The two brothers of the Yuan family finally made an excuse that they had accidentally knocked over a charcoal brazier, and explained away the fact that both of their hands were burned at the same time. Fortunately, they were only minor injuries and nothing serious.

Yuan Mao actually had no time to look after them recently. During the twenty days that King Jingyuan was in Guangningwei, he had to deal with countless matters, big and small, and also prepare for winter. Liaodong is an extremely cold place. In winter, all the city defenses, food, weapons, and carriages are completely different from those in summer due to the change of seasons. Just the matter of defending against the cold is enough to keep him busy for a while. This time, because he had to prepare for the supplies of Feng's army first, he had been delayed for a long time.

Seeing that two thousand fine horses had been prepared and King Jingyuan was about to move his camp back to Datong, all the officials and soldiers in Guangning felt relieved.

There were only two people who were not happy at all, two little people.

At this time, they were at the horse ranch again. Feng Ye pulled the grass on the ground roughly, making his palms red, but he was not aware of it at all. He just said in a muffled voice: "Why don't you take your time to judge the horses?"

Yuan Sikong said helplessly: "That would only delay the military's progress."

"But I don't want to leave yet." Feng Ye looked at Yuan Sikong, his big dark eyes clearly showing some pity, "I haven't seen the trees full of silver flowers you mentioned, I haven't galloped on the ice, and... there are still many places and many fun things that you haven't taken me to."

Yuan Sikong was also feeling very depressed. Feng Ye was the first friend he made. Although they were of different social status and their acquaintance was quite absurd, Feng Ye was so genuine and lovely, and he had the same broad mind as him. He was afraid that he would never meet such a person again.

Yuan Sikong hung his head in dejection, not knowing what to say to dispel the deep and lingering sadness.

Feng Ye suddenly grabbed Yuan Sikong's sleeve, his eyes flashing with pure light: "Why don't you come back to Datong with me? When you grow up, you can be my military advisor!"

Yuan Sikong smiled bitterly and said, "You are daydreaming again."

"Why do I have such a wild idea? I'll go tell my father right away." Feng Ye said as he was about to stand up.

Yuan Sikong pulled him back and said gently, "Feng Ye, I can't leave my father and mother, and I don't want to leave Liaodong."

Feng Ye curled his lips: "You are not my biological child."

"But they treat me like their own son." Yuan Sikong cast his gaze into the distance, with a fire of faith burning in his eyes, "If I ever leave Liaodong, I will definitely go to take the imperial examination in autumn. When I come back, I will definitely pass the imperial examination and repay their kindness in raising me."

Feng Ye's eyes dimmed. He actually understood that Yuan Sikong would never leave his parents' hometown so easily. However, he felt very uncomfortable when he thought that they were about to part and didn't know when they would meet again. He murmured, "When can we meet again?"

"We will definitely meet." Yuan Sikong forced himself to cheer up, "Just like King Jingyuan said, one day in the future, maybe you and I will serve in the same court."

"So what if we are officials in the same dynasty? You are in Shuntian and I am in Datong. How many times can we meet in this life?"

"We will meet." Yuan Sikong said firmly, "I have a feeling that we will meet."

Feng Ye was silent for a while, and suddenly grabbed Yuan Sikong's hand.

Yuan Sikong shrank back in pain.

Feng Ye quickly let go of his hand: "Did you touch it?"

Yuan Sikong looked at the white yarn wrapped around his hands and said, "It's okay."

"I want to give this to you." Feng Ye handed over a short blade. The sheath was very finely carved and inlaid with precious gems. It was obviously worth a lot of money.

Yuan Sikong hesitated for a moment, then gently pulled out the dagger. He didn't know much about knives, but seeing that the blade in his hand was as sharp as autumn frost and as sharp as wheat spikes, it must be a good knife. He quickly thrust it back, "This dagger is too expensive. I can't take it."

"Just keep it if I tell you to." Feng Ye stuffed it into his arms, "This is what my father gave me. Now I'm giving it to you. One day in the future, you have to bring it to me to recognize me."

Yuan Sikong hesitated while holding the dagger: "But..."

Feng Ye frowned: "Do you dare to disobey orders?"

Yuan Sikong chuckled: "Feng Ye, thank you. But... I'm not very good at using a dagger."

"That's not difficult." Feng Ye pulled out the dagger, stabbed it forward, and then threw the dagger up lightly. He flipped onto the ground, held it in his backhand, and slashed it smoothly through the air. His movements were done in one go, light and neat.

Yuan Sikong clapped his hands: "Beautiful."

Feng Ye played with the dagger that was as long as his forearm in his hand: "This is nothing, I am better with the sword, and one day in the future, I will also use a saber, a meteor, and a long spear, so that the Feng family wolf flag will fly high in the world!"

Yuan Sikong was inspired by Feng Ye, and his heart began to stir: "You have your ambitions, and I have mine. One day, I will be able to scare people with my pen.

"Okay!" Feng Ye raised the dagger, pointed it toward the northwest, and said in a childish but heroic voice: "Yuan Sikong, you and I have a deal. Ten years later, you will be a high official, and I will be a general. Together, we will stabilize the country, support the country, drive out the barbarians, pacify the world, establish unprecedented achievements, and leave a name that will last forever. How about it?!"

Yuan Sikong's eyes sparkled, and he was full of heroic spirit: "Achieve unprecedented achievements and leave a name that will last forever! It's a deal!"

At that moment, the young man's lofty aspirations were so bright that even the scorching sun was outshined.

——

The day of departure will eventually come.

Yuan Sikong followed Yuan Mao to the outside of the city.

As the adults drank and passed the time, Feng Ye and Yuan Sikong said goodbye to each other.

"Feng Ye, I don't have anything to give you..." Yuan Sikong took out a book, "This book, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, is my annotations based on the thoughts of the predecessors. I have never led troops, so my annotations are certainly not good enough, but it will be easier for you to understand." In fact, this book was used for lectures he gave to Yuan Nanyu. The annotations of famous generals throughout the ages, such as Cao Gong, were precise, but often too brief, especially for children. He also read the annotations of many people before summarizing them.

Feng Ye took the old book and stroked the yellowed, curled cover: "Okay, I will definitely read it carefully."

Yuan Sikong looked at Feng Ye, with a myriad of thoughts stuck in his throat, not knowing what to say.

Feng Ye looked up at Yuan Sikong, his eyes suddenly turning red.

Yuan Sikong also felt a sour taste in his nose and his lips trembled slightly.

Feng Ye suddenly pointed his finger at him and said, "Don't cry. Men don't shed tears easily."

Yuan Sikong blinked hard: "You too, whoever cries is the young lady."

Feng Ye smiled with tears in his eyes: "Sikong, I'm leaving. When we meet again, you will no longer be my opponent."

Yuan Sikong also smiled and said: "When we meet again, we will not be opponents." We will be friends and colleagues fighting side by side.

Feng Ye suddenly rushed over, stood on tiptoe, hugged him tightly, then turned around and walked away, waving his hand vigorously: "See you later!"

Feng Lie looked at Feng Ye who was walking towards him, smiled helplessly, bent down and hugged him. Feng Ye hugged Feng Lie's neck and buried his face in his shoulder, not moving.

In Yuan Sikong's blurred vision, Feng Ye mounted his horse. As the Feng family army gradually went away, the Feng family wolf flag fluttering in the cold wind of Liaodong became a scene that he would never forget in his life.

Yuan Mao touched Yuan Sikong's head. Yuan Sikong hugged Yuan Mao's waist, with hot tears rolling down his cheeks.

Fengye, goodbye, you and I will definitely meet again.