After receiving an invitation to the family banquet sent by Dazai Shi Tiangong himself, Fan Jinfan, who had a white beard, felt both overjoyed and a little frightened.

Speaking of which, this Fan Junshi has also been exhausted these days. When the emperor personally issued an order and appointed Tang Wannian, the king of Pingnan, as the "general of the expedition to the west", he was inevitably worried about this military advisor from top to bottom, inside and out. It is necessary not only to ensure that the supply of grain and grass for the army to go out is sufficient, but also to coordinate the obedience of all walks of life to the unified dispatch, and to use his brains to think about the combat strategy and offer advice to the master.

Although he didn't think about what else Shi Dazai had to explain before the army set out for the expedition, and at the same time carefully examined what mistakes his work had in the near future, he was confused after all. I had to order someone to prepare a horse early, take leave from King Pingnan, and go to Dazaifu for a banquet alone, but I was a little proud that Dazai-sama valued him so much as an accompanying military division.

Originally, there were tens of thousands of soldiers in the army, and there were hundreds of ministers in the court, and the dignified Dazai only invited himself to a banquet with one accompanying military division, which was obviously a high look. Humility is the virtue of being a human being, even if he is praised by Shi Dazai in person, he must be calm, not to get carried away, let alone be careless, drink too much wine and reveal the huge secret buried deep in his heart.

While walking, Fan Junshi thought while bowing his head on the horse. Before he knew it, he had already arrived in front of Dazaifu, he hurriedly turned over and dismounted, clasped his fists and saluted the guards standing in front of the door, and invited them to go in to the ceremony, saying that Fan came to the banquet as promised. After the guards entered, Fan Junshi, who had white hair, raised his eyes and looked at the tall gatehouse of Dazaifu, let out a long breath, and secretly said in his heart: I and Shi Dazai will drink and talk happily tonight, this can be regarded as a sympathy, right?

The guard quickly stepped out and waved for Fan Junshi to follow him in.

Following behind the guard, Fan Junshi, who had a white beard, walked hurriedly, but he couldn't help but look around curiously. Originally, this Dazaifu was not just the residence of a great Qi prince, there were many rockeries, lush trees, fragrant flowers, and a long verandah that was winding and curved, and there was no end in sight.

As soon as one foot crossed the threshold of the house, Fan Junshi saw Shi Dazai, who was smiling all over his face, dressed in civilian clothes, and greeted him.

Fan Junshi hurriedly bowed his head and was about to kneel down to salute, but was pulled by Shi Dazai.

Shi Tiangong said with a smile: "There are no outsiders here, why does Fan Junshi need to be like this?" The contemptible people just prepared some thin wine and side dishes, and before the army set out, they wanted to chat with their brother Tai alone, and Lala was just homely. ”

Hearing this, Master Fan straightened up, and his heart suddenly felt much lighter.

After the two sat down opposite each other, Shi Tiangong picked up the wine jug, first filled his cup with wine, and then got up to pour wine into Fan Junshi's cup, Fan Junshi quickly got up, took the wine jug with both hands and said with a smile: "Dazai-sama doesn't have to be polite, I'll come by myself." ”

Shi Tiangong was not too polite to him, and reached out and handed him the wine jug. After the two of them had filled their glasses of wine, Shi Tiangong raised his glass with a smile and said, "My army is about to go on an expedition, and I think that Fan Junshi has been busy inside and out these days." Tonight, here and there, you and me, you might as well talk freely, drink a good drink, and it can be regarded as my deed. ”

The two of them touched the cup in their hands lightly, and they both drank to the bottom. Putting down the cup, Shi Tiangong squinted his phoenix eyes and asked: "This western expedition to exterminate the remnants of the Ma family army in the northwest may be the last battle to quell the civil strife since the founding of my Great Chu, and from now on I can sit back and relax." But I don't know if Fan Junshi can be sure of winning this battle in his heart? ”。

Fan Jin wiped the gray beard on his chin and said with a smile: "Dazai-sama can rest assured. Although Ma Jiajun had a small remnant of the remnants who were able to escape, the people's hearts were panicked, like frightened birds, and the dragons had no leader, so there was no need to worry at all. On the other hand, my family Pingnan Prince is personally in charge, and there is the "Vermilion Bird General" to help, including the "Qinglong General" people, whether it is troops, morale, equipment, my Dachu has an absolute advantage, as short as a month, more than half a year, the bandits are all peaceful! ”。

Shi Tiangong's face was red when he heard this, and he smiled and bowed his head repeatedly. Standing up from his seat, he took the initiative to fill the empty glass in front of Fan Junshi with wine, and Fan Junshi was no longer polite, and nodded slightly in thanks.

After Shi Tiangong raised his hand and poured wine into his cup, he sat down steadily, and said with a smile: "With these words of Brother Tai, today's saints and subordinates can be regarded as reassuring!" I just want to remind my brother here, and I also ask my brother to tell my fifth brother: We must remove the roots of the grass, and we must not remember the love of our children, be kind-hearted, and bury any hidden dangers for the future of Da Chu. ”

Fan Junshi was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood, lowered his head and clenched his fists slightly, and said: "Please let Dazai-sama and the saint put ten thousand hearts: at the beginning, the prince of my family fell in love with the daughter of the handsome man at first sight. But since the little woman of the Holy Admiral promised the king of Dingbei, the prince of my family has completely broken his thoughts from now on, and even the roots of his teeth itch with hatred, and he will never be merciful, the kindness of a woman! Besides, the Holy Lord, Dazai and the prince of my family are friends for eight worships, and as an elder brother, he should know the king of Pingnan better than me, an outsider. Although my prince is straightforward and fast-talking on weekdays, he has never been ambiguous in the face of major rights and wrongs, between the national community and the private affairs of his children! ”。

Shi Tiangong nodded slightly silently, a subtle smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he glanced at Fan Junshi with the corner of his eye, changed the topic and asked with a smile: "After the civil strife is pacified, what are Brother Fan's own plans?" Do you want to become an official in the court, or do you want to stay in the barracks of my fifth brother? ”。

Fan Jin lowered his head, his eyes rolled twice in his sockets, and he raised his head and smiled: "Don't hide it, my lord, the injuries and illnesses of the old man are also in his old age, and he really has no intention of becoming an official in the court." I just want to stay by my lord's side and help him with advice, or simply return to his hometown. ”

Shi Tiangong quietly played with the cup in his hand, and asked seemingly casually: "It seems that the elder brother is also loyal to my fifth brother, which is commendable!" According to Your Excellency, the current King of Dingbei has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, leading his subordinate officers and soldiers to fight to the death against the grassland bandits outside the Saiwai, and it may be difficult to withdraw in two or three years; If the civil strife is calmed down first, and the king of Pingnan has made great achievements and has military power, is it possible for him to become the second Ruan Wu? ”。

Fan Junshi, who had white hair, shrugged his brows, then looked up to the sky and laughed, "Dazai-sama, you're worried about it again!" The prince of my family Pingnan has always acted above board, and he is a straight intestine. How can adults compare it with the insidious and cunning and rebellious Nguyen Wu? Don't forget that Pingzhou was besieged that day, and it was the king of Pingnan who came non-stop and waved his army to desperately relieve the siege for the two brothers! ”。

Shi Tiangong closed his eyes slightly and thought for a moment, then sighed lightly: "What you said is reasonable!" Without the fifth brother commanding the troops to come to the rescue at the risk of death, I am afraid that the imperial brother and I would have been under Jiuquan a long time ago. Although the fifth brother is loyal, I am afraid that I am afraid that I will be bewitched by some small thing in the future, and I will be confused! In the opinion of Brother Yiren, where will the disaster of my Great Chu come from in the future? ”。

Fan Jin tilted his neck and twisted his beard again, and said after a moment of silence: "Since Dazai-sama said that you should speak freely, then I have no taboos." According to the following, in the future, Da Chu will have two aspects: internal worries and external troubles. Although the imperial court sent the king of Dingbei to attack with heavy troops, occupying all the time, but the geographical advantages and people are lacking in us, I am afraid it is difficult to achieve it overnight! In the past hundred years, the Great Qi Dynasty has had heavy troops in Feihong Guantun, but they have not been able to eliminate these grassland bandits, which shows that they are fierce and tyrannical. What's the other thing...... The king of Dingbei seems to be loyal, but in fact he is extremely deceitful. His behavior is perverse and unbelievable, in case he wants to raise troops one day and it will be unfavorable to the imperial court, I am afraid that it will be better than Ruan Wu. The Holy Lord and Dazai-sama must be guarded against! ”。

After speaking, Fan Jin rolled his eyelids and carefully observed the subtle changes in the expression on Shi Tiangong's face, but he couldn't see the reason, and he couldn't help but feel a little regret in his heart.

The moon shadow in the sky is slanting in the west, and the two of them are staggered, talking and laughing, you and I have carried out several mutual stimulation and temptations, and finally ended the dinner in a friendly atmosphere between the guests and the host.

Shi Tiangong personally sent Fan Junshi outside the mansion gate, and after the half-drunk and half-awake Fan Junshi bowed goodbye, he staggered and turned over on his horse.

Shi Tiangong smiled and said: "Tonight, you and I opened our hearts to each other, drank happily, and felt more sympathetic to each other, and hated each other. Dude didn't drink much, did he? Do you want me to send a few men to escort you back to the barracks? ”。

Fan Jin, who had white hair, shook his hand and said, "Thank you, Dazai-sama, for your hospitality, I can't thank you enough." Rest assured, this little wine can't help me, please go back and rest early, don't bother the adults to send someone to send them off! ”。

Shi Tiangong squinted his eyes slightly, and did not force it, raised his hand and gently stroked the long hair under his chin and said lightly: "Then please be more careful along the way, and take care." ”

The tapping of the iron palm on the horse's hooves made a crisp and pleasant sound on the road in the middle of the night, and Fan Junshi, who was about to have white hair, lowered his head slightly, as if he was napping, but in fact, his mind was not idle for a moment, and he recalled the conversation with Dazai-sama just now.

In the dead of night, there was not a single pedestrian on the wide street. A gentle breeze swept through the treetops, save for the faint rustle of leaves.

Seeing that the barracks were not far away, Fan Junshi raised his head, stopped his chaotic thoughts, whipped his horse, and quickened his pace. The horses under their crotches spread their hooves and trotted.

Suddenly, a thin tripwire in the middle of the road in the dim darkness emitted a low, humming reverberation, as if it were a thick string that had been unintentionally plucked.

Fan Junshi was caught off guard, the horse lost its front hooves, rolled headfirst from the horse's back and fell, his forehead hit a sharp rock on the side of the road, and before he could snort, he lost consciousness in an instant.

After a moment's effort, two masked black shadows flashed from behind a nearby tree, and the two of them tiptoed forward, leaning over near Fan Junshi's head to observe for a moment, but their hands did not make any movements. They just nodded to each other, winked, and turned around at the same time, and disappeared silently into the pre-dawn darkness one after the other.