The next day, just after dawn, the vanguard camp was in a state of excitement.
The soldiers quickly led their mounts over to line up and counted them one by one.
After confirming that there was no mistake, the forward leader Chu Jinding was put behind, and Ren Ning took the lead.
The two generals turned their horses' heads simultaneously.
Ren Ning pointed forward with a bright "One Knife and One Sword to Block the Falling Star" banner in his hand.
"Everyone mount up and let's go!"
"Yes!" All the soldiers responded loudly.
The sound was so loud that it directly woke up the birds and animals on the mountain behind.
For a while, there were sounds of chirping, chirping, and gurgling all the way up and down the mountain.
Crowded.
Ren Ning nodded with satisfaction and took the lead.
The soldiers all followed behind their respective vanguards. Under the watchful eyes of the supervisors, large and small, the soldiers marched towards the entrance of the camp one by one in high spirits.
After walking out of the camp gate, Ren Ning was stunned.
On the opposite side of the road stood three riders, and the one in the middle was Li Hebai, whom he had not seen for a long time.
Seeing Ren Ning coming out, he held his hands from a distance and said, "Old Ren, have a safe journey!"
Ren Ning felt warm and quickly returned the gift.
It's just that he was leading a team, and there were some staring supervisors behind him, so it was inconvenient to go over and chat.
I could only wave my hands goodbye and head straight north.
Li Hebai watched the flag with the word "Ren" disappear into the distance, and then turned around and returned to Nanguan of New Town.
"General," the guard next to him said regretfully, "I don't know when I can fight with General Ren and the others again."
In the past, their two armies cooperated and defeated Nanfeng without any backhand. Later, they practiced water training together in the Huchou River.
It has always been a pleasure to cooperate, and the soldiers still remember this very well.
Li Hebai smiled and said, "Don't worry. There will be a chance soon."
At noon the next day, the sun was shining brightly.
Ren Ning and his party have arrived at Nanshu City.
I don’t know when long drinking water stalls were set up on both sides of the post road.
Wearing a veil, Li Hezhu led the guards and servants of the General's Mansion to welcome them.
"Miss Li, what are you doing?" Ren Ning looked strange.
This was the first time he saw Li Hazhu wearing a veil.
The girl's eyebrows are curved.
"The weather is hot. You soldiers must be thirsty all the way north. All the tea and mung bean soup here have just cooled down."
"General Ren, let the brothers have a drink before leaving."
The veterans behind him poured soup and brought it over.
Ren Ning looked up at the sky, turned over and dismounted.
"Brothers from various forward battalions, these are the family members of Zhennanguan Li Hebai, General Li, and the veterans. They came to see us off."
"Everyone, have a sip of tea before we go!"
Many people in the Starfall Legion knew Li Hebai, and when Ren Ning said this, they immediately responded with excitement.
Xiao Gang walked over with his Bai Yu in hand and said, "Miss Li, what's the matter with your appearance?"
In the past two years, Ren Ning and Lei Er went to the west, and he went to Nanshu City every once in a while to pick up family letters, so the two of them got to know each other better.
However, this was also the first time Xiao Gang saw Li Hezhu put on a veil and pretend to be a lady.
Li Hezhu was not angry, so he took the bowl of mung bean soup from the old housekeeper and handed it to Xiao Gang.
"If you want to drink, just drink. If you don't drink, you'll be depressed. What's the point!"
"..." Xiao Gang was sprayed with confusion.
Not long after, the team set off again.
Xiao Gang rushed over from behind with a strange look on his face.
"Old Ren, Li Hezhu's car is following behind. It is said that he wants to go to Star City with us."
The horses of the Starfall Legion are all good horses. However, when the army travels, they carry a lot of food, grass and baggage behind them.
Can't get any faster.
If Li Hezhu's driver wanted to follow him, he could certainly do so.
"We are so far away, and the Chinese New Year is coming soon. Why is she going to Xingji City at this time?"
Nowadays, rubber products in Guangxin County are becoming more and more popular, and it can be said that the supply exceeds the demand.
From Nanshu City to Xingji City or Sulan City, the trade routes and markets along the way are also smooth, and there is almost no need to worry. Li Hezhu and Yingpan can just sit at home and collect money, and there is no need to run around at all.
cough!
Xiao Gang coughed, "Isn't my baby about to give birth in a few months? She said she was going to see my cousin."
Several women corresponded frequently, and over the years they became best friends.
"I see." Ren Ning slapped his forehead, "You will also go home to visit relatives by then. Remember to tell me."
All the way to the north, stop and go.
It wasn't until mid-November that the team arrived at the Xinglan Grand Canal.
At this time, the passenger ship has not arrived, and the soldiers are eating and resting again.
Ren Ning took the time to come over and see Li Hezhu off.
"Miss Li, you only brought a maid? Do you want me to send someone to take you to Star City?"
Although it is quite safe to board a passenger ship, accidents are inevitable.
In particular, Ren Ning boarded the ship here twice to return to Star City, and encountered accidents one after another, which made him a little more vigilant.
Li Hezhu didn't answer, but looked at the turbulent river in front of him with a smile, as if he had never seen a big river in his life.
"Ren Ning, Xiao Gang got married later than you, and now the child is about to be born. When will you and Panpan plan to have a child?"
"Soon, soon."
"Star City is right in front of you now, aren't you going to take a trip back home?"
Ren Ning was stunned and subconsciously looked at the canal in front of him.
Get on the boat from here and return to Star City in less than two days.
It's just that he is leading the army to change defenses. Leaving the army without the approval of the Ministry of War or Emperor Changxing is dereliction of duty, let alone secretly returning to Xingji City.
If someone discovers it, it will be a felony or even a death penalty.
However, principles are dead and people are alive.
He could have touched it back quietly, and probably not many people would have noticed.
Ren Ning hesitated for a second, "Then I'll ask General Chu."
In the camp, Chu Jinding was eating melon seeds and reading military books. He was not surprised to hear Ren Ning coming over.
"Here you come? Sit down!"
"Is there a problem?"
Ren Ning got straight to the point, "General, I would like to go home sometime."
Chu Jinding was stunned for a moment and could no longer eat the melon seeds in his mouth.
"That's right, you haven't been home for a long time. You must be missing your wife at home."
However, anyone who becomes a legion-level general would find it difficult to return home under normal circumstances.
Especially generals at the level of Wei Junqian, Yuan Xingwen and the generals of Yanji Fortress, if Star Ji City does not summon them, they will hardly be able to return home for several years.
Chu Jinding looked outside.
"This is the Xinglan Grand Canal. One end is connected to the administrative center of Xingji City, and the other end is connected to the economic center of Sulan City. There are all kinds of people coming and going on the canal, and there is a high probability that His Majesty's informants are among them."
"Our legion is too famous. When we got here, we were stared at by countless people. And as the leading general, you are also being watched all the time. You cannot leave easily."
"So be it."
Chu Jinding pondered for a while.
"When we arrive at Jiuyuan County ahead, we will repair for a while near the racecourse and wait for General Wei behind."
"You can go home again then, just in time for the Chinese New Year. What do you think?"
Before Ren Ning came over, he knew in his heart that this would be the result. He nodded quickly, "Thank you, General."
The legion was switching defenses, and Chu Jinding agreed to let him leave the legion and go home, which was a huge risk.
If someone exposes him, Ren Ning will not be able to escape, but it will still be enough for him to drink a pot.
Return to the dock.
Although Li Hezhu refused, Ren Ning still asked the five personal guards to change their clothes and follow her on the ship.
The team continued to go north, stopping and walking. Another month later, heavy snow began to fall in the sky.