After walking out of the camp gate, the two got on their horses and galloped away towards the capital. Miss Huang raised the fire with one hand and controlled the reins with the other, riding steadily on the horse. After Xu Ping observed for a moment, he couldn't help but said with admiration: "Miss Huang is really worthy of being a general."

Girl, your riding skills are so superb."

Miss Huang flipped up her visor casually, and the firelight showed a playful smile: "General Xu is worthy of being the queen of the generals, but his riding skills are a little lacking."

Then I heard Miss Huang say proudly: "I have been riding horses and practicing swordsmanship with my eldest brother and second brother since I was a child. Even though I am a woman, there are not many people in the straight guard who are better than me in equestrian skills."

Xu Ping's curiosity aroused again and he asked: "According to Brother Jin, the prince's swordsmanship and equestrian skills are both outstanding."

"Of course." Miss Huang nodded solemnly: "My eldest brother, as long as I can remember, there is not a day without sword practice. Last year, he finally went home to celebrate the New Year, and he got up before dawn on the New Year's Eve morning to dance the sword.

, and also said that if you don’t touch the hilt of a sword for a day, you will get pregnant. You may be busy all day on New Year’s Eve, and if you don’t get up early, you may not have time.”

"ah."

Miss Huang tilted her head and smiled, praising with pride: "The Funing Army has a military competition every year. My eldest brother has been the number one in fighting every year since he was seventeen. This is not achieved through connections.

It’s all about real kung fu. He also cut many levels.”

"Funing Army, behead?" Xu Ping was slightly startled: "Are there also rebels in Fujian?"

Miss Huang replied: "It seems to be a battle with pirates. Their Funing Army attacked the pirate stronghold on the island. I don't know exactly where."

Miss Huang added: "Uncle He mentioned you once, saying that you memorized the military books learned in the New Army by heart."

"Memorize it backwards? This is impossible." Xu Ping has always worked hard to study military science, and for every content, he has to try his best to understand why it is formulated in this way and what benefits it has for combat. Although Xu Ping works hard, he does not think that familiarity with military books means he is qualified.

The commander, Zhao Kuo, was also familiar with military books, but he was left with the laughing stock of "talking about war on paper": "I hope I will have the opportunity to return to the teaching team to continue learning in the future."

"Mr. Xu has passed the most advanced training of the teaching team. He will be a commander in the future. He has learned everything in the teaching team."

"I once heard someone say that the Marquis also wrote a book, and Lord Zhao, Lord Jin and other adults also participated in it. However, we have not studied it. I think it was for the camp officers to read. It must be the Art of War.

The great success of Tao Lue." Xu Ping said longingly: "I don't know if I will have the chance to see it."

"What book?" Miss Huang seemed to be very surprised: "Why haven't I heard of it? Jia Yan doesn't have any secrets on the art of war."

Xu Ping smiled slightly and guessed that after all, Miss Huang was a girl and did not have to fight in battle, so the most she could do was let her hear some interesting stories about the military, and there was no need to teach her the essence of the art of war.

Seeing Xu Ping's weird smile, Miss Huang snorted: "Master Xu must have been deceived by hearsay."

"The general's source is absolutely reliable."

"Then Mr. Xu, just tell me and I will go back to Xiang Jiayan to have a look."

Although Xu Ping didn't believe that Huang Shi would show this thing to his daughter, he still replied: "It seems to be called "The Source of Conquest", well, that's the name."

Miss Huang asked: ""The Source of Conquest"?"

"Well, maybe."

As soon as Xu Ping finished speaking, Miss Huang laughed: "So it's this book. I've read it a long time ago. This book is in the study room, placed together with other books. The name is quite impressive. I

I read it as soon as I saw it. What's the secret manual? It's similar to other military books. It's full of dense regulations. It's not as interesting as "Wu's Art of War"."

The new army's military camp was not far from the capital city gate. At this time, the two of them could already see the light of the city gate. Miss Huang reined in her mount and said, "Master Xu, please come back. I will enter the city right now."

The city gate had long been closed, and Xu Ping was a little worried: "Can Miss really go in?"

Due to the raging war in the world, the imperial court authorized urgent military information to be transmitted to the city day and night. Therefore, the guards in the Beijing Camp never questioned the military judges who were all in black armor, and only released them based on their waistbands. In addition to the imperial court's orders, Huangshi for convenience

They also passed on military intelligence and bribed officials in the Beijing camp. Military discipline had long been ruined in the Beijing camp, and the officers guarding the city gate were happy to make money. However, Miss Huang and Xu Ping certainly didn't know these inside stories.

Xu Ping insisted: "I will watch the young lady enter the city before I can leave with peace of mind."

Seeing Xu Ping's concern, Miss Huang smiled and said: "My military uniform is very useful. It can cover people's ears and eyes, and it is also very convenient for going out for fun." She dismounted from her horse, led her mount to the city gate, and prepared to hand the horse over to Wengcheng.

Guards, go up to the city wall in a hanging basket.

Xu Ping remembered that Jin Shentong was wearing the military uniform of a military judge when he went to the Zhao Mansion that day, and had similar discussions. The words Jin Shentong said that day rang in his ears again, Xu Ping felt a sudden pain in his chest, and he couldn't help but ask:

"When Miss wore this military judge's uniform before going out for fun, was she going out with friends?"

Xu Ping's tone trembled a little. After hearing this, Miss Huang slowly turned around, stared at Xu Ping carefully, shook her head slightly and said: "General Xu, your mind is really very small. It's better to be more relaxed."

.”

Miss Huang said nothing, put down her mask and strode towards the city gate. Xu Pingyao watched her walk to the wall, waving something towards the city. After a while, a hanging basket fell from the city, and Miss Huang held it in her hand.

The things were put into the basket. The hanging basket was taken back to the city. After a long time, a large hanging basket was put down again. This time, Miss Huang sat in herself and was slowly pulled up to the city together with the hanging basket.

Xu Ping stared at the firelight at the top of the city in the dark wilderness for a long time, until no one could be seen anymore, then he turned around and returned to the camp.

June 12, the 21st year of Chongzhen.

After nearly a month of continuous reorganization, the Changqing Battalion with a capacity of 3,000 men now has more than 2,700 soldiers, which is basically close to full strength. The other nine battalions of the New Army surrounding the capital are also in good condition. Again

Coupled with the supplementary troops in training and the teaching team, military law team and other ancillary troops, the New Army has swelled to nearly 50,000 people in less than half a year. At present, in addition to the New Army, various units of the Beijing Camp are also stationed around the capital.

The total strength of the Forbidden Army, the 14th Regiment Battalion, and the garrison force is more than 180,000. If we also count the various departments in Beizhili and the Ji Zhenshan, Shi, Yan, and Jian roads that guard the capital, the Ming army around the capital has reached as many as three

More than 100,000 people.

The huge army brought huge economic pressure to the imperial court. Water transportation has always been blocked, and the taxes and food urgently needed by the imperial court were transported from Jiangnan to the capital by sea. It is not that these materials cannot be transported by sea. In fact, they have been transported by sea in recent years.

to complete, but the interruption of water transportation has seriously affected the income of relevant personnel. Cabinet ministers are increasingly complaining about the hundreds of thousands of troops gathered in the capital who only eat and do not work, and among these hundreds of thousands of troops, the greatest consumption is

The 50,000 new troops not only received more military pay, but also spent an astonishing amount of training expenses. The soldiers who were complaining endlessly, Hu Liangbu had been proposing for several months to send the new troops south to open up water transportation, and at the same time, they could also move part of the army to the south.

The army moved to Shandong to eat.

In the past ten days, Xu Ping has become even busier. Today he is busy finishing his work in the morning so that he can sneak out of the camp in the afternoon. During lunch, he did not forget to gather several thousand generals under his command.

, while eating, he hurriedly assigned them the remaining tasks.

After the meal, Xu Ping hurried to the cavalry camp and took away several wooden practice swords and a bucket of white powder. Cao Yun and Jiang Yizhou both looked at him in surprise and asked: "Master Xu, what do you want this for?"

?”

"I have nothing to do this afternoon, so I took the time to practice. Maybe it will be useful on the battlefield." Xu Ping replied seriously.

Cao Yun looked at him inexplicably and asked: "Lao Xu, didn't you always say that a battalion officer doesn't need to practice this?"

"Be prepared." Xu Ping didn't want to talk nonsense with them anymore, so he loaded the things on the horse's back.

"Then..." This was the first time Jiang Yizhou saw Xu Ping being so active in fighting skills, so he asked, "We also have to practice in the afternoon, do we need to humble ourselves and accompany you to practice a few moves?"

"No need." Xu Ping flatly refused and led the horse outside without looking back: "I'd better go find Yu Shenhe. He has similar skills to me, and he will be fine this afternoon."

After carrying the things and leaving the cavalry station, Xu Ping looked back to see if no one was following him, so he turned around and led the horse straight to the camp gate. After exiting the camp gate, he got on his horse. When he arrived at the agreed place, Xu Ping kept looking around

Looking around, if he wasn't worried about being immodest, he would have wanted to climb to the tallest tree and take a look. After a long wait, a war horse carrying a knight in black ran at a small pace from a distance to

Coming closer.

After seeing Xu Ping, the black knight on horseback lifted up his visor and then took off his helmet entirely. Miss Huang's face was flushed with heat, and her forehead and neck were covered with sweat drops. She dismounted and stood in the shade of a tree.

He got off, glanced at the things on Xu Ping's horse, and said with a smile: "You have to compete with me on such a hot day. General Xu really refuses to admit defeat."

A few days ago, Xu Ping tried every possible means to establish contact with Qiuyue who was out shopping. Yesterday, after "accidentally meeting" Miss Huang outside the city, the two chatted about swordsmanship. They rested for a while under the shade of a tree.

Miss Huang cheered up, pulled out the wooden weapon on Xu Ping's horse, dipped it in the white powder bucket, and shouted: "Here we come."

When Miss Huang stabbed Xu Ping with her sword, Xu Ping was still dazed, and his heart was suddenly stained with big white spots. Miss Huang said: "Show your skills, if you continue to be so stupid, I will leave."

Just after two contests, Xu Ping was quickly "stabbed to death" by Miss Huang. Although Xu Ping had been mentally prepared and he did not use all his strength to face Miss Huang, he still lost face after being defeated so miserably.

However, men in love don't care much about face. When Xu Ping saw the smile on Miss Huang's face, some of his worries immediately disappeared.

Xu Ping gathered his thoughts and concentrated on facing the enemy. As soon as the three swords passed by, another white mark was drawn on his abdomen. After a few more strikes, he received another heavy blow on the shoulder. Miss Huang took two steps back and laughed: "

General Xu is so skilled, but he dares to fight against me."

Xu Ping waved the wooden sword in his hand and said with a smile: "If you come again, I will only let you do it three times first. This is called the tactic of arrogating the enemy. You, a little girl, don't understand it."

"Okay." Miss Huang twisted her waist and jumped forward, and stabbed Xu Ping straight in front of the door with a sword. Xu Ping saw that the sword was coming with a fierce force, and even a wooden sword couldn't bear the stab, so he hurriedly parried and retreated.

Without a trace of smile on her face, Miss Huang swung again. Xu Ping had no time to resist and had to lean back. The opponent's wooden sword grazed the tip of his nose, and the wind it brought hit his face.

I was shocked.

Next, Miss Huang greeted Xu Ping's unprotected facade. Xu Ping saw a scowl rising on the other person's face, and the sword was as tight as a sword. He hurriedly parried while backing away. Suddenly, his feet were empty, and his body lost its center of gravity.

Falling to the sky.

Miss Huang looked condescendingly at Xu Ping's embarrassment. She bent over with a smile and said sarcastically: "What a tactic to arrogant enemies! The little girl really doesn't understand."

"The general is indeed very weak in swordsmanship," Xu Ping jumped up, gently patted the dust off his body, and said with a smile, "I made the lady laugh."

When Miss Huang saw that Xu Ping looked cheerful and showed no sign of anger, she said apologetically: "Young Master Xu is the commander, so it's okay for him to lack in swordsmanship."

This is exactly what Xu Ping was thinking. Not long after he joined the army, Cao Yun asked him to practice fighting skills. Xu Ping said impatiently at that time: "I am an engineer. There is no need for me to go up and fight desperately during the war." On the battlefield of Dezhou, although

Xu Ping admired Jin Shentong's martial arts, but he still had no interest in practicing fighting. He always felt that he would be President Qian in the future, and then become a battalion officer. If even the battalion officer had to draw a sword to fight the enemy, he would definitely have to do it.

The whole army is destroyed, no matter how good the swordsmanship is, it will be a dead end.

But at this moment, Xu Ping changed his tone: "When I first joined the training team, I was an engineer, and the team didn't pay much attention to teaching swordsmanship. The second time, there was no time. However, the soldiers are in danger, and if anything happens,

When encountering danger on the battlefield, you still have to fight to save your life."

"Yes," Miss Huang nodded in agreement and said, "My eldest brother and second brother both attach great importance to fighting skills."

"Miss Mingjian, the general is an orphan, and there are no elders in the family to teach him. I wonder if the young lady is willing to give me some advice."
To be continued...