After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

At night, He Liang, who was sent to investigate the situation at the Military Supply Institute, rushed back. Today, the Military Supply Institute still refused to release the grain. In response to Wei Jieshuai's inquiries, they all said that the amount of grain was wrong and withheld it all. After the verification, it would be transported to Qionglai Pass.

Although Wei Jieshuai was angry about this, he did not dare to forcibly take away the military supplies, so he had to send people to stay in the military supply house to urge the people in the military supply house to speed up. In addition, he transferred grain from the Yizhou treasury to Qionglai Pass and Qingxi Pass. However, in this way, the court would have to return the grain to Jiannan, and the consumption would only increase.

In Chang'an, Pei Jiaoran was only given a ten-day holiday. It was not because he was disliked by the Emperor of Wei. It was just that the Emperor of Wei had just demoted Concubine Zhang's brother, and the King of Wu and Concubine Zhang were also under house arrest. For a time, Chang'an was in turmoil.

The next day, at dawn, Li Xiujing had finished his breakfast and was about to go to the military training when a scout came to report that the elite troops of the Tunan coalition had entered the heart of Qionglai Slope.

Li Xiujing raised his eyebrows, "Follow them carefully and don't alert them. There is a natural chasm waiting for them ahead."

He Liang pulled his coat closer and said, "Alas, there is still no movement from the Military Academy. The weather is getting colder and colder. The mountain roads are getting harder and harder to walk on. General, why don't you write a letter to Chang'an? With the pressure from Prime Minister Pei, I'm sure these people won't dare to delay like this."

"The mountains are high and the roads are long. A round trip will take at least half a month. Instead of relying on Chang'an, it would be better for you and I to lead the troops directly to put pressure on the Military Academy." Li Xiujing sneered.

"How can this be possible? The Southwest Military Court was originally controlled by eunuchs, and now they have only replaced them temporarily. Who can guarantee that the previous head of the Military Court has not left any spies inside?" He Liang shook his head. "If we really take action, wouldn't we be playing into their hands? But just sitting there and waiting to die is not a solution."

"Yes, you know this." Li Xiujing led He Liang to the parade ground. "This time, it's not just the Shen Ce Army that's fighting, there's also the Jian Nan Army. Marshal Wei Jie is no pushover, so let him handle this. Send a reliable person to Yizhou to convey my intention. If the Military Academy continues like this, I'm willing to lend a helping hand."

"I understand." He Liang bowed his head and nodded.

The two walked to the parade ground together. Although the enemy did not come to challenge them, they still had to practice every day to ensure that they could maintain their combat effectiveness at any time.

"You still need to be more alert when patrolling these days. Don't let them lack food and clothing, and send someone to take good care of the wounded. Copy down the names of the dead one by one, and calculate how much pension is needed as soon as possible." Li Xiujing raised his head and looked at the soldiers who were training with guns, and reminded them: "Remember to copy two copies. Give one to the marching commander, and keep one for yourself."

"Here."

Hearing He Liang's voice, Li Xiujing turned his gaze back to the training ground. The Shen Ce Army that followed him on this expedition were all carefully selected elites. Needless to say, their execution ability was excellent, and their mutual cooperation was also satisfactory.

As the shouts came into his ears, Li Xiujing unconsciously looked up at the bird flying across the sky. It flapped its wings and circled in the air. After chirping once, it flapped its wings vigorously and flew towards the north. His thoughts also seemed to follow the bird to the north across thousands of mountains and rivers.

Chang'an has already snowed several times, and the weather is getting colder. In the Taiji Palace, red plum blossoms are in full bloom, as white as jade.

The corridors of the palace government offices were covered with thick snow. Even though servants and eunuchs took turns to clean the corridors regularly, the snow would cover the corridors again in the blink of an eye. In the public rooms of the government offices, the court officials were buried in their desks, writing without stopping. A hurried sound of footsteps broke the tranquility of the corridors of the Secretariat.

The official in green robe hurried up to the second floor, and soon a man in purple robe followed him, slowly walking down the stairs.

After passing through Chengtian Gate, Pei Jiaoran looked at the houses on his left and walked towards the Lizheng Hall in front. He lit the fish talisman at the door and the eunuch on duty went in to report. After the report was reported to the emperor, the eunuch on duty in red clothes called two eunuchs in blue clothes to search for anything hidden.

Pei Jiaoran looked calm as he glanced at the eunuch who was searching him. Both of them had red hands from the cold, but their bodies were quite bloated.

As if he noticed Pei Jiaoran was watching them, the eunuch in red clothes said, "These two are eunuchs who have committed crimes and were transferred here by Yuan Jue to guard. They used to follow Zhang Rang, but unfortunately they are not very perceptive."

Pei Jiaoran smiled but said nothing. Eunuchs naturally had different ranks. For the high-ranking and favored eunuchs, it was not difficult to wear hoods and skirts to keep out the cold. For the eunuchs without hoods and skirts, they could only think of ways to work on their lining. A ramie silk undershirt, and then a cotton-filled round-necked shirt. Layer upon layer, although it looked bloated, it could at least keep out the cold.

However, the two people in front of him were used as targets by Yuan Zhengze to establish his authority.

After the search was complete, the eunuch in red glanced at the letter in Pei Jiaoran's hand and frowned slightly.

"Please come in, Mr. Pei." The eunuch in red bowed and saluted, with a smile on his face. There seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in that smile.

The Lizheng Hall was warm as spring. The Emperor of Wei was leaning against a stool and reading a memorial, while Yuan Zhengze stood beside him. Standing in front of them was the Immortal Lan.

Glancing at the two of them, Pei Jiaoran said, "Your Majesty, I, Pei Jiaoran, have something to report."

The Emperor of Wei looked up at Pei Jiaoran and saw that she was wearing a purple robe with snowflakes on her fuku. She looked like she had come in a hurry in the snow. His eyes were filled with smiles.

"What is it? Pei Qing read it out." The Emperor of Wei stroked his beard with a smile, and said to Yuan Zhengze, "Go and ask someone to bring a charcoal basin to Pei Xianggong. Don't let my trusted minister freeze to death."

Before Yuan Zhengze could respond, Pei Jiaoran thanked him and said, "Your Majesty, I appreciate your grace. But I just received news from the Southwest Military Supply Institute. The new Southwest Military Supply Institute envoy withheld a batch of newly delivered military supplies on the grounds that the Shen Ce Army and Jian Nan Army had consumed a lot of supplies recently and the transportation was insufficient. Now the Jian Nan Jiedushi has taken some of the military supplies out of the treasury."

The Wei Emperor fixed his eyes on Pei Jiaoran, "Is this true?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Jiaoran replied calmly, "The military envoy who will accompany the Right General of the Divine Strategy on this expedition was selected by me. From a few days ago to now, the Military Supply Institute has still refused to allocate military funds, and the Jiannan Army assigned by General Wei Jie has already complained."

The military hospital in the southwest was messed up by Zhang Rang's adopted son. Although someone else is in charge now, the mess is still a mess.

The Emperor of Wei was dissatisfied with Pei Jiaoran's words. "Someone has already reported the Southwest Military Supply Institute and sent someone back. Why are there still unclear accounts? Mr. Pei, I remember that you are the Jianghuai Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner. You are in charge of the Military Supply Institute this time."