Duan Wuji and Feng Yu are both children from Shiqiao Village, but their personalities are very different.

Duan Wuji was calm and Feng Yu jumped away. The two stood together like mature and steady brothers and naughty little brothers.

Growing up together since childhood, Duan Wuji became less and less familiar with Feng Yu.

He thought Feng Yu was the younger brother next door who was the one who climbed trees and dug bird nests, went down the river to catch fish and shrimps, and often caused trouble. However, as he grew older, he gradually lost understanding of Feng Yu.

The boys who used to be no longer young men. After reading the books of sages and understanding the principles of sages, the young men all have ambitions. Most of the ambitions are officials, and they all take Gu Qing and Song Gensheng as examples. Some officials are purely for their own interests, while others also want to benefit the people, but Duan Wuji and Feng Yu do not want to be officials.

Duan Wuji has made choices, and he believes that seeing the essence of this world is more important than being an official.

What about Feng Yu? What did he think?

From Chang'an to Kucha, Duan Wuji asked him many times along the way. Every time Feng Yu smiled, bringing the topic to a hundred and eight thousand miles away, and never answered his questions positively.

The camels in the caravan lined up in a shape, and the breeze blew on his face, mixed with some wind and sand, a little chill and a little stinging.

The desolate scene of the desert looks particularly sad at the sunset. When they first left Yumen Pass, they were fascinated by this magnificent and sad scenery. However, after a month of walking, they were already numb to the scenery.

The endless yellow sand looks like a life without hope.

The listless two people riding on the camel suddenly heard a cheer from Hu merchants.

"We're at Kucha City!"

…………

The desert in winter is very cold, and the cold wind blows up yellow sand and fly all over the sky, and there is a vast yellow smoke and dust everywhere.

Gu Qing sat cross-legged in the handsome tent, carefully applying soybean oil to the lamb legs. There was a simple grill above the charcoal fire in front of him. He placed the lamb legs on the grill and kept rolling. After a while, oil began to sizzle on the lamb legs.

The roaring roars rise and the autumn wind blows, and the wine is filled with flying winter snow.

With the hot roasted fresh and juicy lamb legs, you will probably have no regrets in life, just a woman is missing.

Han Jie squatted in front of Gu Qing and helped him turn the lamb legs constantly. Gu Qing filled a glass of wine and drank it all in one go. The strong wine burned from his throat to his stomach, which was very comfortable.

"Good wine, but I have to save some drinking. There is not much spirits brought from Chang'an..." Gu Qing squinted his eyes and sighed comfortably.

Han Jie stared at the sizzling oily lamb legs in front of him and swallowed.

"If the Marquis wants to drink and eat meat, why don't he go to Fuzhi Inn? The female shopkeeper has such a good craftsmanship, it would be a pity not to eat a few more meals."

Gu Qing sighed: "I am testing my will and can't go often. If a good man is subdued by a woman's cooking skills, he will not be able to explain to my fiancée. If the reason is revealed, he will be useless."

Han Jie disagreed and said, "Women must always be a little stronger than others to be worthy of the Marquis. Marquis, you should think about it the other way around. It is because of their good cooking skills that the female shopkeeper can get the Marquis' favor. Marquis looks down on her when he goes to her shop to eat."

Gu Qing praised: "I admire your ideas very much. Why don't you go to her store and tell her what you just said word for a while to see how she reacts."

"What else can she react?"

"If she doesn't chase you Sanlilu by chasing her kitchen knife, I will go to her shop to have a meal."

It took a lot of time to cook the lamb legs, and Gu Qing couldn't wait. He used a dagger to cut off a piece of meat that had already been cooked on the surface of the lamb legs. He blew a few breaths and stuffed it into his mouth. He was so hot that he screamed, but his expression was very enjoyable.

"It's delicious, but a little light, sprinkle some salt." Gu Qing commented.

Han Jie picked up a small pinch of salt and sprinkled it on the lamb leg.

Gu Qing said sadly: "I always feel that I have been tricked by the female shopkeeper's skills recently. Today, I'm not right in eating this lamb leg..."

Han Jie flipped the legs of lamb and said, "Master Marquis might as well take the female shopkeeper into the room and be a concubine. He cooks for you during the day and warms the bed for you at night. In the wilderness and cold desert, there is no one around him who knows the cold and the heat. I believe that Miss Zhang's family will not object to the female shopkeeper, after all, she is just taking a concubine..."

Gu Qing touched her chin and thought seriously, and murmured: "It makes sense... If she asks for guilt, I will say that you asked me to do this. I will come to sleep with a woman. You will take the blame. No matter how you calculate it, you won't suffer any loss..."

Han Jie stopped moving and said in surprise: "Mr. Marquis, did you sell me like that?"

"I haven't done anything about selling people. I have many advantages that you haven't discovered yet. If you dig slowly, you will admire me more and more..."

Gu Qing stared at the lamb leg in front of him and suddenly said, "When talking about that female shopkeeper, you can find someone smart to stare at her. You always feel that she is a bit suspicious. Whether it is close to my motive or her real identity, it is very suspicious."

Han Jie said: "Is there any problem with her true identity?"

"She should have a good background, and she shouldn't be just a shopkeeper in the inn to welcome and send off. She has a good tutor. The details cannot be concealed in details, and no matter how good her acting skills are, she cannot conceal it."

“What details?”

"I have noticed her many times. She looks very elegant when eating. She raises her chopsticks and holds the cups as a lady. When ordinary people have eaten, they often put them on the table at will. After she puts the chopsticks, she also puts them in a regular manner with the edge of the table. There is never a grain of rice left in the bowl, once or twice, every time. Every time, the ordinary family is not as educated as this."

Han Jie was surprised and said, "The Marquis has observed her silently for so long. Do you still say you are not moved by her?"

Gu Qing sighed, "Did you get the point wrong? Does this have anything to do with my constant temptation? The key point should be praised for my scrupulous and meticulous mind. Even if a dog on the side of the road gnaws on the bones, I will observe it for a long time. Am I attracted to that dog?"

Han Jie thought about it and nodded, so he nodded and said, "Since the Marquis thinks she is suspicious, I will arrange someone to watch her."

Gu Qing said lightly: "Don't alert the enemy. I'm just curious whether she has a backer behind her. Also, what kind of background is she. I always feel that there is a story on her. I don't want Anxi Protectorate to be secretly arranged for ill-thinking chess pieces."

The lamb legs were finally cooked. Gu Qing cut off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing it for a few times, he felt bored.

One code is one code, no matter how suspicious her identity is, her cooking skills are really good. If she is her enemy, it would be a pity.

Looking back on when she was poor, she lent herself a hundred taels of silver cake without hesitation. She was so righteous to her friends, it shouldn't be the enemy. If she did it deliberately to get close to her, this woman's scheming would be terrible.

Outside the commander's tent, the voice of the personal guards came.

"Report to the Marquis, someone asked for a visit outside the gate of the camp. They said they were the Marquis' fellow villager."

Gu Qing said in surprise: "My hometown and old friends? Which country hometown and old friends will find this place?"

After thinking about it, let the personal guards lead people into the camp.

Duan Wuji and Feng Yu followed the guards into the camp with simple luggage. The two looked around with novel eyes, watching the roars made by the soldiers on the camp's school field. In the rolling yellow sand, soldiers with naked upper bodies were struggling and rolling. Although they were just ordinary practices, they still felt a murderous aura came to their faces.

"This... is this the soldiers under Brother Gu? What a mighty elite army!" Feng Yu's nose was so excited that his nose was red, and his cheeks were so excited that he almost burst out.

Duan Wuji was also a little excited. From now on, he will be Mubin under Brother Gu, and he will be one of this elite army.

"They are the Anxi Iron Army, which is rumored to have wiped out more than 20,000 Tubo bandit troops in Chang'an. They all have to listen to Brother Gu's military orders. Brother Gu is so majestic!" Feng Yu was only happy and cheering in the camp.

Duan Wuji said in a deep voice: "Feng Yu! When entering the military camp, you should pay attention to your proper words and deeds. Don't slander Brother Gu's face!"

Feng Yu then calmed down a little, followed the guards honestly, but his eyes still couldn't help but glance at the school ground.

After walking a few steps, Feng Yu suddenly accelerated his pace, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the guard leading the way in front of him, patted him on the shoulder with a affectionate smile and said, "Hey, brother, Brother Gu... that is, your marquis, are you very majestic in the camp on weekdays?"

The personal guard didn't say anything, as if he was a stone sculpture with no emotion, walking straight ahead without even a change in his eyes.

Feng Yu was not angry when he received no response and said with a smile: "Don't do this, brother, we will soon be in vain. With my ability, I may become an official in a short time. You will have to salute me when you see me in the future. Why not make more good relationships when I am down and out?"

The personal guard still ignored him.

Duan Wuji grabbed Feng Yu's back collar and pulled it hard, his expression was a little angry: "There will be troubles, you'd better shut up. How can Brother Gu arrange us? It's his own decision. Why do you speak nonsense like being an official?"

Feng Yu giggled and said, "You're just talking casually. I don't really want to be an official. I've gone to the imperial examination early, so why did I come here to suffer?"

Duan Wuji sighed, "You are really... You are about to arrive at the camp of the handsome guy soon. You are honest and kind. Now Brother Gu is already a title of marquis of the county, and he is also a senior official of the prince Shaobao Guanglu. He is a real second-rank official. He is no longer the former brother Gu in Shiqiao Village. You must be careful when speaking and don't let others gossip behind their backs. He says that Brother Gu's fellow countrymen is so virtuous. Brother Gu is shameless. Are you and I proud of your face?"

Feng Yu responded angrily, then lowered his eyebrows and looked in his eyes, much more honest than before.

Looking at the personal guards leading the way without saying a word, Duan Wuji suddenly sighed: "A glance can tell the whole leopard. Brother Gu's soldiers are really extraordinary and deserve the word "elegant". Just looking at this military discipline, you have surpassed many armies of the Tang Dynasty. Brother Gu's ability is more vast than in books. You and I should have a humble and learning heart."

While speaking, the three of them had already walked to the commander's tent. The guards bowed respectfully through the curtains and shouted: "Report to the Marquis, your fellow countrymen have arrived."

The curtain was lifted, revealing Gu Qing's familiar face, and he looked at Duan Wuji and Feng Yu with a smile.
Chapter completed!