At noon, two young men rode out of the east gate of Ruizhou City on horseback and galloped on the official road. Both of them are Yu Moyuan's sworn brothers, one is named Huangfu Sui, and the other is named Luan Yimian. Huangfu Sui is tall, with long tiger eyes and beard, he is strong in martial arts, and is good at using long knives; Luan Yimian is like a crown of jade, his archery skills are exquisite, and he has the ability to penetrate Yang in 100 steps.

The two rode to Luming Slope, fifty miles east of the city, grabbed the reins, and stopped. Huangfu Sui picked up his own wine gourd from the horse, pulled out the stopper, and took a few sips.

Luan Yimian smiled and said: "Second brother, you are still drinking, and you can't even ride a horse when you get drunk for a while." ”

"Third brother, your second brother and I drink a lot, who in Ruizhou City can drink me? The wine sold in this Shengming Building is really fragrant! Would you like to take a sip? As he spoke, Huangfu Sui shook the wine gourd in his hand.

"I don't drink." Luan Yimian shook his head, "Don't drink it either, wait to see the eldest brother, he will definitely be angry when he smells you all over the body." ”

"Okay, listen to you, I won't drink anymore. Are you sure Big Brother will be back today? Huangfu Sui asked.

"Of course I'm sure, I've asked Mr. Pu. The eldest brother told Mr. Pu before leaving the city that he would come back today. ”

"Third brother, why didn't you bring the two of us with you when you said the eldest brother sent troops this time?"

Mr. Pu said that the envoy did not order the eldest brother to transfer troops to rescue Shen Chu at all, but the eldest brother falsely passed the military order and transferred 3,000 iron cavalry from the Songming camp. The eldest brother didn't bring us because he was afraid of affecting you and me. ”

"I see. Alas, this envoy will definitely punish the eldest brother. Huangfu Sui sighed.

"Second brother, look, the eldest brother is here!" Luan Shumian said happily.

Huangfu Sui looked forward and saw that Yu Moyuan was coming with his army, so he and Luan Shumian patted their horses to meet them.

Yu Moyuan saw the two of them and asked, "Second brother, third brother, why are you here?" ”

"Big brother, my third brother and I will pick you up." Huangfu Sui replied with a smile.

Yu Moyuan turned his head to Ji Feng'an and said, "Feng'an, you lead the army back to Songming Camp." ”

"Yes, Childe." Ji Feng'an led the iron cavalry back to the camp.

Yu Moyuan introduced his two sworn brothers to Shen Chu, and then said, "Let's go, let's go into the city." ”

The four of them entered Ruizhou City, came to the door of the post house, and each dismounted. Yu Moyuan said to Shen Chu: "General Shen, the saddle horse is tired all the way, please rest in the post house first, and I will take you to see my father tomorrow." ”

Shen Chu nodded and said, "Everything is arranged by the son." ”

Yi Cheng saw that Yu Mo was coming far away, and bowed down. Yu Moyuan said to Yi Cheng: "This General Shen is my honored guest, so don't be lazy." ”

"Childe, please rest assured, it will be arranged." After speaking, Yi Cheng led Shen Chu into the post house.

"Two brothers, the eldest brother has something for the two of you to do."

"What's the matter? You just say. Huangfu Sui asked.

Yu Moyuan looked around and said in a low voice: "You two bring weapons, stay in the post house tonight, stay outside General Shen's room, and protect General Shen." ”

"Could it be that someone came to kill General Shen tonight?" Huangfu Sui's face was full of doubts.

Luan Shumian pushed Huang Fusui's arm and said, "Second brother, don't ask, let's just do what the eldest brother says." ”

Huangfu Sui nodded, patted his chest and said, "Big brother, my third brother and I will protect General Shen, you can rest assured." ”

"There are two brothers, I have to go back to the assassination mansion first."

Yu Moyuan rode out of the post house, came to the door of the Thorn Mansion, turned over and dismounted. When the doorman saw it, he greeted him and said, "Childe, you are back, and the envoy is waiting for you in the front hall." ”

Yu Moyuan quickly walked into the mansion and came to the front hall, where he saw his father Yu Shengwei kneeling on the seat with an angry face.

Yu Moyuan knelt on the ground and said, "Father, the child is back." ”

"My father has received a message from your fast horse, you said that you saved Shen Chu, where did you settle him?" Yu Shengwei asked coldly.

"General Shen is in the post house." Yu Moyuan whispered back.

Yu Shengwei stood up abruptly and reprimanded sharply: "Mo Yuan, you dare to fake my military order to transfer troops, you are too bold!" My father said that I asked you not to save Shen Chu, but you didn't listen, why is this? ”

Yu Moyuan raised his head and said: "Old General Shen is a loyal and good general of my Chu State, and the child respects him as a person and admires his courage even more!" The princes of all walks of life said that Ling Ju was a powerful minister, and they all said that they would get rid of Ling Ju for the Son of Heaven, but which prince dared to lead troops to crusade against him? Shen Chu only had 40,000 people, so he dared to crusade against Ling Ju, who had an army of 400,000, and his courage was better than that of many princes. The child really couldn't bear to see Old General Shen die at the hands of Ling Ju, so he pretended to pass on the military order and led the troops to save him. ”

"Doesn't my father know that Shen Chu is a loyal minister and a good general? I also hope that he will live, but I can't send troops to save him. Now you've saved him, but you've gotten into trouble! ”

At this time, Zhang Shiwu, the commander of Yu Shengwei's personal army, walked in, hugged his fist at Yu Shengwei and said: "Envoy, don't drive here, Mr. Pu is drunk and hasn't woken up yet, so he can't come now." ”

Chang Beijia's name is Chang Zhangye, he is nearly fifty years old, and he entered the assassination history mansion ten years ago to serve as a driver.

Yu Shengwei saw Chang Zhangye and said, "My disobedient son saved Shen Chu, and Shen Chu is now in the post house in the city. Ling Ju must be very angry now, and I'm worried that he will lead an army to attack Ruizhou. ”

Chang Zhangye listened to it and said: "So that you don't have to worry, you can quickly send someone to tie up Shen Chu and send it to Ling's tent, so that Ling's account will not send troops to attack Ruizhou." ”

"What did you say?" Yu Moyuan stood up, "Don't drive, if you do what you say, we will be laughed at by the world, laughing at us for being unkind and unjust!" ”

"Childe, please listen to me. Ling Ju had long wanted to capture Ruizhou, but why didn't he come for a long time? Because he was afraid that his teacher would be unknown. If we take Shen Chu in, he will have a reason to send troops, and when the time comes, we are afraid that we will not be able to hold the eight counties of Ruizhou. In order to keep the land of the eight counties, Shen Chu must be handed over to Ling Ju. Chang Zhangye said.

Yu Moyuan shook his head and said, "Could it be that if we hand over Shen Chu to Ling Ju, Ling Ju won't send troops?" Shen Chu must be left behind! Our Ruizhou army has 100,000 infantry and 20,000 sailors, so there is no need to be afraid of Lingjiao. If he dares to bring troops to take Ruizhou, I will lead the army to repel him! ”

"After all, he is young and vigorous." Chang Zhangye sighed lightly, "Childe, you have to think carefully about what you do, and don't be rash." ”

"Don't work and don't drive, I've been thinking about it for a long time."

Chang Zhangye stopped talking, he looked at Yu Shengwei, hoping that Yu Shengwei would quickly order to tie up Shen Chu.

Yu Shengwei paced back and forth, not saying a word. After a while, he said to Chang Zhangye: "Zhangye, you go back first, I'll think about it again and see if there is any other way." ”

Chang Zhangye retired and returned to his mansion.

The winter night was very cold, Huangfu Sui and Luan Yimian lit a bonfire outside Shen Chu's room, and the two of them sat next to the bonfire and chatted, laughing from time to time.

Suddenly, Huangfu Sui clenched the long knife and whispered to Luan Yimian: "Third brother, there is movement. ”

Luan Yimian heard this and drew his sword.

After a while, dozens of black-clothed masked men rushed in front of the two, each holding a steel knife. One of the men in black at the head said, "You two leave this place quickly, and I'll let you go." ”

Huangfu Sui smiled: "You let us go, but the two of us don't want to go." ”

"If you don't go, then don't blame me for being ruthless!" The man in black said fiercely.

"Okay!" Huangfu Sui stood up, "Grandpa, I'm lonely, just right, you come to practice with me!" ”

The man in black rushed up, and Huangfu Sui danced his knife to meet him, his knife technique opened and closed, and he cut down more than a dozen men in black one after another; Luan Yimian's swordsmanship was fierce, and after a while, seven or eight black-clothed people died under his sword.

Shen Chu heard the sound of fighting outside, he was wearing a single coat and rushed to the door with a sword. The black-clothed man led by him saw Shen Chu, jumped up, and slashed at Shen Chu with a knife, and Shen Chu hurriedly dodged sideways. The man in black turned around and slashed again, Shen Chu blocked the knife of the man in black with a horizontal sword, kicked the man in black to the ground, and pointed his sword at his throat.

"Release the handle of the knife with your right hand! Or I want your life! Shen Chu shouted at the man in black.

The man in black sighed, and reluctantly let go of his right hand, which was gripping the hilt of the knife.

The other black-clothed men were killed and killed by nearly half of the casualties, and when they saw that the leader was captured by Shen Chusheng, they fled one after another. Huangfu Sui wanted to chase after him, but Luan Yimian stopped him.

"Third brother, chase after them, see where they run, and you will know who sent them." Huangfu Sui was very anxious.

Luan Yimian said with a smile: "Second brother, don't chase it, this one has been captured alive, ask him and he will know everything." ”

"That's right!" Huangfu Sui found a rope, tied the man in black to the pillar, and removed his face scarf.

Luan Yimian asked the man in black, "Who are you?" Who sent you? ”

The man in black snorted and didn't answer.

At this moment, a group of soldiers in armor rushed in, led by a centurion. The centurion walked up to the man in black and looked at it, and said to Luan Yimian: "I have seen this man in black, he is a thief outside the city, who often robs people of money, but I didn't expect to be caught by you, so I will take him to the prison." ”

"There have not been thieves robbing homes and houses in Ruizhou City for several years, why did dozens of them pop up at once tonight. The dozens of black-clothed men rushed into the post house, and instead of robbing the property, they came directly to the room of this General Shen and wanted to kill this General Shen. I'm sure this man is definitely not a thief! Luan Yimian said.

When the centurion heard this, he sneered and said, "Whether he is a thief or not, I will take him away!" ”

"If you say take it away, take it away, we caught this person! I'll have to ask who sent him. Huangfu Sui said loudly.

The centurion looked at Huangfu Sui and said fiercely: "I'll take him away now, see who dares to stop me!" ”

Huangfu Sui took two steps forward and said, "I dare to stop you!" ”

"Brothers, I don't think these people are good people, so I tied them up and sent them to prison." The centurion gave the order, and the soldiers lined up and prepared to take the men.

Huangfu Sui raised his long knife, and Shen Chu and Luan Yimian also drew their swords, ready to fight.