Gu Yun had problems with his lumbar and cervical vertebrae. Chang Geng didn't need to check in detail. He could tell by just touching him through his clothes after removing his armor.

He put aside his thoughts and frowned, "Zi Xi, how long have you not taken off your fur coat?"

"I've been wearing it since I removed the steel plate..." Gu Yun suddenly felt something was wrong when he said this. He paused for a moment and added, "Well, of course I still take it off when I take a shower. I'm not that dirty bald donkey."

Chang Geng stretched out his hand and pushed him down: "Don't move - you still have the mind to slander others."

These generals were very powerful when they were young. If they were lucky enough to live to old age, most of them would suffer from injuries. Lumbar and cervical dislocation is very common. Although the light fur coat is light, it is directly added to the body, unlike heavy armor which has its own support. Gu Yun is always ready for battle and does not take it off when sleeping. Over time, his bones and muscles cannot get rest. If Chang Geng presses a little harder, he can hear his bones and muscles "crackling".

"You can't feel it now because the muscles in your waist and back can still hold up. What will you do when you get older in the future?" Chang Geng stroked his shoulder blades heavily with both hands and kneaded his stiff shoulders.

Every time Shen Yi said one more word, he would get the cold shoulder from him, but when Chang Geng said the same thing, Gu Yun didn't feel unhappy at all. He listened lazily with his eyes half closed. Everything in the army was simple, and even the Marquis of Anding didn't have any special privileges. There was only a camp bed in the tent and a gas lamp hanging at the head of the bed. The light was dim, half-covering the two people.

Chang Geng: "Does it hurt?"

Gu Yun shook his head and whispered slowly, "When you sent this batch of things, the news must have spread. The mob of the Western Region coalition has always had its own agenda. Now the Westerners can no longer afford to provide them with lighters and armor unconditionally. In a few days, someone will betray me and surrender to me secretly...Pfft, wait a minute."

Gu Yun didn't react when he pinched his shoulders and back, but when Chang Geng's fingers just stroked down his spine to his ribs, Gu Yun suddenly tensed up and laughed: "Itchy."

"..." Chang Geng's fingers were so strong that they almost got stuck in his flesh. If they stayed there for a while longer, his skin would probably turn blue. He said helplessly, "You can still feel itchy with such strong force. Can you tell the difference between pain and itching?"

"It's obvious that your cooking skills are not good enough," Gu Yun said, "but their surrender will not be sincere. These grandsons have done too many double-faced things. If we don't defeat them, they will cause a fire in our backyard next time. I plan to send troops on New Year's Eve to beat them up for the New Year's Eve dinner first."

Chang Geng held Gu Yun's shoulder with one hand, and raised his other hand to press down along Gu Yun's spine with his elbow: "Does the Black Iron Camp in Jiayuguan have enough troops?"

“It’s not enough…” Gu Yun’s entire back arched, “Hahaha, I won’t press it anymore.”

Chang Geng didn't listen to him. He pressed him with his elbows and stroked both sides of his spine from head to tail twice before pausing slightly.

Gu Yun laughed so hard that his stomach hurt and tears almost fell. He finally took two breaths before continuing, "That's about right. We'll reply to those who are trying to surrender. We'll make an agreement in advance that as long as they get out of the way, we won't do anything. We'll launch a sneak attack first, then send heavy armor and make a loud noise to scare them. We'll scare off as many as we can and then we'll deal with the rest one by one."

Chang Geng flexed his fingers slightly and said with a smile, "Aren't you afraid that others will say you are untrustworthy and treacherous?"

Gu Yun said nonchalantly: "A bunch of tributary vassal states rebelled, the son beat the father, why don't they keep any gratitude...ah! You...you barefoot doctor!"

Chang Geng pressed the acupuncture points on his waist. Gu Yun let out a cry and jumped up like a live fish, hitting the bed with a bang.

Chang Geng had no choice but to retract his hand: "Bear with it, the military doctor in the camp has never massaged you, right?"

Gu Yun: "Well, let me think..."

"Don't even think about it. No one can hold you down." Chang Geng stood up, changed his fingers to palms, and knelt on one leg beside him. "Then I'll try to be gentler."

This time he changed his fingers to palms, and gradually increased the strength of his palms, pressing the area below his palms against the acupuncture points, gradually increasing the strength from light to heavy. Gu Yun didn't know how to cooperate at all. The greater the strength under Chang Geng's palms, the tighter the muscles between his waist and abdomen became, and the mark of his waistline under the single clothes was particularly clear. Chang Geng was a little dazed for a moment, and had the illusion that he could hold his waist with both hands. His heart, which had no evil thoughts at all, suddenly trembled and began to beat wildly without warning. The movements of his hands involuntarily became lighter, and he changed to another way of tickling Gu Yun.

This time he didn't bounce up, but something inexplicable flowed up Chang Geng's hand. Gu Yun turned around awkwardly and grabbed Chang Geng's hand: "Alright."

Chang Geng was startled, and all the blood rushed up, and his neck turned red.

Gu Yun coughed dryly and asked, "What about you? When will you return to Beijing?"

Chang Geng stared at him without blinking his eyes and said, "...I want to leave after the 16th."

Gu Yun: “…”

This is such a heartwarming statement.

Gu Yun came out of his trance and whispered, "You'd better not stay here for so long."

Chang Geng looked away, and said with some embarrassment: "Well, I was just saying this casually. Although the beacon tickets gave the treasury a break, there are still many unresolved issues in the court. I still..."

"You are too discouraged to be here." Gu Yun interrupted him seriously, "My ambition."

Chang Geng: “…”

Gu Yun stretched out his hand and pulled him down. Chang Geng was kneeling on one knee beside the bed. He was caught off guard and was pulled down by him, almost hitting Gu Yun's chest.

Gu Yun put his hand into his hair, held the back of his head, and suddenly said: "I heard about your beacon ticket."

Chang Geng's pupils shrank slightly, but after a pause, Gu Yun did not mention a word about the big case he had arranged to eliminate dissidents. He only instructed: "Go home and look under the door and bed to see if you can find a few taels of silver. Buy him some. In the future, your royal brother will not have to pay back the money. Just give him a farm to live in his old age."

Chang Geng's mood fluctuated for a while, and he couldn't help but ask, "What's the use of Zhuangzi?"

"I will stop fighting after all the foreigners are driven out and the world is at peace," Gu Yun gently rolled up his hair and whispered, "I thought about it a while ago. At that time, the Black Iron Camp will be divided into three, and the Eagle, Armor, and Cavalry will each hold one-third of the commander's seal. In the future, they can cooperate with each other and check each other... The Black Iron Tiger Talisman should be returned to the Ministry of War. After this battle, not only Daliang, but also the foreign countries outside the four borders will be skinned. For another generation, there will be no problem with peace for thirty to fifty years. Anyway, your royal brother doesn't like me, so I won't serve him anymore. Let future generations worry about the future. Find a beautiful manor to do... um, the betrothal gift."

Chang Geng listened for a long while without saying anything. Under the light of the gas lamp, tears seemed to flash across his eyes. "That's not what you said last time."

Gu Yun: "Hmm?"

Chang Geng: "Last time you told me not to be afraid, and that if I followed you, you would treat me well in the future... does that count?"

Gu Yun denied it outright: "When did I ever say such nonsense?"

Chang Geng mercilessly brought up the past: "I said that in the first month of last year in the Marquis' Mansion, in your room, when you were stripping my clothes."

Gu Yun was embarrassed: "I am...I..."

Chang Geng couldn't bear it any longer and lowered his head to cover his mouth.

"My general," he thought sweetly and sadly, "how many famous generals in history could retire peacefully and return to the countryside? Doesn't this hurt my heart?"

Chang Geng was so excited that he didn't know what to do. He seemed reserved and anxious, and was soon taken over by Gu Yun who had come to his senses.

Gu Yun turned over and pressed him in his arms, and suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the ancients said that the land of gentleness is the tomb of heroes - holding such a caring person in the cold winter, there is no need to be in a marquis's mansion or a palace, as long as there is a small bedroom the size of a palm in an ordinary courtyard, and some earthworms to warm the wine are enough. His bones are so soft that he doesn't even want to go to court, let alone fight.

This time seemed different from the kiss of life and death on the city wall that year. It was not so desperate and fierce. Suddenly, a corner of Gu Yun's heart collapsed, freeing up the softest spot. He thought to himself: "From now on, this person is mine."

After a long while, both of them were breathing unsteadily. Gu Yun raised his hand to dim the gas lamp, touched Chang Geng's face and said, "You are too tired after coming all the way here. Don't bother me today. Have a good sleep, okay?"

Chang Geng grabbed his hand.

Gu Yun kissed his face and said jokingly, "There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with you in the future. Go to sleep."

Chang Geng: “…”

This seemed a little different from what he had expected - but he was indeed terribly tired. His mood had been so up and down all day and it was so exhausting that he fell into a daze after a while.

Gu Yun just took a short nap, and just after the fourth watch, he got up and put on his clothes - if Chang Geng hadn't come, he would have been working non-stop these days.

The inventory of baggage in the capital, how to distribute the pay, how much purple gold is left, how to distribute the troops and how to fight...all these arrangements have to be reviewed by the commander-in-chief. Don't be fooled by his concise and clear way of speaking about the strategy of "sowing discord", the real skill lies in the details, and the more preparations before the battle, the more chances of winning - although Marshal Gu's flute is extremely lethal, with thousands of troops besieging the city, if he only relies on the two tricks of "Northwest Flower" and "Magic Sound Piercing the Ears" to repel the enemy, his methods are too simple.

Gu Yun lowered his head and glanced at Chang Geng who was already fast asleep. He could see that he was indeed not sleeping well, just as Miss Chen said.

Others think about something during the day and dream about it at night, but Chang Geng, no matter how happy he is before going to bed, will not have a good dream when he closes his eyes. His brows were already wrinkled, and his face looked pale under the snow and moon outside the pass. His fingers tightened unconsciously, grabbing a corner of Gu Yun's clothes as if he was grabbing a life-saving straw.

Wuergu is a very mentally draining poison. When awake, one can still suppress it with willpower, but after falling asleep it will backfire even more severely. Gu Yun, who always doesn't get enough sleep, felt horrified just by imagining it.

He tried to pull the corner of his clothes out, but couldn't. Chang Geng seemed to be startled by the noise, and clenched his clothes even tighter, with an indescribable fierce look on his face.

The military camp was an important place, so it was inconvenient for Gu Yun to go out with his sleeves cut off to discuss military situation with his men. He could only sigh, stretch out his arm to take off the purse on Chang Geng's coat, grab a cup from the side, pour a little An Shen San at the bottom of the cup, press it down and light it.

A rich soothing aroma immediately filled the tent. Gu Yun placed the cup next to the pillow, leaned over and kissed Chang Geng lightly on the forehead. Chang Geng seemed to be awake, but not completely awake. He seemed to know who was beside him in a daze. The painful look on his face finally eased a little, and he finally let go.

Gu Yun glanced at him with some worry, then went out in the dark.

This year's end is extremely dreary. On New Year's Eve, the lonely sound of firecrackers can be heard from inside the city. The cold wind blows by, and only red paper scraps can be seen flying in the wind like colorful butterflies. However, there is no naughty child lighting firecrackers in sight, near or far.

Even in the capital, half of the Qiyuan Tower has collapsed, and the red-headed kites that the dignitaries spent huge sums of money to buy in previous years have disappeared.

A large number of refugees crossed the river. Some froze to death, some starved to death, and cases of people exchanging their own children for food were common.

At first, local governments were unwilling to open their granaries to release grain. Years ago, Chang Geng personally took on the position of imperial envoy. On the one hand, he went from major chambers of commerce to negotiate the issue of beacon tickets. On the other hand, he borrowed a team of troops from General Zhong and dealt with a group of unscrupulous merchants and treacherous officials who hoarded grain and refused to distribute it along the way. He used thunder-like means to make an example of them. Only then did the refugees who filled the streets have a place to get porridge.

No matter whether they were well-off families or poor peasants, the little wealth accumulated over hundreds of years or generations by people who had not skimped on food or clothing would be destroyed in just a year or two.

I think the vicissitudes of life are like a storm, and material things cannot be brought with us when we are born and cannot be taken with us when we die. All our efforts and worries are in vain, and we should do our best and leave the rest to fate.

As usual, the Xuantie Camp in Jiayuguan prepared three carts of fireworks to add some good luck to the upcoming eighth year of Long'an. On New Year's Eve, lanterns were hung on the city wall and the guards seemed particularly nonchalant.

A cunning scout from the Western Regions, wearing dry grass, sneaked into the outside of Jiayuguan and watched Jiayuguan for a whole day behind the telescope. He found that the guards of the Xuantie Camp seemed very lax that day. Half of the guards who usually stood like javelins were missing. Some of them kept scratching their ears, some looked left and right, and some kept looking back, as if they were expecting something... This absent-mindedness was explained after a while. It turned out that a batch of family letters were delivered from the nearest post station. Through the telescope, the scout from the Western Regions saw that the messenger went directly to the city gate that day, and many people who received the letters opened them on the spot.

The daily patrolling cavalry only appeared once, made a perfunctory circle and then went back.

The Xuantie Camp are also human beings, and throughout the year, there are always a few special days that touch their hearts.

Ever since the envoy from Daliang's capital came, the entire Western Region coalition army has become nervous, sending people to watch the Jiayu Pass garrison day and night. It wasn't until the fireworks were set off on the Jiayu Pass tower and the sound of firecrackers from the people of the Central Plains could be heard, it seemed that they were going to have a quiet New Year, that the scout on duty carefully confirmed that there was indeed no movement in the Black Iron Camp, and quietly summoned his men to withdraw.

Just after they set out to leave, a "huge rock" on a small hill not far away suddenly shook and split into two parts from the middle - it turned out to be a set of Black Eagle Armor.

The back of the black eagle's wings was painted the same color as the surrounding gray stones, and even fine lines were outlined with fine brushwork, which made it look real at first glance. He waited until the lurking Western Region scout ran away before he quietly rushed straight into the sky. A thin wisp of white mist passed through the night sky like a blade, and suddenly disappeared.

That night, under the cover of fireworks, the Xuantie Camp at Jiayuguan split into three routes and merged into the night.

The lanterns on the city wall hang high in the night sky, clearly a bustling and lively scene. The long shadows of the lights are reflected on the thousand-year-old city wall, but there is an indescribable loneliness and desolation.

Things were piling up in the capital, and Chang Geng only had time to have a quick chat with Gu Yun before he had to start his journey back home. On New Year's Eve, he happened to be walking to the infirmary for wounded soldiers inside the pass. Chen Qingxu had already received the news and was waiting for him at the entrance of the infirmary, holding a wooden bird.

Meeting again after half a year, there was no awkwardness between the two, as if Chen Qingxu had never opposed Chang Geng taking over the Linyuan Wooden Sign, and Chang Geng had never secretly changed her note. The Linyuan Wooden Sign had been handed over, and even if she had reservations about her companions' choices, she had to obey the transfer of the wooden sign.

"Your Highness, please don't go any further," a guard whispered, "There are not many people with intact arms and legs. It makes people feel bad."

"You feel bad just because you looked at them. What about those with broken arms and legs?" Chang Geng glanced at him, and the guard's face turned red with embarrassment.

"I'm here to wish the brothers who have served the country and the people a happy new year," Chang Geng turned to Chen Qingxu and said, "The court's rewards and pensions will be distributed together as a new year gift... I'll just wait here for a while."

Chen Qingxu: "What are you waiting for?"

"Good news." Chang Geng said, "The first good news, I just happened to bring it back on the way, and let the Military Affairs Office discuss the next policy of dividing and suppressing the countries in the Western Regions."