"That's right. Looking at how extraordinary you are, with your graceful bearing, if you don't say it, we would really take you as a prince." Another soldier of similar age to him said while striking the wooden stake.
Of these two people, the first was called Zhang Jiao, the second was Huang Yan, who lived in the same tent as him.
The soldier who was called Ah Ta smiled and said shyly, "I'm not some prince, and I'm not some prince either. Like all of you, I'm just a commoner."
They spoke a few words before gradually speeding up the movements of their men. In the end, they spent about two hours to set up all fifty tents.
He put down his tools and clapped his hands. Looking at the tents, he nodded with satisfaction and said, "Done."
"It's time to eat, it's time to eat!" At this time, the soldiers of the Fire Head Battalion were carrying steaming buckets and shouting for the food to be served. The soldiers quickly ran over to the queue to receive the food.
"Ou Ou, it's time to eat. We're going too." Zhang Jiao called to him as they stood in line to receive their meal.
Like the others, he brought two steamed buns and mutton soup and sat on the ground with his back against a wooden stake, eating them one by one. He ate fast, but compared to the soldiers who were wolfing down the food, his eating style was elegant.
As he ate, he felt a spasm pass through his stomach. His handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his stomach.
"A-Ta, what's wrong with you?" Is it uncomfortable? " Huang Yan saw a pained expression flash across his face and immediately asked.
"No worries, I was a bit too hasty with the food." He pursed his lips and smiled. His stomach spasmed again as he lowered his head to drink a mouthful of the mutton soup. The fishy taste of the soup also made him feel uncomfortable. He lowered his head and swallowed it down.
"Arfan, are you not used to eating this kind of coarse food?" Zhang Jiao asked with concern.
"No, I'm used to eating it, but it's just that the meat is a bit bigger." As he spoke, he calmly took another sip of the mutton soup.
"A'wu, the marshal has ordered for you to go to his tent immediately." At this time, a guard wearing gray armor walked over and said loudly.
"Yes, milord. I will head over now." He finished the rest of the mutton soup and handed the remaining steamed buns to Zhang Jiao. Then, he stood up and followed the guard for a distance before he bent down and entered the military marshal Lian Yan Fu's tent.
As soon as he entered, he saw the marshal, Lian Yanfu, sitting in front of a desk, flipping through a letter. He was dressed in copper armor, and his handsome face had a vicissitudes of life due to his years of guarding the mountain customs.
"Greetings, Grand Marshal." He nodded and said.
When he saw the person in front of him, he motioned for the guards in the tent to step back, then said, "Yi'er, your father sent a letter. He missed you very much, and said that your experience in the military was enough. Let me find a reason to send you back to the capital.
A helpless smile appeared on Lian Fu's face as he said, "I've long grown up, but father is always too worried. I've already made up my mind when I came to the army, so I definitely won't go back so easily."
"You can't blame your father. It's only because you're the only legitimate son of the Lian Clan that he can't put his mind at ease. He's always worried about your safety. Take a look." Lian Yanfu stood up, handing the letter in his hand to Lian Fu as he spoke.
Lian Meng lowered his head as he read the contents of the letter. Other than his worry, he was only giving Fourth Uncle instructions on how to take care of him and protect him.
At this time, the Fire Head Battalion soldiers brought in food for the Grand Marshal to enjoy. After the people who came left the camp, Lian Yan Fu pointed to the plate of chickens and said —
Yi'er, you grew up in the Prime Minister's residence, so you ate very carefully. Now that you've eaten these coarse grains day by day, I'm sure you're not used to it, but today Fourth Uncle specially made the Fire Head Battalion to make a plate of chicken and gave you a tooth sacrifice. This chicken is extremely tender on the outside, and although it can't compare to the chef of the Prime Minister's residence, it's still considered delicious compared to the steamed buns and mutton soup.
Lian Fang looked at the plate of chicken. The fragrance it exuded was indeed very alluring.
Instead, he cupped his hands together and said: "Fourth Uncle, I am not the direct descendant of the Prime Minister's Mansion, I am an ordinary soldier called Ah Tou. I have neither military merits nor title, if I hide in Fourth Uncle's tent and eat this delicious chicken, it would be unfair for the rest of the soldiers. I cannot eat this chicken, and Fourth Uncle doesn't need to listen to my father and take special care of me."
When Lian Yanfu heard this, his hand that was holding the chopsticks suddenly stopped. He raised his head and looked at Lian Fu.
"Fourth Uncle, I really didn't come here to play, nor did I come back home after training. I wanted to truly start from being a soldier and experience the life and thoughts of the lower class soldiers."
It was as if I hoped that one day, I would become a great general that terrified my enemies and would be loved and respected by the people and the warriors of the three armies. "So, fourth uncle, I beg you, please don't take me to be your nephew, or even consider me as the son of the prime minister. I am myself, a common soldier of this village customs named Ah Ta."
These words set off a wave in Lian Yanfu's heart. He put down the chopsticks in his hand and stood up. He forcefully patted Lian Fu's shoulder and said with a gratified look in his eyes —
"Yi'er, Fourth Uncle is very pleased to hear your words! Fourth Uncle is proud of you. Fourth Uncle promises you that he will never treat you differently in the future. I'll help you hide it from your father! "Fourth Uncle will wait, wait for the day when you've accomplished a great deed and stand upright in front of the warriors of the three armies, majestically returning to the capital and making everyone cheer for the name of 'Consecutive Techniques'."
Lian Yanfu revealed a smile on his face.
A pool of ripples had been stirred up in his heart. That's right, majestically returning to the capital, letting … He wanted to let that person feel proud of the word 'linked technique'.
"Thank you, fourth uncle!" Lian Meng nodded and said.
"Go on, it's going to snow heavily for a few days. Be careful." Lian Yanfu waved his hand and said.
"Yes, Marshal."
Lian Meng left the room.
He tidied up his clothes, and saw that some people had received letters from their families. Some of them had smiles on their faces, others were scowling, and some were even silently crying.
Looking at it, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
He had never received a letter he wanted at the customs office, and the letter his father had sent had not contained a single word about his sister, nor did he know how she was doing.
Elder sister, you know that Yi'er is always thinking of you here. Yi'er has never forgotten what you've said to him.
However, Tactics can't stay by your side anymore, becoming your trouble and obstruction.
The trick is to one day be strong enough to protect you and yourself.
Sister, please wait for me. Wait for me to come back.
The snow-white light shone back onto his picturesque face, and the disappointment on his lips slowly turned into a faint, misty smile.
He knelt down on one knee, bent a branch, and drew a circle in the snow.
It was a full moon.
"Art, Art!" At this moment, a shout came from behind him.
Zhang Jiao saw the soldier in his tent, holding a letter in his hand. He quickly ran over and said, "Ou Ou, my sister sent a letter, but I don't know what it was written on it. Can you help me look at it?"
"Alright, I'll help you look at it." Lian Fu dropped the branch in his hand and took Zhang Jiao's letter. Zhang Jiao's face was full of nervousness and expectation while waiting.
This letter was not entirely written. If there were some that did not know how to write, then they would be replaced with symbols. However, they could also understand incantations.
After reading the letter, Zhang Jiao had a worried look on his face. It turned out his sister had said that his father had broken a leg while collecting herbs and had been lying in bed for two months. His mother had gotten sick again, so now he could only rely on her sister to support his family.