Shangguan Wanning didn't know martial arts and couldn't dodge in time.
I'm dead this time.
The thought flashed through her mind, but the sword stopped half an inch away from her chest.
"Wan Ning?"
Shangguan Wanning looked carefully and found that it was Mu Jingyan, whom she had been chasing all the way.
She let out a long sigh, stamped her feet and said in reproach: "Jing Yan, didn't I ask you to stay at Qin Taiyi's residence and wait for news? You knocked Lu Tong unconscious and ran away. Do you know how worried I was about you?"
Mu Jingrui pouted and didn't seem to care. But she was indeed surprised that Shangguan Wanning would chase after her.
"Come in and talk."
Mu Jingyan pulled Shangguan Wanning into the house and quickly closed the door.
The room was empty except for a few stools lying on the ground. Strong wind blew in through the cracks, still freezing cold.
"I am very worried about my brother's safety. He is my only relative in this world. You will never understand my feelings."
Mu Jingyan could sense Shangguan Wanning's genuine concern. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "I must rush to the border. No matter what happens, I must be the first to know about my brother. Go back as soon as the sun rises tomorrow."
Shangguan Wanning looked at Mu Jingyan seriously. She knew that no matter what she said, she could not persuade Mu Jingyan.
In fact, she was not completely unable to understand Mu Jingyan's feelings.
However, Shangguan Wanning was more confident than Mu Jingyan. She believed that Mu Jingrui could handle it.
“Jing Yan…”
"You don't have to say anything. I'm very grateful that you came after me. You have also explained to my brother." Mu Jingyan interrupted Shangguan Wanning.
Shangguan Wanning shook her head slightly. "I'm not trying to persuade you to go back. I'm trying to say that I'll go with you to the border. Maybe I can help."
Mu Jingyan was a little surprised. "Wan Ning, you..."
"Stop talking and go to bed early. We'll set off at dawn tomorrow."
Mu Jingyan didn't say anything else. The two girls curled up in the corner, snuggling up to each other for warmth.
The night was peaceful, and at dawn the next day, the two men rode on horseback and continued on their journey. They walked for two consecutive days before reaching the border.
Shangguan Wanning discovered that the border was more desolate than she had imagined.
Due to the snowstorm and the war, all the people who could run ran away, and those who could not run or could not escape were captured by the Goshawk and Wu Xiong.
This was the first time Shangguan Wanning realized the cruelty of war.
"Wan Ning, look."
Mu Jingyan and Shangguan Wanning stood on the hillside and looked out. They saw a team coming not far ahead. Judging from their attire, they did not look like someone Zhongyuan knew.
Mu Jingyan pulled Shangguan Wanning and hid.
"Wan Ning, let's find a way to faint in the team." Mu Jingyan was a little excited, "They are the logistics supply team of Wuxiong Country."
"How do you know?" Shangguan Wanning asked in surprise.
"Didn't you see the flag of the Wuxiong Kingdom flying on their carts? This team is not large in number, but they are well-equipped, and all the soldiers are surrounding the carts. They must be loaded with food."
When Mu Jingyan was a child, she followed her father to garrison at the border, and she was very familiar with some of the conventions in marching and fighting.
Moreover, before leaving the country, she also read some literature about goshawks and black eagles.
In this regard, Shangguan Wanning felt inferior.
"Since it is Wuxiong's logistics supply team, they will definitely join up with Wuxiong's vanguard team. If we follow them, we will definitely find my brother."
Shangguan Wanning pondered for a moment but did not express any objection.
The two men abandoned their horses and followed carefully behind the team.
At night, the team found an open leeward slope to set up camp.
Mu Jingyan took advantage of the night to knock out two soldiers who had gotten up for the night, and he and Shangguan Wanning changed into soldiers' clothes and blended into the team.
The two men didn't dare to fall asleep, and they pricked up their ears to listen to the soldiers on guard chatting.
"I heard that the Central Plains has agreed to our conditions and given us silver and food. So why do we still need to transport all this food over there?"
"Just in case. Besides, if we turn back now, our leader will not get any credit. If we go to meet up with Princess Crescent Moon, we can still get some benefits, and maybe we will all get a reward."
Shangguan Wanning and Mu Jingyan looked at each other and exchanged glances.
They continued to move forward with the team, and finally met up with Wuxiong's army in the evening two days later.
At this time, Ji Kuo was drinking and having fun with his soldiers, talking about all sorts of things.
He was already imagining how to make good use of the money and food given by the Central Plains, continue to attack the Central Plains, and expand the country's territory.
"General, Mu Jingrui's left vanguard has arrived with some food and fodder. He said he has something to tell you in person."
The soldier's report interrupted Ji Kuo's pleasure. But he was in a good mood, so he didn't care too much and signaled his men to bring up the left vanguard.
"If you have anything to say, just say it now."
The left vanguard looked around and saw that everyone present was already drunk and had red faces, completely lacking the dignity and rigor that should be present on the battlefield.
"I have already brought some of the things you need. The rest will take some time to prepare. But don't worry, nothing will be missing. However, before that, I need to confirm two things."
Ji Kuo put down the wine glass in his hand and looked at Zuo Xianfeng with interest. "Tell me about it."
"First we have to make sure that our General Mu is still alive, otherwise... there will be no point in doing what comes next."
Ji Kuo narrowed his eyes and looked at Zuo Xianfeng, as if he was thinking about something.
"The general should understand that it is easy to get a thousand soldiers, but it is difficult to find a good general."
We are all marching and fighting, everyone understands this.
"Okay, I'll show you what a terrible look your General Mu is in now."
Ji Kuo ordered his men to bring Mu Jingrui over.
The left vanguard ran over eagerly but was stopped by the enemy soldiers.
"General Mu, how are you?"
Mu Jingrui replied calmly: "It's okay."
The left vanguard secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu Jingrui looked a little haggard, but he was still resolute and upright, with a magnanimous demeanor, and did not lose the face of the Celestial Empire at all.
"Tell me, what's the other thing?"
"You have civilians from three cities in your hands. The number is huge. We know that you don't have enough food to feed them. Therefore, we hope that you can temporarily release 50,000 innocent people."
"You wish."
Before Ji Kuo could say anything, his generals slammed the table and stood up.
Zuo Xianfeng just glanced at the man with contempt, his eyes still focused on Ji Kuo.
"Our Crown Prince said that he hopes you will release 50,000 civilians to the city we recaptured. To show our sincerity, we will withdraw from the city and only leave those civilians. They can still serve as your hostages."
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