Because it was getting late, Mu Qingyuan had borrowed food from the military camp before, so Xiang Kejian asked everyone to help him temporarily store the grain truck in the front courtyard of the government office.

"Brothers, you have suffered these days!" Xiang Kejian looked at the unkempt and pale-faced food transport soldiers and said in admiration: "Everyone hurry up and go back to the government office to wash up and have a good meal. I will report to Lord Mu immediately!"

When Xiang Kejian excitedly rushed to the government office to report this great good news, it was a coincidence that Mu Qingyuan had already gone out to check the people's situation. Lord Mu had never wanted to stay in the government office and always liked to go everywhere. Xiang Kejian had already been used to it. Moreover, Lord Mu did not talk about the rules and walked around as he pleased, so it was really hard to find it. After looking at the time, he thought that it was almost time for You, so it was better to wait in the government office.

After waiting for nearly an hour, at the end of the You hour, Mu Qingyuan finally came back in turmoil. He shook off the snow all over the body, and looked up and saw Xiang Kejian squatting on the threshold of the government office. He ran over in surprise and unexpected ways, woke him up and asked, "How are you back? Could it be that the grain team has returned?"

Xiang Kejian, who was supposed to be tired and sleepy, immediately felt as soon as he opened his eyes and saw Mu Qingyuan. "Sir, you are back! Yes, my subordinates met a grain team after a day of walking out of the city, so they participated in the escort of the grain team back to the city. At this moment, the grain truck was already in the treasury house, and the brothers who transported the grain had already let them eat and wash up!"

The anxiety that has been over the past few days has finally been relieved at this moment. Mu Qingyuan took a deep breath with relief and said with gratitude: "You did the right thing, thank you for your hard work, so are you. Tonight is the New Year's Eve. Go back early to accompany your mother. All work will be done tomorrow!"

"No, I am not tired! I must go and count the food, and I will accompany me to come!"

"You, your mother is waiting for you at home. I am alone. It's the same when I go back. You don't have to accompany me."

"No, my subordinates are the personal bodyguards of the Lord. It is the responsibility of my subordinates to protect my safety. If I don't return, my subordinates will never return!"

Mu Qingyuan was so amused that this young man became stubborn that he was no less than himself. It was because of this that he attached great importance to this young man. Since he could not convince him, he could only compromise. Just as Mu Qingyuan was about to go to the treasury with Xiang Kejian, he ran into an old woman at the entrance of the government office. She was dressed simply, had a thin face, and had a pair of black hair to change to snow, but her eyes were bright and bright.

"Auntie Gu!"

"Mom!" Xiang Kejian hurriedly supported the old woman. "Why did you come out alone on such a snowy day?"

The old woman first gave Mu Qingyuan a blessing, then raised the bamboo basket in her hand and said, "I know that Lord Mu is concerned about the people of Hanzhou, so I will definitely not go back to stay up to the New Year. As Lord Mu's personal bodyguard, you naturally cannot leave your post without permission, but you are worried that you will be hungry, so Lao Zi made some shepherd's purse rice balls to you, and even if you are busy with official duties, you must take care of your own body."

Xiang Kejian's eyes were immediately wet. His filial piety was famous in Hanzhou City. This New Year's Eve could not be with his only mother. He was really sad and said hoarsely: "I know, my mother will go back early, don't catch a cold. I will accompany Lord Mu to order the grain warehouse and come back to accompany my mother."

Facing this scene, Mu Qingyuan couldn't help but think of his parents. It had been a year since he left the capital. At this moment, they must be in the mansion for the New Year. They must miss themselves! Unfortunately, the heavy snow blocked the passage, and the letters were difficult to deliver, so they could not tell them everything was fine. Looking at the mother and son in front of him, Mu Qingyuan's softest part was touched. How rare is the family reunion in this difficult age. Mu Qingyuan hesitated for a while. Since the grain team has been delivered safely, Hanzhou City has always been in good security, so it should be okay to go to inspect it for a few hours in the evening. The key is that Xiang Kejian, the young man, was stubborn. It would be better to let the mother and son go home first and go to inspect it later.

"Aunt Gu, you have been working hard this time. I will accompany you home with Ke Jian to stay up to the New Year!"

The mother and son widened their unexpected eyes. Before they could ask questions, Mu Qingyuan urged: "If you don't hurry, this shepherd's purse rice ball will be cold, but if it is cold, it will be bad! Also, Aunt Gu will not welcome me to your house for a meal, right?"

The old woman grinned happily and said, "How could it be? How could it be? It's too late to welcome her in the old man!"

Xiang Kejian looked at Mu Qingyuan gratefully. After touching the other party's firm eyes, he nodded vigorously. So, the two of them supported the old woman from left to right and walked towards the home not far away, leaving only a string of footprints.

The custom of Daliang is that on the New Year's Eve, big red lanterns should be hung at the door and peach talismans should be pasted to pray for good luck and safety in the coming year. In Hanzhou City, every household has hanged the lanterns on the gatehouse and stood on the city wall to overlook them. You can see the red little by little, which complements the pure white snow. But after watching for a long time, you will feel that this bright red is slowly turning blood red.

At the moment of Xu, Xiang Kejian hung up two lanterns high, while Aunt Gu was busy returning the shepherd's purse rice balls to heat them up and then making some side dishes. Mu Qingyuan looked around the small courtyard where he entered the door and entered, without any luxury, and was as simple as he was not as simple as a descendant of an official.

"Sir, please sit down first. I'll help my mother and let us fill our stomachs sooner!" Before Mu Qingyuan could speak, Xiang Kejian ran to the kitchen, and then the buzzing sound of cooking came out. Mu Qingyuan had no choice but to smile helplessly and wait. To be honest, he didn't learn any cooking skills from Pangkui at Qingshan Academy, but now he regrets it.

At the military camp, Yan Yuxin was also sympathetic to the soldiers, changing the original three-hour shift change to one-hour shift change, and reducing the number of people on duty, so that the soldiers could participate in the yearning to the greatest extent. There was no doubt that Yan Yuxin understood that this move violated the art of war, but when he looked at the heavy snow, he still prayed that he could spend the night safely. The scouts sent for several days did not notice any abnormal movements in the Tang army, which also made him feel much more at ease.

When the snow stopped, the generals of the army rushed to help should arrive, and then their pressure would be reduced a lot. Cough cough, a sudden cough made Yan Yuxin want to take the tea cup and drink a sip of warm tea to moisten his throat, but accidentally knocked the tea cup over and cut his fingers. There was not much blood, but looking at the broken tea cup on the ground, Yan Yuxin's brows began to frown.

"The food is here!" Xiang Kejian brought a plate of steaming spicy roast pork. "This meat, but my mother killed the hen at home. We should always eat something good this year!"

Then Aunt Gu brought a basin of round taro soup and the shepherd's purse rice balls that had been prepared before. This was the reunion dinner for Xiang's family on the New Year's Eve.

"Come on, get the chopsticks!" Xiang Kejian returned home and changed his rigorous appearance in the yamen, becoming happy, like a child. "This is the first time in many years that three people have been together for the New Year!"

Aunt Gu was touched and put down the chopsticks he raised, but after seeing Mu Qingyuan's gaze opposite, she changed into a festive smile, "Mr. Mu, don't dislike him!"

"Don't call me Master at home, just call me Qingyuan, Aunt Gu."

"This cannot break the rules!"

"Mom, Lord Mu is a honest person. He doesn't do anything stupid. There are only three of us in the house. I'll call Brother Mu!"

"Okay! I'll tell you to be scattered!"

"Okay, okay, eat quickly, otherwise it will be cold again!"

When that piece of smooth and tender chicken was put into your mouth, the days of running around were swept away. Perhaps the taste was not very delicious, but this down-to-earth and intimate feeling really touched Mu Qingyuan. This is the warmth of home, the care of relatives, and the best comfort for the tired body and mind during busyness.

Just as the military and civilians in Hanzhou were immersed in the atmosphere of staying at the New Year, the roofs of twenty grain trucks that were staying in the granary of the treasury pushed open the door from the inside, and dozens of black figures quickly hid in the night like ghosts. The whole process was quick and quiet, without alarming anyone.

"It's a shift change!"

Four right-ranked guards completed the change of defense. They just took their seats at the north gate. Several people looked around and looked around, quiet and peaceful. Then they looked at the Lower Tang Qingzhi City, a hundred miles away from the city wall. They were still as usual, without any abnormal movements. Everyone finally felt relieved.

"It's good to spend tonight safely!" A soldier murmured to himself, but was heard by another soldier. He comforted him: "Master Wen Youmu, Wu Youyan Commander, don't worry!" After that, he walked to the other side of the city, and suddenly a black shadow floated in front of him. Before he could react, his head had been rotated by 180 degrees. The last scene that reflected his pupils before his death was his robe staring at his incredible eyes after he fell to the ground.

In a moment, all the guards at the North City Gate were killed. The black figure slowly opened the city gate. One black figure after another suddenly appeared from the land covered with snow, and they also flashed silently into the city. Soon, holes were left in the snow outside the city, like a beehive.

As there were more and more black figures, they headed towards the right guard's camp. They were not in a hurry to launch an attack for a while, but hid in the dark to surround the camp, dug soil near the camp and half buried objects similar to wine jars into the soil, and the mouths of the objects were stuffed with black particles.

The snow in the sky was still floating. Xiang Kejian touched his stomach, and burped with great satisfaction, and said with a red face: "I have never had an experience with my elder brother to stay up with him this year. It has been more than 20 years, and I have been both me and my mother. Tonight is very happy!"

"Since I took office, you have been my personal bodyguard. For a year, I have been busy with my affairs and have not had time to ask about your family affairs. I dare to ask Ling Zun..." Before Mu Qingyuan finished asking, Aunt Gu said, "Mr. Mu, I knew that I was polite to Lao Shen, so I asked Ke Jian to come back earlier. At this time, the reunion dinner was over. Let Ke Jian accompany him to finish the matter."

"Yes! Didn't you go to inspect the grain truck before? I've been delaying some time for my subordinates. Why don't you set off now!" As soon as Xiang Kejian mentioned business, he regained his name. Mu Qingyuan didn't care. He had made such a plan, and this would be exactly what he wanted, so he agreed happily.

"I'll go home early after I'm done. Mom is waiting for you to stay up to the New Year together." When the two walked out of the small yard, Aunt Gu still shouted at Kejian with some reluctance, nodding to Kejian and disappeared at the end of the alley with Mu Qingyuan.

From Mi Lane where Gu Niang’s home is located to the granary of the treasury, you need to travel through the entire Hanzhou City National District. It happened to be one south and one north, and the road took a lot of time. The two walked on the streets in snow, looking at the red lanterns hanging in the houses and shops on both sides; listening to the laughter of family reunion that faintly came into your ears, Mu Qingyuan felt very at ease.

"I just wanted to ask Ling Zun's affairs." Mu Qingyuan took the lead in asking. He had already felt that Aunt Gu seemed unwilling to talk about Ke Jian's father, so he asked again when there were only two of them.

"My father, I don't actually know. My mother never talks about my father. I only know that my father passed away before I was born." Xiang Kejian said calmly, "I also asked my mother, but she always said that my father died of illness." The young man spread his hands, and Mu Qingyuan also understood that what he knew was really limited to this.

"I asked casually, don't care."

"I'm so polite, so it's my honor to be able to follow you. There's nothing to hide from you in your family."

So, the two changed their topics, from the customs and customs of Hanzhou to the various possibilities of fighting against the Tang Dynasty, and the journey became shorter. Just after Hai, the grain warehouse was already far away.

"Hey, sir, we're here!"
Chapter completed!