The garrisoning general Chen Mieyue knelt down to receive the imperial edict. After reading the contents of the imperial edict, he immediately ordered people to go to Cangcheng, a hundred miles away, to invite Shangguan Xuan, the Marquis of Zhennan, to discuss the matter.

At night, the cold moon hangs high in the sky.

Shangguan Xuan came on horseback with a team of cavalrymen, and his military advisor Zhao Qing was also with him.

Several horses arrived outside the city in a low-key manner. Shangguan Xuan was in his twenties, sitting on a horse, his dark robe fluttering in the wind, looking very handsome. He had fought in the border for a long time, and his skin color had become dark, but the unique temperament of Yanjing nobles was still there.

Chen Mieyue was waiting at the city gate to greet him. He glanced aside and caught a glimpse of the slender young man riding on the same horse with Shangguan Xuan.

“Mr. Zhao is here too?” Shen Mieyue raised his eyebrows, not surprised.

Mr. Zhao, whose real name is Zhao Qing.

Zhao Qing was originally an ordinary teenager in Liangzhou. When he was out collecting herbs, he encountered bandits and was rescued by Shangguan Xuan who was passing by. Zhao Qing was grateful and proposed a method of making a "musket", becoming Shangguan Xuan's trusted military advisor.

Zhao Qing was not good at riding a horse and was weak and sickly. Tonight Zhao Qing and Shangguan Xuan rode on the same horse.

Shangguan Xuan dismounted first.

Shangguan Xuan's movements were skillful and natural. He said, "Ah Qing, give me your hand. I'll help you down."

The moonlight at the border was bright, and a barely perceptible shyness appeared on Zhao Qing's handsome face. Zhao Qing held Shangguan Xuan's broad hand and dismounted awkwardly.

He accidentally stepped on empty air and his thin body tilted.

Shangguan Xuan was quick to grab Zhao Qing's slender waist and carry her back to the ground steadily.

"Thank you, my lord." Zhao Qing had a gentle smile on his lips. Their eyes met, and feelings arose between them.

Chen Mieyue was a rough man, so naturally he didn't see the trick between the two men, so he took the two of them in to discuss the plan to attack the three cities of Yue State.

He dismissed outsiders from the inner hall and only kept a few trusted soldiers.

Everyone gathered around the sand table and began to deploy their troops. Zhao Qing didn't know any military tactics, so he sat quietly drinking tea. His gaze occasionally fell on Shangguan Xuan, and tenderness appeared in his eyes.

"Why was His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan assassinated again?" A soldier scratched his head, vaguely remembering that the Prince of Yan had also been assassinated a few months ago.

Shen Mieyue rolled his eyes at him: "What do you know, this is His Highness's strategy."

Every war requires a reasonable excuse.

The two princes of Qing State almost died from the arrows of the Yue State assassins. Who could tolerate this? Who among the soldiers would not be angry?

A group of soldiers chattered and discussed until late at night, prepared all the marching strategies, and then they received orders and dispersed. Everyone is full of confidence. The Qing Kingdom is powerful, and they have the invincible "Musketeers", so they have a great chance of winning this battle.

"Don't be in a hurry to leave, have a cup of tea first. This is the lotus tea that Yan Yunting brought from Yanjing. I can't taste it, but you are from Yanjing, young marquis, so you will definitely like it." Shen Mieyue greeted Shangguan Xuan and Zhao Qing.

The servant brought lotus tea from Yanjing.

Shangguan Xuan took two sips, with a nostalgic look in his eyes. "This is the most famous lotus tea in Yanjing. Every summer, we collect lotus buds from Luoyue Lake, spread the petals, put tea leaves in the center of the flower, and then close the petals and leave them overnight, so that the tea leaves can be fully stained with the light fragrance of the lotus."

Zhao Qing also took a sip. It was the first time she tasted such a fragrant tea and she was quite amazed.

Chen Mieyue scratched his head: "You Yanjing people are all so literary. You even put tea leaves into lotus flowers when you drink tea. I remember when my younger sister was a child, she also liked to dry lotus flowers and soak them in water. The taste was terrible."

Zhao Qing asked casually: "General Shen, where is your little sister now?"

Shen Mieyue's face suddenly fell, and his smile disappeared.

Even though he was a tall and strong man, his voice trembled slightly when he mentioned his family. Chen Mieyue closed his eyes: "They are all dead."

It is really rude to expose someone's scars, so Zhao Qing remained silent.

Chen Mieyue said: "Sooner or later I will kill those Yue people and avenge my family. Military Advisor Zhao, I heard that you are researching a weapon called [Land Mine] recently. You should study it carefully. This general is waiting for your good news!"

Zhao Qing nodded happily.

After drinking tea, Shangguan Xuan took Zhao Qing back.

Shen Mieyue suddenly remembered something, and quickly took out a thick package from the cabinet, and quickly chased after him: "Young Marquis, I almost forgot about this! Your wife asked someone to send a pair of cowhide military boots, take them back!"

Shangguan Xuan paused.

Zhao Qing pursed her pink lips, her eyes filled with grievance and unwillingness.

Shangguan Xuan turned around and said to Shen Mieyue: "The military boots on my feet are very good, and I don't want to change them. General Shen, these boots are given to you to wear."

After saying that, Shangguan Xuan carried Zhao Qing onto the horse and led the cavalry team away quickly.

Chen Mieyue held the brand new cowhide military boots and his eyes fell on the slightly worn pair of leather boots on Shangguan Xuan's feet. The leather boots on Shangguan Xuan's feet were bought for him by Zhao Qing at the Liangzhou market. Shangguan Xuan liked them very much and never changed them.

"People in Yanjing are really weird. They don't wear new boots but insist on wearing old ones." Chen Mieyue returned to the house.

He looked at the new leather boots in his hands.

The stitches are dense and the calfskin is the strongest piece of leather on the back of an old cow. The outer layer is brushed with tung oil and dried. It is enough to show how much thought Shangguan Xuan's wife, who was far away in Yanjing, put into this pair of boots.

Chen Mieyue tried on the new pair of leather boots.

Fits perfectly!

Shen Mieyue was very satisfied and muttered, "When I return to Beijing in triumph in the future, I must thank this lady, hehe!"

At dawn the next day, Chen Mieyue, wearing brand new cowhide military boots, began to count the soldiers.

The faint morning light enveloped Liangzhou City, and the desolate cry of an eagle could be heard in the distance. A burly gray eagle spread its broad wings, descended from the sky, and landed steadily on Shen Mieyue's left shoulder.

Chen Mieyue was wearing armor, holding a cang in his left hand and a spear in his right hand. His majestic voice spread throughout the training ground:

"Everyone!"

"The children of Yue State seized our land, robbed our women and children, and trafficked our people! Five days ago, Yue State even sent assassins to kill the two high princes, the King of Yan and the King of Heng! This hatred must be avenged!"

"Qing soldiers, call your generals, for Daqing! Fight!"

The goshawk let out a sharp cry, and a battle was about to break out.