Jin Ben replied calmly: "My lord asked me to practice more water skills. Holding my breath underwater is also a way to practice water skills."
Zhou Shiliu choked and was speechless.
Jin Ben got dressed and entered the straw hut. Probably because of the summer, he was dressed quite cool. He opened his regular clothes and walked in with straw sandals.
"The copper on the bottom of this building ship is almost gone, and one of the watertight compartments is broken. Colonel Fang said that this ship is not very good. I thought he was joking, but I didn't expect it to be true."
Jin Ben sat on the straw mat and said that he had followed his lord for all these years and had used all the best equipment. This was the first time he saw an embarrassment of friendly troops. This patchwork ship actually repelled the Huaibei Economic Envoy. In addition to the geographical advantage, Fang Yuhuo's navy is probably also related to Fang Yuhuo's proper command and proficiency in water warfare.
Zhou Xu smiled and said: "It's a little broken. I checked the general structure and there's still no problem. When Li Xun comes, we'll build some ships here ourselves. Then we'll have more people ask Captain Fang for advice." .”
Behind the mask, Jin Ben listened to his lord's words and smiled. This lord is truly humble. When his ship appeared in Youzhou, Jin Ben was sure that his lord had secretly made a lot of preparations. A warship was going to To build it well, you need to use a lot of good wood in advance, instead of building a ship without any preparation. Building a ship is not that simple from drawing to starting construction and then finishing it.
Xiao Qingxue sat next to her mother. Although the hut was simple and built with only four wooden pillars. The hut was covered with flooring and straw mats. There was a low table and a row of tea sets, but because it was close to the water, it was extremely cool. .
Xiao Qinghe filled another pot of spring water from upstream and put it on the small stove to boil.
Xiao Luolan gently fanned herself with a round fan, letting the cool breeze hit her face. She also fanned her daughter beside her a few times.
"Madam, how about eating here tonight?" Zhou Xu sat next to his wife and pointed to the water: "There are a lot of fish and shrimps in the lake. I'll let people go down and catch a few."
"Okay." Xiao Luolan nodded. She didn't choose.
Xiao Qingxue took her cousin and ran to the shore to play with Zheng Yuxin. Jin Ben took a rest and left.
"Master Lian and Luo Langjun have arrived in Luzhou. I just sent them off." Xiao Luolan held a spoon in her sleeves and added some tea leaves to the boiling water: "I left you a plate of lychees, and Master Lian also sent some People who have lived in Lingnan come here.”
"Lian Shiqing used to be the imperial envoy to Nanzhu. There should be someone in Lingnan." Zhou Xu held his wife's hand and felt comfortable: "There is no need to leave it for me next time. Madam can eat it by herself. Wait for Luo Jinhu When we get to Lingnan, there are more lychees. Madam can eat them if she wants, and it would also be nice to make lychee wine to drink."
"In addition, I plan to ask Li Fan to let Luo Jinhu go to Lingnan with her. I have already told her." Zhou Xudao.
Xiao Luolan was a little surprised. No wonder Dr. Li was so busy these two days and no one was around.
"That's fine." Xiao Luolan poured two cups of tea: "Doctor Li has superb medical skills. With her here, Lingnan and his party can be protected. Have you sent a message to Huang Youzhen?"
"I've written it. When our manpower is ready, we should be able to let them set off to Lingnan." Zhou Xu looked at the vast water area that was hundreds of miles wide, thinking about the navy. He still had to seize the time to train, or You can also practice with Fang Yuhuo's Chaohu navy for a few games to increase your experience.
"What if Huang Youzhen is not easy to get along with and refuses Luo Jinhu and others to enter the country to do business?" Xiao Luolan couldn't help but think too much.
Zhou Xu paused while drinking tea, looked at his always thoughtful wife, and said with a smile: "That's okay, there will always be a chance to go there in the future."
Xiao Luolan calmed down a little. It seemed that she was too anxious. In fact, there was no need to rush this matter. It is not that simple to find something in a strange place.
After a while, Zhou Xu took his wife on a boat to go fishing.
Xiao Luolan looked at the lake and mountains, feeling happy.
When the sun set in the west, the two of them returned with their fish baskets fully loaded.
Seven days later.
Li Xun was stationed in Gaoxia Mountain with 30,000 troops. The baggage that came with him made Lu Cong's eyes widen. They were all good wood for building ships. Tung oil, lime, and copper sheets came one after another. It was obviously premeditated. For a long time, when the craftsmen were working in full swing, Li Xun raised his hands to Lu Cong and others who came to observe: "General Lu, Colonel Fang, please give me your advice in the future."
Lu Cong's heart trembled, and he returned the favor and said: "I can't talk about advice, but I dare to ask General Li, how many ships will be built with so many materials?"
Li Xun smiled and said: "Eight hundred."
Lu Cong was stunned. He only had three hundred, but if you add the two together, who would dare to underestimate a thousand warships?
Chapter 206
Four days after the carriage left Luzhou, Xiao Luolan felt the heat of midsummer. The weather was so hot that it was unbearable. It was only June, and she didn't know what July would be like.
Xiao Qingxue didn't want to move, and she stood next to the ice basin and didn't want to move. Dongxue and Xia He held a round fan in each hand to fan the mistress and the young lady.
Inside the closed carriage, the windows are closed and the curtains are drawn.
The coolness gradually spread as the ice disappeared, and Xiao Qingxue rolled around comfortably on the couch. Summer was here, and the beauty couch was replaced with a heat-dissipating mat: "Luo Jinhu is so powerful, I don't know if he has ever Where did you get the ice?"
She looked at the top of the carriage, missing the air conditioner, watermelon, ice cream, ice powder, cold noodles...
"I really want to eat it." Xiao Qingxue swallowed silently.
Xiao Luolan put a red bayberry into her daughter's mouth: "It will be fine when we get to Qinghe in a few days."
"There is a Liushui House at home, which is a good place to escape the summer heat. Aunt and cousin, you will live in the Liushui House and you will not be bothered by the heat." Xiao Qinghe continued, holding a cattail leaf fan in his hand. Fanning lightly.
"When will it arrive?" Xiao Qingxue said weakly. They stayed in Luzhou for a while. If they had followed the original plan, they should have summered in Qinghe at this moment.
"Two or three days. Once you've passed Guangling, you'll reach Qinghe. It'll be quick." Xiao Qinghe estimated the time and said. After all, the cavalry is still very fast, especially the Youqi. Xiao Qinghe suspects that if they really advance at full speed, they will arrive in a day and a half.
"Then it's better not to rush. Let's all go away in the cool weather, so we can wait for Dad and the others." Xiao Qingxue chewed bayberry. At this moment, she especially admired the Ghost Slaughter Riders outside, but thinking of the summer in Youzhou, it seemed that It's hot, I guess they're used to it.
"King, king, princess."
There was a stuttering sound outside the window, which was particularly distinctive. Xiao Luolan remembered the owner of this sound in the past two days. He was the tooth general in the Ghost Slaughter Cavalry. He was very close to Deputy General Yi Fan. He often saw the two of them. People discuss things.
"I'm here, what's the matter?" Xiao Luolan opened the window, and the heat wave hit her face. Her tanned teeth were already served with a basin of washed fruits. Maybe she was nervous and stuttered even more: "Yi, Yi, Lieutenant General Yi, let me, I will deliver food."
"I understand." After Xiao Luolan heard everything, he took a large pot of melons and fruits, smiled heavily at General Ya, and said, "Thank you, Lieutenant General Yi Fan, and all the soldiers who picked and presented melons and fruits for me."
His teeth were sticking out of the general's belly, and he smiled innocently and said nothing.
Xiao Luolan cut the pears with a dagger and put the pears on the small table for everyone to share. Worried that Xia He and Dong Xue would be embarrassed to take them, she gave them a small plate each.
Then he took out a large plate and handed it out the window: "Sixteen, it's time to eat fruit."
On the 16th, he rode a horse and ran over. He consciously completed a circle of inspection and ensured the safety of the team. He took the plate from his aunt and took the credit and said: "Aunt, I have checked that the surrounding is very safe. We can Feel free to go."
Xiao Qingxue was speechless. It was obviously the credit of Lieutenant General Yi Fan in the team, but considering how hot it was outside, Zhou Liu was sweating profusely while riding around on horseback, saying that since his uncle was temporarily away, he had the responsibility to protect them. Xiao Qingxue rarely choked and praised: "Then you are so awesome."
"Of course!" Zhou Shiliu was in high spirits. He took the fruit plate from his aunt and said in a low voice, "I don't have much more to say. I will continue to patrol. This team can't do it without me!"
After that, he left with his head held high.
"Hey, I wonder how daddy and Jin Ben are doing in their naval training?" Xiao Qingxue ate a pear, and she missed daddy when he wasn't here.
Xiao Luolan did know some inside information. In fact, it was General Li Xun who trained the water master. She thought that Clan Master Zhou said that he wanted to keep it a little secret and would catch up with them within seven days at most. She didn't know whether it was true or not.
Sect Master Zhou has wanted Shouzhou for a long time, but he still decided to try and see if he could capture it by surprise. Last time, it was because Linghu Mao was on guard in advance. This time, he planned to do it by surprise. To be honest, Xiao Luolan didn't expect it either. Sect Master Zhou was still determined to be evil and even tried to counterattack.
The 30,000 Xuanjia troops stationed at Lu Cong's Gaoxia Mountain also served to paralyze Shouzhou. The 20,000 troops led by Dai Chenggong lay in ambush behind them.
Xiao Luolan only heard a brief mention from Clan Leader Zhou that his army was stationed in Luzhou, and Linghu Mao would definitely report it to Cheng Quanhai. As expected, the intelligence started before their team left, and Clan Master Zhou did not let him know. People intercepted it, and the Shouzhou military report was sent out unimpeded.
Until the day before departure.
Clan Leader Zhou just told her to take Jin Ben to join Dai Chenggong's rear troops, and they happened to take advantage of the flood to make a surprise attack. Xiao Luolan didn't understand what Clan Master Zhou's real plan was, because he left that night.
Anyway, they set out on the road normally, and were well arranged by Vice General Yi Fan along the way.
There are still three days left before the seven days mentioned by Sect Master Zhou, and I don't know if they are going smoothly or not.
at dusk.
Everyone took a rest at a river beach. It was too hot during the day and they didn't have much time to travel, so they took advantage of the cool night to walk for a while.
Xiao Luolan looked at the sparkling river water under the setting sun. She would almost arrive at Guangling tomorrow. Below Guangling is Qinghe County.
The governor of Guangling County is one of the four heroes of Qinghe and a disciple of Duke Xiao, so their station tomorrow should be under the rule of Guangling County.
After everyone finished eating, they continued on their way. Xiao Luolan didn't sleep very well. Although Sect Master Zhou left everything to Deputy General Yi Fan and he didn't seem to have to worry too much, Xiao Luolan couldn't help but think too much. .
Especially since she is now the nominal leader of these five thousand ghost slaughter cavalry, this makes Xiao Luolan feel a lot of pressure. You must know that she has no idea how to march and fight.
And Guangling County Sheriff is Xiao Gong's favorite disciple. If she goes alone, if she is invited, it will be exposed that the Zhou clan master is not in the army. If she doesn't go, it will seem a little unkind and strange. After all, she is now Xiao's daughter.
Xiao Luolan still couldn't sleep while listening to the chirping of insects outside. She summoned Vice General Yi and asked him not to inform the Guangling County Sheriff in advance for the time being. She wanted to suppress the fact that Clan Master Zhou was not in the team so as not to affect the Shouzhou battle. After all, Clan Master Zhou and the others were planning a sneak attack, so she secretly decided that if the Guangling County Sheriff invited her, she would delay it for two days on the pretext that she had just arrived in your place and was a little busy, waiting for Clan Master Zhou and Jin Ben to arrive.
The next day, Xiao Qinghe appeared in front of everyone with a pair of dark circles under his eyes. Zhou Shiliu was the first to laugh and asked him humbly if he had become a thief last night.
"Being close to home." Xiao Qinghe only replied four words. He looked longingly into the distance. Guangling was right in front of him. He had a good relationship with his senior brothers. Although the four senior brothers were much older than him, they usually took care of him. Also the most.
"My senior brother Wu Tongjie is the governor of Guangling County. If he knows that we have arrived, he will definitely send someone to greet us." Xiao Qinghe said.
After looking at the ancient map for a while, Xiao Luolan found that he couldn't understand it, so he called Vice General Yi over and asked where their army would be stationed next.
Because Zhou Zongzhu said before leaving, Xiao Luolan planned to march at the same speed as before, not slow but not fast. The cavalry was in a state of touring. She didn't know how to fight, and she was marching outside now. , it should be right to listen to Sect Master Zhou.
Xiao Luolan was worried in her heart, but it didn't show on her face.
Yi Fan heard the princess's question and quickly replied: "The general will be stationed in Shennong Town, a hundred miles away from Guangling City."
It seems quite far away, Xiao Luolan thought, and then asked carefully: "Have you sent the official document to borrow the passage?"
"Last night, the police officer Gao Chongying was sent to Shennong Town."
"Did you tell that Zhen Yan to keep quiet?" Xiao Luolan suddenly thought of something.
Yi Fan hesitated for a moment, as if he was worried that the princess would be unhappy: "The general didn't mention it."
Xiao Luolan looked at Vice General Yi and asked doubtfully, "Is there any reason?" Vice General Yi should understand that she didn't want to make any announcement before Sect Master Zhou arrived.
Seeing that the princess was not angry, but instead asked in a gentle voice as before, Yi Fan had to say that he was completely relieved and replied loudly: "Princess Qi, the general thinks that if you tell Gao Chongying to keep quiet, it will arouse his vigilance. We just passed by the road this time, and it’s as good as before.”
"Besides, Shennong is a hundred miles away from Guangling, so it is reasonable for Gui Tuqi to rest for a day before setting off."
Xiao Luolan thought for a while and suddenly realized: "So that's it. Vice General Yi was really thoughtful. It was me who was sloppy."
If Gao Chongying was kept secretive, he would definitely think more about whether Gui Tuqi had some conspiracy.
Yi Fan cupped his hands and said: "The princess' words are serious, but the general is not handling things well. The princess is hurt by such a trivial matter, and the general is ashamed."
Xiao Luolan felt ashamed. She knew nothing about fighting. If she didn't understand something next time, she should think more about it.
After Vice General Yi left, Xiao Luolan looked through the military manual left by Sect Leader Zhou. The more he read, the more boring and difficult it became to understand, so he continued reading.
Sure enough, at nightfall, they successfully settled in Shennong Town.
Shennong Town Envoy Gao Chongying personally led troops to pick him up. Xiao Luolan asked Vice General Yi to come forward to deal with it. Unexpectedly, Saturday also passed.
Facing outsiders, Zhou Shiliu still looked high and arrogant, and with a wave of his hand, Gao Chongying comforted them with delicious food and drinks.
Xiao Luolan was apprehensive at first, but later found out that the more rude Zhou Shiliu became, the more polite the Zhen Yanzhi on the other side became.
"Uncle is very busy and doesn't have time to see you right now." Zhou Shiliu wore a gold belt and raised his chin high.
Gao Chongying took a look at the dark sky. In fact, he had no hope that the Youzhou Jiedushi would meet him in person, but now that the giant Buddha was here, he had to come. After being rejected, he smiled broadly. He left without any dissatisfaction at all.
Later, I heard from the soldiers that Zhou Youzhou's nephew could do whatever he wanted. He wanted to do this or that. A group of people chased and served him, and the brothers asked him to do his bidding.
Gao Chongying didn't take it seriously. That's not just a playboy, but who wants a good uncle?
