Chapter 129
This time, Gong Yinai inspected all the granaries and failed to return to the northern border at night. He also missed the accommodation and the group was stranded in the wild.
Zhou Li was experienced and asked the guards to find firewood. She soon lit a fire, cut the branches clean, and strung some dry food on it to roast over the fire.
Zhou Li was used to it because he often led teams to the grassland, and the guards were also well-organized.
Gong Yinai sat in the clean place Zhou Li found, and felt like his butt was about to be split in two.
The roads here are difficult to walk on, all muddy and dusty. When the carriage bumps into small rocks or potholes, the people in the carriage feel like they are about to fly out, and the seats are swaying.
Seeing that the dry food was almost done, Zhou Li gave it to Gong Yinai first, then opened his water bottle and said, "I had someone make this pancake with minced meat in it. It's crispy and fragrant when baked, and it won't bite your teeth. It's a little dry though, so you can eat it with water."
Gong Yinai didn't know where to start eating it. Seeing Zhou Li tear off the burnt part, blow on it and put it directly into his mouth, she also took a delicate bite.
The aroma of wheat mixed with a slight aroma of meat, it made a crunching sound when bitten, and when swallowed into the stomach, it seemed as if my weak limbs were given strength because of this piece of bread.
It was indeed a bit dry. Gong Yinai picked up the kettle and took a sip. His throat rolled before he felt that the biscuit had been swallowed.
Zhou Li looked at Gong Yinai and laughed: "Do you rarely eat such rough food?"
Gong Yinai nodded, looked at the food and said, "Although it is rough, it has a unique flavor."
"As long as you can eat it, it's fine. We don't have time to travel today. You can sleep in the car and we'll set off at daybreak."
Gong Yinai looked at Zhou Li, who was eating a piece of bread.
"Where do you sleep?"
Zhou Li smiled and said, "The sky is the quilt, and the ground is the bed."
Zhou Li arranged the people for night patrol, and she jumped onto a tree that she liked and climbed to a high place to look into the distance.
Gong Yinai opened the car window and looked at her. The night breeze blew gently, and he fell asleep unknowingly.
In the early morning, Gong Yinai was awakened by the neighing of horses. She realized that she had a dreamless sleep. In such a simple environment, she slept better than in the palace. She touched her hair bun and found that it was not messy. She got up and got off the car. She saw Gong Yifu riding on the horse, holding up the food with a spear and said, "We are lucky. We caught two stupid chickens so early in the morning. Brothers, light the stove and cook them before we go!"
"Okay!" everyone responded.
Gong Yinai didn't expect Gong Yifu to be so energetic early in the morning.
Zhou Li saw Gong Yinai and handed the food to the guards. She dismounted and walked over and said, "There's a stream over there. I'll take you there to tidy up your appearance."
Gong Yinai nodded slightly.
The stream in the early morning was shining with golden light. Gong Yinai squatted down and wet his face, washing away the chaos of the night. He felt a lot more comfortable, but it was a pity that he couldn't take a shower.
Zhou Li stood beside her and looked at the mountains in the distance.
She pointed there and said, "One day I'm going to climb over that mountain."
"Where are we going and what are we going to do?" Gong Yinai was not familiar with the map and didn't know where the other side was.
"That's Khitan."
Gong Yinai stood up and saw the vitality in the young man's eyes.
Very different from the people in the capital, Gong Yi Fu's eyes were as clear as the sky in the northern border and as cool as the stream water melted from the snow-capped mountains.
Autumn of the 35th year of the Qing Dynasty.
It was still one month into winter, and the autumn winds had already swept across the northern border. The army of the King of Southern Liang set out to attack Tatar, and Gongyi resumed his post as the vanguard officer.
The battle lasted from autumn to winter, and the food and fodder for the 200,000-strong army flowed past Gong Yinai's eyes like water every day. Every time he opened his eyes, he saw a pile of numbers.
After comparing the recent consumption, Gong Yinai knew that this battle could not continue.
The lackey who had been following Gong Yinai suddenly said, "Sixth Prince, there's a letter from the Third Prince."
Gong Yinai's face turned pale. She took the letter, read it carefully, put it on the table and said calmly, "Military secrets must be kept secret. How can we leak them so easily? Although your master is the Third Prince, he must also abide by military discipline and regulations!"
The lackey said smugly, "Sixth Prince, don't forget the promise you made to the Third Prince when you came here. The battle is almost over, and you don't have any evidence against the King of Southern Liang, so how can you report to the Third Prince? I've only truthfully informed him of your actions."
"Come here." Gong Yinai sneered, "Do you think you can question my affairs?"
"This man is committing treason! Drag him out and give him twenty lashes of the cane!"
The lackey looked at Gong Yinai in shock, and Gong Yinai tore up the letter casually.
She couldn't keep this person by her side, but she also had to report to the Third Prince.
Gong Yinai looked at the food and grass that were about to be transported, hardened his heart, and suppressed it.
She was also doing this for the King of Southern Liang's own good. Food was already insufficient, and if it dragged on, the people would be filled with resentment. Someone had already reported to the emperor that going to war against the Tatars was a matter of military generals competing for merit, and would not benefit Daqing.
The northern border is a bitter and cold place, and the civil officials have always given up. Only the military generals argued hard to defeat the Tatars and continue to expand the Qing Kingdom to the north.
The Tatar pastures are vast. Once conquered, they can supply Daqing with good horses, which is indeed a long-term plan for Daqing. Gong Yinai sees clearly that strong soldiers and horses are the foundation of Daqing's establishment.
However, this war has depleted the Daqing treasury, and the military generals in the court are proud, and the civil officials will no longer tolerate it.
Gong Yinai listened to the wailing outside the tent and coughed twice.
It was too cold in the northern border, so cold that she couldn't even stretch her fingers. She hoped Gong Yifu could come back soon.
"General! We're running out of food! The team that was supposed to deliver the food hasn't even arrived yet!"
When the King of Southern Liang heard the news, he turned around. In front of him was a map of the entire northern border. Now the Tatar territory had also been returned to the Kingdom of Qing, and it looked larger than the previous map.
"Have the advance troops returned?" asked the King of Southern Liang.
The people below lowered their heads and said, "No."
"Any news?"
"The last message was from the prince saying he had found the Eagle Tribe."
King Nanliang sighed and asked, "How long can our food last?"
"Less than three days."
"I see."
Waving his hand to let them go, the King of Nanliang stood in front of the map and said to himself: "Good boy, he actually chased them into the snowy mountains."
All seven tribes, except the Eagle Clan, surrendered.
The Eagle Clan is very difficult to deal with. They usually come to the northern border to plunder. This tribe is extremely cruel. After being defeated this time, in order to avoid surrendering, they actually killed the elderly, children and women of their own tribe, leaving only the young and middle-aged people to escape into the snow-capped mountains.
It seems that they want to cross the snow-capped mountains to reach Khitan.
Don't pursue a desperate enemy. Before the King of Southern Liang issued the order, Gong Yi Fu led his troops in pursuit.
He also knew that there was a shortage of food and grass, so he wanted to withdraw his troops early, but he waited another five days for Gong Yifu.
The food was not delivered this time, and he was afraid that someone would warn him again.
King Nanliang sighed and gave the order for the army to march back home.
The grassland has frozen over, and the thick ice has covered the footprints.
Zhou Li dismounted and looked at the grass prints on the ground, which showed signs of being crushed.
The surrounding sky and earth are vast, and we can only rely on the sun to determine the direction.
The attendant's face turned blue with cold. "Sir, we can't chase them anymore. If we go any further, we'll be in Khitan territory."
Zhou Li stopped his horse and saw a figure on the opposite mountain. He was afraid that the Khitans had learned about their attack on the Tatars and were not confident in deploying soldiers here.
"I know. Let's go home."
Zhou Li frowned.
The eagle was probably running into Khitan, so Zhou Li secretly resented it, so he let it go.
She looked back at the sun behind her and walked towards the base camp. On the way, she received a signal from a carrier pigeon. Zhou Li unfolded the letter and saw that it said the army had set out back to the city, asking her to get the news and return quickly.
Zhou Li licked his cracked lips and said, "Let's go!"
The military flags of the King of Southern Liang fluttered, and Gong Yinai stood at the foot of the city wall to welcome him.
The Prince of Nanliang, returning to the city, rode at the head of the pack. Seeing the Sixth Prince, he dismounted and said distantly, "Please, sir, the Imperial Envoy, wait for me here. We will fulfill our mission and capture the six major Tatar clans."
Gong Yinai heard the Nanliang King's polite words and smiled bitterly. She had offended him after all, but she couldn't side with him. He represented the military, and his position was naturally opposed to the civil officials. Gong Yinai couldn't afford to offend the literati. This time, Daqing had been the first to start the war, and had already been labeled an unjust army by the literati. But Gong Yinai said, they knew nothing! They were just a bunch of good-for-nothings!
Gong Yinai pretended not to notice the King of Nanliang's departure, and led his men into the city, saying, "The people are waiting for the heroes' triumphant return!"
Gong Yinai stepped aside, and behind her were the cheers of the people!
Even though it's winter, it's as lively as Chinese New Year! Dragon and lion dances take to the streets! Every home is decorated with lights to welcome the soldiers from the northern border!
Gong Yinai looked among the generals and became a little panicked.
I didn’t see Gong Yifu.
Her heart was in a state of anxiety, and she only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw King Nanliang waving to the people.
Gong Yi Fu should not have been in trouble, otherwise the King of Southern Liang would not be so relaxed.
When he returned to the city, King Nanliang had not yet taken off his armor when the imperial guards, who had been waiting for many days, brought a message from the sage, asking him to return to the capital to report on his work.
The King of Southern Liang received the order, and the Sixth Prince Gong Yinai was to go to the capital with him.
Gong Yinai stood up and asked the King of Nanliang, "Gong Yifu is not in the team. Where is he?"
The King of Nanliang's face froze, and he said helplessly, "My son received news from the Eagle Clan and went to follow their trail. The grassland is so vast, I don't know where they ran to."
Gong Yinai's face turned stern: "Is he in danger?"
King Nanliang shook his head.
"Maybe he'll be back soon."
Until the King of Southern Liang returned to Kyoto, there was no news of Gong Yifu's return.
When they arrived in the capital, before rewards were given according to merit, someone reported the King of Southern Liang and the Crown Prince.
The report said that the King of Southern Liang was ambitious, wasted the people's money, and was determined to attack the Tatars; it also said that the Crown Prince Gong Yi Fu did not abide by military regulations and acted on his own; it also said that the escape of a Tatar clan was also the fault of the King of Southern Liang.
Anyway, he cursed from beginning to end and didn't say a single good word.
Even the King of Nanliang, who had been cunning in the court for many years, was furious, not to mention the other military generals, who almost fought with the civil officials in the court.
Finally, the final blow that broke the camel's back was the memorial submitted by the Sixth Prince, Gong Yinai. It clearly described the faults of the Prince of Nanliang and his impulsive behavior. Suddenly, someone said, "The Khitan princess had clearly expressed her affection for the Prince of Nanliang. He wouldn't have taken advantage of this opportunity to escape."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked!
The King of Nanliang roared, "My family has strict upbringing! Besides, Fu'er is already married! He would never do such a thing as betraying the country!"
"Then why didn't Gong Yifu return with the army?" The Imperial Censor sneered and immediately criticized the King of Nanliang. "Sage, the King of Nanliang is shouting in the hall for no reason. This is unbecoming!"
"That's enough!" the sage said angrily, "This is the imperial court! Not a market! Look at what you all look like! This is totally disrespectful!"
"Alright! Let's all disperse!"
"Prince Nanliang and Master Wen stay!"
When the hall was clear, the sage came down and personally shook the King of Nanliang's hand, saying, "Brother, thank you for your hard work."
The Prince of Nanliang burst into tears: "As long as Your Majesty believes in me, I won't bother you! I would never do something like betraying the country or Your Majesty just for fun!"
"You have also raised Fu'er since he was a child! Your Majesty, you understand him too!"
"He couldn't come back, something must have delayed him!"
The sage tightly grasped the Nanliang King's hand and sighed, "I trust you, but I also have to answer for this world."
"I give you half a month to send someone to find Gong Yifu!"
Nan Liang Wang's eyes turned red, "My purpose!"
Wen Taifu lowered his eyes and the sage called him.
"Today you will bear witness. If there is no news from Gong Yi within half a month."
"I will issue an order to arrest him!"
The King of Nanliang's knees went weak and he almost fell to the ground, but fortunately he held on.
Little did he know that such a risk would be waiting for him when he returned to the capital!
After the court was dismissed, the Third Prince, Gongyi Naibi, was called away. He clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "If it weren't for you, my plan wouldn't have gone so smoothly. As it turns out, if the King of Nanliang wants to protect his son, he'll have no choice but to side with us!"
Gong Yinai lowered his eyes and flattered without any sincerity: "Your plan is good."
The Third Prince patted her shoulder and said, "If this thing succeeds, thanks to you for passing on the message, I will not forget you. From now on, you will be my good brother, Gong Yixiang!"
Gong Yinai's lips twitched slightly, but his eyes were full of ridicule and worry.
Where is Gong Yi Fu?
The grassland is so vast that Zhou Li gallops on his horse.
He was originally going back to northern Xinjiang, but he encountered heavy fog on the way and lost his way. After finally getting out of the fog, he was suddenly hit by a snowstorm. Along the way, he deviated from his original direction, walked further and further north, and even ran into the Khitan territory.
When Zhou Li met the first shepherd, he panicked.
This place is not far from the Khitan cordon, and this group of displaced soldiers is no match for the enemy.
Zhou Li looked at the shivering shepherd and asked him to lead the way. A group of them secretly ambushed a small tribe, disguised themselves as them, and infiltrated the Khitan.
The Khitans, like the Tatars, were nomadic peoples, but they had already established their own capital, which was called Santan. Zhou Li discovered that they were not far from Santan. When she heard that Santan Khan was seriously ill, she suddenly came up with an idea. Zhou Li was no longer in a hurry to go home, but drove cattle and sheep around Santan every day. Finally, when the Khitan prince left the city, she led her men to ambush and follow him.
Zhou Li was surrounded by battle-hardened warriors who were familiar with the terrain and environment, and who also understood Tatar and Khitan languages, and successfully dealt with the Khitan prince's guards.
Through the conversation, Zhou Li learned that the other party was the youngest son of the Khitan Khan and the son who hated his father the most.
His mother was a Han woman abducted by the Khan. He has Han blood in his veins and wishes the Khan would die! His brother, the man most capable of ascending to the Khan's throne, once threatened him that if he became Khan, he would take his mother away and kill him! The Khitan tradition of the son inheriting the father's throne has always been a great betrayal for a son who received a Han education from his mother. It violates human ethics!
Zhou Li curled his lips into a smile, patted the other person's shoulder affectionately and said, "If you hate Khitan, then we are friends."
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