sirius

From Qihuai to Lanquan, Qi Xiao's boat didn't stop for a moment. Although Qi Xiao really wanted to take Tang Ling to visit Chuanyang and have a bite of stewed meat with cabbage, they were pressed for time, even if it was two hours, they couldn't delay it.

It was just late when their boat arrived at the Blue Spring Wharf, and it was only more than an hour before sunset, so they should stay overnight in Blue Spring and set off on their way the next day.

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling stood at the bow of the boat, and when they saw the pier from a distance, they glanced at each other calmly, neither of them needed to say anything, they clasped each other's hand silently, and they wanted to continue on their way without stopping.

Qi Xiao had Chi Yue by his side, and he had never seen any of the other Tiance Camp members, but the Xuanji Camp actually listened to Chi Yue's bad job, and after uploading, the carrier pigeons never stopped.

After the last discussion, Chi Yue sent out a letter, asking Xuanjiying to send people to investigate the deserted plank roads and checkpoints in Fenglin Mountain first, and contacted Lu Xiulin to transport grain into the mountain.

The news sent back by Xuanjiying about these two things was not satisfactory.

Not just "unsatisfactory", but very tricky.

The plank roads in Fenglin Mountain have all been destroyed, some are in disrepair for a long time, but more are caused by man-made damage, and the hanging ropes have been cut off.

Don't assume that it was the sabotage done by the Qi Guozhan Office when it entered the mountain.

Qi Xiao and Baixiqiao studied all night, and reselected three roads for grain transportation, but the fortifications had to be rebuilt.

Maps, routes, methods, Qi Xiao and Baixi Bridge were clearly marked one by one, and Chi Yue sent them back to Yuanzhou overnight.

They were all trapped on the boat, and what they could do was very limited. They decided to build the fortifications based on the memory of the two running around in Fenglin Mountain all year round. To be honest, Qi Xiao was not sure, and Bai Xiqiao felt even more guilty.

They are not sure whether piling can be driven on the slope, whether the sling can bear the load, and whether the wood in the forest can be cut and used directly. They can only let the supervisor figure it out, and they don't know whether the supervisor is reliable or not.

The impediment of food supply has already caused people to be devastated, but the problem of food is even more serious.

As soon as Lu Xiulin arrived at Yuanzhou Mansion, he went straight to the Dingyuan military camp. After meeting the chief general Chen Heng, he realized that the household department was still dragging the Dingyuan army's military pay, and the Dingyuan army's own military rations were stretched. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to survive the winter.

After questioning, Lu Xiulin found out that the payment of the military has been in arrears for a long time. It is the same every year, and half of it is delayed. This year, there is a big case in the household department, and the warehouse of the household department needs to be re-counted. Because of this, they are all backlogged, saying that if the Ministry of Criminal Justice and Dali Temple do not close the case, no one can touch the money of the Ministry of Households.

In previous years, the army's salary was not enough, so Chen Heng could only combine the three camps in Fenglin Mountain into two to survive the winter and wait for the salary to be paid.

A month ago, Han Cheng, the new magistrate of Yuanzhou Mansion, took office with His Majesty's order to garrison fields, but it has been a month since he recruited many people who were willing to come. There is no other reason. The Fuzhou Mansion next door can get enough food and clothing, so who wants to reclaim the barren hills as winter is approaching?

No money, no food, no way of food, at this time Qi Xiao should send a note back to Yuanjing to tell His Majesty that the battle cannot be won, so let's rest.

But they're still a month away, and it's not entirely out of the question.

At least His Majesty thinks it is possible.

The Tuntian Order was not prepared for the start of the spring attack on Qi. Your Majesty has long wanted to attack Qi. It will not be next spring, but it will be in the near future.

At that time, the plank road still needs to be repaired, and the Dingyuan Army still needs to be expanded. Since it will be done sooner or later, let Qi Xiao do it there.

It was much faster for Chi Yue to send a secret letter to His Majesty than eight hundred li. He did not need to go through the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Households, and the Cabinet, and presented it directly to His Majesty.

So everything has to go according to the original plan, how to accomplish these things within a month depends on whether Qi Xiao has the ability.

If he can't do all these things, what can he do when he reaches the state of Qi?

***

Qi Xiao and his party changed horses from boats in Lanquan, leaving behind a small group of people to escort them, and the others hurried to Fuzhou. Even Tang Ling and Qing Lan changed horses and followed.

Tang Ling had been with Marquis Xun An for ten years, and it took only a day or two to march and fight. Qing Lan also followed her all the year round. It was not difficult to ride a horse, and she was able to keep up with Qi Xiao. By the time they arrived at the next place, it was already night deep.

Except for Baixiqiao, who only stopped to change horses and continued on his way. According to the plan, he would go back to Fuzhou first to ask Yue Zhilin for help. Now it seems that he not only needs to prepare medicinal materials, but also needs to borrow food from Fuzhou government.

After the group of people rested, Qi Xiao was finally able to recover with his feet on the ground, and he also had an appetite to eat, but it was too late, and the inns in the small town were not as good as Lanquan's inn. I can make a fire and bake two steamed buns by myself.

Qi Xiao's soldiers had no interest in Qi Xiao baking steamed buns and eating them by himself. They were supposed to be on duty at night, and they were supposed to be sleeping. No one took a second look, but Qing Lan was very surprised that he had never seen such a "down and out" prince.

But the next moment he was relieved, from the first time he saw Qi Xiao, he didn't look like a prince or prince, everything he did was full of quack air, what's wrong with baking a steamed bun?

"You go to bed first, you don't have to stay with me.

I have to hurry tomorrow. "

Tang Ling sat beside Qi Xiao, watching him bake steamed buns: "Do you want to eat alone?"

"Don't dare, I'm afraid this thing won't get into Mr. Tang's mouth, it's too rough."

Tang Ling laughed: "Then you go into the woods and come back with the roe deer. There is no roe deer, and rabbits are fine. The roasted rabbit meat last time was very satisfying."

During the hunt in Baiyan Mountain, Qi Xiao roasted rabbit meat and sprinkled a lot of chili noodles, which made Tang Ling shed tears, but couldn't help but eat it. After eating, the wound on his arm festered, which made Qi Xiao feel distressed for nothing many days...

Qi Xiao baked a steamed bun, carefully picked up a small piece and brought it to Tang Ling's mouth: "Be careful of burning.

If you don’t have rabbit meat, let’s put steamed buns first, and I’ll make it up for you later. "

Tang Ling opened her mouth and bit down, her soft lips touched Qi Xiao's finger lightly, the heat and tide seemed to stick Qi Xiao's finger, making him stretch out involuntarily to pry Tang Ling's lips and teeth, wanting his Kiss suck and lick.

When he was in Baiyan Mountain, Qi Xiao thought about it that way, he didn't dare to do it then, but now he can't control it.

The night is quiet, the moon and stars are sparse.

The faint moonlight spread everywhere, but it was no match for the scorching heat of the fire, so it had to retreat a little, so the light in Tang Ling's eyes became hot.

Tang Ling licked it, the baked buns were a little sweet, Qi Xiao's fingers had the bitterness of charcoal and wood ash, it was hard and rough, just now he said that he couldn't enter Tang Ling's mouth, but he didn't know who insisted on it. delivery.

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling and swallowed. He was hungry, but he didn't want to eat baked buns anymore.

He pulled out his hands, put the baked and unbaked buns in the bowl and threw them aside, pulled Tang Ling up and left.

"Hey? Hey! Young Master?"

Qi Xiao quickly brought Tang Ling into the room, and the two passed in front of Qing Lan without saying a word, Qing Lan was shut outside the door before she could figure out what happened.

Qi Xiao put him on the bed, unable to bear the impatience.

"Slow down, slow down..." Tang Ling hugged Qi Xiao and chuckled, she was really full of blood.

"Tang Ling..."

"Ok?"

"In the future, you can't let others see you eating..."

"... How can there be such a thing?"

***

Before dawn the next day, they had to continue on their way.

Everyone led their horses out of the inn, Qing Lan kept staring at Qi Xiao with hatred, even Zong Sheng and Chi Yue were embarrassed.

Last night, Qi Xiao went too far!Knowing that they were rushing all the way, Tang Ling could not ride in a carriage and had to ride a horse, and still insisted on doing it, Tang Ling would have to suffer today.

Tang Ling got on the horse, only frowned, as if nothing happened.

Chi Yue glanced at Zong Sheng, shook his head, and followed directly beside Qi Xiao, who was looking at Tang Ling with a troubled expression on his face.

"Your Highness, let's go slower today? Baixi Bridge has already traveled back day and night, so it's okay for us to be two days late."

Qi Xiao nodded slightly, but heard Tang Ling approaching: "No need.

Hurry up, the sooner the better. "

Chi Yue glanced at Tang Ling, then backed away silently, and then saw Qi Xiao raising his whip: "Let's go!"

More than two months ago, Tang Ling went north to the Yuan capital and stayed in the carriage all the way. He didn't know and didn't care whether it was mountains, forests, wide roads or small paths, whether it was windy or rainy, cloudy or scorching sun.

Returning to Fuzhou this time, he walked the same road again, crossing mountains and forests, taking wide roads and trails, but he still didn’t see any scenery clearly, so he was left behind. It is non-stop.

It took eight days to go from Fuzhou to Lanquan last time, but this time it took less than five days to go from Lanquan to Fuzhou.