In the middle of the next day, Xia Jing woke up from her sleep, her bones seemed to be scattered, and she rode a horse and galloped thousands of miles to the border.

"Sure enough, old people have to pay a price if they want to indulge once!"

"Mother, you're awake."

A northern woman came in outside the door, her skin was rougher than that of a woman in the Central Plains, but she was better than a smiling face to please people, she was a maid sent by Youzhou Thorn Shi Feng Yanrong to wait for Xia Jing's living.

Xia Jing sat on the bed and let the maid serve her to rinse her mouth and wash her face.

After washing her face, Xia Jing looked at her busy back and asked, "What's your name?" How old is it? Is it the maid of the Assassin's Mansion? ”

The maid took the robe that had been prepared earlier, and replied with a smile: "Hui Niangniang, the slave maid's name is Zhang Erni, she is fifteen years old this year, and her family lives in Zhangjiakou Fort, which is not far from here, and she is not a maid of the Assassin's Mansion. ”

Xia Jing let out an unexpected 'oh': "You are a local, and you want to be very familiar with this area of the Great Mirror Gate?" ”

Zhang Erni nodded with a smile: "Except for the deep mountains that you dare not enter, the terrain near Zhangjiakou Fort is familiar. ”

Xia Jing endured her physical discomfort, stood up, and let the little girl dress her, "As a border near the grassland, are there many opportunities for Beidi soldiers and horses to disturb the border?" ”

Maybe Zhang Erni was afraid of Xia Jing's identity, and hesitated for a moment before she spoke: "Beidi soldiers and horses usually occasionally have dozens or hundreds of horses to disturb the border, but large-scale border crimes are only after the autumn harvest, rushing to the pass to fight grass and plunder people and livestock. ”

Xia Jing asked with a solemn expression: "With such a large-scale offense like the Autumn Queen, do the Beidi soldiers and horses have more chances to break through the pass?" ”

Zhang Erni shook her head, "Our Youzhou soldiers and horses are powerful all over the world, and the Beidi people in the grassland are even more afraid of Youzhou soldiers and horses. ”

Xia Jing nodded, it seems that the strength of Youzhou's soldiers and horses is indeed well deserved.

Zhang Erni helped her tidy up her robe and make up, and Ye Fei walked in with breakfast.

Xia Jing wiped her hands, walked to the table and sat down, breakfast was very simple, a bowl of yellow rice porridge, plus a few plates of food.

Although glutinous rice wine is made from grain, after a night, my stomach is empty and I drink a sip of warm yellow rice porridge, and my stomach is warm.

Xia Jing sandwiched a small yellow pastry and put it in her mouth, which was very sticky to her teeth and had an astringent taste.

Xia Jing has developed a habit from the last days, not wasting food, even if the food in her mouth is not delicious, she swallows it.

"What's it called?" She asked, pointing to the yellow pastry she had just eaten.

Zhang Erni replied: "Yellow cake, it tastes good and I am hungry, and our people here like to eat it." ”

Hungry?

That is indigestible soft glutinous food, Xia Jing faced this kind of food, and couldn't help but think that the original owner died because of eating glutinous rice dumplings, and she was immediately grateful for this food.

Among the other dishes, one of the crispy shortbreads is good, and the multigrain baked cakes are also good, plus two pickles, and I can barely eat a full stomach.

Due to the soreness of the body from the bumpy ride of the horse for several days, Xia Jing led a few people up to the city wall of the Dajing Gate after breakfast, and took a walk after the meal to move her body, which was good for relieving the soreness on her body.

"I've seen Niangniang in Xia Fengzhang."

Xia Jing didn't expect to run into Feng Zhang as soon as she came up, she quietly glanced at Feng Zhang, who was dressed in military uniform, and asked with a smile: "Dressed in military uniform, the eldest prince has the ability to lead troops?" ”

Feng Zhang's face was ashamed, "I am not talented, I can only talk about the army on paper, I have never led troops to fight, let alone killed the enemy on the battlefield." ”

Xia Jing raised her eyebrows: "Oh, the dignified eldest prince of Youzhou has never been on the battlefield to kill the enemy, which really surprises me." ”

As she spoke, she walked to the outside of the city wall, looked at the north, and asked, "If I give you a chance, will you have the courage to raise troops on the battlefield, go out of the customs to fight, and kill him by surprise?" ”

Feng Zhang didn't expect Xia Jing to say this, the boy fights in the sand war, it may be the ambition of every man who grew up in the border pass, and he also has it.

He listened to Xia Jing's words, the opportunity was in front of him, and his mood was naturally surging, "If you help me get on the horse, I will kill the enemy in armor, and what if I fight for Dayu?" ”

"Haha. Our Dayu boy is bloody! ”

Feng Zhang's gaze fell on the city tower not far away, and the corners of his mouth hooked up a smile of unknown meaning: "It's just that some people may not want me to have the day when I step on the war horse, but only want me to be their money-making tool." ”

The smile on Xia Jing's face flickered, and she turned her head to look at Feng Zhang's line of sight, it turned out that it was Youzhou Thorn Shi Feng Yanrong who walked out of the city tower and was walking towards them.

Xia Jing turned her head and asked, "Your father and son are not harmonious?" ”

Feng Zhang laughed at himself: "There is nothing that is not harmonious, it's just that there are differences of opinion!" ”

Xia Jing's gaze swept over his face, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Feng Yanrong walked to Xia Jing with a general: "Chen Feng Yanrong has seen Niangniang. ”

"Lord Feng, don't be polite."

Xia Jing's eyes fell on the general behind him, who was at least 1.9 meters tall according to the weights and measures of later generations, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, a helmet and armor, and a heroic posture.

Feng Yanrong turned slightly sideways and introduced to Xia Jing: "This is Ning Keng, the chief soldier of the Great Realm Gate, who is brave and good at fighting, and is a famous general along our Great Wall!" ”

Ning Keng stepped forward and saluted: "Ning Keng, the chief soldier of the Great Realm Gate, has seen Niangniang!" ”

Xia Jing listened to the introduction, her eyes lit up, and she raised her hand and said, "No courtesy!" ”

It is no wonder that other border state capitals are frequently beaten by Beidi Chongguan in the grass valley, but Youzhou can be in a safe corner, and can still live a stable life in the troubled times when the wolves are fed.

This Ning Keng she has understood, born in poverty, because of the many brothers and sisters in the family, he was sent to the temple by his parents to foster care since he was a child, and he did not go down the mountain until he was fifteen years old, and his martial arts were practiced in the temple in those years.

After going down the mountain and returning home, he spent a few months of ordinary life safely, and later because Beidi broke through the pass, their village also suffered a military disaster, and his family was separated, and he also fell under Feng Yanrong's account by chance.

Because of his excellent martial arts, he was reused by Feng Yanrong, and was promoted to captain after following the expedition to Beidi.

Later, with the accumulation of military achievements, he was slowly promoted to the general army.

This is a very inspirational growth experience, and Xia Jing has a good impression of such a resilient and indomitable man.

Feng Yanrong observed Xia Jing's complexion and asked softly, "Did Niangniang rest well last night?" ”

Xia Jing smiled lightly and bowed her head: "Fortunately, I don't pick the ground, as long as I am tired, I can fall asleep anytime and anywhere." ”

Feng Yanrong said enviously: "People are prone to insomnia when they reach middle age, and this habit of Niangniang is really envious!" ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Feng Zhang, "The dog has a cold temperament, if there is any neglect just now, I hope Niangniang will not be surprised." ”

Hearing that he was inquiring about the content of the chat between her and Feng Zhang just now, Xia Jing just smiled, pointed to the mountain range in the distance and asked, "Lord Feng, after leaving the Great Realm Gate, can you reach the grassland by walking north along this ravine?" ”

Feng Yanrong saw Xia Jing change the topic and replied: "Yes!" Head north along the west entrance to the grassland. ”

"Oh~" Xia Jing asked again: "How often is the mutual market here open?" ”

"Once every half a month!" Although Feng Yanrong didn't know why Xia Jing asked this, he still answered honestly.

Xia Jing looked sideways at Ning Keng: "Beidi has come to the pass to burn and loot after the autumn all these years, and Dayu has always been passively beaten, if I give you a cavalry, do you dare to go deep into the grassland to rob Beidi's supplies?" ”

Yes?!

Except for Feng Zhang, everyone else present was stunned.

Everyone didn't expect Xia Jing to ask this.

"Don't you dare?"

Ning Keng came back to his senses and said firmly: "Dare!" The grassland has no fixed place to live, there is no city to defend, in fact, the success rate of the raid is very high! ”

He had such a whimsical idea before, but no general in the Dayu Dynasty dared to break this example, and he always insisted on defense.

Now that Xia Jing has an opportunity in front of him, if he doesn't seize the opportunity and let it go in vain, he won't be able to pass his own level.

Xia Jing was very satisfied with Ning Keng's answer, turned her head and asked Feng Zhang, "What about you?" ”

Feng Zhang ignored Feng Yanrong's angry eyes, his expression was excited, and he also replied firmly with one word: "Dare!" ”

"It's not. Niangniang, take the initiative to switch deep into the grassland, that is to put Dayu's soldiers and horses in a dangerous situation, Niangniang must not! ”

Listening to their words one by one, Feng Yanrong was anxious.

He guarded Youzhou, and it was precisely because he was able to hold on to one city and one place in Youzhou over the years, that it was because he resolutely did not take the initiative to go out of the customs and tried his best to defend that Youzhou had been calm for so many years, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.

Otherwise, if Beidi was angered, they would have stumbled with him a long time ago.

Xia Jing frowned: "Lord Feng, with me in charge, what are you afraid of?" ”

"I" Feng Yanrong was dumbfounded for a while.

He also wanted to ask himself, what was he afraid of?

He thought about it for a while, and then he realized that he was not afraid, he was a habit that he had developed for many years, and it was a little bad to accept it for a while.

Since it was decided, Xia Jing asked Feng Zhang and Ning Keng to select cavalry suitable for going deep into the grassland.

And told them: "There are not many noble soldiers, try to choose soldiers who are suitable for the expedition." ”

The expedition to the grassland, at least one person and two horses, plus dry food and water, is not suitable for too many generals to participate.

Long-distance running requires the physical fitness of the generals to be excellent, and the skills must also be excellent.

It can be said that the selected generals are all good sons and daughters who are one in a hundred.

Just when Feng Zhang and Ning Keng were in full swing to select soldiers who were proficient in cavalry and archery, the night that sent a letter to the deep mountains was not recovered.

They were accompanied by Zhenghe and the 30,000 rebels he led.

Ye Buhui led the rebel army back to the Dajing Gate safely, and they breathed a sigh of relief without a trace.

Halfway through, he was really afraid that one of the rebels would be unhappy and would not collect them all night.

The rebel team was temporarily resettled in the Great Realm Gate, and Zhenghe was taken to see Xia Jing.

"The grass people have seen Niangniang."

In front of Xia Jing, Zhenghe didn't dare to call himself an official position on the rebel side, nor did he dare to call himself a sinner, he just thought he was an ordinary grass people.

Xia Jing looked at his embarrassed appearance, as well as his sloppy hair and beard, and teased: "It's better to be famous than to meet, how long have you not taken care of yourself?" ”

Zhenghe's face was slightly red, and he glanced at Xia Jing indescribably: "Life in the mountains is not easy, so I can see Niangniang smile." ”

Xia Jing couldn't help laughing: "You know that it is not easy to survive, but you have the courage to walk out of the mountains, and your courage is commendable." Weighing all the reasons, what difficulties do you have for you to take up the post of guerrilla general for the time being? ”

When Zhenghe heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you for your appreciation." ”

There is no opinion, Xia Jing raised her eyebrows and said with a smile: "We will organize an operation in a few days, you select a group of people who are proficient in riding and archery from the team you brought back, and then cooperate with other generals to act." ”

Zhenghe was slightly stunned, how much did Niangniang trust him, so she let him participate in the action as soon as he came over?

"The minister will try his best to select soldiers who are proficient in cavalry and archery to cooperate with the actions of other generals!"

Xia Jing nodded: "Well, let's go." ”

Waiting for Zhenghe to leave, Xia Jing asked Zhang Erni to boil a pot of mugwort leaf water, and her body has temporarily eased up in the past few days.

But Xia Jing didn't dare to be careless, and soaked her feet in mugwort leaf water every day before going to bed, whether it was before napping or before going to bed at night.

Soaking in mugwort leaf water, Xia Jing sighed, leaned back in the chair and let Zhang Erni help her soak her feet.

Zhang Erni has not undergone professional training, and she is not as knowledgeable as the maids specially trained by the royal family.

When she heard Xia Jing sighing, she couldn't help but feel curious: "Why is Niangniang sighing?" ”

Xia Jing glanced at her and said, "The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and in two months, it will be the autumn harvest season, and then we will have to go back to the capital, and the rebels in Yanqing and Qingzhou can get a little respite, do you think I should sigh?" ”

Zhang Erni tilted her head and thought for a while, and said: "Niangniang means that she is afraid that after the autumn harvest, the soldiers and horses of Beidi will enter the customs and rob them, and she wants to return to the capital to preside over the overall situation before the autumn harvest?" And then don't you care about the rebels in the two states? ”

Xia Jing looked at her in surprise, "Yes, I didn't expect you to have a smart mind, amazing!" ”

Zhang Erni smiled shyly: "It's actually nothing, it's just that usually the slave maid likes to pay attention to current affairs and likes to listen to others talk about new things in various places. ”

Xia Jing was surprised to find that this Zhang Erni was really different from ordinary girls, she didn't pay attention to food and clothing, she liked to pay attention to current affairs and political affairs.

It doesn't seem strange if a man pays attention to this, but a little girl in this era pays attention to these things, which is a bit of a maverick.

——

Feng Zhang and Ning Keng selected in the barracks for a few days, and selected 5,000 iron horses and 10,000 war horses.

Among them was the team that came from Zhenghe and Toucheng, and selected 500 soldiers who were proficient in mounted archery.

When the five thousand iron horsemen were about to set off, Feng Yanrong looked at the hunting banner and asked Xia Jing: "Why did Niangniang come to the border this time and suddenly remember to raid the grassland?" ”

Xia Jing didn't look at Feng Yanrong, but looked at the five thousand iron horsemen who were preparing to go out in the distance.

"It's always been too defensive, but I'm a firm believer that it's better to defend than to take the initiative."

"And Beidi believes that my neighbor hoards grain and I hoard guns, and my neighbor is my granary. We have food and guns, so why don't we go to our neighbor's house and steal meat? Having food, meat, and force to protect oneself is the envy of the world, isn't it? ”

Feng Yanrong: "."

He wanted to say what if the neighbors were on guard and closed the door and beat the dogs.

But he didn't dare to say this, because he didn't succeed in his career, and he didn't dare to find bad luck.

Moreover, thinking of the five thousand light horsemen raiding the grassland, he was enthusiastic, what was going on?

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(End of chapter)