The time entered the end of September, it is the time of autumn high horse fat, the sky is high and the clouds are light, the wind is refreshing, and the grass on the vast grassland has begun to bring a hint of yellow, this is a harvest season, Zhuang Yi can be regarded as making a lot of money, is sharpening his knife Huo Huo, actively preparing for war, and intends to seek a foothold in this troubled world.

It is not an easy task to prepare for an expedition, and the weight of grain, grass, weapons, and baggage must be prepared after detailed calculations. In Zhuang Yi's case, he must have at least a month's dry food, otherwise the three or four thousand soldiers under his command will starve after the war, and there will be a large number of horse fodder for war horses, which is a large amount. If it weren't for the conclusion of negotiations with the Khitans, the acquisition of a large number of cattle and sheep for the redemption of prisoners of war, and the recovery of the vast pastures north of the Benniu Plain, Tules would never have paid.

In order to facilitate Zhang Yitai to bring back the prisoners of war smoothly when he arrived, Zhuang Yi had another deep talk with Bao En and Xiao Deer. Xiao Deer resolutely refused to agree, if more than 20,000 people were reduced, the population of his tribe would be reduced by a small half, but he also knew that Zhuang Yi talked to him to give him face, otherwise if he used force, he would be helpless. After some bargaining, he promised to deliver 20,000 people to Zhuang Yi, and the remaining 4,000 people were covered with cattle, sheep and horses.

In fact, Zhuang Yi really wanted to recruit Xiao Deer, this short and sturdy grassland man was extraordinary, but the situation made them fall into this situation. But before the mountains and rivers were exhausted, Turus gave him another foothold, and Xiao Del naturally turned a blind eye to Zhuang Yi's flattery.

After the end of the war, peace returned to the grasslands of Shanbei, and at least for a long time to come, there will be no more fighting. So Turus gathered his men again, and Zhang Yitai presided over the continuation of the construction of the royal city, and planned to complete it before the winter.

Zhuang Yi was about to set out on the expedition, so he led 3,000 soldiers to garrison the camp in the southwest of Wangcheng, waiting for the grain and grass materials to be transferred in place. At the same time, the most important thing in the training of these Xi soldiers is to do a good job in their ideological work, and those who are unwilling to leave the grassland can of course leave immediately, provided that there must be someone to replace them.

Of course, Zhuang Yi can't explain this matter of borrowing troops too clearly to the soldiers, otherwise it will be difficult to handle at that time. After more than ten days, the morale of the army gradually stabilized, and no one asked to leave.

Zhuang Yi re-registered the 3,000 soldiers, which are currently organized into six battalions, and there is no establishment of 1,000 soldiers for the time being. Because according to the era, the establishment is the wing, the army, the command and the capital, the establishment is large and crude, which is a bit unreasonable, Zhuang Yi has not yet figured out what kind of establishment is more appropriate, so he simply acts, fortunately, there is no big problem.

These six battalions were also temporarily established, and the two elite battalions were temporarily led by Nerigo and Xiayue, who were superb in cavalry and archery, and had the most prestige in the army, and Shi Dazhong, Yila, Punu, and Meitu each led a battalion, and the deputy and the officers under them were temporarily selected by themselves to report for registration, and they were temporarily organized.

It was September 21, and before dawn, Zhuang Yi hurriedly got up, took Bian Wu and other guards to go out with torches, gathered a group of officers to prepare for the pull, and assembled the soldiers to do a good job of mobilization before the battle. After doing this, he went to the royal city with his guards to bid farewell to Turus, and of course to meet Alan.

Zhuang Yi galloped all the way to the tooth tent of Turest, and after seeing the Turles couple, he had nothing to say, he had already made it clear before what he should have said, and Turus only encouraged him a few words, and then asked him to go to see Alan.

When they arrived at Alan's camp, they saw five wagons parked there, and a dozen soldiers were moving large wooden boxes out of the large tent with miscellaneous items, and loading them onto the wagons. Mei Xiang was standing next to the command, and checked one by one, and found that there was no stable one, and immediately called the soldiers to come and tie the cowhide rope again.

"Little Meixiang! Long time no see! Are you going south with me this time? Zhuang Yi stepped forward and said with a smile.

"I won't go with you......" Mei Xiang couldn't help pouting and smiling when she saw Zhuang Yi coming, and said, "Master Yangguang has just come!" It's also a farewell to the princess, and it's in the tent...... I'll take you! ”

Zhuang Yi smiled and nodded, and entered Ailan's big tent with Mei Xiang, and sure enough, he saw Monk Yangguang sitting in the tent with his disciple Yanwu, and Ailan was sitting opposite them, stretching out his wrist and laying it flat, and Monk Yangguang stretched out his hand and pressed it on his wrist to cut the pulse.

"Master Yangguang is also here, so I don't have to go to you!" Zhuang Yi stepped forward and sat down beside Ailan, and said with a smile.

Monk Yangguang just nodded, and said with a smile after a while: "The princess's veins are sleek and powerful, like beads rolling on a jade plate, which is really gratifying, but whether it is a man or a woman, the poor monk can't be sure." ”

Zhuang Yi couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, held Ailan's hand and smiled: "I said it all, I like it whether it's a man or a woman, how do you think it......"

"The princess has also seen Zhang Langzhong......" Yan Wu said with a smile on the side, and a pair of eyes were bent into crescent moons.

"Yan Wu...... I want you little to be talkative! Alan couldn't help laughing, but there was no hint of anger and reproach in his eyes.

Yan Wu was completely familiar with her at this time, and he was not afraid of her at all, but stuck out his tongue at her, and immediately hid behind the master.

"Is Master Yangguang also ready to leave today? Is it going back to Youzhou? Zhuang Yi asked.

"The poor monk has been out for more than a year, and the matter here is over, it's time to go back to Weizhou!" Monk Yangguang replied.

"Weizhou? Where exactly? ”

"Weizhou is just west of Fanyang, and the abbot of Chongshan Temple in Dafang Mountain, which is adjacent to Yizhou, is a poor monk! If Zhuang Langjun has time to come to Youzhou in the future, he may wish to come to Chongshan Temple for a visit, and if he can donate some incense money, it would be the best! Monk Yangguang quipped.

"Why do you need to go back to Weizhou, why don't you go to Yingzhou later, and then I will build you another big temple, wouldn't it be better?" Zhuang Yi said with a smile.

"It's not right...... The poor monk has to go back to Weizhou, and his heart is moving, but he misses it tightly! In the spring of next year, I will come to Yingzhou to see, it is a place of chaos, I hope you can remember my Buddha in your heart, and be compassionate! Monk Yangguang said babblingly.

"That's good! I'll be waiting for you to come at the beginning of spring next year! Zhuang Yi said with a smile.

Monk Yangguang got up and made a noise of the Buddha's name, and then went out of the tent by himself, Yan Wu didn't know when he stepped forward to sit next to Ailan, the two were muttering something in a low voice, and then saw that the master had left first, so he also got up to say goodbye to Ailan, and there was some reluctance between his expressions.

There were no outsiders in the tent, Ailan got up and threw himself into Zhuang Yi's arms, and the two hugged each other silently, and they were speechless for a while.

After a while, Ailan whispered softly: "Let Mei Xiang and the four of them go with you, and take care of you!" What else is left undone for you? Think about it......"

"It looks like it's gone...... Just wait for Yingzhou, I will send someone, before winter at the latest, wait for me to marry you! ”

"Hmm...... It's not too early! I'll give you a ride! Alan looked up and said.