Chapter 539: Like smoke and dreams, Jimei!

Yijing, the Governor's Office.

In a room, Ye Mingsheng leaned back on an armchair and looked at the beauty in front of him. Two fairies were dancing in the hall. They were light and graceful, with slender waists that could be held in one hand. Their every move was full of youth and vitality, which made people feel refreshed and eager to dance.

What’s even more rare is that the two are actually twin sisters. The elder sister Su Ruyan is quiet and elegant, while the younger sister Su Rumeng is innocent and lively. In the intervals between dances, they always secretly cast their eyes towards Ye Mingsheng, as if they are full of curiosity about the man in front of them...

Ye Cheng, who was standing respectfully behind Ye Mingsheng, was also quietly looking at Ye Mingsheng, trying to see something from the changes in Ye Mingsheng's expression. However, it was a pity that even though the two little demons in front of him were so charming, Ye Mingsheng remained as calm as water, and people could not see any fluctuations in his heart.

Seeing this, Ye Cheng secretly groaned in his heart. Before Qi Dechao went to Jizhou, he taught him the most important thing for being Ye Mingsheng's attendant, which was to figure out Ye Mingsheng's mind. Only in this way could the value of an attendant be reflected and he could better serve Ye Mingsheng.

After a while, the song ended. The two sisters Su Ruyan and Su Ruyan bowed to Ye Mingsheng and stood in the middle of the hall waiting for the decision of their fate. The elder sister Su Ruyan lowered her head and did not dare to make any eye contact with Ye Mingsheng. Although the younger sister Su Ruyan also lowered her head, she still glanced at Ye Mingsheng from time to time. Seeing her sister so bold and rude, Su Ruyan, who was a little anxious, quickly pulled her sister's sleeve.

After noticing the two sisters' behavior, Ye Mingsheng finally spoke calmly;

"Can you dance the Feather Dance?"

As Ye Mingsheng finished speaking, two voices sounded in the room at the same time.

"meeting!"

"Reporting to the Lord, my sister and I have not yet learned the Colorful Feather Dance!"

Hearing these two completely different answers, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but become interested. He glanced at the two sisters. At this time, Su Ruyan, the elder sister, was very anxious. She secretly winked at her younger sister Su Rumeng, as if she wanted her to agree with her...
Feeling her sister's intentions, the lively and cheerful Su Rumeng hesitated for a moment, but decided to listen to her sister and lowered her head and said:
"Your Excellency, we don't know how to dance the Feathered Dress Dance!"

Hearing this seemingly aggrieved voice, Ye Mingsheng's interest became even stronger. He pretended to be serious and said:
"You better think about it carefully. You should know that deceiving an official is a serious crime and you will be punished by beating!"

When the two sisters heard that they were going to be beaten with a stick, they panicked and didn't know what to do. Su Rumeng felt even more wronged. Her big watery eyes looked like she was about to cry. At this moment, Su Ruyan, the elder sister, took a deep breath, stood up and said:
"Your Excellency, we two sisters can perform the Colorful Feather Dance. If you want to punish someone, then punish Ruyan and let my sister Rumeng go!"

Seeing her sister step forward, Su Rumeng's eyes were filled with emotion, and then she also mustered up the courage to stand up and said:
"Sir, if you want to spank someone, just spank Ru Meng, not my sister!"

Seeing the deep affection between the sisters in front of him, Ye Mingsheng laughed a little and then asked:

"Since you can dance the Colorful Feather Dance, why did you say you couldn't just now?"

This time, before her sister Ruyan could speak, Su Rumeng spoke first:
“Sir, my sister and I have just started learning the Colorful Feather Dance and we are not very proficient yet. So I am worried that if you ask us to dance the Colorful Feather Dance, we will make a fool of ourselves…”

After getting this answer, Ye Mingsheng looked at Su Ruyan and asked:
"But so?"

Under Ye Mingsheng's gaze, Su Ruyan seemed a little nervous but still said clearly:

"Well! I hope you can be lenient with us sisters!"

Ye Mingsheng said calmly:
"Although your actions are excusable, you attempted to deceive the imperial officials after all, and you should be punished with a beating. However, considering your youth and ignorance, I will give you a chance to reform. Perform a colorful feather dance. If you perform well, you will be exempted from the crime. If not, you will be punished for multiple crimes!"

As soon as Ye Mingsheng finished speaking, the two sisters Ruyan and Rumeng became nervous. Rumeng, who looked very brave, even began to tremble slightly. Ruyan, who reacted first, held her sister's hand and whispered to comfort her sister. With her sister's encouragement, Rumeng regained her composure.

After comforting her sister, Su Ruyan mustered up the courage to look at Ye Mingsheng and said:
"Sir, we are ready!"

Feeling the determined gaze of the young girl in front of him, Ye Mingsheng suddenly felt a little evil, and immediately opened his mouth and ordered:

“No hurry, take off your shoes first…”

Ruyan and Rumeng were very surprised when these words came out. Ruyan frowned slightly and said to Ye Mingsheng cautiously:

"Sir, the Colorful Feather Dance is performed with shoes on!"

Ye Mingsheng nodded and said:
"I know, but I want to see you dance barefoot!"

As soon as these words were spoken, two blushes appeared on Ruyan and Rumeng's delicate faces, especially Ruyan, who blushed as if blood could drip out. At this time, Ye Cheng, who was standing behind Ye Mingsheng, heard Ye Mingsheng's request. Without Ye Mingsheng's instructions, he immediately bowed to Ye Mingsheng and quietly left the room.

After seeing Ye Cheng leave, Su Ruyan opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something to Ye Mingsheng, but before she opened her mouth she seemed to have thought of something, and after hesitating for a moment, she began to take off her exquisite embroidered shoes as Ye Mingsheng requested. Although Rumeng on the side was also very shy, seeing that her sister had done so, she followed suit and began to embroider her own shoes...

Half an incense stick later, Ye Cheng, who was standing respectfully outside the door, heard a light cough from the room and immediately understood what was going on and walked into the room. At this time, Ye Mingsheng was still sitting on the armchair, and the sisters Ruyan and Rumeng put on their embroidered shoes again and came to Ye Mingsheng. Ye Cheng respectfully asked:
"My lord, what are your orders?"

Ye Mingsheng said calmly: "Find them a better courtyard in the mansion to live in!"

When Ye Mingsheng said this, Ye Cheng knew that everything had been settled and quickly replied:

"Yes!"

Then he turned around and said to the two sisters Ruyan and Rumeng behind him:
"Please!"

After hearing what he said, the two sisters bowed to Ye Mingsheng and followed Ye Cheng away. Seeing the two sisters leaving hand in hand, Ye Mingsheng showed a meaningful smile on his face. Although the sisters were young, beautiful and pretty, the women around him were all one in a million and the most beautiful in the world.

In terms of looks, neither of the sisters is as good as An Miaoyi, and they are slightly inferior to Pei Zhixiu. However, when the two of them join forces, that’s another story. To be honest, Ye Mingsheng had not intended to accept it, but as a strong man, how could he refuse such a pair of soul-stirring sisters...

During this period, with the joint efforts of Ye Mingsheng and his colleagues in the Fengwu Army, the situation in Yijing has become stable. Ye Mingsheng also felt a little lonely in the dead of night, so he planned to move his family to Yijing after An Miaoyi finished her confinement. As for this period of time, someone had to take over.

After another stick of incense, Ye Cheng returned to Ye Mingsheng and reported:

"My lord, I have arranged for the sisters Ruyan and Rumeng to stay in the courtyard to the west. I have also arranged for three skilled maids to serve them! As for other utensils, I have already asked the servants to go to the street to buy new ones. Everything will be ready tonight!"

Listening to Ye Cheng's arrangements, Ye Mingsheng nodded with satisfaction and asked:
"Who sent them?"

Ye Cheng heard this and said:

"Your Excellency, they are the daughters of Su Qinghe, the Chief Secretary, and are all innocent girls from good families!"

Ye Mingsheng was a little surprised when he heard this. The experience of a provincial governor was not considered a small official. If he was sent out, he would be at the level of a prefect or a governor of a provincial capital. Their daughter would definitely have a good home, and there was no need to give her to him like a treasure. Could it be that Su Qinghe was very ambitious?
Seeing Ye Mingsheng remained silent, Ye Cheng seemed to remember something and continued to introduce:

“Although the sisters Ruyan and Rumeng are Su Qinghe’s daughters, they are not Su Qinghe’s biological daughters. They are born to a concubine that Su Qinghe brought back from a brothel in his early years…”

Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly when he heard this. He could understand the bastard's words a little, but after thinking for a while, he still ordered:
"Let Huo San check Su Qinghe for me!"

"Yes!"

Ye Cheng bowed and said:

Glancing at the sun outside, Ye Mingsheng shook his head. Good times are always very short. Now that the time for enjoyment is over, he has to get down to business. After a pause, Ye Mingsheng continued to ask;

"Have all the battle reports from the front been delivered?"

Ye Cheng responded without hesitation:
"Yes, a cup of tea was delivered to the study a while ago!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng stood up and walked towards the study. He was looking forward to what kind of results Guo Zhiping, Ma Zhongjun and others could bring him.

Back in the study, two battle reports were placed on Ye Mingsheng's desk, one from Shunping and the other from Yuyang. After a little thought, Ye Mingsheng opened the battle report from Yuyang. The battle in Shunping was being handled by He Jingyun, so there shouldn't be any major chaos. On the contrary, although the Luobi people in Yuyang were restrained by the Golden Horde and would not move their main forces south, the impact of fighting on two fronts on the Fengwu Army was also great!
The battle report was written by Guo Zhiping himself to Ye Mingsheng. Guo Zhiping described the course of the battle to Ye Mingsheng, and reported to Ye Mingsheng that 5,000 Luobei troops, including General Bujiha, were killed in the battle, more than 3,000 were captured, and only more than 1,000 escaped by chance...
The Fengwu Army suffered only more than a thousand casualties, which was negligible compared to the casualties of the Luobi people. In addition to more than three thousand prisoners, the Fengwu Army also seized nearly three thousand war horses in this battle. Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng looked somewhat happy.

Although the Fengwu Army has always been known for its powerful firearms, Ye Mingsheng was also very clear that before firearms developed to a certain level, cavalry, especially elite cavalry, would still be the king of war, so he also actively instructed his subordinates to expand the scale of the horse farm and optimize the horse breeds.

Although the Fengwu Army's horse farm developed rapidly under Ye Mingsheng's instructions, due to its weak foundation, it could only provide the Fengwu Army with one thousand war horses every year. Although this was several times the production capacity of the Liaoyang Horse Farm during the Song Wenhui period, it still could not meet the demand brought about by the rapid development of the Fengwu Army. The generals of the various divisions below were clamoring for war horses.

The Fengwu Army has been obtaining war horses from the grasslands through gray channels to make up for the shortage of its own war horse production. However, because the Luobei people strictly prohibit the outflow of war horses, even if the Coordination Office works very hard, only a few hundred war horses are obtained from the grasslands every year. And now, the war horses seized by Guo Zhiping in this battle are more than what the Fengwu Army obtains in a year. This is definitely good news that excites the people...

Guo Zhiping can be said to have won a great victory in this battle. However, it was precisely because of the great victory that Luo Bi Khan was very angry. He has been dispatching troops to the border to create a tense atmosphere and sending small groups of scouts to frequently enter and exit the border to create a situation where Luo Bi would move south on a large scale. Guo Zhiping also said in the letter that Luo Bi seemed to be preparing to send an envoy to Yijing to question him.

Seeing these, Ye Mingsheng was somewhat disdainful. Before the Cumans were dealt with, the Robe people were just a bunch of weaklings. Although they made a lot of noise, it was all for show and no use. Even if Ye Mingsheng gave him a guts, he would not have the courage to invade the south on a large scale. Before Guo Zhiping's battle, some people in the staff were worried that the complete annihilation of Bujiha's troops would anger the Robe people. It was Ye Mingsheng who personally decided on Guo Zhiping's action this time.

The Cumans have always been eyeing the Elunqin steppe. As long as the main force of the Robe people moves south, they will definitely attack the Robe royal court. By then, if the Robe people are trapped in Youyan and cannot return quickly, they will be completely finished. The Robe upper echelons naturally understand this matter very well, so in all these years of their invasion of the Great Zhou, the most troops they have deployed is only more than 10,000 people!

Everyone knows that at this stage, the Great Zhou cannot destroy Luobi. The only one who can destroy Luobi is the Cumans who are also in the grassland!

After pondering for a while, Ye Mingsheng gave instructions to Guo Zhiping. Although Ye Mingsheng did not believe that the Luobi people would invade on a full scale, he still asked Guo Zhiping to stay alert just in case. Once the worst situation happened, he would immediately organize the soldiers and the masses to clear the fields and turn the cities and towns into fortresses to hold back the Luobi people and wait for the situation to change...

(End of this chapter)