Chapter 13: Early Spring (4)

Li Yuanfang raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Wu Xun with attention. In fact, he knew the other party's feelings very well, but he was too lazy to accommodate. After getting rid of Lu Jia and entering Yibotai, he felt a little relaxed. The long-standing fatigue and depression pain came together. In the afternoon, he only dared to lie down for a while and then got up and walked around, otherwise he might really not get up. Now he just wants to say what he must say, do what he must do, and he has no intention or ability to take care of others. After this period, Li Yuanfang is already very sure of Wu Xun's character and knows that he is a straightforward person who is the most important thing. As long as he takes time, both sides will be able to keep their hearts in mind, so he has avoided Wu Xun's shaming and courtesy from now on.

Wu Xun felt that Li Yuanfang was too cold and arrogant, and his face was a little uneasy, so he said, "Person Li, let's go to rest first if you have nothing to do." Turning around and leaving, Li Yuanfang called him again: "Person Wu, please stay." Wu Xun was a little impatient: "What else?" Li Yuanfang took a step forward and smiled and said, "Does Magistrate Wu still remember that I asked for weapons from you?" Wu Xun was stunned: "Remember...why?! Do you still want them?" Li Yuanfang nodded: "Person Wu, you have seen it. I really don't have weapons. The bow used to shoot the wolf pack was borrowed from Princess Mengdan. I will return it to her tonight. So, I have to ask Captain Wu to find a weapon for me, an ordinary steel knife."

"This..." Wu Xun was so embarrassed at this moment. He stumbled for a while before he said, "Person Li, let me tell you the truth. The weapons prepared by the Governor were all broken and rust, and they were useless. If you want weapons, otherwise I would talk to Pan Huochang tonight and think of a solution." Li Yuanfang's eyes flashed and asked, "But the Governor's troops and all the weapons of the officers and soldiers of the Yibotai's troops are excellent. I have already seen it just now. The equipment used here is among the top ones among the sixteen guards of the emperor. Why did the Governor ask the Governor to prepare weapons for the Governor's troops?"

Wu Xun was shocked when he heard this. He looked back with a gloomy face and carefully recalled what Li Yuanfang said in the past few days. What Li Yuanfang said was true! All along, the Hanhai Army knew that the outsourcing team was organized by Lu Jia to manage the large prison of Yibotai. Except for the team and the Huocheng, the rest of the team members were herders and misdemeanor prisoners recruited by the local government. Because it was not included in the formal organization of the Hanhai Army, soldiers could not receive military pay, nor did they have regular weapons and mounts, and only rely on Qian Guinan to maintain the small amount of funds allocated every year. Therefore, this time Qian Guinan asked Wu Xun to come to Yibotai, and Wu Xun expected that the necessary supplies were missing here, so he had to prepare early.

His experience over the past few days has allowed him to meet a completely different Yibotai. Although Lu Jia's extra-staff team is mixed and has excessive killing, it is not like a regular army but more like a bandit gang, their armor, weapons, and even mounts are all good, and they are indeed stronger than the Hanhai Army stationed in Tingzhou. This is really beyond Wu Xun's expectation. After thinking about it, Wu Xun felt that it was necessary to investigate it carefully, so he said to Li Yuanfang: "I don't know the baggage situation of Yibotai's extra-staff team. Let's ask Pan Huochang tomorrow to interrogate. Then I will find a weapon that matches Li. What do you think?"

Li Yuanfang nodded and said yes. It was already late at this time, and the voices outside the camp were gradually rising and the bonfire began to light. Pan Huochang ran over excitedly and shouted loudly: "Person Wu, Captain Li! You are all here. The wild stoves in front of the camp have been set up. The brothers are hungry and are waiting for you. Should you start the meal?" Wu Xun laughed: "Okay, okay. Pan Huochang, go and greet your brothers! Captain Li, let me invite Princess Mengdan!"

In the vast desert, the smoke from cooking is rising straight up. The blazing bonfire that soars into the sky as if it wants to compete with the stars hanging in the sky. The brilliant galaxy is winding and flowing, a clear moon is raised, scattering the eternal and unchanging jade-like light from the sky to the earth. At the far end of the extreme, deep in the dark clouds and mist, the moonlight reflects the depth and openness of the top of the snow-capped ice peaks, like a fairyland in a dream.

Before Yibotai's camp, it will no longer be quiet tonight. There are endless laughter and joy, which is the release and catharsis that have been suppressed for too long. The night sky is the top, the Tianshan Mountains are the walls, the sand seas are like mats, and the hills are like curtains. Even in the depths of the claustrophobia, there are still hell-like resentment breeding, and even in the wilderness, there are still many murderous intents everywhere. Tonight, let's get drunk before we stop.

It was late at night, and Yibotai's extra-staff team and the cavalry team of Tuqishi had already drunk. Almost everyone except the soldiers on duty were drunk. The wolf meat roasted on the fire emitted a scent and was almost torn and eaten up. Soju, oil tea, cattle and sheep... Everyone was filled with their stomachs, and no one cared about it tonight.

Just next to the largest bonfire, there were Wu Xun and Pan Dazhong and other fire chiefs gathered. Li Yuanfang, Di Jinghui and Meng Dan were also invited together. Di Jinghui was quite depressed tonight and could not drink good wine. He had to fill the milk tea and watched Li Yuanfang, Wu Xun, Pan Dazhong and others cheering and fighting. Until Wu Xun was half drunk, lying or leaning against the bonfire, Li Yuanfang also had his face red and covered with sweat on his forehead. Di Jinghui couldn't help but think of the banquet they had at the "Jiu Chung Tower" in Bingzhou, which was like a different life.

Mengdan also drank a lot of wine, his face flushed, and his blue eyes were even brighter. On the other table, the brothers Hasler and Tuqishi were drinking and sang Turkic songs with their voices. The desolate songs echoed in the wilderness. Although most of the Han people at the table could not understand the meaning of the words, the melodious tune conveyed the loneliness and sorrow of being born, but deeply invaded every heart. As they listened, Mengdan suddenly jumped up from the table, with his hands flat out, and a delicate shout came out of his mouth, responding to Hasler's singing. Tuqishishi suddenly burst out with thunderous applause and cheers: "Princess! Princess! Princess!" They knew that the beautiful princess was dancing wildly.
Chapter completed!