Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 170 You are familiar with Fenglin Mountain, and so am I

Qi Xiao was naturally asking about the construction of the plank road.

Bai Xiqiao sighed. "That's a good question... If this construction can be completed within three months, then it's going smoothly. If it must be completed within half a month, then it's not going smoothly. It's already late autumn, and it gets dark early. Everyone must be evacuated before the twilight hour. Otherwise, if we're not careful when the sun sets, we'll be smashed to pieces and our bodies might not even be recovered. Time is too tight."

"Have you been to the valley? How is it?"

"The valley is quite good, not much different from before, just a thick layer of dirt has accumulated. We just need to clean it up. The thatched hut in the Hanchen Sect is a bit shabby, but at least it can provide a roof over our heads. However, it won't work in a heavy snowy day. The wind is blowing in from all directions and we'll freeze to death."

Qi Xiao said, "I asked Chen Heng today, and he has already selected three thousand elite soldiers. Tomorrow, I will have them bring five days' worth of dry food and go into the mountains with us."

"Hmm? Five days' rations? With us? What are you going to do?"

"Overseer."

"You are not needed."

Chi Yue touched the bridge of his nose. Only Bai Xiqiao would dare to say such a thing.

"You are familiar with Fenglin Mountain, and I am familiar with it too, so why don't you need me?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Where's the map?"

Baixiqiao pulled a map from his pocket and spread it on the table. The map showed the three routes they had originally planned for transporting grain. Baixiqiao had marked them, but less than a third of them were now built. The further into the mountains the more difficult it was to build, and the gap was still quite large.

"Three thousand people will be divided into three teams. You and I will each form one team. Let Chen Heng send a leader. We will work on three routes day and night. Clear all the routes first."

Bai Xiqiao stared at Qi Xiao for a moment, then slammed the table and said, "Alright!"

Building the plank road requires craftsmen, but the number of them is limited. Even if it is made of iron, it is impossible for them to work day and night in the mountains.

But if the soldiers are just cutting down trees, moving rocks and clearing roads, which is just physical work rather than technical work, then it is a different matter. There is strength in numbers, and they can take turns to do the work. Although it is hard work, the efficiency is much higher.

Qi Xiao turned to Zong Sheng and said, "You stay here. Make sure Chen Heng and Lu Xiulin select another 3,000 men for me within five days. Have them carry five days' worth of rations and go into the mountains to relieve the other men."

"Yes."

"Chi Yue, after I entered the mountain, you must keep a close eye on all the news, especially the food. If there is anything important, listen to Tang Ling."

Chi Yue nodded: "As Your Highness commands."

Tang Ling remained silent, quietly studying the map for a long time. When Qi Xiao had almost finished giving her instructions, she finally spoke, "I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it's feasible."

"Tell me."

"I don't know the situation in Fenglin Mountain. I only looked at the map. From the military camp into the mountain, the three roads have avoided the steep cliffs and are considered flat. However, there are still many valleys and slopes. It is impossible to repair the entire plank road. According to our previous discussion, we should use more slings and take advantage of the terrain to pull the food and supplies across, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"But the slings have limited load-bearing capacity. Each location requires at least six to eight sets of slings, so the project won't progress quickly, right?"

Bai Xiqiao nodded: "That's what happened."

"Since you're going into the mountains to clear a path, could you try using the felled trees to smooth the downhill path a bit? Once winter arrives, snow and rain will form a more icy surface or a snowy trail. Using sleds and ropes to transport it would be faster, wouldn't that be?"

Most of the Taihua River basin is not frozen, only a small tributary in the northwest will freeze in the dead of winter. The ice used by the royal family and nobles of the Zhou Dynasty in the summer was collected from the upper reaches of this tributary and transported to the east in winter by sleds.

Of course, glaciers and snow-capped mountains are two different things. Tang Ling doesn't know whether it can be done, so she can only ask Qi Xiao and Bai Xiqiao for their opinions.

Qi Xiao looked at Tang Ling, then at the map. When he raised his eyes, Bai Xiqiao was looking at him.

Bai Xiqiao said, "If this is the case, the construction period can indeed be shortened. In many places, we won't even need slings; we can just slide down the slope. Also, if we wait until winter and snow before we start transporting grain, we'll have more time to complete the project. I think it's feasible."

"If this method works, then when we cross Fenglin Mountain later, can we also use it? Sledding?" Chi Yue also came over and said with a smile, "This reminds me of the young masters in Yuanjing City who love ice play in winter. They slide very fast on the sled bed."

Qi Xiao nodded: "Maybe give it a try."

Anyway, we might not be able to complete the repair work no matter how fast we rush it. We have to clear the road anyway, and it would just be easier if we could level it a little. If it could be done, it would save a lot of trouble.

After everything was settled, Bai Xiqiao went straight to Chen Heng and Lu Xiulin and asked them to gather the troops early the next morning and bring dry food into the mountains.

***

Qi Xiao and Tang Ling returned to their tent and quickly turned off the lights.

Qi Xiao carried Tang Ling to the bed, hugged her tightly in his arms, rested her chin on his shoulder, and sighed deeply: "I'm so tired."

"If you're tired, go to bed early."

"……Um."

Qi Xiao was not the only one who was tired; Tang Ling was tired too. To prevent Qi Xiao from worrying about him too much and slowing down his journey, Tang Ling gritted his teeth and followed him silently. Every day, he had to force himself to be alert in front of Qi Xiao, not daring to show any signs of tiredness.

It was not unreasonable for Qi Xiao to be so worried that he would not be able to hold on in the ice and snow of Fenglin Mountain. Although he was not as weak as Qi Xiao thought, he was not as strong as he thought.

He has to be able to hold on...

Tang Ling became confused as she was thinking. She didn't know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was still dark. She didn't know what time it was. She was woken up by Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao's whole body was as hot as a small stove. He pressed against Tang Ling, rubbing the hottest part of her body, as if sparks could come out of it.

"Hmm? Qi Xiao..."

"I'm here. Are you awake?" Qi Xiao turned Tang Ling's face and kissed him. He was clearly asking a question, but he blocked his mouth and prevented him from answering.

"Hmm...yeah!"

Qi Xiao swallowed up all of Tang Ling's whimpers and kissed him until he couldn't breathe. His originally restless hands and feet were still sneaking around, but now that Tang Ling was awake, he became unrestrained.

“Ah! Slow down…!”

"I'm going into the mountains today and won't be back for ten days or half a month. Tang Ling, please feel sorry for me, right?"

“Qi…!”

Qi Xiao put his hands on Tang Ling's waist and thrust hard. Tang Ling bit the quilt to prevent herself from screaming.

"Tang Ling, Zi Yi...you are so beautiful." Qi Xiao lowered his head and bit Tang Ling's shoulder.

"……Don't……"

"What?" Qi Xiao pulled Tang Ling's hands and hugged him into his arms, then leaned over to bite his neck again, "What else?"

"Don't bite."

"It hurts? Okay, I won't bite." After saying he wouldn't bite, Qi Xiao kept trying different ways to torment her until the morning light came in through the window.