Guanshan is wide everywhere, and the river is close to the flow of people. Through Pingjing Pass out of Wuyang Pass, that is, to the north boundary of Yingshan County, Huguang De'an Prefecture. Looking back at Wuyang Guancheng, which uses the mountain as an obstacle and chisels the mountain into a pass, Zuo Mengeng's mood is all heavy. The peaks and peaks on both sides of the pass stand on both sides, the mountains are continuous, the soldiers and horses pass endlessly along the road, there are three horsemen chasing from behind, and they all roll the saddle and get off the horse to salute when they see Zuo Menggeng.

Jin Shenghuan, who was dressed and purged, introduced: "Son, these three people are Mao Xianwen, Liu Hongqi and Zhao Fawu. The order of Pingjing and Wuyang is currently maintained by them. In addition, Han Huamei and Ma Shangzhi are guarding Jiuli Pass. ”

Starting from Xinyang Prefecture, the nearest route through the Tongbai Mountains is the one from Pingjing Pass to Wuyang Pass. The southeast of the state city walks dozens of miles to the north foot of Tongbai Mountain, and can be folded into Chu from the south of Jiuli Pass, and the route is relatively far. Since the three passes are now in the hands of the Zuo Jiajun, they are the ones who choose the best.

Zuo Mengeng asked Liu Hongqi and the three of them to be exempted, and said with a glance: "The three of them have meritorious service to protect the road, and my Zuo family will not be treated badly, and it is a matter of course to ask the court to seal the three of them in the future." ”

"We are willing to work for Zuo Shuai and Zuo Gongzi." Liu Hongqi and the three of them thanked him, "There is nothing to do with the poor mountains and bad waters, only the walled city has collected unsightly things such as chickens, cattle and sheep, and asked the small ones to send the soldiers to the army, and the prince of Wanwang smiled." ”

"Good." Zuo Mengeng nodded, "Uncle Jin, you send someone to collect it." When Jin Shenghuan agreed, he replied to Liu Hongqi, "Sanguan still needs to be taken care of, and it is necessary to ensure that the route from Xinyang Prefecture to Yingshan County is smooth, and you can't relax." Even though he was the commander of this operation, he always positioned himself in his heart as only his father's vanguard. Dad didn't come to Huguang for a day, and he couldn't come down for a day.

Liu Hongqi responded: "Son, don't worry, there are us waiting in Sanguan, which is equivalent to the surname Zuo." Zuo Shuai and Gongzi come and go, just as if they were going back and forth in their own yard. ”

After saying a few words, Gao Jinku in the front came to the flying horse, Zuo Mengeng sent Liu Hongqi and the three of them away first, and asked, "Uncle Gao, how is the situation in Yingshan County?" ”

Gao Jinku took off his pocket and hugged it in his hand, and said with a calm face: "The county knows each other, refuses to open the door, and refuses to treat the army." ”

Jin Shenghuan frowned and said, "Did you tell him that our army went south to support Song Junmen?" ”

"Got it." Gao Jinku replied, "Nazhi County is a man with many eyes, and he has to show the approval of Song Junmen before he can believe it." Now all the gates of Yingshan County are closed, and the defense of our army is tighter than that of thieves. "But fortunately, our army came quickly, and the county didn't react in time." The county town cannot enter, and the towns, towns, and villages on the outskirts of the city are under the control of our army, and there is no shortage of all kinds of supplies, but it is necessary to spend more effort to go to the outpost. ”

Zuo Mengeng was furious and said: "Our army is here to protect Chu Realm, this should be on guard everywhere in Shanxian County, what does it mean?" Uncle Jin and Uncle Gao, go and call Uncle Lu and Uncle Xu too, let's sum up and knock down his mother's county! ”

Jin Shenghuan and Gao Jinku glanced at each other and persuaded: "The son is angry, Yingshan County is not easy to fight." ”

"Why is it not easy to fight?" Zuo Mengeng said dissatisfied, "Didn't the uncles say that if you want to go to Wuchang, our army still has to pass the hurdle of money selection." I don't even think about the money in the election, but I'm still afraid that he is a little Yingshan County? ”

Jin Shenghuan explained: "You can't say that. Our army came out to aid the general army and the general of the thief to rush to the southeast of Chu under the banner of 'where the thief goes, and the tail is chasing'. Qian Zhongxuan is the general army of Huguang, and the general army of Huguang is stationed, which should be Changde Mansion. After Changde was divided into feudal domains, the dynasty system was moved to Wuchang Mansion. Therefore, it stands to reason that there has been no war in Anlu County for a long time, and it is unreasonable for Qian Zhongxuan to be stationed there for a long time. On the contrary, Yingshan County is different, I am a guest army, and the responsibility of the county town is only to provide food, and there is no charter to admit our army into the city. ”

Gao Jinku also said: "Yes, our army is coming to Chu, be careful in everything, otherwise Zuo Shuai will work hard on the front line, and I will cause him a lot of trouble in the backyard, not for his subordinates." ”

Zuo Mengeng was surprised: "It turns out that there are so many exquisitenesses, if it weren't for the uncles' hearts, I really wouldn't have imagined." Then he said, "According to the meaning of the two uncles, our army can't enter the city, where can we go?" ”

Jin Shenghuan replied: "At present, the plan I have discussed is like this, our army will first go to find a place near Yingshan County to station, wait for the follow-up troops to come together, and at the same time reorganize the soldiers and horses and replenish the sentry food. Probably stationed for three days, according to the regulations, Yingshan County must allocate money, food and troops, otherwise they are unreasonable. After waiting for three days, the army will be transferred south according to the situation...... However, during this period, I still have to bother my son to do one thing. ”

"What's the matter?"

Jin Shenghuan said: "According to the inquiry, Zhao Shuai of Yunxiang Town has led troops to Suizhou, and there are currently as many as 10,000 troops stationed in Suizhou. Childe is close to Zhao Shuai, and he can explore Zhao Shuai's tone. ”

"What's the tone?" Zuo Mengeng said unhappily, "Uncles don't trust their father-in-law so much? ”

Jin Shenghuan hurriedly said: "The son misunderstood, it's not that he doesn't trust, Zhao Shuai is the father-in-law of the son, since it's close at hand, you have to meet and catch up on the old days, right?" If you can get some help from Zhao Shuai, of course, it will be better. ”

He said that Zuo Mengeng could accept it, and hummed and chirped: "What he said is reasonable, if our army sits in Wuchang Mansion, he and his father-in-law will be neighbors in the future." It's time to support each other, and I wanted to find an opportunity to visit my stepfather, so it's better to hurry up than to take advantage of this opportunity. After thinking about it, he said, "Let's find a place to settle the army today, and I'll go to Suizhou tomorrow." ”

Jin Shenghuan shook his head again and again and said: "No, the son can't go to Suizhou, you can only let Zhao Shuai come to Yingshan." ”

"My father-in-law is great, and I am small. is also his host and my guest, how can there be any reason for him to come to the mountain? ”

Gao Jinku said: "Childe, the heart of defense is indispensable, even if it is a father-in-law, after all, he is not his own father, so he can't throw away all his heart!" ”

Zuo Mengeng was arrogant, where could he listen to people's persuasion, and he became angry and said: "Shut up, I treat a few uncles as close relatives, and a few uncles come to provoke the feelings between me and my father-in-law, what is my intention?" He pointed to the wilderness and mountains everywhere, "Our army can't even enter Yingshan County, do my uncles want me to entertain my father-in-law in such a mountainous place?" Isn't this deliberately breaking my Zuo Mengeng's face? ”

"That's not what it means......" Jin Shenghuan and Gao Jinku were helpless.

Zuo Mengeng raised his head proudly and asked Gao Jinku: "Uncle Gao, have you chosen the military station?" ”

Gao Jinku said weakly: "I have chosen, Changling Gang in the southwest of Yingshan County, adjacent to Lianshui in the west, is in Yingshan County, Suizhou and Anlu County. ”

"Okay, urge the whole army to step up their actions, and be sure to set up camp at Changling Gang before sunset." Zuo Mengeng didn't want to talk more, so he left a sentence and immediately rode away.

The day after Zuo's army was assembled at Changlinggang, Zuo Mengeng got up early in the morning and hurriedly set off for Suizhou in the northwest. The four generals in the army performed their duties, Xu Yong was responsible for sitting in the camp, Gao entered the warehouse to go to the surrounding sentinels, Lu Guangzu went south to investigate the situation of Qian Zhong's selection department, and Jin Shenghuan followed Zuo Mengeng to meet Zhao Dangshi.

Straddled the horse out of the gate, quietly flowing on the bank of the water, Jin Shenghuan found that in addition to the accompanying more than ten companions, there was also a carriage parked in front of him, and he wondered and found Zuo Mengeng and asked: "Childe, is it in the carriage?" ”

Zuo Mengeng said casually: "My fourth-room lady." ”

Jin Shenghuan was stunned for a moment and said, "What is the fourth lady doing in Suizhou?" ”

Zuo Mengeng said impatiently: "My father-in-law is the brother-in-law of the fourth lady, and when the family meets, how can I not talk about her taking her to the province?" "When the Zuo family army left Xinyang Prefecture, the Zuo family and the families of all the generals also moved with the army.

Jin Shenghuan was speechless, for fear of annoying Zuo Mengeng, but beckoned left and right: "You few, you can protect Mrs.'s car." ”

Zuo Mengeng didn't say much, and turned his horse away.

The group set off in the morning and arrived in Suizhou at dusk. Zhao Dangshi learned that Zuo Mengeng was visiting, and personally led the civil and military forces out of Guo to greet him, beating gongs and drums, and the formation was lively and grand. Zuo Mengeng greeted him a few words and pointed to the carriageway: "I haven't seen my father-in-law for a long time, and I miss it very much, this time it's not just a child, I also brought a wave." ”

As he spoke, the curtain of the carriage lifted, and a beautiful woman came down from above, and came to Zhao Dangshi, who was seriously blessed, and said: "Liubo to meet my brother." The brother's brilliance is still there, and the sister's heart is happy. ”

Zhao Dangshi looked at it with a smile, and saw that Rao Liubo had entered the Zuo family, perhaps because he had enough oil and water, a comfortable life, and his posture was more and more plump, and his gestures were full of familiar and charming style. Therefore, when he looked at Zuo Mengeng again, he laughed in his heart: "It's hard work for this kid." ”

Zhao Yingwenwu then came up in turn to salute, and when it was Hou Dagui's turn, he tilted his head and didn't speak, but just arched his hand sullenly. Zhao Dangshi smiled and introduced: "This is Hou Guerrilla, and he is also the one who is in charge of Suizhou now." ”

Zuo Mengeng knew that Hou Dagui was a major general of Zhao Ying, so he said a few polite words. Rao Liubo also smiled: "When the slave family was still in the Zhao camp, they were taken care of by the marquis in the army. Saying that, twisting his waist, he also blessed Hou Dagui.

"Oh, I see. That is in the next here on behalf of the lady and then thank the marquis guerrilla. Zuo Mengeng didn't think much about it.

Hou Dagui peeked at Rao Liubo, and saw that she was looking forward to coming over with affection, knowing that she had the heart to tease herself, his heart fluttered, and he suddenly thought of the joy of fish and water in the past, and his mouth became dry.

Seeing this, Zhao Dangshi coughed twice and said, "The banquet has been prepared, let's go to the city now." After saying hello, he walked hand in hand with Zuo Mengeng.

Hou Dagui came back to his senses, hurriedly glanced at Rao Liubo again, and hurriedly chased after him.

Zuo Mengeng's intention, Zhao Dangshi knew it. At the dinner, Zuo Mengeng euphemistically stated the purpose of leading troops into Chu this time - of course, not to occupy the territory, but to help and suppress - Jin Shenghuan carefully observed Zhao Dangshi's reaction on the side. Zhao Dangshi has experienced all the sophistication of the world, his scheming is deep, and he has a calm and calm expression, and he constantly poured wine for Zuo Mengeng and said: "It is better for your department to go to Wuchang Mansion, most of the year ago, I led the army to go there to exterminate the thieves, but now the thieves in southeast Chu are still rampant, and there is no cure if you don't take fierce medicine." With your ministry in charge, echoing with my Chubei from afar, Chu can be completely pacified from now on. ”

Zuo Mengeng's face was full of red light and even claimed that it was, and Zhao Dangshi asked again: "Dare to ask when Zuo Shuai will enter Chu?" ”

"Zuo Shuai is not coming. The foundation of my Zuo family army is in Henan, and if the thieves in Henan are not eliminated, how can Zuo Shuai withdraw? Jin Shenghuan was afraid that Zuo Mengeng would give Zhao Dangshi a few yellow soups, so he replied first.

Zhao Dangshi smiled and said: "That's a pity, Zuo Shuai is like my brother, if he could meet Chu Di together and work together to fight the thief, he would not lose a great joy in life!" He continued, "Zuo Shuai is in Henan, and Zuo Gongzi is in the southeast of Chu." The tiger father has no dog son, and his loyalty is enviable. I heard that Zuo Shuai, Ding, Yang and other generals surrounded Zhuxian Town in Zhuxian Town, do you know? ”

Jin Shenghuan said loudly: "Zuo Shuai has an unpredictable opportunity, he has already passed on the message, and he will eradicate the thief when he speaks." Because of this, Gongzi raised troops in these days, echoing the northern affairs. ”

Zhao Dangshi said with a smile: "That's right, there is a Zuo family army in the world, why worry about thieves and injustice." Drink a glass of wine with Zuo Mengeng and say, "Childe, although I go forward, I will give full support here, if there is any shortage, report it over, and I will solve it." ”

Zuo Mengeng was overjoyed when he heard this, glanced at Jin Shenghuan, seemed to be very disdainful of his previous worries and suspicions, and raised the wine cup and said: "In Chu in the future, I will have to rely on my father-in-law to take care of me!" He looked up and finished his drink, and wiped his mouth with his cuff, and was very happy.

The wine was in full swing, and there was an accompanying companion on the side who bent over and ran to Zuo Menggeng's side, leaning over and whispering a few words to him. Zuo Menggeng's face changed abruptly, his smile suddenly disappeared, and the corners of his mouth twitched and the wine cup was heavily buckled on the table.