Murong Wan is the eldest daughter of the Murong family. Due to poor health since childhood, her father sent her to the mountains to practice martial arts at the age of three.
Zhang Dayan is not only her husband, but also her elder brother. The two were childhood sweethearts who grew up together and have a very good relationship.
Although Murong Wan is not as superb as her husband in martial arts, she is still one of the best in her sect.
Legend has it that she is good at concealed weapons, and the silver needles she shoots are so fast that even the top masters can hardly dodge them.
In the arena, as long as the couple wanted to kill anyone, no one would see the sun the next day.
Zhang Dayan pulled the reins and the horse slowed down.
He glanced at the words "Jiangcheng" on the archway and said to Murong Wan: "Wan'er, we've arrived at Jiangcheng. Let's rest here tonight."
"OK."
The two of them asked for a room at an inconspicuous inn in Jiangcheng.
The waiter brought the tea to their room and left respectfully.
Murong Wan put down the sword and poured two cups of tea, "Senior brother, my illness is almost healed. Once this matter is settled, the favor we owe Pingnan Prince's Mansion will be repaid. After we come back, we will meet the prince Take your leave."
Zhang Dayan held her in his arms, stroked her hair, and after a long time said in a low voice: "Wan'er, do you still remember what the master said when you first entered the school?"
"Remember, Master said that practicing martial arts is to enable us to protect ourselves and the people we care about in such troubled times.
You can find someone to compete in martial arts, but you can't kill innocent people indiscriminately. We cannot bully the common people, and we are not allowed to participate in the royal battle for the right to inherit the throne. "
After Murong Wan finished speaking, she saw his frown and wondered what he was thinking. He gently smoothed his forehead and asked doubtfully:
"Senior brother, what's wrong? Are you afraid that Master will blame us for agreeing to King Pingnan?
But is Li Yunze rebelling? Even if we kill him, we are still doing harm to the people, so it shouldn't be considered a violation of the master's sect, right? "
Zhang Dayan held her hand, looked at his gentle wife, and told her in detail the current situation in Yun Chao Kingdom.
"Wan'er, you have been in poor health these years. I don't want the trivial matters of the outside world to disturb you, so I rarely mention things in the world.
Since Concubine Qiao's son ascended the throne, in order to replenish the national treasury, he has increased taxes, completely disregarding the life and death of the people.
In order to collect taxes, the common people tightened their belts, and those with poorer conditions even sold their sons and daughters. Some people really couldn't get it together, so the whole family sold themselves into slavery.
During the three years of drought, the court did not distribute any relief food. They also shut out the fleeing people outside the city gates. Countless victims died of hunger and thirst every day.
Now that the Yun Dynasty is in chaos, major aristocratic families are taking this opportunity to enclose their land and raise private soldiers. The people's lives are worse than those of ants. True to that sentence, the wine and meat in the rich family stink, and the road is frozen to death. "
Murong Wan sighed, "In this kind of world, the people at the bottom are the ones who suffer."
She looked at Zhang Dayan in confusion, "Senior brother, these are the affairs of the imperial court, we can't control them, right?"
Suddenly her eyes widened and she said in shock: "Brother, do you want to assassinate the current emperor? But he is the nephew of King Pingnan. If you do this, won't we become ungrateful people?"
After saying that, she added in a low voice, "Although he is really damn good."
Zhang Dayan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "What are you thinking? How could I do such a thing?"
He paused and then whispered: "Although we will not interfere in government affairs, he should not be able to sit in that position for a long time.
The prince has already reached Yuncheng, and will capture the capital in at most two years. By then, he and Queen Mother Qiao will probably end up in a miserable state. "
Murong Wan said, "Senior brother, do you mean not to arrest the young prince and his wife? What about where Ping Nan goes? We owe him a favor."
"Wan'er, it's not easy for Yun Chao Kingdom to have a man who can calm the world and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. We two cannot be eternal sinners no matter what."
Zhang Dayan looked at her guiltily, and after a long time she asked seriously: "Wan'er, are you afraid of death?"
Murong Wan understood what he meant instantly, held his hand and smiled lightly.
"Don't be afraid. I was born with poor health. I am very content to know you, grow up with you, and become husband and wife in this life.
If I am still lucky enough to walk the Huangquan Road and cross the Naihe Bridge with you, it must be the blessing I cultivated in my previous life, so that I can live and die with you. "
Zhang Dayan held her tightly in his arms, "No, Wan'er, I did countless good deeds in my previous life, so I can meet such a good person like you in this life."
Murong Wan leaned in his arms, with a smile as bright as a flower.
"Senior brother, should we continue to Yuncheng now? Or go back and confess to King Pingnan? Return the favor to him."
Zhang Dayan thought for a while and said: "Continuing to Yuncheng and dying in the hands of the prince should make King Pingnan feel more comfortable than if we go back and confess.
Although his purpose of keeping us in the palace was not simple, we also paid the reward.
But in the past few years, King Pingnan has tried his best to let the doctor treat you. No matter what, we must accept this friendship.
But in order to take the overall situation into consideration, this time he had no choice but to live up to his trust. "
Murong Wan nodded, "Although I feel sorry for him and Princess Pingnan, for the sake of the world, let's be ungrateful for once."
She knew that Zhang Dayan was serious about his promise and was afraid that he would have random thoughts, so she deliberately joked with him.
"I heard that the prince is good at martial arts and is Master Wuchen's apprentice. It would be nice for you to spar with him."
"Why are you so big-hearted? Are you still thinking about a martial arts competition?"
Zhang Dayan smiled and patted her on the head, "Go to rest early, we have to go on the road tomorrow morning."
"Well, you should go to bed early." Murong Wan smiled and climbed onto the bed.
I originally wanted to have a conversation with him, but maybe I was too tired and fell asleep soon after lying down.
Zhang Dayan sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her intently.
He originally planned to go by himself, but he knew in his heart that if he died, Wan'er would definitely go with him.
Just like Wan'er has her strengths and weaknesses, he will never live alone.
In this case, the two of them should go together. At least with him accompanying her on the road to hell, Wan'er won't be afraid.
Li Yunze and the others were the large force that caught up two days later.
It was evening, and more than 200,000 troops were sitting or lying there to rest.
The cooks were preparing dinner. White mist was rising from the steaming pot, and the aroma of the food could be smelled from far away.
"It's snowing."
Someone shouted, and everyone raised their heads and looked at the sky.
At first it was one piece, two pieces, three pieces, and slowly it got bigger and bigger.
Ye Yutong caught a snowflake with his hand, "There is still more than a month until the Chinese New Year. Time flies so fast."
"Why don't you wear more clothes when you come out?" Li Yunze put a bright red cloak on her shoulders and asked reproachfully.
"I'm not cold." Ye Yutong turned around and said with a smile.
This bright red cloak was made for her by Song Jingyan.
The hat is also wrapped with a circle of snow-white fox fur, which looks very beautiful. Ye Yutong likes it very much.
Song Jingyan not only did it for Ye Yutong, but also for Li Yunze, Ye Mingxuan, Ye Mingzhe, and Li Chaoyang.
But they all have cyan cloaks and gray wolf fur on their hats. The color matching is very domineering. You can tell at a glance that they have put their heart into it.
Li Yunze pinched her cheek gently, "My nose is even red from the cold, but I still say it's not cold."
Ye Yutong was afraid that others would see her, so she hurriedly slapped his hand away, "Did Song Rui say when to leave? Sister Jingyan is about to get married to Prince Liang. I prepared some gifts for her and asked him to help bring them back. "
Li Yunze smiled and retracted his hand, "Song Rui will go back the day after tomorrow. He will have to escort food and grass over again before the year."
Shen Erlang brought an army of 100,000 this time, while Li Yunhang left 50,000 last time.
Including his original tens of thousands of people and those recruited along the way, he now has a total of more than 200,000 soldiers.
The food needed every day is a huge amount.
The grain and vegetables they grow on the village and in the mountains are currently not enough to feed an army of more than 200,000 people.
Chen Shimei, the richest man in Qingzhou City, is one of the top grain merchants here.
Lin Zhong met him some time ago and asked him to help collect grain. Chen Shimei readily agreed.
This man is really capable. A few days ago, someone sent him a secret letter, saying that he would send a batch of grain and grass before the end of the year. The amount was quite large, which meant that he had to prepare money.
Lin Zhong sent someone to give him one million taels of silver notes as a deposit.
Let him feel free to accept as much as he wants, and promise that he will never be short of a copper coin.
Coupled with the Song family's help in preparation, there is no need to worry about food and grass in the past few months.
Li Yunze is not planning to touch Uncle Lin's food for the time being.
If next year's autumn grain cannot be harvested in the barn, he will not feel at ease.
Now that he has so many people under his command, he must keep some surplus food on hand.
