Under the meager starlight, large patches of chaotic footprints appeared on the snow on the rugged mountain road ahead.

Wang Juncheng leaned over and looked at it for a long time, and when he raised his head again, his face had become extremely ugly.

He said to himself, "Look at these footprints are still new, who is it?" Could it be a bandit? ”

Zhang Dubo interjected: "My lord, could it be that those fugitives just left behind?" ”

Wang Juncheng said slightly angrily: "Nonsense! How could the fugitives, who had fled in all directions, gather again miles away? And we didn't find any footprints along the way. What's more! ”

He pointed to the footprints on the ground and said, "Look, could such footprints be left by the official boots you are wearing?" ”

The young man Ma Er also answered: "What the adults said is good! Not only that, according to Xiaomin's point of view, those who can leave such a large footprint, I am afraid that there are more than 100 people, and as the adults say, there are only more than 40 people who have escaped, and it will never be them! ”

Zhang Dubo's face turned red, and he didn't give up: "Then could it be a hunter like a few strong men?" ”

Ma Er smiled bitterly: "Lord Zhang made fun of it!" Have you ever heard of more than 100 Orions moving together at night? With so many people out at once, I'm afraid that before the people arrived, all the birds and beasts were scared away! ”

Zhang Dubo's mouth opened wide and he couldn't speak anymore.

Wang Juncheng thought for a while and said, "Let's go!" Let's follow these footprints and take a look! ”

Ma Er hurriedly said: "Don't, adult!" What if it's a bandit! ”

Zhang Dubo also said: "Exactly! It's not right! It may also be anti-people, and the safety of adults is important! We don't have enough people right now, and if we run into danger, ......!"

Wang Juncheng was furious, and smacked heavily on the ground: "Danger? Are we in less danger today? Uncle Zhang, you and I eat together in the court, and when we encounter bandits and people, we should abide by our duties, and if it is not good, we must also investigate! How can you be so timid and hold back! ”

As soon as these words came out, not only Zhang Dubo was embarrassed, but even the Ma brothers were impressed by him.

The young man Ma San attached himself to Ma Er's ear and said, "Brother Feng! Didn't you say that the officials are as timid as rats, bullying the weak and fearing the hard, and will only oppress the people? But I see that although this Lord Wang is a civil official, he is also very tight! ”

Na Ma Er gently pushed Ma San away, and said to Wang Juncheng Zhengrong: "My lord, don't be angry!" Lord Zhang is also for the sake of the safety of adults. Xiaomin is familiar with mountain roads, we might as well send three or two, carefully follow these footprints to see, there are really bandits, as long as we don't expose our whereabouts, there should be no danger! ”

Wang Juncheng looked at Zhang Dubo, snorted heavily in his nose, but he was calculating in his heart, Ma Er said well, there are many people who are indeed easy to be discovered, this horse is frightened and retreats from the tiger group, there is really the courage of ten thousand people, this Ma Er is fine and dexterous, and is familiar with the mountain road, and must be brought together, and although Zhang Dubo is a little reckless, he is loyal to himself, and he is also quite proficient in martial arts.

His face changed, and he said in a slow tone: "Uncle Zhang, how can I not know about your maintenance of me, brother." It's just that I was in a hurry just now, but my tone was a little heavier, so don't take it to heart! "He no longer calls himself an official, but calls himself a brother and a brother.

Where can't that Zhang Dubo hear? I was happy in my heart, and my bones were a few taels lighter, and I didn't even dare to say it.

Wang Juncheng turned to the Ma family brothers and said, "Please also ask the two brothers Ma Da and Ma Er to work hard again, and accompany the official and Du Bo to go together!" ”

The four of them slowly poked their heads out from behind the low slope and peeked into an open space below.

In the open space, more than 100 samurai in strange costumes stood with torches in their hands, reflecting the delicate everywhere. More than 100 people did not say a word, only the sound of torches burning fat.

Wang Juncheng squinted his eyes and was taken aback: "Ban Dun Man!" ”

He was shocked in his heart, a year ago, the Bandun Barbarian rebellion, but it really made Hanzhong County anxious for a while, but fortunately, not long after, these barbarians mysteriously disappeared without a trace, which made all the officials and subordinates in Hanzhong celebrate, and they all said that these barbarians must have moved elsewhere. How could you be here today, and see hordes of Barbarians with Plate Shields? What a strange thing!

He was overjoyed in his heart, and he was happy that although he did not find out the anti-democratic construction of the city this time, he accidentally found the traces of Ban Dunman, which was indeed a credit! What is worried is that these barbarians gather in the barren mountains late at night, but I am afraid that they have a plan, which makes people have to guard against it.

Zhang Dubo also recognized Ban Dunman, and lowered his voice and said in Wang Juncheng's ear: "My lord has made a great contribution, we can order the army when we go back, and wipe out all the mountain bandits, horse thieves, and these barbarians in the vicinity, it is really a miracle in one fell swoop!" ”

Wang Juncheng let out an "um" and said softly: "Let's take a look, they seem to be waiting for someone!" ”

Na Ma Er suddenly sighed lightly: "Whisper! Looks like someone is coming again! ”

Several people looked at it together, and saw dozens of figures rushing in the distance.

Those people ran closer, only to see their appearance clearly, all dressed in black and masked, with a single knife stuck in their backs. One of them stepped out of the crowd and called, "The front is the brother of the Bandun Clan?" ”

One of the Ban Dun barbarians laughed out loud and said, "Exactly! In Xia Puhu, is it a friend of the Heavenly Master? ”

Zhang Dubo's body trembled slightly: "Pu Hu? The first warrior of the board shield barbarian! ”

Wang Juncheng was even more shocked and said, "Heavenly Master Dao? Isn't it the Five Buckets of Rice Sect? ”

The two of them glanced at each other, and they both saw the horror in each other's eyes, how could the Plate Shield Barbarian get mixed up with the Heavenly Master Dao?

That day, the master said with a smile: "It turned out that it was Brother Pu Hu who went out in person!" It shows that the nobles attach importance to this matter! In Xia Zhengdu, the current Heavenly Master Dao sacrificial wine, specially ordered by Shijun and the Great Sacrificial Wine, came here to discuss major matters with Brother Pu Hu! ”

Wang Juncheng's heart became more and more tight, the Heavenly Master Dao Sacrifice Wine and the first warrior of the Bandun Barbarian must be a very trivial matter.

I only heard that Pu Hu said: "It's easy to say! I have always admired the prestige of your sect Zhang Shijun, and please pay tribute on my behalf! Brother Zheng, let's not talk about it, so please speak up! ”

Zheng Du smiled and said: "This important matter, although you and I have discussed it many times, but we have never agreed, I came this time, it is on the order of Shijun, please ask Brother Park to make conditions again, we will make the greatest concession!" In a word, tonight, this matter must be decided! ”

Na Pu Hu suddenly shouted: "Okay! It's really fun! Then I'll be bold to speak up! Once this matter is successful, we only need three of the nine counties in Hanzhong! How is it? ”

On the hillside, Wang and Zhang shook in their hearts together, did they want to rebel?

Zheng Du pondered for a long time and said, "Then how many troops can you send?" ”

Pu Hu said proudly: "What about five thousand elite soldiers? All of them are the elite warriors of our clan! ”

Zheng Du hesitated: "It's not that I'm suspicious!" You have been missing in Hanzhong for many days, and we don't know anything about your strength, can you really muster together 5,000 men? ”

Pu Hu laughed and said, "It's no wonder that Brother Zheng is suspicious!" We did withdraw from Hanzhong last time and recuperate in the deep mountains around Liangzhou, but I can tell you the truth, our foundation has not been moved, and there is no problem with 5,000 men and horses! ”

Zheng Duxi said: "So good! I will agree to your conditions on behalf of the teacher! But I don't know when your people will be able to enter Hanzhong? ”

Pu Hu thought for a moment and said, "Half a moon is enough!" ”

Zheng Du was overjoyed and said: "Okay! So say it! Twenty days later, we'll send our troops together! We started from Hanzhong City, and we should join forces with the outside and directly attack the county government, and ask you to surprise attack Nanzheng, Xicheng, Chenggu and other counties, and then we will ........."

The two carefully agreed not to mention the details of the army, and Wang and Zhang listened to it coldly on the mountain, and their bodies trembled like chaff.

For a long time, until the people and horses on both sides of the mountain dispersed, Wang and Zhang were still in a nightmare, and they couldn't come back to their senses for a long time.

Ma Er gently pushed Wang Juncheng and said, "My lord! My lord! They're all gone! ”

Wang Juncheng suddenly woke up and shouted angrily: "What a group of chaotic people and thieves! It's really infuriating to me! ”

Zhang Dubo said in a trembling voice: "My lord! Something is wrong! You'd better get an idea! The thieves will rebel in 20 days! ”

Wang Juncheng's heart was racing, and he got up and bowed deeply to Ma Da and Ma Er: "The two strong men have done this miraculous feat today and saved the people of the county, and the officials are here to thank you!" Please also ask the two of you to work hard and send us back to Hanzhong immediately, and the next official will thank you repeatedly! ”

Zhang Du Boqi said: "My lord! Didn't you say that you still have to go to the dock wall where the horse brothers lived? ”

Wang Juncheng was so angry that he stretched out his hand and slapped him on the head, and said angrily: "You are a pig's head!" It's about the safety of the community! the fart! Do you and I have this time! ”

said, ignored him again, and said to Ma Da Ma Er: "Two! Let's go now! ”

After everyone met, they dared to stay for a while, and immediately stumbled back to the way they came, but fortunately they did not bump into the tigers along the way, and the horse thieves who stayed behind on the mountain had already retreated.

At this time, the sky has been brightened, although everyone is physically and mentally exhausted, but after a day and a night of frightening journey, they have already become frightened birds, and they can't take a break, but only care about going all the way to Hanzhong.

Perhaps it was God's help, but half a day later, they came across a large caravan, with hundreds of samurai accompanying them alone, and it was to Hanzhong, and everyone was overjoyed.

Wang Juncheng showed the leader of the caravan an a letter of official seal, ordered them to divide ten fast horses for temporary requisition, and then persuaded the Ma brothers to go with them, so as to reward them generously.

Ma Er said that there is no one to take care of his mother at home, and the matter of being an official will never be mentioned again, and the thieves will be in trouble, and the Quartet will be restless, so this news must also be reported to the dock owner as soon as possible, so as to take precautions as soon as possible.

Wang Juncheng and Zhang Dubo were so anxious that they had to say goodbye to them with tears, Wang Juncheng galloped far away, looked back, and saw that the three brothers of the Ma family were still standing still, sending each other off from afar, and he was even more admired in his heart, he sighed to Zhang Dubo: "Regard fame, fortune and money as nothing, regard thieves and bandits and tigers as grass mustard, and have both loyalty and filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, there is really such a strange man in the world!" It's a pity that it can't be used by me, it's a pity! ”

Zhang Dubo also sighed.

The three brothers of the Ma family kept watching the figures of Wang Juncheng and others become a small black dot on the vast grassland, and then they laughed together.

The young man fell to the ground with his stomach in his hands, and laughed wildly: "Oh, mother! I just saw that Wang Juncheng almost shed tears when he broke up, and I barely held back it! Brother Feng, you look honest on weekdays, but you really deceive people and don't pay for your life! I'm convinced! ”

Gao Feng stretched out his hand to pull him up from the ground, and said with a smile: "Okay, you are a little horse, a small ghost, don't say that I am alone!" When they were on the mountain, who was the one who told them all sorts of nonsense and made them dizzy! ”

Ma Jun finally stopped laughing, and said to Nama Dao: "Brother Dian Wei! You're ruthless enough, too! That's our own mountain protector tiger, you can really do it, if you really fall well, look at Brother Yang Kun won't mess with you! ”

Dian Wei shrugged his shoulders and said, "What can I do!" I also did it according to Mr. Jia's plan, but I'm used to playing with those tigers on weekdays, and I know how to do it! ”

Gao Feng Zhengse said: "Okay! Brothers, this mission has been successfully completed! Let's go back to the mountain immediately! Have you forgotten the sixteen words spoken by your commander? 'The plague is rampant, in order to prevent accidents, once the matter is over, return to the mountain at full speed'! ”

Hanzhong County, Taishou Mansion.

Taishou Su Gu slumped on the chair with a "bang", and said in a trembling voice in disbelief: "Lord Wang, are you telling the truth? ”

Wang Juncheng paused and said, "Alas! My Taishou-sama! Am I the kind of person who makes jokes? Such a big thing, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, I would have a few heads that would dare to open my mouth in front of you! Am I not afraid of raiding my family and exterminating my family? ”

He stretched out his hand and pulled Zhang Dubo and said, "If you don't believe it, you can ask him again!" He's the one in charge, too! ”

After Zhang Dubo explained the matter in detail again, Su Gu's face turned pale, cold sweat flowed, and he couldn't help but get up and paced back and forth in the hall, and couldn't stop saying, "What should I do?" How good is that! ”

Wang Juncheng saw that he was not in a state of reluctance, so he grabbed him and complained: "Alas! You don't turn it anymore! I get dizzy! You're too shou, you have an idea! ”

Su Gumeng Province, dragged Wang Juncheng and begged: "Brother Wang! You are the county prince, and you have the highest official position in the whole county except me, and you have always been resourceful! Let's help my brother come up with an idea! As long as I can solve this crisis, I will listen to you in everything! ”

Wang Juncheng squinted at him and said, "You really listen to me?" ”

Su Gutou nodded quickly.

Wang Juncheng had already thought about it all the way, and immediately said: "Okay! Please pass on the secret order immediately! The first is to order all counties in the county to urgently mobilize and prepare to meet the enemy, and at the same time secretly arrest all Heavenly Master Dao believers; the second is to pass on the commanders of each army and Sima Mi to transfer their soldiers and horses, strike first and besiege the main altar of the Heavenly Master's Dao; The third is that Gu Zhi went to Yizhou to report the matter to Lord Shi Xijian and asked him to send troops to rescue! ”

Su Gu hesitated for a moment and said, "That day, the master Dao has hundreds of thousands of believers, and there are not a few officials and soldiers at all levels?" Really ordered to take them all? ”

Wang Juncheng shook his hand and said: "Aren't you afraid that they will really cooperate with the outside and capture your Taishou Mansion first!" ”

Su Gu's face changed greatly: "Yes, yes, yes!" Good! I'll give you the order, and it's all up to you!" ”

He hesitated again: "But you didn't mention how the shield barbarian should deal with it!" ”

Wang Juncheng said confidently: "Don't worry, my lord! Those barbarians are far away in Liangzhou, and it will take at least ten days to arrive! As long as we use lightning speed to uproot the internal trouble of the Heavenly Master Dao first, the barbarians will have no one to rely on, and they can only retreat obediently! ”

Su Gu finally regained his composure, clapped his hands and said, "Okay! Lord Juncheng has the wisdom pearl in his hand, everything depends on your plan! ”