You rascal, stop right there!

Chapter 218 Just like a pair of mandarin ducks

In the tent.

Song Yuanshan was pointing his sword at the map, discussing arrangements for retaking Yanzhou with the warlike generals.

"General Song, the weapons, armor and ladders made by the artisans are not enough."

The generals were shocked and stunned.

"We have to recapture Yanzhou by the end of March. We don't have enough weapons and armor, so we don't have to fight this battle!"

"Not enough military pay!"

"My lord, think twice!"

Ling Shumo, who was in charge of military affairs, listened quietly beside him, his eyes dark and dull.

Although Dingzhou and Zhengzhou are now stable, they were severely exploited by Xuanli in the past and have no money to pay.

"Ling will find a way."

However, the people around him did not react any further and their expressions were still extremely suspicious.

Song Yuanshan watched him sitting upright, unmoved, as if he had everything planned out for himself.

"Increasing military spending is nothing more than fundraising by local gentry and increasing taxes. Lord Ling, please don't cause public resentment!" Deputy General Wang Kai beside him joked.

Ling Shumo said solemnly: "No!"

Wang Kai had a blank expression on his face: "Then can we issue a military order to raise enough military pay within 15 days?"

Although the Dingzhou and Zhengzhou armies have tens of thousands of troops, they will not be able to sustain themselves if they cannot obtain Yanzhou's wealth and personnel.

"Okay, Ling will do it!" Ling Shumo said lightly.

In front of the high observation platform, the soldiers were all looking at this man in amazement.

Under the setting sun, thousands of people were practicing military formations, and the atmosphere was noisy. Everyone held the long-cherished wish of restoring the country.

They saw with their own eyes that the military and state officials issued the military order.

Ling Shumo looked at the city wall and felt that the situation was somewhat out of his control.

A Yan behind him said quietly: "Sir, how is it possible to collect the military pay in 15 days?"

Ling Shumo suddenly raised his head: "You don't believe it?"

"Sir, no one believes it!" A Yan shook his head helplessly.

In today's Dingzhou, it is already more than enough to support all those refugees and civilians, and there is really no money for the time being.

The banners on the city walls are dripping with blood, fluttering in the evening breeze...

"They just don't believe that a civil servant who can only write can lead the army." Ling Shumo's eyes were calm.

Just like no one believed at the beginning: a person with a disabled right hand could hold a pen with his left hand, or a blind person could paint.

Suddenly, Ling Shumo raised his arm and felt that it was a rainy day.

Now the military force is insufficient and Dingzhou seems to be unstable.

"Ayan, it's been rainy these days. We need to secretly reinforce the city walls and dredge the moat! Also, I will be sleeping in the tent for official business these days, so you must take good care of Abai."

Ah Yan hesitated: "Mr. Bai, he said he has official business recently and has to stay outside for about ten days."

"What did you say?!" Ling Shumo was stunned and opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Inside a house in a courtyard in Dingzhou City.

There were a dozen fans standing on the wooden table, almost all of them were clamped by clips and arranged in several rows.

The most eye-catching thing is that the indigo ink and the indigo brushes are placed everywhere.

Bai Wan, Luo Wenqi and Shen Zhuyue sat opposite each other.

Bai Wan held a paintbrush in his hand and painted the fan with great concentration and seriousness.

He was still wearing a thick cloak, wrapping himself in warmth as he slowly wrote.

Although, due to numerous difficulties, his painting skills have returned to what they were before, and are even better than before.

However, his body was not as strong as it used to be. He would feel sleepy before midnight and had to drink strong tea to stay awake.

Luo Wenqi obviously couldn't paint any more: "Hey, Xiaobai. You've already endured seven days, don't you really want to take a break?"

Bai Wan took a sip of tea and tried to speak calmly: "There are only a few days left to deliver it to Lingyu Merchant. This is not a small amount of money."

Now they are using the name of painting saint to do the work of painters.

If it was seven years ago, the two of them would not have done this kind of mass production. Even the emperor and his concubines would not allow so many paintings.

If it wasn't to help raise funds to recover Yanzhou...

Luo Wenqi sighed, feeling that Xiaobai's drawing speed was getting faster and faster.

He had only drawn three, and Xiaobai had finished all ten.

Han Miaoran at this moment is no longer as arrogant as he was in the past, nor does he spend a long time thinking about each painting.

Not only did I think he was slow in painting one picture at a time, I also used a lot of clips to hold the paintings together and paint in a continuous stream.

Ten fans stand together. One stroke paints flowers and leaves, and the remaining nine also paint flowers and leaves. One stroke paints mountains and rocks, and the remaining nine also paint mountains and rocks, just like a mechanical man...

"Look, I can't continue painting the fan, let me take a break!" Luo Wenqi couldn't help but sigh.

If you paint several beauties on a fan, no matter how beautiful they are, the painting will be ruined.

Finally, it becomes dull and boring.

Bai Wan couldn't help but say, "Brother Qi Tu, your talent comes from portraits, which are more lifelike than ours. It's so easy to do, and it attracts the admiration of countless people. Awesome, awesome!"

Anyone would blush when being praised.

"Well, that makes sense."

Luo Wenqi was overwhelmed by the praise, his eyes widened, and he continued to draw with the pen in hand.

"Cough! Cough!" Bai Wan coughed twice suddenly. "My landscape painting plus your beauty painting will cost more."

Luo Wenqi burst out laughing.

He has so many plans of his own, and no one can stop him.

Shen Zhuyue was listening nearby and witnessed this deceptive scene with her own eyes.

Now that I can't paint with my right hand, I have to learn from the two people who use their left hand while helping to wash the brushes and grind the ink. It's really an eye-opener.

At this time, Ling Shumo, who was standing at the door, could no longer stand. He watched the three people working in a hurry without saying a word.

"Lord Ling, how could you..." The person at the door greeted him in surprise.

"Shh——" Ling Shumo put his index finger on his lips, signaling him not to speak.

Shen Zhuyue was fiddling with the brush and ink, and after a while she uttered a word: "Lord Ling?"

Luo Wenqi still nodded, and finally turned his gaze to the person who walked in silently and stealthily.

"Brother Zichen, aren't you busy with official duties these days?"

And the other side.

"Brother Qi Tu..." Bai Wan pointed at the pretty beauty on one of the fans and smiled maliciously.

"Such a beauty can only be seen in paintings. If she could step out of the painting, with this outfit... and this look... I would definitely love it."

Ling Shumo remained silent, waiting for him to finish praising.

When he turned around, Bai Wan's smile froze on his face.

After all the flirting and talking, his mood suddenly changed: "Zi Chen, when did you... come?"

"You said that if the beauty in the painting walked out, you would definitely like her very much." Ling Shumo smiled.

Shen Zhuyue also chimed in: "Master Luo's paintings of beauties are indeed lifelike, and I feel pity for them. Ordinary men will surely admire them."

I really added something that I shouldn't have said.

Bai Wan looked at Ling Shumo, glanced over at him, and was about to explain something.

But Ling Shumo just walked forward, then looked down at the fans, picked up the pen and wrote on them.

"Zi Chen, what are you doing?" Bai Wan asked.

Ling Shumo picked up the pen and wrote the four-character idiom, saying: "If this fan has Han Miaoran's scenery, Luo Wenqi's people, and Ling Shumo's words. It can add more money in the name of the Three Saints."

He put down his writing brush and held Bai Wan's hands. "Why don't you go back and live here? It's a bit cold here. The windows are ventilated, and your cloak is not thick enough."

"It's okay, we all live here. I have thick skin and can withstand it." Bai Wan didn't seem to dodge and let him pinch her hand.

Luo Wenqi looked not surprised.

Shen Zhuyue took a glance at the situation and was shocked.

"This……"

They don't look like close friends or brothers at all, they are just like a pair of mandarin ducks deeply in love.