sirius

In the late autumn of Fenglin Mountain, the cool wind makes people shiver. The damp cold air is like a mist that cannot be dispelled. It is separated between the sky and the earth, and the moonlight cannot penetrate it.

Qi Xiao put on a cloak for Tang Ling before walking out of the tent together, but he was still shivered by the cold wind that hit his face.

Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's hand, with a slight worry on his brows: "It's even colder after entering the mountains.

It will be very difficult after the heavy snow closes the mountain. "

Tang Ling chuckled: "Isn't there a hot spring? I don't have to suffer from the cold with the soldiers, but you have to be careful not to catch the cold."

Qi Xiao held Tang Ling's hand even tighter.

They would spend most of their time hiding in Fenglin Mountain in Hot Spring Valley, so Tang Ling wouldn't have to suffer too much, but they needed to arrive in Qi State before the spring snow melted, that is to say, they had to march in the ice and snow and cross Fenglin Mountain.

According to the footsteps of ordinary people, it will take about ten days, but in the middle of winter and when the mountains are covered by heavy snow, it will take at least five more days. It is estimated based on the physical fitness of him and Baixiqiao, let alone Tang Ling. , even ordinary soldiers can't keep up.

In other words, for about one month, they did not hide in the valley to avoid the wind and snow, but marched.

It's not just marching in the snow, there are no horses, and you can climb mountains on foot.

How can he stand it?

Tang Ling grabbed Qi Xiao and squeezed him tightly: "Qi Xiao.

I'm not as weak and useless as you think.

So, don't look at me with that kind of pity. "

"..." Qi Xiao was stunned for a moment, then sighed softly, "I'm sorry."

"Let's go, Baixiqiao should wait in a hurry."

The two arrived in front of the tent at Baixi Bridge in a few steps, and Zong Sheng and Chi arrived sooner.

However, Bai Xiqiao didn't wait for long. As soon as he came back, he ate a table full of dishes, and fell asleep before he even had time to wipe his mouth.

When Zong Sheng and Chi Yue came, Bai Xiqiao fell into a drowsy sleep. They didn't wake him up after calling him twice, so they simply let him go back to sleep.

"Master Tang."

Zong Sheng raised the curtain for Qi Xiao and welcomed the people in.

"Your Highness, son."

Chi Yue deliberately raised his voice, waking up the sleepy Baixiqiao.

"...Shut up, don't make noise."

Chi Yue rolled his eyes, and silently stepped aside, he was doing his best.

Qi Xiao stepped forward and reached out to grab Bai Xiqiao's collar. Bai Xiqiao closed his eyes and directly pinched Qi Xiao's wrist, never forgetting to fight in his dreams.

"Brother, wake up."

Baixiqiao opened his eyes, and finally saw clearly that the person in front of him was Qi Xiao: "Xiao'er?"

"wake up."

Qi Xiao pulled up Baixi Bridge.

Bai Xiqiao raised his hand and rubbed his cheeks, waking up.

"went well?"

Qi Xiao asked about the construction of the plank road.

Baixiqiao sighed: "This question... If the fortification is completed within three months, then it will be smooth, if it must be completed within half a month, then it will not be smooth.

It's late autumn now, and it gets dark early, so everyone has to evacuate before the time of You, otherwise, if the sun goes down, they will fall to pieces if they are not careful, and the bones may not even be found.

Time is too tight. "

"Have you been to the valley? How's the situation?"

"It's pretty good in the valley, it's no different from before, it's just a thick layer of soil, just clean it up.

The thatched hut in Hanchenzong is a bit dilapidated, at least it can cover your head.

But it’s not good in heavy snow days. If you are exposed to the wind on all sides, you will freeze to death. "

Qi Xiao said: "I asked Chen Heng today, and now three thousand elite soldiers have been selected. Let them bring five days of dry food and go into the mountain with us tomorrow."

"Huh? Five-day dry food? With us? What are you doing?"

"Overseer."

"I don't need you."

Chi Yue touched the bridge of his nose, and Bai Xiqiao dared to say this.

"You know Fenglin Mountain well, and so do I, so why don't you need me?"

"What the hell do you want?"

"Where's the map?"

Bai Xiqiao took out a map from his pocket and spread it on the table.

On the map were drawn the three passages they planned to transport food.

The Baixi Bridge was marked on it, and now less than a third of it has been repaired.

The further you go into the mountains, the more difficult it is to cultivate, and the difference is a bit far.

"The 3000 people are divided into three teams, you and I are in one team, and then let Chen Heng send a team leader, three lines, non-stop day and night, first clear the lines."

Bai Xiqiao stared at Qi Xiao for a moment, then slapped the table: "OK!"

The construction of plank roads requires craftsmen, and the number of them is limited. Even if they are made of iron, they cannot work day and night in the mountains.

But if it’s just soldiers cutting trees, moving rocks and clearing roads, and it’s just physical work rather than technical work, then it’s a different matter. There are more people and more strength, and they take turns to go to battle. Hard work is hard work, but the efficiency is much higher.

Qi Xiao turned to Zong Sheng and said, "You stay, and Chen Heng and Lu Xiulin must pick out another 3000 people for me within five days, and let them carry five days of dry food and go into the mountains to change shifts."

"Yes."

"Chi Yue, after I entered the mountain, you have been paying close attention to the news everywhere, especially the food.

If there is anything important, listen to Tang Ling. "

Chi Yue nodded: "Follow His Highness's order."

Tang Ling remained silent for a long time. She looked at the map quietly for a long time. After Qi Xiao had almost finished her orders, she opened her mouth and said, "I have an idea, but I don't know if it is feasible."

"Tell me."

"I don't know the situation in Fenglin Mountain. I just look at the map. From the military camp to the mountainside, the three roads have avoided the steep mountain wall and are considered flat, but there are still many valleys and slopes. The plank road cannot be completed. According to the previous discussion Yes, use more slings and take advantage of the terrain to pull the food, grass and baggage over there, right?"

"Well, that's right."

"But the load-bearing capacity of the slings is limited, and each location needs at least six to eight sets of slings, so the progress of the project cannot be fast, right?"

Bai Xiqiao nodded: "That's what happened."

"Since you are going into the mountains to clear the road, can you try to use cut down trees to pave the downhill road a little bit, and after winter, it will form a relatively icy surface or snowy road when it snows and rains, and you can use sleds to transport it. Could it be faster with the sling on?"

Most of the watershed of the Taihua River is ice-free, only a small tributary in the northwest will freeze in mid-winter. The ice used by Zhou Guohuang's family and nobles in summer is collected from the upper reaches of this tributary and transported to the east in winter. Pulled by sled.

Of course, glaciers and snow mountains are two different things. Tang Ling doesn't know if it can be done, so she can only ask Qi Xiao and Baixiqiao for their opinions.

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling, then at the map, and when he raised his eyes, Bai Xiqiao was looking at him.

Baixiqiao said: "If this is the case, the construction period can indeed be shortened, and many places do not even need slings, just slide down the slope.

In addition, if we start transporting food after the snow falls in winter, our construction period will be more abundant.

I think it's ok. "

"If this method is feasible, can we also use this method when we cross Fenglin Mountain? Sledge?" Chi Yue also leaned over and said with a smile, "This reminds me that all the princes in Yuanjing City like ice plays in winter , the sleigh bed is going fast."

Qi Xiao nodded: "You might as well give it a try."

Anyway, rushing and rushing now may not be able to cultivate successfully, you have to do the cleansing, it's just a little smoothing.

If it works, it will save a lot of trouble.

The matter in this case was discussed properly, and Bai Xiqiao went directly to Chen Heng and Lu Xiulin to ask them to send soldiers tomorrow morning and bring dry food into the mountain.

***

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling returned to their camp, and quickly extinguished the lights.

Qi Xiao carried Tang Ling to the bed, hugged her tightly in his arms, rested his chin on his shoulder, and sighed, "I'm so tired."

"Go to bed early if you're tired."

"……Um."

Not only Qi Xiao was tired, but Tang Ling was also tired.

In order not to let Qi Xiao think about him too much and not slow down the schedule, Tang Ling gritted her teeth and followed all the way without saying a word. Every day in front of Qi Xiao, she would try her best not to show tiredness.

It is not unreasonable for Qi Xiao to be so worried that he will not be able to hold on in the ice and snow of Fenglin Mountain. Although he is not as weak as Qi Xiao thought, he is not as strong as he thought.

He has to be able to hold on...

Tang Ling became confused when she thought about it, she didn't know when she fell asleep, and when she woke up, it was still dark, and she didn't know what time it was, it was woken up by Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao's whole body was as hot as a small stove, and he was so warm against Tang Ling that he kept rubbing against the hottest part, as if sparks could be drilled out.

"Huh? Qi Xiao..."

"I'm here, are you awake?" Qi Xiao broke Tang Ling's face and kissed him, obviously asking a question, but blocked his mouth to allow him to answer.

"Um... um!"

Qi Xiao ate up all Tang Ling's sobs and kissed him until he couldn't breathe. He was still sneaky with his restless hands and feet, but now that Tang Ling woke up, he became unscrupulous.

"Ah! Slow down...!"

"I'm going into the mountains today, and I won't be able to come back for ten days and half a month, Tang Ling, do you feel sorry for me?"

"Qi...!"

Qi Xiao put both hands on Tang Ling's waist and eyes, trying to contradict him, but Tang Ling bit the quilt so she didn't yell out.

"Tang Ling, Ziyi...you are so beautiful."

Qi Xiao lowered his head and bit Tang Ling's shoulder.

"……do not……"

"What?" Qi Xiao took Tang Ling's hands and hugged him into his arms, and bit his neck again, "Don't what?"

"Don't bite."

"Pain? Okay, don't bite."

Said not to bite, Qi Xiao just licked and sucked, tossing and tossing in different ways until the morning light came through the window.