You rascal, stop right there!

Qing Dynasty border.

Zhengzhou Army General Pan Ying stared at the dark scene across the river and snorted coldly.

He stared at the Xuanli military camp stationed opposite.

"General, you've been watching for a long time..."

"At present, His Majesty has only asked us to confront the Xuanli Army. This is too polite to them!"

The personal guard sighed, "General, it's best not to question His Majesty's will."

"Humph!"

Pan Ying just felt irritated and wanted to go into battle and kill the enemy.

No one asked for compensation for the previous unequal treaties and tributes!

Xuanli was even unwilling to return the soldiers, craftsmen, princesses and queen mother who were captured from the previous dynasty.

It's really unbearable!

Since Emperor Qingwu had already decided on the Northern Expedition, why did he delay it for two months? He could have just destroyed the Xuanli Kingdom.

The personal guard beside him observed his indignant expression, lowered his head, and looked across.

He also hated Xuanli's bullying and arrogance, but starting a war and destroying a country was not that easy.

"General, we will avenge our country and our family!"

The current Emperor Qingwu is a martial artist, unlike the Emperor Jiaxing who only knew how to seek peace.

Pan Ying suddenly turned sideways, holding the hilt of the knife tightly in his hand. He was tall and strong, with a sharp gaze.

That year, he witnessed with his own eyes the occupation of his territory and the tragic deaths of his family members in Zhengzhou.

Later, he joined the Four Continents Army and recaptured Zhengzhou and other cities from Xuan Li. Based on his military achievements, he would have been awarded a title of nobility. If it weren't for the hope of destroying Xuan Li one day, he would not have agreed to come here to defend it.

He is the general in Daqing who most wants to destroy the Xuanli Kingdom!

The wind is howling...

Pan Ying and his personal guards stood tall, looking silently at the other side of the river with deep thoughts in their minds.

The riverside and the hills are dark...

And along this river winding along a small stream to the east of Yanzhou, it seemed that a small boat was gradually approaching.

After a while, I saw what seemed to be two people on the boat.

Bai Wan was sitting in the cabin writing in a white fur coat. He looked up at the handsome man rowing the boat.

The further north you go, the colder it gets, especially the river, which is very damp and cold.

According to information from the Dingbei Painting Society and the official caravans that Ling Shumo had known before, the inspection for entering Xuanli is now extremely strict, and only a small number of caravans and Xuanli people are allowed to enter.

Before entering the country, you have to plan carefully and find out about Luo Wenqi's current situation.

Even though they knew that the people of Xuanli hated them because they had been killed by a turtle while defending the city, they still had to take the risk and go in!

The war is about to begin. What will happen if something unexpected happens to our brothers and friends?

Bai Wan put down her brush and stepped forward. "Zi Chen, do you want to rest for a while? We'll be arriving at the Kaiyang dock in Yanzhou soon. We need to disguise ourselves first."

Ling Shumo calmly put down the oar and said, "Alright, I'll teach you some of the customs and dialect there so that things will go more smoothly once you enter."

Someone sighed, "I've never been to another country in my life, so I'd like to have more experience!"

"The Xuanli Kingdom worships Buddhism and is martial. They wear their hair in a braid at the back of their heads, have straightforward tempers, and speak with a light accent."

Ling Shumo took out the document he had written long ago.

My eyes were focused on the paper. Every detail, no matter how big or small, was written extremely clearly.

"Come, I'll teach you how to do that braid. Look carefully and try to remember it. That way we can help Ah Yan enter the country."

Bai Wan raised an eyebrow and smiled bitterly: "It really is a change of customs. I have to take a closer look."

"Change it after you cross the border." Ling Shumo held up his hair and handed him the pass.

This was not Ling Shumo's first visit to Xuanli. He had been there three times. Only after Jin Xizong ascended the throne did he encounter a smash.

If I go there again after many years, I wonder what kind of situation I will face!

I don’t know whether it is life or death?

The small boat passed the barrier and saw Kaiyang Wharf right in front of us.

The layers of mountains behind them began to become increasingly flat, and three rivers converged.

As the pier approached, the boat stopped and saw quite a few people moored on the shore.

Looking closely, I saw that a boat was loading cargo, and many people were coming and going wearing felt hats and boots.

They all wore short shirts and long pants, and wore outerwear.

In particular, Lin Yan came straight forward wearing rough short clothes.

"Master... Mr. Ling, Mr. Bai. I have been waiting for a long time."

Bai Wan was stunned, looking at the carriage behind him, with many horses, which looked like a mature caravan.

He suddenly realized: "So, Zichen, you asked A Yan to leave early because you had already prepared all this."

Ling Shumo sighed, "He's no longer my subordinate, but he's still willing to help us. I'm truly grateful."

Bai Wan looked at the busy man steadily, smiled and walked forward to shake his hand, saying:

"Since you've put so much effort into this, I'll give you some money when I get back so I can build a house and get you a wife!"

Uh……

Ah Yan scratched his head awkwardly, his face full of shyness: "As for the matter of getting married... let's talk about it later..."

The person next to her couldn't help but rub Bai Wan's shoulder, pretending to accidentally pull her hand out of A Yan's hand.

I can't help but sigh: Is this the same person and every one of his brothers and friends say this?

This was also promised to Fatty Wang Sen before, but unfortunately, he died in the battlefield just after he had found the house.

In the end, Bai Wan had no choice but to save the money to give to Fatty Wang's mother, but he still hasn't found her.

During that battle to defend the city, there wasn't just one person who had no money to pay for his pension...

So Ling Shumo walked forward, holding Bai Wan's sleeve.

He said solemnly, "For now, we should prepare our disguises first and go to the Fengyi Inn on the border to rest for the night. We will enter the country again tomorrow."

Bai Wan frowned and said, "If possible, it would be best to find out about Luo Wenqi's situation in advance."

Lin Yan cupped his hands, looking troubled. He hesitated and said, "Now that the two countries are at odds, the Imperial Master said he would capture all the people of Daqing and humiliate them... Maybe..."

"I hope Master Luo has not been captured..."

"Humiliation?"

Lin Yan closed his eyes deeply:

"In the Xuanli capital of Xingling, the monthly sheep-leading ceremony and the dance-singing procession are about to begin again!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Wan felt the blood rushing to his head and gathering in his eyes, and he was so angry that he couldn't control himself.

The so-called sheep-leading ceremony is to wrap a handkerchief around the person's head, cover him naked with sheepskin, tie a rope around his neck with his chest and back exposed, and lead him away.

The so-called Taegeuk (Tagexing) involves walking barefoot on a red-hot iron plate several meters long, or even dancing.

Cai Jiang once said that the painters who were captured from Daying were forced to watch the ceremony and paint these tragic scenes.

The captured musicians even played the piano to add to the fun!

This is simply an act without conscience!

Of the more than 10,000 prisoners taken back then, only a few remain today...

Ling Shumo and Bai Wan clenched their fists in anger.

They wanted to save Luo Wenqi and Chen Xingyi, but this news made people even more indignant:

As long as Xuanli is not destroyed, the celebration will never end!