Jiaozhou Guanhai City in the southwest of Zhao State is backed by the Fenjiang River, a tributary of the source river that flows eastward, and is located on the high terrain of Dachuan Mountain, guarding the southwest border of Zhao State.

In the spring of the second year of Yongchang, the people were busy with agricultural work, bustling into the streets, there was a group of jugglers here, they commanded the monkeys to perform and dance, they could spit fire, provoked the people to cheer, shocked.

Near the end of the performance, one of the people who came and went to collect money with a copper plate shouted loudly: "Those who have money hold a money field, and those who have no money hold a personal field, grateful, grateful!" In addition, because we often perform on the move, there is a shortage of people who move goods, if there are young and middle-aged people who are willing to come, we will pay silver taels, and if there is some talent, we can also teach him these magic skills! ”

After hearing this, the onlookers discussed: "Can you still teach these magic skills?" Then it's better to let them follow and try, anyway, there is not much farming, and the government has ...... recently."

The person next to him hurriedly poked the person who spoke: "Shhh But you're right, let them go, it's hard to say when you stay here and starve to death! ”

The man who took the copper plate to collect the money listened, and said aloud: "Everyone rest assured, follow us, and you will bless them with no illness and no disaster, these magic skills are all our eldest brother some time ago sincerely worshiped the Nine Heavens Our Lady Niangniang, Niangniang felt the sincerity of my eldest brother, so he sent down the decree, passed down the divine skills, and let the eldest brother teach them well." Here are some runes, as long as you want to follow us, you can come and get one, carry it with you, you can be safe and sound, everything is smooth! ”

For a time, there were hundreds of young and middle-aged people who stepped forward. Everyone walked up to the man and received a bamboo board, which was painted vermilion, and on it were painted some characters that were twisted and incomprehensible.

The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving only the jugglers and the young men who had received the bamboo planks. Then they were taken to a large mansion with some huts built in the yard. There are also some weapon racks in the courtyard, which are stacked with various weapons.

After the young men were arranged to live in the hut, several jugglers hurried into the lobby of the main house.

The lobby of the main house is simply furnished, with mats on the floor and a table more than three feet long in the center. Behind the desk sat a strong man with a goatee and thick eyebrows and big eyes. There is a bronze oil lamp in the corner of the surrounding area.

The strong man opened his eyes when he heard someone come in, and the few people came into the house, and the last emaciated man looked around the door, and then closed the door.

"Big brother, I'll just say, we will definitely be able to recruit people with this method, are you afraid that we won't be able to do anything?" The thin and short man sat down opposite the strong man, picked up the tea cup on the desk and poured a sip of tea, raised his hand and wiped the tea from the corner of his mouth casually.

The strong man said softly: "How many people have been recruited?" ”

"There are more than 100 people! The government embarrassed these people everywhere, and most of them came when they heard that they just helped us move things. ”

These two people are Wang Fang, Wang Qing brothers, the two were robbers in the mountains and forests of Jiaozhou, and later when Uncle Yang changed the law, because of the strict government decrees, he did not dare to go down the mountain, and later Xuanzong died, the new emperor ascended the throne, and became a good citizen when he was amnesty to the world, and the family was also sealed a few acres of fertile land, I thought that in the future I would make a living from farming, but I never thought that the old nobles regained control of the government, and powerful people from all over the country took their families everywhere to seize land. A few acres of fertile land in the Wang brothers' house were also occupied, and the two brothers refused to accept it, went to the government to ask for justice, and were beaten hard in the name of disturbing the local peace.

When the two brothers returned home, they only felt aggrieved in their hearts, and after discussion, they had today's actions.

The strong man Wang Fang looked at his younger brother Wang Qingxing's elated appearance, and poured a basin of cold water: "These people don't know what we want to do, so they came with us, what if they all fled when we got into trouble?" In the end, we had to end up with a bamboo basket and an empty one. ”

Wang Qing was stunned, thought for a while, and said, "Big brother, as long as we start faster, it's fine." I think it's tomorrow night, I will take our former brothers to rush in and kill that dog official, and when I come out, I will threaten them, those people are some honest farmers, and they will be afraid of the government's pursuit at that time, and they will follow us with all their hearts. ”

"It's a good idea, so let's do it, but we'll have to send them out into the streets to-morrow night, or they'll be afraid to flee if they don't think they're involved." As for the expansion in the future, what about this? In addition, there are only more than 200 of them, so they can't make any climate. ”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and the two brothers quickly quieted down, and one of the people standing by the door opened the door a crack, which turned out to be a sentry outside the courtyard gate.

"Chief, there is a priest outside the door asking to see you!" The man whispered. These were the brothers they brought with them when the robbers took over the mountain, so they also called the king their chiefs.

Wang Fang looked at Wang Qing, how could there be a Taoist priest coming at this time? Could it be that he was passing by?

Wang Qing got up and said, "Brother, I'll take a look." With that, he walked out.

"This is an extraordinary time, and the good life is sent away, don't cause trouble." Wang Fang said loudly.

"Got it!"

Wang Qing took his two brothers out of the door, only to see a slender Taoist priest in a yellow Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with a goatee, standing by the door.

The Taoist priest saw that someone came out, and saluted and said: "Poor Dao Ling Xuzi, I see that you are taking in young strong men on the street, so I came to visit before." ”

After Wang Qing listened, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he secretly glanced at the two people behind him, and the two of them understood and walked behind the Taoist priest. Ling Xuozi looked at Wang Qing in front of him with a smile as if he hadn't heard it.

Wang Qing laughed and said, "The Taoist chief came to my village, I don't know what to do?" ”

"Poor Dao thinks that Your Excellency has brought so many people here, it must not be just to move things, you want to come to Your Excellency to play skills, and there are not so many things to bring. Poor Dao thinks it's for something big. ”

"How can the Taoist master talk nonsense? I'm just a juggler, what big can I do? ”

Ling Xuzi said: "Then why do the two people behind them hide a short sword in their arms?" Could it be that the life of the poor Dao cannot be achieved? You are not the person in charge of this village, so you should go back and tell the person inside that the poor Dao Ling Xuzi has come to offer him some good things. ”

"Haha, the Taoist chief is here to offer something good?" Wang Fang laughed and walked out of the courtyard gate. It turned out that Wang Fang didn't see his brother come back for a long time, and he was afraid that he would cause something wrong, so he came out.

Ling Xuozi said slowly: "How can the things that Poor Dao want to offer be taken out here, let's go to the village to talk about it." ”

"Oh, haha," Wang Fang patted his forehead, "Yes, yes, since it is a good thing, it can only be taken out when you go to the village, it is Wang Fang who is a little lazy." Please, the Taoist chief went inside and sat down. ”

Several people walked into the main hall and sat down as the guest of honor.

"Dao Chief, you can take it out now." Wang Qing rolled his eyes, because Ling Xuzi outside the door said that he was fine, so he didn't have a good impression of this Taoist priest.

Ling Xuozi took a sip of tea unhurriedly, brushed his beard with his right hand, and then said: "If the poor road is not bad, the owner of the village is going to rebel." ”

Wang Fang's heart froze, and then he laughed again, "Dao Chang said such a rebellious thing, this is to connect the nine clans. Besides, I only found more than 100 people, what can I do to do it? ”

Ling Xuozi touched his beard and said unhurriedly: "It is true that there are more than 100 people who can't rebel alone, but it is enough to discredit and assassinate Shi Tanghe." Since Poor Dao came, he naturally wanted to help the owner. ”

Wang Qing said: "Who knows if what you Taoist priest said is true or false, aren't you deceiving our two brothers?" Besides, why are you here to help us? ”

Ling Xuozi put away his smile, "The most respected person in the life of the poor Dao is Yang Gong, Yang Gong has changed the law to be strong, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and there is no danger of starvation, I never thought that the new monarch has no way, resulting in Yang Gong being killed, and now the clans are forcibly buying and selling land, and the displaced people are everywhere, and the people are miserable." Therefore, Poor Dao also wants to try if he can eradicate those rebels for the world! ”

After listening to Ling Xuzi's words, Wang Fang looked at the Taoist priest who had not been able to calm down for a long time, and felt that it was not like a fraud, so he smiled and said, "Daoist, please calm your anger." It's just that even if my two brothers want to start an incident, they have no soldiers, horses, food, grass and ordnance, how can they do it? ”

"That's what I offer to the owner. The owner of the village can capture the Thorn Mansion as soon as possible, and then occupy the entire Guanhai City, if possible, he can send troops to attack the Silent Pass as soon as possible. As far as Poor Dao knows, there are only more than 10,000 soldiers and armor in the Silent Pass, and there has been no war for many years, so the combat strength is not one in ten, and only 20,000 horses can be captured. ”

Wang Qing interjected: "Now there are only two hundred, where did the twenty thousand come from?" To put it lightly. ”

"Listen to the Taoist chief, don't interject!"

Wang Qing pursed his lips.

"There is a ready-made reason here, just play the reason to avenge Yang Gong, clear the rebels around the emperor, and seek explanations for the people, I believe that many people will respond. After the capture of the Mogao Pass, and then the attack on Pingzhou, the grain and grass burden will be solved. Finally, the other states are mapped. ”

Wang Fang clapped his hands and praised: "It's wonderful." It's just that we made such a big move, and the imperial court is afraid that it will send troops to come, so what should we do? ”

"There are no available soldiers in the court, and Poor Dao has long known that most of the soldiers and horses of the imperial court are stationed in the two cities of Monan and Mobei in the north, and I don't know how far away it is. There will be no reinforcements from the DPRK and China for a while and a half. ”

Wang Fang saw that Ling Xuzi was extremely sure, and he was a lot more relieved at the moment, "Then I'll do it tomorrow night, how about it?" ”

Ling Xuzi waved the dust and said, "It's the best." Poor Dao also pleaded with the owner of the village to be strict with military discipline in every state and county after the army, and not to burn, kill and loot, otherwise it will make the people of the world resist, and then I am afraid that it will be difficult to achieve a big thing. ”

"Of course, I know."

Wang Fang glanced outside, it was already dark, except for the light from the torches in the courtyard, everything else was dark and he couldn't see anything.