The journey went smoothly. In order not to waste time, Cheng Ning rode a horse.
Winter has fully entered the north, the north wind is hurting my face, and it looks like it will snow soon.
Her wrists always hurt when it's cloudy and snowy.
In fact, in the past six months, Lao Ji had put a lot of effort into her hands, including acupuncture and moxibustion, and even cut her flesh once.
Cheng Ning was put to sleep by the incense he used, and she didn't know what he had done.
But at that time, the bandage was wrapped around my hand for more than a month. After it was removed, I could exert more force than before.
But after all, he was injured and could never fully recover. The pain was particularly obvious in rainy and snowy weather.
After repairing that night, the entourage applied medicine to Cheng Ning and brought another news: "As the master expected, they sent a message saying that if they want to save lives, they need to give them another hundred stones of food and carbon. "
This is a clear money grab, and the ransom price is not low.
Cheng Ning read the ghost-like characters on the sheepskin and snorted coldly: "The lion opened his mouth and prepared the things as required."
"Master, they are bandits. They have no moral integrity and no credibility. If we give them this chance, there is no guarantee that they will not have any backup plans."
Cheng Ning turned over the medicine bag in her hand. The sour feeling made her upset: "Of course I know."
But if you don't give it, you won't have a chance to sneak in. If you don't sneak in, you can't be sure whether the hostages are safe.
"Then there's no need to prepare them all, right?" The attendant worried: "The bandits are unreasonable."
"They didn't explain the ratio of the two," Cheng Ning rubbed her wrist: "You prepare it at a ratio of two to eight. It must be complete, and there should be no fakes at all."
No joke, twenty shi of food is not a big deal to them, but eighty shi of coal is almost what Youshui sells in a month!
Especially now that winter has entered, all countries are in urgent need of heating, and the price will not be low.
This amount of coal... to them, is considered as meat.
Or use it to feed a bunch of bandits. Anyone who hears it will feel that it is a waste of resources.
The attendant became excited: "Master! Let me tell you, the lives of fifty people are not worth it..."
Then he saw Cheng Ning's face darken, and he didn't dare to say any more.
"Don't say this kind of thing again. Nothing is as important as human life."
Cheng Ning took away the hot medicine bag, but it didn't feel any better even after applying it. It was simply not enough.
"There is no worthless human life in my eyes. I came out this time to clean up the bandits. Every death is mine."
Cheng Ning's eyes were deep. If you were used to following her subordinates in the past, you would find that Cheng Ning has not changed.
In the past, when she encountered any danger during the war, she would never give up on any of her own people.
The attendant shivered, knowing that he had just made a mistake, and said hurriedly: "Yes, Master."
"Also, give these away." Cheng Ning took out a few envelopes.
Her handwriting also has the seal of the Lord of Youshui City on it.
Follow-up result: "This is?"
"We have some contacts in the royal family of the neighboring country in the north, why don't we use them?" Cheng Ning smiled slightly: "Eighty stones of coal is a huge temptation for bandits, and for countries that are in urgent need of winter supplies, isn't it? ?”
The attendant didn’t understand it at first, but after thinking about it in a flash, he understood it!
Is the city lord trying to... kill someone with a borrowed knife?
If the royal families of various countries come here upon hearing this, they will be able to help!
For these coals, all countries will definitely rack their brains to pry open the bandit's nest!
He counted the letters and wondered: "Master, aren't there any for Jinyang and Dalan?"
"No need, the Jinyang Emperor has just come to power. It's better not to get involved with his temper. As for Dalan... he must be on his way already."
The attendant opened his eyes slightly: "We always feel that there is someone behind us these days. Is it Prince Nan Entropy?"
Cheng Ning didn't answer. In fact, she didn't know.
"My master is wise!" Seeing her worried expression, the attendants did not dare to ask further questions and only said: "In this case, we can just sit back and watch!"
"Don't be too optimistic." Cheng Ning said: "They came here to rob it. If countries start fighting during the period, it will be difficult to end."
yes!
Eighty stones, if kept as one's own, would be considered a very considerable amount of wealth.
But if it is divided among the five countries, what you get is really not enough.
Indeed, as Cheng Ning said, there will probably be a fight.
The attendant instantly became worried again.
"Don't think so much, at least ensure your own safety first, and do it as soon as possible. There will be a road to the mountain before the car."
The attendant then resigned.
The innkeeper at the inn where they stayed seemed to have a happy event today.
After Cheng Ning finished washing, fireworks were set off outside the window, exploding in the sky, making it colorful and lively.
It’s also lively down there.
A bonfire was lit in the open space in front of the inn. The shopkeeper led the bride and the neighbors gathered around to drink.
In the northern sky, you can see the low sky at night, and the stars are very close.
Cheng Ning propped up his head and looked down, looking at the joy of the world.
She felt free, and she didn't know what the future would bring, but even if it was muddy, she felt indulgent.
Someone spotted her and waved to her: "Little madam, come together!"
She smiled back. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she had built a bonfire with the soldiers at the border.
I miss you for no reason.
She decided to go down and have a look.
But the moment he stood up, he saw a piece of clothing passing by in a dense forest that was completely different from the atmosphere of a campfire that was as bright as day.
Cheng Ning withdrew his eyes, pretending he saw nothing, turned around and went downstairs.
The folk customs in the north are rough and the people are warm. Cheng Ning was given two gulps of wine as soon as he walked down.
It's just Mobei's kumiss, not strong, gentle and warming.
She used to hate this kind of wine because it smelled like mare's milk and she felt it was better to drink water.
But when I drink it now, I don’t know whether it’s because of the passage of time or something else, but it actually tastes a little sweeter.
Someone said to me: "My little lady doesn't look like a northerner, but more like a Central Plains person I've seen, but she's a little more graceful than a Central Plains person."
Another person sneered: "Li Ming, you never talk much, are you taking this opportunity to talk?"
Everyone present knew that Cheng Ninglai was very impressive and was either rich or noble, but there was no male host around him.
Such a beauty is out alone, either a widow or unmarried.
But Cheng Ning didn't feel like she was unmarried.
Li Ming smiled, his teeth whitened by the bonfire: "I drank and couldn't help but talk too much."
"You guessed it right, I am indeed from the Central Plains," Cheng Ning smiled and took a sip of wine: "My mother is from Jiangnan."
"No wonder you are so sassy and delicate!" Li Ming laughed, looking at Cheng Ning's hand: "You always seem to be shaking your hands when I see you, and you smell like medicine. Is your wrist uncomfortable?"
As he spoke, he leaned over and took a look. There were indeed scars on Cheng Ning's wrist.
Still very eye-catching.
"Been injured." Cheng Ning said casually.
"Let me rub it for you!" Li Ming plucked up the courage: "My grandfather is a charlatan, and he has a technique that is suitable for people who have injured their muscles and bones."
Cheng Ning turned her head to look at him. She felt a little relaxed after drinking, and she also calmed down when looking at people.
Inexplicably gentle.
Li Ming was greatly moved.
Cheng Ning seemed to have slowed down his reaction. He thought for a moment and wanted to refuse, but the hem of the robe in the distance in his sight moved again.
She then handed her wrist over and said, "Thank you."
