Zhang Xianzhong and Long Zaitian chatted more and more speculatively, but they hated to see each other late, at first Zhang Xianzhong was a little polite and reserved, but later became acquainted, and all kinds of foul language and slang gradually increased, fortunately, Long Zaitian was bold and didn't care.

Unconsciously chatted for a long time, seeing that the sky was getting dark, Long Zaitian immediately got up and said goodbye to Zhang Xianzhong: "Jingxuan, it's not early, and my father has to rush to Xiangyang, so I won't bother here!" ”

Hearing that Long Zaitian was about to leave, Zhang Xianzhong hurriedly said: "Father-in-law, Xiangyang City is close at hand, and it will be there in one day, and Yunnan has been coming for so long, so there is no need to rush the work of this day or two!" It's better for you to rest here for one night, let's drink the wine, and it's not too late to cross the Xiangjiang River at dawn tomorrow. ”

Long Zaitian stroked his gray beard, thought for a moment, and then nodded in agreement: "That's fine!" You and I hit it off at first sight, and we shouldn't get drunk tonight! ”

Zhang Xianzhong was overjoyed, and hurriedly instructed Dingguodao, who was standing aside: "Stinky boy, don't be stunned!" Hurry up and vacate half of the camp tents in Liujiawan for the soldiers of the Yunnan army to rest! ”

Dingguo hurriedly responded, and then walked out of the tea shed quickly, called Jin Tongwu, and asked him to rush back to the Liujiawan camp as soon as possible, mobilize the soldiers of the Longxiang battalion to vacate the camp tent as soon as possible, and spend the night with the soldiers of the Yunnan army in Longzaitian.

The Long Xiang camp was basically some old guys who came out of Shaanxi all the way, and with Jin Tongwu's order, everyone rushed to give up their tents.

At nightfall, after settling the soldiers of the Dian army, Dingguo asked people to light a few bonfires in the open space of the school field, and the soldiers of the two armies gathered together to drink and talk. Because the folk customs of Yunnan and Shaanxi are simple and bold, the two sides get along happily.

In May and June, there were ten righteous troops who rushed to the Tang and Deng areas, passing through the suburbs of Xiangyang.

Xiong Wencan's troops were overstretched, so he had to transfer Zhang Xianzhong to lead 4,000 troops to assist in suppressing the thieves, promised to allocate all the military funds and salaries, and asked Zhang Dajing, the superintendent, to urge more.

Who knew that Zhang Xianzhong actually refused on the grounds that the other party was all brothers who had gathered righteousness in the past, and if the swords and soldiers met each other, it would hurt the old friendship and it would be difficult to appease them in the future.

And Zhang Dajing had already been bought by Zhang Xianzhong, and replied to Xiong Wencan in a letter: "The days of Xiying being cared for are short, and the settlement is undecided, so it cannot be moved lightly." ”

Seeing that Zhang Xianzhong refused to send troops, Xiong Wencan had no choice but to give up, who knew that Zhang Xianzhong had to make inches of progress, and wanted to ask for food and pay from July to September to raise the troops, otherwise he would have to go to the prefectures and counties of Huguang to fight the autumn wind.

Emperor Chongzhen's temper Xiong Wencan didn't know that Zhang Xianzhong was recruited by himself, if he was forced to rebel again, but he didn't have Xiong Wencan's good fruit to eat, and in desperation, he could only break the steel teeth and swallow it in his stomach, and he made up more than 100,000 taels of silver and sent someone to Gucheng to appease Zhang Xianzhong.

Zhang Xianzhong walked outside the gate and saw the full of more than a dozen carts of silver, and immediately laughed left and right: "Wait and see, the gift sent by Lao Tzu, isn't this all back with interest!" ”

When everyone heard this, they also laughed together.

After laughing at Xiong Wencan, those superficial efforts that should be done still have to be done, Zhang Xianzhong went to Weiyang Port to thank Xiong Wencan in person, and said a bunch of flattering words in front of him. was slapped by Zhang Xianzhong's sycophant, Xiong Wencan couldn't help but feel a little fluttery, and instantly left all his previous dissatisfaction with Zhang Xianzhong behind.

After getting Xiong Wencan, Zhang Xianzhong sent Zhang Kewang to go north to Beijing with all kinds of rare treasures, to meet the first assistant Xue Guoguan, and according to the list written by Xu Yixian, he gave gifts to the yamen officials of the various departments of the Beijing Division one by one.

After accepting Zhang Xianzhong's heavy bribes, all the officials worked hard to say good things about Zhang Xianzhong in front of Emperor Chongzhen. As the so-called three people become tigers, under the concerted efforts of all officials, Emperor Chongzhen also felt that Zhang Xianzhong was really good, so he was no longer guarded against him.

It was September in a flash, and as soon as the day was hazy outside, Xianglian was woken up by a chaotic sound of birds, she got up and put on her clothes, rubbed her hazy sleepy eyes and walked out of the house, and looked up at the sound, only to see a gray magpie standing on the fence, jumping and squeaking.

"Sister Xianglian, why did you get up so early today?" Xiugu, a female soldier sleeping in the next room, heard the movement and followed out.

"Aunt Xiu, did you say that this magpie flew to the wrong place and kept chirping?" Xianglian stared at the magpie and asked suspiciously.

After hearing this, Xiu Gu snorted and said, "I said Sister Xianglian, it's a good thing for magpies to call!" Why are you still expecting it to fly away? ”

Xianglian didn't say anything, just looked up at the sky, sighed, since the day Dingguo left, there has been no news for several months, recalling the sweet words at that time, it is inevitable that there is some melancholy in her heart.

"He must have forgotten about that day." Xianglian muttered softly to herself.

"Sister Xianglian!" The female soldier Jiuzhen suddenly pushed the door and ran in with excitement on her face, panting and shouting at her, "Sister Xianglian! Wedding! Great joy! ”

"Hey, I said this is too good! This magpie has just arrived, and there is really a happy event coming to the door? Jiuzhen, come and listen! Xiu Gu asked curiously on the side.

"Go, go, it's nothing to do with you, stay where it's cool!" Jiuzhen naughtily stuck out her tongue at Xiugu.

"Hmph, if you don't say it, you won't say it, I don't want to hear it yet." Xiu Gu turned around angrily and ran back to the house, but squatted down at the foot of the wall, put her ear to the wall, and listened quietly.

Jiuzhen glanced around and saw that there was no one around, so she pretended to be mysterious and said to Xianglian: "Sister Xianglian, I can only tell you this, don't beat me after you hear it!" ”

"I don't listen to your nonsense." Xianglian snorted, turned around and was about to walk into the house.

Jiuzhen hurriedly grabbed Xianglian and giggled for a while, then whispered: "Sister Xianglian, you want to get married!" ”

Hearing Jiuzhen's words, Xianglian's face instantly turned red to her neck, and she hammered Jiuzhen in the chest in a panic, and then grabbed her ear: "You crazy girl, what nonsense are you talking about?" Believe it or not, I'm going to beat you! ”

"Oops, let go! Let go! It hurts me! Jiuzhen was so pained that tears were about to flow out, "Sister Xianglian, what I said is true." ”

"What did you hear?" Xianglian let go of the hand that was twisting Jiuzhen's ears, her breathing was short, and her face was full of shyness and anticipation.

"Really! Sister Xianglian, this matter has spread in the old camp! Yesterday at the birthday banquet of the handsome, General Dingguo said in front of everyone that he wanted to marry you! Jing Shuai agreed on the spot after hearing this! Jiuzhen put away her smile and said with a serious face.

"It's great that a lover will eventually become married!" Xiu Gu, who was hiding behind the wall and eavesdropping, couldn't hide the good news anymore when she heard this, and ran out of the house with a happy face, her expression was even more excited than her own marriage.

And Xianglian was still flushed, lowered her head and didn't say a word, shyness and happiness were mixed, and she didn't know how to express her emotions for a while, and after a while, Xianglian gradually calmed down, but still felt that her face was hot.

At this moment, a crisp sound of horses' hooves came from far and near outside the courtyard gate.

"Is it Brother Ning Yu?" Xianglian was overjoyed, and hurriedly pushed open the chai door and ran out, and looked at it, but it was her brother Zhang Wenxiu.

"Brother, why are you?" Xianglian's expectations in her heart were disappointed, and she couldn't help but show a look of disappointment.

"What? This hasn't gotten married yet, so I don't want your brother? Wen Xiu jumped off the horse with a grin and ran quickly to Xianglian.

"Where is Brother Ning Yu? Why didn't you see him coming? Xianglian glanced behind Wen Xiu several times, but there was no one.

Wen Xiu smiled: "Silly girl, don't look at it, I'm alone." Don't blame Dingguo, according to custom, the groom cannot come to see the bride before the bride gets married. ”

After hearing this, Xianglian couldn't help but pout: "What, your days are all set?" I'm the last one to know? ”

"No, yesterday my father was happy, and asked Xu Junshi to check the yellow calendar on the spot, saying that it would be an auspicious day in three days, and this day would be decided immediately." Speaking of this, Wen Xiu suddenly lost her mind, "Our poor father, if there is a spirit in the sky, how happy it should be to know this news!" ”

Hearing Wenxiu mention her father, Xianglian's tears couldn't help but flow.

On the day of marriage, according to the custom passed down from generation to generation, the female soldiers combed Xianglian's hair early in the morning, and then applied powder and rouge to her face.

"Sister Xianglian, you are so beautiful today." Looking at the glorious bride in front of her, Xiu Gu couldn't help but be stupid.

"Don't be a nymphomaniac, hurry up and change the bride's clothes, and then grind, my aunt will be here later!" Jiuzhen urged on the side.

Everyone then brought a red satin embroidered jacket to change into Xianglian, and tied a red satin embroidered pleated skirt for her, and put on a phoenix crown inlaid with pearls and a cloud shoulder xia veil.

Looking at the dressed Xianglian, everyone couldn't help but laugh and laugh: "Sister Xianglian, you are dressed like a fairy in the sky!" ”

A female soldier retorted: "No, no, no! The fairies are wearing white clothes, and Sister Xianglian's big red dress can surpass the fairies a hundred times! ”

Another female soldier asked curiously, "Aunt Xiu, I heard that you have seen our uncle?" Tell the sisters, is it really the same talent as the legend? ”

"Not really! My uncle was in our yard that day, so tall and handsome! Xiu Gu gestured with her hand, her face full of pride.

"That aunt and Sister Xianglian are really a natural pair, a pair made from the ground." The female soldier said enviously, "When can I meet such a good aunt?" ”

"I heard that Sister Xianglian's brother, General Wenxiu is not married yet, why don't you let Sister Xianglian help you introduce you?" Jiuzhen quipped on the side.

Listening to everyone's gossip, Xianglian didn't say a word, nervously pulling the big red silk handkerchief in her hand, which was like two people from the lively appearance in the past.

At this moment, there was a burst of drum music from a distance, and it was the sedan chair that received the kiss.

Xianglian then sat down on the edge of the bed, the phoenix crown and the curtain were heavily pressed on her head, as if she weighed a thousand pounds, and it was difficult to even turn her head, plus her whole body was bound in a red satin embroidered jacket, not to mention how awkward it was, Xianglian couldn't help but murmur secretly in her heart: "This dress is useless, or the clothes on weekdays are comfortable to wear!" In the future, I will beg this girl, and this girl will never wear it again! ”

After a long time, the sound of drums finally entered the courtyard, and the people who received relatives began to set off firecrackers in the courtyard, and for a while, the sound of drums and firecrackers resounded in the sky.

As the sedan chair was carried into the yard, Xianglian was covered with a red satin, she was used to wearing cloth shoes on weekdays, and today she walked in red embroidered shoes for the first time, and it was inevitable that she would stumble a little, Xiugu and Jiuzhen, two female soldiers, hurriedly supported her on the left and right, and slowly stood up.

Listening to the shaking sound of the phoenix crown and silver bell on her head, Xianglian suddenly remembered the appearance of her father and mother when she died tragically, how good it would be if they could live to this day.

Thinking of this, Xianglian couldn't help herself for a while, hid under the red satin hijab, choked and cried in a low voice.

Seeing the bride coming out of the house, Zhang Dingguo, who was dressed as a groom's official attire, immediately greeted him with a smile and said softly: "Sister Xianglian, I'm here to pick you up!" ”

Knowing that her sweetheart was right in front of her, but she couldn't find comfort in his arms, Xianglian cried more and more sadly.

Xiugu and Jiuzhen motioned for Dingguo to step aside, and then carefully helped Xianglian into the sedan chair, and sewed a few stitches on the sedan door with red thread to avoid being blown open by the wind when walking on the road.

"Get up!" Everything was ready, and with a shout, the sedan chair was lifted up by four sedan chair drivers.

So the drum music opened the way in front, Dingguo rode the "two buckets of gold" hanging with big red flowers and walked in front of the sedan chair, and the kissing team followed behind the sedan chair, and the group went towards the direction of Gucheng County.