Xiao Qingxue stopped.
"Now the prince is sending people to search along Sizhou." Tuoba Mu held the handle of the knife, paused, and said: "But Sizhou and Jinling are leaning against each other. If you want to enter Sizhou, you will definitely alert the enemy. Wei Yunzhou has already We have stationed troops on the south bank of the Huaihe River, with tens of thousands of cavalry and infantry, and more than a thousand naval warships, in strict formation to await our army."
Xiao Qingxue's mood was ups and downs. After hearing too much about war, she felt numb: "So, do we have to wait?"
Tuoba Mu didn't answer. The result was obvious. The enemy was not easy to deal with.
Xiao Qingxue clenched her palms: "Where is the wandering doctor?"
"It's been brought back." Tuoba Mu said, "I'll find it for you."
Lao Youyi was brought to Zhangtai by Tuoba Mu. He had been asked countless times about that woman in the past few days. Although he got a lot of gold, he was still panicked and scared when he saw the noble lady.
Zhangtai is very high. When Tuoba Mu looked down, the steps were covered with thin snow. He vaguely remembered that night Zhou Shiliu coldly scolded him for being inferior.
With the cold wind blowing against his face, Tuoba Mu stood guard outside the door and did not hear Mrs. Xiao's inquiry for a long time.
He couldn't help but look back.
Madam Xiao was sitting on the soft couch, hugging her fox fur. Zhangtai was obviously as warm as spring, but Madam Xiao looked pale and did not dare to ask.
"Tell me the truth about how you treated the woman in the cabin in Duliang County, Sizhou." Tuoba Mu entered the room, broke the dullness, and said to the old doctor.
"Yes, yes." Lao Youyi nodded quickly and started from the beginning: "...The family invited me on board the ship. When I entered the back cabin, I found a woman lying on the bed. The light was a little dim, so I couldn't see clearly at first. , but I could tell at a glance that the patient didn’t seem to come from a poor family, so I asked a few more questions..."
Doctor Lao You was a bit verbose, but he also knew that the woman he was seeing a doctor that night was not an ordinary person, so he spoke in more detail.
"...The noble lady lost too much blood and had a high fever... The boat family mentioned that she had been in a coma for several days."
"...Later I checked carefully and felt the back of my head. I took out my hand and saw that there was still blood on the palm of my hand. It looked like the injury was not serious, so I quickly opened the medicine box to stop the bleeding. The wound on the back of my head was very serious. I pulled out hair and skin. The wound is open, and due to blood stasis, the wound is swollen..."
Tuoba Mu frowned: "Okay."
The old doctor stopped hastily. Last time, a senior official asked him to tell him the exact size of the wound and the traces and appearance, as if he were interrogating the prisoner. Now that this noble lady is so concerned, he just said that. A little more detailed…
"Are...are there any other injuries?" Xiao Qingxue clutched the fox fur tightly with her fingers, breathing hard, as if a big stone was pressing on her chest. She kept blinking and could no longer see the person in front of her clearly.
"Something hooked a piece of flesh off the calf. It had been bandaged when I left. The injury on the forehead was not serious, just a little bruised." The old doctor recalled: "The rest should be gone."
Xia He asked the old wandering doctor to go out.
Tuoba Mu stepped forward hurriedly, and finally knelt down on one knee and looked at her.
Xiao Qingxue felt very uncomfortable. She lay on the armrest of the soft couch. Lao Youyi's words made her heart hurt, and even the gastrointestinal tract in her stomach spasmed together. She seemed to have seen A Niang's wound, so ferocious. How painful it must be.
Xiao Qingxue couldn't help but vomited it out. Because she had eaten very little, the vomited water was all thin water, which soon turned into retching. Tears covered her face. She was so heartbroken that she couldn't breathe and her whole body was weak.
Tuoba Mu was at a loss and walked two steps in front of Madam Xiao. His knees under the armor were covered with water from Madam Xiao's vomit. He subconsciously caught the dirt with his hands. He remembered that Madam Xiao loved cleanliness and beauty the most, but it was a pity. Madam Xiao just retched and couldn't vomit anything more.
Seeing Mrs. Xiao in such pain, Tuoba Mu felt like half of his life was about to be taken away.
Miss Xiao was so close to him, so close that her emotions became everything to him.
Finally, Mrs. Xiao weakly laid her head on his shoulder. Tuoba Mu could feel her tears seeping into the armor and dripping on his skin. It made his heart tremble and his limbs were all numb. It hurt.
"Amu, I'm going to die." Xiao Qingxue cried silently, her voice hoarse. If she couldn't find Amu, she would really die.
Tuoba Mu knelt on the ground and stroked Madam Xiao's back stiffly and unfamiliarly through her clothes: "Don't say that."
"I will win the battle."
Tuoba Mu held Mrs. Xiao's shoulders to help her sit up, and took out a fine handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.
"You believe me."
Chapter 271
evening.
After Xia He reported the matter about the young lady to the prince, he quietly exited the study. After thinking about it, Xia He hid the words that the young lady was resentful of her relatives. On the way back, Xia He met two retainers. .
Little Master He Jin greeted Xia He slightly, and Xia He bowed to him while Zheng Yuxin walked with his head lowered, as if he was worried.
The two of them were led outside the study by Jia Wei, and saw people in various costumes in the courtyard. Zheng Yuxin even saw the big thief he had met several times before. These people were standing together in the courtyard, and they seemed to be well-behaved. Very, very little movement was made.
He Jin smiled and said a Buddha's name to these people who were licking blood on the knife edge to make a living. He was a monk and had always been compassionate. He would not make grudges with others unless it was absolutely necessary.
With a good start, many people also smiled and came forward to say hello to the blood-clothed compassionate monk.
Zheng Yuxin walked up to the short and thin man squatting on the ground and said, "Meng Jun, what's the matter with you? You clearly saw me, why didn't you say hello to me?"
The big thief turned around and turned his back to the poisonous girl from Miao Jiang.
"Hey!" Zheng Yu was dissatisfied.
The big thief suddenly felt a pain in his neck. He scratched his neck and found a spider in his hand. He threw it to Zheng Yuxin. He turned around with a frown on his face: "Why don't you go in, Jiedu?" My lord is waiting for you."
He Jin stood next to Zheng Yuxin and said with a smile: "Go in right away." After saying that, he took Zheng Yuxin into the study.
The big thief looked at the two people's backs, his brows never loosening. He was invited to Jiangdu Palace by Zhou Youzhou's people. To be honest, he didn't want to come, but he had no right to refuse.
When he worked for Zhou Youzhou, he was on a pirate ship and couldn't get off.
The big thief looked at the guards in the yard and heard the whispers of the people around him. Some were talking about fame and fortune, some were thinking about glory and wealth, and some were ambitious. But he just wanted to live in peace. The world is so big and he has to find it. It's not easy for one person, let alone Wei Guogong's territory is not so easy to enter, and the road ahead is full of dangers.
He Jin and Zheng Yuxin entered the study and met Master Jiedu.
Zhou Xu sat on a large high-backed chair by the window. The study window was wide open. The cold wind blew the candlelight flickering on and off. The desk was piled with documents.
"Si, in the direction of Luo, the army is not ready for the moment. In the courtyard are some martial arts masters and Luli Rangers whom I sent to find. They are led by the two of you. Tomorrow you will sneak there with them and split up the search. The whereabouts of the princess." Zhou Xu said.
He Jin and Zheng Yuxin agreed together.
After retreating, Zheng Yuxin specially called the big thief to reminisce.
The yard was empty and seemed particularly quiet.
Zhou Xu looked through the military intelligence reports sent from various places. After Hexi and Daizhou were captured, there was no longer any obstruction. The two nails of Shou and Lu were still firmly inserted into the Jianghuai defense bank. Jin Ben was eyeing Xuzhou. , looking for an opportunity to seize a city like Xuzhou that must be conquered even if it is gritted and attacked by force. Both sides know that the other side cannot give up. This kind of fortified city that cannot be bypassed is of great significance to both sides.
The city of Xuzhou is surrounded by water on three sides, northeast and west. The siege can only start from the south. Wei Yanshan has replaced all the Xuzhou soldiers originally stationed in the south city with his own Taiyuan Shenwu Army. As long as he concentrates his troops to defend the south city, he will basically be stable. It's the opponent's strategy.
Under the candlelight, Zhou Xu looked dazed for a while, then turned back to read again, and wrote in the letter that seeing that they could not attack for a long time, Wei Yanshan, who was stationed in Xuzhou, sent troops south along the river several times to join forces with Cheng Quanhai to attack Luzhou. I want to recapture Luzhou.
After Zhou Xu read it carefully, he thought for a while and wrote a reply. According to his understanding of the arrogant customs of Xuzhou soldiers in foreign wars, Xuzhou city defenders will all be replaced by Shenwu troops, which may cause their dissatisfaction. If you are disgusted, you can use it more and adapt to the situation.
After handling this matter, Zhou Xu read the letters on Zhou Xu's desk for a while. There was a letter from his concubine, and he said that he must retreat to Youzhou. Once Xuzhou frees up its hands, it will be easy to be attacked from both sides in the Jianghuai area.
Zhou Xu looked at the letter and burned it expressionlessly.
There were not many letters from his son, and he only mentioned the battle with Taiyuan in a few sentences. He also carefully mentioned that too much killing and surrender would harm Tianhe. He begged him to reconsider this order. At the end of the letter, he asked if there was any news about his mother-in-law. He was very worried. .
Zhou Xu looked at the letter, and his cheek muscles twitched. The content of the letter was nothing, it was normal, but the hidden content made Zhou Xu unable to restrain his anger, and he was so angry that he wanted to kill someone.
Just before this letter was sent, a letter from Lian Shiqing, the governor of Taiyang County, had arrived. In addition to clearing up the reporting work, Lian Shiqing mentioned that what happened in Xunjiang County, which is adjacent to Taiyang County, was ordered by him. The Lu family who were imprisoned in Xunjiang County led troops to assist the young master in attacking Taiyuan.
Zhou Xu has a good memory. It has been almost a year since he was placed under house arrest in the Lu family.
One year was originally the confinement period given to the Lu family by Zhou Xu. If it had been in the past, it would have been fine if his son had been released.
But it happened at this time.
Zhou Xu felt that his paranoia and anger were wrong at the moment. The war was tense, the Lu family were not useless, and the punishment time was long enough. At this time, he wanted to go to the battlefield with the mentality of acquitted and meritorious service.
After beating it, it is natural to give some sweetness.
Zhou Xu thought of so many reasons, but there was still a sense of offended anger in his heart. He was breathing heavily. His long-term insomnia made his eyes bloodshot and his face was extremely ferocious.
As soon as Zhou Shiliu came in, he saw his uncle's appearance and was frightened to take two steps back. He was looking for his uncle and followed He Jin and others to sneak into Si Luo to look for his aunt.
"Go, take this letter and ask Zhou Shenzhi, who gave him the courage to order the release of the Lu family?" Zhou Xu threw the letter to the ground, full of anger rushing to his forehead. He was now suspicious of everything. Lu It was unreasonable to speculate whether the family had jumped out to express kindness to their son when his wife was missing. However, this thought occupied Zhou Xu's mind like a madman.
Madam is not dead yet, what are these people doing?
Retreat to Youzhou? I don’t even want to look for it anymore!
Lift the ban on the Lu family? Treating his orders as child's play and treating his orders as nothing, is this what his good son does? ! If it hurts Tianhe, what kind of Tianhe? There is no karma at all in this world.
If God is really open-minded, why did he let the flooded Xun family serve as the order of Luoyang in Luoyang and enjoy the glory and wealth, while his wife, who was gentle, kind, and unconcerned with the world, ended up with the tragic end of being seriously injured and living in an unknown place.
The gods and Buddhas worshiped by the world will never save anyone.
Zhou Xu hated this fact so much.
Chapter 272
On the 16th, I picked up the letter on the ground and read it at a glance. The words in the letter were full of concern for my uncle, worry for my aunt, and other views on the murder.
The words in the letter were not out of line.
Zhou Shiliu told himself not to look at the high pile of confidential documents on the desk. He stood at the door quite at a loss. He had forgotten everything he had planned to say when he saw his angry uncle. Okay. For a long time, I remembered that the Lu family was banned in Xunjiang by my uncle. It had been a long time.
The war between Youzhou and Taiyuan is tense now. As my cousin's mother's family, the Lu family also comes from a military family. Wouldn't it be a good idea to make the best use of it after lifting the ban?
Why is uncle so angry? Zhou Shiliu didn't understand, and he felt that he understood his uncle less and less. The original uncle was wise, mighty, and broad-minded, but he was not as moody as he is now, making people afraid of him.
Clutching the letter on Saturday, he looked at his strange uncle and wanted to say something, but when he thought about his uncle, he rarely listened to other people's advice. If he said anything more, it would only increase his disgust.
Exit the room on Saturday.
He avoided the soldiers around him, found a rockery in the garden, and sat on it. The snowy night in the garden was all white, the night was low, and the snow was falling silently. Zhou Liu lowered his head and wiped his face suddenly.
Ever since his aunt disappeared, huge self-blame and regret have been weighing heavily on his heart, making him dare not face Qingxue, nor his uncle. If only nothing had happened, Qingxue would still be with him. When he makes trouble, his uncle will still pamper him as before.
These disappeared without a trace when my aunt disappeared.
Zhou Shiliu suddenly remembered many small things from the past. When he first arrived in Qinghe, he was naturally very busy every day, coming and going in a hurry. One day after breakfast, he was about to go out as usual, and was stopped by his aunt. At that time, he still had something to eat in his mouth. Holding a piece of biscuit, his aunt stretched out her hand to straighten his helmet. At that time, he thought his helmet strap was crooked.
Qingxue laughed loudly on the side and asked whether the red tassel on his helmet had not been taken care of today and was messy like straw. At that time, he glared at Qingxue.
The aunt was also smiling at the side, with a warm smile, and said, it has been sorted, and it is very beautiful.
Qingxue said on the spot that he looked like a big cock.
Just as he was about to fight with her, he saw his aunt saying, don't listen to her nonsense, she is obviously a young general.
Zhou Shiliu remembered that he raised his chin at Qingxue in an arrogant manner, causing his aunt to turn around and hide her laughter. Qingxue even laughed and fell on the chair. She kept saying that he was now a proud big cock, which made him particularly dissatisfied. .
The aunt turned around, looked at him carefully, and said with curved eyes: "It's not a big rooster, he's a proud little general, with a jade tree facing the wind. He's very handsome. He will definitely be a great general who will make great achievements in the future."
