"Aren't you handsome, sir?" the three women showed off.
Li Qing smiled brightly and said softly: "It looks good."
With nothing to do, Li Qing also learned to build a snowman. He wanted to make a snowman to look like the three women, but he tried many times to no avail. He only got ridicule from the three women, "It doesn't look like it, it doesn't look like it at all."
.”
…
The relaxed and comfortable days always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the dumplings turned into Yuanxiao. In the blink of an eye, the fruit trees in the yard sprouted buds.
As winter passes and spring comes, the snowmen melt and everything as far as the eye can see is full of life.
Elites from Jizhou, Zhending, Jinan and other places rushed to the capital one after another. Zhu Zhanji, who went to inspect the public sentiment, also rushed back. After this trip, he became more restrained and gained responsibility and responsibility.
The expedition was about to begin, and the Beijing camp also began to mobilize. Li Qing and Zhang Fu were busy adjusting food supplies all day long.
During this period, the Ministry of War was so busy with work that they almost broke their legs.
~
"Report to the Minister, everything is done." Yu Qian came to the back hall of the Yamen, panting heavily.
"Sit down." Li Qing picked up the teapot, poured a cup of warm tea, and pushed it in front of Yu Qian.
After being together for such a long time, Yu Qian was less in awe of him and more kind to him. He raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp.
Li Qing smiled and poured him another glass.
Yu Qian held the tea cup and asked, "Do you have any other instructions, Master Shangshu?"
After getting along with him for so long, he had a certain understanding of this minister.
——Don't be polite to anyone. Once you are polite, nothing good will happen.
"In this Northern Expedition, you will accompany me." Li Qing got straight to the point.
Yu Qian was startled for a moment, then hesitantly said, "The national policy of migrating people from the south to the north is continuing, and the lower officials still need to supervise it, and some... can't get away."
He is a civil servant and does not like fighting and killing. Although he enjoys watching martial arts performances, he always believes that if he wants the country to be peaceful and the people to be safe, he must use civilized rule rather than war.
"The things you are responsible for will be handed over to Shizhong." Li Qing could not refuse, "Just follow me."
Yu Qian cupped his hands and said, "I will obey my orders."
Seeing his unhappy look, Li Qing said with a smile, "What? Are you afraid of the hardships of marching, or are you afraid of going to the battlefield?"
"It's not that I'm afraid!" Yu Qian shook his head, "It's just that I'm not good at military affairs. Although I have read military books, I have never experienced a real battlefield. I'm afraid I won't be able to serve the country."
"You have surpassed many people by being able to have such an awareness." Li Qing said with a smile, "It doesn't matter if you haven't experienced it before. I'm just going to take you through it this time, haha...it doesn't matter what you do!"
Li Qing took a sip of tea and said, "You don't need to use it if you know it, but you can't learn it."
Yu Qian scratched his head, not understanding what he meant, but he understood that it would be impossible for him not to go during this Northern Expedition.
"May I ask, Lord Shangshu, when will we set off?"
"About five days from now."
Yu Qian nodded: "It's still too late, I'll go and take over the matter of the people's migration."
"Well, go and do your work!" Li Qing said, "You won't come to the Yamen after you finish your work. Let's take a good two days to rest."
Yu Qian was stunned for a moment, then he cupped his hands in thanks and said, "I'll excuse you."
As soon as he left with his front foot, Zhu Zhanji came with his back foot.
"Uncle Qing, what do you think of my gun?" There was only Li Qing in the back hall, and Zhu Zhanji used the private address.
He showed off: "This is made from the core of the best beef tendon tree, carefully polished, and then soaked in tung oil for three days. It is easy to pick up and is not afraid of being chopped by ordinary swords. And this spear head..."
Li Qing was too lazy to listen to him, so he reached for the spear and went to the courtyard to play with it. Not to mention, it was really useful.
"If you go back and ask someone to make another shot, you'll have enough time." Li Qing couldn't put it down, "This shot is mine."
"You have a beautiful idea, I just want you to see it." Zhu Zhanji was not willing to give up his love, so he immediately reached out to grab it, but he couldn't touch Li Qing at all.
Zhu Zhanji was anxious, "Hurry up and pay me back."
"I am your bodyguard. How can I protect you without any weapons?" Li Qing said lightly, "Do you still want to go on an expedition with the army?"
"I..." Zhu Zhanji choked, "You pay me back first, and I'll have someone make another one for you later."
"This one is pretty good." Li Qing said with a smile, "Just ask someone to make one for you."
Once a good thing is in his hands, how can he give it back?
"You..." Zhu Zhanji was furious. If he had known this, he would never show off.
"Okay, I'll teach you two more moves later." Li Qing said angrily, "Look at how stingy you are."
"Then... we have agreed, we can't break our promise." Zhu Zhanji's expression softened a little.
Li Qing smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will guarantee your character."
With your character... Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes and said, "You'd better guarantee your salary. If you break your promise later, I will ask Grandpa Huang to deduct your salary."
Li Qing:-_-||
Needless to say, this gun is really easy to use, feels great when wielded, and has a first-class feel.
Li Qing played for a while and went home happily with his gun on his shoulder.
~
"Sir, are you going to fight?" Wan Ling asked, with a trace of reluctance in her eyes.
Li Qing nodded and said with a smile: "It won't take long to come back, I guess it will only be three months."
Now that the capital has been moved to Peiping, a lot of time can be saved by going back and forth. Coupled with the reform of the supply line, it does not take too long to go out for an expedition.
After hearing this, the three girls felt much better.
Lianxiang asked, "When will we set off?"
"There are still a few days." Li Qing put the gun away and clapped his hands, "Let's go, let's take you out for a walk."
The girls are getting older, their legs and feet are not as good as before, and they travel by car or sedan.
Li Qing took the three girls to visit the lively places in the capital, eating delicious food and having fun.
…
Five days later, troops were ordered at the school grounds.
Zhu Di, who is in his sixties, is still as heroic as before. He carries a sword on his waist and wears armor, showing his majesty as a great emperor.
Zhu Zhanji stood on the general platform and was doing pre-war mobilization impassionedly. The school field was lined with soldiers and his arrogance was overwhelming.
‘Dong dong dong…’ the sound of drums sounded.
‘Clang, clang, clang…’ The sound of the knife coming out of its sheath followed closely.
The officers and soldiers of the Ming army held spears in their hands, wielded their swords in the air, and shouted the word "kill" in unison, which shocked the world and filled the sky with anger.
Yu Qian's heart was agitated and his blood was boiling. He couldn't help but blend in. He pulled his neck and shouted: "The Ming army is mighty...!"
~
After seven years, the emperor once again went on a personal expedition, and the soldiers were all excited.
Prince Zhu Gaochi and his ministers saw off the army and sent them out of the capital.
Then, the ministers saluted and wished the emperor a successful victory... After simple etiquette, the army officially set off.
One day later, he left Juyongguan.
The sky is blue, the water and grass are green, and the field of vision is vast and endless.
Yu Qian was sitting on the horse, which made him feel very uncomfortable. His whole body seemed to be falling apart, but he was in high spirits. He had never seen this kind of scenery before.
"Are you still used to it?"
Yu Qian turned around and saw Li Qing, he cupped his hands, but before he could speak, his body tilted first.
"Be careful." Li Qing supported him with the barrel of his gun and turned the horse's head closer to him, "You don't know how to ride a horse?"
"I have ridden before, but my equestrian skills are average." Yu Qian said awkwardly, "I have never ridden for so long."
Li Qing smiled and said, "It will be evening in a while. Have a good rest at night. This has just begun."
"I understand." Yu Qian smiled bitterly and nodded. The scenery outside the pass is indeed beautiful, but the march is indeed hard.
But many soldiers were on foot, and he, a man on horseback, could not complain, so he had to grit his teeth.
When they set up camp in the evening, the skin on Yu Qian's inner thighs was all bald and he was trembling when he walked.
"Take a few sips." Li Qing handed over the wine bag.
Yu Qian took it, drank a few big mouthfuls of it, wiped his mouth, and said with emotion: "It's so enjoyable!"
"Haha...keep it and drink it slowly." Li Qing smiled and said, "There is still a long road ahead, so go to bed early after dinner."
"Well." Yu Qian took another sip of wine and asked curiously, "Li Shangshu, how many times has this been your expedition?"
He was indeed curious. Li Qing was already over sixty. He came out of the march that day as if nothing had happened. He was much better off than a young man like him.
Li Qing counted on his fingers. It took no more than one time to recruit Nai'er, one time to fish the sea, one expedition with Lan Yu after Jing Nan, and two expeditions with Zhu Di. "Including this time, it is the sixth time."
"So many times?" Yu Qian looked surprised, "No wonder..."
"What's the wonder?"
Yu Qian laughed sarcastically and said, "No wonder you, Minister, have been marching for a whole day and you don't look tired at all."
After a pause, he asked curiously: "Shang Shu went on so many expeditions, why did he become a civil servant instead of a general?"
"this……"
"Is it because he is not good at fighting?" Yu Qian asked.