However, it was said that Cao Wenzhao led more than 100 remnants of his army to Ningzhou, and on this day he came to the city of Ningzhou, the city gate was closed, and the guards were tight, and there was no intention of letting them enter the city.

Cao Bianjiao rode forward and shouted loudly: "Your Cao Ye has returned to the city, which bastard who doesn't have long eyes, don't open the city gate quickly!" ”

The defenders on the city tower actually answered Cao Bianjiao with bows and arrows, and he hurriedly retreated to his own team.

"Grandma's bear!" Cao Wenzhao looked at the banner of the Ming court hanging on the head of the city, and scolded and slapped his horse to move forward.

Feng Ju had an extra heart, and he stopped Cao Wenzhao: "Master Cao can't rush forward, I think this matter is a bit strange, and it is necessary to take precautions." ”

Cao Wenzhao also saw some clues, could it be that the Ming court already knew that he had surrendered to Gao Junshan? Impossible, this is absolutely impossible, Cao Wenzhao still has this confidence. But why did the people on the upper floor of the city prevent us from entering?

Cao Wenzhao didn't believe in this evil, he decided to break through this city gate, wanting to see who was so bold and dared to turn away a Lintao general soldier.

He patted his horse and came to the city gate, and shouted: "The dog officer on the city tower, open your dog eyes to see who Lao Tzu is, quickly open the city gate and let Lao Tzu in!" You have delayed Lao Tzu's big event, believe it or not, Lao Tzu chopped you into meat puree. ”

No one answered on the tower, and no one dared to shoot arrows.

"He, madman! You don't recognize anyone? ”

"Grandma, a bear, if you don't open the door again, I'll set your city gate on fire!"

……

Just as Cao Wenzhao was scolding, the city gate suddenly opened, and a group of men and horses rushed out, led by a general, riding on a tall white horse, with no weapons in the black gauze collar.

Cao Wenzhao recognized him, and asked with straight eyebrows: "Crazy He, why are you not allowing me to enter the city?" ”

It was He Renlong who came, and he returned the salute with a smile: "Brother Cao, the little brother is late." The gate will not let you in because I have given a decree that no one should enter the city without my permission. ”

"Grandma, a bear! Lao Tzu can't enter the city either? ”

"That's why there was such a big misunderstanding!" He Renlong kept a smile on his face, "This is all because I didn't think about it well, so I blocked Brother Cao outside the city." ”

Cao Wenzhao looked unhappy: "Why do you still use bows and arrows to greet my people?" ”

"That's why I personally went out of the city to compensate you, didn't I?" He Renlong bowed his hand to Cao Wenzhao and said, "Brother, I have set up a table of wine banquet in the city, especially for Brother Cao. ”

Cao Wenzhao had a calm face: "That bullshit city gate official just now, you hand him over to me, I want him to get to know me again Cao Wenzhao." ”

"Brother Cao, you have a lot of adults, that bullshit gatekeeper has already removed him, don't worry about him anymore, and ask Brother Cao to enter the city quickly!"

For the sake of He Renlong's face, Cao Wenzhao didn't say anything, of course, it was impossible for him not to enter the city, otherwise how could he completely Gao Junshan give the task. Therefore, his face improved slightly, and the gloom turned clear: "Okay, Brother He, for the sake of your friendship with me, I won't care about it for the time being, you will lead the way." ”

He Renlong's barracks.

He Renlong's barracks are located in Ningzhou City, rows of tile houses are the barracks of the barracks, in the southeast corner of the barracks, there is an exclusive courtyard, red walls and green tiles, Zhumen and green eaves, originally it was the ancestral house of a Hong surname, so it is called Hongjia Hall.

As soon as you enter the gate of Hongjia Hall, it is a rectangular courtyard, the yard is very large, there are 20 steps wide, there are nearly 100 steps long, there is a big banyan tree in the yard, there are rockeries and bonsai on one side of the tree, go inside, enter a door again, enter the front hall, there are four wings on the left and right of the front hall, there is a god at the end of the hall, the god is dedicated to Guan Gong, there are incense burners and candlesticks, there is incense on the incense burner, a pair of candles are burned on the candlesticks, the two sides of the god seat open an ear door, through the ear door is the back hall, the back hall has a patio, connected to the kitchen.

He Renlong's reception banquet is set up in the dining room in the back hall, the dining room is on the east side of the patio, it is now afternoon, the sun is shining into the room, the whole room seems warm and quiet. Originally, the people here ate in the kitchen, and in order to receive Cao Wenzhao, He Renlong specially vacated a large wing room for the dining room.

The gate of Hongjia Hall is heavily guarded, with three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry. He Renlong led Cao Wenzhao and his party to the door, got off the horse, handed over the knives, guns and instruments, and rushed in.

Only Cao Wenzhao, Cao Bianjiao, Feng Ju and Ping'an followed He Renlong into the Hongjia Hall, and Cao Wenzhao's more than 100 soldiers and horses were arranged by He Renlong.

The banquet was not sumptuous, just eight dishes and one soup. What braised eggplant, cold celery, scallion oil mud snail, stir-fried cabbage ......, are all steaming, making people feel warm in this warm and cold March.

After the guest and host sat down, Cao Wenzhao felt strange, why didn't he see Deng Xizhao and Zhou Kexiao, the two living treasures? Maybe He Renlong has already begged for money, looking at him so without worrying about food and clothing.

Cao Wenzhao didn't ask much, anyway, he was hungry now, so he devoured a big bowl of rice with home-cooked food, and the other three also picked up the rice.

He Renlong is a cheerful person, he waited without hurry, and when Cao Wenzhao ate the last bite, he said with a smile: "Brother Cao, eat slowly, eat slowly, I have enough food here." Seeing that you have been tortured like this by a high thief, it seems that this high thief is not easy to deal with? ”

Cao Wenzhao wiped his mouth with his hand, and then gave a thumbs up: "Gao Junshan is this." I fought him several times and was defeated repeatedly. This time, I have explained all the three thousand Guan Ning Iron Cavalry. ”

He Renlong comforted: "Brother Cao doesn't have to grow up with other people's ambitions, according to Brother Cao's ability, within half a year, you can form a new army." ”

Cao Wenzhao shook his head and said: "I'm ashamed, it's not that I am raising the morale of others, it's that I'm Cao Wenzhao is really inferior to others." ”

He Renlong raised his glass: "Don't say these depressing words, let's be brothers, and the words are all in the wine." Here, let's have a drink! ”

Cao Wenzhao picked up the wine glass and took a sip, and then said to Cao Bianjiao and the others: "You guys drink too, all fucking toast to Lao Tzu." ”

With Cao Wenzhao's order, the three of them raised their glasses again and again to toast to He Renlong.

After He Renlong drank three glasses in a row, he put down the wine glass in his hand and said: "I believe in Brother Cao's ability, when you reorganize your people, I, He Renlong, will be the first to stand up and support you to find a thief for revenge." ”

Cao Wenzhao waved his hand: "These are all afterwords." I ask you, have you received your money? ”

"This ......" He Renlong's eyes rolled, "Brother Cao, you don't have to worry about this matter, I will solve it." I know that you are wounded, so I will not bother you much, I have arranged your lodgings here, and when you have eaten and drinked, you can rest here, and your room is in the antechamber, where you can recuperate in peace. Renlong is on official business, so let's leave first. ”

Before He Renlong left the table, he added: "Liu Chenggong is also recuperating here, you can go and see him." ”

After He Renlong left, the four of them swept away the food in front of the table, and Cao Wenzhao was in front, and the four walked out of the dining room.

The back hall is not big, but it is very bright, because there is a patio, you can see the sky when you look up, it is now the unitary time, the sun is about to set, a ray of sunset is reflected on the doors and windows of the dining room, Cao Wenzhao suddenly watched it, watching the glow rise inch by inch.

The three subordinates didn't know what Cao Wenzhao was looking at, and they stared at the window stupidly for a long time, but they didn't see anything famous, Cao Bianjiao couldn't help but ask: "Master Cao, what do you see?" ”

Cao Wenzhao had mixed feelings, and his eyes did not leave the movement of the light: "Time flies, and time flies." The golden year is fleeting, the youth is in the spring, and it flows in yesterday with a flick of the fingers. ”

Feng Ju quipped: "Cao Ye is really poetic, why did I stare at the window for a long time, it turned out that I was appreciating the last ray of glow that was about to pass away." ”

Ping An reminded: "Master Cao, this light has passed and will reappear tomorrow, so it's important for us to visit Liu Chenggong!" ”

"No," Cao Wenzhao shook his head and said, "This light has already grown old, and it will not reappear tomorrow, and the rising light of tomorrow is like a newborn baby, a new beginning." ”

Ping'an said: "Let's let this light grow old slowly and usher in a new beginning tomorrow." The most important thing for us now is to visit Liu Chenggong, Cao Ye? ”

"What Taizhi (the word for peace) says is extremely true." Cao Wenzhao turned around and walked, and the group passed through the ear door and came to the front hall.

Cao Wenzhao burned three sticks of incense in front of Guan Gong's shrine, held them in his hands, bowed to Guan Gong three times, and then inserted the incense in the incense burner.

There are more than a dozen male and female servants in the Hongjia Hall, and Cao Wenzhao's daily life is in charge of these servants, and the servants all live in the back hall, and the eight wings in the front hall are the temporary housing of Cao Wenzhao and others.

Under the guidance of a servant, Cao Wenzhao came to Liu Chenggong's bed, who was seriously injured and could not move on the bed.

The air was mixed with the smell ......of rotten meat, blood, and traditional Chinese medicine, making it difficult for people to stay in front of Liu Chenggong's bed for longer, and several people endured the unpleasant smell and had a short conversation with Liu Chenggong.

Liu Chenggong was lying on the bed, and when he heard someone coming in, he turned his head slightly, and when he saw Cao Wenzhao and a few people, his mood became excited: "Cao Ye, Cao Ye!" And struggled to keep his head up.

Cao Wenzhao smiled gently: "Bingran, you are so seriously injured, just lie down!" ”

Liu Chenggong burst into tears: "Master Cao, you, you are all back safely?" ”

"It's all back safely."

"Adjutant General Wang Ximing unfortunately died on the way back to the city." Liu Chenggong was very sad.

Liu Chenggong's tears flowed on the pillow, and Cao Wenzhao wiped his tears with a hand towel: "We all know it, you can recuperate with peace of mind!" ”

"Master Cao, this thief is too, too powerful, if you meet him today and in the future, you would rather take a detour." Liu Chenggong said intermittently.

Cao Wenzhao comforted: "Don't worry, if you meet Gao in the future," Cao Wenzhao paused, "Gao Junshan, I won't fight him anymore." ”

Cao Bianjiao and the other three also came forward to greet Liu Chenggong, and after that, they withdrew from Liu Chenggong's room.

The wing rooms in the front hall are at their disposal, not to mention that one person lives in one, even if they live in two rooms, it is no problem, but Cao Wenzhao still decided to live in one room for two from the perspective of safety.

In this way, he and Cao Bianjiao lived in the wing room near the east end, because Liu Chenggong lived in the west end, and the smell of Liu Chenggong's room was unbearable for them. Feng Ju and Ping'an lived next door to Cao Wenzhao.

At night, Cao Wenzhao originally wanted to say something to his nephew, but because he was injured and overtired, he fell asleep after a trip.

The next day, the four of them decided to go out to see their subordinates, and when they walked to the gate of the courtyard, they were stopped by the soldiers at the gate: "General Cao, you can't go out of this gate." ”