At the beginning of June, the ground temperature in northern Chu rose sharply, and the temperature turned sultry after a few days of scorching sun. According to past experience, the arrival of heavy rain in the next day is a harbinger of the beginning of the plum season.

Even though the wind was blowing endlessly, it was only a little bit of bumpy sitting on horseback, and Fu Xunyu, who was wearing a thin shirt, was already wet and sticky and uncomfortable. After galloping for a while, the knight on a green horse in front of him looked back and waved his whip at him, and he saw a small pavilion standing in the distance among the trees, and he was relieved, and immediately stepped up his horse.

When Ma Zhi was near, Fu Xunyu realized that this pavilion was not a pavilion for tourists to rest, but was built together with several rows of horse rejection antlers. There are still seven or eight thatched huts outside the pavilion, all of which hang their own curtains, and you can guess that these straw huts should be their dwellings by looking at the armoured soldiers standing or sitting in front of and behind the antlers.

Numerous antlers blocked the official road. The knight led the horse and walked up to talk to an officer who was sitting under a large camphor tree to enjoy the coolness, and the officer shouted. Before Fu Xunyu could react, under the drag of several soldiers, the antlers of the horse were separated, and the green horse knight turned around and said, "Brother Fu, please come here." Let's go and sit in the pavilion. ”

The two of them entered the pavilion and sat down, but when they heard the officer shouting again, the antlers reunited. Fu Xunyu looked at Xu Yu and asked, "Old Lu, was this card set up in your camp?" ”

The green horse knight nodded and said: "The imperial court does not support it, and the eight kings set up their own Guan Liang to collect taxes to fund military supplies." Brother, don't look at this small card, but it is a choke point, and at the end of the day, you will make a lot of profits. He continued, "The Lutou store where your camp is located is also a thoroughfare, so you can follow this method." ”

Fu Xunyu nodded and smiled, but did not say much.

The two soldiers offered tea and melon fruits, and the green horse knight took a leisurely sip of tea and said, "It's not far to go to Gucheng, Lord Lin will only arrive tomorrow." All we need to do is ride slowly, and we will arrive before dusk. ”

Fu Xunyu said: "I heard that Lord Lin seems to have a lot of criticism about the Eight Great Kings, but now he is willing to come to Gucheng, which is very intriguing. In this case, I hope that Brother Lu will give advice. ”

The name of the green horse knight known as "Brother Lü" is Lü Yue, and he is a general under Zhang Xianzhong. And because of the rough writing and ink, although he is a newcomer attached to the end, he is also quite valued and knows some key news. And Fu Xunyu is the old man of Zhao Ying, he is a native of Peng'an County, Sichuan, and he was originally farming and studying at home, but when Zhao Ying entered Sichuan for the first time in the eighth year of Chongzhen, he was plundered into Zhao Ying by Guo Ruke. He Kewei recommended him many times in front of Zhao Dangshi, and Zhao Dangshi later talked to him, and he also felt that he was a talent, so he gradually entrusted him with important tasks.

Because of adhering to the policy of "extensive assistance", Zhao Dangshi asked He Kewei and Wang Laixing to carefully select some suitable candidates in the camp, and as an envoy on behalf of Zhao Ying, he went out to make friends with all kinds of people, and Fu Xunyu was one of them. In the past, diplomacy was very important, and Zhao Dangshi generally did it himself, but since the development of the present, Zhao Ying's tentacles have been widely spread innumerable, and it is impossible for Zhao Dangshi to personally participate in everything anyway, not to mention that there are military affairs, internal affairs and other things. In addition, the previous expedient measure of using generals to temporarily send them out for meetings and negotiations could not last long, after all, Zhao Ying's current situation is not what it used to be, and the officers who served in office are also shouldering heavy responsibilities. Therefore, it is imperative to select a special person to be in charge of foreign affairs.

Zhao Dangshi's plan is to seize the tail of military reform in the near future and set up a new "foreign affairs department" to specialize in foreign affairs, but the specific personnel has not yet been determined. Therefore, this time the dispatch of various "foreign affairs personnel" also has the intention of examining their talents and appointing them on the basis of merit. It seems that the task of going south to contact the heads of various Liukou canals is somewhat special, so it is still entrusted to Hou Dagui and Li Yanlang. For example, Fu Xunyu, he was sent to Zhang Xianzhong's Xiying station in Gucheng to participate in the inspection of Lin Mingqiu's labor army in Xiying.

The reason why Zhang Xianzhong was able to successfully return to the imperial court was actually all due to the guarantee of Xiong Wencan and Chen Hongfan. Relying only on his own actions, it is absolutely difficult to get the support of the Huguang magistrates.

He Kewei was instructed by Zhao Dangshi to investigate Zhang Xianzhong's way of raising the army. Set up a card to collect taxes is one of them, Gucheng is located at the intersection of the South River, the water and the Han River, Zhang Xianzhong is loyal to this, "the river is established, and the tax is paid." Thousands of gold per month". The second is to forcibly accept the land rents that can be reached in Xiangyang and even in Xiying, a nearby prefecture and county. The third is to send troops to directly collect food and wages from the squires and eunuchs, but anyone who resists will be severely punished or even killed. Although these methods can make huge profits in the short term, they are too rough and domineering after all, and they also directly lead to Zhang Xianzhong and the local officials in the Huguang area from small to large. This is contrary to Zhao Ying's policy of "following the imperial court", and Zhao Dangshi will never follow suit.

Zuo Liangyu, the commander of the reinforcement and suppression, Lin Mingqiu, the patrol of Huguang, and Wang Ruihan, the patrol of Yunxiang, once persuaded Xiong Wencan to "lure and punish Zhang Xianzhong", but Xiong Wencan always felt that "killing and surrendering is ominous". He also advised Xiying to deal with the Xiying according to "requisition, return to agriculture, and disbandment", but it was also unsuccessful. Therefore, it is almost an open secret that Zhang Xianzhong, who insisted on "plowing with a knife", had a discord with these people.

The breeze in the pavilion was light, and the clothes were gradually drying, and Fu Xunyu felt a trace of coolness. Over there, Lu Yue said: "The adults of Huguang regard the Eight Kings as fierce tigers, don't they know that the Eight Kings have the common people in their hearts, and they enter the Valley City for nothing else, all to ensure the safety of hundreds of miles." He also said, "The Eight Kings sent people out of the list, saying that 'the camp is determined to be chaotic, and the troops have fled far away, and the camp has unloaded its armor and returned to the field', which shows the sincerity of the kindness of the heart!" ”

Fu Xunyu laughed secretly in his heart when he heard this, thinking that the original place where the imperial court arranged for Zhang Xianzhong was not Gucheng, but that Zhang Xianzhong took advantage of the fact that Ruan Zhitian, the county governor, had not yet arrived, attacked the city on a rainy night, and occupied the city on all sides with troops, and finally forced the imperial court to admit the fait accompli. Under Lu Yue's high-sounding words, he didn't say a word about these situations.

"Brother Fu said that Lord Lin is prejudiced against the Eight Great Kings, don't you know that a few days ago, our battalion intercepted a letter, and it is even more sinister to see people's hearts." Lu Yue's tone slowly became excited, but his face was still pretending to be pleasant.

"Oh? I would like to hear about it. ”

"This letter was written by Huguang Yu Junmen and Xiong Zhifu, and it said, 'It is said that the loyalty and evil have come to an end, but they have not been captured first', which is chilling!" Lu Yue pinched the enamel teacup and said, "The eight kings were extremely aggrieved, and wrote a letter to ask about the reason for the Dai Junmen in Yunyang. In the words, "Yu Junmen" is Yu Yinggui, the governor of Huguang, and "Dai Junmen" is Dai Dongmin, the governor of Yunyang, who has always treated the fussed rogues with a tough attitude.

Fu Xunyu sighed: "How can we endure this untrue suspicion when we surrender sincerely." ”

Lu Yue became more and more energetic, and continued: "Not only Yu Junmen, but Brother Fu can know that Henan Zhang Zongbing and Shaanxi Sun Junmen also secretly plotted the Eight Kings. If it weren't for the Eight Kings to be upright, I was afraid that they would be like that Yue Wumu and give An a trumped-up charge. Zhang Renxue, the general soldier of Henan, once advised Xiong Wencan to "take King Qin by surprise in the name of King Qin" and tie up Zhang Xianzhong. Sun Chuanting also disagreed with the appeasement of Zhang Xianzhong. Zhang Xianzhong relied on his relationship with Chen Hongfan and Xiong Wencan to understand these situations.

Fu Xunyu couldn't help but think of Zhao Dangshi's contact with Chen Hongfan a few days ago. Zhang Xianzhong's promoters of Zhao'an are these two people, and they and Zhang Xianzhong have been tied together, but after recruiting An, they found that Zhang Xianzhong did not have the good control they imagined, Zhang Xianzhong always adhered to the principle of "not obeying the law, not letting go of troops, should not be transferred, and not entering the government", the most intuitive embodiment is that Xiong Wencan ordered the official Cheng 90,000 to go to Gucheng to transfer troops several times, "repeatedly from the conscription, should not", "and transfer his troops, three should not". The panic in Xiong Wencan's heart can be seen, and he can't turn to sanction Zhang Xianzhong for slapping his face, so all he can do is to support people like Zhao Dangshi as a check.

Returning to the conversation, Lu Yue continued: "It's only three things, the eight kings are the soldiers after the first salute, and now the other side is too pressing, and they will not sit still." ”

Fu Xunyu's heart moved, and he asked, "What are the eight kings doing?" ”

Lu Yue responded: "There is a Xiong Mansion outside, and there is Xue ...... inside" Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of something, stopped abruptly, looked at Fu Xunyu twice, and hummed, "In short, the surname Zhang in Henan, the surname Sun in Shaanxi, and the surname Yu in Huguang, don't want to end up with benefits!" ”

Fu Xunyu nodded secretly, his face impassive. He went to Xiying this time, and saw Lin Mingqiu as the second, and the most important thing was to listen to the truth of Xiying and appease Zhang Xianzhong. This Lu Yue is his fellow countryman, and he is also an anxious person, and he has only talked with him for a short time, and he has already gained a lot from those who have a heart.

Lu Yue didn't notice the subtle change in Fu Xunyu's expression, remembered the topic before his head, and said, "Brother Fu asked Lord Lin why he came to my Xiying this time?" I don't know the specific reason, but I think it may be related to Lord Bao's unhappy breakup in Valley City a month ago. ”

"Master Bao......" Fu Xunyu thought lightly, looking up at the gloomy sky outside the pavilion.

This Master Bao refers to Bao Fengqi, the "head of the Ministry of War". Soon after Zhang Xianzhong's surrender, Xiong Wencan asked him to reduce his troops to a maximum of 20,000, but Zhang Xianzhong refused. Then Xiong Wencan reported to the imperial court, and the court sent Bao Feng to parade in the west camp, but after the parade, Bao Fengqi did not give a reward in accordance with the practice of the Ming army. Zhang Xianzhong was furious because of this, and questioned Bao Fengqi at the same time as building firewood under the review stand, and wanted to burn the review stand. Thanks to Li Chengzhang, the imperial historian of the Meiji Academy, he tried his best to persuade the party, but Zhang Xianzhong was very unhappy with the imperial court because of this matter. And Lin Mingqiu recently inspected northern Chu and came to Xiying for a visit, but he did not help the court to relieve the misunderstanding and find out the truth of Xiying.

"The world is uneven, and there are no plans for strong enemies inside and outside, but the eight kings have never complained and are determined to move forward. Although the spirit of tens of millions of people is like this, who in the world can compare! Lu Yue said as he drank the bowl of tea that had just been filled in his hand, with a look of admiration on his face.

Fu Xunyu said with a smile: "The eight kings are wise and martial, and Brother Lu is also a pillar of talent. The lords and ministers complement each other, and there is really a harmony between fish and water. ”

Lu Yue shook his head in embarrassment and said, "Brother Fu, don't make fun of the foolish brother. On the pillars, where can the huge Xiying accommodate me. ”

Fu Xunyu pretended to be surprised and said, "Why is Brother Lu so modest!" ”

Lu Yue replied: "The eight kings are thirsty for talent, and at the beginning of entering Gucheng, they successively married the sister of Ding Juren and the sister of Ao Shengyuan, and settled in the private residence of Fang Yuegong, the prefect of Songjiang, to show that they valued learning and Confucianism, and it was passed down as a good story. Corporal Lixian attracted the talents of Chubei to seek refuge and serve. Among them, four people are the most outstanding, and everyone has the talent of Guan Zhong and Fan Li. ”

Fu Xunyu deliberately asked, "Which four?" ”

Lu Yue said: "The four seats in front of the eight kings' tents are called Mr. Four." Mr. Dongxi Pan Duao Pan, born in Yingchengju; Mr. Xixi Xu Yixian Xu, born in Gucheng Zhusheng; Mr. Bingzhen Wang, Beixi, was born in Gucheng; Mr. Nanxi Xue Zhengxian Xue, a native of Hancheng. These four have the talent of heaven and earth, and the unpredictable opportunity. Compared with them, the foolish brother is really a finch and an ant, insignificant. ”

As he was talking, a cloud of smoke and dust floated on the side of the road, Fu Xunyu looked over, but saw that the eight horsemen came unexpectedly, reining in front of the antlers of the horse, and had an unbeatable complexion. Seeing this, the officer of the West Battalion, who was sitting leisurely under the camphor tree, immediately farted and urinated, and hurriedly went up to open the way.

Fu Xunyu knew that these eight horsemen must also be dignitaries in Xiying, and asked Lu Yue where he came from.

Lu Yue's face was full of red light, and he said proudly: "These eight people are all the sons of the eight kings. The first four riders, who are older, are called the 'Four Tigers', and are divided into Zhang Guoning, Zhang Sihu, Zhang Keji, and Zhang Huier. Swallowing his spit, he continued, "The last four riders are young, they are all teenagers, called 'four dragons', they are Zhang Kewang, Zhang Dingguo, Zhang Wenxiu, and Zhang Nengqi. ”

Fu Xunyu nodded and stroked his beard, and sighed: "The tiger father has no dogs, and today is an eye-opener." ”