"May I ask what is the purpose of your visit?" Xiahou Lei, the city lord of the Twin City, waited for Murong Ke to sit down and asked straight to the point.

"Lord Xiahoulei, we would like to ask you to open the city gates. Murong Ke replied politely, "We are really in a hurry to cross the river, and my son and his vassals are waiting anxiously outside the city. ”

"Go to Wanghai City?" the old weasel Xiahou Lei snickered, "Well, you don't need to tell me, really, I can figure it out with my knees, I'm not an old fool." ”

"It's to look at Haicheng. Murong Ke confirmed his words. She didn't feel the need to deny it. "Lord Xiahoulei, I thought I could meet you in Wanghai City. My father has long gathered the princes, and you are still a vassal of my father, right?"

"Hmph," said Lord Xiahoulei, his voice somewhere between sneering and mocking. "You also saw that there are so many soldiers on the city wall, aren't they all gathered by me? I plan to set off for Wanghai City as soon as all the troops are ready. ”

"This is really hard Lord Xiahou. Murong Ke said. I knew in my heart that this old guy's troops would not be able to all gather in this life, but "this life" was indeed a few years away for the old guy.

"Of course, I'll send my son when the time comes, Madame Buyang, my old bones have passed the days of leading troops to war, and you must be able to see it. Xiahoulei said and looked around, as if expecting everyone's support, but no one spoke. He pointed to a tall, rugged man in his fifties. "Xiahou Lu, you tell Mrs. Buyang that I really plan to do so. ”

"Honorable lady, my father really intends to do so. Xiahou Lu said. He was the son of the second person, Madame Xiahou. "I swear by my name. ”

"However, your father suffered a defeat before we left, can this kind of account be counted on my head?" Xiahou Lei leaned back on his back cushion and looked at Murong Ke with a frown, as if waiting for her to question his statement, but Murong Ke didn't say anything. "I heard that the 'King Slayer' Qingqiu has the courage to beat the other vassals of Wanghai City to the ground, just like an axe splitting tofu. Why is my son in a hurry to go south to die? Aren't all the people who went to the south fleeing back in a panic?"

Murong Ke, who had a calm face, couldn't spit in the old weasel's face, and then poured ghee on him to light a sky lantern. But she kept smiling.

Murong Ke understood that all the arguments at this time were meaningless and useless. She only wanted to open the iron gates blocking the bridge before dusk, so that the army of the Bu Yang family could cross the river.

So she said calmly: "The Murong family is sympathetic to your difficulties, so we should work together. We should rush to Wanghai City as soon as possible. Lord Xiahoulei, there may be some things we can talk about privately. ”

"Aren't we talking now?" Lord Xiahoulei grunted. His red, bald head, covered with age spots, spun around. "What are you looking at?" he yelled at the children and grandchildren around him, "Why don't you hurry up and get out?" I didn't hear that Mrs. Buyang was going to talk to me privately? You all go down and find something to do, and you people eat for nothing every day. Yes, you too," he pointed to his sixteen-year-old wife, "stinky woman, get out, get out!"

His sons, grandsons, illegitimate sons, grandchildren, and granddaughters left the hall in a row.

Xiahou Lei looked at Murong Ke and said self-deprecatingly: "They are all waiting for me to die, Xiahou Hu has been the heir for forty years, but I want to teach him to be disappointed." Hey, why am I in a hurry to go to the west so that he can inherit the title, don't you say? ”

"I sincerely hope that you will live to be one hundred years old. Murong Ke said.

"In that case, those unscrupulous descendants will be at least half crazy, haha, it will definitely be. Xia Houlei finally stopped laughing. "Well, Madame Buyan, what exactly do you want to talk about?"

"We want to cross the river. Murong Ke said to him.

"I know that, but what you're saying is too light, why should I let you go?"

For a moment, Murong Ke couldn't bear it anymore, and her anger surged into her heart. "Lord Xiahoulei, if you still have the strength to climb to the top of the city, you will see how many soldiers and horses my son has brought with him. ”

"Don't look at it, I know it all right. But as soon as the soldiers and horses of the first-class Qingqiu Lord arrived, they were all just a pile of dead corpses, "The old weasel was not to be outdone. "Madame Buyang, I am three times your age, so you don't have to come with me. Your husband is imprisoned in the dungeon of Guangming City for treason, and I don't know if he is still alive; your father is sick in bed, and Qingqiu Youyong has captured a lot of your brothers and brothers, what do you use to scare me? Your precious son outside the city? I will exchange two children for the life of one of your children, or three, I will have a surplus!"

"You swore allegiance to my father. Murong Ke reminded him.

Xiahou Lei's head swayed from side to side, indicating that Murong Ke's words didn't make sense at all. "That's right, I swore allegiance to Wanghai City, I don't deny it. But as a minor lord of the Seven Kingdoms, I also swear allegiance to the royal family. In my opinion, since Huang Fuzhang is the king at this time, aren't you, your precious son, and the group of fools outside all traitors? ”

"Then why don't you help Qingqiu's spiritual power, what are you waiting for?" Murong Ke questioned him.

Xiahou Lei snorted disdainfully. "Qingqiu spiritual power, that's a big man, both the lord and the prime minister of Guangming City, heh, how amazing, very arrogant. But I'll bet you, he's eaten too much and will in the pit like me, but don't try to hear him admit it, don't even think about it. It's not just two sons, one of them is still a cripple, he can only be counted as a half-man, I can exchange my son with him for one, and when he is all dead, I have nineteen and a half left!" he chuckled, "If the old fox of Qingqiu Spiritual Power needs my help, he can let out a loud fart." ”

It turned out that this was the case, and Murong Ke understood in his heart. Since Qingqiu's spiritual power didn't come to the door, this old weasel naturally couldn't negotiate terms with him.

In the absence of any return, this Xiahou Lei will never "oblige" to help.

Since this is the case, it seems that the matter of crossing the river has taken a turn for the better.

"Lord Xiahoulei, I am asking for your help now," Murong Ke said humbly, "I ask you on behalf of my only parent, my brother, my husband, and my son. ”

Lord Xiahou Lei stretched out a withered hand and shook it in front of Murong Ke. "Madam, save these sweet words of yours, it is enough for me to listen to my wife. Did you just see that she was only sixteen years old, like a little flower, and her nectar was only for me to drink. I'm sure she'll lick me another son this time next year. Maybe I'll make him my heir, and you think this will make them angry and go ahead of me?"

"I'm sure she'll give you many sons. ”

Xiahou Lei didn't shake his hand this time, and swayed his red bald head from side to side. "Your dad didn't come to the wedding this time, and in my opinion, it's an unforgivable insult. Don't forget, he didn't come to my last marriage, and he called me 'Late Lord Xiahoulei', you know, did he think I was dead? I'm not dead, and I promise you that I'll live longer than him, just as I lived longer than your grandfather." ”

"I'm sorry my father didn't come, you know, he's not in good health. Murong Ke held back his anger and said.

"Your family always looks at me unpleasantly, don't deny it, don't try to lie to me, I know all this. Xiahoulei recalled the old things. "Many years ago, I went to Ling Zun and proposed that his son marry my daughter, am I not a good heart? I have a good daughter who is a suitable person, only two years older than your brother, even if your brother doesn't like her, I have other daughters to choose for him, young and young, old and old, daughters and widows, and everything, but what happened? Your family has told a lot of sweet words, all of which are excuses. Holy, I just want to marry a daughter, am I wrong?"

"You're not at fault, Lord Xiahoulei. Murong Ke followed closely, and he chattered endlessly, but after talking for a long time, he didn't know what price this old weasel was going to offer.

"Oh, by the way, ma'am, you just said you wanted to cross the river?" asked Lord Xiahoulei playfully.

"Yes, you have such a good memory, I almost forgot what I was here for. ”

"Hey, you can't get by!" Lord Xiahou Lei announced crisply, "Unless I agree, why should I agree?" The Murong family and the Buyang family have never been very kind to me. After the old weasel finished speaking, he leaned back in the chair, clasped his hands on his chest, and showed a smug smile, waiting for Murong Ke to reply.

"Lord Xiahou Lei, you know that I can represent the Murong family and the Buyang family," Murong Ke looked at the red bald head. "So, how do you want our two families to be friendly?"

Xiahou Lei smiled even more proudly, he had been waiting for so long, and this was what he had been waiting for.

The rest is simple.

This man, woman, old and young started a fierce bargaining in the spacious hall of Hedong Castle.

When the gate of Hedong Castle was opened, a fiery red sunset hung down in the western mountain forest, the suspension bridge creaked down, the gate slowly rose, and Lady Murong Ke rode back to her son Bu Yangfei and the princes of the north.

Behind Murong Ke were the sons of six Xiahou Lei, including Xiahou Hu and Xiahou Lu, as well as a large number of spearmen. Dressed in blue rings and silver cloaks on their shoulders, they formed a column and walked slowly.

Bu Yang quickly stepped forward, and the north wind followed him as if he were flying by his side.

"Everything was done. Murong Ke told him, "Lord Xiahou Lei will let you cross the river, and his army will be under your command except for the five hundred who will be left to guard the twin cities." ”

When Murong Ke said the good news that he was stunned, there was no joy on his face.

"Mother, can Xiahou Lei be so generous?" Bu Yangfei felt incredible.

"You listen to me," Murong Ke looked at his son with a blushing face under the sunset, "I suggest that you leave no less than five hundred swordsmen and archers to help Xiahou Lei Xie defend the city, I don't think he will refuse." Remember, make sure you have someone you trust in command, and Lord Xiahoulei may need to be reminded at all times to fulfill his promises. After all, we're still going back from here. ”

"Mother, do as you say. Bu Yang Fei said as he stared at the large spearman, "Perhaps...... Let Chiyang Song come to the town, what do you think?"

"Good. Murong Ke agreed.

"He, that Xiahou Lei, what does he want us?" Bu Yangfei looked at his mother with a serious face and asked uneasily.

"You have to allocate a few subordinates to escort the two grandsons of Lord Xiahou Lei north to the Northern Underworld. Murong Ke told his son, "I have agreed to adopt them as adopted sons, they are still young, about the same size as your younger brother, I think Bu Yangming should also be happy to have his peers as companions." ”

"That's it, two adopted sons, it's really not ......."

"Xiahou Lu, the son of Lord Xiahoulei, is with us," she continued, "and he will serve as your personal attendant, and after a while, Lord Xiahoulei will like to see him canonized as a nobleman." ”

"Bring an attendant?" Bu Yangfei shrugged indifferently, "Very well, no problem, as long as he is willing to follow." ”

"Also," Murong Ke seemed to be unable to stop, and his face became more and more ugly with the conditions he had just promised. "If your sister Bu Yangnan returns safely, I agree to let her marry Xiahou Ling, the youngest son of Lord Xiahou Lei, of course, this will have to wait until the two of them become adults. ”

Bu Yangfei was at a loss. "Mother, according to what I know about my sister Bu Yangnan, she will not agree. ”

Murong Ke didn't answer his son's words, and Bu Yangfei realized that his mother hadn't finished talking about the conditions of Xiahou Lei's family, and he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"When the war is over, you will also marry one of his daughters," Murong Ke didn't watch his son fly, she was afraid that he would not be able to speak anymore, "Xiahou Lei will generously agree to your own choice, he has several suitable candidates. ”

Bu Yangfei now understands that the bridge of Xiahou Lei's family is really not in vain. "Lord Xiahou Lei is really a calculating man. He said.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, and now it's too late for you to say so. Murong Ke looked up at his son's flying eyes and asked, "Do you agree?"

"Can I refuse?"

"Yes, then you can't cross the river. Murong Ke's answer was simple and realistic.

"I agree. Bu Yangfei said solemnly.

In Murong Ke's eyes, Bu Yangfei has never looked like an adult like at this time.

A young boy may be able to wield a sword like an adult, but only a true adult lord can understand the meaning of a political marriage contract and accept it calmly.

That night, a crescent moon swayed across the rushing river, and the army of the Northern Underworld began to cross the river.

Their two columns marched side by side, like a great serpent of steel, winding into the castle of the East River, rounding the square, passing through the inner city, onto the arched bridge, and after passing through the same terrain again, leaving the castle on the west bank.

Murong Ke rode in front of the steel snake, walking side by side with his son.

The army quietly split up before entering the East River Castle.

Flying on foot left almost all the infantry and archers and a small number of cavalry. These are the main forces of the North, commanded by the eerie and eerie Lord Taishi'an embroidered with a black skull emblem.

In Murong Ke's words, the weird and eerie Tai Shi An was the best person to deal with Qingqiu's spiritual power.

Behind Murong Ke and Bu Yangfei were nearly ninety percent of the cavalry in the army, including knights, spear cavalry, free riders, and archers. It took them several hours to complete the crossing.

At that time, Murong Ke could never forget the sound of countless horses' hooves stepping on the suspension bridge, as well as the blazing gaze of Lord Xiahou Lei on the bridge tower. He sat on a stretcher, looking down from between the slender bars of the killing hole, and watched them go.

This cavalry team led by Bu Yangfei will rush to the battlefield of Wanghai City.

The cavalry army galloped through the starry night.

The army soon entered the southern frontier, making its way through the vast rolling southern hilly borders.

The stream at the bottom of the valley flowed, winding through the slate riverbed, and the moonlight sparkled and fluctuated on the water surface, Murong Ke had a feeling of returning home.

Under the trees, horses neighed and stretched out their hooves on the soft ground covered with fallen leaves. People lowered their voices and nervously joked.

Murong Ke could hear the faint sound of the clash of spears and the friction of chain mail from time to time, but even these sounds had a southern ambiguity.

"Ma'am, how long has it been? Yu Wenguang said. His mission was to keep Murong Ke safe in this battle, and Bu Yangfei had appointed him as the head of the guards in the Northern Underworld, and he could take office when he returned.

And in the southern border, Yu Wencheng's task is to guard Murong Ke.

He led thirty guards, not only ordered to protect Murong Ke in the war, but also to send Murong Ke back to the Northern Underworld City safely if the war was unfavorable.

Bu Yangfei originally wanted to send fifty people, but Murong Ke insisted that Bu Yangfei needed these people more, so there were only ten. The two immediately bargained for a long time, and finally reached a compromise and sent thirty guards, which both sides were very unhappy with.

"Life and death are fate. Murong Ke told him. When the war came, she knew that it would mean death, maybe it would be her death, maybe it would be Yu Wenguang, maybe even maybe it would be Bu Yangfei, anyone could possibly do it.

No one is safe in war, and anyone's life is at risk. So everything seems useful but in fact it is nothing.

So everything is in vain to add to the troubles.

Murong Ke quietly listened to the rustling of leaves in the forest, the tinkling of spring water in the stream, and felt the warm breeze from the south blowing through his hair.

It wasn't necessarily easy to fly, although he didn't show it at all. Murong Ke watched him walk through the procession, patted the man on the shoulder, laughed loudly with the man, and assisted the other man in checking the marching horses. His armor rattled softly as it moved, leaving only his head exposed.

The breeze stirred his black hair, and Murong Ke couldn't help but be surprised when his son had grown so tall. He was only sixteen years old, and he was almost as tall as a step in the dust.

Please let him grow taller, Murong Ke prayed silently. Let him live past the age of sixteen, thirty, fifty, let him be as tall as his father, and give him the opportunity to embrace his children and grandchildren, Bodhisattva, the compassionate Avalokiteshvara, please.

The snow wolf north wind followed closely and flew closely, rushing forward with the unpredictable future.