Out of Chengdu all the way to the north, the road is not as smooth as before, Xichuan's easy to defend and difficult to attack lies in its north has an insurmountable natural barrier, this barrier from nature also hinders the Shu people's footsteps outward, therefore, the Shu people's conformism is not only because of the human customs here, but also a product of the right time and place. The mountains are undulating, and the steep valleys and low river valleys make up a beautiful but also steep mountain map.

It took us a longer time than Irikawa, but we only walked a shorter road than Irikawa before we finally arrived at Nian Baoyuze.

It's the height of summer.

The sun of the plateau casts on the earth without a trace of shadow, the green pastures grow luxuriantly, the wheels run over almost no sound can be heard, and occasionally you can see wild horses running out of the mountains, vigorous and majestic, and the long mane rises high in the sun with the run, reflecting the oily luster.

On this day, when we finally arrived at the barracks, the sun was already setting.

The orange-red sunset shines through the mountains and valleys, as if the earth is on fire. We jumped out of the carriage and felt the heat of the sun and the coolness of the wind blowing from the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

In front of me, there is a huge military camp, built along the wide and clear stream.

As soon as we reached the gate of the barracks, we were immediately stopped, and two soldiers in armor with spears blocked our way, saying, "Who is it?" ”

Xue Muhua hurriedly stepped forward: "It was Yan Gongzi who sent us." ”

"Report your name."

We looked at each other, and could only give our names, and one of the soldiers immediately ran in, and after a while came out, saying, "Come with me, several." ”

He led us inside, and along the way, we could see that all the camps were in order, some soldiers had begun to make fires and make food, some soldiers were still practicing, and some wounded people could be seen in the medical shed in the distance, and there were military doctors treating them.

In the past, I once heard Luo Shi say that there is only one general in the Celestial Empire, that is, Pei Yuanfeng, the fifth prince, although I have never seen him fight, but from the rigorous management of the army in front of me, I can understand why Luo Shi admires him so much.

All the way to the main tent, we didn't see a single soldier gambling and eating and drinking along the way, not even a commotion, a qiē seemed so orderly, and when we walked into the big tent, we happened to hear a spy soldier reporting the situation inside.

"The subordinates have found out that in addition to the 200,000 troops commanded by Kumuhan before, the Eastern Chahe Department has sent an additional 50,000 soldiers and horses."

We all live inland, and we don't know much about the Eastern Chahe Department, so we didn't react much when we heard Kumuhan's name, only Wen Fengxi's expression changed.

By this time we had lifted the curtain and walked in.

The main account is very huge, but it is also very simple, except for the three tables on each side for the generals to discuss the war, there is only the main case in front, there are a lot of files piled on it, and it is Pei Yuanfeng who is sitting there, he is also wearing a military uniform, the face under the helmet is dark and thin, fading the immaturity of the young man, and the rest is only the fortitude and courage of an adult man.

As soon as we saw him, several of us breathed harder.

But he didn't seem to see us, and still said to the soldier who was half-kneeling in the center of the tent, "What about the other than these? ”

"Returning to the commander, because the enemy is heavily guarded, we dare not approach rashly, so the situation in the enemy camp is not real, but we do see that among the men and horses of the additional faction, there are black horsemen."

"Black Rider?"

"Yes. So the subordinates speculated that Zhan Zhen was also in the camp. ”

We didn't react to this name, but I clearly saw Pei Yuanfeng's eyes sink, and he waved his hand lightly: "Go down." ”

The soldier threw his hand at him, and then he got up and walked out, passing by us, not squinting.

At this time, Pei Yuanfeng had already stood up and said to us: "You are here." ”

"Yuanfeng!"

Xue Muhua was the first to step forward, and was held by Pei Yuanfeng, who stepped forward, and a faint smile appeared on his dark face: "Why are you here too?" ”

"I don't worry about you."

He smiled, as if to say, "What's so worrying", but he didn't say anything, only smiled and comforted her, and then raised his head to look at us, Xue Muhua wiped the corners of his slightly reddened eyes, and said, "Childe let them all come over together." ”

Pei Yuanfeng nodded: "I received a message from Childe." ”

As he spoke, he walked towards us.

He glanced at me, as if he wanted to say something, but he stopped talking, his eyes looked at Pei Yuanxiu, and after leaving, he slowly moved to the person standing behind me.

Liu Qinghan has been very quiet since he entered the camp, and he has seen Pei Yuanfeng at this moment, and he didn't say anything, just stood calmly, letting the other party's eyes look at him up and down.

Pei Yuanfeng's blazing tiger eyes narrowed slightly, and he seemed to have guessed his identity, because I clearly felt that his eyes were shining, and he seemed to look at me, and then said cautiously: "You are-"

Liu Qinghan dusted off his sleeves and saluted him in a proper manner: "In the Lower Yangzhou Mansion, Yin Liu Qinghan." ”

"You, you're the one - Liu Qinghan?"

"Exactly."

I didn't look back, I only saw Pei Yuanfeng's eyes like a torch, looking at the person behind me burningly, as if he had a thousand words for a while, but I didn't know who to say.

After being silent for a long time, he exhaled softly: "I have long admired the Daimyo." ”

"Don't dare."

Liu Qinghan's attitude towards him has always been very cautious, I don't know if it was because Pei Yuanhao already had a ward for him before he left the capital, or if it was because of the sensitivity unique to people in the officialdom who made him so. But I think that no matter how sensitive he is, he can't understand Pei Yuanfeng's mood when he says the words "long admired the name" at this moment, and the deep meaning contained in it.

Pei Yuanfeng didn't speak again, but looked at him with burning eyes.

Liu Qinghan was a little uncomfortable by him, coughed lightly, and said, "This is Wen Fengxi, the chief soldier of Yangzhou Mansion. ”

Wen Fengxi also immediately bowed his hands: "Meet the five-"

He paused in the middle of speaking, as if he didn't know how to continue, and the atmosphere immediately became a little awkward. However, Pei Yuanfeng said lightly: "Just call me the fifth son." If it were anything else, I wouldn't be able to afford it. ”

These words are the same as Pei Yuanxiu's words at the beginning, the current world is no longer the world where they are princes and princes. Thinking of this, I raised my head and glanced at Pei Yuanxiu, a faint smile flashed on his face, and when I saw me looking at him, he smiled lightly.

I didn't know what to say, but as soon as we met, the atmosphere didn't get very good.

Pei Yuanfeng invited us to sit in the big tent, and sent someone to deliver some simple meals, naturally there was no way to ask for too much in the barracks, I just took care of Li'er and ate something first. She was sensible along the way, and she didn't complain about the mountain road after driving for so long, but when she saw Pei Yuanfeng, her feelings were very low, of course, I also knew that it was because she was almost robbed by him at the beginning, and she also left some psychological shadows, so I tried to treat her as gently as possible, so that she could forget that fear.

Everyone was eating, and only the sound of dishes and chopsticks was left in the big tent.

Wen Fengxi and Pei Yuanfeng were born in the army in the end, and after eating the fastest, Wen Fengxi wiped his hands and said, "Fifth Prince, when we came in just now, we seemed to hear the names of Kumuhan and Zhan Zhen. ”

Pei Yuanfeng looked at him: "You also know them?" ”

"I've heard people in the court mention it. I heard that Kumuhan was a fierce general of the Eastern Chahe Division, and he was the one who had the hardest fight with Tu Shuhan before. ”

"Not bad."

"But this time they sent Zhan Zhen again, which seems a little strange."

"Oh?"

"Zhan Zhen is not the commander of the Eastern Chahe Division, but this person is good at attacking tough battles and is cunning. This time there's him, I'm just afraid—"

Pei Yuanfeng laughed: "General Wen's eyes are like torches. This time, the Eastern Chahe Department sent troops, and the ambition was indeed not small. If they just sent Kumuhan to send troops, it meant that they only planned to intrude on the border, so it would be easier to deal with, but since Zhan Zhen came - this person is good at attacking cities and overcoming difficulties, it seems that their purpose is not only Nian Baoyuze. ”

Wen Fengxi's face changed: "They still have a trick." ”

"At least for now." Pei Yuanfeng said: "If you take Nian Baoyu, you can enter Sichuan if you go south, if you go east-" He said in a deep voice: "I'm just afraid that my third brother, his throne will not be stable." ”

As he spoke, he and Pei Yuanxiu both glanced at each other.

I trembled in my heart when I heard this, this is the reason why he asked Yan Qingchen to increase his troops. If it was just a large army pressing the border, he could still find a way to resist, but even the generals who attacked the city and conquered the territory followed the army out, and it was obvious that the ambition of the Eastern Chahe Department was not only to fight here, but he didn't know where they would fight next.

It is also an opportunity to promote tripartite cooperation.

I asked, "So what are you going to do?" ”

Pei Yuanfeng glanced at me, his voice slowed down slightly, and said, "At present, they are still probing my bottom, and Nian Baoyu has to resist their attack, and there is no problem in the short term." But sooner or later I'll have to go head-to-head with their army of 200,000 men......"

At this point, he didn't go on.

I'm not very familiar with things in the army, but when I first entered the barracks and saw those camps built by the water, I could roughly estimate that there were definitely no more than 50,000 people here.

No matter how good the general's command was, and how advantageous the time and place were, the disparity in numbers had already put him at a disadvantage.

This battle is not easy to fight.

Pei Yuanfeng said: "The message from the son said that you have already agreed. ”

Pei Yuanxiu said: "Not bad. ”

"Tu Shuhan's garrison is in Longnan, which is not far from here. But how are you going to persuade him to send troops? ”

I said, "This, Master Liu and I will find a way." ”

Pei Yuanfeng glanced at me, as if he had something to say, but he still didn't say it after all, and after being silent for a while, he said, "A few people have already eaten, so let's go and rest first." I have sent someone to prepare the camp tent, and when you have enough spirits, someone will escort you to Longnan tomorrow. ”

The army was simple, but Pei Yuanfeng still tried to make our stay as comfortable as possible, a big tent accommodated me and Xue Muhua and Li'er, Pei Yuanxiu and Liu Qinghan, and the three of them still lived in another tent.

After a short rest, night fell.

I first put Li'er, who was already exhausted, to sleep, and when I turned around, I saw Xue Muhua sitting on the edge of her bed, and I didn't know what I was thinking, her delicate eyebrows were wrinkled together, looking worried. I was just about to go over and comfort her when I heard footsteps stop outside our tent.

Obviously, the people outside didn't say a word, but Xue Muhua's eyes lit up all of a sudden, and he hurriedly walked over to open the tent, and saw Pei Yuanfeng standing outside the tent, and when he saw her, a little smile appeared on his face: "Muhua." ”

"Yuanfeng, you're here."

"Why haven't you slept yet?"

"Haven't you slept yet?"

"Because I still have a lot of things to do," Pei Yuanfeng said, looking at me behind her: "I'm looking for her, I have something to ask her." ”

Xue Muhua glanced back at me.

Her gaze was worried with a hint of displeasure, and the love I was once familiar with was also suppressed enough. After a while, she nodded slightly: "I know, you have something to do." ”

With that, he stepped aside.

Just such a faint sentence, a gentle sideways, but I fell into an unspeakable pain all of a sudden.

Why, didn't the person who loved her meet such a good her?

Why does Providence want to make people like this?

Although the pain in my heart did not come out, Pei Yuanfeng clearly felt it, he looked at me with gloomy eyes, and paused for a moment before saying, "You come out, I have something to ask you." ”

"Hmm."

I stood up and walked to the door, only glanced at them and walked out, and heard Pei Yuanfeng behind me saying to her: "You must be tired after driving for so long, have a good rest tonight." ”

"yes, got it."

I didn't look back, I walked all the way forward, the twilight was heavy, only a few passes in the barracks of the camp's bonfires flickered, he and I walked slowly in the camp one after the other, occasionally patrolling soldiers passing by, only nodding at us, but the surroundings were fiercely quiet.

It wasn't until I came to an open field that I stopped, and he walked behind me, and after a while, said softly, "I didn't expect you to come." ”

I turned slowly and looked at his emaciated, angular face in the distant light of the fire.

In this world, there are always some people in your life who remind you that the world is impermanent, things are wrong, and he plays such a role in my life.

Thinking back to the first time I met him in Shangyang Palace, it was like a lifetime away, and I never imagined that Xiao Wu, who was innocent and reckless and like a child, would come to this point.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

After a while, I said something that maybe the last thing I should have said at this time-