Xiangcheng is seventy miles away from Xinye Military Port, and there are many mountain and forest paths in between. Qin Mubai went against the usual practice of marching and ordered a hundred cavalry soldiers to lead the infantry forward, passing through the mountain and forest roads. The first is to investigate the possible existence of enemy ambushes, and the second is to open roads and build bridges. He also sent Xue Rengui to lead the cavalry vanguard, and he himself led the Chinese army forward with Yin Yang and Yuwen Hongtai. Three thousand men and horses, divided into several strands and advancing in layers, respond to each other or as horns.

After walking for a while, Xue Rengui in front of him suddenly reported that he had caught a few scouts and handed them over to Qin Mubai.

Qin Mubai personally inquired and checked the military registration documents, and it was actually a sergeant under Li Tao. Soon after, Xue Rengui reported that Xue Wanche led his troops to hold a stream and tidal flat on the road that must be passed, hindering the advance of the army.

Qin Mubai let go of the scouts and personally led the troops forward.

The stream is about ten meters wide, and the current is quite rapid. There is a wooden bridge over the stream, which can accommodate three riders to cross side by side.

At this time, a person on the opposite side got off his horse and walked onto the bridge, followed by a flag bearer, and the word "Xue" was written on the flag. It must be Xue Wanjun.

Qin Mubai also got off the horse, walked to the bridge, and stood face to face with him in the middle of the bridge.

Xue Wanche is over forty years old, with a purple face, Kong Wu is powerful and sturdy, and he is a natural martial artist with an awe-inspiring demeanor. He looked at Qin Mubai with a pair of majestic tiger eyes, and said in a deep voice: "I know you, and I know what you are here for." Go back, and I'll act like I've never seen you. ”

The two brothers, Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche, are also friends with the Qin family, but their friendship is not necessarily deep. Previously, when Qin Shubao served for Li Shimin, the king of Qin, Xue Wanche was a die-hard general of Li Jiancheng, the hidden prince. At that time, Xue Wanche was already a general of the chariot cavalry, and his status was much higher than that of Qin Shubao. During the battle of Xuanwumen, Xue Wanche led the palace soldiers to "encircle Wei to save Zhao", and fought to the palace of King Qin. At that time, Qin Shubao also fought against him, and the two fought for several rounds. Later, Xue Wanche saw Li Jiancheng's head, and only then did he retreat and flee into Zhongnan Mountain, and finally Li Shimin sent several messengers to appease and persuade him to surrender, and he returned to obedience.

Since then, Xue Wanche and Qin Shubao have not known each other, and the two have some friendship with each other. Over the years, the Xue brothers have relied on their martial arts and military exploits to become popular, and they have gradually weakened their dealings with the Qin family. Now, the Xue brothers are one of the few representatives of the Shaozhuang faction and the Yongzhan faction in the Tang Army, and they are deeply favored by the emperor and are full of grace, and they are becoming more and more prosperous. In terms of position, the two brothers are different, the elder brother Xue Wan is biased towards the prince; The Xue Wanche in front of him is very close to the King of Wei.

In the eyes of the court, Qin Mubai is the "only surviving" Wu Wang Party, and he was born in the Qin family and studied under Li Jing.

Friend or foe is not friend, those who come are not good, and those who are good do not come.

Qin Mubai looked at Xue Wanche, his expression was silent, he hugged his fists, and said, "Why did General Xue stop our army? ”

"You disobey the will of the master and become unknown. As a lieutenant general in the army, I have the right to restrain you. Xue Wanche said with a clear look, his expression was still a little arrogant, and he looked at Qin Mubai and said, "If it weren't for the fact that I still have an old friendship with your father, I would definitely not be so polite to you today." Quickly withdraw your troops back to the river, and don't appear in Xiangcheng again! ”

Qin Mubai glanced at the army behind Xue Wanche. On a pebble beach, four or five thousand light cavalry were neatly arranged, all of them were horses, spears, bright armor and cloaks, and the military appearance was neat and tidy, and the banners were rolling, and they were extraordinary.

This is the elite light cavalry that has been active in Datang Pass all year round, and each of them is one in a hundred elite cavalry. Charging into battle is as if idle, the combat power is extraordinary, it is the elite department in the Gongwei Pass, and the trump card division in the hands of Li Shimin.

If they can afford to be a soldier composed of ordinary farmers, they will have ghosts. Not to mention Xue Wanche, it was just those ordinary pawns, looking at the soldiers on the other side with a sneer and ridicule.

"Let's go, let's go!" Xue Wanche waved his hand and snorted impatiently.

"I want to see Li Tao." Qin Mubai looked directly at Xue Wanche and said.

Xue Wanche was stunned at first, and then laughed "sneer": "You drank too much?" When is this? You are your next-door neighbor when you are a British duke, and you can see you if you want? Don't be whimsical, go back! I don't have the patience to talk to you, I will be responsible for martial law here, after a stick of incense, anyone who stays here without permission will be punished as a traitor! ”

With that, Xue Wanche snorted coldly, shook his robe, turned around and strode away.

Qin Mubai's face sank, turned around and walked back to the bridge.

Here, Yuwen Hongtai has already barked: "Dog|mother's raised, it's too arrogant!" General Qin, give the order! I rushed over and tore the birdman's broken beak! ”

Qin Mubai waved his hand: "Don't make noise." Xue Wanche doesn't have a taste for us, and I also want to have a fight with him. But he is under the command of Li Tao, and the opposite side is the regular army of the Tang Dynasty, so it is inconvenient to tear his face - I have my own way! ”

After that, Qin Mubai called a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone to write a short "love letter" to Li Tao.

At this time, Xue Wanche on the opposite side was already on the horse, looking coldly at Qin Mubai and the others on the other side, and the horsewhip in his hand gently knocked on the saddle.

"General, what are they doing?" Left and right asked.

Xue Wanche sneered: "The loach can't roll over the big waves, so it doesn't matter what he does." Anyway, after a stick of incense, I don't want to see the group of trash fish on the other side!

At this time, Qin Mubai had already finished writing and stood up, raised his hand and shouted, "Take my bow!" “

"Yes!"

A pawn took Qin Mubai's boxwood iron-tired bow from the saddle of the Huoyun horse. Qin Mubai tied the letter to the arrow pole and pulled a full string to aim at the opposite bank.

Everyone was taken aback - what was this for?

At such a distance, if a soldier on the opposite side is injured by mistake, it will really tear the skin and make a big fight!

Xue Wanche and the others on the opposite side also saw it, and couldn't help but stir slightly for a while. Xue Wanche stared at Qin Mubai, who was holding an arrow and drawing a bow on the opposite side, but he was not afraid, but he was a little annoyed and surprised: This kid, do you want to demonstrate to me? Hum! …… Bite off more than one can chew! Depending on your methods, if the slightest deviation hurts any of my here, I will not give up with you today!

Before he could make up his mind, he suddenly heard a soft shout from the other side, and an arrow shot straight over like a flying flower and a flash of light.

"Tuk-"

Xue Wanche only heard a sound in his ears, and then someone behind him let out an exclamation. Looking back, he couldn't help but widen his eyes suddenly-that arrow was actually inserted on the handsome flag behind him!

"How can this be true? How dare you hurt my flag! Xue Wanche was suddenly furious!

At this time, there was a cheer from the other side. Moreover, Qin Mubai had already pulled the bowstring again.

Xue Wanche didn't dare to be careless anymore, and hurriedly reined in his horse and took a few steps back.

If Qin Mubai really wanted to shoot a killer, it would definitely be easy!

For a while, Xue Wanche's body instinctively had goosebumps, and he actually felt some chills!

"Stinky boy, the archery technique can be ......" Xue Wanche gritted his teeth and scolded secretly: This kid is a newborn calf, and it seems that he can't be scared back. If you really want to do it, the miscellaneous fish under him are naturally not my opponents. But after all, it was Datang's soldiers...... Annoyed! You can't fight, and you can't go back when you're scared!

On this side, Qin Mubai saw Xue Wanche retreating a few steps, a sneer appeared on his face, he slowly lowered his bow, and shouted loudly: "There is General Lao Xue, send someone to send the last general's love letter to the British public to read." The last general restrained the soldiers and horses and did not trespass, and if the British issued a public message to let the last general retreat, the last general would have no second word. ”

"Bastard, how dare you defy me? Li Tao asked you to withdraw you, you will withdraw, I will let you withdraw, do you have the right to let me fart? Xue Wanche hated it so much that he really wanted to rush to the other side and slash Qin Mubai with one sword. After thinking about it again and again, he still raised his hand: "Letter, bring it!" ”

The pawn behind him had already pulled the arrow from the pole of the flag, and at this time took the letter and handed it to him.

Xue Wanche glanced at Qin Mubai coldly, spread out the letter and looked at it, and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Come, send the letter, and give it to the Duke of England to read."

"Yes!"

The soldiers and generals behind him were already angry, and some people scolded: "General, why did you listen to that stinky boy's words, he let him give it away, something!" ”

"Shut up, you know the shit!" Xue Wanche scolded, "When it comes to royal matters, let's take care of one brown and one brown." Anyway, today's case will be recorded for the stinky boy first, and it will not be too late for him to calculate with him in the future. One yard is one yard, and both ends are counted. ”

Here Yuwen Hongtai laughed: "Hahaha...... General Qin, what is written in your letter, why is he so obedient like a grandson? ”

"Shut up, it's none of your business!" Qin Mubai scolded and ordered: "The whole army is on standby!" No one is allowed to do it without my orders! ”

"Yes—"

The two military horses are on standby across the bridge.

Xue Rengui's eyes didn't seem to have left Xue Wanche from the beginning, as if he was going to stare him out of a hole. Qin Mubai seemed to see through his thoughts, and said to him: "Rengui, is it possible that you want to fight with him?" ”

"That's exactly what I mean." Xue Rengui was unabashed, and said straightforwardly, "Xue Wanche is famous for his excellent martial arts and bravery. The last general wants to know how powerful he really is! ”

"It's a pity. He is proud of his nobility, how can he fight you? Qin Mubai smiled and said, "You also saw it, not to mention Xue Wanche, even a random pawn behind him, and he didn't take our group of people seriously." Their faces are full of disdain and arrogance. ”

Xue Rengui's expression was very silent, and he said lightly: "Then I want to fight with him even more." ”

After a while, a cloud of dust rose in front of them, and several horses rushed towards them. Xue Wanche looked back and couldn't help but be taken aback: "My mother-in-law, why did the handsome man come in person?" ”

"Greetings!"

Xue Wanche dismounted with all the sergeants, clasped his fists and sang a promise.

"No need to be polite." Li Tao rode on the horse, glanced at Xue Wanche, and said in a calm voice: "Why did there be a conflict?" ”

"This ......" Xue Wanche glanced up at Li Tao, lowered his head and hugged his fists and said: "The last general persuaded hard, but he didn't listen." ”

In fact, in terms of title and identity, Xue Wanche is not lower than Li Tao. Xue Wanche, after defeating Xue Yantuo as Li Tao's deputy, married Princess Danyang, the daughter of Tang Gaozu, and became a concubine, Li Shimin's "brother-in-law", and also worshiped the right Wuwei general, and was one of the twelve Wei generals who lived in the third rank.

However, only Li Jing can keep pace with Li Tao in the army. No matter how high Xue Wanche's identity is, no matter how big the official rank, it can't change the fact that he is Li Tao's deputy-just like Pang Fei is to Qin Mubai.

"You persuade hard, people will use bows and arrows?" Li Tao snorted coldly, clamped the horse's belly between his legs, and walked towards the bridge.

Xue Wanche's face twitched a few times, but he didn't dare to attack at all, so he had to lower his head and hate his teeth.

When he arrived at the bridge, Li Tao turned over and dismounted and walked towards this side. Qin Mubai saw it from a distance and walked up quickly.

"Uncle Li Shi!" Facing Li Tao, Qin Mubai bowed down.

"There are no fathers and sons in the army, you can't call me that." Li Tao said this, but there was a smile on his face.

"The end will know what is wrong." Qin Mubai said and glanced at Xue Wanche behind Li Tao. I saw that his face was green, his beard was blowing, and he didn't even look at this side with his eyes.

Li Tao chuckled lightly and scolded in a low voice: "Stinky boy, you called Xue Wanche, right?" …… Less set almost! used to look quite well-behaved, but now why is he so naughty and naughty? With your litter of calves, what are you trying to do? ”

"Uncle Shi, isn't it all clearly written in the little nephew's letter?" Qin Mubai laughed with him and said in a low voice, "Gao Yang is my daughter-in-law who has not passed through the door, and my daughter-in-law is in trouble, how can a man sit idly by?" …… Moreover, Li You falsely accused me of being an accomplice with him, if I hadn't clarified the facts in front of everyone, after the city was destroyed and the thieves were destroyed, how could I tell it clearly with just the little nephew's mouth? It's not a pity for the little nephew to die insignificant, but isn't there still King Wu here? Moreover, behind Gao Yang, Li You and others, isn't there still Concubine Yin De? ”

"A clever mouth, talking nonsense!" Li Tao scolded angrily and said, "Let me ask you, do you really have the ability to win without a fight?" ”

"You can give it a try." Qin Mubai said. This is the heart of Thak's letter.

Li Tao pondered for a moment, twisted his brows, and nodded: "In the final analysis, this is actually a matter of royal internal affairs. Mu Bai, you have always been smart, and you can judge the situation. I want you to figure out what you're doing right now. ”

"Yes, I think very clearly." Qin Mubai said, "I won't embarrass Uncle Shi." Afterwards, no matter whether he succeeds or fails, the little nephew will go to Chang'an with Uncle Shi and ask His Majesty the Emperor for guilt! ”

"Hmm......" Li Tao looked at Qin Mubai intently and said, "Even if you don't go, I'm going to arrest you." It's not a small boldness, but he dares to resist the decree and raise troops! - Now, you and Ben Shuai go to the city! This large group of men and horses don't have to follow, you can just bring three or five followers. ”

"Uncle Xie Shi!" Qin Mubai clenched his fists happily and said in his heart-I knew that Li Tao was a very smart person! Moreover, before he came, the emperor probably gave him an explanation. I, Qin Mubai and Wu King Li Ke, want to clear their suspicions, what should I do if I don't meet Li You!

Qin Mubai returned to the side of the bridge, handed over the talisman to Pang Fei, and asked him and Yuwen Hongtai to take the men and horses of the Xiangzhou Military Mansion and the Wu Wangfu to return to the shore and camp first. He took Xue Rengui, Yin Yang and two flag bearers to cross the bridge.

Li Tao waited for him here, and said, "Ben Shuai will take the first step and go and make arrangements." You walked with Xue Wanche, and then followed. ”

"Yes." Qin Mubai clenched his fists and agreed.

Li Tao glanced at Xue Wanche a few times with warning, then raised his whip and rode away.

Xue Wanche glanced at Qin Mubai a few times unconvinced, turned over on his horse, and didn't talk to him, he waved his hand: "Withdraw!" ”

The troops turned around and withdrew in the direction in which Li Tao had gone. Qin Mubai, Xue Rengui and others patted their horses and walked beside Xue Wanche, and they didn't say much. It was also interesting for Qin Mubai's pawns to hold the flag, but they walked in the same line as Xue Wanche's flag and drove the horse's head, glaring at each other and sneering at each other.

Qin Mubai secretly said in his heart: I have heard rumors a long time ago, saying that Xue Wanche, who is excellent in martial arts and extremely brave in battle, just has a bad problem, is short-tempered and has a small temperament and cannot tolerate people. This time, I'm afraid he's taking revenge on me - whatever! If you offend, you offend, what can he do to me?

Xue Wanche couldn't dissipate the breath in his heart, and when he glanced at Qin Mubai, he saw that he was calm, and his heart became more and more depressed, so he snorted coldly, and scolded in pieces: "Yellow-mouthed child, milky child!" ”

Qin Mubai smiled: "General Xue is a veteran of the army with high morality and great military achievements, how can he be as knowledgeable as a kid?" ”

In one sentence, he almost choked Xue Wanche speechless. He glared at Qin Mubai in annoyance, and said, "The kid still has a relationship with Li Dashuai?" ”

"General, average." Qin Mubai replied with a smile.

"I should have thought of it a long time ago, Li Dashuai was in Wagang with your father back then." Xue Wanche said sarcastically, "Born in the gate, amazing, amazing!" Sure enough, it can't be provoked! ”

Qin Mubai smiled disapprerovingly: "This kid, why do you smell a sour smell?" ”

Xue Wanche snorted coldly: "Today, I would have put the overall situation of military affairs first, and I didn't care about you." If you dare to be so rude to Ben again, you will definitely be made beautiful! General, it doesn't matter if you are the emperor's son-in-law or the son of Shangzhuguo. The class has an axe, and the pearl of rice grains also shines! With your little martial arts, I'm afraid that I won't be worthy of lifting shoes, so you dare to show off your archery skills in front of this general! ”

After saying a word, Qin Mubai, who only thought of Xiangcheng in his heart, was not angered, but provoked Xue Rengui's fighting spirit and anger on the side. He held Fang Tian's halberd, and suddenly clenched his fist at Xue Wanche: "General Xue!" The last general was a general under General Qin, who led a horse and fell into stirrups, and never dared to expect to lift shoes for General Qin. But when I heard General Xue's words, I was bold, I wanted to know how difficult it was to mention General Xue's shoes? ”

"Presumptuous!" Xue Wanche's anger was suddenly detonated, and he raised his whip and pointed at Xue Rengui, shouting: "What are you, how can you speak here!" ”

"The last general, Longmen Xue Rengui. The official position is not worth mentioning. Xue Rengui's face was silent, the corners of his mouth rose lightly, revealing a hint of provocation, and he said coldly: "The last general wants to know, the world-famous General Xue, in addition to being small-minded and short-tempered, does he have any other skills?" ”

"How can it be!"

Not only Xue Wanche, but even the deputy generals behind him were furious, and many of them drew their swords.

For a moment, the saber rattling!

Qin Mubai was as calm as ever, glanced at Xue Wanche and the others obliquely, pursed his lips and said, "What, you want to bully the widow with the crowd?" ”

"Stand down! - " Xue Wanche shouted angrily, "The army retreats a stone's throw away!" Wait for the general, personally teach these two boys who don't know the height of the sky! ”

"If you can defeat the last general, you are qualified to fight against General Qin." Xue Rengui slowly unfolded the Fang Tian painting halberd in his hand, and a pair of eyes were already full of fighting spirit, looking directly at Xue Wanche, and said, "If a certain person is defeated, life and death will be handled by General Xue, no complaints, everyone is a witness; If you are lucky enough to win, how about asking General Xue to leave a pair of shoes as a souvenir? ”

"Ben will leave your head as a memorial." A horse lance, the tip of the lance pointed directly at Xue Rengui.

Qin Mubai clearly saw that in Xue Wanche's eyes, what burned was no longer anger, but murderous aura!