Yan Qing slowed down and stopped three feet behind him.

Meng Shulan saw the shadow parked behind her through the mottled night. Her body stiffened suddenly and she slowly turned around to look behind her.

The moonlight fell on the girl wearing white linen mourning clothes. He couldn't see her clearly against the light, but he felt that she was lonely and cold, as if she had come on the moon, and seemed to be going away with the moonlight.

Seeing Meng Shulan again, Yan Qing felt heavy pain in her heart, joy, guilt, regret, grievance... There were too many emotions pressing in her heart, and too many words stuck in her throat.

But in the end she just came up with drinks and food and asked: "Have you eaten yet?"

Meng Shulan was silent for a moment, all the emotions in his eyes calmed down again, and he only said carefully: "My condolences."

"The dead have passed away, but the living will continue to live."

Yan Qing spoke clearly, her drooping eyelashes covering all her emotions, and she put down the food box calmly, "The conditions in Luzhong are limited, so we'll make do with it."

Meng Shulan took the food box blankly and looked at Yan Qing, who seemed casual, with a heavy look in her eyes, as if there was a huge stone pressing on her heart.

I thought she would tell him with red eyes that she was going to kill the gang of thieves in Xirong, but he wouldn't be able to persuade her then, right?

But she said what she should have said so calmly and calmly.

It was a good thing that he didn't have to worry about trying to persuade her to pay attention to the current situation, but at this time, he didn't want her to be so calm.

He appears to be of no use at all.

Meng Shulan calmed down her emotions and opened the food box. A plate of vegetarian dishes and a bowl of white rice were not exquisite, but they were filling.

Yan Qing picked up the wine jar, poured himself a bowl, and drank in small sips.

Seeing her actions, Meng Shulan couldn't help but frown: "You haven't recovered from your injury, so you shouldn't drink."

"Would you like a bowl?"

Yan Qing ignored his words and turned her head to ask him.

Meng Shulan's eyes touched the tomb behind her, and she swallowed her words of persuasion before replying: "Okay."

Yan Qing sneered and turned over the wine bowl to fill it for him.

Meng Shulan took the wine bowl and raised it towards the two new graves: "Shuai Yan, General Yan, have a good trip."

Yan Qing watched the fine wine being poured out, and seemed to be witnessing the scene of his father and brother pouring wine on the battlefield to send their robes to the dead in battle.

Perhaps every soldier who puts on his military uniform is waiting for this glass of wine from others?

Yan Qing drank all the wine in the cup, her eyelashes drooped slightly, her eyelids were half asleep, and her gaze fell on the boundless night, feeling desolate and lonely.

"When you return to Kangdu, my uncle will probably summon you to the palace."

Meng Shulan put down the wine cup, withdrew the corner of his eye that fell on her, and asked casually, "Have you figured out how to explain what happened on the street today?"

"There's nothing to explain."

Yan Qing poured wine for himself and said calmly, "The Holy One wants loyal troops who can protect the country, open up new territories and expand the territory. If I can hold the Western Border in my hands, the Holy One will not only have the support of the army, but also avoid unnecessary trouble."

There is a hidden danger in the self-respect of ministers who support troops. After all, as a woman, I can only reach the level of Marquis Dingyuan at most."

Meng Shulan's hand holding the chopsticks shook: "You are so straightforward, aren't you afraid that I will go to the Holy Spirit and talk nonsense?"

Emperors are often suspicious, and the most taboo thing is that their ministers have high achievements and can support their own troops.

This was something that all the courtiers knew, but no one would point it out and make the emperor dissatisfied or even suspicious.

"you will not."

Yan Qing was sure, his complicated eyes fell on Meng Shulan, and he looked away while drinking.

Thinking of how cold and stiff he looked in his arms in his previous life, Yan Qing's fingertips holding the wine bowl shivered with cold.

In her previous life, she went on the Northern Expedition for Wen Zhemao, was ambushed on Mang Mountain, was trapped and died on Mang Mountain, and he led troops to rescue her.

She still remembered the way Meng Shulan, covered in blood, stood in front of her that day, smiling and reaching out to her, saying to herself, "I'll take you home."

She held his hand, but he fell in front of her.

Speaking of which, he was able to come back alive this time because he desperately brought in reinforcements.

Because he mobilized troops without permission, the emperor who doted on him got angry and ordered him to be grounded for three months.

How many days have it been now?

If you don’t do everything in your appearance, I’m afraid you’ll be slapped with a few more books later.

"You just trust me like this?"

Meng Shulan was a little surprised by Yan Qing's decisiveness.

"You're worth it." Yan Qing tilted his head and smiled.

She doesn't have to trust anyone in the world, but the person in front of her who has risked his life for her many times is always worthy of her trust.

Meng Shulan was stunned for a moment, the corners of her lips curled up imperceptibly, her eyes as clear as the bright moon in the sky.

Yan Qing opened his eyes and looked at the west where the crescent moon was setting. His smile disappeared and he changed the topic: "The guard of Western Xinjiang is absent. Xirong has just fought a battle with us and is unable to succeed. However, the Qiang Kingdom in the southwest has been eyeing it for a long time. It must not be the case.

I will let this opportunity pass by."

"You want to fight?"

Meng Shulan frowned, "The Qiang country in the southwest has a small population and will not exceed a hundred thousand troops. However, the Qiang people are good at using poison and are not easy to deal with."

"The Qiang Kingdom is not in harmony within itself, so we may need help from Nanchuan Continent in the west of the Qiang Kingdom."

Yan Qing took a sip, sketched the border defense map of Western Xinjiang in his mind, and discussed with him the formation of troops. "The Qiang country has many mountains and forests, and the Qiang people will definitely take advantage of the terrain to deal with us. But the Nanchuan Island area is close to Xirong, and the vegetation is

The ruins can be seen thousands of miles away. If we can lead the Qiang people to fight in the Nanchuan Island area, it will be beneficial to us."

"feasible."

Meng Shulan thought about it, "Because Nanchuan Island is located at the border of the Qiang Kingdom and the Xirong Kingdom, it is often harassed by the Xirong Kingdom. It is also dissatisfied with the Qiang Kingdom because of its poor products but heavy labor and heavy labor. If we can benefit from it, we can help it survive away from the Qiang Kingdom.

, the chances of persuading them to defect are very high.”

"Yes." Yan Qing nodded, "The leader of the Qiang Kingdom is old and the Qiang Kingdom is unstable. We will take this opportunity to reach an agreement with the chief of the Nanchuanzhou tribe so that we will not be unprepared when the Qiang invades in the future."

She remembered that the leader of the Qiang Kingdom in the previous life died a year later, and a battle broke out in the Qiang Kingdom to seize the throne. Six months later, the new leader launched an attack on Wu'an in order to show his strength.

That idiot Yan Kangping occupies the position of Zhenxi Marquis. He is ignorant and self-righteous. He mobilized troops indiscriminately and caused half of Western Xinjiang to fall!

Yan Qing felt so angry that her heart ached when she thought of these things.

Her Yan family had guarded the Western Territory for generations and had been famous for many generations, but they were all buried in the hands of Yan Kangping, and half of the sons of the Western Territory lost their lives due to exhaustion.

How could she let the past happen again in her next life?!

Yan Qing drank the wine in the bowl angrily, suppressed the raging murderous intention in his heart, and said solemnly: "You are better at diplomacy than me, so you will have to work hard for this."

Meng Shulan also answered solemnly when he heard this: "As a military advisor under the general's tent, it is my duty to share the general's worries."

"Is one year enough?" Yan Qing asked again.

Meng Shulan thought for a while and said: "It's a bit hasty, but I will do my best to do it."

"Just do your best, and safety and security are the top priority."

Yan Qing listened to his words and thought of the scene when he died. His heart felt empty and painful. He couldn't help but frown and stared into his eyes and said seriously, "I will try my best to fight for the right to lead troops in Western Xinjiang and let you communicate with Nanchuan."

Nanchuanzhou is just a backup. The Qiang people are very different from us, and they don’t like outsiders. Communication with Nanchuanzhou will not be smooth. Your safety is the most important. Don’t lose a big deal for a small amount."

"Meng Shulan, you must not put yourself in danger. This is a military order."

The night was silent and the candlelight was dim. The girl opposite was giving instructions with a stern face. Her own reflection in her eyes was rising and falling in the candlelight.

Meng Shulan lowered her eyes, hearing her own clear heartbeat and vague voice in her ears.
Chapter completed!