Chapter 258: Military orders are as unscrupulous as mountains

Chapter 258: Military orders are as unscrupulous as mountains

Chapter 258 Military orders are as unscrupulous as mountains

The wilderness of Xijiang in November is enough to turn one's breath into frost. Starting from Xizhou City and heading west, the weather gets colder and freezing the further we go. Fortunately, there are not often winds and snow at this time, and it's hard to freeze. The smooth roads and quiet wilderness are more suitable for motorcade travel than other seasons.

The team transporting grain, grass and military supplies from Xizhou left the city in the early morning of the fourth day of November. In the past ten days, the team traveled quite smoothly under Pei Xingjian's supervision, and could always cover more than forty miles in one day. , it seems that in about ten days, we can reach the military warehouse east of Qiuci.

Although grain transportation is centralized, more than 100,000 shi of grain and rice would require five to six thousand large trucks to load it. Where can Xizhou find such large trucks at the moment? After all, they still requisitioned the driver of the convoy that Hu Shang used to deliver grain. At this moment, more than two thousand large carts hauled 40,000 to 50,000 stones of grain, rice, jackets, cloth and other items, covering a distance of more than ten miles. On both sides of the motorcade, the more than a thousand guards seemed sparse. The five hundred elite soldiers wearing the armor of the Tang army were nothing more than that. Although they were not many in number, their formations had a neat and orderly atmosphere. The remaining seven or eight hundred guards were dressed in different clothes and behaved in a loose manner. Most of them They all followed the orders of Su Nanjin and Zhang Huaiji, while the remaining two hundred or so people only acted based on the faces of Pei Xingjian and Qu Chongyu.

More than a thousand guards, just like the four commanders of the motorcade, although they were in peace along the way, they were also somewhat distinct. Careful people will inevitably feel a little uneasy when they see this.

Fortunately, most of the coachmen who followed Hu Shang throughout Western Xinjiang all year round did not care about the relationship between these nobles. With a team of more than a thousand people escorting them, their hearts had already settled peacefully in their hearts - this Western Although the horse thieves in Xinjiang are fierce, they only number in the hundreds. They only rob merchants and small grain convoys on weekdays. How could they be crazy enough to plan such a convoy?

At this time, the sun had just risen, and the breeze blowing on his face was still biting. Pei Xingjian, who was walking at the front of the motorcade, looked back at the rising sun. He saw Qu Chongyu, who was freshly dressed and riding towards the horse. He looked up and down. He glanced at Qu Chongyu and couldn't help but laugh, "Yu Lang is in such a good mood!"

Qu Chongyu changed into a light ocher gold silk embroidered bamboo leaf pattern narrow-sleeved winter robe. He had a snow-white fur front and a black leopard skin cloak with brocade patterns. He looked particularly energetic, but when he heard this, he was just cold. Leng said, "It's not as good as keeping the promise and wearing a plain robe outside, but it has its own secrets!"

Under Pei Xingjian's double-breasted long-sleeved cloak, there is an indigo robe that looks ordinary, but Qu Chongyu knows that Pei Xingjian's winter clothes are all like this. They look plain, but in fact they are very particular about the style and materials, and he doesn't know the lining inside. What it was, it was light and warm. Pei Xingjian just thought it was some kind of bird feather. He wanted to ask Cudi several times, but it was difficult to do so. Walking in the winter wilderness at this moment, looking at Pei Xingjian who was so light, he couldn't help but curse in his heart: He is indeed dressed like a man!

Pei Xingjian smiled and changed his subject, "The road has been pretty easy these days. We will reach the foothills in two days, so we have to cheer up!"

Qu Chongyu felt a little chilled in his heart, and looked back. Following him, in addition to more than a hundred of Qu's elite troops, were the Hu Shang guards temporarily recruited by Pei Xingjian. Tang Jun, who had been walking in the middle of the convoy in the distance, was already looking at There was no clear armor, only a few flags fluttering high on the grain carts. As for Xizhou's Five Hundred Buqu, because they were following the team, not even a shadow could be seen.

Qu Chongyu looked at the fluttering flags and was lost in thought for a moment. He couldn't help but turn around and asked, "Now that we are halfway through the journey, what is Su Ziyu... thinking about?" Although Su Nanjin is somewhat independent these days, his behavior is quite different. It was also safe and somewhat businesslike, but Zhang Huaiji had never suffered such a hardship before. He caught the cold within a few days and hid in the car most of the time.

Pei Xingjian said calmly without looking back, "We'll probably see the difference in the next two days. Anyway, you, Qu Yulang, are here..." He smiled and did not continue.

Qu Chongyu rushed up and continued with a sneer, "Don't worry, he can't be cruel!"

Pei Xingjian nodded and said with a smile, "Yulang really knows how to recognize people, Xingjian admires him."

Qu Chongyu snorted coldly and didn't bother to say another word. He didn't mind taking this trip, and he didn't mind mocking Su Nanjin along the way. He watched him turn blue with anger and sneered away, just thinking that he was now a human-shaped biscuit freshly baked, so hot and attractive. I started, but I couldn't help but still feel a little frustrated!

The grain team took the main road to Qiuci. Along the road, according to the Tang Dynasty system, a high weir was piled with soil every five miles. Seeing that the sun had just reached the zenith, the grain truck had already passed the fourth hill since it started in the morning, and the surrounding area was vast again. Pei Xingjian waved his hand and ordered everyone to take a short rest and have some lunch.

 The winding motorcade slowly stopped. The coachman and the guards took off their muffs, reached into their arms, took out the three or two toasted biscuits that they had put in their arms to keep warm in the morning, and chewed them slowly with cold water. This is a person who is as fastidious as Qu Chongyu. It was just that some attendants took out some pickles and dried meat from the package and put them into the broken Hu cakes.

In the silence where everyone was chewing hard, they heard the sound of horse hooves. On the mountain road in front of the grain team, two fast horses came all the way. The guards in front did not dare to neglect, hurriedly put down the cakes and got on their horses. They took a few steps forward to greet them. When they got closer, they realized that the people on the horse were not the scouts sent by the convoy, but two military attachés with bright armor. They shouted loudly from a distance, "The order from the Protector of the Great, here comes the leading troops." See you!" The guards looked at each other, and some rushed to the rear.

In less than a cup of tea, Pei Xingjian, Qu Chongyu and Su Nanjin all stood in front of the herald in neat clothes. The herald unfolded a piece of paper with an expressionless face, and his voice was cold and clear:

“It’s extremely cold and many soldiers in the camp have frostbite. I have specially ordered Su Nanjin, who joins the army, to immediately send 10,000 men with cold coats and fast horses to the camp. There must be no mistake!”

 Ten thousand people receive cold jackets? It was calculated that five hundred horses would be needed... Qu Chongyu raised his head and looked at Su Nanjin who took the military order with a solemn face. All the doubts in his mind disappeared completely: So, that's it! It turns out that Su and his son had this idea from the first day the military order was issued! No wonder they didn't know about Xizhou's grain collection arrangements, but they were able to cut through the trouble quickly and settle on the marriage. No wonder they used all kinds of means to win over the high-ranking officials in Xizhou. It turned out that their original plan was not to prevent Xizhou from collecting enough food. Food and grass, but so that the food and grass cannot be transported to the military camp at all!

With the conscription order, Xizhou no longer had any government troops to send, and they had Gaomen's private soldiers firmly in their hands, so Xizhou City no longer had any extra troops. Now, as soon as Su Nanjin leaves in a grand manner, those "horse thieves" or "rebels" will attack, right? How could the more than two hundred guards and the five hundred subordinates who had been trained to have no intention of fighting be able to hold on to more than two thousand carts of food and rice? If the grain truck was burned to the ground, how could he and his son escape the charge of dereliction of duty? As if she felt Qu Chongyu's gaze, Su Nanjin turned her head and looked at Qu Chongyu, her eyes no longer had the anger and hatred of the previous days, but a look of indifference.

Qu Chongyu felt choked in his chest. Just when he was about to speak, Pei Xingjian's calm voice rang out, "I will obey the order."

Su Nanjin's eyes suddenly became a little more suspicious. He glanced at Pei Xingjian with a smile on his face, "Chang Shi, the military order is like a mountain. The subordinates must select five hundred riders, one person and two horses to deliver the cold robe. Qiuci... Don't worry, Chang Shi, this place is only four hundred miles away from Qiuci. After Nan Jin hands over the order, he will lead the army back in four days at most."

One of the heralds at the head seemed a little impatient and hugged his hands coldly, "That's very good. I'll go back and get back to you now. I hope you won't keep the guards waiting for too long." After saying that, he didn't stay much longer and replied. The horse galloped away.

Su Nanjin also smiled and said, "I will go and pick out people who are good at riding. It is best to leave some men and horses for Chang Shi."

Qu Chongyu couldn't help but said coldly, "There's no need to trouble Mr. Su. What does it matter if the young master takes away all the soldiers? There are no horse thieves in this convoy. How can those thieves choose to attack the young master when he is not around? Young Master Feel free to leave, Chongyu would like to wish you the best!"

Su Nanjin stared at Qu Chongyu, squinted his eyes for a while and laughed, "I would like to extend your blessings to the crown prince! I also wish the crown prince... a safe journey!" He turned to look at Pei Xingjian, and his smile became brighter, "In the past three or four days, , then there is a history of labor.”

Pei Xingjian nodded calmly, "Since the Governor has ordered, Ziyu will go and make arrangements first. In the past few days, Xingjian will definitely put safety as his first priority."

Watching Su Nanjin striding away, Qu Chongyu finally sneered, "The Protector Su is indeed very thoughtful and well-intentioned! It's just that Su Ziyu was happy too early and had no scruples!"

Pei Xingjian said calmly, "He really doesn't have to worry about it."

Qu Chongyu was speechless for a moment. Indeed, he had military orders and men and horses in his hands. Even if he could see the clues at this time, could he stop him and prevent him from going back? Or can you find an excuse to abandon the convoy and escape alone with your escort? Not to mention whether they could escape the interception of elite soldiers that had been arranged in advance in the wilderness. Even if they could escape, if it was to save their lives, why would Pei Xingjian and himself insist on making this trip? Fortunately, Su Nanjin would never have imagined that the Qu family could use far more than these 100 pieces! It's just this grain truck... He looked back at the long team and finally frowned.

After a full hour of busy work, a thousand horses were finally pulled out of the convoy. Two large bundles of tightly tied winter robes were hung firmly on half of the saddles, while the other half of the saddles were sitting on More than four hundred soldiers of the Su family and about a hundred Xizhou tribesmen were all one man and two horses. Su Nanjin was riding on the leading maroon horse, with a high-spirited face. He hugged Pei Xingjian and saluted, "Long history, there are not many people in Xizhou Buqu who can master two horses, so I can only leave a hundred soldiers." Follow the instructions of the Chief, please take care of these tens of thousands of stones, grains, rice, and dozens of carts of cloth."

Pei Xingjian hugged his hands without saying a word, while Qu Chongyu stood aside with a cold face. Su Nanjin's eyes slowly turned around the two people's faces, then suddenly raised his whip and flicked it, and left Juechen. The smile on his face bloomed facing the sun. Thousands of horses roared away behind him, and the sound of vibrating hoofs continued for a long time.

The drivers in the convoy were a little confused for a moment. There is no shortage of good horses in Western Xinjiang. When Su's five hundred people came over, they had one man and two horses. Their departure had no impact on the progress of the convoy, but they saw the bright armor around the convoy. In an instant, there were only a hundred or so cavalrymen left, and even the most heartless coachman could not help but murmur in his heart.

Pei Xingjian pondered for a moment, then turned around and told Bai San, "Give me my order. Go faster now. When you get to the camp in the evening, you can light a fire and make food!"

Qu Chongyu couldn't help but be surprised. The weather in Western Xinjiang is dry in winter, and grain trucks and cloth are flammable. Therefore, if you encounter narrow terrain when camping along the way, for safety reasons, you can only eat cold food. , why are you lighting a fire today?

I have been reading the publication proofs of "Thousand Gu Jiangshan" these days, and I really don't want to read it. I hope it is the last time... I originally planned to write more this month, but it seems that it will be finished at the beginning of next month. Hehe, let’s call out Pink, I still owe you ten votes to add an update. Even if I can't code it in these two days, I will make up for it on the weekend.

　　

　　

 (End of this chapter)