end of next year, the entire army of 80,000 soldiers will be equipped with iron weapons."

"Yes, General, at that time, the combat effectiveness of our army will not be the same."

"Hmm." Ji Zheng looked around, the prosperity in front of him was the result of Qu Fu's long-term persistence, thinking that many years ago in order to give him medicine, Qu Fu waited on the cliff of the valley cloud stream for a night, he sincerely admired Qu Fu's loyalty and conscientiousness, "Qu Fu, you have done a good job, you have worked hard." ”

Qu Fu hurriedly saluted and said, "Thank you General, Qu Fu will definitely redouble his efforts." ”

Ji Zheng coughed, and then said to the craftsmen in the workshop: "You have worked hard, I will arrange someone to treat you tomorrow." ”

All the craftsmen raised their eyebrows and said in unison: "Thank you, General!" ”

Ji Zheng nodded, then turned to leave, and Qu Fu followed Ji Zheng to send him outside the workshop. At this time, Qu Fu whispered: "General, I found a person in the lower general." ”

Ji Zheng was puzzled, "Alone? What do you mean? When did I ask you to help me find someone? ”

Qu Fu didn't answer, just turned around and clapped his hands behind him.

At this moment, a man in a black cloak walked around from the back of the workshop, the man lowered his head, couldn't see his face at all, and walked slowly towards Ji Zheng by stepping on the snow.

It was a woman, her steps were so light, her graceful posture gently stepping on the snow. Snowflakes fell on the pure black cloak, as if countless stars were dotted in the dark night sky, and the galaxy wrapped her body lightly, closer and closer, closer and closer. Ji Zheng felt that his heart was beating faster and faster, because under that starry sky, he seemed to see his long-lost dream.

She walked up to Ji Zheng and finally took off her cloak, and Ji Zheng's heartbeat seemed to stop suddenly, and the whole world fell into boundless vanity.

Ji Zheng once imagined the future with Hana, and they wanted to find a deserted place, where there was a pool of clear mirror-like lake, clouds and smoke on the distant mountains, and purple mist lingering among the bamboo forests. Build a hut by the lake, plant Hana's favorite daisies next to it, and then set up a small boat on the lake, and row quietly until the end of the years.

However, everything dissipated in an instant, and the dreamy forest flower beds and mirrored water thatched huts turned into the cruelest purgatory in his painful nightmares.

In the past five years, Ji Zheng no longer dared to delusion about the pictures in those dreams, and he no longer dared to miss the warmth of those fragments, only at the moment of departure, he would pray to turn back time.

If he could see Hana again, he would be willing to pay any price!

"Hah...... Hana ......" The corners of Ji Zheng's mouth trembled, and he whispered Hana's name.

With a happy smile on his face, endless joy in his heart, blood surging all around him, and even the cold wind turned into the warmth of spring, he couldn't help but take a step forward, wanting to grab those hands that only appear in dreams. However, at this moment, he heard a respectful honorific title.

"General."

The woman saluted respectfully to Ji Zhengbi. Ji Zheng's heart trembled, and suddenly plummeted, and the beautiful illusion was shattered in an instant, turning into a cruel reality.

No, no, no, this is not Hana, this is not Hana! My Hanna has never called me that and never will! My Hana has long since turned to dust, how can it appear in front of my eyes!

No, it's not Hana!

Ji Zheng's breathing became more and more rapid, and he even felt a dizziness in the sky, he hurriedly turned around, but almost fell into the snow nest, staggered a step, and left in a hurry as if he was running away.

In the evening, however, it was already completely dark, and the sky was once again covered with goose feather snow. In the city of Gusu, every household lit up the lamp and lit the smoke.

Gong Hui walked into an alley, and at the end of the alley there was a man curled up in a ball, who was skinny and skinny, and lay motionless in the snow. Gong Wanran hurriedly stepped forward to help the man up, but found that the person had already frozen to death, Gong Wanran shook his head helplessly, put down the body and continued to walk forward.

Passing through the streets, he saw several men sitting on the side of the road, ragged and penniless, moaning and begging, waiting for a bite of food or death.

Gong Hui gave the only money he had to the beggars, but it was only enough for them to eat for a few days, and the weather was so cold that they might not be able to carry it.

Passing through an alley again, the street scene is brightly lit, and the lights are everywhere, beaming with joy and peace. Gong Wanran continued to walk for a short time, and then came to the most palatial mansion on this avenue, Dazaifu.

Gong Hui Ran was just about to come forward to report, a little old man happened to pass by in front of the door, he saw Gong Hui Ran hurriedly greeted him, his face was full of smiles, and he saluted with a smile: "Lord Gong Hui, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

Gong Wanran saluted the little old man, "Old Han, long time no see." ”

Han Ledger hurriedly went to help Gong Huiran, and muttered in his mouth: "Oh, how can Lord Gong Hui salute me as a subordinate, come on, come on, please come in quickly, Dazai-sama has been waiting for Gonghui Lord all the time." ”

"Oh, then please ask Han Lao to take me to meet Dazai-sama."

"Please, Lord Gonghui, please."

Han took the public to the main hall, only to see the drums and singing in the hall, and the dancers dancing, so happy. Bo Yao sat on the main seat, drinking wine, while enjoying the song and dance, several tables were full of exquisite food, and a suckling pig in the middle was even more tender and delicious.

Bo Yao grabbed a piece of pork leg, just ate two bites, and just saw the dancers jumping to the emotional place, so he casually threw the pork leg aside, rolled up his sleeves and applauded and laughed: "Haha, good, good dance!" Reward! ”

The dancers saluted and thanked them.

Taking advantage of this moment, Han Ledger hurriedly stepped forward to report, and Bo Yao saw Gong Huiran, so he nodded to Gong Huiran and motioned for him to sit down on the side.

After bowing to Bo Yao, he took his seat in the second place.

"Come on, serve the food to Lord Gonghui."

Bo Yao shouted at the subordinates, and not long after, a table of delicacies was put on the table, and there was also a suckling pig in the middle. Gong Wanran looked at the table of delicacies, but frowned slightly, he had no appetite at all, and even felt a little disgusted.