The garrison general Shen Mieyue knelt down to receive the imperial edict. After reading the contents of the imperial edict, he immediately ordered people to go to Cangcheng, a hundred miles away, to invite Shangguan Xuan, the Marquis of Zhennan, to discuss the matter.

At night, the cold moon hangs high in the sky.

Shangguan Xuan came on horseback with a team of cavalrymen, accompanied by his military advisor Zhao Qing.

Several horses came to the outside of the city in a low-key manner. Shangguan Xuan was in his twenties, sitting on a horse, his black robe fluttering in the wind, and he looked very handsome. He had been fighting at the border for a long time, and his skin color had become dark, but he still had the temperament that belonged to the nobles of Yanjing.

Shen Mieyue was greeting them at the city gate. He turned his head and caught a glimpse of a thin young man riding a horse with Shangguan Xuan.

"Mr. Zhao is here too?" Shen Mieyue raised his eyebrows, not surprised.

Mr. Zhao, whose real name is Zhao Qing.

Zhao Qing was originally an ordinary boy in Liangzhou. When he went out to collect herbs, he encountered bandits and was rescued by Shangguan Xuan who passed by. Zhao Qing was grateful and proposed the method of making a "gun", becoming Shangguan Xuan's trusted military advisor.

Zhao Qing is not good at riding horses and is weak and sickly. Tonight Zhao Qing and Shangguan Xuan ride on the same horse.

Shangguan Xuan dismounted first.

Shangguan Xuan's movements were skillful and natural. He said, "Ah Qing, give me your hand. I'll help you down."

The moonlight was bright at the border, and Zhao Qing's handsome face showed a subtle shyness. Zhao Qing held Shangguan Xuan's broad hand and dismounted awkwardly.

He accidentally stepped on empty air and his thin body tilted.

Shangguan Xuan was quick to grab Zhao Qing's slender waist and carry her back to the ground steadily.

"Thank you, my lord." Zhao Qing had a gentle smile on his lips. Their eyes met, and feelings arose between them.

Shen Mieyue was a rough man, so naturally he didn't see the trick between the two men. He took the two of them in to discuss the plan to attack the three cities of Yue State.

All outsiders were sent away from the inner hall, leaving only a few trusted soldiers.

Everyone gathered around the sand table and began to arrange their troops. Zhao Qing didn't know the art of war, so he sat quietly drinking tea, his eyes occasionally falling on Shangguan Xuan, with tenderness in his eyes.

"Why was His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan assassinated again?" A soldier scratched his head, vaguely remembering that the Prince of Yan had also been assassinated a few months ago.

Shen Mieyue rolled his eyes at him: "What do you know? This is His Highness's strategy."

Every war requires a reasonable excuse.

The two princes of Qing State almost died under the arrows of the Yue State assassins. Who could tolerate this? How could the soldiers not be angry?

The soldiers chattered until late at night, preparing all the marching strategies, and then they dispersed. They were full of confidence. The Qing Kingdom was strong, and they had the invincible "musketeers". They had a great chance of winning this battle.

"Don't be in a hurry to leave, have a cup of tea first. This is the lotus tea that Yan Yunting brought from Yanjing. I can't taste it, but young marquis, you are from Yanjing, you will definitely like it." Shen Mieyue greeted Shangguan Xuan and Zhao Qing.

The servant brought lotus tea from Yanjing.

Shangguan Xuan took two sips, with a nostalgic look in his eyes: "This is the most famous lotus tea in Yanjing. Every summer, we collect lotus buds from Luoyue Lake, spread the petals, put tea leaves in the center of the flower, and then close the petals and leave them overnight to allow the tea leaves to be fully stained with the light fragrance of the lotus."

Zhao Qing also took a sip. It was the first time she tasted such a fragrant tea and she was quite amazed.

Shen Mieyue scratched his head: "You Yanjing people are all so literary. You even put tea leaves into lotus flowers when you drink tea. I remember when my little sister was a child, she also liked to dry lotus flowers and soak them in water. The taste was terrible."

Zhao Qing asked casually: "General Shen, where is your little sister now?"

Shen Mieyue's face suddenly fell and his smile disappeared.

The man of seven feet tall actually trembled when he mentioned his family. Shen Mieyue closed his eyes and said, "They are all dead."

It is really rude to expose someone's scars, so Zhao Qing remained silent.

Shen Mieyue said: "Sooner or later I will kill those Yue people and avenge my family. Military Advisor Zhao, I heard that you are researching a weapon called [Land Mine] recently. You should study it carefully. This general is waiting for your good news!"

Zhao Qing nodded happily.

After drinking tea, Shangguan Xuan took Zhao Qing back.

Shen Mieyue suddenly remembered something, and quickly took out a thick package from the cabinet, and quickly chased after him: "Young Marquis, I almost forgot about this! Your wife asked someone to send a pair of leather military boots, take them back!"

Shangguan Xuan paused.

Zhao Qing pursed her pink lips, her eyes filled with grievance and unwillingness.

Shangguan Xuan turned around and said to Shen Mieyue: "The military boots on my feet are very good, and I don't want to change them. General Shen, these boots are given to you to wear."

After saying that, Shangguan Xuan carried Zhao Qing onto the horse and led the cavalry team away quickly.

Shen Mieyue held the brand new cowhide military boots and his eyes fell on the slightly old pair of leather boots on Shangguan Xuan's feet. The leather boots on Shangguan Xuan's feet were bought for him by Zhao Qing at the Liangzhou market. Shangguan Xuan liked them very much and never changed them.

"People in Yanjing are really weird. They don't wear new boots but insist on wearing old ones." Shen Mieyue returned to the house.

He looked at the new leather boots in his hands.

The stitches were dense, the calfskin was the strongest leather from the back of an old cow, and the outer layer was brushed with tung oil and dried. It was enough to show how much thought Shangguan Xuan's wife in Yanjing had put into this pair of boots.

Shen Mieyue tried on the new pair of leather boots.

Fits great!

Shen Mieyue was very satisfied and muttered, "When I return to Beijing in triumph in the future, I must thank this lady, hehe!"

At dawn the next day, Shen Mieyue, wearing brand new cowhide military boots, began to count the soldiers.

The faint morning light enveloped Liangzhou City, and the desolate cry of an eagle could be heard in the distance. A burly gray eagle spread its broad wings, descended from the sky, and landed steadily on Shen Mieyue's left shoulder.

Shen Mieyue was wearing armor, holding a cang in his left hand and a spear in his right hand. His majestic voice spread throughout the training ground:

"Everyone!"

"The children of Yue State seized our land, robbed our women and children, and trafficked our people! Five days ago, Yue State even sent assassins to kill the two high princes, the King of Yan and the King of Heng! This hatred must be avenged!"

"Qing soldiers, call your generals, for Daqing! Fight!"

The goshawk let out a sharp cry, and a battle was about to break out.

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