Chapter 27 The sound of the lady's abacus beads reached my ears...
After changing his clothes, Qin Shaozong walked down the mountain, occasionally stopping someone to ask for directions.
"Where is Commander Feng? I have important military intelligence to present to him," Qin Shaozong said.
The night was dark and the wind was high. The overgrown branches and leaves of the bushes seemed to coalesce into large black shadows, falling evenly on the faces and bodies of those who passed by, making them appear even darker.
Those questioned by Qin Shaozong would mostly tell him the truth, while the remaining one or two were simply too busy to answer him.
Suspect?
It does not exist.
Although it was difficult to discern their appearance in the darkness, one could tell they were one of their own just by looking at the round, red turban on their head, which was barely visible even in the night.
If you're still not convinced, take a closer look at the military uniform the other person is wearing. It's clearly identical, so what's there to doubt?
"Commander Feng is over here." Those who knew the truth pointed the way to this comrade from the front lines.
Qin Shaozong: "Thank you."
The screams echoed through the mountains, each one fueling Feng Liang's growing resentment, his face contorted with rage as he gritted his teeth.
Despite their large numbers, visibility was poor at night in the mountains, and the other party was as elusive as a mudskipper, disappearing as soon as they disappeared into the dense bushes.
Qin Shaozong was right in front of him, yet he couldn't catch him. How could he not be furious!
Just as Feng Liang was pondering whether to adjust the tactics, he suddenly heard a voice from not far away: "Commander Feng, Qin Shaozong was seriously injured by our team's brothers. He fled to the northeast and seems to have gone into a small cave over there."
In Qin Shaozong's view, after he shouted that sentence, one of the people in the group was particularly excited and hurriedly pushed aside the people next to him to look in his direction.
"Who was speaking just now? Come forward quickly!" Feng Liang said hurriedly.
Qin Shaozong stared intently at the figure, a thin smile slowly curving his lips.
So you're Governor Feng!
A path parted ahead, and Qin Shaozong strode forward, his hands empty except for the ring-pommel sword hanging neatly at his waist.
"Was that you who spoke just now?" Feng Liang was so anxious that he even took two steps forward to greet him. "You said that Qin Shaozong was seriously injured by you and hid in a cave in the northeast. Is that true?"
Qin Shaozong: "Naturally. That man thought he was invincible because he had superhuman strength, so he was arrogant and reckless and entered our camp alone. While several of us brothers joined forces to hold him back, we found someone to ambush him from behind and stabbed him in the back."
In the chilly midnight of spring, a night wind blew, pulling away the heavy clouds in the sky, and the bright moon finally peeked out. The pale moonlight shone down, making the mountains seem a little brighter.
Qin Shaozong happened to be standing in an open space, with no dense bushes around him. The moonlight fell unobstructed on his profile, making his facial features appear even more rugged, with a high nose, deep-set eyes, and long eyebrows, giving him a very dignified appearance.
Feng Liang then stood three steps away from Qin Shaozong. Looking at Qin Shaozong, who was wearing a round-topped red turban, he felt a strange sensation welling up inside him for some reason.
But the next moment, Feng Liang saw the person in front of him pointing to the northeast, "Governor Feng, walk about two hundred and fifty steps in this direction and you will see a steep slope. There is a cave on the slope, covered with dense vines, which is quite inconspicuous. I saw that the man surnamed Qin go into it, and he must be seriously injured. He can only hide there and wait for his men to rescue him."
These words were incredibly enticing. Not only was the location pinpointed, but they also revealed that the target was seriously injured and completely isolated.
Feng Liang didn't have time to think further; he only wanted to take advantage of Qin's illness and kill him quickly. He turned and waved, "Men, head northeast and search every cave thoroughly. Make sure you capture Qin..."
Before he could finish speaking, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Feng Liang's mind. This thought came abruptly, yet it was like a thunderbolt that struck him from the sky, making him tremble all over and sending chills down his spine.
Qin Shaozong of the North, Marquis of Wu'an, was personally appointed by the imperial court. He was the only border marquis to concurrently serve as governor of two provinces. Legend has it that he possessed divine strength, yet he was born with a broken eyebrow and was destined to lose both his father and brother.
Broken eyebrow!
The soldier who came to report the military situation just now clearly had his left eyebrow tail not connected.
"You are Qin..."
"Sizzle." The long sword slashed across his neck, and Feng Liang's round head flew off.
Having received Feng Liang's orders, all the guards around him turned around and faced northeast, preparing to march. So when this sudden change occurred, no one reacted in time, let alone rushed to his rescue.
Qin Shaozong shouted, "Your Lordship is wounded, and the traitor Feng will be buried with you! Your commanders are all dead!"
His voice was loud and clear, carrying far and wide, causing panic among the soldiers who heard the news.
To catch a thief, you must first catch his king. Now that the king has died, the army is leaderless and the thousand-strong force is thrown into chaos.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Qin Shaozong slipped into the jungle and, while climbing the mountain, dealt with any soldiers he encountered.
Several long whistles sounded, and Qin Shaozong's personal guards, upon hearing the whistles, retreated quickly while fighting.
Feng Liang died, and his deputy gritted his teeth and persevered, relying solely on the phrase "Your Lordship is wounded" to keep him going and continue organizing the battle.
With Qin Shaozong's retreat, Li Zan's army was able to advance much faster. The deputy general led his troops all the way to the mountain stronghold at the top, then chased them down the mountain, finally reaching the lakeside.
From a distance, the lieutenant saw two men supporting one man's arms, helping him step onto the wooden plank connecting the shore and the ship.
They wanted to escape by boat!
"Quickly, stop them! Qin Shaozong is already wounded; we can't let him escape!" the lieutenant shouted hoarsely. "Whoever takes his head will be guaranteed a life of wealth and honor by the Grand Marshal!"
The soldiers were energized and gave chase with boundless enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the distance between them was considerable, and no matter how much they ran until they were out of breath, they were still quite a distance from the warship.
Seeing Qin Shaozong board the ship, his guards were gathering up the planks when the deputy general, his eyes blazing with fury, shouted, "Fire the arrows!"
The arrows flew like a hail of bullets, full of momentum, but ultimately failed to reach the ground due to insufficient range. They couldn't even reach the warship, let alone the people on board.
By the time the deputy general and his men finally reached the shore, the two warships had already sailed to the center of the lake.
The arrows couldn't reach the target, there were no boats available, and the mission failed at the last minute.
The lieutenant angrily threw his longbow to the ground, his eyes filled with malice. "Just a hair's breadth away! Utterly despicable!"
"Deputy General Chen, what should we do now?" a soldier asked.
The lieutenant took a deep breath. "Immediately inform the Grand Marshal that Governor Feng has been killed and that Qin Shaozong has escaped wounded. They are traveling along the Qi River, which runs longitudinally from north to south and laterally from west to east. They will definitely head upstream, that is, towards a place closer to Nankang County."
The guard beside him brightened up. "Ximen County! The upper reaches of the Qi River connect to Ximen County."
The lieutenant said angrily, “Qin Shaozong is seriously injured and will definitely need a doctor and medicine to treat him. As long as we go to Ximen County quickly, we can capture him there.”
When a general is in the field, he may disobey some of the emperor's orders.
This Deputy General Chen, eager to enjoy wealth and honor with his entire clan, had a well-thought-out plan. After writing a letter and entrusting it to his subordinates to take back, he led the remaining troops to Ximen County in a hurry.
*
Tower ship.
When Qin Shaozong was helped onto the ship, looking "on the verge of death," Dai Li was both surprised and not entirely surprised, thinking to herself that the course would definitely be deviated from its course now.
They would definitely rush to other counties to find a doctor for Qin Shaozong in the middle of the night. In the chaos of war, could she...?
Before she could finish her little scheme, Dai Li watched as the man, who had been half-dead, suddenly straightened up after being helped into the cabin.
His spine was straight, and his eyes, which looked over, were sharp and bright. His vibrant, wolfish energy was particularly striking even in the night, a far cry from his previous half-dead state.
Unexpectedly, their eyes met.
Dai Li: "..."
Qin Shaozong walked over by himself.
He advanced, and Dai Li retreated until she had nowhere left to go, until finally her back had to be pressed against the cabin wall.
"What little scheme is Madam plotting now?" Qin Shaozong asked with a smile on his lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, which looked quite cold and sharp.
As soon as I looked up, I saw her big eyes darting around. This wicked fox was probably up to something again, hiding behind a rabbit's skin. I couldn't bear to look away for even a moment.
Dai Li, of course, denied it, saying, "I didn't."
"The sound of the abacus beads is right in my ears, how could it not be there? Besides, if it's not there, why are you backing away?" Qin Shaozong stepped forward.
Dai Li said in a low voice, "You smell strongly of blood, I can't stand it."
This was no lie. From the moment he returned, Dai Li smelled a very strong stench of blood, which swept through the entire cabin like a whirlwind.
As he drew closer, the smell intensified, like a handkerchief thrown into a bucket of blood, every thread soaked in the heavy scent of blood, so much so that it was still dripping wet when pulled out.
The thick, almost viscous aura of blood gave Dai Li a fleeting illusion that what stood before her was a ferocious tiger that had just returned from a hunt, its long fangs and even the gaps between its sharp claws still covered with bits of meat that hadn't been cleaned.
"You're so delicate." Qin Shaozong clicked his tongue lightly and didn't move forward.
Both of these ships are three-story structures. Because they were previously used to carry passengers, they not only have many rooms, but each room is also equipped with basic facilities.
Seeing that they seemed to have more to discuss, Dai Li went upstairs alone. She went to the third floor and chose a room at the end of the corridor.
Entering the house, locking the door—all in one smooth motion.
Once no one was around, Dai Li took out a cloth bag from each of her two sleeve pockets.
Her period was approaching, so she carried a menstrual belt with her; another bag contained silver coins and exquisite jewelry that was easy to sell.
That was all; her package was at Lin Erniang's house, and she didn't have time to take it when she left.
As for the most important transmission...
Dai Li sighed.
*
Downstairs, in the side room.
Qin Shaozong sat in a chair, facing Mo Yanyun, who was writing furiously three steps away. His hand rested on the table beside him, his long fingers tapping idly.
He was waiting, and he was also thinking about other things.
Although Mo Yanyun often loses his mind when it comes to women, and sometimes his brain is a beat slower than his comrades, he has a rare talent: he is extremely good at drawing maps.
The mountain paths I've walked, the bridges I've crossed, the rivers I've forded, even the map I glanced at just a few months ago...
These things seemed to be engraved in Mo Yanyun's mind; he could retrieve and reassemble them at any time whenever he wanted.
"My lord, it's done." Mo Yanyun put down his pen.
Qin Shaozong lowered his eyes, pulled himself out of his thoughts, and reached out to take the still-wet silk.
The silk scroll depicts the mountains and rivers near Ximen County and Taiping County, focusing on the flow direction, branches, and confluence with other rivers of the Qi River, as well as the counties and prefectures it passes through.
Mo Yanyun: "At the current speed of the ship, we will arrive at Ximen County in two and a half hours at the latest. My lord, by then it will be broad daylight, and we can enter the city without revealing our identities."
Qin Shaozong looked at the Qishui River on the silk, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
The Qi River flows roughly from north to south, with a slight deviation from west to east, eventually forming a southwest flow. This southwestern river passes through several counties, including Taiping County, where Zhuya Ferry was located, and Ximen County, which they were about to visit.
The third, situated further upstream, is the ancient Han dynasty.
The ancient Han prefecture was located directly west of the Nankang prefecture. It's as if he took a detour through the southwest, making a large loop back to the west of Nankang prefecture. Interestingly, the Hutuo River flows nearby, and a small branch of the Hutuo River branches off near Peach Blossom Ridge.
Qin Shaozong: "I am seriously injured and must go to Ximen County for medical treatment. They are traveling by land, and the commander-in-chief surnamed Feng has already died, so I don't think they will pursue us so closely. Let's take them for a while."
The battle just now took place in the mountains, and since horses couldn't climb the mountain, everyone abandoned their horses. The difference is that they left directly by boat, while the other side had to climb back over the mountain to find their horses.
Their boat traveled a long way back and forth.
Qin Shaozong continued, "Send a message to Su Xiuzhu, telling him that he will soon receive news of my serious injuries. Instruct him to enter the Jiang residence and take Yan San and the others away. Wait until daylight before seeking Li Zan to avenge me. Yan San will temporarily lead the Xuanxiao Cavalry. The marching plan remains largely unchanged, but since I am in imminent danger, there is no need to conceal anything now. Just lead the army directly on the road. The success of this plan depends entirely on the speed of the march. Tell Yan San to hurry on his way and not delay."
On his side, it was an open secret that Jiang Chonghai was colluding with Li Zan and that Li Zan intended to ambush the Xuanxiao cavalry at Peach Blossom Ridge.
As for Li Zan, he only knew that Xuanxiao's cavalry would take the route through Peach Blossom Ridge, so after thinking it over, he would most likely choose to ambush them.
Both sides wanted to seize this ambush point, but the difference might lie in the fact that one side knew the overall situation and was therefore rushing to gain the upper hand, while the other side felt confident of victory and was somewhat unhurried.
Su Xiuzhu, whom Qin Shaozong mentioned, was the military instructor of the Xuanxiao Cavalry, responsible for their provisions, documents, and other duties, holding a clerical position within the army. When they entered the city, he and three thousand Xuanxiao Cavalry remained outside the city.
Mo Yanyun nodded and began writing furiously again.
Half an hour later, the door to the side room opened, and the meeting adjourned.
A faint, hazy light peeked through the sky outside, and the belly of the fish peeked out, revealing a sliver of white. The darkest period before dawn had quietly passed.
Soon, the whole sky will be bright.
Climbing mountains, fighting, boarding ships, discussing matters. Qin Shaozong hadn't slept a wink all night, but that didn't stop him from being full of energy. "Hu Bao, let the ship dock for now."
"My lord, why are you doing this?" Mo Yanyun stopped his steps to go back to his room for a nap, thinking to himself that this was not part of the plan they had just discussed.
Qin Shaozong glanced at him indifferently, "Why are you making such a fuss? Just go wash in the river. You come along too. If you don't bathe soon, the dung beetles in the mountains will smell you and come to pick you up."
Mo Yanyun: "..."
Mo Yanyun was greatly shocked.
No, where does he smell bad?
Last night, he was left in the camp to prepare for the retreat and did not participate in the bloody battle. Compared to the thick layer of blood on the lord's robe that could congeal into clumps, making him look like he was marinated in salt, he at most only sweated a little.
Fine, since the higher-ups have given the order, we can't refuse. Mo Yanyun simply shouted, "Let's go, let's all go wash up together."
*
As the moon sets and the sun rises, the light of day returns, and a new day begins.
Dai Li was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window. She was so tired after returning to her room last night that she forgot to draw the curtains before going to sleep.
The sunlight outside the window was intense, and judging from the height of the sun, Dai Li estimated it was around 7 AM. She usually got up around this time, but she had gone to bed late yesterday and was still very tired.
Since no one came to call her, she thought she might as well draw the curtains and take a nap. With that thought, Dai Li got out of bed, slipped on her wooden clogs, and went to the window to draw the curtains. But when she looked, she was surprised to find that the ship had docked.
Instead of randomly finding a riverbank to dock, it stopped at a ferry crossing.
At the ferry crossing in the early morning, there were other multi-story boats, both new and old, moored in an orderly fashion at the shore, carrying passengers with large and small bags.
If you zoom out further, you can see many covered boats gathered at the ferry crossing, with fishermen wearing straw hats carrying baskets of river delicacies off the boats.
People come and go at the ferry crossing in an endless stream.
Dai Li remembered that the coachman who sent her out of the city said that the Qi River generally flows from north to south. Since Qin Shaozong was fleeing for his life, was it possible that he would choose to go downstream, which is faster?
If that's the case, wouldn't she be one step closer to Hangzhou?
Even though she knew Qin Shaozong would never take her back to Hangzhou, Dai Li still couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
I'm not sleepy anymore, so I can't fall asleep at all.
Just as she was about to push the window open wider to let the breeze in, a familiar warm current rushed down, and Dai Li froze, hurriedly reaching for her menstrual pad.
Her period started.
Perhaps due to her constitution, Dai Li's menstrual cycle is basically on time. During her period, she is only more tired than usual, but she does not experience any other negative effects such as menstrual cramps, back pain, or diarrhea.
After changing into her menstrual pad and washing up, Dai Li went out.
The entire third floor was quiet. Dai Li walked from the end and saw that the doors of the side rooms were all closed and showed no signs of use, as if she was the only one living on this floor.
Go downstairs.
Downstairs it was quite lively; Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao were talking by the stairs.
"When you get to the clinic, put the money on the table, then drag the doctor away to show that the situation is urgent." Mo Yanyun clenched his right fist and punched his left palm.
Hu Bao nodded and continued, "We also need to have people sweep through the medicine boxes and take away as many medicinal herbs as possible. Like locusts passing through, nothing will grow."
Judging from their demeanor, it's almost like they're going to rob someone.
"Madam Dai?" Mo Yanyun glanced at Dai Li out of the corner of his eye.
Dai Li went down the stairs. "Are you planning to go into the city? Could you take me with you on this trip? I'd like to buy some things."
Upon hearing this, both Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao narrowed their eyes, and then simultaneously turned their heads away as if they hadn't heard.
Dai Li: "..."
A faint awkwardness hung in the air for a moment.
"What are you all standing at the top of the stairs for?" A tall figure emerged from the room.
Hu Bao immediately said, "My lord, Lady Dai has something to discuss with you."
"Yes, she has something important to tell you. She was just passing by." Mo Yanyun secretly gave Hu Bao an approving look. Goodness, he's really quick-witted.
The gaze, which had been somewhat unfocused, suddenly became firm and intense, as always. Dai Li paused for two breaths before meeting those brown eyes. "Yes, I have something I want to tell you."
"Come here." Qin Shaozong turned around and went back into his room.
It means we need to go inside to talk.
Dai Li followed without hesitation. If it had been half an hour ago, she would have definitely felt uneasy, but not now.
The two entered the house one after the other, with Dai Li closing the door behind them.
Upon seeing this, Qin Shaozong raised his eyebrows slightly. This fox had become much bolder after waking up.
Dai Li walked up to him and got straight to the point, "My lord, I just overheard Commandant Mo and the others discussing going to the county to invite an apricot grove. May I go with them to the county to buy some things?"
Qin Shaozong gave a soft chuckle.
It's not just that she's become bolder; her courage has clearly grown to the point of being as bold as a leopard's.
Author's Note: I saw some readers asking about Dai Li's modern profession. Well, I won't spoil it for now, but I'll tell you later. [Let me see!]
Waaah, baby, don't fatten me up, I'll die! [crying emoji]
By the way, the security system is set up. The security score will be higher at first, but it will gradually decrease later. [Orange heart]
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