The heavy snow once again covered Qinglong Town, the mountains were cold, Li Hu was still stationed in the town, perhaps because of his weak heart, worried that the army of the Tongguan Imperial Court would be killed, but the enemy could not be killed, and it was convenient to block the gate in Qinglong Town and flee to Shaanzhou.

Li Hu was worried about one thing, there was a spy to report, Shangguan Yun actually returned to the imperial court, so Nalan Yanghe and Duguyue may still be alive. He called for several lieutenants who were chasing that night and scolded them.

It turned out that when the captains saw Shangguan Yun, Nalan Yang and crossing the river on a raft in winter, they would definitely die, and when they came back, everyone reported to Li Hu in unison, saying that everyone had been shot on the river and washed down by the water. Li Hu really believed it, he thought that everyone was dead, and if the court succeeded in quelling the rebellion in the future, if he really asked him to settle the account, he could also push it to the rebels, and he could still play on both sides.

Li Hu still has one thing in mind, that is, food. He also heard that when he built Huiluocang, several secret granaries were built sporadically in the area of Shaanzhou and Hangu, and only 500 stone of grain was sent to Tongguan last time, and there were 500 stone must be in the secret granary, and the one who knew this secret may be Sima Cuo. The Sima family has been entrenched in Qinglong Town for hundreds of years, and the position of hereditary pavilion chief, the county government is not even a single official, on the surface, Sima Cuo does not want to act as the pavilion chief, and he has nothing to do and let his wife come forward, but apart from him, who can take care of the affairs of this town?

That night, Li Hu prepared a banquet at Huangfu Dan's barbecue shop and invited Sima Cuo and his wife, Sima Cuo received the invitation, a little hesitant, he understood in his heart why Li Hu invited him to a banquet. But you can't retreat, food is the thing that lasts the life of Qinglong Town, and the war in front of you is still in a state of stalemate, and it is difficult to distinguish between victory and defeat. Once these 500 stone grains fall into the hands of Li Hu, not to mention raising tigers, if there is a catastrophe, Qinglong Town's hundreds of years of foundation will not be guaranteed.

That time, Nalan and Duguyue were ordered to transfer grain to Tongguan, and he took the risk of turning the remaining five hundred stones into the secret granary in case of emergency.

After Li Hu's rebellion, he was stationed in Qinglong Town, and he also observed the changes in the situation all the time, and also regretted that in order to win merit, he participated in the trapping of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, betrayed the Tang Dynasty as a royal family, and joined the rebels. He didn't think that things would be Jedi, if he returned to the Tang Army at a critical moment with the land of Cuihan under his control, and made another meritorious service, then he would be like the Son of Heaven, and he would have to do it as a last resort, and he would definitely be forgiven and sealed.

Of course, he is waiting for the opportunity, as long as Tongguan is not broken, An Lushan will not be deadlocked for long. Although Gao and Feng were unjustly killed, there were still capable warriors in the Anxi Army and Shuofang Army of the imperial court. Compared with An Lushan's Fan Yang soldiers, it is not much worse. Li Hu's abacus is to occupy Cuihan and wait and see the dynamics. He knew that as long as Tongguan did not send troops, An Lushan would not be able to cross the pass and enter the pass. When he was tired, he took the opportunity to fight back and help the court. And to stay in Cuihan, seven or eight thousand people have to eat, and thousands of war horses have to eat grass, so grain and grass are very important.

An Qingxu will definitely not give him much food and grass, since the surrender, Nangong Han, Nalan Yanghe, and Duguyue have not been caught and run, and they have not received the nomination, how can they be regarded as their own people? Therefore, you have to raise your own food and grass. He knew that there were 1,000 stone of grain stored in the granary of Qinglong Town, and Nalan Yanghe transported 500 stone to Tongguan, and the other 500 stone was robbed inexplicably. And Murong Cheng and Yu Wenlan should not have the ability to rob the five hundred stone grain at that time, so there is only one possibility, that is, Sima Ting is guarding and stealing it.

He had also heard Huangfu Dan blow the wind in his ears and talk about the strange things in this town. said that the owner of the jade brewery heard that Renyu's background was suspicious, and the doctor in the town, Mr. Zhuge didn't know where he came from...... Yunyun. Li Huquan should have heard it, but this aroused his suspicion of Huangfu Dan, why did Nalan and Duguyue keep an eye on her, she took the initiative to give her arms just to find a backer?

So, he wanted to meet Sima by mistake and explore his reality and reality, not to see him doing nothing, looking like he only cared about the inn business and was too lazy to care about the affairs of the town. But when did he not be there when these things happened in the town?

Sima Coo took Wan Qimei to the banquet, arrived at the restaurant, entered the door to see the table to prepare wine and food, a golden roasted suckling pig was placed in the middle, there were only two or three Li Hu's entourage outside the house, and the door hung a sign saying that the business was closed.

Li Hu saw Sima Cuo and his wife coming, and hurriedly got up, Sima Cuo was so shocked that he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted and said: "The contemptible person is late, let the general wait for a long time, sin, sin." ”

"Where, Pavilion Chief Sima, torment me, I'm just a general, it's an honor to invite Pavilion Chief Sima, it's an honor, an honor. In the matter of thistle, the pavilion chief disregards the previous suspicions, and I am also forced to do so! ”

Sima Cuo understood seven or eight points as soon as he heard it, this was the Hongmen banquet, and he was so busy and humble that he couldn't be more humble and said: "The general's words are serious, and the small people are not talented, but the position of the hereditary pavilion chief in the family is so humble that he can't be more humble, and it is a great fortune to be able to serve under the general again." ”

Let's see how Li Hu picks up this conversation.

Unexpectedly, at this time, Huangfu Dan, who served the dishes, said: "The people of Qinglong Town who don't know that they all look forward to the pavilion chief, especially those old households, who recognize the pavilion chief." At the beginning, we just arrived in Qinglong Town, we didn't know the customs, and we suffered a lot of losses. ”

Unexpectedly, at this time, Huangfu Dan came out to reveal the bottom, Sima Cuo knew that this pass was difficult, so he had to mutter: "Huangfu Lady knows it, I don't know why, I really don't want the errand of the pavilion chief, but the court doesn't allow it, and I don't send it here, so I reluctantly let it go." ”

Li Hu was particularly satisfied with the army of Huangfu Dan's general, Sima Cuo, and said: "Huangfu lady, hurry up and pour wine for Sima Tingchang and Mrs. Wan Qi." When he saw Huangfu Dan pouring wine, he threw out the topic, "Pavilion Chief, now that I have surrendered to the rebels, I was forced to be helpless at that time, and Gao Dashuai wanted to kill me, so I had to rebel." You also know that I am a member of the royal family, how can I say that I am a traitor, I am in Cao Ying, my heart is in Han, ....... Sima Pavilion Chief, Sima Senior, I don't know what else to say. I invite you to dinner today, I have something to ask for......" Speaking of this, Li Hu didn't say any more.

And this made Sima Cuo a little tormented, he didn't know how to answer, and if he didn't answer well, he fell into Li Hu's trap. Seeing this, Wan Qimei took over, "General, you look up to us so much, and it is really an honor to invite us over to eat the barbecue." We are the ordinary people in Qinglong Town, and we almost all make a living and eat a bowl of rice. I really can't think of anything I can do to help the general. ”

Li Hu laughed when he heard this, "I can help, I can help." ”

Wan Qianmei asked, "How can I help?" ”

"Come, drink this cup first." After speaking, he drank all the wine in the cup.

Sima Cuo and Wan Qimei didn't dare to slack off, and were busy drinking. Seeing this, Li Hu laughed again, and hurriedly said to Huangfu Dan: "Huangfu lady, the dishes are almost ready, so get busy." ”

Huang Fu Dan reluctantly went to the furnace in the back room. Sima Cuo knew that Li Hu thought about Huangfu Dan simply, and it depended on what he said.

Li Hu used a knife to cut off the softest and most fragrant meat on the back of the suckling pig and sent it to Sima Cuo and Wan Qianmei's plate to show respect again. Li Hu muttered: "I know that the pavilion chief is not an ordinary person, and so is his wife. The kiosk manager also knows what I need? We are all people who understand, so we don't need to say it explicitly. ”

Sima still pretended to be confused and didn't understand after hearing the mistake, and said, "I really don't know what the general needs to do?" ”

Li Hu laughed again, changed his tone and said: "Since the pavilion chief can't understand, then I will make it clear, I, a few thousand sergeants, want to eat food, Qinglong Town has to raise military food for me, and I will raise five hundred stones in a month." If I can't raise it, then brother, I don't care about the life or death of Qinglong Town. Can Chief Sima Ting understand this? ”

Sima Coo hurriedly replied: "The general said this, the contemptible people understand, but this grain has not been planted yet, where can we raise five hundred stones?" ”

"I know the pavilion chief has a way...... Come and drink, drink...... Eat meat, eat meat, come ......"

Sima Coo picked up a piece of meat and prepared to put it in his mouth, and when he heard this, he simply put down his chopsticks, stepped aside and knelt down and kowtowed: "The general is also a descendant of the royal family, for the sake of the people of the Tang Dynasty, they should not be too anxious to fry each other, if they make a fish die and the net is broken, it will not be beneficial to the general." ”

When Li Hu heard this, he jumped like thunder and scolded: "You are shameless, my thousands of sergeants are still afraid of your little Qinglong Town, I just asked you to take out the five hundred stone grain, and this is also to threaten me with the fish death net." Lao Tzu is still afraid that you won't be able to. ”

After speaking, he stood up and pulled out a horizontal knife to stab Sima Cuo, scare, scare him, who would have thought, "Wow", the horizontal knife given by the royal emperor was broken into two, Li Hu only held a knife handle in his hand, and most of the knife fell to the ground. And then it fell a thistle.

Li Hu was so frightened that even Huangfu Dan, who was listening in the backyard, came out angrily and shouted, "What person? Dare to assassinate the general. ”

Several guards outside the house also rushed in to block Li Hu when they heard the news, and a few others put their horizontal knives against Sima Cuo and Wan Qimei.

Wan Qimei's body moved lightly to dodge the horizontal knife, grabbed the guard's hand, pulled it down, and immediately dislocated her shoulder, and the knife fell to the ground. Wan Qianmei took the knife in her hand with lightning speed, pinned the horizontal knife against Sima Cuo, and protected Sima Cuo behind her.

This made Li Hu stunned, and when Huangfu Dan was about to use the illusion, Sima Cuo said unhurriedly: "Huangfu Lady, do you want your store to be ruined?" ”

After hearing this, Huangfu Dan knew that Sima Wrong must have come prepared, not only that, but she must have a clear understanding of her own details, plus she should not be exposed in front of Li Hu, so she stopped.

Sima Cuo continued: "General Li, Huangfu Niang, our well water does not interfere with the river water, and we go our own way. We were also forced to do so, and we didn't want to embarrass the general. If we insist on making it difficult for us, the general's thousands of soldiers can kill us all, but we also have the ability to take the general's life. ”

Li Hu understood and said with a smile: "The pavilion chief is serious, they are all one family, there is no need to say two words, everything is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." He turned to a few guards and scolded: "Don't hurry up and retreat, I'm drinking with Pavilion Chief Sima, what are you doing here?" Several of the guards hurriedly withdrew.

Li Hu and Huangfu Dan continued to accompany the smiling faces and said, "Chief Sima Ting, please sit down, Mrs. Wan Qi also sit, come and come." I will punish myself with a cup of self-punishment to make amends for the mistakes just now, and I ......will make amends."

Sima Cuo also borrowed the slope to get off the donkey and said: "The general is stationed in Qinglong Town to protect Qinglong Town from military disasters, which is the blessing of the town. Just now, there were many offenses against the contemptible, and I hope that the general will not care about the villain. ”

Li Hu said with a pleasant face: "Come on, come on, drink, eat and ......."

Although they have their own thoughts after this time, they still push the cup and change the lamp on the surface, and eat happily.

When his eyes were almost hot, the guards outside came to report, "General, General Murong is here." ”

As soon as he heard the report, Li Hujiu immediately woke up and cast his eyes at Sima Wrong. Sima Cuo knew that Li Hu wanted him and Wan Qianmei to avoid it, so they both got up and said to Huangfu Dan: "Huangfu Lady ,......" Before the words fell, Murong Cheng, Yu Wenlan, and the dumb man had already entered the house. Sima Cuo and Wan Qianmei waited aside, and Sima Cuo said, "General Murong is also here to eat the roast." ”

Murong Cheng pretended to see: "Yo, Pavilion Chief Sima is also here, what's the matter?" The butcher's meal is not to the taste, come here for a change of taste. ”

"As the general said, the butcher's house is now difficult to cook for some reason, and there are no guests in the inn, so my lady and I came to try it."

Li Hu continued: "I saw the pavilion chief coming, and I had a few drinks with the pavilion chief, but I didn't expect General Murong to come too. Then he instructed Huangfu Dan: "Go bake another one and serve some good wine." ”

Murong Cheng bowed his head a few times, and said with a smile: "The pavilion chief came to eat the roast, why is there a sign of closure outside?" ”

Li Hu was shocked when he heard this, but he pretended to be casual and asked the guard: "You guys, why did you hang the sign upside down, do you want to close the store?" ”

A guard was clever and hurriedly said: "General, it was a small negligence and made the brand upside down." I'll change it right away, change it right away. ”

"You kid can't have a snack if you have any eyes. Go and do it the other way around. ”

Murong Cheng sat down with a smile and said, "General Li, please take a seat, and the pavilion chief and Mrs. Wan Qi are also invited." ”

Sima Cao hurriedly said: "The contemptible man drank a few more drinks just now, so he didn't delay the discussion of the two generals, and he left." ”

Murong Cheng said: "I came to discuss with General Li, and it is also related to the pavilion chief. If you want to go, please ask Mrs. Wan Qi to go first. ”

Sima Cuo knew that something more difficult was coming, so he asked Wan Qianmei to go back first. Wan Qimei was a little uneasy, Sima Cuo hinted at it, and said, "Men, what are you doing here!" Get back. Wan Qimei walked away.

Murong Cheng smiled and said, "Since the pavilion chief doesn't like women to participate, Yuwen and the dumb man should step down." I'll talk to General Li and the pavilion chief. ”

Yuwenlan and the mute withdrew. There were only three people left in the house, and after Huangfu Dan re-loaded a good wine and sifted the wine, Murong Cheng proposed: "Come, let's drink three cups together first, and then talk about things." ”

What is the matter, Sima couldn't figure it out, and Li Hu didn't know, after drinking three cups, Murong Cheng cut a piece of meat on the roast, chewed it for a long time, swallowed it, and said: "Pavilion Chief, I have received the seal order, and Qinglong Town will gather five hundred stones of grain after the New Year." If you can't make it up, slaughter the whole town! ”

Sima sat unsteadily, stumbled, and fell to the ground.