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

Chapter 274 Military Intelligence

This grand Northern Expedition ended with the gate of Qi State's national defense pass being breached.

The last veteran general of Qi State died in the battle, and all the soldiers of Qi State were killed. Half of the corpses lying on the battlefield were veterans. This battle was undoubtedly tragic for Qi State.

Zong Yanli and Duzhe said goodbye in a hurry and led his troops from the north to help Daqian. At this time, Daqian was still unaware that the war had once again come to its doorstep.

Zong Yanhongjing is getting older. He used to be able to carry mountains and rocks with ease, but now he feels unable to do the knife training. The old injuries he suffered from fighting everywhere in his youth began to recur on rainy nights. The pain that seemed to be gnawing at his bones and heart made it difficult for him to sleep.

His legs always became stiff in the middle of the night, and he endured the dull pain in his bones. He always had some minor problems with his internal organs, and he felt exhausted when leading his troops out on patrol. It seemed that everything was reminding him that he was really old.

"Guanghe, don't run around with Ayao!" In Shouxi County, in Pingnan Camp, Zong Yanhongjing was sitting outside the tent with his sore knees drooping. He looked up and saw Zong Yanguanghe and Zong Yanyao running away, and could not help but frowning.

"Grandpa, your legs hurt again?" The figure of Zong Yanguanghe who was running outside turned back. Zong Yanguanghe, who was already ten years old, had grown a little taller. He was wearing a short cloth shirt with some mud spots on his body. It was the best time to move, and his whole body seemed to have endless energy.

His eyebrows were only fine, but his eyes were bright and sharp. His skin and flesh had become tougher after he learned martial arts from Zong Yanhongtu.

After the war in the south was quelled, Zong Yanhongtu fell ill and was not as strong as before. He was unable to follow Zong Yanguanghe's teaching, and soon sent him to Pingnan Camp, to be led by Zong Yanhongjing and Zong Yanfeiyi.

The child was alert and quick-witted. It didn't take him long to get to know the Pingnan Camp inside and out, and he even learned how to ride a horse.

On his tenth birthday this year, Zong Yanfeiyi selected a short horse for him, so that the kid would take the horse out to play whenever he had nothing to do. He even led Zong Yanfeiyi's son, Zong Yanyao, astray and followed the kid around to play.

In terms of seniority, he should call Zong Yanyao "uncle", but because of the age difference, he always calls him by his full name. He was only more sensible when his grandfather was around.

"Grandfather, I'm going to go hunt two pheasants to nourish you!" Zong Yanguanghe grinned at Zong Yanhongjing and said, "I have already observed the terrain yesterday, and I will definitely be able to get it today!"

“……”This wild boy.

Zong Yanhongjing frowned and looked at him and said, "Don't run around. Even though we are just outside the military camp, we are bound to cause chaos!"

Zong Yanguang curled his lips, lowered his head and responded obediently to show that he would not run far. In fact, he knew clearly in his heart that this area was Pingnanying, and no one who was ignorant of the danger would dare to invade.

"Yes, grandson will definitely not run far." Zong Yan Guanghe stuck out his tongue at Zong Yan Hongjing, then ran away with a smile.

"You little bastard! Keep an eye on A Yao!" Zong Yanhongjing warned loudly.

“I know—!”

Zong Yanyao is only four or five years old this year. He follows Zong Yanguanghe with his short legs, calling out in a baby voice: "Brother, wait for me..."

Children are always like this. They don't know what titles and generations are, and can only call each other brother and sister. Thinking that they are still young, Zong Yanhongjing and others did not correct them deliberately. After all, they are still children, and even if they are corrected now, they will forget it after some time.

The weather in April was still cool but a little warm. When the two children ran out, the patrolling soldiers were used to seeing them. If they were familiar with them, they would even say hello.

"The young master is out again?"

"I'm going hunting!"

"Yo ho!"

The soldiers laughed loudly, looking at Zong Yanguanghe riding away on his short horse, and Zong Yanyao lying on the horse's back, holding the saddle skillfully. They felt that this scene was indescribably peaceful and quiet, and they all agreed that Zong Yanguanghe should come back soon.

Zong Yanguanghe ran out of the military tent and went to the mountains and woods that he was very familiar with. He crouched in the bushes, fiddling with something.

Zong Yanyao sniffed his nose, squatted beside him and watched carefully, and asked eagerly: "Brother, when can I eat roast chicken?"

"I'll roast it for you when I catch it!" Zong Yanguanghe patted his chest and promised. After tinkering with it, he said to Zong Yanyao: "Let's go, Yao, you want to wait for me in the tree."

"Okay!" Zong Yanyao was not afraid at all. Obviously, this was not the first time such a thing happened. Zong Yanguangyao squatted under a tree and let Zong Yanyao step on him, then stood up and pushed the kid up the tree.

Zong Yanyao climbed up using his hands and feet. Although this child was small, his hands and feet were very nimble. He crawled onto the dense branches of the tree.

Zong Yanguanghe let out a long sigh and said, "Eat your candy here first. Do you still have candy in your pocket? I'll be back after you finish eating!"

Zong Yanyao responded and took out the candy that Zong Yanguanghe had stuffed into his pocket earlier.

"I'm going, hold onto the tree, and don't come down until I come, understand?" Zong Yanguanghe threatened, "If you don't listen, I won't take you with me when I go out to play in the future!"

"I understand. I'll be obedient!" Zong Yanyao hugged the tree trunk and nodded obediently.

Zong Yanguanghe was satisfied. He picked up the things on the ground, climbed onto the horse's back, led the pony into the deeper bushes, and then walked away.

Zong Yanyao watched Zong Yanguanghe's figure disappear without worry. He peeled off the sugar coating skillfully, put the sugar into his mouth, and lay down hugging the tree trunk, tasting the sweetness contentedly, poking the leaves with his little hands, looking idle.

It was always like this when we went out to play before. As long as he finished eating the candy, his brother would come back!

So Zong Yanyao was not afraid at all. Zong Yanguanghe jumped over the stream and climbed up the rocks along the water flow. It seemed that he was familiar with the terrain here. He crouched down and crawled out of a bush and took out a crude longbow from a tree hole.

This is his secret base, where many good things are hidden. The arrows and wooden longbows were all made by him secretly.

His grandfather did not allow him to take the army's bows, arrows, swords and guns with him when he went out, as they could hurt others and himself if used properly. So Zong Yanguanghe secretly studied and made a wooden longbow, using branches cut from a dagger to make arrows, as well as some miscellaneous things he bought secretly.

Zong Yanguanghe took the longbow and dagger, put all the things on his back, and took out small gadgets such as a slingshot and a bag of stones. At this moment, he felt like a fully armed warrior!

What about pheasants and ducks? Aren’t those easy to catch? ?

Zong Yan Guanghe covered the tree hole again with a heroic and high-spirited look, then turned and went into the forest.

Zong Yanguanghe was ready to show his strength and shoot the pheasant, but he just found the place where he was hiding, but he didn't see even a pheasant. Zong Yanguanghe was shocked. He groped forward and found that the pheasants seemed to be frightened away by something.

"Strange..." Zong Yanguang frowned in confusion. Could it be that some soldiers in the barracks also discovered this nest of pheasants and came to eat them?

Zong Yan Guanghe looked around to see if there were any hunting traps, but not long after he went around, he saw traces of trampled things. He was immediately furious. He thought that there really were soldiers coming here. If he caught them, he would report them to his grandfather and punish them severely!

Zong Yanguanghe held his breath, he still wanted to hunt a pheasant to nourish his grandfather!

Now they were groping forward along the traces of trampling, but they found that the traces did not extend in the direction of the military camp. Zong Yanguanghe was somewhat puzzled, but he was extremely courageous and did not have any intention of retreating. He continued to go deeper along the traces until he climbed over a hill.

He reached out and pushed aside the bushes in front of him, and was immediately stunned by the scene before him.

In the mountains and fields, he saw an army that stretched for hundreds of meters. He saw the silent march, the cold swords and guns, and the... strange flags.

Zong Yanguanghe's heart was beating like a drum at this moment. Having grown up in the army, he had almost grown up listening to countless marches and battles. Naturally, he knew clearly what this scene represented. His pupils shrank and his breathing became rapid.

The little child swallowed his saliva, his hand unconsciously grasped the dagger at his waist, and stared in the direction below, which was the direction of Pingnanying!

Zong Yanguanghe felt his legs go weak, but at the moment of fear, he thought of his grandfather who was still in the military camp. They knew nothing about this!

Zong Yanguanghe's mind was shaken violently, and at this moment his mind was filled with only one thought: Go back and tell his grandfather quickly!!!

This was probably the fastest time that Zong Yanguanghe had ever run. He ran out of the mountains and forests as if there was a vicious dog chasing him. When he ran down the hillside, his foot slipped and he rolled down. His knees hurt but he didn't say a word. He got up and continued to run forward.

Zong Yanguanghe stumbled all the way out of the forest, chose the shortest route, and ran back to the military camp like a whirlwind.

"Hey! Did the young master hunt some game?" The patrolling soldier had just finished his shift when he saw Zong Yanguanghe running back and greeted him with a smile.

"Where is the young master's pony?"

"Grandfather——!" Who would have thought that the young master who usually always responded to them, fell and was covered in mud today. When he saw the gate of the military camp, it seemed like tears were in his eyes. He rushed in without paying any attention to anyone.

"Oh, what happened? Was he bullied while going up the mountain?" Seeing Zong Yanguanghe running in, the soldiers guarding the camp were stunned.

"How is that possible? Who would dare to touch the young master of our Pingnan Camp?" The soldier next to him laughed and said, "Besides, don't underestimate the young master because he is very capable!"

"Too……"

Everyone looked back in confusion, looking at Zong Yanguanghe's figure rushing in with great bewilderment.

Zong Yanguanghe rushed into Zong Yanhongjing's tent, sweating profusely and even gasping for breath: "Grandfather, Grandfather!"

Zong Yanhongjing was looking at the military affairs in his hands. Looking at this impetuous and unruly boy who didn't know the etiquette, he said with a dark face: "What's wrong?"

"I, I saw—" Zong Yanguanghe said anxiously while panting: "Enemy troops are coming towards Pingnan Camp! Lots and lots of enemy troops!"

"What?" Zong Yanhongjing's heart skipped a beat. He stared at Zong Yanguanghe and said, "You will be beheaded if you lie about military intelligence. Guanghe, what did you see?"

"Grandfather!!! It's true!" Zong Yanguanghe stepped forward eagerly, gesticulating with his hands and saying, "There is such a long team! I have never seen that flag! I have read about so many battles in my father's military records, but I have never seen that flag!"

"They are just behind the mountain and will reach Pingnan Camp soon!" Zong Yanguanghe was so anxious that he almost stamped his feet.

Zong Yanhongjing knew very well that although the child was naughty, he was smart since childhood. Perhaps due to the influence of his ears and eyes, he knew a lot about military affairs and would definitely not do something like lying about military intelligence.

He immediately lowered his eyes and asked, "Where did you find them? What did you see of their troops?"

Zong Yanhongjing asked calmly, and Zong Yanguanghe spoke in a panic, but the child couldn't explain clearly, and just kept saying that there were a lot of people.

"Someone come!" Zong Yanhongjing didn't dare to be careless and immediately turned around to give the order. He didn't have time to ask more questions when he saw Zong Yanguanghe's stuff. But when he was walking out, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Zong Yanguanghe and said, "Didn't Ayao go out with you? Where is he?"

“Oh no!” Zong Yanguanghe finally came to his senses as if awakened from a dream and said, “I… I was in such a hurry to run back that I forgot about A Yao in the forest…”

"Zong Yan Guang He!!!" Zong Yan Hong Jing felt the blood rushing to his brain after hearing this. His face turned pale and he turned around and said hurriedly, "Someone come! Quick!"

Zong Yanhongjing ordered his men to light the beacon fire in front of the camp immediately, and at the same time asked people to invite Zong Yanfeiyi and send people to look for Zong Yanyao as soon as possible. Unexpectedly, just a moment after the beacon fire in front of the camp was lit, they heard the report from the patrol scouts.

"General! The Northern Army! The Northern Army is attacking!"

"Northern Army?"

Everyone gasped when they heard this. Wasn't it said that the coalition forces of the three northern countries were fighting against Zong Yanli in Qi?

Even Gao and Jin sent reinforcements, so how could the Northern Army suddenly attack Daqian?

Zong Yanhongjing's heart suddenly tightened, and he turned around and asked, "Did you find A Yao?"

"Not yet..." Wang Ming next to him answered with difficulty.

"... Prepare to defend against the enemy!" Zong Yanhongjing's expression changed. He took a deep breath to suppress his emotions, turned around and calmly ordered: "Check and organize all the important matters in the army, quickly!"

"General..." Qian Zhixing came hurriedly, Zong Yanhongjing interrupted what Qian Zhixing was about to say, "The situation is critical, Pingnan Camp may be difficult to preserve, so we will defend it temporarily. If it is difficult to resist, withdraw immediately and retreat to Shouxi County!"

"Order the governor of Shouxi County to arrange for the people in Shouxi County to evacuate the city!"

"This sudden attack by the Northern Army is probably not simple. The remaining troops are few in number, and the Pingnan Camp is full of new recruits. Don't make meaningless sacrifices!"

Following Zong Yanhongjing's order, Qian Zhixing's body trembled slightly, as if he also heard the urgency.