Seeing that the cavalry turned around a mountain pass, by the light of the torches, Zhou Chang saw that the leader was wearing a white armor and gold helmet and holding a halberd. Zhou Chang suddenly stood up and shouted, "Lord Xinjia! ”

When the leader of the team heard someone calling on the hillside, he immediately reined in his horse and shouted, "Is it Lord Zhou Chang ahead?" ”

I saw Zhou Chang take three steps and make two steps, came down from the high slope, and said: "Lord Lao personally went out of the city to pick him up, and Zhou Chang was grateful." ”

Xin Jia also turned over and dismounted, held Zhou Chang's hands and said, "Lord Zhou Chang has worked hard from afar. ”

Zhou Chang laughed and said, "I didn't expect the reinforcements to come so quickly, and I almost treat you as dogs." ”

Xin Jia said: "Your guards are coming day and night, I know that the situation must be very urgent, so I dare not delay." ”

It turned out that the guards sent by Zhou Chang to ask for help drove all the way to Xincheng early that morning. Xin Jia, who stayed in the city, learned that Zhou Hou and his wife were in danger and were rushing to Xincheng, and immediately led more than 100 cavalry to set off first, and even ordered 500 foot soldiers to follow closely behind to meet Zhou Chang and his party.

When Zhou Chang introduced Xin Jia into the valley, Tai Ji was overjoyed when he saw Xin Jia and shouted, "Big brother! What are you doing here? ”

Xin Jia smiled: "I'm a brother, I'm ashamed that I can't come to see you from time to time." Hearing that you and Lord Zhou Hou are here, it is also my duty to come to greet you. ”

Tai Ji said with tears in her eyes: "What does the eldest brother say, you are responsible for guarding the city, so naturally you can't leave Xincheng without permission." Besides, you come to Qizhou to see me every New Year, and my sister is already satisfied, and she doesn't dare to ask him anymore. After that, he hurriedly called Zhou Kao and Zhou Fa to come over to see his uncle, and Xin Jia was very happy to see the two nieces.

These people talked about their farewells and naturally talked happily with each other. When Zhou Chang mentioned that there were still dog Rong people approaching the left, Xin Jia said: "More than two hundred dog Rong people are not to be afraid, but I am afraid that there will be other enemies coming one after another. It's better for us to go back to Xincheng overnight, so as to be a foolproof plan. After a day or two of rest, I will go with you to the court. ”

Zhou Fa shouted happily on the side: "Uncle is also going to the court, great!" ”

Xin Jia laughed and said, "When your grandfather sees his two grandchildren, he doesn't know how happy he will be." ”

Zhou Chang asked: "When I went to Chaoge last year, my father was sick and bedridden, is his old man in good health now?" ”

Xin Jia sighed and said: "My father has been in charge of Taishi for many years, and he has become ill from hard work, and he has repeatedly proposed to Lord Shang Xian to return to his hometown, but he has not been allowed. ”

Zhou Chang muttered: "This time the new king ascends the throne, you and I will find an opportunity to mention this matter to Lord Shang Shou together. It would be great if Lord Shang Shou could agree to let his father return to Xincheng to retire for the rest of his life. ”

Xin Jiaxi said: "I also have this intention. The so-called once a son of heaven and a courtier, this time the new king ascended the throne, maybe Lord Shang Shou will consider replacing some of the old ministers of the previous dynasty. Let's go back to Xincheng for a long time. ”

So, under the escort of the Shen cavalry, Zhou Chang and others began to trek at night. Xin Jia and Zhou Chang led the way, Mane Xiong and Zhou Kao followed, and Tai Ji and Zhou Fa were still riding in the car.

It is a cramped path through the mountains, sometimes over the ridge, sometimes into the valley; Sometimes passing through a long canyon with steep walls on both sides, the light of the torches casts the figures of the people on the walls like ghosts; Sometimes he crossed an abyss, and although it was pitch black below, he could not see anything, but the darkness gave people a fear that could consume everything. With such an intricate terrain, and no stars in the night sky, Zhou Kao couldn't even make out the direction later.

Zhou Kao grew up in Zhou Yuan since he was a child, and he always thought that the whole world was like Zhou Yuan, a plain with a flat river. Although he had also read from the classics that some mountains and rivers were more than a thousand feet high and the peaks could be skyscraper, even if he imagined it, he only thought that it was similar to the Qishan outside Qizhou City. It wasn't until today that he saw the spectacular scenery of these mountains rising and falling, and Zhou Kao realized that his past thoughts were just the views of well frogs.

After doing this all night, I didn't feel tired during the weekly exam. At dawn of the day, Zhou Kao suddenly saw a city standing in the distance, which made him can't help but let out a low sigh.

It turned out that he found that the city was actually built on a mountain, as if it were in mid-air. The highest point of the city is a majestic temple on the top of a mountain, but the gate is on the mountainside. The mountain below the castle is full of steep cliffs on the west side, and only the east side has a gentle slope, and the dirt slope extends to a ferry at the foot of the mountain. A wide river rushes from north to south in front of the ferry, and more than a dozen boats moored on the ferry rise and fall with the waves.

Zhou Chang turned around and said to Zhou Kao: "This is Xincheng, which is famous for being easy to defend and difficult to attack. At that time, your maternal grandfather, Lord Xinhou, once led 3,000 soldiers to defend the city to resist the siege of 20,000 Turkish troops, and held out until the Shang reinforcements arrived. The Turkish army was killed and wounded, and finally had to return with a feather. Since then, no one has dared to fight the idea of Xincheng, and the reputation of the world's first fortified city is well deserved. However, we still have to walk for more than half a day before we can enter the city. ”

Xin Jia also said: "The river at the foot of the mountain is the big river, there is no moat in Xincheng, and the big river is the natural barrier of Xincheng. The Pusaka Ferry on the other side of the river is one of the few ferries in the area, and further downstream, it is not until the confluence of Weishui and the river that there is a Fengling Ferry to cross the river. ”

Zhou Kao silently remembered it in his heart when he heard it, and he secretly thought: If he chose to build such a steep fortress in such a critical place, the person who built Xin Cheng must have been a very remarkable person.

Everyone walked until the time of Xiaocai, and finally came to the foot of Xin City. Zhou Kao looked up, and Xincheng looked more and more tall and majestic. A dirt road leading to the city gates, only wide enough for two horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side, and a gatehouse above the gate, a rammed earth wall, high and strong.

After passing the city gate, the road in the city spirals up the mountain, and many thatched huts and huts are scattered along the roadside, which are the dwellings of the common people in the city. Zhou Kao kept hearing the sound of sheep chirping on the way, and it seemed that every household had a sheepfold, and finally he couldn't help asking, "Why are there so many sheep in this city?" ”

Xin Jia said with a smile: "The vicinity of Xincheng is mountainous, which is not suitable for farming, so most of the common people in the city make a living by raising sheep. During the day, the sheep go out of the city to graze, and then drive back to the pen at sunset. When the wheat is ripe, the sheep will be driven to Rui, Yu and other places to exchange for some grain. This is the so-called relying on the mountains to eat the mountains, relying on the water to eat the water. Zhou Kao's heart suddenly sank.

Xin Jia took Zhou Chang and a few people to the Xinhou Mansion located at the top of the mountain. After the main entrance, there is a huge courtyard, and there are many pines, cypresses, maple and acacia planted in the courtyard. To Zhou Kao's surprise, there was a faint fragrance wafting in the courtyard. He followed the scent and saw a dozen never-before-seen flowers and trees planted in the courtyard, their slender branches covered with small pale yellow flowers. Zhou Kao asked: "It's the wax moon now, why are these flowers still blooming?" ”

Xin Jia replied: "This thing was born in the land of China, and it is quite common in the city of Chaoge, and its name is Lamei. Because it blooms at the time of the wax moon, it is named. A few years ago, I brought some back from Chaoge to try planting, if you like it, when the spring warm swallow returns, I will send someone to send a few plants to Qizhou. ”

Zhou Kao was about to resign, but Tai Ji said: "If the eldest brother has the intention of cutting love, the younger sister will thank you first." "It turns out that when Taiji was in Yincheng, she also planted this flower at home. At this moment, she looked forward to planting a few trees in Qizhou City, and Xin Jia naturally knew her intentions.

Then go in front of a large hall, this hall is grand: the roof is a four-sided slope roof, the highest point is almost three zhang, and there is a circle of rain-proof eaves below the slope roof; A dozen tall columns support the rammed earth walls under the roof, and under the eaves is a circle of cloisters sheltered from the rain; The whole building sits on a pedestal nearly five feet high, from east to west to say more than 30 zhang. This kind of house is called "Si A Heavy House", and Zhou Kao's house is also a general style, but the height and area are not as high.

A few people walked up the steps to the top of the main hall, and everyone sat on the floor except for their shoes to enter the main hall. Xin Jia said to one of the servants in the hall, "Go and invite the lady and the young lady to the main hall." The servant withdrew, and in a short time there was a sound of small footsteps, and two women came in one after the other.

Walking in front was a middle-aged woman, wearing a jade flute and a silk silk, although her appearance was not as good as that of Taiji, her clothes were more luxurious. When she saw Zhou Chang and the others, she bowed slightly, and sat next to Xin Jia. Behind her was a young girl, who was a little reserved when she saw the living, but sat down next to the woman without making a sound.

At this time, Taiji said: "This is the sister-in-law, right?" Xin Jia nodded, it turned out that this woman was Xin Jia's wife, and her maiden name was Jiang. When Tai Ji got married, Xin Jia and Mrs. Jiang had just gotten married, and after many years, their faces had changed greatly, so Tai Ji had this question. Zhou Chang would visit Xin Jia and his wife in Xincheng from time to time, so he knew him.

Taiji saluted Mrs. Jiang and said, "My sister and sister-in-law have not met for 20 years since they parted from Yincheng, and they almost didn't recognize each other in a hurry, so please don't blame my sister-in-law." Mrs. Jiang also returned the salute and said, "If I hadn't seen you sitting next to Lord Zhou Chang, I wouldn't have guessed that you were my sister-in-law." We're all old. ”

Tai Ji also ordered Zhou Kao and Zhou Fa to meet their aunt. Zhou Kao and the two knelt in front of Mrs. Jiang and bowed three times, and said, "Auntie." Mrs. Jiang was very happy and said with a smile: "Get up, it's all your own family, you don't need to be polite." The two of them fell to the ground and said, "Uncle Xie." Then they each returned to their original positions.

Mrs. Jiang saw that Zhou Kao kept lowering her head and lowered her eyes, and said with a smile: "Why is my eldest nephew so restrained, but he seems to be more shy than my family's Wan'er." Then she said to the girl beside her, "Wan'er, come and see your uncle and aunt." ”

The girl also knelt in front of Zhou Chang and Taiji, Ying Ying bowed down, and said, "Wan Xi has seen my uncle and aunt. Tai Ji helped her up, looked at it for a while, only felt that her eyebrows were a little similar to herself, and couldn't help but hug her, tears rippled in her eyes: "My good niece, my aunt often hears your father talk about you, and I don't expect to see you until today." ”

When Wan Xi saw her aunt's true feelings, tears fell together, and the rest of the people also felt compassion in their hearts. The two cried for a while, and Tai Ji barely stopped her tears, took off a jade bracelet on her hand, put it on Wan Xi's wrist, and said, "My aunt came in a hurry, and she didn't prepare any gifts, this bracelet should be a meeting gift." ”

Wan Xi glanced at her parents, and when she saw that the two agreed, she said, "Thank you, aunt." Although Wan'er saw her aunt for the first time today, she also heard her father think about it from time to time. Every year when my father went to Qizhou City, he also brought back the gifts given by his uncle and aunt to Wan'er, and Wan'er thanked him today. After saying that, he bowed again.

Tai Ji saw that she was generous and decent, and she was really happy in her heart. She took Wan Xi's hand, pointed to her two sons and said, "This is your cousin Zhou Kao, cousin Zhou Fa." The two of them also greeted Wan Ji one by one. Zhou Kao has never seen a more beautiful woman than his mother in Qizhou City, and he took it for granted that his mother is the first beauty in the world.

Xin Jia saw that the three of them were similar in age, so he said, "Wan'er, you take your cousin and cousin to the side room to rest, so that you can entertain them." Then he said to Zhou Kao and the others: "You don't have to be restrained, just like this is your own home." ”

Wan Ji saluted Xin Jia, Zhou Chang and the others, and said, "Wan'er retires." Then he took Zhou Kao Zhou out of the main hall and came to the guest room.

At this time, a maid had already carried two copper plates containing water, and asked Zhou Kao and the two to wash their hands and wipe them with wipes. When the washing was finished, another servant brought food. Wan Ji said: "If there is a shortage in this room, you can just tell me." ”

Zhou Kao was quite grateful, but he didn't know what to say, and finally only said: "There is Cousin Lao." Wan Xi smiled lightly and said, "Wan'er is just a little bit of the friendship of the landlord, why should my cousin say this." ”

At this time, Zhou Fa was really hungry, and he couldn't care about being polite, and said, "Thank you, cousin." He ate like a whirlwind, but Zhou Kao took care of his image and just sat still. Wan Ji bowed and said, "Please use it slowly, Wan Er will retire first." ”

Zhou Kao bowed and said, "Congratulations to my cousin." ”

He and Zhou Fa ate and drank to their heart's content, and the people in the house laid pillows on the couch and let the two sleep peacefully. After this arduous journey, Zhou Fa was finally able to rest in the warm room, almost falling asleep. Zhou Kao couldn't sleep for a while, he looked at the furnishings in the guest room, and felt that it was far more exquisite than his own home. For example, the lifelike jade carvings of fierce beasts, colorful pottery, bronze ware engraved with gluttonous animal patterns on the surface, etc., and some other agate jade, pearl ivory hanging on the wall, on the case, all kinds of rare treasures are dazzling, only to see the dizzying eyes. I don't know how long it took for him to close his eyes and fall asleep.