My wife has a secret

Chapter 204 Passing the test
Shen Shuangxu's heart is as clear as a mirror.

The natural barrier of Qi State is Huangling Pass. If Huangling Pass is breached, the army of Liao State will march all the way south and reach the capital in less than three days.

The capital city faces water to the north and has a narrow pass to the west. Although it can rely on the geographical advantage to hold out for a while, the Liao army is approaching the city, which means that Qi is in danger.

"The Yang family army has been stationed at the border for many years and has fought frequently with the Liao Kingdom. They understand the language and situation of other countries... If we stop this group of people at Huangling Pass and let General Yang interrogate them, we will definitely get useful information."

"Ah."

Xu Qing also felt that this was the best approach. He had seen the soldiers of Huangling Pass with his own eyes and knew that this group of people had experienced real bloody battles and were different from the ordinary soldiers in the heart of the capital.

Although I have never met the famous General Yang, he must be an extraordinary and capable person to be able to command so many soldiers.

"But you have to be mentally prepared."

Shen Shuangxu raised her beautiful eyes and looked directly at Xu Qing. "The head of the Yang family is Yang Xianning. She is nominally your second wife...but the Yang family has long been resentful of the imperial court, especially the Xu family, and believes that the Queen Mother forced them to agree to this marriage."

Xu Qing was a little embarrassed when he heard this. He raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice: "It seems... it was forced, right?"

Shen Shuangxu did not answer, and continued to analyze: "If we inform Huangling Pass, it will be equivalent to exposing our whereabouts. If the Yang family seizes the carriage and uses it to threaten the court... there is not much we can do."

The diplomatic delegation that visited the Liao Kingdom passed through Huangling Pass.

Because of this, Shen Shuangxu also had some understanding of the border and knew that Huangling Pass had experienced a cold winter and was seriously short of food.

If the Yang family army had not wanted to fall out with the imperial court and sent troops to escort the convoy, the food and tribute they carried would even have been snatched away by the hungry and freezing victims.

The diplomatic envoys are the face of the imperial court, so it is understandable that the Yang family army had some concerns.

But at the moment, he and Xu Qing were refugees, and if they encountered the resentful Yang family, they would probably suffer.

"I see."

Although he knew that the Xu family might suffer unfair treatment in Huangling Pass, Xu Qing would not shrink back and worry too much.

Now that the war is imminent, everyone knows that Huangling Pass is short of soldiers and food. If I endure two days of suffering, maybe I can get my aunt to show leniency about the matter of Huangling Pass.

"This matter is of great significance. This is not the time to consider the attitude of the Yang family."

"Ah."

Shen Shuangxu saw that Xu Qing was very clear about the righteousness, and his opinion of him was further improved.

It has to be said that if Xu Qing were to become the saint's successor, she would not have much objection, as the other party had a keen insight into the development of events and the situation.

……

After a period of rest, the two caravans soon passed through the border of the Liao Kingdom, Maicheng.

Although Maicheng is located at the border between Liao and Qi, it has no strategic location to defend and is filled with a free and casual atmosphere.

Faced with the merchant caravans from the two countries, the soldiers stationed at the border let them go without even looking at the customs documents carefully.

After walking for a while and crossing two small hills, everyone finally saw the outline of Huangling Pass.

Huangling Pass is located on the plateau, facing the steep ravine in the east, the Qinling Mountains in the south, and the long river in the north, close to the shore.

Due to geographical factors, the caravans could only enter the pass through the narrow gap, so it was easy to defend but difficult to attack, and could easily delay the invasion and attack of foreign tribes.

The officers and soldiers who checked the documents were also very different from those in the Liao Kingdom. Most of them wore rags and dirty straw sandals, looking more like poor people fleeing from the war.

"Where did the caravan come from?"

The soldiers on duty today are from the Seventh Banner of the Huangling Army. They are different from the regular army of the imperial court and are more like border militia.

But the Yang family also accepted these people's calls, trained them on a daily basis, and entrusted them with patrol and security work.

Huangling Pass had previously experienced several brutal battles, and was eventually out of ammunition and food. It was only with the help of these border residents that the place was defended.

It is also because of this that the Yang family and the local people are united and unwilling to heed the orders of the imperial court.

"Sword Pass."

"Jianguan? That far?"

Xiao Wu looked at them strangely, but he still picked up a long stick, walked to the caravan's carriage, and inserted the pole into it with force.

After a while, fine grains of wheat began to flow out.

The leader of the caravan spoke fluent Chinese and said with a smile: "Young man, have you ever eaten rice from the north?"

Xiao Wu looked at the wheat in the car and swallowed unconsciously.

Huangling Pass has been strictly controlled and the distribution of food rations has been restricted. Even though the Yang family has never abandoned them, the amount of rice they can get every day is only two taels.

He was young, in the period of growth, and had a greedy appetite. When he heard the merchant talking about rice, his curiosity was aroused.

"I haven't eaten it before, what's the difference?"

The merchant smiled and said, "The wheat in the south is harvested four times a year, the wheat in the Central Plains is harvested twice a year, and the wheat in the north is harvested once a year... Which side do you think has better wheat?"

"It must be wheat from the south!"

Xiao Wu looked at the businessman as if he were an idiot. He felt that this man was not very smart.

Even if a three-year-old child were asked to do this question, the wheat in the south is better. How can four times a year be compared with once a year?

"No, it's wheat from the north."

The merchant shook his finger and corrected him, "The rice in the north has full grains, a hard texture, and a clear, white, and transparent color. The steamed rice is also shiny and has a rich aroma. Anyone who has tasted it will agree that the rice in the north is better."

"Oh?"

Xiao Wu didn't expect that there was a saying for a rice, and asked with wide eyes, "Really?"

"Of course. To be honest... All the food on our truck is fine grain from the Northeast. It's a hundred times more delicious than the rice in the South. It's specially supplied to the high-ranking officials in the capital."

"The one who rides on the horse..."

Xiao Wu was listening with great interest at first, but after learning that these northern rices were related to those nobles, he felt so angry that he could not express it in words and could only curse.

Why is it that he and his brothers can't even get enough food to eat, but those people are enjoying a good life in the capital?
"But I think you have a good eye for me, so how about this... since there is still some rice left over from the shipment to the capital, I'll give you a bag of rice to try?"

"How...how is this okay?"

As a law-abiding soldier of Huangling Army, Xiao Wu had never received any benefits during his patrols, but the current caravan was a voluntary gift, and the food they sent was wheat from the north, which made him tempted.

"Next time you're on guard, just look for my old face."

Faced with the sincere businessman, Xiao Wu scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

He was moved and after thinking for a long time, he finally decided to report the matter step by step.

"Uncle Li! Uncle Li!"

A middle-aged man not far away was checking other caravans.

When I heard Xiao Wu's shouting, I thought he had encountered some problems. After learning that the caravan wanted to deliver rice, I couldn't help but feel troubled.

The Yang family had strict rules for accepting gifts. If anyone took gifts from the caravan, they would be investigated by the Yang family and expelled from the army. But the gifts from the caravan were food! They were different from gold, silver and money.

Just as Uncle Li was thinking for a long time and preparing to report the matter to the Yang family, several figures appeared from the official road behind the caravan. The leader was wearing a beautiful fiery red armor and carrying a spear.

"General!"

Seeing this, Uncle Li and Xiao Wu both knelt on one knee and looked at the dashing figure.

The opponent clamped his round and slender legs together, led the warhorse here, tied the reins tightly, and forced it to stop.

"You are soldiers from the Seventh Banner of the Huangling Army, right? Someone just reported that the merchant caravans of the two countries have been stuck in the narrow gap for a long time. What happened?"

The woman's voice was clear and her armor was shining.

She has delicate eyebrows and a firm gaze, which reveals an unyielding determination.

Xiao Wu was so frightened that he dared not move. Although the person in front of him was not Yang Xianning, the head of the Yang family, she was the second daughter of the Yang family, Yang Qin.

When he and his companions came back from Suzhou, they were picked up by the Second Young Lady, which saved us a lot of effort.

That's why the second young lady could recognize their appearance and numbers.

Uncle Li coughed twice, then stood up and reported, "It's this caravan, they said they want to send rice to the border..."

"Snapped!"

Yang Qin waved his hand and hit the horsewhip on the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

She glared at him, her face tense, "Sending you rice? Who told you to accept it? Do you know the rules of Huangling Pass? If you like eating so much, you should just get rid of your membership and go to the south. There are many cowards over there."

"You don't have to say that, do you?"

The atmosphere on the scene was somewhat frozen, and everyone looked at the second young lady of the Yang family, and no one dared to speak.

Everyone knows the status of the Yang family in Huangling Pass, and what they rely on is not oppression, but the courage to live and die together.

Now, when they heard someone making a strange sound, they all looked towards the person who made the sound.

Somewhat uncoincidentally, the person who started to complain was Xu Qing.

The merchant caravan next door entered the pass before them. Xu Qing originally wanted to follow the caravan to see the situation so as to find a chance to report to Huangling Pass, but... this scene happened.

He knew that the Yang family was loyal and brave, but the Huangling Army had followed the Yang family for so many years, they shouldn't be said like this, right?

Of course, if it were someone else, Xu Qing might not care.

But he recognized Xiao Wu's young face and knew that he was the man who had traveled far to Suzhou to ask for military rations.

"who are you?"

Before Xu Qing could speak, the leaders of the caravans said one after another, "He is from the caravan behind us, not one of us..."

He was afraid that this man would anger the second young lady of the Yang family and cause trouble for his convoy at Huangling Pass.

This caravan cannot withstand inspection.

Xiao Wu and Uncle Li did not recognize Xu Qing either, because it had been a long time since the trip to Suzhou, and the person who picked them up was Miss Lu, not Xu Qing himself.

So they had long forgotten Xu Qing's facial features, not to mention that Xu Qing's disguise was very different from his previous image of a young master.

"I don't understand. They are all soldiers who shed blood and sweat for Qi. How can you drive them away just like that?"

After Xu Qing finished speaking, Yang Qin also felt that what he had said was inappropriate.

It was common knowledge in Huangling Pass that he had a bad temper and often spoke harshly.

But when it was brought up in person by a Liao citizen, it was hard to save face.

Yang Qin tightened the reins, turned the horse's head, and asked, "Each place has its own rules. We will deal with the people of Huangling Pass at Huangling Pass. Do you have any objection?"

"Don't dare."

Seeing that Xu Qing seemed to admit defeat, Yang Qin didn't want to waste any more time here, so her tone became gentle when she gave instructions next.

"Huangling Pass does not accept other people's goods. Let the caravan pass quickly and let the people behind pass quickly."

Seeing the soldiers beside him taking orders, Yang Qin prepared to take the knights down to investigate the farmland around Huangling Pass.

In the past two years, as the relationship between Qi and Liao has eased, many farmers in Huangling Pass have chosen to cultivate farmland outside the pass.

After all, due to the terrain inside the Great Wall, the area of ​​arable land is limited, there is not much space for them to grow rice, and the grain produced is not enough for the people inside the Great Wall to eat.

As long as the farmlands around Huangling Pass can be fully developed, the harvested grain should be enough for the people inside the pass to use.

This is why Yang Qin himself would often inspect the surrounding territories.

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, Xiao Wu and Uncle Li dared not delay the progress of the work. After confirming that there was no problem with the documents of the caravan in front of them, they signaled the gate bridge behind them to release it.

Seeing that the Liao caravan disguised as a group was about to slip away, Xu Qing suddenly had an idea and turned around to pat General Yang's horse's butt.

Horses are most sensitive to this action. In addition, Yang Qin was riding a wild horse. This sudden action was like poking a hornet's nest, causing the warhorse to jump up on the spot and start to go crazy.

Xu Qing did not expect the horse to be so strong. Yang Qin on the saddle lost control and was forced to dismount and strangle the horse's neck with the reins to subdue it.

"They disturbed the general's carriage! Capture them!"

As soon as the dangerous situation was resolved, the surrounding soldiers rushed forward and surrounded Xu Qing and the caravan.

They were holding weapons and their eyes were almost spitting fire.

Over the years, no thief has dared to provoke the Yang family within the Huangling Pass. What's the difference between this and riding on their heads to take a toilet?

"No, no! It's none of our business! Sirs, please don't affect my business!"

The leader wanted to defend himself, but the angry Huangling Pass soldiers would not care about his opinion. The two caravans had greeted each other when they entered the pass just now.

"Catch them all!"

Seeing that his plan had succeeded, Xu Qing felt relieved.

Although this move was somewhat unethical, the only way to detain this caravan inadvertently was to cause trouble.

After all, the other party came prepared, the leader was experienced, and the documents he prepared were flawless, so it was very easy to get away with it.

It will be too late to report the news after the caravan enters the country.

Moreover, this method can temporarily detain everyone present and wait for their fate.

As long as they don't realize that their identities have been exposed, they will never do anything to get themselves into trouble.

Yang Qin was already depressed because of the previous incident, and when she saw that this brat dared to pat her horse's butt, she was so angry that she was on the verge of going crazy.

But she knew that her sister had returned and that she should be the one to make decisions on matters within the borders.

(End of this chapter)