In June of the ninth year of orthodoxy, Yushan set.

Since Guo Yongzhong had a drink with Liu Juntao, Liu Juntao was ready to send someone to Hu Dexing, wanting Hu Dexing to come to Yushan Market and discuss the matter of being a matchmaker with Hu Dexing in person.

But at this moment, Liu Zi'an came with a not very good news: Chen Herui, the head of the Chen family, is expanding his manpower on a large scale, and it seems that he has plans to enter Yanzhou Mansion in the east!

Facing the threat from the Chen family, Liu Juntao hesitated, after all, although the Yushan set is strong enough now, it is still too immature for the Chen family.

If the Chen family really suddenly tore up the peace agreement between the two sides at this time, and the Chen family's people slaughtered into Yanzhou Mansion in a big way, what the future and fate of Yushanji would be really unknown!

At this time, Liu Juntao's heart was not worried about himself, but worried that after he married Guo Muying, once he had something to do with three strengths and two weaknesses, the Chen family would definitely not let Guo Muying go!

"Now Guo Muying and I are just superiors and subordinates, even if I really lose, it's a big deal that I arrange for Muying to leave in advance. But once I marry Mu Ying, the Chen family will not let her go no matter what, and will not let go of this huge hidden danger! ”

Liu Juntao secretly thought in his heart, it was not that he had no confidence in himself and Yushanji, but out of cautious considerations.

After all, later generations of Taizu once said: We must despise the enemy strategically and attach importance to the enemy tactically!

No matter how powerful the force is, there is a possibility that the gutter will capsize! Don't take it lightly!

Thinking of this, Liu Juntao decided not to go to Guo's house for the time being, in order to prevent Guo Yongzhong and Guo Muying's father and daughter from misunderstanding, Liu Juntao personally found Guo Yongzhong.

After learning about Liu Juntao's intentions, Guo Yongzhong sighed heavily and said: "Juntao, I understand your worries, and I also know that you are for Mu Ying's good, but now that my Guo family has been both prosperous and lossy with you, how can I implicate it?" ”

Liu Juntao shook his head and said, "Outside of Guo Yuan, the people under him are different!" Before the external danger of Yushan Ji is eliminated, I have decided not to come to propose marriage for the time being, I can't let her take such a risk! ”

"Alas!"

Guo Yongzhong sighed heavily and said, "Jun Tao, I can understand you, but how can I tell Mu Ying?" ”

Liu Juntao was also silent, knowing in his heart that if this matter was made clear to Guo Muying in person, Guo Muying would definitely be angry.

"Father, I don't need to say anything, I understand!"

Liu Juntao and Guo Yongzhong suddenly looked at the door, only to see Guo Muying standing outside the door with a pot of tea, her face a little ugly.

Liu Juntao hurriedly stood up and was about to say something, but was interrupted by Guo Muying.

"You don't have to say anything, I heard what you and your father said just now, and you're right. Now at this time, you can't afford to be distracted! ”

After speaking, Guo Muying poured tea for the two of them, and then turned around and went out.

Liu Juntao stood aside, feeling lost in his heart, which was very unpleasant.

"Guo Yuanwai, do you think Mu Ying will blame me?"

"No, I know my daughter, she's not an unreasonable person!"

The next day, Liu Zi'an personally rushed back to Yushanji and reported the specific situation of the Chen family to Liu Juntao in person.

"Mr. Lian, this time I personally took my men to the Chen family in Tangyin County, Zhangde Prefecture, Henan, and found that there was already a commotion there, and Chen Herui, the head of the Chen family, had already given an order to expand his men and horses, and even openly bought horses from Shanxi, completely ignoring the reaction of the government!"

Liu Juntao was secretly surprised when he heard this, and asked, "Then what's the matter with the head of the Chen family?" Is there any news from Xu He, the housekeeper of the Chen family? ”

"Yes!"

Liu Zi'an said very angrily: "Then Xu He sent me the news, saying that the Chen family failed to enter Shandong last time, and the head of the family, Chen Herui, felt very regretful afterwards, and the old and young in the Chen family were also indignant, so many people instigated Chen Herui to enter Yanzhou Mansion. ”

Liu Juntao nodded and said, "It seems that Chen Herui's ears are soft, and he was moved by the Chen family!" ”

"That's how it should be!"

"Then what the Chen family has done like this, won't the officials of Zhangde Mansion and Tangyin County have no reaction?"

Liu Zi'an snorted coldly and said, "Yes!" It is said that the civil and military officials of Zhangde Mansion and Tangyin County have sent people to Chen's house successively, and they have said that they are not clear, but they should have warned Chen Herui. ”

"I think these officials must have failed to convince Chen Herui?"

"Mr. Lian is very right!"

Liu Zi'an said indignantly: "Those officials are just waste, they were driven back by Chen Herui one by one, and they all died down, and it was clear that they were ready to watch from the wall!" ”

Liu Juntao also sneered and said: "Those officials must want to see who will kill us against the Chen family in the end!" If I guessed correctly, if we defeat the Chen family, the officials of Zhangde Mansion and Tangyin County will all pounce on it and get a piece of the pie; And if we lose, those officials will continue to pretend to be stupid! ”

Hearing this, Liu Zi'an also frowned and asked, "Mr. Lian, what should we do now?" Then the Chen family must have come to our Yushan to do this! ”

Liu Juntao stood up and looked out the window, the sky outside was clear, and his heart was full of thoughts.

After a while, Liu Juntao turned back to Liu Zi'an and said, "You immediately mobilize the men and horses in your hands, go to Zhangde Mansion again, and find out all the Chen family's every move!" I will know in time whether Chen Herui has left the Chen family in Tangyin County, whether there has been a large-scale transfer of the Chen family, and whether the local government has made any moves! ”

Liu Zi'an nodded heavily, and immediately got up and said, "Don't worry, I will set off today!" ”

After speaking, Liu Zian said goodbye to Liu Juntao and turned to leave.

After that, Liu Juntao began to think about how to deal with the possible attack of the Chen family.

In fact, with the current strength of the Yushan Guards, they are not afraid of the Chen family's attack, of course, this is only in terms of foot combat, once the Chen family's horse team and archers participate in the battle, the Yushan Guards will be in an extremely disadvantageous position, and heavy casualties are inevitable, and if one is not good, it will even be defeated by the Chen family!

"Horse team? How do I deal with the Chen family's horse team? ”

Liu Juntao's mind was in a hurry, and he kept thinking about how to deal with the horse team.

"It is obviously unrealistic to use infantry to carry the enemy's horse team to death like the Song Dynasty, and now the escort team does not have the infantry armor and divine arm bow like the Song soldiers! Then there's only one way! ”

Liu Juntao said fiercely: "Do you Chen family think that with a horse team, they can run rampant in all directions? Lao Tzu also formed a horse team! As long as your Chen family has the courage to step into Yanzhou Mansion, then let's have a riding battle! ”

Suddenly, Liu Juntao heard someone knocking on the door outside, so he walked into the yard, opened the door and saw that it was Tang Yu.

At this time, Tang Yu looked tired, obviously just rushed back to Yushanji from elsewhere.

"Tang Yu, where did you come back from?"

"Mr. Lian, I just came back from Slip Town, and I have something to report to you."

Liu Juntao hurriedly let Tang Yu in, and after the two entered the house, Tang Yu said: "Mr. Lian, this is the expenditure account of the pro-guard team this month, you can take a look." ”

Liu Juntao took it and took a look, only to see that in just one month, the personal guards, including Zhou Zongsheng, twenty-two people and twenty-two war horses, spent nearly a hundred taels of silver!

This is still the pro-guard team staying in Yushanji, and they haven't gone anywhere. According to Tang Yu, if the pro-guard team went out for a long time like the last time they went to Dong'e County, the cost would be several times greater!

Liu Juntao frowned and said, "Say it, what do you mean?" ”

Tang Yu said: "Mr. Lian, when I was dealing with things in Huakou Town, I met someone from the Chen family!" ”

"What!"

At this time, Liu Juntao was also taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "What is the Chen family doing in Huakou Town?" ”

"Buy forage!"

Tang Yu said with a solemn expression: "The Chen family is buying forage on a large scale!" Moreover, I also found out that the Chen family has purchased a large number of horses in Henan, which seems to be expanding the horse team! ”

Liu Juntao said in a deep voice: "Liu Zi'an has already told me about this!" ”

"Then did Steward Liu tell Mr. Lian that the Chen family has expanded the horse team and will pay a huge price for it?"

"At what cost?"

Tang Yu said: "Previously, the number of the Chen family's horse team was about 100 people, but now even if it is expanded, it is considered 300, then the Chen family's monthly expenditure on maintaining the horse team will reach more than 2,000 taels!" If the Chen family horse team enters our Yanzhou Mansion, this cost will be multiplied several times! ”

In the end, Tang Yu added: "As long as our Yushan Set can win enough time, the Chen family will be dragged down by their unlimited expansion of people!" ”