On the fifth day of the seventh month, Wang Qing, Legui, Liu Tu and others arrived in Yingyang, accompanied by Ma Gai, his wife and children, and concubine Wang.

After learning the news of the arrival of this group of people, Chu Yan personally took Ju Sheng, Cao Wu, Xu Shen, Xu Ma, Huang Ben, and Zou Bu out of the city to greet them.

When he heard Ju Sheng and Cao Wu call them 'Captains of the Ministry', Wang Qing's face flashed a little different, and he pouted regardless of the occasion and said: "For the sake of a petty officer who is just a lieutenant of the ministry, I actually asked Uncle Ben to come overnight......"

Is the lieutenant a petty officer?

Anyway, that's a general with a thousand soldiers.

When Chu Yan and the others looked at each other, Le Gui, who had been promoted to uncle by Wang Qing, smiled secretly in his heart.

He had heard from his brothers, and when their boss learned that he had been appointed as the lieutenant of the department, he was quite excited, and excitedly shouted in the main village: "Little ones, Lao Tzu has become an official." ”

Anyway, I'm very excited.

But it's no wonder, in fact, he is very excited up and down in the Black Tiger Village, after all, their big leader has become the governor of Yingchuan County, and in the future, the official position of Yingchuan County is not for them to choose?

While smiling secretly in his heart, Le Gui smiled and said, "Boss, if you can defeat that Xiang Xuan, it is estimated that the big leader will promote you to the rank of upper captain......

Wang Qing was quite moved when he heard this, touched his beard and said with a smile: "It's just a ...... of Xiang Xuan"

After a short greeting, Wang Qing, Ma Gai and his entourage followed Chu Yan and others into Yingyang City, and listened to Chu Yan talk about the current situation in the city while going to the county office.

During this period, Ma Gai's concubine Wang looked curiously through the window of the carriage.

After a while, everyone took the lead in coming to the county office.

At this time, Chu Yan said to Ma Gai with a smile: "Lieutenant Ma, I have prepared a mansion for you on my own initiative, I hope you can be satisfied." ”

Of course, Ma Gai was not surprised, and immediately said with a smile after being stunned: "Where is it, then thank you." ”

Seeing this, Chu Yan instructed his brother Chu Fei to take Ma Gai and his family to settle down in the new house first, and then go to the county government together to meet.

A moment later, Chu Fei led Ma Gai to a big mansion, not to mention Ma Gai's wife Zou and concubine Wang were dumbfounded, even Ma Gai was a little stunned: Such a big mansion is really for him?

"Brother, are you mistaken?" Ma Gai asked Chu Fei suspiciously.

Seeing this, Chu Fei glanced at the Zou family and the Wang family, pulled Ma Gai aside, and whispered: "Captain Ma, the little one is not mistaken, this mansion originally belonged to the Hao clan surnamed Zhang in Yingyang, after the rebels captured Yingyang, they almost slaughtered the families in the city, and the family wealth was also robbed, leaving only an empty house. …… Knowing that Ma County Lieutenant was transferred to Yingyang County Lieutenant, my clan brother specially ordered someone to pick the largest one, Ma County Lieutenant rest assured, we have sent someone to clean it carefully inside and outside the house, and we will never scare your two wives. ”

Ma Gai suddenly realized, and immediately turned his head to look at the huge mansion, and couldn't help but sigh a little in his heart.

Looking at the scale of this mansion, it is not difficult to guess that the Zhang clan is most likely one of the top wealthy families in Yingyang, and they were actually slaughtered by the rebels, but fortunately, his Kunyang was not broken by the rebels at the beginning, otherwise, he would not dare to guarantee whether his wife and children would suffer the same fate.

A moment later, under the leadership of Chu Fei, Ma Gai took his wife and concubine and son to the North House.

While Chu Fei was waiting for Ma Gai outside, Zou pulled her husband aside and asked in a low voice, "Husband, is this arranged by the Zhou chief?" ”

"That 'Leader Zhou' is now the Governor of Yingchuan, and he is busy with daily affairs, so he should have no time to take care of it, this should be Chu Yan's gesture." Ma Gai said casually.

Although with his identity as the 'Lieutenant of Yingyang County', it will not be difficult to arrange a good mansion for his family in the future, Ma Gai still accepts Chu Yan's affection very much, after all, it saves him a lot of time.

Hearing Ma Gai's words, Zou stopped talking, and said in a low voice for a long time: "That 'Zhou Chief' moved his husband to Yingyang, and he was not promoted...... Husband, you want a snack. ”

Ma Gai was stunned for a long time, then he understood Zou's concern, and said with a smile: "Do you think that your husband annoyed Zhou Duwei?" ”

"Isn't it?"

"Of course not." Ma Gai said with a smile: "Then Liu Tu told me that the leader of Zhou asked me to move to Yingyang, and it seemed that he was assisting the commander of the royal department, but he was actually looking at him, lest he go too far......

Zou breathed a sigh of relief and asked again, "That'...... After the rebel incident is over, will you still be transferred back to Kunyang? ”

"This ......"

Ma Gai hesitated for a moment, and the shock and surprise of Ishihara when he learned that he was appointed as the lieutenant of Kunyang County came to his mind, and said with a smile: "It shouldn't be transferred back to Kunyang, otherwise what will Ishihara's kid do?" …… Okay, you two sisters will rest for a while, and I have to rush to the county office. ”

"Hmm."

After a few words of advice to the Zou family and the Wang family, Ma Gai left this new home and went to the county government with Chu Fei and his party.

Unlike the Zou family's concerns, Ma Gai did not think that his 'move to the rank of Governor of Yingyang' was alienated by the Zhou chief, on the contrary, in this county town where there were no county orders and county officials, he felt that his power would become very great in the future.

With excitement, Ma Gai returned to the county government and met Wang Qing, Chu Yan, Ju Sheng, and Cao Wu, who had been waiting for him at the wine table for a long time.

Everyone drank happily for a while, and then Chu Yan said to Wang Qing and Ma Gai: "Yingyang, I'll hand it over to the two." …… Lieutenant Ma, the 1,000 county soldiers you gave me at the beginning, I will also return them to you intact. ”

"That's a good feeling." Ma Gai agreed with a smile, after all, he didn't bring a single soldier with him when he came to Yingyang this time, and there was no available county soldier in the hands of the dignified county lieutenant, which is too much to say.

From the side, Wang Qing asked Chu Yan, "Chu Yan, how many soldiers are you going to take away?" ”

"I'll take the second battalion of the brigade." Chu Yan said solemnly: "I heard Liu Tu say that Xiang Xuan may use troops against Xuchang in these days, if it weren't for waiting for the two of you, I would have taken Ju Sheng and Cao Wu to Xuchang a few days ago." …… I take the second battalion of the brigade, and Yingyang will have about 5,000 soldiers left in the three counties, no problem, right? ”

"It's okay, Chen Mo promised to send me two thousand brothers in two days, seven thousand people are enough, but ......" Wang Qing touched his beard and asked Chu Yan, "How do you plan to go to Xuchang?" As far as I know, Xiang Xuan, Yan Xuan and others have heavy troops in Yingyin, and you, nearly 4,000 people, swaggered to Xuchang......"

"Of course it's not a swagger." Chu Yan said with a smile: "I have discussed this matter with Cao Wu and Ju Sheng, and decided to disperse the 4,000 soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Battalion into 40 teams of 100 people, and take advantage of the night to go to Xuchang. I've already sent someone to contact the brigades about this, and they will cover in the shadows. ”

"That's good."

Wang Qing smiled and touched the wine bowl with Chu Yan.

Without further ado, after dusk that day, Chu Yan left Xu Shen and Xu Ma to assist Wang Qing, took Ju Sheng and Cao Wu, and led more than 4,000 soldiers of the second battalion of Ben to go straight to Xuchang.

According to the estimation of Ju Sheng and Cao Wu, when they arrived at Yingyin, it was almost around the time of Chou and Yin the next day, and most of the rebels stationed in Yingyin were still asleep at that time, so that they could avoid being blocked by the rebels in the Yingyin area to the greatest extent.

Then it only took two more hours, and they could arrive in Xuchang around the hour and the hour, and it happened that the sky was already bright at this time, even if the rebels learned about it and sent troops to chase them, they could also march to the city of Xuchang in a hurry, and get the protection of the Xuchang army.

I have to say that Ju Sheng, Cao Wu and others are worthy of being the generals of the former righteous masters, and they will count everything carefully.

However, even if Chu Yan, Ju Sheng, and Cao Wu were cautious, the rebels in the Yingyin area still felt something.

At three o'clock the next day, Xiang Xuan, who was resting in the east gate tower of Yingyin City, was suddenly awakened, and Xiang Ji, the general who woke him up, hurriedly said: "Uncle, just now there are soldiers patrolling outside the city to report, they found that there are many small forces rushing in the direction of Xuchang, they have fought with one of them, the opponent's armor is the same as my righteous division, and the strength is also equal. ”

"What?" Xiang Xuan's color changed slightly: "Is it a traitor who surrendered to Kunyang?" ”

"I guess so." Xiang Ji nodded.

Hearing this, Xiang Xuan turned over and sat up on the bed, walked quickly to the wall outside the building, and looked at the dark outside the city.

He Changsha Yishi was ashamed to mention that in the first battle of Kunyang last year, about 16,000 righteous soldiers surrendered to Kunyang, and later because of the despicable tricks of Zhou Hu, these surrendered soldiers abandoned the honor and belief of his righteous teacher, and were willing to be enslaved by Kunyang, and even, among them, there were about three or four thousand 'rebels', under the leadership of Ju Sheng, Cao Wu and others, they became the lackeys of that Zhou Hu, and in turn became enemies of his righteous teacher.

Now, Zhou Hu summoned these 'righteous rebels' to Xuchang, which will undoubtedly greatly increase the difficulty of his righteous division to capture Xuchang.

"Uncle, do you want to send someone to intercept?"

Xiang Ji asked on the side.

"It's too late."

Xiang Xuan shook his head slightly, frowned and said: "The timing of this group of people to march is very good, and they happened to sneak through the Yingyin area in the middle of the night, I don't know if there were such people under Zhou Hu in the first place, or if it was ...... Alas. ”

With a long sigh, he instructed Xiang Jidao: "Immediately send someone to General Zhou Gong's camp in the east of Xuchang City, and ask General Zhou Gong to come to Yingyin today to discuss countermeasures, this Xuchang ...... It can't be put off any longer. ”

"Yes!"

On the morning of the sixth day of July, Chu Yan arrived in Xuchang with two generals, Ju Sheng and Cao Wu, and more than 4,000 soldiers of the second battalion of the brigade.

The addition of more than 4,000 living troops increased the number of soldiers available in Xuchang City to 20,000, and the morale was greatly improved.

Immediately, Zhao Yu issued an order to the soldiers of the whole city through the Governor's Office, appointing Chu Yan as the general of the Governor's Office, and appointing Ju Sheng and Cao Wu as soldiers.

On the same day, in the early afternoon, Zhou Gong, the general of Jiangxia Yishi, arrived in Yingyin.

Xiang Xuan originally invited Zhou Gong to discuss the attack on Xuchang, but he didn't expect that Zhou Gong brought a piece of news that I don't know whether to say good or bad: at the beginning of the month, Jiangxia Yishi Qu Shuai Chen Miao captured Chen County, and urgently recruited all the generals to break Chen Liu, and then joined the Jiangdong Yishi in Liang County.

At that time, Xiang Xuan realized that there was not much time left for him.