Chapter 88 [VIP]
This coincided with Gu Baibai's thoughts, and he nodded, saying, "Then you should go early."
Gu Yican beckoned to his sister with his finger, and the two of them quietly left without taking anyone with them.
They didn't have the maps memorized, but both of them remembered the secret passage, especially Gu Yican.
That secret passage was a place they often used for horse racing. They had been to everything, from the herbal tea stalls to the river behind them, but they had never discovered a secret passage before, which was quite interesting.
They rode their horses along the official road and soon saw the herbal tea stall.
The herbal tea stall has been here for many, many years. It started as an old woman running the stall by herself, and now it's run by a young man and his wife. Besides herbal tea, they also sell things like pancakes and steamed buns.
"Their herbal tea is quite good."
Gu Yican, sitting on horseback, said, "Sometimes, after we finish riding, we'll come over and have a few bowls of soup. It feels so good."
"Fine! You're going to ride the horse without me," Gu Zhizhuo said quietly.
Gu Yican sensed trouble and immediately dragged others into the mess: "It's all because Zheng Si and his gang wouldn't let us bring girls. They're jealous that I have a younger sister. When we get back to Beijing, I'll drag a few out and beat them up to vent your anger."
"Zheng Si has a younger sister, and so does Saturday."
“How can they be the same? They’re not twins.” Gu Yican smiled brightly, her voice filled with joy. “We’re different.”
He hooked his little finger around the reins of the jade lion and held it in his hand.
Let's go!
Gu Yican raised his arm and shouted.
He tugged a few times, controlling the jade lion to move closer. The two horses were extremely close, only a fist's distance apart, as if they were shoulder to shoulder.
"It's a river!"
The river flows along the mountain, and there are no villages nearby, so the women who come to wash clothes rarely have any visitors.
The riverbank was covered with dense thickets of thorns, one patch after another. After dismounting, Li Hu and his sister followed the map and headed upstream. They hadn't gone far when the thorns became even denser, the black thorns obscuring the riverbank almost completely.
"I'll go take a look."
Gu Yican was the first to disappear into the thicket of thorns. Gu Zhizhuo waited outside for a short while before emerging again, his black hair covered in bits of grass. He greeted her with a smile, "Sister, over here."
Gu Zhizhuo tore off her veil and used it as a hair tie to bind her long hair, so as not to get caught on the thorns. Then she wrapped her hands with a handkerchief and crawled inside.
Both horses were left outside. Jade Lion was still looking around blankly when Smoke Clouds expertly picked up its reins and made a nasal sound, as if to say, "There's some tender grass ahead, let's go eat."
Gu Zhizhuo carefully pushed aside the drooping thorns and walked forward. After only a dozen or so steps, he saw a dilapidated wooden bridge. The wooden bridge was completely hidden by thorns and was quite well hidden. Apart from the elderly who had lived in the neighborhood for generations, very few people probably knew about it.
Gu Yican had already checked ahead and found no danger. Standing on the other side of the bridge, he shouted, "Hold on tight and walk carefully. You're lighter than me, so you shouldn't fall."
The wooden bridge planks were already somewhat rotten, and Gu Yican was afraid that it wouldn't be able to withstand the weight of two people, so he didn't go over and walk with her.
"good!"
Gu Zhizhuo knew he was in trouble; he had recently offended Ji Nanke several times in a row, so he had to be extra careful when he went out. Heaven's way is very petty!
She walked very carefully, making sure each step was firm before she stepped out. Sure enough, halfway there, the plank under her feet suddenly broke, and she stepped into thin air, her shoes splashing into the icy river water. Fortunately, she was prepared and grabbed the rope, tumbling forward several steps before finally landing firmly on the muddy ground. Gu Yican was terrified, his face turning pale, and he quickly caught her.
"fine."
Gu Zhizhuo stomped his feet back and forth, finding the solid ground reassuring.
"Let's go."
After crossing the wooden bridge, there was still a thicket of thorns. No matter how careful they were, they would inevitably get pricked by the small thorns a few times. But neither brother nor sister intended to cut the thorns away, as they provided the best cover!
"The path is here."
Finally, Gu Yican discovered the hidden path and exclaimed, "Uncle Lu is indeed no ordinary person."
Even this can be found.
Gu Zhizhuo stroked his chin, deeply agreeing.
This path lies between two mountains, with mountain walls on both sides. You have to go around a rock wall to see it. Compared to the thorny thicket ahead, this is a smooth road and much easier to walk on.
Gu Yican observed his surroundings. The path was an upward slope, wide enough for two horses to ride side by side at its widest point and narrow enough for one horse to pass at its narrowest.
They walked for several hours and emerged from a small path into a cave. The cave was dry, and once outside, the afternoon sun beat down on them. Gu Yican was familiar with this place; as the map showed, further ahead lay the Liangshan Mountains of Yizhou.
This secret passage perfectly avoids the patrol range of the Imperial Guards in the capital region.
"If there are only three or five hundred people, they should be able to pass through unnoticed."
Gu Yican stroked his chin.
"Why don't you give it a try?" Gu Yican raised an eyebrow at his sister.
"Give it a try!"
The brother and sister spoke in unison, then clapped their hands lightly in a cheerful manner.
Gu Zhizhuo asked, "Will you be assigned to the Thousand Machine Battalion after being transferred here?"
The Thousand Machine Battalion has three thousand men. Adding three or five hundred more wouldn't be a problem, but any more would be too conspicuous.
Gu Yican's lips curled into a meaningful smile: "We need to clear out the Thousand Machine Camp of bugs first."
Gu Zhizhuo raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
Gu Yican calmly said, "Jiang Zizhou and Li Qing. One of these two was planted by the emperor."
On the day Gu Yican returned, Gu Zhizhuo had seen these two people when he went to pick him up. They were Gu Yican's deputy generals, and both of them were captains in the Thousand Machine Battalion, along with Qi Fu.
Gu Yican led the Fifth Army Battalion on this bandit suppression mission. Unlike the Thousand Machine Battalion, the Fifth Army Battalion was one of the three major battalions of the Beijing Army and was under the command of the Five Military Governors' Office.
In her previous life, during the countless days and nights after Gu Yican "fled to escape punishment," she couldn't help but recall those events. Undoubtedly, if Gu Yican had been leading the Thousand Machine Battalion, even if framed, he wouldn't have been completely powerless; he would at least have been able to fight back. It was precisely because the Thousand Machine Battalion was absent that, with the emperor's decree, the thousands of soldiers around him immediately became enemies, trapping him in an encirclement, isolated and helpless.
If Jiang Zizhou and Li Qing are indeed connected to the emperor, it would be like a knife stabbing Gu Yican in the back, tearing him apart when he was least prepared.
Gu Yican stroked his chin. He had discovered the clue during this mission because of his sister's letter: "We don't know who it is yet, maybe it's both of them. We can't use this secret passage until we catch this bug."
Gu Zhizhuo mimicked his gesture, touching his chin casually, "Shall I calculate it for you?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yican suddenly turned to look at her, his phoenix eyes lighting up instantly.
"Can it be calculated?"
"able!"
Gu Yican became excited: "Let's go, let's go, let's go to Qianji Camp now."
"I'm tired. I don't want to move."
"I'll carry you on my back!"
Gu Zhizhuo leaned against his back.
When they were little, Gu Zhizhuo would always whine and ask him to carry her when she got tired of playing. Back then, they were almost the same height. Now, her brother is a head taller than her, and even his shoulders are broader.
"Just kidding, I don't want you to carry it."
Gu Zhizhuo casually took his arm, pressed down on his arm for leverage, and they returned the way they came.
The return journey was much faster than the journey there. After emerging from the thicket of thorns, Gu Yican flicked her finger to her lips and let out a sharp whistle. Yan Yunzhao, who was grazing with the jade lion in the distance, shook her ears, picked up the jade lion's reins, and ran over with a clattering sound.
The jade lion was extremely aggrieved after being left behind for most of the day.
Gu Zhizhuo immediately gave him a piece of candy, scratched his head, flipped himself onto the horse, and followed Gu Yican straight to the military camp.
The Qianji Camp's military camp was located in the Western Hills, quite close to the Five Armies Camp. Although it was not under the jurisdiction of the Five Armies Commandery on ordinary days, it was still under the watchful eye of the Five Armies Commandery.
"Huh?"
The setting sun painted the sky a vibrant orange-red. A commotion arose within the military camp; in the distance, supply wagons could be seen parked, and soldiers were unloading sacks of provisions. Gu Zhizhuo asked, "Is today the day for delivering provisions?"
The Thousand Machine Battalion belongs to the Great Qi Dynasty, so its military pay and provisions naturally need to be supplied by the imperial court. However, whether the supplies are sufficient and on time is uncertain. Normally, provisions are delivered quarterly; has the July supply arrived already?
"The ones being delivered now are for April."
Gu Yican sneered repeatedly: "The Five Armies Command probably thought I was doomed, so they delayed the payment of provisions for three months. I went to see that scoundrel Gong Hai a couple of days ago, and he finally delivered it today."
Gu Zhizhu followed him on horseback. In the past, she had been spoiled and willful, unwilling to endure hardship. Before her family fell into ruin, she had never even set foot in the northern frontier or entered a military camp.
"Young Master".
The soldiers in front of the camp saluted one after another, and couldn't help but look at Gu Zhizhuo, pondering her identity.
The brother and sister look very alike; when they stand together, no one would mistake them for siblings.
Gu Yican patted the nearest junior officer, raised his chin, and said leisurely, "What are you all standing there for? Call her 'Miss'."
"Young lady!"
In the military camp, the sound of orderly salutes rang out.
Gu Yican waved his arm and grinned, "When we have a day off, this young master and the young lady will invite you to Tianxiang Tower for drinks."
A burst of cheers and jubilation erupted from all around.
After spending a long time in a military camp, you start to crave alcohol, not other things.
"younger sister……"
"Young Master".
An untimely voice suddenly rang out; it was an unfamiliar young soldier.
He turned to Gu Yican, his eyes sharp, and said, "Your Highness, women are not allowed in the military camp."
These words were clearly directed at Gu Zhizhuo.
He wasn't from the Thousand Machine Battalion; he came along with this shipment of grain and supplies.
He was only in his early twenties, with a broad and strong build. Judging from the style of his armor, he was already a captain, which could be considered a young man who had achieved great success. His brows and eyes naturally revealed an innate arrogance.
Gu Zhizhu raised his eyebrows slightly, not recognizing who it was.
Gu Yican chuckled and glanced at him casually: "Who said that?"
"That's military protocol," the young officer said in a booming voice. "Miss Gu, are you perhaps hoping to enter the army's inner quarters...?"
The term "red tent in the army" refers to a brothel, and it was not used in the Thousand Machine Camp.
Before he could finish speaking, a longsword, still sheathed, struck his cheek with a sharp crack, leaving a deep red mark.
"Commander Sun."
Gu Yican's smile vanished, his voice turning cold: "Now that you've joined the Thousand Machine Camp, you should know its military regulations."
"Considering you are new here, I, the Crown Prince, will mercifully teach you a lesson."
Gu Yican leaped down from his horse with incredible speed. Before Captain Sun could even react, Gu Yican was upon him. The unsheathed sword struck Captain Sun's face with deadly precision, each blow landing squarely on his cheek. Captain Sun quickly raised his hands to block, but Gu Yican kicked him in the stomach with his military boot.
Captain Sun was sent flying and crashed to the ground.
The series of movements were fluid and effortless, and Captain Sun was no match for Gu Yican.
"Gu Cancan, you're awesome!"
Gu Zhizhuo clapped happily from horseback.
Gu Yican walked over, his heavy black military boots making a deep thud on the ground. He stepped on Captain Sun's chest, his expression lazy yet arrogant and unrestrained: "I don't care where you come from or who's behind you. In the Thousand Machine Camp, the strong are respected, and I am the military rule."
"Young Master." Captain Sun never expected him to attack so suddenly, showing no regard for the Five Armies Commandery. It's said that the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is domineering, willful, and unreasonable, and it's true.
Being under someone else's roof, he had no choice but to bow his head and say, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn." He lowered his eyelids to hide the resentment and dissatisfaction in his eyes.
The toe of the military boot wiped against his armor and moved away. Just as Captain Sun was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the boot moved to his throat and pressed down with its toes.
Captain Sun suddenly felt a tightness in his throat, the difficulty in breathing made him feel as if he were suffocating, and death loomed over him. He couldn't help but show a pleading expression on his face.
Gu Yican's hair flew wildly as he arrogantly said, "If you 'slip up' again next time, you'll lose your throat."
"Yes... Your Highness."
"Young Master." Qi Fu strode out from inside, clasped his hands in greeting to Gu Yican, pretending not to see that Gu Yican was stepping on someone.
Qi Fu and Gu Zhizhuo had been to the Western Regions together and were quite familiar with each other. He said happily, "Young lady, you've arrived!"
Gu Zhizhuo stepped aside to avoid his bow and nodded: "Commander Qi".
Gu Yican withdrew his foot, turned around and helped his sister down from the horse.
"Come on, I'll show you around."
"Young Master!"
Gu Yican beating people was commonplace in the military camp, and everyone happily gathered around to watch the spectacle and cheer.
After the fighting was over, no one paid any attention to the people on the ground, instead calling out "Young Master" and "Young Lady." The training time had passed, and everyone in the camp except those on duty, patrolling, and those carrying provisions was resting. The atmosphere in the camp was excellent; those who had gone to the Western Frontier with Gu Zhizhuo rushed out to pay their respects upon hearing the news.
Gu Yican led Gu Zhizhuo into the central tent. He sat in the main seat and gave half of it to Gu Zhizhuo.
Gu Yican was the elder brother, the heir apparent, and the commander of the Thousand Machines Camp. Gu Zhizhuo did not sit next to him, but instead moved half a step to the left to sit down.
Gu Yican pinched her nose.
Knock knock knock!
The camp drums sounded three times, and soon several captains and centurions arrived.
Jiang Zizhou and Li Qing had met Gu Zhizhuo once before, but the other officers didn't recognize her. They only glanced at her a few times and greeted her with smiles: "Young lady!"
They had all heard Qi Fu say that this young lady was quite formidable, with strategies no less than the Third Master's and a fiery temper no less than the Young Master's.
Gu Yican rested his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes lazily sweeping around: "What's the deal with that guy surnamed Sun?"
"They were just dispatched by the Five Armies Commandery today." The young master has been under house arrest and hasn't come to the military camp recently, so Qi Fu was originally going to report to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion a little later.
"He came with his baggage train; this is his transfer order."
Qi Fu presented a dispatch order from the Five Military Commands.
"That person is incredibly stupid."
He tried to establish his authority as soon as he arrived at the camp, but no one paid him any attention.
They're even stupid enough to try and intimidate the prince as soon as he returns; it's truly remarkable how stupid they are.
Gu Yican didn't even look at it before saying, "Qianji Camp doesn't need useless people, send them back. Qi Fu, go tell Gong Hai not to stuff everything into Qianji Camp, it's not a garbage dump."
"yes!"
Jiang Zizhou hesitated for a moment and said, "Sun Wei is a confidant of Admiral Gong. If we send him back directly, I'm afraid the Five Armies Commandery will cut our rations."
Gu Yican curled his lips into a mocking smile: "Isn't this already being cut back?"
The rations and pay for March were not given until the end of June.
Gu Zhizhuo's scrutinizing gaze moved between Jiang Zizhou and Li Qing. Who could "the bug" be?
Hmm, maybe I should ask for his birth date and time first?
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
