Chapter 5: Morning rain and light dust in Weicheng
The next day.
Dusk is approaching again, and drizzle is falling.
A dusty team, guarding two carriages, appeared in the sight of the Weicheng defenders.
The carriage, which was almost covered with arrows, was moving slowly, for fear that a sudden acceleration would shake the already overwhelmed carriage.
Li Yu, the princess of the Tang Dynasty who was in the carriage in front, opened the curtain of the carriage and looked at the Tang Dynasty military flag fluttering in the wind above the city of Weicheng, making a roaring sound to declare its majesty.
The huge boulder that had weighed on Li Yu's heart for many days finally fell. This is Weicheng, the northern border of Tang State.
After entering Weicheng, she returned to the Tang Kingdom. Even the man in the palace did not dare to blatantly let her die in the Tang Kingdom's border city.
"Lü Qingchen, tell the Weicheng guard that I need a guide, a guide who is familiar with the local area of Weicheng."
She couldn't trust the Tang border army. The elder brother in the palace had a very high prestige in the army. She only had one biological brother, so she couldn't take risks and couldn't afford the consequences.
Lu Qingchen got out of the carriage at the back and said, "Old minister, take the order!"
"Mr. Chen, you came from the mountains, why don't you come with me to Weicheng and see the scenery of this frontier fortress?"
He wants to enter the city to see the Weicheng garrison, so naturally he cannot leave Mr. Chen outside.
Even if he is willing to believe Chen Xuan, as the bodyguard of Her Royal Highness, he cannot put the safety of Her Royal Highness between Chen Xuan's good and evil.
Chen Xuan, who had learned to ride a horse in half an hour, skillfully turned over and dismounted. Chen Xuan looked at the rammed earth-covered green brick town in the distance, which was no more than three miles away, and said: "Weicheng is covered with rain and light dust, and it seems like an old friend from the frontier fortress."
Return."
"Since Mr. Lu invited you, I should go with you."
Obviously, this practitioner from the South Gate of Haotian Dao does not trust him, which is also a common sense thing.
It is normal for someone to have a sharp weapon and not be trusted by others.
Lu Qingchen walked towards Weicheng holding the wedding banner that the princess had received when she got married.
Chen Xuan was half a step behind Lu Qingchen. Before he even approached the gates of Weicheng, he could already feel the killing intent among the troops.
In my ears, the rapid sound of war drums sounded.
The creak of the winch when the crossbow is cocked sounds more like the horn of death.
If it hadn't been for the battle in Lu Qingchen's hands, I'm afraid what they were facing now would have been the arrows of the Weicheng defenders.
Even though he was born in a mortal body, there was no way he could survive when a crossbow pierced his heart.
Five hundred steps later, we have reached the city!
Lu Qingchen held the staff and said loudly: "The south gate of Haotian Road is dedicated to Lu Qingchen. Please see General Ma, the guard of Weicheng."
Hearing the sound of General Ma, on top of the Weicheng city, Ma Shixiang, wearing shabby armor, grinned heartily.
In his entire life, there was actually a time in his life when he was worshiped by the South Gate of Haotian Dao and was called General Ma.
"Why are you still standing there? Why don't you go and open the city gate and invite Mr. Lu and two of you to come in?"
Ma Shixiang kicked the weather-beaten soldier on the buttocks. The soldier held a spear and rubbed his buttocks, trotting all the way down the city wall.
As an important border town, Weicheng only had more than 300 troops stationed there. This was all because wherever the Tang Banner went, no barbarians dared to cause trouble.
He can also guess a thing or two about the identity of the nobleman who refuses to enter the city. The khan of the Golden Horde has been replaced!
Soon after, as the Qianjin gate was pulled up, the city gate bolts were removed, and the Weicheng city gate was opened wide.
Ma Shixiang, the guard of Weicheng, personally led Lu Qingchen and Chen Xuan into Weicheng.
Walking on the path soaked by the drizzle, Chen Xuan carefully observed the layout of Weicheng.
As a military city, the layout of Weicheng was well-proportioned, with six or seven arrow towers, showing that the Tang Dynasty's armaments were average.
Ma Shixiang led the two of them into the best restaurant in Weicheng. It was called a restaurant, but in fact it was just a restaurant.
But the tavern owner was afraid that others would look down upon him, so he told everyone he met that this was a restaurant.
Ma Shixiang shouted: "The boss quickly serves the dishes to entertain the distinguished guests, and then clears the place!"
The restaurant owner smiled and said: "Then I must give General Ma a good reception. Freshly slaughtered mutton and fine wine from the capital."
If you are a humble citizen, it’s better to know less. If you know too much, you will easily lose your temper.
In a moment, the tender mutton was brought to the table. The man who was both the cook and the waiter, after putting all the dishes on the table, consciously walked out of the tavern.
The man was very cautious. After the Huotou army retreated from the army, he stayed in Weicheng. Naturally, he knew what the scepter meant.
The restaurant was emptied of all irrelevant people, and Weicheng soldiers were stationed in all directions, armed with strong bows and crossbows.
Ma Shixiang looked at Chen Xuan, who was wearing a Taoist robe, and asked: "Mr. Lu, who is this gentleman?"
"I remember that when the nobleman married the Khan of the Golden Horde, this gentleman seemed not to be in the entourage."
In the court, the maidservant of a nobleman and the concierge of the prime minister cannot be offended.
But in this desert Gobi where horse bandits are rampant, the people who should not be offended are the people wearing Taoist robes.
This is an extremely suspicious and dangerous person. As a lieutenant general in the army, he cannot let that noble man get into trouble around Weicheng.
Chen Xuan looked at the tender mutton in the basin and said with a smile: "The wild roads in the mountains were taught by real people on demand. I occasionally gained enlightenment. I just met a noble person two days ago."
"Although I have some cultivation skills, I only have a slight understanding of it. How can I compare with Mr. Lu?"
Frontier soldiers are always straightforward, so naturally Chen Xuan is also rude.
Drink alcohol and eat meat with a knife!
The alcohol content is not low, and it is extremely spicy when it enters the throat. Chen Xuan naturally understands why.
Ma Shixiang said with a smile: "The boss is greedy for money. If he replaces the fine wine from the northern real estate with the wine jars in the capital, the price will be much higher."
"Few of the frontier troops have been to the capital city and have never drunk the capital's wine, so naturally this scam can be maintained."
But this is also a consensual thing!
As for who suffered the loss, only you know.
Chen Xuan's expression was slightly stunned, as if he felt helpless for the reason. In the bitter cold of the frontier, we saw desolation day and night, but how often could we see the bustling scene?
Lu Qingchen said solemnly: "I was ordered to come here this time because I want to borrow a guide. The noble man asked me to take a shortcut through a small road."
Ma Shixiang said: "Mr. Lu, why is this necessary? Weicheng has three hundred soldiers, and one hundred people can be spared to escort the nobles along the main road."
The small road is difficult to travel, and it is easy to be ambushed. I really don’t know what the noble man thinks, insisting on taking the dangerous road.
Lu Qingchen said helplessly: "I can't dissuade you from your wishes!"
After all, the South Gate of Haotian Dao is just the product of the compromise between the Tang State and the Dao Sect.
Chen Xuan once said before that if you don't come from Tianqi Mountain or Taoshan, then the only thing left is Zhishou Temple in the green mountain behind Taoshan.
Coming from the foot of Qingshan Mountain, Zhishou Temple?
With his status, it is extremely difficult for him to do anything.
Chen Xuan ignored the argument between the two and just savored the tender mutton.
In the past, few people could eat such tender, non-raised mutton.
The mutton is good, the wine is good, and the scenery at the frontier is even better, but I don’t know how prosperous Chang’an is?