The atmosphere in the handsome tent was extremely solemn. Xue Mang, Fan Jun, Wei Youming and others looked at Yi Xiaodao and Li Dingxing with serious faces. The two of them were separated by a table, with stern expressions and unblinking eyes. Xiang Lian'er stood aside, looking at this and that, not knowing what to do.
"Oh, Li Dingxing, this step of yours is really something I didn't expect."
"Hmph, how could I possibly let you think of that? General!"
Yi Xiaodao dropped the chess piece in his hand, spread his hands and smiled bitterly: "It's awesome, you are the better one, I lose."
Xiang Lian'er pushed the two of them away and picked up the chessboard: "What are you going to play with the two stinky chess baskets? It's been half an hour, and the two people have eaten less than ten pieces in total. It's time to eat."
Yi Xiaodao leaned back and let Xiang Lian'er clean up the mess: "You guys didn't even tell me when you got married! It's so out of touch!"
Xiang Lian'er approached Yi Xiaodao and said with a ferocious smile: "Did you ever tell me about your wedding to Sister Yue'er?"
Yi Xiaodao rubbed his nose and winked at Li Dingxing: "Xiao Li, this wife... cough, you have to take care of it~"
"What did you say? Louder!" Xiang Lian'er yelled.
"I said... you have to get a bowl... don't stand still, eat, eat." Yi Xiaodao was so frightened that he dragged his chair back several steps, looked at the circle of people watching the joke, and shouted to eat.
When the food was on the table, Yi Xiaodao shouted: "Everyone has eaten enough. The army rations are gone in the camp. I don't know when the next full meal will be..."
Wei Youming glanced nervously outside the tent and hissed: "Master Yi, keep your voice down, don't let the outside hear."
Li Dingxing and Xiang Lian'er looked at each other and smiled. When Yi Xiaodao saw their appearance, he asked, "What else are you hiding from me? Tell me honestly!"
Li Dingxing said: "When we were in Nanhuai, we tracked the Japanese on an island. Xiang Lian'er and I led the troops there and wiped out the group of Japanese. We seized a lot of gold and silver jewelry. This time, one is Pursue the Eastern Japanese along the way and protect the sea line, these two things..."
"Here's money for you poor guy! Ten thousand shi of grain and three million taels of silver, are they enough?" Xiang Lian'er took over Li Dingxing's words.
"Living Bodhisattva! What a living Bodhisattva! General Wei, please kowtow to Lord Zhongyi!" Yi Xiaodao said, gathering up his robe and making a gesture to kneel down. Xiang Lian'er was already familiar with his tricks, and she knelt down with a smile. After a kick, everyone laughed.
Yi Xiaodao smiled as he watched everyone pick up their bowls and chopsticks and pace outside the tent.
"Hey, where are you going? Aren't you going to eat?" Xiang Lian'er turned around and asked.
"I still have something to do, you can eat and don't worry about me." Yi Xiaodao said with a smile, lifted the curtain and walked out of the handsome tent.
Walking in the military camp, whether they were Yulin Army, Nanhuai Army or bandit soldiers, they all saluted solemnly when they saw Yi Xiaodao, and Yi Xiaodao smiled and greeted them one by one.
"I heard that Ghost Sword Liu and One-Eyed Snake have been here before. Where are the people?" Yi Xiaodao asked when he met a bandit leader who was one of the four people who refused to leave in Qucheng.
"Ghost Sword Liu and One-Eyed Snake said Wuyan would see Master Yi again, and they have already taken the people away," the leader replied.
Yi Xiaodao nodded when he heard this and walked outside the military camp without saying anything.
"Master Yi...this is the best opportunity to win back people's hearts...sir...don't miss this opportunity." Outside the military camp, a man with thin clothes stood in the cold wind of winter night, his lips turned purple from the cold, and he held a grain in his arms. bag.
"Wang Xuan, you haven't gone back yet?" Yi Xiaodao was surprised, and quickly took off his cloak and put it on Wang Xuan: "Why don't you go into the camp? It's such a cold day, you will freeze to death. ?”
Wang Xuan put on Yi Xiaodao's big cloak, calmed down for a while, and then said: "The common people stay here to give advice to the Lord. The military camp... is an important place, and the common people... dare not trespass."
Yi Xiaodao smiled and shook his head, not believing it. Judging from the performance of this poor scholar during the day, this scholar was extremely courageous, and he would not believe it even if he said "dare not" to kill Yi Xiaodao.
"It's a good thing that I came out. If I hadn't come out, if you had frozen to death in the middle of the night, my soldiers would have to dig your grave tomorrow." Yi Xiaodao joked.
"My lord will definitely come out." Wang Xuan said firmly.
Yi Xiaodao raised his eyebrows: "Oh? Why did you say that?"
"Sir, are you going to the city to keep an appointment at that little girl's house?" Wang Xuan hit the nail on the head!
Yi Xiaodao turned his head and signaled: "Let's go together."
The two of them walked in the dark night. Fortunately, there was an official road between the military camp and Sun City. It was winter again, so there was no danger.
"Sir, I hope you will remember what the common people just said. This is the best time to win over people's hearts. The Yulin Army belongs to His Majesty today, and the Nanhuai Army is also the old department of the King of Nanhuai. Although your Excellency can control it at this time, it will eventually It is not a long-term plan, Donglu is leaderless, you must seize the opportunity!" Wang Xuan brought up the old story again.
Yi Xiaodao glanced at Wang Xuan in surprise: "You, a poor scholar, still understand this? Don't think about random things all day long."
"The army cannot do without food. If your Excellency is worried about military food, Yi Er. From Richeng in Donglu to Xingcheng in Anxi, there is the danger of the Yellow River and the Qinling Mountains in between. All you need to do is..." Wang Xuan continued.
"Stop your thoughts, I will only say this once!" Yi Xiaodao said coldly.
Wang Xuan immediately shut up and didn't mention it again. The two walked like this for a while before Yi Xiaodao asked: "What do you do at home for a living?"
"I lost my father when I was young, and only my mother helped me grow up. My mother passed away three years ago. I make a living by writing letters to others." Wang Xuan answered simply.
"If you don't have anything to worry about at home, just follow me from now on. Don't think about other things. If you have something to eat from me, I guarantee you won't go hungry."
Wang Xuan immediately prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Xuan, if you go through fire and water, you will definitely repay your kindness for knowing me!"
With one hand, Yi Xiaodao pulled Wang Xuan up: "It's not my kindness, it's you who know how to seize the opportunity and show your talents. If you want to thank me, thank yourself." With that, he walked into the city first. go.
Wang Xuan looked at Yi Xiaodao's back, a blazing light flashed in his eyes: "Sir, I will definitely help you!"
It was dark at night, and ordinary people were already asleep at this time. Yi Xiaodao and Wang Xuan passed by a tavern and bought a pot of turbid wine and several plates of cooked vegetables. After buying, they remembered that he didn't know the little girl's house. where.
"Why can't you do it, sir?" Wang Xuan asked, looking at Yi Xiaodao who was in a daze.
"I don't know where that child lives..." Yi Xiaodao was quite embarrassed.
Wang Xuan suddenly smiled, and now he realized that Mr. Yi, who loved the people like a son, was smart and courageous, had such a silly side.
"My lord, please follow me." Wang Xuan led the way, and Yi Xiaodao quickly followed. The two of them zigzagged in the alley before stopping in front of a dilapidated house. The surrounding houses had already turned off their lights for rest, but the lights were still on in this house.
The two stood close to each other outside the door. Wang Xuan was about to knock on the door, but heard a burst of yelling coming from the door.
"You kid, if you haven't eaten yet, let's see how long you have to wait!"
"Ruru, you eat first. That brother may have forgotten. After dinner, dad will take you to find that brother tomorrow, okay?"
"Leave her alone! Forget about starving to death! She is so old and so ignorant!"
There was a couple in the house, one was a good person, the other was a bad person, and they were scolding a little girl named "Ruru".
"Brother Yi Xiaodao will come, he will definitely come!" The little girl said firmly with a hint of crying, but stubbornly did not cry.
"If you don't want to eat, get out of here and go find your brother! We don't want a disobedient child like you in our house!" The woman pulled the girl, opened the door, and met Yi outside the door. The knife and Wang Xuan collided.
"Sir... Your Majesty..." The woman was startled and retreated into the room in fear.
The man in the house heard the noise and came over to check. He instinctively pulled his wife and daughter behind him: "Sir, women's tongues are neither long nor short. Please forgive me. Please forgive me." He knelt down.
Yi Xiaodao grabbed the man with one hand, pulled him up with a slight lift, and pressed him on the stool: "Ruru, have you eaten? My brother is too busy and he's late."
"I haven't eaten! I'm just waiting for you, Brother Yi Xiaodao! Brother, please wait for me." The little girl ran into the kitchen and quickly came out with a broken bowl with four steaming white steamed buns in it. "Brother Yi Xiaodao, this is made from the food we received today. Try it quickly."
Yi Xiaodao grabbed a steamed bun, took a big bite, and started chewing: "Yeah. It's so fragrant and delicious!"
The little girl also picked up another steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth with a smile. The two of them just held a steamed bun each and gnawed it happily.
"Brother Yi Xiaodao, is this brother your friend? Come on, you can eat this brother too." The little girl held the bowl and tiptoed it to Wang Xuan. Wang Xuan also picked up a steamed bun from the bowl and ate it, and the three of them laughed.
"This... this" The couple stood aside and sat down, not knowing what to do.
Yi Xiaodao took out the hot dishes he bought and put them on the table: "Has this elder brother eaten it? Come and have a drink with us. Sister-in-law, please try this dish. I bought it in Richeng. You should be used to it. Bar?"
The couple sat down chatting, Yi Xiaodao was not restrained, and Hu Tianhai started chatting, making the little girl giggle. The couple gradually lost their inhibitions and started chatting with this kind young official. Even Wang Xuan would interject a word or two from time to time. The five of them sat around the table, and they were so familiar with each other that they felt like a family.
After drinking and eating, Yi Xiaodao and Wang Xuan stood up to say goodbye. The little girl was a little reluctant to leave, but she was still very sensible and sent the two out of the door with her parents.
"Brother Yi Xiaodao, the pig ears tonight are so delicious!" the little girl said with a sweet smile.
"Really? But I think the big white steamed buns are the most delicious!" Yi Xiaodao smiled and touched the little girl's head.
The little girl knew that she would never see you again, so she waved goodbye and said: "Brother Yi Xiaodao, come and play again next time when you have time!"
"Okay, I'll come and play again when I have time!" Yi Xiaodao responded.
The two left the city and were walking back to the military camp. Yi Xiaodao suddenly turned around and asked, "Huh? Where is your bag of food?"
"It's lost. I don't know where it was lost." Wang Xuan said with a bitter smile, shrinking the hand behind his back, and there was a cut on his hand.
In Richeng, the couple was coaxing the little girl Ruru to wake up. The woman came to the hall and was about to turn off the lights when she suddenly found a cloth bag at the foot of the table.
"Master, come and take a look. Could this be what Master Yi left? There seems to be writing on it! What is it written on?" The woman quickly called her husband.
The man squinted under the dim light and read: "Master Yi... is short of troops."
