The post chief sat down next to Wang Yongzuo and talked with him to pass the time.

"Let me ask you, has this Xiangyang Mansion always been so chaotic?" Wang Yongzuo asked the post chief with palpitations, he has lived for decades, and the dangers he has encountered are not few, but it is the first time he has really walked on the ghost gate tonight.

The post chief waved his hand and said: "My lord doesn't know, since my Xiangyang Mansion has Zhao Zongbing sitting in the guard, it has been too peaceful and stable for several years. General Zhao strictly abides by the law, not only to put an end to all foreign enemies and thieves who violate the border, but even the soldiers of the department do not commit any crimes against the people on weekdays. Don't talk about killing people and selling goods, it is rare to steal chickens and dogs. It is absolutely impossible for a thief to dare to openly sneak into the post station and attack like today. It's just ......"

The post chief sighed and continued: "It's just that in recent years, the superintendent has set up pacesetters to suppress thieves, and instead of seeing fewer thieves, more thieves have been provoked. They re-flowed into Chu from Sichuan, Shaanxi and other places, and all kinds of roads emerged in an endless stream, and a few days ago, they were disturbed by Zuozhen, and this law and order was already a little turbulent...... Thinking that those scattered thieves and thieves are like the weeds in spring, they can't be killed, and they can't be eliminated, maybe they will take advantage of this opportunity to exploit Zhao Shuai's loopholes...... It's a burden to the adults......"

"You mean, now that the mansion is not peaceful, and if the official continues to walk, it is inevitable that he will be threatened?" Wang Yongzuo's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked. He is only at the southern border of Xiangyang Mansion now, and he has to pass through to the Yunyang Mansion Governor's Office, but he is afraid that there are still hundreds of miles to go. If the world is peaceful, it is easy to say, if there are thieves as the post chief said, then I am afraid that there will be more evil and less luck along the way.

"That's exactly what reason...... the post chief nodded helplessly, looked at the three companions, and continued: "Forgive the little old man for being disrespectful, during this time, the people, merchants, and even the soldiers in the town had to bring more than a dozen or even dozens of people together with weapons to make a small group of outlaws retreat...... Now the lord only brought three retinues, a total of four...... The little old man thought that he couldn't go ten miles, but he was afraid that he would ...... again."

Chu Yu came back from chaos, Wang Yongzuo had heard about it in Sichuan, and at this time, listening to the post chief, the difference in public security here was much beyond his expectations. He thought that the post chief had no grievances with him, and that there was no need to scare himself by alarmism, so he decided that what he said should be true.

"Then ...... Do you think I should go back? Hearing the end, Wang Yongzuo could hear the post chief's voice, and couldn't help but say with some sullenness.

"Little Lao'er has no such intention. If an adult wants to go to Yunyang Mansion to take office, it is a big thing, and even if Xiao Lao'er has a thousand guts, he will not dare to take the initiative for the adult...... Merely...... It's just that two days ago, a Jia man was robbed and killed by thieves eighteen miles east of the post because of the lack of people...... Little Lao'er is just worried about the adults......"

"You ......" Wang Yongzuo knew in his heart that this post chief was definitely not optimistic that he would be able to reach Yunyang safely, but what he said was reasonable and without malice, and Wang Yongzuo couldn't speak even if he was annoyed. According to what he said, he took these three useless companions, a group of four, and left the post station without returning. Referring to the situation tonight, his words seem to be corroborated, and he insists on going his own way, only afraid that this time tomorrow will become a thief's knife and meat. The best option now is to turn back to Chengtianfu and ask for more troops to protect him...... Or just leave the errand to someone else.

So go back?

This idea only stayed in Wang Yongzuo's mind for a moment before he ruthlessly vetoed it. If you go back to move the rescue soldiers, even if you agree to increase the number of troops to protect you, what will you become in the eyes of others? Fearful of thieves like tigers, timid as rats! In this way, even if he finally takes office, he will not be able to raise his head in the eyes of others, and how will he establish his prestige in Yunyang Mansion in the future? This consequence is completely contrary to Wang Yongzuo's own expectations at the beginning.

Think about it again, how many hardships have Wen Dinggong and Zhongjie Gong experienced in their lives? Even Longtan Tiger's Den has been to I don't know how many times! He only suffered such a little hardship and retreated, and he would no longer have the face to regard Xu Guangqi as his role model in the future.

You can't have both fish and bear's paws, and those who take fish and give up bear's paws are also. In the same way, fame is now inseparable from life, and it is necessary to sacrifice one's life for fame. This is his Wang Yongzuo's demeanor!

A day later, Zhao Dangshi looked at the letter paper in his hand, quite crying and laughing. Gu Junen had already gotten a glimpse of his demeanor and asked, "What?" Could it be that this guy is still a hard bone? ”

Zhao Dangshi shook his head with a smile and said, "Exactly." This Wang Yongzuo is a little hard, after suffering this catastrophe and the side knock of the post chief, he still has no heart to retreat, it seems that we underestimate him. ”

"Haha!" Gu Junen sneered, "Knowing the difficulties, this Lord Wang is very difficult to entangle. ”

In the attack on Wang Yongzuo's station, the mastermind behind the scenes was actually Gu Junen. Yunyang Mansion is empty, and the governor's position is waiting to be handed over, and the unresolved moment is the best time for Zhao Ying to take advantage of the void. As long as Wang Yongzuo is blocked on the road, Zhao Ying can completely guard Yunxiang's position under the pretext of "guarding against Kou and arranging", and march to occupy Yunyang Mansion. But he didn't expect Wang Yongzuo's will to be so firm, and he resolutely did not waver in the face of life and death.

"The postmaster said in this letter that before dawn this morning, then Lord Wang urged his companions to continue on his journey, thinking that since he had suffered a loss, there would be no more delay on the road, and perhaps he would come to us by the afternoon." If he couldn't make a plan, Zhao Dangshi was a little upset, he didn't know if Gu Junen still had an idea, "Why don't we send a few more people to go?" ”

Gu Junen objected: "No." Before, at the post station, there was a post chief to give us support, and the play was easy to perform. Now that Wang Yongzuo is on his way, the people we sent there can't really hurt him...... If you don't get serious with him, he will naturally be suspicious, which is not good for us. ”

"How is it good to be born like this? If you can't scare Wang Yongzuo away, it will be difficult for Yunyang Mansion to be included in my Zhao Ying's pocket. Zhao Dangshi said a little unpleasantly.

The corners of Gu Junen's mouth slanted slightly, and he said, "Don't worry, the lord doesn't have to worry about this way, there is another way." In the opinion of subordinates, all ordinary people have two sides, either eat soft or hard, and those who do not eat soft and hard are rare in ancient times. I think that the person surnamed Wang is not a saint and doesn't eat hard, so let's start from the other side! He groaned and said, "Don't worry, even if you really can't bluff the surnamed Wang, your subordinates will guarantee the ticket, and this Yunyang Mansion will not be able to escape from my Zhao Ying's palm!" He has been in the grass for a long time, and his words and actions are full of boldness.

The matter has come to this point, and Zhao Dangshi has no other way but to nod his head with a heavy heart.

Wang Yongzuo and his entourage arrived at Xiangyang City when it was close to dusk that afternoon.

Looking at the towering Xiangyang Zhenguo in front of him, Wang Yongzuo breathed a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, there were no more strongmen on the dozens of miles from Qianshanyi to Xiangyang City. He shook his cuffs, propped his head, and walked towards the city gate with his head held high.

A town soldier guarding the city listened to his brief self-introduction, and saw the official inspection he showed, did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly went to the city to communicate, and after a while, Zhao Dangshi and Fan Ju'an, Gu Junen and other officials went out of the city to greet him.

Zhao Dangshi gave Wang Yongzuo a salute, and Wang Yongzuo accepted it unceremoniously. He claimed to be alone and forced into the tiger's den in Longtan, relying on only one word "potential". As long as there is momentum, no matter how many troops and horses are in front of him, he is no longer afraid.

"Did you have a smooth journey?"

Wang Yongzuo saw that Zhao Dangshi took the initiative to salute himself, and he was originally very useful, so Zhao Dangshi might as well throw out such a question, and immediately became unhappy, with a straight face, and said angrily: "Cheng Zhao's general soldier's blessing, it's quite smooth." "He thought about it last night, but decided not to spread the word about his attack. Before leaving, he also told the head of the mountain post not to reveal the matter, so he thought that Zhao Dangshi didn't know anything.

Zhao Dangshi saw him pretending to be leisurely, forced a smile, hugged his fists and asked again: "My lord has been tired all the way, please go to the Fuzhong Post House to rest for the time being." Tonight was supposed to set up a feast for the adults to receive the wind and wash the dust. ”

Wang Yongzuo knows that this is a consistent rule of officialdom, no matter how honest an official you are, you still have to eat this meal when you first arrive. At that time, some officials in the government will attend, if they refuse, it will be a loss of face for the whole Xiangyang government, and it will be difficult to cooperate with the Xiangyang government in the future. So he pretended to be extremely reluctant and said: "What the official means, it's okay if this banquet is not held." But it's not good to break your face and hurt your feelings. Anyway, with Lao Zhao's general soldiers, everything must be simple. ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled, nodded again and again, and did not wait to mention it.

The venue of this banquet was placed in a private residence of Zhao Dangshi in the city. This house was purchased by Zhao Dangshi when he first came to Xiangyang Mansion a few years ago, and the right is regarded as a place to stay, and he has not even slept there once. The house has been taken care of by a few servants arranged by Zhao Dangshi for many years. Fortunately, these servants usually live, and the furniture and furnishings inside will not fall into ashes.

Zhao Dangshi sent someone to arrange the house a little in advance, and set up a banquet in the main hall. Except for Wang Yongzuo, all of the people who came to the banquet this time were people with status in Xiangyang Mansion. When night fell, most of the families in Xiangyang City closed their doors to rest, only the Zhao family's house was as bright as day, and the sound of silk and bamboo pipes resounded throughout the sky.

In order to show respect and welcome to Wang Yongzuo, Zhao Dangshi and Fan Juan pushed him to sit in the chief, and he sat on both sides. Down, left and right, took turns to sit the civil and military officers in Xiangyang Mansion and Zhao Yingjun.

Zhao Dangshi pointed to the three dancers who were dancing in the center of the hall in front of him, and said to Wang Yongzuo sideways: "My lord, what do you think of their skills in dancing this 'Hu Xuan Dance'?" These three dancers are from the Western Regions and have been taught dance music since they began to walk, and have been performing for no less than 15 years. ”

Wang Yongzuo didn't know where he got these three high-nosed and deep-eyed bearded girls, but he was so bored with these things that he could only say yes in a haha for the sake of face.

Zhao Dangshi stroked his palms and smiled: "My lord really has a good eye. Dare to love adults to dance in the hall. ”

The Ming generation, from the emperor to the common people, all love to drink, as the so-called "no wine is not a meeting", some people have wine. However, it was boring to drink, so he came up with many tricks to help the fun. Poetry papers, art talks, and scenery appreciation are still elegant, but all kinds of strange skills and tricks are also popular. For example, at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Hu Weiyong, the prime minister of the left, actually took the trouble to raise more than ten apes, and also dressed them in hats, not only let them bow to the guests, offer tea and wine, and even teach them to dance and play the flute for laughter.

With the leopard, those things that "cherish the aftermath of drinking", "indulge in alcohol and innocence", "get drunk and comfort the years", and "sit drunk and sing in unison" are really the norm. As a result, if an official is good at dancing, it is not uncommon for high-ranking officials and dignitaries to perform dances in public at private meetings, and others will not think that you are unreserved and undignified, but will praise you and applaud your dancing.

Wang Yongzuo is not good at dancing, he will still know a little, he first excused himself and said: "The ugly dancing posture is unbearable for the eyes of the kings, so forget it." ”

Zhao Dangshi was willing to give up and insisted on saying: "I see that the adults are coordinated and walk lightly, needless to say, they must be experts in dancing." The adults are going to sit in Yunfu for a long time when they leave Xiangyang, and it is rare for us to pay tribute to the adults once, and this time we will open our eyes and feast our eyes. Lord Wanwang is empathetic. ”

When he said this, Wang Yongzuo was really embarrassed. Looking down again, the civil and military members of the congregation all raised their eyes and looked at themselves, looking forward to it, and for the sake of face, they had to accept it.

Zhao Dangshi watched Wang Yongzuo get up with a smile, and danced between the three dancers with a slightly shy face. The three dancing girls are also used to seeing the world, so they naturally know what to do at this time, so they disperse at the moment, vacate a gap, let Wang Yongzuo vacate his body in, and dance with his figure again.

It is also these three dancers who are highly skilled, and with Wang Yongzuo's awkward dancing posture, they can still perform a dance with high quality to everyone. While everyone applauded the dancing skills of these dancers, they also looked at Wang Yongzuo's nondescript dance steps in private, and couldn't help but hide their mouths and snicker.