Chapter 375 Gentle Country, Hero Tomb

The strong wind roared and the yellow sand rolled.

Qin Shubao immediately flew his gun robe and stood on a ruined stone pier and looked into the distance.

The eyes are vast. As far as I can see, I can see that the sky and the earth are boundless without cliffs.

"Big Governor!" Several cavalrymen trotted in, and one of them said loudly, "The soldiers looked for water everywhere and got nothing."

Qin Shubao couldn't help squeaking his dry lips, threw the tiger's head and golden gun to a small school around him. He jumped off the horse and stepped forward and said, "Rengui, we have more than a hundred miles out of Yumen Pass and Yangguan. This section of the road is the most difficult road. One is the lack of water, and the other is less wind and sand. There's nothing we can do. Let the soldiers hold on. A hundred miles further west came out of this great desert, which is the old land of the ancient land of Loulan and the Puchang Sea (Robo, where there is not only a water source but also an important market town on the Silk Road. I'll take it down, and I can use rest my feet to support the soldiers for the time being.

Xue Rengui hugged his fist and said, "That's the only way. Since our army came out of Lanzhou, it has won all the battles. However, at this time, people are tired of horses and lack of food, grass, water and rice. If they don't rest, it will be the end of the crossbow. I hope Puchanghai does not have a large number of Tubo soldiers or rebels in the Western Regions, otherwise, it will be another bloody battle of life and death.

"What, are you afraid?" Qin Shubao smiled, sat down with a piece of red earth stone beside him, knocked on his knee and said, "It's only sixteen. What's the matter? I'm also old. My body is not as good as before. I remember that in the past, when I followed your majesty in the south and fought in the north, it was also common for a few days and nights without stopping for a while. Now I've only galloped for more than a thousand miles, and I feel sleepy.

"Of course, the last general is not afraid." Xue Rengui smiled and said, "It's a brilliant record to win 16 games in a row. The Tubo soldiers and the rebels in the Western Regions had been killed by the governor. They thought how tragic the two battles of recovering Yumen Pass and Yang Pass would be. Unexpectedly, they took them so easily. However, our army has also suffered a lot of casualties after these battles. When we went out, it was full of 20,000 elites, and there were only more than 13,000 left.

"If you fight, you will die. There's nothing you can do." Qin Shubao frowned slightly and said, "Six or seven thousand heroic souls buried in the wilderness, in exchange for the Tang Dynasty to expand thousands of miles, and more than 20,000 enemy bones were martyred. They died. This Yueqi was trained by Sanlang when he was in Lanzhou with Yuwen Hongtai. It's really good. He is brave and disciplined, and quite tenacious. Running thousands of miles, there was a shortage of food and water, and people were short of horses. I didn't hear anyone screaming, and my morale was still high. With such an iron army, why worry about invincible? Another thousand miles to attack 16 battles in a row, and I am not afraid at all!"

"With the god of war like the governor as the commander-in-chief, the brothers will naturally work harder." Xue Rengui said, "The last general is only worried about one thing now. The governor left Lanzhou and led the army to attack Gaochang. Lanzhou lacked the backbone. What should he do? Although Xue Wanjun is a talented general, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to stand alone and guard the governor's mansion. In addition, the governor resisted the decree and raised troops. If the court pursues and comes to the crime with a strict order, won't we give up halfway?"

"Ha ha!" Qin Shubao stroked his long smile and said, "Rengui, Sanlang often praises you for your carefulness in front of me. It's really good. You have a reason to worry, and I have thought about these problems many times. However, after all, you don't know the court or the emperor.

"Oh, what do you say?" Xue Rengui asked curiously.

Qin Shubao smiled and said, "Lanzhou is war and peace. There must be endless arguments in the imperial court, and His Majesty will also make a decision for a while. At this time, there should be a reckless person like the old man who beheaded first and then fought. Since it has become a forgone conclusion, no matter how much the court argues, it will be useless.

Xue Rengui was shocked and said, "What if someone impeaches the governor because of this?"

"If you impeach, you will be impeached. What are you afraid of!" Qin Shubao said carelessly, "I have led the army thousands of miles away. Even if I am impeached, it is also a matter of the year of the monkey to catch up with us. At that time, we will all take Gaochang! Besides, His Majesty didn't know how much he wanted to teach Tubo to calm down Gaochang. It was only because of the criticism of those Confucian students in the court that he had never decided. Even if I resisted his imperial edict, it was in line with his original intention. Do you think His Majesty can really treat me with a serious crime? Even if you want to treat me for a big crime, it doesn't matter. When I take Gao Chang, the merits and demerits will be worth it. At most, I will remove my official position and let me remove my armor and return to the field, right? Haha! That's a good deal. Anyway, Lanzhou will be Sanlang's place sooner or later, and it's okay to give it to him as soon as possible. I'm happy to go home as soon as possible to have a grandson and enjoy the joy of family. Before that, I want to enjoy the pleasure of galloping on the battlefield. When I enjoy it enough, it will be the day when Sanlang takes over my fierce horse and long gun.

"The governor is ambitious and far-sighted, and the last general is too late!" Xue Rengui hugged his fist and sighed.

"Don't praise me." Qin Shubao stroked his bee and smiled a little proudly, "I'm doing everything according to Sanlang's intention. That boy is resourceful. In the past few years, I, a father, have always acted according to his will. I'm not as good as him in planning; he is not as good as me when he attacks the enemy thousands of miles away. Help him do more while this old bone can still move! Unsurprisingly, as soon as I send troops, the emperor will definitely send Sanlang back to Lanzhou to take charge of the overall situation. Rengui, you don't have to worry about anything, just rush forward and gallop! In front is the Puchang Sea of the ancient country of Loulan, which is an important road on the Silk Road of the Western Regions. No matter who is there, step on it!"

"No!" Xue Ren held a heavy fist and shouted, "Big Governor, let the last general lead three thousand iron armor one step ahead, step on Pingloulan within twelve hours to clear the obstacles, and welcome the Great Governor and the soldiers to enter the city!"

"Good!" Qin Shubao stood up, laughed and patted Xue Rengui's shoulder armor sonorously, and said, "When Sanlang left, he repeatedly told him that he had his own opinion to discuss more things with Rengui. He could appoint him as the vanguard and general in big and small battles, and his attack was incurable. In the 16th battle of the Western Expedition, you will win every battle. You, Xue Rengui, should be the first achievement!"

Xue Rengui smiled and arched his hand and said, "In this seventeenth array, let Xue take it alone. The governor will rest for a while. At this time tomorrow, please invite the governor to get drunk together in the ancient city of Loulan!"

"Go ahead!"

"The more you ride the vanguard in Yifu, get on the horse!" Xue Rengui jumped on the horse and tied his cloak. He pointed forward with a square halberd and shouted, "The target Loulan, a hundred miles of rapid attack, one drum in twelve hours to attack - let's go!"

"Nuo--" Three thousand Yue rode rolled out and rolled up a hundred feet of sand and dust.

Qin Shubao stroked his long and stood up, squinting his eyes and looking at Xue Rengui, a cavalry that gradually disappeared in the distance in the Gobi and the sky, and sighed, "Qin Qiong, young talents like Sanlang and Xue Rengui took your war horse spear. You can indeed unload your armor and return to the field without regret... Gao Chang, it is the last of your life. World War I!"

At night, the old Qin family is next to the horse court.

Qin Mubai alone brought a lamp to the armor room where weapons and armor were parked, took oil, water and cloth towels, took out the armor, weapons, saddle, bows and arrows and other things one by one, and sat alone in the room and wiped them carefully.

These weapons are extremely precious, and they will not be used when practicing Qin Mubai. The armor is the golden bright armor given by Emperor Li Shimin when he successfully participated in the first election for the Hundred Horses. Although it has not been difficult for Qin Mubai to get a good armor in a high position in the army since then, the so-called "good armor" is also difficult to compare with the best golden armor of the imperial tribute. The knife is the Guiyi knife sent by Li Daozong. There is no need to say more about that knife, and it is also of extraordinary significance. The gun is a tiger-headed golden gun handed down from the Qin family, which is exactly the same as the one used by his father Qin Shubao. Others, such as the golden carved saddle, the thrush and tiger-patterned iron tire bow and the special snake-headed fine steel broken armor arrows, are all extraordinary.

Especially the bow and arrow, Qin Mu spent a lot of effort to transform it with bows and arrows according to the game he used in his previous life, and then asked the master craftsman to customize it specially for himself, which is very different from the ordinary bows and arrows now. In addition to the tension of the bow string that matches your own arm strength, it is also more scientific and convenient to use, and the accuracy is greatly improved.

These things have been idle for too long.

Qin Mubai wiped it quite carefully and carefully, and he was not annoyed at all, and he didn't want to fake others. For a soldier who fights in battle, weapons, armor and horses are closely related to his own life.

Now, Qin Mubai is looking forward to leaving Chang'an as soon as possible and rushing to Lanzhou to the battlefield. It is true that Chang'an is a gentle and happy place. The flowers in the Central Plains are as beautiful as the country and the people are safe, but Qin Mubai feels that he is destined to belong to that yellow sand field. Since returning to Beijing from Lanzhou last year, many unexpected events have happened one after another. After several ups and downs, some people around me left, some people came, some people developed, and some people were doomed.

After watching too much joys and sorrows, Qin Mubai was tired of intrigues and horns. Instead, Qin Mubai felt that in the battlefield in the barracks, the simple man's hot-blooded horse and spears were much more comfortable to come!

About half an hour later, a little maid whispered outside, "Three princes, there is a guest to visit."

Qin Mubai paused for a moment and said, "Didn't I say that I didn't see anyone today? Why do you still bother me?"

"The third son forgives his forgiveness, and the maidservant did not dare to disturb him. It was the mistress who asked the maidservant to invite the third son. Say... It's better for the third son to meet the guests.

"Who is it?"

"Her Royal Highness Princess Gaoyang, and Wu Mei Niang."

Qin Mubai was stunned and said, "Just the two of them?"

"Yes, it's just the two of them."

"Then invite them here."

"Yes..."

Qin Mubai is still sitting in the cabin, wiping weapons and armor. I thought to myself: I'm leaving. They came to say goodbye to me... I couldn't part with them when I didn't want to leave, so I deliberately avoided them. I didn't expect them to make an appointment to come together. That's all. Come on as soon as you come! After all, I don't know when and where the next meeting will be.

After a young man, Princess Gaoyang and Wu Mei Niang came and stood side by side at the door and whispered: "Mu Bai..."

"What's the matter? Come in!" Qin Mubai smiled and said, "It seems that you are much more estranged from me. In the past, you were not so polite."

The two women came in with a smile, sat down beside him, and watched silently as he wipe the golden gun in his hand.

"Let me help you." As Wu Mei Niang said, she reached out to pick up the rag in Qin Mubai's hand.

"No." Qin Mubai said, "I never pretend to be someone else about this kind of thing."

"Is I also a 'other'?" Wu Mei Niang smiled.

"Well, here you are." Qin Mubai smiled helplessly and said, "Remember, the gun head needs oil. It's not too much. If it's too slippery to cross with other people's weapons, it's easy to miss; it's not too little, it can't be pulled out without stabbing other people's armor robes. More than half of the gun needs to be stained with a little oil so that the blood can flow quickly; less than half of the oil can't be seen, otherwise my own hand will slip, and I can't say anything.

Wu Mei Niang frowned and shook her hand, and gave the rag back to Qin Mubai. She said worriedly, "You'd better do it yourself!" I can't afford this little mistake."

"Mu Bai, you know how to scare us." Princess Gaoyang frowned deeply and whispered, "I know we are worried about you, but it's so horrible!"

"Ha ha!" Qin Mubai smiled and said, "I know that it's the most uncomfortable when we part, so why do you still come?"

Wu Mei Niang and Princess Gao Yang looked at each other, and their faces were sad and silent.

"All right! Don't make it like life and death. It's not the first time I've left Chang'an on an expedition. Qin Mubai pretended to be relaxed and said.

"Mu Bai, I know that you want me to be obedient, sensible, and stay in Chang'an to serve my mother-in-law and take care of my family. I also want to do this, but..." Princess Gaoyang said halfway, squeezed her lips with an embarrassed face and whispered, "But I want to go to Lanzhou with you more, okay? ......”

The action in Qin Mubai's hand paused for a moment, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly and he was silent.

"Well, when I didn't say..." Princess Gaoyang sighed and turned her head.

"Thank you, Linger..." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "We haven't been together for a day or two. You know me, and I know you. We don't have to say anything superfluous. In a word, I will come back intact. You should also stay in Chang'an well and obediently. Don't let me worry about you.

"Uh-huh..." Princess Gaoyang nodded gently and stopped talking.

Wu Meiniang said, "Mu Bai, when I accompanied you to see Fang Xuanling the day before yesterday, I was already preparing for the promised thing to raise food and fodder. I believe that it won't be long before we can get the first batch of grain and fodder of about 300,000 stones and set out from Chang'an with Su Dingfang and the king of Jiangxia.

"So fast?" Qin Mubai was surprised and said, "Chang'an is not Xiangyang. You haven't done food business here, have you?"

"Isn't there still the Zheng family? You forgot that the Zheng family is the largest grain and salt merchant in Chang'an, the imperial merchant!" Wu Meiniang said, "If it hadn't been for the approval of the court, who would have dared to do the grain and salt business, let alone do the grain business in Chang'an. Although I took over the grain and salt order you and Li Ke got me in Xiangzhou, I really can't do anything in Guan. Fortunately, I can still use the Zheng family to do things.

"Oh, no wonder you have so much confidence to praise the mouth of 500,000 stone grain and grass in front of Fang Xuanling!" Qin Mubai said.

Princess Gaoyang blinked her eyes and asked, "500,000 stone grain and grass, is it very expensive? How much is it worth?"

"It's not particularly expensive. It's estimated that it's worth a Qin Xian Pavilion in Chang'an." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "But at the front line, you can't buy such things even if you have money. Moreover, to transport 500,000 stones of grain and grass to Lanzhou, the cost of more than two 500,000 stones on the way! In addition, the huge group of people and carriages and horses are not affordable and well-prepared.

"Mei Niang, you are so capable..." Princess Gaoyang said enviously and jealously, "You can do so many things for Mu Bai, but I can't help anything. I don't think I'm any use compared with you!"

"It's not!" Wu Meiniang hurriedly said, "You are the lucky star in Mu Bai's life. Without you, you would not have the great power of Mu Bai today. As for me, I have nothing to do but do business, and I have nothing but money, so I can only do Mu Bai a small favor. After all, you are more helpful to him!"

"Is that so?" Princess Gaoyang turned around and smiled and asked, "Mu Bai, is that so?"

"Ha ha!" Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled, "Well, you two are both lucky stars in my life and my best virtuous assistant, so you don't have to brag about each other."

"Hey hey!" Princess Gao Yang and Wu Mei Niang laughed together. The sadness of parting has finally faded away a lot.

"It's getting late. You all go back to rest early!" Qin Mubai was cruel and issued an eviction order and said, "I still have a pair of armor to wipe, and I will go to bed early after finishing it. At that time, I have to go to the barracks outside Chang'an City to start a general. I have to get up early at dawn and go out early.

Princess Gaoyang and Wu Mei Niang stood up silently. The four shining eyes looked at him together and whispered, "Then let's go..."

"Uh-huh..." Qin Mubai answered gently and did not look up at the two of them. I only heard their rustling footsteps and walked away lightly.

"Wow..." Qin Mubai breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself: Gentle hometown, hero tomb... Although I'm not a big hero, I don't want to be distracted by the concern of my children. Can you understand them?

At this time, a string of small footsteps came from far to near. Qin Mubai couldn't help frowning: Gao Yang, go and come back?

After being together for so long, Qin Mubai is very familiar with her footsteps.

"Mu Bai..." Princess Gao Yang really came back, rushed into the room like a civet cat, and rushed to Qin Mubai's back and hugged his neck.

"What are you doing?" Qin Mubai asked with a smile.

"Do it!"

Qin Mubai almost fell to the ground, "What and what!"

"Anyway, if you ask, I will answer. Don't go back on your word!"

"Naughty! - Where's Mei Niang?"

"I asked her to sleep with three people. She was shy and went home, hey hey!" Princess Gaoyang smiled and bit Qin Mubai's ear and said, "Mr. Mu Bai, baby Sanlang, I want to give you a son!"

"What husband, baby, who did you learn from?" Qin Mubai couldn't laugh or cry.

Princess Gaoyang giggled in Qin Mubai's ear, and her voice became charming and bewitching. She hummed, "For days, you only know you are busy and don't touch me. Now I've been away from Chang'an for so long. I don't know when we will meet... Don't you have any idea?"

"I'm not just afraid. Are you sad when you wake up at dawn tomorrow and there is no one around you?"

"It cares so much about him! As you said, the spring night is worth a lot of money. You can go to Lanzhou to wipe this gun! - Come on, go to the room and have a son!"

"..." Qin Mubai was so speechless that the corners of his mouth were almost cramped. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's not urgent to have a son. All I know is that you are going to be miserable tonight!"

"Come on! Come on! If I'm afraid of you, I won't be your Qin Mubai's woman, hey hey!"