In Tohoku, the first snow of the year came a few days earlier than the normal solar term. Also under the score extraordinarily big. It was only the first snow, and the sky and the earth were white. The cold wind swept by, and between the tall pine groups, it was like mist. Several rivers across the northeastern territory have formed a thin layer of ice floes. Occasionally, you can hear the sound of the river floor cracking, as the ice is thickening.

The people in the Northeast have already cut the door and prepared dry sticks and marinated meat for the winter. There are also wooden halberds piled all over the yard. People guarded the ondol, and men and women of all wore long cigarette sticks. Dig a pot of old Kanto tobacco leaves. Talking about gossip and doing crafts. The hunters and ginseng households belonging to the officials are not more idle than the farmers, and on such a snowy day, it is when they have to travel through the deep mountains and old forests, hunting bears and digging ginseng. The harvest of the winter must be handed over to the commanders everywhere, and even to the generals.

What a fertile land it is! The land is vast and sparsely populated, with coal, iron ore, dense forests and meadows, abundant river water resources, fertile black soil that seems to be flowing oil, and fishery and salt resources are also quite abundant. There is also a large oil field buried under the land, which is rare for terrestrial sediments. All the resources needed for modern industrialization are available on this land!

After the management of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, this land became the stable headquarters of the Chinese nation. But with the cannon fire of the modern powers, the richest and most important place in Northeast Asia is now in the last quiet before the storm hits.

In the history that Xu Yifan understands, in this land, how many countries have shed the blood of soldiers and civilians with different thoughts. The turbulent changes in the history of modern Asia, it all started from this land! It even affected a bloody fight between whites in Europe, a great era of slaughter and rebellion between human beings who burned blood and fire all over the earth!

In the midst of a heavy snowfall, a figure staggered through the wind and snow. Along the way, I struggled to identify the trunks of the pine or birch trees around me under the hood. I don't know how long I walked, but the figure came under a particularly tall birch tree, groped for the trunk in the snow and mist, and picked at a piece of loose bark. The man's face suddenly showed a color of ecstasy, and with a vigorous pull, he broke off a boxy piece of birch bark, which had been cut off and reattached to the tree. He glanced over and saw that there were several charcoal writing on them. Immediately, he put it in his arms indiscriminately, took out the dagger in his boots, and carefully carved a few crooked symbols on the tree. He took a deep breath, turned around and walked towards the place he had come from, and after a while, he disappeared into the vast snow and mist.

As soon as his figure disappeared, another short, bloated figure emerged from the snow mist, walked to the birch tree where the symbol had been engraved, and took a closer look. Then, in the opposite direction, it also disappeared into the snow.

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In a sheltered valley, a cowhide tent had been erected and built on the flat ground in the valley. In this small valley, there is also a small lake that looks like a mirror. Maybe it's because the weather here is hot, and there is sulfur or something. This lake has not frozen, and even the surrounding grass and trees are still green. Heavy snow fell one after another, falling in the lake and melting, raising a trace of white gas.

Outside the mouth of the valley, there are figures wearing cloaks and suede boots waiting for them. Everyone carried a heavy German carbine, creaking the snow outside the valley. After a while, under the heavy snow, there was not much difference between people and snow.

Next to the lake, there was the giggling of a few girls. I heard a delicate voice laughing, "This water is still a little hot!" ”

The person who spoke was Liang Luoshi, she was wearing a small jacket, a fox fur cloak outside, and her hood was down. The little face was red from the cold. I plucked the water, and tasted the water again, and my eyes were shining: "This water is still a little sweet!" Next to her were Du Juan and Li Xuan, Du Juan and Chen Luoshi squatted together, looked at her, tasted the water again, and nodded in agreement: "That's right!" In the past, we were on the grassland, hundreds of miles of bitter water, for a good look of sweet water, we could spell out a few lives! Wherever it is like here, there is a lot of water, there are many trees, and the soil feels oily in your hands...... Our country, there is such a good place! ”

Li Xuan was not far away from them, and standing there like a child, he looked at the beautiful scenery in front of him as if he was out of the world. Sideways chuckle: "Speaking of water, it's better for us to be in the South Seas...... Even the sea water is so blue and transparent that when there is no wind, it looks like a sapphire. Even in this season, there are the freshest fruits everywhere, like in North Korea, when it comes to this season, it is sauerkraut, sauerkraut, or sauerkraut...... When you get to Nanyang, I invite you to try our fruit ice! ”

She said seriously, and kept the most perfect smile looking at the two girls. Chen Luoshi and Du Juan glanced at each other, bowed their heads and stopped talking. Li Xuan's eyes blinked, and his smile froze. On the edge of the lake, the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while. The pair of little North Korean girls standing behind her glanced at each other and quietly lowered their heads.

Xu Yifan still brought Li Xuan here, he could bring Du Juan and Liang Luoshi, and there was really no reason to refuse her Miss Li. But there is only one condition, except for the two little North Korean girls who Li Xuan insisted on bringing and couldn't leave an inch, and her large number of maids and old women, don't keep up. He also thought about it, and brought it all, thirty of the most elite Goshkha followed, all armed with German carbines. These Goshha were also trained in hand-to-hand combat by Zhang Yu, the big master butler next to him, and seven or eight strong men couldn't get close. Zhang Yu also accompanied him to protect Xu Yifan and his family. This time, operating within the borders, such a small and elite armed force has the ability to protect itself wherever it goes. The horse thieves in the Northeast still have to sell Du Qilin three points of face. Just take these girls to relax, and make up for the hardships they have suffered in North Korea with him.

He also has some expectations in his selfish heart, Li Xuan must be his Xu family's big house according to his identity and status. When these three girls were in North Korea, they each had their own servants, and they were clearly distinguished. Du Juan and Liang Luoshi are still connected, but they are absolutely keeping a distance from Li Xuan. This time, the three girls traveled with him, and there was no distance between them at all. I also hope that Du Juan and Liang Luoshi can agree with Li Xuan a little bit.

Li Xuan can be said to be very good, no one is around to serve, and she can take care of herself. is no worse than Du Juan and Liang Luoshi, who were born in small families. I'm also trying to talk to the two little girls, and I want everyone to be closer. But I don't know why, Du Juan and Liang Luoshi have a knot in their hearts for Li Xuan, and they always avoid her politely. The reason is also very simple, in this year, the difference in status is indeed a chasm. The two little girls are young, and Xu Yifan never restricts them to anything, and they can't learn the way that the concubines of big families please their wives.

The three girls were embarrassed there, and Xu Yifan could see it clearly not far from them. He and Chu Wanli were sitting on two stones, chatting about something. Seeing this scene, Chu Wanli chuckled, lay down on the stone covered with fox skin cushions, and didn't know where to find a book and put it on his face.

This time, Chu Wanli was the only attaché who came with Xu Yifan's secret, and Xu Yifan believed in this kid's head very much. In addition, Chu Wanli is the leading figure of the General Staff to be established in the future. It is better for him to familiarize himself with some of these tasks as soon as possible.

Seeing Chu Wanli lying down, Xu Yifan just shook his head and smiled bitterly. He was confident to deal with the entire Qing Dynasty, but he didn't have the confidence to settle his housework...... N many beautiful women are eye-catching, but you have to have the energy to take care of it!

He stood up, walked to the lake, also took the water and tasted it, and smiled at Li Xuan first: "It's a little sweet, it's not as good as the milk satay made by your family, next time I'll let someone bring some raw materials, you can make it yourself and let me satisfy my cravings?" ”

Li Xuan smiled faintly, pursed his lips slightly, and silently gestured at him with his lips: "I don't care about the two little girls!" With that, he turned gracefully, beckoned to the North Korean twins behind him, and turned to the other side of the lake.

Xu Yifan turned his head to look at Du Juan and Chen Luoshi again, and wiped the water traces on his hands: "There is copper in this water, so it tastes a little sweet." There must be copper ore around, but I don't know what the quality is, whether it's worth mining...... It is said that drinking copper-containing water for beauty and beauty, don't you put some in the water bag? ”

The cuckoo's eyes widened: "Such a hard copper block can still melt into the water?" I don't believe it. Chen Luoshi's face was full of admiration: "If you taste the water, you can know that there is copper under the ground, and if you taste the water one day, won't you be able to dig up gold?" ”

Facing the two innocent little girls, Xu Yifan just smiled, stood up, and looked at Taniguchi: "Li Xing, this kid...... Why haven't you come back yet? ”

Their team had entered the northeast three days earlier, and had traveled all the way southwest from General Jilin's territory. just stepped into the Northeast, and followed the method that Du Qilin had written to tell them. In the donkey and horse shops, cart shops, big pots, and horse thieves special slip forest. Got the slippers out in all directions. Tell Du Qilin that he Xu Yifan has arrived, and what line is he going. Hurry up and send someone to get in touch. He came this time, and it was only ten days, and he didn't wait! You cheap old man, don't make a mistake!

But after two or three days, every place where the horse thieves passed the slip and contacted the joint, there was no news back to Du Qilin. Seeing that it was about to be time to turn around and return, he had limited time, if he couldn't connect with Du Qilin in such a small buffer time, then he could only give up his original plan and go back to North Korea to make plans...... He doesn't have much time! At a critical juncture, he must sit in Pyongyang and deal with everything!

The person who was sent out today to find out the news was Li Xing, who was temporarily in charge of these 30 Goshkha, and went there in person. For this operation, it is necessary to bring the most intimate characters. Li Xing is his brother-in-law, and he was specially transferred from the field army. It is absolutely trustworthy. can also let Li Xing and his sister get together.

Li Xing has been trained in the field army, and he was also one of the fierce generals who rushed to the front when Seoul was quelling the rebellion. The official position has been achieved as the deputy battalion officer of the Right Association, and both Zhang Xuzhou and Chu Wanli have a very high opinion of him. For him, Xu Yifan is still more assured. Today, Tete sent him to the last few slips of the planned trip to investigate. I didn't expect that it had been four or five hours, and there was still no return. With these four or five hours, they might be able to drive fifty or sixty miles to the front!

Hearing Xu Yifan mention Li Xing, Du Juan's face tensed suddenly, and he stood up with Xu Yifan and looked out towards Taniguchi. looked back at Xu Yifan's face was not good, and comforted him: "Master, Daddy is in the Northeast, since we are here, what are we in a hurry to do?" It's such a heavy snowstorm, and it's not easy to see the good road, so when the weather is better tomorrow, let's make a little more effort to drive the road back......"

Chen Luoshi was still whispering on the side: "It's better to send me!" The Li family's ...... Anyway, he is a southern barbarian, and he may not have seen snow in his life. If I had gone, I would have come back with the news! ”

Xu Yifan lowered his face coldly, and said word for word to Chen Luoshi: "The generals under my command, whether it is snow or knives, must be able to break through!" Even if Li Xing has never seen snow in his life, it's the same! Another point, I am up to you what you do, but you are not allowed to talk about the people and things in my business! ”

Chen Luoshi stuck out his tongue and stopped talking. Leaned over coquettishly again. Xu Yifan looked at the cuckoo and secretly felt a little guilty.

If you can't contact Du Qilin again, then you can only turn back. In the future, will she have the ability to take care of her horse thief father, still between the two, this little girl, full of hope to see her father...... However, now is definitely not the time for him to relent, he knows what is most important......

Du Juan didn't pay attention to Xu Yifan's face, just stood there and looked into the distance. Snowflakes flew down beside her, and in her gaze, there was only the most natural light of admiration and attachment, as if at the end of the snowstorm, her disabled father was waiting for her.

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There was a sudden twitch at Taniguchi, and several Goshkha carried a soft figure and ran straight towards the lake. Several people's eyes turned around, Xu Yifan and Du Juan needless to say, even Li Xuan came over with his clothes and stepped on the snow with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

Those Goshha rushed closer, carrying Li Xing, his face was already pale and iron-blue, and his face was full of snow powder. The eyes seem to be closed, confused. Xu Yifan hurriedly stretched out his hand to probe his breath, and the breath he exhaled seemed to be a little colder than the weather outside. Beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Xu Yifan's forehead, this is his brother-in-law!

"Quick, make a fire! Carry him into the tent and bring him everything he can cover! ”

Li Xuan ran behind Xu Yifan, and when he saw Li Xing's appearance, he immediately touched his brother's face, and tears came out. Stomping his feet and unable to speak. When everyone was hurriedly carrying Li Xing into the tent, Zhang Yu didn't know where to get out. This taciturn butler often makes people ignore his existence.

He stiffened a bone-scraping face, and just glanced at Li Xing. Swing a couple of goshkhas away. Stretched out his hand and grabbed Li Xing's neckline, snorted, and the three layers of leather were worn on Li Xing's body, and he was actually pulled from the placket to his waist with one hand! Li Xuan's face was white, and his voice was sharp: "What are you doing!" "I want to tear Zhang Yu when I pounce on it. The cuckoo hurriedly spoke beside him: "The frozen person can't stand the heat, and it's really bad when he enters the tent!" ”

Xu Yifan hugged Li Xuan fiercely, Li Xuan kicked Xu Yifan a few times, but was hugged tightly by Xu Yifan. I saw Zhang Yu picking up a few handfuls of snow from the ground, and quickly rubbing Li Xing's heart, face, hands and feet desperately. His hands were so strong that his skin turned red in a few clicks, and Zhang Yu said in a deep voice without raising his head: "Rub him hard!" The Goshkhas were stunned for a moment, and immediately they all went to the snow. Rubbed Li Xing as if it was cooked. Li Xuan just lay in Xu Yifan's arms with tears in his eyes. After a while, he heard Li Xing moaning, his clenched teeth loosened, and Zhang Yu casually took another leather bag of liquor and poured him a sip. Only then did I feel Li Xing breathe out a little hot breath. Zhang Yu straightened up and waved his hand silently: "You can carry it in at this time." ”

Now don't Xu Yifan order, the Goshha people will go in with Li Xing on their backs. Xu Yifan felt relieved. The top of the neck is to give people a whimper: "It hurts so fucking!" ”

When he looked down, he saw Li Xuan baring his teeth at him: "My brother is not an animal!" I can't afford you to use it like this! ”

At this time, he didn't have the heart to take classes with her, Xu Yifan glared at her, touched his neck and walked towards the tent. Before I lowered my head and got in, I heard Li Xing's faint voice: "Lord Hui, I have received Du Qilin's slippery!" They had also driven for four days, and Zama was only seventy miles from here...... The subordinates have already given them back and asked them to send someone to answer them...... The subordinates were incompetent, and they almost froze halfway, and they missed the adult's big event! ”

Xu Yifan's eyes swept and saw Li Xing sitting up with his body propped up, and he just gasped after saying a few words. If it weren't for a few Goshha presses, it is estimated that they would have stood up and saluted. Xu Yifan's eyes moved, he stood quietly, and said coldly: "To be a soldier is to be able to march and fight in any climate, and in the foreseeable future, our battlefield will be in this land!" I don't care if you're from the south or from the north...... If you can't adapt to this climate, think about it yourself, are you worthy of being under my command of Xu Yifan, and are you worthy of being a soldier of the Praetorian Guard? This lesson is not just for you, but for everyone to remember! When you wake up, write me a report on your experience in the cold zone! ”

The biggest difference between the Praetorian Guard and other armies of the Qing Dynasty was that he had a sense of honor, which naturally brought about by pacifying a country. And the continuation of this sense of honor depends on more rigorous training, so that they feel that they are always different! This kind of elite cultivation education is a rare thing that he firmly remembers in the success studies that were popular in Xu Yifan's era.

Li Xing sat there upright and saluted solemnly. Then he took out the birch bark from his close place and handed it to Xu Yifan with both hands. There were a few goshkha in the tent, and they didn't even dare to take a breath of air.

"Lord Xu Junjian, the servants have already arrived in suit, and Xiema is close to Linjiatun on the bank of the Hunhe River. Waiting for the lead, I can't wait for it. ”

Although it is charcoal smeared on birch bark, it is still dancing with dragons and phoenixes, and it is the handwriting of Jiang Junshi at a glance. Xu Yifan took advantage of the snow outside the tent to see it and crushed the birch bark. Shouted an order outside: "Pack your bags and wait to leave at any time, I'll see when Du Qilin can send someone to see me at the earliest!" ”

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In Longchuan Port, drums are playing in unison. On the side of the water diversion wharf, the guards had long been standing straight, and the chief had laid out the etiquette of the seedling team. A group of Beiyang martial artists, standing on the side of the dock with their chests and belly protruding, the spurs clanged, although the cold wind was cold on the dock, but everyone was smiling.

Seeing that Beiyang's own Kaiji small steamer was brought in and docked. Two warships accompanied the Kaiji steamer all the way to the port. The sailor with the head of the black cloth pan dropped anchor and lowered the cable. Just after the stop bell was struck, Ye Zhichao, who was standing side by side with Ding Ruchang at the front of the queue, waved his hand to the back. A large group of general adjutant generals fought thousands of guerrillas, one by one holding their handbooks, and stretched out their resumes to the steamer, and at the end of the report, they shouted in unison: "Welcome to Yang Observation!" Welcome to Mr. Yang! ”

Ye Zhichao was reserved and just smiled, but Ding Ruchang looked left and right unnaturally, and when he looked back, he saw a person standing straight in the martial arts team. The eyebrows are as high as a sword, and the face is full of depression, which one else is there besides Deng Shichang?

Ding Ruchang lowered his voice: "What are you doing here?" ”

Deng Shichang replied in a deep voice: "I am the second rank of martial arts, and he is just the fourth grade of the article and the second grade." He is the general office of the Huai Army Battalion Office, and I am a sailor. On which point, do I want to kneel down to pick up Yang Lianfang? ”

The surrounding officers all looked sideways, and they all looked at Deng Shichang like two fools. Deng Shichang stubbornly held his head high, and Ding Ruchang waved his sleeves hatefully: "I'll take care of you when I go back!" Ye Zhichao just glanced back at Deng Shichang disappreciatively, smiled contemptuously, and took Ding Ruchang's hand: "Let's go, brother, let's go forward to welcome Brother Lianfang!" ”

As he was talking, he saw the springboard put down, and Yang Shixiang came out of the official cabin. He didn't wear an official uniform, just a fur coat with a lynx fur coat on the outside, and a cold hat on his head. Elegant and chic, he arched his hands with a smile and got off the boat: "Shuqing, why do you come to this set with me?" Isn't it true that my surname is Yang's longevity? Do you have to knock one back for everyone here? ”

Ye Zhichao smiled and didn't salute, and stepped forward to hold hands with Yang Shixiang. and Ding Ruchang held Yang Shixiang in the middle, laughed and scolded Wu Ben loudly: "Bastard, Lord Yang gives face, why don't you all roll up?" ”

The military attachés laughed, got up, and rushed over. Yang Shixiang smiled and walked around, greeting each other one by one, and after disturbing for a while, Ye Zhichao found an opportunity to smile and said: "Brother Lianfang, it has been hard all the way. There is nothing to prepare for in this bitter place in North Korea, only a few Gao Liji, who can barely see it, do not look very good, and their skin is good. The house is also ready and cramped...... Brother Lianfang, how about a few less days of rest, how about recuperating and working hard? ”

Yang Shixiang had a smile on his face, and he replied without looking back: "Why do you want to give Xu Yifan time?" Tomorrow...... The day after tomorrow at the latest, I will rush to Pyongyang and urge Xu Yifan to leave the army. When I go, you will prepare your camp and advance north...... Isn't Brother Shuqing ready? ”

Ye Zhichao's face suddenly changed a little, and he gritted his teeth and whispered: "The whole army is already waiting for it." Up and down the Qing Dynasty, the people who can compete with our Zhongtang have not yet been born! ”

(To be continued)