My vicious dog, my horse, I can do whatever I want with it

"Ayin is not a child anymore." Zong Yanfeiyi seemed to see Zong Yanli's struggle, and smiled and said, "Our Zong Yan family's children will get up on their own even if they fall. Don't think that Ayin can't live without you."

"You have to walk your own path!" Zong Yanfeiyi said, waving his whip and saying, "Let's think of a way to hunt some good stuff first, so as not to return empty-handed, which would be embarrassing!"

Zong Yanli was silent for a moment, and felt that it made sense...

Although she was good at leading troops in battle, she was really a novice when it came to hunting in the mountains.

It's all luck, no skill.

Among their group, only Wen Nian has such ability. If Wen Nian was not here today, these people would definitely return empty-handed.

It’s not like Zong Yanli had not hunted before. When he was a child, he followed his father to the hunting ground to hunt. However, the prey in the hunting ground is not the same as the prey in the mountains. The prey in the hunting ground is raised by the owners of the hunting ground and put in for them to hunt.

The prey in the mountains are very cunning. If you can't find their footprints, you won't be able to find them. Even if you are good at archery and horse riding, you will have no place to use your skills.

Moreover, the prey in the mountains are very vigilant. Not only do they stay away from people, but they also flee without a trace at the slightest sign of trouble.

Zong Yanli and Zong Yanfeiyi were often in the army and were not allowed to leave the camp without orders, so they had no chance to hunt. And Wei Songhe was obviously not a hunter who could hunt in the mountains. In the end, they could only pin all their hopes on Wen Nian.

"I never knew you had this ability!" When seeing Wen Nian carrying the hare out of the bushes, Zong Yanfeiyi said in admiration, "How did you catch this thing?"

“A cunning rabbit has three burrows.” Wen Nian held the hare, turned his head and looked at Zong Yanli and said, “The general taught me this.”

"..." Zong Yanli was a little speechless. She suddenly felt that maybe she should learn the hunting skills.

When they returned to the camp at sunset, although they could not say that they returned with a full load, they had gained quite a lot.

Zong Yanfeiyi asked Wei Songhe to light the stove and set up the grill. When Yang Liqun and Peng Deqing heard the news, they each took some food and came over to join in the fun.

Suddenly, it was quite lively outside the main tent. Zong Yanhongjing simply had people move all the tables and chairs out of the tent, so that they could eat meat and watch the moon outside the tent to celebrate the festival tonight!

When the bonfire was lit, Zong Yanyin lifted her skirt and danced around the bonfire for everyone. There were no musical instruments in the army, so Zong Yanli and Wei Songhe and others played music for her by knocking bowls and wine jars.

Facing the firelight, looking at the smiling girl singing and dancing to her heart's content surrounded by her family, Zong Yanli suddenly felt relieved.

Her sister...

Zong Yanli was reluctant to close her eyes, as if she was craving for this moment of warmth. The wine in her throat had a spicy and pungent taste, making her eyes feel sore. She watched the bonfire gradually die out and her uncles staggered away drunkenly.

Watching Wei Songhe slumped over his desk, drunk, and watching his mother helplessly helping his father back to the tent.

Zong Yanli drank the last sip of wine in the glass, and when she looked sideways, she saw that Wen Nian was the only one left by her side. She felt a little lonely for no reason.

Parents will eventually grow old, and A-mei will soon marry someone else, and she...

"General?" Wen Nian called her in a low voice.

"Why are you still here?" Zong Yanli looked up at him.

"I am the general's deputy general, so I should follow the general." Wen Nian lowered his eyes and looked at her. His expression was calm, just like the countless times he looked at her, as if no matter when she looked back, she could see Wen Nian standing half a step behind her.

Zong Yanli laughed for no reason, stood up and waved his hand, saying, "It's almost dawn, go and rest for a while, we should go back."

She didn't have much time to stop and linger, let alone be sentimental.

At sunrise, Zong Yanli had arrived in front of the camp, and Wen Nian was standing beside him, leading his horse.

Zong Yanyin looked at Zong Yanli with eyes full of reluctance and sadness.

Zong Yanli walked up to her and held her in his arms, whispering to her, "If you feel that the Wei family is worthy of your trust, then go ahead. Although my brother cannot personally send you off to marry, he will not let you ride the bridal sedan alone. Ah Yin, be well."

"Brother..." Zong Yanyin hugged Zong Yanli and burst into tears, pulling her sleeves and sobbing for a long time before being pulled away by Han.

"Brother, please accept my greeting." Wei Songhe walked forward, lifted his robe and knelt down to bow to Zong Yanli.

This bow is made with sincerity, and isn't this calling you "brother" also a form of respect?

Zong Yanli paused for a while, accepted his bow, stepped forward to help him up, and looked at him deeply. Although he did not say a word, his eyes that were looking at him deeply were worth more than thousands of words.

Zong Yanli bid farewell to his parents, followed Zong Yanhongtu on the journey back to Yuanshi Pass.

When the year was coming to an end, we heard the news that Concubine Gao would return to Wu Kingdom after celebrating the New Year in Gao Kingdom. And she was not returning alone, she also brought back a little princess, named Gao Jiayue, who called her aunt, the daughter of the new emperor.

At the same time, the State of Qing asked for help from the State of Jin.

When the Wu Kingdom saw that Concubine Gao not only returned but also brought back a little princess, all the instability and speculation about the Gao Kingdom were refuted.

When I saw Qing asking for help from Jin again, I immediately spread the word that if Jin sent troops this time, my Wu State would definitely break through the city gates of Qing, and after we flatten Qing, the next one would be your Jin State!

Under this shock, the King of Jin withdrew his troops and dared not go out before the gate.

"The State of Jin is such a bunch of rats!" In the territory of Qing, Yuan Heng learned about this and was devastated and angrily denounced the State of Jin. He was extremely disgusted by the State of Jin's move to avoid war.

"General, the alliance between Wu and Gao is now impeccable." Xu Yinghao looked at Yuan Heng and said, "Jin is avoiding the battle, so I'm afraid we can only go north to seek help..."

"The troops heading north are all fierce and fierce. If we want them to help, we must cut off our own flesh and feed the tigers!" Yuan Heng looked extremely ugly.

"Not to mention big countries like the Northern Kingdom and Qi, even Wuhuan and Liaodong are not something we can control." Yuan Heng looked into the distance and sighed deeply.

Xu Yinghao could not help but say, "Wu State will definitely not give up, and Gao State is not a good country either. Now that the war has started, if we just sit and wait for death, the end we will see is sure to be the destruction of the city and the death of people. How many more years can Qing State hold out than Nankang?"

How could Yuan Heng not know the truth? However, the fate of the Qing Kingdom was not something that a single general like him could decide.

In the State of Wu, with the arrival of King Xuan in the capital, the political situation in the court changed and disputes had already emerged.

"Uncle is going back to Beijing?" In Yuanshi Pass, Qin Wujiu urgently summoned Ning Chi to the main tent, wanting to hand over the military affairs inside the pass to Ning Chi.

"How dare I take charge of the army when I haven't done anything? How can the soldiers under me obey me?" Ning Chi's face changed drastically and he refused repeatedly: "Just because I am your nephew, you can do such a thing?"

"Zong Yanli's father is also a general, and he still has to work his way up from the recruit camp. If I agree to my uncle, I'll be laughed at!" Ning Chi refused to accept it no matter what.

Qin Wujiu frowned and said, "I just asked you to take charge of the military affairs temporarily."

Ning Chi shook his head: "What happened in Beijing that made uncle rush back so anxiously!?"

Qin Wujiu sighed, and after a long pause, he said, "You will know it sooner or later, and I will tell you now. The Qin family is suffering in the capital, and the emperor is old and may not have much time left. Prince Xuan came to the capital to fight for power."

"The crown prince's position is in jeopardy, and we must uphold the orthodoxy."

"What is orthodoxy?" Ning Chi was a little puzzled, and looked at Qin Wujiu and said, "If the uncle recognized the legitimate son, then what about you and me?"

"The crown prince is incompetent. If the Qin family insists on supporting an incompetent monarch to succeed to the throne, and the new monarch does nothing, the people and the soldiers on the border will suffer in the end."

Ning Chi stood up, looked at Qin Wujiu and said, "Uncle, it's not that I don't understand the struggles among the noble families. The Qin family just wants to gain a foothold in the capital and take control of the military power. Supporting the crown prince is just to make the Qin family have a bright future. But why can't we support a wise monarch?"

Qin Wujiu looked serious and asked him in a cold voice: "In your opinion, which prince in Wu State is a wise ruler?"

Ning Chi opened his mouth, seeming a little speechless.

Qin Wujiu sighed, looked at him and said, "Achi, you are still young. The survival of a family is always inseparable from power struggles. The Qin family has come to this point and it is no longer something you can do as you please. If the crown prince falls, the Qin family will not be spared."

"I don't understand." Ning Chi frowned, his eyes full of confusion. He didn't understand why he had to take this path, nor did he understand why the Qin family had no other choice.

"Since you don't want to lead the army, I won't force you. It's understandable to hand Yuanshi Pass back to Zong Yanhongtu." Qin Wujiu waved his hand and looked at Ning Chi and said, "But are you sure you want to stay here and not return to the capital?"

"No." Ning Chi refused bluntly.

Qin Wujiu felt a headache again: "Your mother sent so many letters to urge you, but you didn't reply to any of them!"

Ning Chi turned his head away and said, "You know what it says without even reading it. Uncle, when you go back this time, tell mother for me that I'm going to join the army and I'm not going back."

Qin Wujiu was so angry that he laughed. He could imagine how he would be scolded when he told his sister about this after he returned home and failed to bring his nephew back.

No matter how Qin Wujiu tried to persuade Ning Chi, he remained unmoved. He insisted on staying in Yuanshi Pass and in the capital. Qin Wujiu had no choice but to return to the capital first. Anyway, given the current situation in the capital, he had no time to take care of him.

When Zong Yanli learned that Qin Wujiu had returned to the capital, he thought to himself that it was just as he expected. The Qin family was too deeply involved with the prince, and it was impossible to sever the relationship with just a few words.

Now that the Crown Prince's position is in jeopardy, he should seek external help.

"Do you want to stay in the army?" Although Qin Wujiu left, Ning Chi stayed.

Zong Yanli looked at Ning Chi and found it a little unbelievable.

Ning Chi looked indifferent, standing in front of Zong Yanli and asked, "General, do you really want me to leave?"

Zong Yanli: “…” Shouldn’t you leave?

She glanced at Ning Chi, lowered her head and continued to read the bookcase, saying, "After all, you are General Qin's nephew. I am just a little surprised that he would leave you here alone."

"I will be an adult next year! I will be independent!" Ning Chi said loudly. He was only one year older than Zong Yanli.

"Okay, got it." Zong Yanli waved his hand to indicate that he could go out.

When Pei Liang came over, he saw Ning Chi, who looked angry and bullied. He couldn't help but ask, "General, how did you provoke Young Master Ning again?"

Zong Yanli raised his eyes and glared at him. What are you talking about!

Pei Liang laughed, sat down in front of Zong Yanli skillfully and asked, "General, why did you call me?"

"Come and take a look." Zong Yanli waved to Pei Liang to come closer. On the table, Zong Yanli drew a comparison chart of the current situation. Wu State is now confronting Qing State. Judging from the current situation, it will not give in easily. Qing State has no intention of withdrawing its troops. The battle between the two armies will eventually decide the winner.

"There are two factions in the court quarreling endlessly now. The one led by the crown prince is committed to maintaining internal stability and a truce with the Kingdom of Qing, while the other faction led by King Xuan is committed to repelling foreign aggression. The Kingdom of Qing has repeatedly invaded our territory. If we let it go so easily now, other countries will think that our country is easy to bully." Zong Yanli said, pointing to the drawings on the table.

"Gao State is here to help. Jin State has gathered 50,000 troops and is staying put in Jin State territory." Zong Yanli continued, swiping his finger across the country. "If you were Qing State, what would you do?"

"Retreat and defend the city." Pei Liang stated his decision without much hesitation.

"Yes." Zong Yanli nodded slowly and said, "If the king of Qing is not a fool, he should withdraw his troops to defend the city, but now Qing has no intention of withdrawing its troops." Zong Yanli stood up and walked to the topographic map hanging next to him while concentrating and saying, "What other tricks does Qing have?"

"Is Qing still trying to persuade Jin?" Pei Liang thought for a moment and said.

Zong Yanli shook his head. It was clear from the battle of Nankang that the State of Jin was in a self-preservation attitude and would never risk sending troops for the State of Qing.

Pei Liang followed Zong Yanli's gaze and moved his eyes up to the northern part of the map. He saw that the circled army heading north suddenly came to its senses and said in a serious tone, "General, are you saying that Qing Kingdom is asking for help from the Northern Kingdom?!"

Zong Yanli's eyes were deep, but he did not answer.

"How dare Qing?" Pei Liang suddenly glared and said, "Bringing tigers and wolves into the country, does Qing really think it can contain them?"

"Maybe." Zong Yanli lowered his eyes. The northern and southern countries had disputes for a long time, but they had used rivers as boundaries in the early years and had a truce there. But now, each of them has been dormant for many years and has been ready to move. However, no one wants to cross the border and bear the infamy of the world.

If the Kingdom of Qing really invites the Northern Kingdom's troops, what is the difference between them and the man who built the bridge?

It is easy to ask God but difficult to send Him away.

Qingguo would not fail to understand this truth...

"If the situation really develops into that, the consequences will be disastrous..." Pei Liang's face was heavy. The army was called the Tiger and Wolf Army not only because they fought as bravely as tigers and wolves, but also because they acted brutally. Burning, killing, looting and other massacres were commonplace.

The northern country is vast and has scarce resources. Not to mention attacking cities and looting, even if brothers turn against each other, they can raise their butcher knives to loot, burn and kill!

Zong Yanli turned around and sat back at the table. He thought for a long time and said, "Although I don't know what decision Qing will make, but... we need to prepare early. If Qing doesn't withdraw its troops this time, then we will inevitably face a tough battle."