The team traveled for a day, and when it was completely dark, they arrived at Qingling Mountain where Yu Zheng expected, and found a flat place to camp at the foot of the mountain.
Zhuiyun Zhufeng led the army and guards to separate, set up tents, collect firewood, fetch water and make fires...
Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng sat in front of the fire, watching Zhuiyun cooking soup and heating up the cold steamed buns.
During the march, the food and accommodation were kept simple. Soon Zhuiyun had cooked the soup, and Zhufeng set up several tables with a plate of pickles, a plate of steamed buns and two bowls of meat and vegetable soup.
Yu Zheng handed the chopsticks to Jiang Shu, and the two of them ate by the firelight.
After the meal, they briefly washed themselves with boiled hot water, and then returned to the carriage to rest.
This carriage was specially made for traveling. The seats could be folded up during the day and unfolded flat at night to form a bed. Covered with quilts, it turned into a simple bed.
However, the carriage was not enough to protect against the cold winter night, so Jiang Shu Leng buried her head in Yu Zheng's arms.
Yu Zheng had long known that she would be cold, so he asked Leng Xing to drink two soup pots and put them all behind Jiang Shu.
But even so, it's hard to beat the coldness of the mountains.
Fortunately, Yu Zheng's whole body was warm, and Jiang Shu huddled in his arms. After a while, he finally felt warm.
"Go to sleep, I'll get up before dawn tomorrow and go on the road." Yu Zheng tucked her in the quilt.
Jiang Shu responded, closing his eyes for a long time but not feeling sleepy.
The pressure on her arms was a little uncomfortable, and she moved slightly. Yu Zheng asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Shu said in a dull voice: "I wonder if Ziyou is asleep or crying."
This was their first time away from Yu Ziyou, so they couldn't feel relieved.
Yu Zheng sighed: "Don't think too much, he will get used to it in a few days."
When Jiang Shu said she wanted to come to Pingyang with him, he expected that she would miss Yu Ziyou. It's just that the matter is serious, and now that we are on the road again, we can't look back.
Jiang Shu himself understood this truth and didn't say any more. He forced himself to calm down and fall asleep calmly.
At the same time, go to the Imperial Palace in Beijing.
The usually quiet and peaceful Zhongling Palace was filled with cries tonight.
Concubine Yu held the crying Yu Ziyou in her arms and kept pacing back and forth to comfort her.
However, no matter how she coaxed him, Yu Ziyou kept crying.
The emperor was confused and asked: "How come you are fine during the day and then suddenly get into trouble before going to bed?"
After dinner, the emperor played with Yu Ziyou for a while and felt that she was very well-behaved. However, when he was about to take a rest, Yu Ziyou suddenly started crying and could not be coaxed.
Concubine Yu called Chu Yu and the wet nurse to inquire about the situation.
"Is the young prince like this on weekdays?"
Chu Yu and the two nannies, who entered the palace for the first time, answered cautiously while clasping their hands and lowering their heads.
"The young prince usually only cries when he is hungry, sleepy, or uncomfortable. He rarely cries like this for no reason."
"Then what happened today?" Emperor Shen asked.
The two nannies were so frightened that they didn't know how to answer.
Chu Yu boldly said: "The young prince may miss his father, queen, mother and concubine."
"In the past, although the prince and princess would leave the palace during the day, they would come back to accompany the young prince at night."
And today, none of them came back.
Yu Ziyou has already developed the habit of crying only when he cannot wait for his father, queen, mother and concubine.
After hearing this, the emperor frowned and said nothing. Concubine Yu Gui sighed and said to Chu Yu, "Come and coax her, Ziyou is familiar with you."
"Yes." Chu Yu responded, taking Yu Ziyou from Concubine Yu to comfort her.
Hearing the familiar voice and smelling the familiar smell, Yu Ziyou stared at Chu Yu and stopped crying.
Finally stopped crying.
Concubine Yu and the emperor were relieved and prepared to let Chu Yu take Yu Ziyou to rest.
However, before the words were spoken, Yu Ziyou curled his lips and began to cry again.
Aunt Gui said: "The young prince seems to recognize someone and misses his mother and concubine. I'm afraid he won't be able to coax him for a while."
Concubine Yu said helplessly: "Your Majesty, please go and rest first. I will accompany Ziyou."
Yu Lan was there before, and was asked by Concubine Yu to arrange for her. The emperor has to go to court tomorrow and has to rest.
After the emperor left, Concubine Yu asked people to close the doors and windows, trying to block out the crying so as not to disturb the emperor and Yu Lan.
As the cold moon passed, Yu Ziyou was tired from crying and gradually fell asleep.
Concubine Yu gently wiped away the remaining tears on his face with a brocade handkerchief, took off her clothes and shoes and lay down, sleeping peacefully with Yu Ziyou.
Chu Yu and the nanny stepped back in surprise and closed the door.
The cold wind howled like a wild beast, carrying biting snowflakes and hitting people's faces as cold and painful as a knife.
At the Border General's Mansion, the guard opened the door, and Shen Changze entered the room to report the latest military information to Yu Cheng.
Yu Cheng looked at the snowflakes on his head and body, and poured him a cup of hot tea: "Let's dust off the snow first to warm up."
The winter night at the border is really bone-chillingly cold.
Shen Changze patted the snowflakes on his body a few times, sat in front of the brazier and drank the hot tea given by Yu Cheng.
After his body warmed up, Shen Changze said: "In this battle, our soldiers were injured three thousand and two hundred and seventy-one were killed."
"According to reports from spies, the Mobei army was drinking and partying after returning to camp. It seems that they have no plans to fight again in the short term."
After a pause, Shen Changze continued: "Based on my experience of guarding the border for six years and dealing with the people of Mobei. It's snowing heavily tonight. I'm afraid it will fall for a day or two. The snow is too thick for marching." , Mobei will not move in the past few days."
"Yeah." Yu Cheng frowned and thought, "Order the spies to keep an eye on Mobei's movements, just in case."
It was snowing heavily and freezing to the bone, and the supplies of grain, grass and winter clothes had not arrived, so it was not suitable for fighting.
It was scary, so Mobei took the opportunity to make a surprise attack.
They arrived at the border for half a month and fought three times with Mobei.
On the day they first arrived at the border, the two armies fought fiercely. Relying on their familiarity with the border terrain, Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu led 20,000 light cavalry around the rear and attacked them unprepared, giving Mobei a painful blow.
After withdrawing troops from Mobei for ten miles and resting for seven days, they attacked again.
It was a tough battle, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and no one taking advantage.
Then there is today's battle, which will end in an hour.
Today's battle was a bit strange. Mobei did not attack with a large army like before. They only sent 30,000 soldiers to form a formation. After a small fight, they withdrew their troops after seeing Feixue.
It's so unpredictable.
While Yu Chengzheng was deep in thought, the door opened again, and General Zheng, an unshaven man who was over fifty years old, came over with a happy face and a letter.
"Your Highness, I just received the news that the food, grass and winter clothes will arrive in ten days at most."
Yu Cheng took the letter and read it carefully.
Ten days may be long or short, and I don't know whether the soldiers can hold on.
Although last year's winter clothes can keep out the cold, first of all, the old cotton clothes are not as warm as new clothes. Secondly, they are severely worn out by combat drills and have many shackles.
The cold snow at the border has just begun. After this heavy snow, there will be countless heavy snows. New cotton-padded clothes are crucial.
Yu Cheng pinched the letter and said: "Don't make any mistakes in winter clothes. Tomorrow, General Shen will lead a thousand light cavalry to pick up the troops. We will check more dangerous places along the way to prevent Mobei from burning clothes and destroying food."
"Yes." Shen Changze agreed.
It's not like Mobei has never done this kind of thing before.
Although it was impossible for a large army to enter the border, dozens or hundreds of people disguised themselves and sneaked through the border, making it impossible to guard against them.
This person is no match for the army escorting the baggage, but he can launch rockets in dangerous areas to sneak attack Shaoyi. Even if it is unsuccessful, part of it can be damaged, affecting the progress of the march.
Have to guard against it.
