The news of Yuan Nanyu's capture of Qingyang inspired the whole army. Feng Ye was overjoyed and rewarded Yuan Nanyu and his soldiers greatly. General Fumian, who had already gained some fame when he followed Feng Ye to capture cities and strongholds, would become even more famous after this battle.

Yan Sikong was more concerned about whether Yuan Nanyu was seriously injured. Feng Ye told him not to worry, as Yuan Nanyu himself was a highly skilled doctor and would recover with careful care.

Feng Ye ordered the entire army to celebrate. This victory news was what they needed most right now. It not only boosted their depressed morale, but also paved the way for the attack on Taiyuan.

At the banquet, Feng Ye praised Yuan Nanyu lavishly to encourage other generals. Yan Sikong sat below and observed everyone's expressions. Most of them were immersed in the joy of winning the battle. Only one person had a somewhat stiff smile, and that was Yuan Shaoxu.

Yan Sikong sneered in his heart. Although he would not harm Yuan Shaoxu because of Yuan Mao's kindness, this man's narrow-mindedness had already caused him enough torture.

Seeing that he was able to participate in the decision-making of the war under a false title, and seeing Yuan Nanyu repeatedly making military exploits and becoming famous, Yuan Shaoxu must have been sitting on pins and needles. This man was even jealous of his own brother.

After the celebration banquet, Yan Sikong and Ali helped the half-drunk Feng Ye back to the central military tent. Feng Ye was lying on the bed, reeking of alcohol. Ali wanted to help him undress, but Yan Sikong said, "No need, I'll do it."

Feng Ye suddenly grabbed Ali and said, "Go, call Wang Shen."

"Are you going to ask him to send more people to patrol the camp?"

Feng Ye nodded.

Yan Sikong said: "I have already told General Wang."

Feng Ye chuckled: "You always... think what I think."

"We have been waiting here for a long time without fighting, so the soldiers' vigilance must have decreased, but we can't relax our guard on the camp for a single day, especially when the weather is bad or there are festivals or banquets, then we are most likely to be ambushed." Yan Sikong waved Ali away and took off Feng Ye's boots.

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong with half-closed eyes. When Yan Sikong was about to unbutton his clothes, he grabbed Yan Sikong's hand. An inexplicable emotion was written in his drunken eyes.

Yan Sikong said, "I'll go get you a cup of hangover tea. You haven't been this drunk in a while."

Feng Ye shook his head and kept staring at Yan Sikong: "Do you always know what I'm thinking?"

Yan Sikong laughed mockingly: "Not only can I not figure you out, but it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to figure you out."

"Really?" Feng Ye took a deep breath, his flushed face full of alcohol. "In the past, you always knew what I was thinking, and then you said exactly what I wanted to hear. Every word... every word touched my heart."

"...That was in the past." The Feng Ye of the past had the innocence of a teenager, a simplicity that had never been trampled upon, plundered, or burned. He had a clear distinction between love and hate, his emotions were expressed on his face, and his thoughts were easy to guess. But after experiencing such ups and downs, when the two met again, the Feng Ye of the past was no longer there.

Feng Ye sneered: "Yes, in the past."

Yan Sikong withdrew his hand and stood up to pour tea.

When he was pouring tea with his back to Feng Ye, he suddenly heard Feng Ye mutter something in a low voice.

Yan Sikong was startled and slowly turned his head away. Just now... just now, was Feng Ye calling him... Kong'er?

Since their reunion, Feng Ye seldom called him by his name, as if calling him "Yan Sikong" three times in a row was an insult, not to mention calling him by his childhood nickname, which was only used by the closest people. Since Yuan Mao's death, Feng Ye was the only person in the world who called him Kong'er.

Those two words had lingered around him and lingered in his ears for countless days and nights, when they were walking side by side, drinking wine and appreciating the moon, enjoying the mountains and fields, and being sweet and intimate, the repeated call of "Kong'er" was the proof of their deep love. Only Feng Ye could call him that.

But Feng Ye no longer called him that. At least when he was sober, he knew why.

Yan Sikong's hands were shaking, and he only woke up from a dream when the warm tea was poured on his hands. He pricked up his ears, expecting to hear clearly, but Feng Ye did not speak again, so he could not tell whether Feng Ye really called him "Kong'er" just now, or whether the charming spring breeze sneaked into the tent, brushed past his ears, and quietly left a trace of a dream.

Yan Sikong walked to the bed with tea in his hand and found Feng Ye had fallen asleep. He sat beside the bed and carefully depicted Feng Ye's face with his eyes, over and over again. If, if Feng Ye could open his eyes, if those warm and red lips could utter the word "Kong'er" again, perhaps he could let go of everything.

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly. Who would believe that someone like him would be trapped by love?

——

The fall of Qingyang dealt a heavy blow to the imperial court, which inevitably made Taiyuan more cautious, and it immediately sent additional troops to garrison the three counties of Yanzhou Prefecture.

Yanzhou Prefecture is located between Qingyang and Taiyuan. Qingyang, Yanzhou and Taiyuan form a transportation line from the southwest to the capital. Any officials or merchants escorting goods from the southwest have to take this line. Cutting off this line is equivalent to cutting off one of the limbs of the imperial court.

Yanzhou is a post station between Qingyang and Taiyuan. Its biggest advantage as a transportation hub is that it is located on a plain with flat roads. But as a city-state, it is indefensible with only a few isolated cities. Therefore, when they discussed, they naturally chose Taiyuan and Qingyang. As long as one of these two places was taken, Yanzhou would be easily captured.

Now, when they were taking the three counties of Yanzhou, even though the court had dispatched troops to support them, they were still very confident.

However, Feng Ye was not in a hurry to send troops. He was waiting for the court's move. The court's army assembled from Jiangnan, Huguang and other places was rushing towards the Central Plains. They were waiting for the best opportunity to capture Yanzhou and inflict heavy damage on the reinforcements.

One day, Yan Sikong came back from checking the military supplies and saw Yuan Shaoxu leaving the central military tent with a look of resentment on his face. The two met and were both stunned.

Yan Sikong asked politely, "General Yuan, why are you in such a hurry?"

Yuan Shaoxu said in a somewhat cold tone: "Sikong, you have a good memory. Do you remember how old I was when I followed my father into the army?"

"Sixteen."

Yuan Shaoxu gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, sixteen years old. I'm thirty-six now. Do you also think that I can only be a grain transport officer?!"

Yan Sikong looked around to see if there was anyone around, and whispered, "With your wisdom and courage, you should be able to display your talents in a wider world, but..."

"Nothing more."

Yan Sikong smiled faintly and said, "If you can't even be a good food transporter, how can you blame the Wolf King for not being able to recognize real gold?"

Yuan Shaoxu said angrily, "What do you mean by that? I have never made any mistakes while transporting grain."

"There really hasn't been any major mistake. Coincidentally, it's the beginning of a new season, and according to military practice, we have to take inventory of military rations. This time, I went there in person." Yan Sikong shook the ration book in his hand.

Yuan Shaoxu's face changed, and he pulled Yan Sikong aside: "You... when was it your turn to go to count the food? Did the Wolf King ask you to go?"

"No, I want to go there on my own."

Yuan Shaoxu gritted his teeth and said, "Sikong, I have a mother, an elder sister, a wife, children, and servants at home. They all need my care. I am just taking a little bit of what is needed. You, you won't tell the Wolf King, will you?"

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "Brother, do you know how old the Wolf King was when he followed his father into the army?"

Yuan Shaoxu was silent.

"Brother has a bad memory. Let me tell you, he grew up in the military camp, joined the army at the age of eight, and went to the battlefield at the age of eleven. He has seen everything that happened in the military camp. Do you really think he doesn't know?"

Yuan Shaoxu's face was pale and his lips were trembling slightly.

"The Wolf King has remained silent. First, Big Brother didn't take much, so it was not a big deal. Second, and most importantly, because of Yu'er, the Wolf King would only turn a blind eye to Yu'er's bravery and achievements in the war." Yan Sikong said with a fake smile, "So, Big Brother, don't blame the Wolf King for not entrusting you with an important task."

Yuan Shaoxu clenched his fists and said in a deep voice: "I, I was just confused for a moment." He looked at Yan Sikong, "Sikong, Yu'er is not here, can you say a few words for me in front of the Wolf King? I will definitely fulfill my duties in the future!"

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "Okay."

Yuan Shaoxu stared at Yan Sikong blankly, probably not believing that Yan Sikong would agree so readily.

Yan Sikong made a "please" gesture: "Brother, take care."

Yuan Shaoxu stared at Yan Sikong gloomily for a while before walking away without looking back.

Walking into the central military tent, Feng Ye was still walking around the sand table. Seeing Yan Sikong coming in, he waved and asked, "Where have you been?"

"Distribute military rations."

"Oh, is there a problem?"

"No big deal."

Feng Ye raised his eyebrows: "Just now, Yuan Shaoxu just left, did you see him?"

Yan Sikong said calmly: "I see, why did the Yuan general come to see you?"

"He has always felt that I was wasting his talent by letting him be a grain transport officer, so he took the initiative to ask for the position and wanted to help me take over Yanzhou."

"Did the Wolf King agree?"

Feng Ye sneered: "Since you've gone to count the food, what do you say? There's no need to beat around the bush with me."

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: "I apologize to the Wolf King on behalf of my brother."

"Just apologize. You have made many military achievements and helped me a lot. My Feng Family Army is so big that it can accommodate a grain transport officer." Feng Ye said coldly, "Your elder brother has some talent, but he is not incompetent. He just likes to show off and has a restless mind. I am afraid he is not up to the task."

Yan Sikong chuckled.

Feng Ye frowned: "What are you laughing at?"

"You actually say that others are impetuous." Yan Sikong couldn't help but laugh. "When it comes to impulsiveness and courage, who can compare to the Wolf King who fights without regard for his life?"

Feng Ye smiled proudly: "I am not a coward, and I will never die in vain. Otherwise, I would not be standing here today."

"The Wolf King is right." Yan Sikong put down the account book, "The Wolf King also has a very accurate view of Yuan Shaoxu. However, if you keep underestimating him, he will sooner or later ask Quewang to ask you for mercy. Quewang has just captured Qingyang and made great contributions. How can you refuse?"

Feng Ye touched his chin: "Yes."

"I have just reminded him that he will definitely be more restrained in the future. In the battle of Yanzhou, it is better to let him serve as a lieutenant general under General Wang to test his temperament."

Feng Ye nodded: "That's fine. Wang Shen is much younger than him and has a bad temper, but he is a first-rate leader in battle. Under Wang Shen, he will be well trained."

Yan Sikong gave a barely perceptible sly smile. Although this would cause Yuan Shaoxu a lot of suffering, it was indeed a test for him. If he could really hone himself, then Yuan Mao's expectations for this eldest son would not be in vain.