Chapter 46 Waiting
The conversation finally reached the point that Li Ying wanted, and Li Ying took the opportunity to put forward his own opinions.

"I'm worried about this, too." Li Heng nodded. "Personal grudges are minor, but if they affect national affairs, it will be a big deal, so I would like to ask General Wang to lend me a hand."

"Your Highness, you are too kind." Wang Zhongsi bowed, "Your Highness has the right to act at your discretion. If there is any appointment, please give the order."

Li Heng said: "I would like to ask the general to station troops west of Guazhou, so that if Tubo really attacks from Xiaobolü, we can provide timely support."

For Wang Zhongsi, this matter was not against the law, and if it was really as Li Ying expected, he would have the opportunity to achieve great things.

So Wang Zhongsi said, "There are already troops stationed west of Guazhou. Since Your Highness has made preparations for a rainy day and has given this order, I will arrange more troops and horses and wait for Your Highness' orders at any time."

"Thank you." Li Ying said politely.

Wang Zhongsi said: "It is my duty as a minister."

After they finished talking, they raised their glasses and drank together.

After having dinner with Wang Zhongsi, Li Ying wandered around Liangzhou for two days, and then told Wang Zhongsi that he wanted to go to the military horse farm in Ganzhou.

Li Heng wanted to go to Ganzhou Military Horse Farm. In addition to having promised Yang Yuhuan, he had four other purposes.

First, as an inspector of the four towns, he would definitely stay in Hexi for a few days to do some superficial inspection.

Second, he needed to wait for Wang Zhongsi's troops to gather west of Guazhou to ensure his retreat.

Third, he needed to wait for Li Longji to appoint Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing for their merits.

Although he was the envoy of promotion and demotion, when he arrived at the territory of Anxi Gai Jiayun, the people under him had no military power, so he would definitely have a hard time doing things.

Fourth, he has kept Zhang Mujin as a chess piece for so long, and now it is time to let her play a role and use her to pave the way for future events.

Wang Zhongsi did not know Li Heng's strategy. When he heard that Li Heng was going to the military horse farm, he thought that Li Heng was more confident in his governance and regarded the inspection of Hexi as a trip. Therefore, he happily sent Li Heng and others to the Ganzhou military horse farm.

……

……

……

On the horse farm, under the clear sky, Yang Yuhuan, Aqisi, and Zhang Mujin rode horses and chatted together.

Compared with Yang Yuhuan and Zhang Mujin, Aqisi's horsemanship is superb.

Because Aikisi was a princess of Bukhara, the area of ​​Bukhara was called Dayuan during the Han Dynasty.

What Dayuan is most famous for is its Ferghana horses.

So it can be said that Aqis is a princess who grew up on horseback.

Li Ying sat on the grass, watching the three girls playing, and comparing their characteristics.

Yang Yuhuan was the most beautiful and had the most outstanding temperament. She could become the focus whether she was standing or sitting, and when she was riding a horse, she looked even more lively.

With the wind blocking her view, her perfect figure was clearly revealed.

Aqisi is a typical beauty of the Fergana Basin. She has a fair complexion, deep facial features, and an oriental softness. When she rides a horse, she looks quite heroic.

As for Zhang Mujin, she looks like a little girl next door, with a fresh and refined beauty, but at the same time you can also feel the stubbornness under her delicate face. Li Ying sat on the ground and watched for a long time, then asked the guard to call Zhang Mujin over.

After a while, Zhang Mujin quickly came up to Li Ying and bowed respectfully to him.

Li Ying patted the grass next to him and motioned Zhang Mujin to sit down and talk.

Zhang Mujin hurriedly said, "Your Highness, how dare Mujin sit with Your Highness?"

Li Ying smiled and said, "You left home and followed me out for nearly half a year. In my heart, you are my family. There is no need to be so polite between family members. Please sit down."

Since Li Ying said so, Zhang Mujin naturally couldn't refuse and sat down next to Li Ying obediently.

Li Heng broke off a piece of grass and played with it casually, then asked, "You've been away from home for so long, do you miss home?"

"Yes." Zhang Mujin nodded heavily. "Chang'an is prosperous, but you have to be careful. This place is relatively less prosperous, but it is freer. If your family is around, this place is actually pretty good."

Li Ying said, "This is your first time traveling far away, and I took you so far. I feel guilty about it."

"Your Highness has done me no shame." Zhang Mujin glanced at Li Heng cautiously. "Your Highness is kindhearted. When he travels, he is always concerned about the people's needs. He has devoted all his efforts to the Lanzhou issue and has shown great kindness to Mujin. The princess also treats Mujin like her own sister. It is my honor to serve you and the princess."

Li Ying turned his head to look at Zhang Mujin, and seeing her sincere tone, he smiled and asked softly, "When did you know that I was not sick?"

"This..." Zhang Mujin was slightly surprised and said honestly, "Mujin only suspected it before. Some time ago, on the way from Lanzhou to Liangzhou, Mujin helped His Highness several times, and that's how I found out."

Li Ying asked, "Have you told anyone about this?"

"No, Mu Jin didn't tell anyone." Zhang Mu Jin immediately denied it.

"You didn't tell your grandfather?"

"No." Zhang Mujin nodded firmly. "Although Mujin has little knowledge, she knows that this matter is very serious. If the news leaks out, it will implicate many people. His Highness has been very kind to Mujin, so Mujin will naturally not leak this matter. As for Grandpa, if he knows about this, it will not be a good thing for him."

In fact, Li Heng didn't know at first that Zhang Mujin knew nothing about his pretending to be sick, because when Li Heng called Zhang Mujin to his side, he thought that Doctor Zhang would tell Zhang Mujin about this. After all, Zhang Mujin was his personal physician, and it was only a matter of time before he knew about it.

However, when in Lanzhou, Li Heng deliberately pretended to be sick because of the anger of the Lanzhou governor. At that time, Zhang Mujin's first reaction was to take his pulse. It was also at that time that Li Heng was sure that Zhang Mujin did not know that he was pretending to be sick.

Later, on the way from Lanzhou to Liangzhou, Zhang Mujin took the initiative to support Li Heng several times, and then took the opportunity to check his pulse. At that time, Li Heng knew that Zhang Mujin was testing whether he was really sick.

Li Heng had long wanted to find time to talk to Zhang Mujin about this matter, but never had the chance.

Li Heng sighed and said, "Your grandfather knows about this."

"Ah?" Zhang Mujin was stunned and asked in confusion: "Then why didn't Grandpa tell me?"

Li Ying said: "Perhaps your grandfather has the same idea as you, thinking that the less you know, the safer you are."

Of course, what Li Heng said was only his superficial meaning. Li Heng speculated that the deeper meaning was that Imperial Doctor Zhang wanted to use this opportunity to explain to him that Imperial Doctor Zhang had not told anyone about his illness.

Zhang Mujin believed what Li Ying said, nodded, and sighed, "Grandpa asked Mujin to follow His Highness, and also asked Mujin... to write letters. Mujin resented Grandpa at first, but now she thinks that Grandpa also cares about Mujin."

Li Ying smiled upon hearing this and thought, "This little girl is quite innocent. It is kind of her to guess other people's thoughts."

Li Heng thought about it and said, "It's good that you know. You don't have to communicate with your grandfather about my illness. If he doesn't want you to know, just pretend you don't know. From now on, you have to treat me as a patient."

(End of this chapter)