Chapter Forty-Eight: War Horses
After returning from Wuji Mountain, the soldiers all went to bed early, and Shanhaiguan entered the quietest night in months.
Zhu Qing didn't fall asleep, he put on his cloak, walked out of the room, and came to the horse fang. He counted the horses, and he saw two stables dealing with the wounded horses that had just returned from the battle today.
Zhu Qing walked over and asked, "How many horses do we have in total?" ”
"Lord Qiyu, including your Feilu, we now have five hundred horses!" A stableman replied.
"Do we have less horses of our own?" Zhu Qing asked, the reason why he cared about this was because the horses brought by Jin Yiwei himself were all good horses that had been carefully selected and trained by Jin Yiwei himself.
"A hundred, not less, but a few have some injuries, but it's not a big deal, let's deal with it, but the horseshoe is a problem!" The stables replied.
Zhu Qing nodded, muttering to himself, "So, General Zu sent four hundred war horses......" Zhu Qing fell into deep thought for a while, and he walked towards Feilu while thinking.
The four hundred war horses were given by Zu Dashou, not Zu Dashou's generosity, it was really the horse that died and no one rode it, so he simply made a favor and repaid the rescue of the Shanhaiguan defenders.
Zhu Qing walked up to Fei Lu, he couldn't help but touch the horse's face and comb his mane. Then he shook his head, smiled bitterly, and pulled Fei Lu out.
"My lord, ...... are you?" Seeing Zhu Qing taking Fei Lu away, the horse herd asked suspiciously.
Zhu Qing smiled and said, "We still need three hundred horses!" ”
"Three...... Three hundred? When the stableman heard this, he was astonished, and this time the number of horses could suddenly increase by 400, and the stableman already felt incredible. Three hundred more? It's not an easy task, besides. What do you do with so many horses?
Zhu Qing nodded, "Three hundred." I will find a way, you guys are ready first, take care of these five hundred horses first, and I will let Vice General Lin find a way to deal with the horseshoe matter. You just have to do your own thing. Also, there are not enough people, so you can figure it out for yourself. ”
"Humble duty understands!" The two stables replied.
"But, is there anything important that you take Fei Lu away at this time?" A stableman asked tentatively.
It stands to reason that Zhu Qing can not answer such a question, and even reprimand this horse herd with the vigilance of Jinyiwei. But Zhu Qing smiled helplessly, touched Feilu's mane and said, "It doesn't belong here." ”
Listening to Zhu Qing's words, the two stablemen looked at each other. Zhu Qing led Fei Lu out of the horse square.
Out of the horse square, Zhu Qing walked straight towards the city gate. When the guards of the city saw Zhu Qing, they hurriedly saluted, "My lord!" ”
Zhu Qing nodded, "I'll go out for a while." ”
The guards opened the gates. Zhu Qing led the horse out of the city gate.
"Your Excellency!" At this time, Lin Bai, who was standing at the city gate, shouted, then jumped down the city gate and stayed at the city gate with Zhu Qing.
"You haven't slept yet?" Zhu Qing asked with a smile.
"Can't sleep."
"Because of the matter of Wuji Mountain?" Zhu Qing asked.
Lin Bai nodded.
"Don't think too much, there will be more of this kind of thing in the future." Zhu Qing patted Lin Bai on the shoulder, speaking of which, Zhu Qing was less than a year old from the young man in front of him, but the mission had made Zhu Qing more mature.
Lin Bai nodded, looked at Fei Lu and asked, "My lord, it's so late, are you still leading Fei Lu out for a walk?" ”
Zhu Qing smiled and shook his head, "It's not a walk, it's to let it go home." ”
"Home?"
"yes, do you remember? Today I ask you, who whistled at that time, and how did you answer? Zhu Qing asked Lin Bai rhetorically.
"I remember it was a female general of the enemy army." Lin Bai recalled.
"She's Feilu's master."
"Is that her?"
"That's right. When I infiltrated the Shanhaiguan to kill the post chief, she led the full guards to surround me, and in a hurry, I jumped out of the window and rode her Feilu. Do you know? I almost managed to subdue Dolgon today, but because of the whistle, not only did I not catch up with Dolgon, but I was thrown to the ground by Feilu and almost died. Feilu saved my life, I thought we had become friends of life and death, but I didn't expect ......" Before Zhu Qing finished speaking, Lin Bai grabbed the conversation with a smile, "I didn't expect Feilu to still can't forget its hostess." You often tell us, 'Horses understand human nature, and people must also understand horse nature'. So you couldn't bear it and decided to let it go. Am I right? ”
Zhu Qing smiled and shook his head, the deputy general in front of him was as sympathetic and reasonable as his buddy, Zhu Qing seemed to see Xiaobao's shadow on Lin Bai's body, if Xiaobao was there, how happy he would be! Zhu Qing remembered the past for a while.
"My lord, am I right?" Seeing that Zhu Qing didn't answer, Lin Bai asked.
Zhu Qing nodded. Lin Bai was overjoyed, and Zhu Qing smiled and said, "Yes, it's not all right." Actually, in addition to respecting Fei Lu's choice, I am selfish. ”
"Oh...... Bubble cuties! Lin Bai said with a smile, "But they are enemy female generals." This one is a bit harder. ”
"Where did you think of going? I mean, I need a horse that truly belongs to me, and we can advance and retreat together, life and death together at critical moments! Zhu Qing explained.
"Okay. I see. Seeing that Zhu Qing was suddenly serious, Lin Bai sneered.
Zhu Qing glanced at Lin Bai, thinking that he was going to teach him a lesson, but Lin Bai's joy just now was suddenly covered. Zhu Qing smiled and said, "But, to be honest, don't you think that female general is very popular?" Zhu Qing quipped.
"To be seen, must be seen. Let me tell you, as soon as she stood there today, we all stared straight in the eyes and were almost struck by her sword. Seeing that Zhu Qing was not to blame, Lin Bai's ruffian spirit was resurrected again.
"Look for death! Cheap! If something goes wrong in the north today, I'll see if I can't clean you up! Zhu Qing said, patting Lin Bai with a brain, this is naturally a joke.
"But she's really likeable." Lin Bai's sentence is indeed the truth.
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about that. Almost, Feilu, we have met once, but we are only to blame, you better go back to your hostess. Zhu Qing stopped Lin Bai's topic. Holding Fei Lu's head, he said.
Lin Bai stood aside, but felt that tears were about to fall. Zhu Qing loves horses, everyone knows it, but only Lin Bai can feel this situation.
Zhu Qing's loss of Feilu is like losing a lover.
So when Lin Bai said this, Zhu Qing smiled and said, "So, it's not suitable for us to go into battle together to kill the enemy!" ”
Fei Lu whispered a few times in Zhu Qing's arms, and Lin Bai exclaimed, "My lord, it's crying!" ”
Zhu Qing smiled and untied Feilu. I patted it on the neck, took a deep breath, and exhaled for a long time, "Let's go!" ”
Fei Lu walked a few steps and turned back, Zhu Qing shook his hand and did not speak.
"Go back to your mistress. If one day you bring your mistress to us as a lady of the village. I'll give you a beautiful horseshoe! Zhu Qing was speechless, but Lin Bai knew how to reconcile the atmosphere and shouted at Feilu.
"Let's go back! Use your nonsense here! What Mrs. Crush? Zhu Qing was originally in a sad mood, but when he saw Lin Bai like this, his emotions recovered, and he kicked Lin Bai as he spoke, and the two chased back to the post station.
The two were fighting on the road, not like the always serious Jinyiwei, let alone a superior-subordinate relationship, but like friends and brothers.
It wasn't until they reached the city gate that the two stopped and resumed their identities as commander and lieutenant.
and entered the city gates. Lin Bai suddenly said, "My lord, have we forgotten something?" ”
"What?"
"Will Feilu leave this night?" Lin Bai asked.
"Hmph, I did it on purpose. Look at itself. To be honest, I couldn't bear to watch it leave, so I chose the night. Zhu Qing sighed.
Lin Bai shrugged, "Okay, good night." ”
"Wait, wait a minute. I have something to tell you. Zhu Qing stopped Lin Bai.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't care what method you use, get me five hundred horseshoe in seven days, oh no, it's eight hundred!" Zhu Qing said.
"Eight hundred horseshoe?! However, we only have 500 war horses at most. Lin Bai was a little puzzled.
"I'll figure this out, you don't have to worry about it." Zhu Qing said confidently.
Lin Bai nodded, he believed that Zhu Qing would do what he said, he just didn't understand, what to do with so many horses?
"What are you going to do?" Lin Bai finally asked.
"Form the Iron Rider of the Mountains and Seas!" Zhu Qing said quietly.
"The last general obeys!" Lin Bai's ability was shown again after hearing Zhu Qing's words!
"Good night." Zhu Qing smiled slightly and said a cold word to Lin Bai, and then walked straight back to his room. Zhu Qing lay on the bed, and two sentences came to his mind, "If one day you bring your mistress to our lord as a lady of the village......"; "Form the Iron Rider of the Mountains and Seas!"
But this time, Zhu Qing did not lose sleep because of these thoughts, but felt full and clear that he hadn't been in a long time. After a while, he turned off his lights and fell asleep.
And at this time, Feilu, who had left Shanhaiguan, unexpectedly advanced in the night, walking in the direction of Shengjing, waiting for the dawn of dawn, waiting for a better light, so that it could use its talents, gallop across the prairie, and return to its mistress.
At this time, Shengjing, there was a turmoil inside and outside the palace, because Jinzhou was not captured, and because Dolgon was injured! Huang Taiji was anxious, for so many years, his younger brother led the children of the Eight Banners to fight in the south and the north, and the east and west, and made great achievements for the Qing court. His throne rests largely on the defenders of Dorgon.
"You come with me to see the fourteenth brother." Huang Taiji said to the imperial concubine of Xiaozhuang while coughing.
The young and virtuous Xiaozhuang picked up the handkerchief and nodded. Helped the sick Huang Taiji out of the dormitory and walked towards Dolgon's palace.
Halfway through, Huang Taiji was suddenly stopped by a child, "Huang Ama, it's so late." Where are you going? ”
"Fu Lin, go back to your room and sleep." Xiaozhuang persuaded Fulin.
"Imperial Princess." Huang Taiji shouted, and Xiaozhuang turned around.
"Let him go." Huang Taiji said.
Hyozhuang nodded.
"Come here, visit your imperial uncle with Huang Ama." Huang Taiji smiled and pulled Xiao Fulin over.
"The emperor has arrived!"
Hearing this, Dorgon struggled to sit up on the bed.
"Fourteenth brother, don't be polite, lie down well. We've come to see you. At this time, Huang Taiji had already entered the room.
"Brother Jiu...... Brother......"
"Don't talk about it, just come back. Ning'er told me, but fortunately, the war horse remembered Ning'er's whistle. Huang Taiji sighed.