Outside the northwest plug, the withered yellow weeds swayed with the cold wind of the early morning, and in the wilderness, the Han soldiers were driving the Qiang slaves to dig ravines and horse traps, and the dug soil was high into piles of earthen horses. The Qiang slaves worked extremely hard, because the end of laziness was to add a few whip marks to their backs.

Zhuang Feng inspected the construction site with his hands behind his back and nodded with satisfaction. Since Wu Kuai, the Taishou of Longxi County, ordered people to send more than 10,000 slaves, the construction speed of the fortress has been much faster. Looking at the ditches and ditches that spread to the horizon as far as the eye could see, Zhuang Feng breathed a long sigh of relief, even if it was a skilled Hun iron horse, I was afraid that he would have to dismount and fight on foot, not to mention the rabble in Xiqiang.

As the head of the day grew, the foreheads of the Qiang slaves began to sweat. The weather in the northwest is so weird, obviously in winter, the early morning is still cold and biting, and when it is said that the sun is like fire. The man had already begun to boil water and prepare for lunch. The Qiang slaves worked day and night to build fortifications, but there was no rebellion, largely because they could eat enough food and occasionally have some sporadic meat foam.

The Han people, who were responsible for arranging for the slaves to do their work, began to arrange for the slaves to eat in batches, and those who were a little slower would not be kicked by them. The Han people did not worry about these barbarians fighting back, because many Han soldiers patrolled left and right, and the slaves who dared to resist had already been hung on high gallows and displayed in the wilderness.

Zhou Dawa arranged her slaves, hurriedly ran to the Huotou Army, fetched food, and ate alone with a big wooden bowl. The Han people and the sergeants ate the same food, all concocted by the firehead army in the barracks, and it was obvious that the old rice made by the gang for the slaves was much stronger, at least Zhou Dawa had never eaten such a good meal in her life.

The large, yellowish grains of rice look like they are made of gold, and they taste fragrant. Large swaths of meat, as if they didn't want money, were piled up on top of the rice to form a small hilltop, and they shone with oily light under the head. Zhou Dawa was reluctant to eat it in one bite, so she took a small bite and took a big bite of the rice. Corn is full, and after eating, he can add more, and with these slices of meat, he can serve three full bowls of rice, and he can eat twelve minutes full every time.

Zhou Dawa is actually a little worried in her heart, it is already winter, and when the snow falls, the ground freezes hard, and I am afraid that this fortification will be stopped. I won't be able to eat such a good meal anymore. He was originally a poor peasant in Lintao County, Longxi, his parents died, and he grew up to his early twenties, and he had not yet found a daughter-in-law.

It's a pity that when I arrived at the barracks and just started training, I was found to be a Tianzu (flat foot) who couldn't run fast. The generals did not drive him away, but asked him to urge the slaves to build fortifications. Not only is it delicious and delicious, but it can also get hundreds of baht copper coins every month, and Xiao Yuzi is much happier than the surplus farmers in the original pavilion. Now that I think of this beautiful word, it is getting shorter and shorter, and even the meat in the bowl is a little bit worse.

In the big tent outside the Xu Xu, Zhuang Feng looked at the fat-headed and big-eared businessman in front of him, and his face was a little gloomy: "What is this doing?" ”

"A little heart, I hope the general will not refuse." The merchant pushed the bag on the table forward, a flattering look on his face.

Zhuang Feng was about to get angry, but a thought flashed in his mind, he restrained his anger a little, and said quietly: "No merit, what is difficult for you, but it doesn't hurt to say it?" ”

"In the next time, I will transport grain to the general's camp, and I want to distribute some and sell it to the Qiang people outside the Saiwai. A few days ago, there was a great epidemic in the west, and livestock died one after another, and there was no more than one out of ten, and I am afraid that I would not be able to survive this winter. If you can sell the grain and grass, it will be a good deal. The merchant's smile became brighter, and he said in a low voice: "If the general is interested, he can be counted as a part, as long as he asks his soldiers to let the caravan go." ”

Zhuang Feng touched his chin and hesitated: "Divide the grain and grass?" Isn't it necessary to deduct the soldiers' expenses? I am afraid that the soldiers are dissatisfied in their hearts, so as not to shake the morale of the army. ”

When the merchant saw the play, he continued to persuade: "The general doesn't need to worry, how could the villain wronged the soldiers?" Not only will the supply of grain and grass in the camp not be reduced, but the villain will also transport more meat, vegetables and fruits to work the army in the future, and the silver required will not be increased, which will not make the general embarrassed. ”

Zhuang Feng's eyes widened, and he said coldly: "I heard that the caravan such as Er and other caravans need to carefully check the quantity, and it is not allowed to exceed the needs of the border army outside the Cypriot Islands, and there are also credentials for the handover of military supplies, how can there be excess grain and grass, are you not deceiving me?!" ”

The merchant hurriedly waved his hand in denial, his face hesitant, and he looked like he wanted to say something.

Seeing this, Zhuang Feng pretended to be angry, drew his knife out of its sheath, and scolded: "Looking at your sneaky appearance, you must be deliberately deceiving, could it be that the general's saber is not favorable?!" ”

Seeing the flashing sword, the businessman's complexion changed, so he had to take a few steps forward and lowered his voice again: "This matter is very big, the villain does not have the ability to pass the sky, but my master has a prominent family background, and now he is in Lintao, and he has met many border soldiers......

When Zhuang Feng heard this, he was horrified. This merchant was just a servant in the family of a powerful man who specialized in managing the caravan, and that powerful person had already bought off the generals of Lintao City, and now he sent this merchant to test his reaction. If he doesn't agree, apparently he will be able to pass through the other generals' quarters.

His Majesty had already issued an edict that not a single grain of grain should be allowed to flow out of the fortress, and the border checks were very strict. If you want to get out of the customs in a fool's way, you can't just buy one or two guards, you must also hold the government's talisman coupons. And it can make all the insiders keep their mouths shut, even Zhuang Feng, the general of Pingdi, has not heard any news, obviously the people behind it are not small. Now sitting in Lintao is the captain of the dynasty, the general Dou Ying, is it ......?

As a four-rank permanent general (different from the grade of the nine-rank Zhongzheng system), Zhuang Feng knows a little about His Majesty's Pingqiang plan. Now the behavior of the generals in Lintao City is not an exaggeration to say that it is a foreign country, and treason is a big crime for the Yi people. Zhuang Feng's garrison is already the farthest military camp from Lintao in this direction, that is to say, from Lintao to here, the generals of several military camps along the way have almost completely been bought, otherwise this merchant will never come to discuss with him.

Zhuang Feng understood that if he startled the snake at this time, it would set off a monstrous disaster, so he forcibly suppressed the horror and anger in his heart, put the knife into the sheath, put the bag on the table into his arms, and laughed: "Since this is the case, so-and-so will accept it." After that, you will be instructed to go down, and your caravan may pass as boldly as possible, and if there is any inconvenience, come to me!" ”

The merchant was overjoyed, and was anxious to go back to the master to report the good news, and he could not even eat lunch, so he took his leave to Zhuang Feng. On the way back, he even recruited the deputy in the caravan, gave a few orders, and then left the caravan that was moving slowly, and rushed towards Lintao with a few personal servants.

It was night, Zhuang Feng thought carefully for a long time under the swaying light, and wrote a report on the silk silk with a pen. Then he carefully took out a secret box and gently put the report in. Close the box, paste the cement on it, take the turtle button general seal, and cover it vigorously.

Loosening the heavy box, Zhuang Feng bit his lower lip tightly, stood for a moment, his eyes became more and more determined, and then recruited Li Song, the personal guard who had been guarding outside the tent door, in. Seventeen years ago, in a battle with the Huns, his father used his body to block a cold arrow shot from behind Zhuang Feng and died.

At that time, Zhuang Feng was only a small military official, and he could not repay the great kindness of saving his life, so he raised Li Song as his own son. Li Song is also competitive, he learned a martial art at a young age, and he thought about going into battle to kill the enemy at night, and one day he killed all the Hun barbarians, and washed his father's revenge with blood. Zhuang Feng was very pleased, and after he became a ding, he was brought into the camp and became a personal guard.

Zhuang Feng patted Li Songshang's somewhat thin shoulders with pity, and said quietly: "Song'er, are you afraid of death?" ”

Li Song thought for a moment and said loudly: "I'm afraid! But not afraid! ”

Seeing Zhuang Feng's face full of doubts, Li Song continued: "If he dies on the battlefield, the child will not be afraid; If you die in the land of peace, the child is afraid that he will have no face to face his father who died on the battlefield after death! ”

"Good! Look like a man! Zhuang Feng patted him on the back, his eyes were full of relief, and he said in a deep voice: "Now my father has a major matter related to the society, which I want to hand over to you." This is extremely dangerous, and you can even die, do you dare? ”

Li Song's face was solemn, his chest straightened, he looked directly into Zhuang Feng's eyes, and said seriously: "Since it is a move to kill the country, how dare you and not?" But it's just a surname, why should the subordinates pity it?! ”

Zhuang Feng nodded, handed the secret box to Li Song, waited for him to hide it solemnly in his arms, and instructed him carefully for a long time.

After a while, a light horse left the camp and galloped away in the direction of Di Dao. Zhuang Feng watched a man and a horse gradually disappear into the dark night in the distance, sighed, turned around and returned to the tent, his back showing a bit of gloom.

;