Chapter 4, Nostalgia (Part 2)

Moments later, Zhao Zhongwen attempted to soothe him, saying: "Did you not mention that there are fatty meat slices to eat here? You cannot find this at home"

Xu Datie turned around with a cheerful expression and said to Yi Ye, "The boss said it's fine, you can go ahead and write."

Zhao Zhongwen paused for a moment, then smiled wryly: "I don't want to, since we came out this time, we must have a grand battle before we can go back"

Ah? ... ... Yi Ye held the pen, staring blankly at Xu Datie; he had never written such a family letter before

Li Gan was momentarily stunned, and just as he was about to refute, he saw Huo Qubing already mounting his horse.

No

Huo Qubing casually glanced back, his gaze lingering on the officer for a moment, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he led his horse towards the shore. Before reaching the bank, he casually tossed the horse brush to Zhao Ponu, along with the reins, and then walked straight towards the officer, saying with a half-smile, "It is truly unnecessary for Young Master Li San to personally deliver such a trivial batch of crossbows; Qubing does not dare to accept such honor."

"Yes." Li Gan nodded simply

Hearing Yi Ye's footsteps leaving, Zi Qing paused for a moment behind the screen, then quickly took off her inner garment and washed her entire body with the fastest movements she could manage, before putting her clothes back on. Although it was just a brief wash, she already felt much more relaxed, and Zi Qing silently appreciated Yi Ye's thoughtfulness.

How is your esteemed daughter's health

Xu Datie rambled on for a long time, recounting a series of trivial matters that were completely irrelevant, such as catching two lice on his horse, seeing a flock of geese flying by in the early morning, and inquiring about the family's big yellow dog. Yi Ye had no choice but to interrupt him, informing him that the space on the wooden tablet for writing was limited, and it was unlikely that he could write about so many things, urging him to select the important ones to discuss.

It's fine

On the couch, Zhao Zhongwen was asking Di Su, saying: "Which flag do we see that indicates the army should move to the left?"

Upon hearing this, it felt as if a heavy stone was blocking her heart, causing a dull pain. Ziqing quickly turned her face away.

He probably guessed it randomly, and Zhao Zhongwen nodded irritably: "Yes ... ..."

After waiting for Yi Ye to finish washing up, I heard her breathing heavily, already fast asleep, and I smiled while shaking my head

The sound of water flowed noisily, and Yi Ye stared blankly at the screen for a moment. When he came to his senses, he muttered a low curse at himself and called out to Zi Qing, "I will stand guard for you outside." After saying this, he quickly walked out the door.

Coming soon, coming soon

I will also go outside to keep watch for you said Ziqing as she walked out

Li Gan smiled faintly and replied with neither humility nor arrogance: "General Huo's words are too heavy. This time, there are a total of 3,500 crossbows, 70,000 bolts, as well as 50 four-stone red crossbows and 20 ten-stone large yellow crossbows"

Xu Datie furrowed his brows tightly, scratching his head, his expression gradually becoming anxious. After a long while, he said: "Then you tell my mother that I miss her, I miss my sister, I want to go home, I don't want to stay here, and ask her to come quickly to take me back." -- Yi Ye's hand holding the pen froze, while Ziqing beside him raised his head from the bamboo slips, and both Disu and Zhao Zhongwen turned to look at Xu Datie, the medical room was unusually quiet.

It is good as long as everything at home is well. I heard that General Li is stationed in Yunchong, where the sandstorms are quite severe

After adding a few words of greeting for Xu Datie, Yi Ye set down his pen and blew dry the ink. Only then did he take the wooden box and place it on top, sealing it with a double strand of fine hemp thread. At the intersection of the sealing string, he pressed on the sealing wax, and finally confirmed the address, writing it on the wooden box.

Beside him, Zhao Ponu was placing a saddle on the black horse when he heard the sound of the large crossbow, and his eyes couldn't help but light up

Continuing, Yi Ye wrote a letter for Zhao Zhongwen. Zhao Zhongwen's words were certainly much fewer than those of Xu Datie, only urging his family to take care of their health and to wait for his return. He also reminded them a few times about the farming tasks, and with just a few brief sentences, there was nothing more to say.

"Brother, you should wash up too, it feels nice." She placed the water behind the screen and came out to speak to Yi Ye.

Xu Datie held the letter in his hands, overjoyed, looking at it repeatedly before carefully placing it in his bosom. At the beginning of the month, the military uniformly collected letters, and since there were still a few days left until the beginning of the month, although the letter was already written, it could not be sent out immediately.

"Can't you write?" Xu Datie, seeing him not picking up the pen, asked anxiously. Before Yi Ye could respond, he turned his head and urgently asked Zhao Zhongwen, "Boss, can I tell my mother about eating the fatty meat slices?"

A person stood barefoot in the knee-deep river, their robe lifted and casually tied around their waist, as they brushed the horse's back with a brush, stroke by stroke. The pure black horse, without a single strand of mixed hair, seemed extremely impatient, yet dared not resist, occasionally stamping its hooves to urge its owner to wash it more quickly

When can we have a battle with the Xiongnu? Xu Datie said impatiently, "The sooner we fight, the sooner we can return home"

"Eagle strikes Sima, take him to the crossbow training ground!" He did not look back and said to Zhao Ponu.

Zhao Zhongwen nodded and said

Zhao Zhongwen smiled wryly and shook his head: "No, if I say too much, my mother will surely be unhappy. Once I leave, all the work in the fields will depend on her, and I hope she treats her well." Inside the room were all unmarried individuals, who were only half aware of matters concerning marriage. After hearing these words, they began to understand the deep feelings and heartfelt concerns behind this brief message, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Then I also want to go back," Xu Datie insisted, "My mother said at that time that she would come to pick me up in just a month or so, but now it has been more than half a year, and she still hasn't come to get me."

Zhao Zhongwen Chao Yiye added: "The training items, number of personnel, number of horses, and weaponry equipment in the army cannot be documented; this is the rule"

... ... Hmm

The dark horse raised its hooves and instantly left Zhao Ponu and Li Ganyuan far behind.

Zhao Zhongwen's response resembled a sigh of resignation

Xu Datie nodded excitedly, focusing intently as he murmured: "Mother, I had two large pieces of fatty meat yesterday, with the skin still on..."

... ... it's fine

Before he could finish speaking, he was struck by Zhao Zhongwen: "You haven't even grown your wings yet, and you're already thinking about flying elsewhere, you little rascal." The Tiger Might Army is equipped with powerful crossbows, which are significantly more powerful than the bows and arrows of the Zhenwu Army. As a result, the soldiers of the Zhenwu Army have always harbored jealousy towards the Tiger Might Army.

There should be an opportunity. "Ti Su tilted her head and thought, "Perhaps the general will notice my excellent martial skills and assign me to the Tiger Might Army. At that time..."

Zhao Ponu's lengthy formalities finally ceased upon reaching the strong crossbow training ground, allowing Li Gan, despite his considerable patience, to secretly breathe a sigh of relief as he watched this eagle-striking Sima busily attend to other matters

"Have you perhaps forgotten that our squad does not need to go into battle?" Yi Ye reminded him, "How are you going to kill the Xiongnu?"

After a short while, the ink particles had completely dissolved. Xu Datie saw Yi Ye put down the ink stick and hurriedly and respectfully handed over the wooden tablet.

"Am I not still here..." Zhao Zhongwen said with a forced smile, "We came out together, so we must go back together as well. You can't just leave me here alone."

For the convenience of boiling medicine, there is a small kitchen next to the medical room, which makes it very convenient for them to use hot water. Ziqing followed the instructions and fetched half a bucket of water, then went behind the screen, silently removed her armor, and scooped water to wash herself.

Huo Qubing put on his leather boots, led the horse over, and smiled as he said: "Then you should show your skills and give some guidance to the soldiers under my command; otherwise, your father might think that you have wasted this trip."

In the medical room at night

"Did General Huo not say that rewards and punishments in the army are clear-cut? As long as one kills the enemy and achieves merit in battle, there will surely be a reward." Di Su spoke confidently and with great ambition, "As long as we practice diligently, we need not fear that we will be unable to kill a few Xiongnu at that time"

Yi Ye gently nudged Zi Qing, who was still staring blankly at the bamboo slips, and said: "I sat next door and got wet from the water; after a whole day, I am covered in dirt and sweat. You might as well wash up a bit."

Zhao Ponu did not dare to step into the water, standing on the shore to report. Behind him stood a young officer, who, despite his youth, possessed a demeanor of calmness and composure.

Di Su lowered her head to avoid it, muttering unwillingly, "I will go, I will go, I will go!"

For a moment, no one spoke. After a brief pause, Di Suteng stood up and said angrily: "Boss, why do you always think about farming? Why not consider achieving merit in the military, buying a large mansion in the capital, and then bringing your mother and wife out to enjoy a good life together? Wouldn't that be great!"

Yi Ye smiled and asked, "Aren't you going to say a few more words to your sister-in-law?"

Zhao Zhongwen smiled and remained silent

"Not bad." Li Gansu was not one to speak much, and he replied politely.

Suddenly, the sound of the evening flute echoed from outside. Zhao Zhongwen put away the letter and, together with Xu Datie, rose to return to his own barracks.

Yi Ye called out to her, laughing: "Silly you, I am a big man, what is there to guard? You should go to bed quickly, for tomorrow we do not yet know what we will be practicing."

Zi Qing was beside him, casually taking a bamboo slip that recorded military regulations to read, but his gaze was somewhat absent, as if his mind were elsewhere

... ...

General, the newly crafted crossbow has already been delivered

The Great Yellow Crossbow... Ho Qu Bing walked barefoot to the large stone and sat down. He first put on his brocade socks, then picked up the leather boot tube, shaking and striking it downwards, while glancing at Li Gan: "... I wonder how many in the army possess such divine strength as your esteemed father. Let's go to the training ground and test the crossbow first. Do you know how to use it?"

Brother, come in

With spring plowing just around the corner, there isn't even a cow at home, and she has to till five acres of land by herself Zhao Zhongwen's eyes were slightly red, and her voice was low and helpless, "... the land cannot be left uncultivated ..."

Zi Qing carried the water outside to pour it out, and then brought in half a bucket of hot water again

A single lamp flickered like a bean, as Yi Ye sat behind the desk. He took a few small round ink pellets from the ink box, crushed them with a pestle, and carefully ground them into ink on the inkstone. Xu Datie had long prepared a clean wooden tablet, ready at the side.

Di Su scratched his head, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Zhongwen as if trying to read the answer from his face, and after a long pause, he hesitantly replied: "Blue Flag?"

Ziqing followed the instructions and got into bed, neatly folding the general's robe and armor, placing them within easy reach, then wrapping herself in the quilt and closing her eyes to rest

Xu Datie pondered for a moment and replied with frustration, "Do you not want to go back?"

Yi Ye thought for a moment, feeling quite uncomfortable with his body being sticky with sweat, and then he cheerfully turned behind the screen

He picked a small brush from the pen case made of bamboo, dipped it in ink, and turned to Xu Datie with a smile, saying, "You say it, and I will write it!"

In early spring, the river water is still mixed with the melting snow from the mountain walls, and the remnants of ice that have yet to melt are interspersed within, making it still cold to the bone

No

"The training ground is this way," Zhao Ponu said with a smile as he led Li Gan. "Forgive my lack of discernment; I did not recognize you as the third son of General Li Guang. I apologize for my rudeness. How is your esteemed father’s health?"

Yi Ye smiled, lowered his head, and began to write.