Chapter 81 Marching Team
"Did I overestimate him or underestimate him?" Ziluo played with the Buddha amulet in his hand, muttering to himself.
Altai, who was half-kneeling below him, said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. This time, the Emperor of the Central Plains will not return."
Ziluo lowered his head slightly. "Altai, I saved you because I respect you as a warrior and I couldn't bear to see a warrior lose his life because of a scheme... So, don't let me down."
Altai's expression froze for a moment, and then, as if he had made up his mind, he said, "King, if this fails, Altai will die as an apology!"
Altai was the Rongdi general who had gone to Huangsha City, but now he was in the Turkic territory, probably because he was pushed out as a scapegoat for the murder of Wuguha, and he was defeated in a battle, almost losing half his life, and was finally hung on the execution platform to be exposed to the sun. If the Turkic king had not rescued him, he would have been dead now.
When Altai escaped from Rongdi, many of his loyal men followed him. The Turks were powerful on the grassland. With the help of the Turkic king, Altai and his men successfully entered the Turkic territory, and the Rongdi king did not dare to say anything more.
Ziluo still stroked the amulet in his hand, muttered a few words, and then waved his hand: "Go."
After Altai left, a man walked out from the darkness of the king's tent. It was Ziluo's brother, the most trusted aide to the former Turkic king.
The former Turkic king did not know that the aide who had been "loyal" to him was actually named Pabu, and he did not know that the aide's actual surname was Asid.
"The king is really good at planning." Papu said with a smile, his narrow eyes narrowed.
Ziluo stretched out his hand, and Pabu bent down and presented the sandalwood box on the table with both hands. Ziluo put the amulet in his hand back carefully and attentively.
Ziluo said calmly, "The Turks are so boring. I'm really looking forward to this good show."
"Pab, do you know why the Turks have been confined to the grasslands for hundreds of years?"
Pabu held Zilo's box containing the amulet in both hands and lowered his head to listen.
"I won't use this place." Ziluo nodded his head and smiled. "It's a gift to them to be used by me."
After Ziluo finished speaking, his eyes suddenly widened, and he stood up from the throne and moved forward slightly.
"I'm so looking forward to it, Papu! When we were in the capital, I told you that I would be back soon..."
...
The 15th is an auspicious day calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, suitable for travel.
The imperial carriage left the capital in a grand procession. Hundreds of guards cleared the way for the emperor's carriage, and another hundred people accompanied him, always on high alert.
The team following behind was huge and it was a grand sight.
Because the official road was built, the road was wide and flat, and Yan Xuanyu felt very comfortable sitting in the carriage. However, after only one day, he could no longer sit still.
He said that he could only sit in the carriage. It was okay for others and they could be casual, but Yan Xuanyu could not, because they had to consider the emperor's majesty and the curtains could not be opened casually.
"Li Zhongxian, go find a set of guard's clothes." Yan Xuanyu could no longer bear it.
Li Zhongxian said: "...Yes."
Taking advantage of the break, Yan Xuanyu temporarily transferred the people around him and completed the transition from carriage to horse as the means of transportation without anyone noticing.
Fortunately, he improved the horse harness. Otherwise, if he still used the old saddle, his thighs would definitely be broken and bleeding after riding for a day - this is something that everyone who rides a horse must experience.
However, although the improved saddle still causes some bumps, it is very friendly to the legs. Horseshoes can also greatly reduce the wear and tear of horses. These have already been prepared for the horses. With these, there is enough capacity to transport horses to the surrounding cities. Yuan Kang is also raising horses.
He followed Yan Xuanyu's method and placed the foal in the homes of the people in the city. He selected some honest and hardworking people and taught them how to raise horses. They provided the fodder and other things needed for raising horses, and he also gave the people some silver and money regularly.
The people were happy with the increase in income, and the military camps were happy not to have to spend manpower and time raising horses, as all the time could be used for training soldiers.
It also increased the people's trust in the border guards.
...
After Yan Xuanyu had his secret guards disguise themselves, he rode his horse and followed the emperor's carriage. Finally, he breathed in the fresh air, which made him sigh comfortably.
The horses under him pranced forward with all four hooves, and the team's pace was just right. They adjusted the speed at any time according to the progress, so that everyone could keep up. It was much less suffering than when the previous emperor traveled.
Along the way, there were many people around the official road.
Even if the guards did not use weapons to intimidate them, they would just watch from afar, and some people would kneel down and salute the emperor.
The people of the Great Zhou gathered around the official road, including men, women, young and old, tall and short, fat and thin. The only thing they had in common was that they all followed the emperor's mighty procession with grateful expressions and shining eyes.
Yan Xuanyu couldn't see these things when he was in the carriage. It was not until he came out that he saw the scene that made his heart tremble.
Yan Xuanyu sat on his horse and saw the common people outside the layers of guards. His eyes swept across their faces one by one, as if he wanted to remember each one of them.
At that moment, he felt that everything he had done was worth it.
...
Yan Xuanyu did not ask Li Zhongxian to prepare lunch separately, but simply went to the back to have a meal by taking advantage of his identity as the emperor's guard.
All the guards in the marching team had the same meals. During the midday break, the cooks would set up a large pot to boil water and drop the dark cubes into it. The water would quickly turn into a thick soup, releasing waves of strong aroma.
The guards' lunch was rice with soup. The thick soup with bits of minced meat and a particularly flavorful taste was very delicious when poured over the rice.
This kind of food is not only delicious but also takes a short time to cook, making it perfect for times like this.
Yan Xuanyu dismounted and led the horse towards where the guards were gathered.
"Wait a minute!" A man in a guard uniform called out to Yan Xuanyu.
Yan Xuanyu stopped and noticed that the man had a serious expression. "Who are you working for?"
"I……"
Yan Xuanyu was stunned and began to think about how to write it.
Unexpectedly, when the man's gaze moved to the horse led by Yan Xuanyu, his eyes suddenly widened. Unfortunately, Yan Xuanyu was trying hard to recall who the guards around him were, so he didn't notice. When he looked up again, the man's expression had already returned to normal.
"Your Excellency, I am a guard under Lord Jia Pengchi." Yan Xuanyu said.
The man nodded, seemingly believing his words easily, and even covered his lips with his hand and coughed lightly a few times, "Ahem, I seem to have some impression of you. Are you going to have lunch?"
Yan Xuanyu said, "Yes, sir."
"It just so happens that I want to go too, let's go together." the man said again.
Along the way, although the man seemed normal, he was actually very attentive. He took the reins from Yan Xuanyu's hand and personally received the meal and put the bowl in Yan Xuanyu's hand when he got the meal.
After finishing his meal, Yan Xuanyu took his leave from the guard and said that he was going back to the imperial carriage to take up his post.
As Yan Xuanyu left, a guard ran over and said, "Master Jia, Master Shen wants you to discuss the change of duty tonight."
"Okay, I'll go right away!" The guard called "Master Jia" stopped being dazed and left with quick steps.
...
Yan Xuanyu left so quickly because he came to his senses and felt a little embarrassed.
It was only later that he realized why Li Zhongxian would just give him a horse. He thought it must be the imperial horse he always carried with him, and the guard spotted it at a glance.
Moreover, the guards are now divided into groups, and each guard is in charge of several guards. It is definitely impossible to call him "team leader" - that is too unimpressive, so they are all called "sir".
This was an order he gave personally. The man must have called him because he was alert and noticed a stranger, and almost mistook him for an assassin.
After the implementation of the group system, the originally chaotic guard system suddenly became clear. How could there be any chance to fish in troubled waters?
Everyone understood each other tacitly and let Yan Xuanyu ride the horse to his heart's content.
...
We walked and stopped for several days along the way.
Because the official road can replenish resources every few steps, the pressure of this trip is greatly reduced.
Yan Xuanyu has been keeping in touch with Yuan Kang through correspondence, and the time it takes to send and receive letters is getting shorter and shorter.
Yuan Kang mentioned Wu Shuang's whereabouts in the letter. During this period of time, he had been searching for information about Wu Shuang in many ways over the years, and finally got some clues.
Some people said that they saw someone who looked like Wu Shuang in the portrait while traveling in Ancheng.
Anseong?
Yan Xuanyu raised his eyebrows. The place they passed by was very close to Ancheng.
If we can find Wu Shuang, there is a chance that we can ask him to come out of retirement and forge weapons for the soldiers of the Great Zhou!
Yan Xuanyu breathed a sigh of relief and called out the tool for finding traitors that he had previously extracted from the system. After reciting silently in his mind, the tool pointer gave guidance in the air.
It seems that he has to go in person this time.
...
Everyone rested in place for two days, and the Jinyiwei and elite guards followed Yan Xuanyu to find Wu Shuang's whereabouts.
"Wu Shuang? The world-renowned master craftsman?" Han Yuan pondered. "He retired many years ago. Even if Your Majesty personally invites him, he may not come out."
Yan Xuanyu said, "Then we should try our best."
Others may not even be able to find Wu Shuang's exact location, but he has the props in his hand to provide guidance, and going there in person may better demonstrate his sincerity.
Han Yuan did not stop him, but said: "These geniuses often have unpredictable tempers. If you can find him, he won't want to. Your Majesty, please don't force it."
"Okay." Yan Xuanyu nodded.
After he finished speaking, he led his men to follow the instructions and left the main force and headed towards Ancheng.
Others could not see the direction indicated by Yan Xuanyu's props, so they only saw their own Majesty turning around with great confidence.
Of course, everyone had no complaints and worked diligently as guards, always paying attention to the movements around them.
"Strange, wasn't it said to be in Ancheng? Why is it getting further and further away?" Yan Xuanyu muttered to himself.
"Your Majesty, what did you just say?" asked the Jinyiwei beside him.
"Nothing." Yan Xuanyu said. He saw that the sign had changed direction again and quickly turned his horse around.
"Your Majesty, where do you want to go?" the Jinyiwei asked again.
Where to go? He doesn't know either! Yan Xuanyu frowned and thought.
This prop really screwed him!
After going around and around, they finally reached the mountain road.
Yan Xuanyu had no choice but to say, "General Yuan's letter included Mr. Wu's address and directions. I have the directions, so we just need to follow them."
"Yes." The people around Yan Xuanyu said in unison.
...
"There is a mountain road ahead. The terrain on both sides is high and there are many hidden places. Please pay attention to defense." The Jinyiwei said loudly.
Yan Xuanyu looked at the mountain road ahead and his eyelids suddenly twitched.
Was it his imagination? It was so dark and gloomy here, why did he always feel like a bunch of assassins would rush out at any second...
There was a road in the middle of the increasingly high terrain on both sides. The branches that fell on the road were broken by the horse's hooves, making a squeaking sound.
Yan Xuanyu glanced at the props, and the shadow in the air was still instructing him to move forward.
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