It's already a bit cool in Longgu City in late August.

A tinkling sound came from a simple courtyard.

"Xu Guangou, can you really run fast on the ice with this horseshoe branded on it?"

Outside the thatched hut that looked like a blacksmith shop, several soldiers squatted or stood looking at the busy people in the hut and asked.

"Yes." The shirtless man who was busy in the hut replied.

"Then this winter we can set foot on the Liangma River and attack the inner camp of the Western Bandits?" the soldiers said with a smile.

"Of course you can." The man said, reaching out to take the horseshoe handed by several blacksmiths, looking at it carefully, and then throwing it back, "The thickness is not even enough."

Several blacksmiths lowered their heads and went back to rebuild it.

The man walked to Baoding's horse and squatted down. He quickly picked up a horse leg, pulled the anvil aside with one hand and put it on the horse's hoof. The other hand had already picked up the red-hot iron to brand it.

Although most of the military horses nowadays are horseshoeed, and everyone is used to seeing horseshoes, not many people saw horseshoes being slapped with their own eyes. These soldiers couldn't help hissing.

"How painful..." someone couldn't help but say.

Xu Sogen looked up and saw that he was a young soldier of fourteen or fifteen years old. He was thin and pale. His military uniform looked very ill-fitting, but his eyes were full of energy and excitement, just like when they were brothers.

It was the same moment when I finally found a way into the barracks and put on my military uniform.

"It doesn't hurt, how can it be faster?" He said with a smile, while branding the horseshoe, the iron was just put back, and the shovel on the other side was already clipped under the arm and pedaled a few times to trim the horseshoe, and he was dazzled.

The hoof was branded like this.

"Master Xu is really good at his craftsmanship." Everyone praised him one after another.

Xu Sigen stood up with a smile.

"Yes, Mr. Xu, your craftsmanship is really good."

There was a strange sound outside the door.

The smile on Xu Sigen's face fell, and everyone turned around to see two or three generals walking in.

This was someone from the government office, and the soldiers hurriedly backed away with their heads lowered.

"Sir Xu." One of the generals said, emphasizing the word "sir", "It seems you are very happy here."

"If you don't wear official robes, you can't meet the adults." Xu Sogen said, "This is someone's job."

Domestic affairs.

Xu Sigen was in charge of seducing soldiers and horses, but he didn't really want to brand the horseshoes himself, but he was scolded and punished.

"Xu Sigen." A general shouted with a stern face, "We are not here to talk nonsense with you. Can you tell us how many troops and horses you have injured recently?"

Xu Sigen hummed.

"Twenty-five horses," he said.

"You still have the nerve to say that!" another general yelled, stepping forward and glaring, "I asked you to take care of the affairs of the troops, not to ruin them!"

"It can't be said to be a waste. We have already produced the best heavy iron palm." Xu Sigan said, "In this winter, our soldiers and horses will be able to run faster and further. Twenty-five horses can be exchanged for countless Western thieves."

My life is worth it.”

Several generals looked at each other.

But there’s really nothing we can do about it. It’s indeed the horseshoe this guy hit, and it’s really useful. Although we could kill enemies and make meritorious deeds without horseshoes in the past, it’s not a bad thing now that we have them. After all, the horse wears less.

The more horses everyone can equip.

It is no longer appropriate to argue about merit in the horseshoe as before.

He had confidence in the matter of horseshoes, but they did not.

"Let's do a good job here." A few people said this and turned around and left.

Xu Sigen ignored it and continued what he was doing.

When he walked to the door, a general thought of something and turned his head.

"Xu Maoxiu." He suddenly shouted.

Xu Sigen's hand stopped and his body stiffened slightly.

The general laughed.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, your names are so similar, I always call them wrong." He said, "But this Xu Maoxiu left a deep impression on me. This is the first time I've seen him. He died because he was useless in the battle."

If you want a reward, many soldiers lying underground outside Longgu City will get up..."

Xu Sigen's hand holding the shovel tightened, and veins popped out on it.

The general's words continued in his ears.

"...I just can't stand this kind of trash..."

Xu Sigen suddenly raised his feet.

A loud shout rang out in the courtyard. No one could see anyone clearly. The general had been knocked away.

But it wasn't over yet. The man then rushed over and smashed his fists down like raindrops.

The yard suddenly became chaotic.

Fortunately, he was pulled away quickly. The general's face had been broken, and his mouth, nose and eyes were bleeding. He raised his hand to wipe it, and immediately shouted angrily and tried to pounce on him, but was stopped by two or three people.

Liu Kui, who was being pulled by someone on the other side, also had injuries on his face.

"Come on, bastard, watch me beat you to nothing," he shouted.

The general roared angrily.

"Fights in the army never yield good results."

"You can't mess around with this guy."

"He doesn't want a future. We can't be like him."

Everyone stopped him and said, looking at Liu Kui again.

Liu Kui was unkempt, his clothes were messy, his face smelled of alcohol, and his eyes were drunk. When he saw everyone looking over him, he was ready to fight.

Now that he is drinking and causing trouble in the army, he still does not consider himself a soldier. The higher-ups have already told the Liu family that he will be sent back in the next few months. This trip is not like going to Beijing to patrol the streets like last time.

, but completely returned home to retire.

If you are expelled from the army for the second time, you will definitely be a trash that is despised even in your own home.

"It would be embarrassing for me to hit you with my fist, you loser." The general could only say this bitterly, and was dragged away.

"Trash, you can only hit your own people with your fists." Liu Kui shouted, spitting at the group of people, "I'm waiting, waiting for you to beat me!"

The generals left, and the onlookers pointed at Liu Kui.

Liu Kuihun wiped the blood from his nose nonchalantly.

"What are you looking at? You've never seen a fight? Come on, I'll beat you up!" he shouted.

The onlookers curled their lips and walked away with contempt on their faces.

"madman.."

"Neuropathy.."

"Wimp..."

Low voices came intermittently.

Liu Kui didn't take it seriously. He lowered his head and wandered around on the ground. Then he pounced on it as if he found something precious. It turned out to be a wine gourd. He grabbed it and wiped it happily. He opened the lid and poured it down in large gulps. The wine was mixed along the corners of his mouth.

Blood flowed down.

Xu Sigen put down the shovel in his hand and walked over.

"You're such a loser," he said.

"It's not bad to be a waste." Liu Kui said and glared at him, "That's right, I can't compare to you, Mr. Xu. I just immerse myself in business and wait for promotion and fortune."

Xu Sigen reached out and snatched off his wine gourd and smashed it to the ground.

The gourd shattered and the wine flew everywhere.

"Xu Sigen, you're fucking crazy!" Liu Kui shouted, jumped up and grabbed Xu Sigen.

At this moment, there was a commotion outside the door and the sound of horse hooves.

"Urgent report, urgent report from Beijing."

It passed in an instant with the shouting.

Urgent news from Beijing?

Xu Sogen's expression froze, and he immediately pushed Liu Kui away and rushed out. He looked in the direction of the emergency report and chased after him. It wasn't until he saw the emergency report rushing into the official hall that he gasped and stopped on the side of the road, staring at him intently.

In the official hall.

"You should give up."
To be continued...