Ma Wei, the king of Liang, sat on a chair with his eyes closed, and under the chair was a platform several feet high, covered with animal skin blankets, so that even if he was sitting, he was a few points taller than the one who stood.

The platform is not big, square and square, although it is very high, there are no steps, which makes people wonder how King Liang can go up and down.

Four samurai in full armor guarded the door, two on one side, their expressions were more severe than the statue of the protector in the temple, holding the handle of the waist knife with one hand, and staring at the comer, as if they wanted to see through his internal organs and find out the hidden weapons from them.

A samurai held out his arm and motioned for his guests to stop.

Between the four warriors and King Liang, there was another person, guarding a small table, who was looking down to check something, when he heard the voice, he turned his head to look at it, and a smile appeared on his face, "I haven't seen you for a long time, but King Wu's demeanor is still the same." ”

This is an old eunuch, Xu Ji looks a little familiar, but he can't remember who it is, "I'm no longer the king, Xu Ji is just that." Forgive me for being clumsy, Your Excellency is ......"

The old eunuch approached in small steps, "The nobleman forgets a lot." It's no wonder that when he was in the Eastern Capital, King Wu - no, Xu Gongzi - didn't have a moment of leisure, how could he have the time to take care of those of us who were left behind in prison? Under the surname Gao, the name is Shengze, and he once worked under General Cao Shenxi Cao to help him manage the palace. ”

Xu Ji remembered that when Cao Shenxi was ordered to take charge of the Eastern Capital, he did use a group of eunuchs, including this Gao Shengze, so he arched his hand and said: "It turned out to be the head of Gao, which is disrespectful." ”

"The chief steward doesn't dare to be a servant, and now he is a regular attendant by King Liang's side."

"Gao Chang Waiter." Xu Ji gave his hand again and glanced at Ma Wei in the distance, he had already entered the account, but Ma Wei did not open his eyes.

"King Liang is too tired." Gao Shengze explained in a low voice, and then showed a hint of embarrassment, "According to the rules, those who enter the audience must undergo a body search, but Xu Gongzi is different from others - I dare to make my own decisions and avoid stereotypes, but I just ......"

Xu Ji opened his arms and said with a smile: "Thank you, but you don't have to." I would like to be searched. ”

Gao Shengze was relieved, and while glancing at the warrior next to him, he said, "Xu Gongzi really doesn't care?" ”

Xu Ji nodded.

A samurai stepped forward, searched from top to bottom, and then changed another person, and after all confirmed that everything was fine, Gao Shengze stepped sideways, invited the guest to go inside, and said with a smile: "The rules are like this, if they are set by people, they are not called rules, right?" The original Emperor of All Things died without rules. ”

"That's a new way of saying it."

Gao Shengze led the guests to the table, there were no chairs and stools on the left and right, and the two could only stand.

On the table were a few official documents and a stack of blank papers.

Gao Shengze stopped and said: "The emperor of all things is extremely strict, but he often makes an exception for someone, and those who receive this treatment are grateful and virtuous, thinking that they are favored, but others are at a loss, and they often can't figure out what the rules are and what is an exception, so that there are many loopholes, which gives Xu Gongzi the opportunity to stab him." ”

Xu Ji said with a smile: "It is reasonable, the depth of Gao Changshi's insights is admirable, but it is a pity that the Emperor of All Things does not know talents and cannot reuse Your Excellency." ”

"It's just a simple truth, everyone understands it, but no one dares to say it. The so-called Maxima is often there, but Bole is not often, the tyrant is in the court, everyone is in the mouth, the Ming Jun is born, and the lowly subordinates are also enthusiastic. I'm just a lowly subordinate, and I have to look at King Liang differently before I dare to make occasional comments. ”

It turned out that so many words were said to King Liang, and Xu Ji smiled: "Does King Liang often sleep during the day?" ”

"King Liang has a lot of opportunities, I didn't sleep all night last night, today I am to see Xu Gongzi, I will rest here for a while, take a nap, and specially instruct me that as soon as Xu Gongzi comes, he will wake up King Liang, but ......"

"I understand, you see that the lord is working hard, and he can't bear to disturb him."

Gao Shengze showed gratitude, "Gongzi Xu is empathetic, which makes me ......"

"The old man is here, King Liang wakes up!"

Xu Ji suddenly shouted loudly, without warning, Gao Shengze's face turned white, and the four warriors at the door were also startled, reaching out to hold the hilt of the knife, but they didn't know whether to pull it out.

"Xu Gongzi, you ......"

"What you don't do well, I'll do it for you, look, King Liang is awake." Xu Ji took two steps forward.

Ma Wei woke up, but his expression did not change, and he looked at Xu Ji's eyes, "When did King Wu arrive?" ”

"Shortly after arriving." Xu Ji arched his hand and smiled on his face, "Now everyone calls me 'Xu Gongzi', and the name of King Wu is in the past." ”

"Young Master Xu? I can't call you 'brother' anymore? ”

"Of course you can, I thought ......"

"Do you think I'm King Liang, you're Buyi, and I won't miss the old anymore?" Ma Wei stood up, and Gao Shengze immediately ran over quickly, took out a wooden stool from under the platform covered with animal skins, and placed it on the edge of the platform, just enough to use it as a footpad.

Ma Wei held the hand handed by the eunuch, slowly walked off the stage, came to Xu Ji, looked up and down a few times, and suddenly laughed, "Brother Ji has not changed." ”

"Brother Ma has changed a lot."

"Me? It's not a change, I'm the person I am, it's just not revealed. Brother is just the opposite, you have not changed compared to the time when you were in the Temptation Hall, but you are very different from when you were King Wu. ”

"Therefore, Brother Ma is fit to be king, and I am fit to retire."

"Haha, it's your choice." Ma Wei looked at Gao Shengze, "Why are the distinguished guests here, and there is no wine and tea to serve?" ”

"It's ready, I'll go get it."

Gao Shengze hurriedly ran out, Ma Wei grabbed one of Xu Ji's wrists, "What does Brother Ji think of this tent?" ”

"It's big, and it doesn't seem to be any different than that."

"This account belongs to Zhang Zhi, which has not been used for many years, and has been damaged, so I found someone to repair it. I'm not coveting the size of the account, but I'm seeking revenge. ”

"When Zhang Xi extinguished Liang, he lived in this tent?"

"Exactly." Ma Wei was a little excited, and stretched out his hand to point to the chair on the table, "This is our Ma family's thing, the ancestors loved outings, and they will carry this chair wherever they go." Zhang's ignorance of treasures, hidden in the treasury for many years, was recognized by me according to the map, at a glance. ”

"This so-called homeland is deep."

"To have a deep hatred for the homeland means to have a deep hatred for the enemy country." Ma Wei said coldly.

Gao Shengze had already returned, and at this time he stepped forward with a tray, on which there were wine jugs, teapots, and cups were also placed separately.

"Does my brother still like to drink as much as he used to?"

"Unchanged."

Ma Wei poured the wine himself, Gao Shengze bent down and raised the tray above his head, dozens of years old, but his arms did not tremble at all.

The two of them each held a cup, and Ma Wei said: "In the army, everything is not even, only a glass of thin wine to pay tribute to the deceased." ”

"When people meet, people are not in things, and there is a glass of wine, which shows the true feelings."

The two of them drank separately, and Ma Wei put the empty cup on the plate casually, and changed his tone, "I heard that Brother Ji is here, but he is the identity of the envoy of Yecheng, or the deputy envoy." ”

"That's right."

Ma Wei's tone became more severe, and he frowned: "The younger brother is a young hero, even if he doesn't want to be the king, he should be independent of the world, why bend his waist to be an official, or a petty official?" ”

"The envoy is not an official, and I am not a vassal to anyone."

"In the eyes of outsiders, Brother Ji is now the minister of Yecheng." Ma Wei sighed, "But I know that Brother Brother's move is definitely not out of greed for power, but for a love word." The younger brother is really a man of temperament: if there is revenge, he will revenge, even if the enemy is the son of heaven, he will not retreat; If there is a favor, it will be repaid, even if the benefactor is a woman - maybe because it is a woman, the younger brother cannot refuse. ”

"Brother Ma got drunk after just drinking a glass of wine, and his speech became more and more boundless." Xu Ji said with a smile.

"Really? After the younger brother assassinated the Emperor of All Things, who did he rely on to save his life and who escaped from the Eastern Capital? After the abdication, who did he turn to for protection? For whom is the messenger willing to serve as a dog and horse? ”

"Brother Ma is talking about Lord Huanyan?"

"We now call her 'Female Master.'"

"There is an emperor in Yecheng, and she is not a 'lord'."

"Who is in charge of Yecheng, everyone knows in their hearts."

"First of all, no matter who is in charge of Yecheng, I'll see Brother Ma......"

"Needless to say, if the younger brother comes to intercede for the 'female master', you can, for the sake of many years of friendship, after breaking through Yecheng, I will spare her life, and even give her to the younger brother. If my brother asks for something else, don't open his mouth, I don't want to refuse in person to hurt my friendship. ”

Xu Ji thought for a while, "Brother Ma can really spare the life of Lord Yan?" ”

Ma Wei laughed, "If she is a man, I dare not spare her, a woman, relying on the ancestral business of the Zhang family, is lucky to be dominant for a while, and once Yecheng is broken, she is naturally no threat." But there is one thing, my brother has to watch more closely, and she is not allowed to be ambitious again, I can only spare her once, not a second time. ”

Xu Ji was silent, and Ma Wei said: "What? Still not satisfied? ”

"Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, I came to see Brother Ma, not for this matter."

Ma Wei knew Xu Ji too well, and said with a smile: "How big of a circle does Brother Ji have to go around this time?" Don't be busy, follow me on the road first, and wait for me to hold a banquet at night to catch the wind and wash the dust for my brother, and then you will not be too late. I haven't listened to my brother's advice for a long time, and I do miss it a little. ”

Ma Wei said to leave and did not give the other party a chance to argue.

Some people stayed to dismantle the tents, some escorted King Liang, and Xu Ji joined the Yecheng people, followed at the end of the procession, and turned to Yecheng to march.

Fei Yu was an envoy, but he was not summoned, he didn't care, and when he saw Xu Ji, he asked, "How is it?" ”

"It's just a reminiscence, and I haven't talked about it yet."

Fei Yu wanted to speak and stopped, and finally only sighed.

Yu Zhan, who was following aside, said: "Xu Gongzi will definitely succeed." ”

Fei Xun was quite surprised, glanced at Yu Zhan, and still didn't say anything.

Kou Daogu still sat in the car, not involved in outside affairs, he was like a lady who happened to travel with a business trip, obeying the arrangement, but refusing to show his head.

The group walked slowly, and stopped at nightfall, the camp had already been built, and the tent had overtaken the group at some point, and was already standing in the middle of the camp.

Ma Wei set up a banquet and summoned the three envoys of Yecheng, and in front of outsiders, he and Xu Ji were no longer called brothers, and each called King Liang and Prince Xu.

Ma Wei knew Fei Xin, and he had also heard of Kou Daogu, and he was very polite, but he did not leave his chair, nor did he refuse to talk about business, reminiscing with Xu Zhen, reminiscing with Fei Xin, and talking about learning and Taoism with Kou Daogu, which was quite harmonious.

After the second watch, Ma Wei announced the withdrawal of the banquet and left first, Fei Xun wanted to speak, but after getting up, he was stopped by Gao Shengze and had no chance to speak.

As soon as Xu Ji returned to the tent, he was invited out alone, mounted on his horse, and walked around to a nearby hill.

Ma Wei was looking at the bright moon hanging high on the mountain, "After the moontop reaches the treetops, I will ask my brother to stop." ”

The moon was not far from the treetops, and there was probably a stick of incense left.

Xu Ji felt that it was enough, and said: "It is better to attack Yuyang than to attack Yecheng." ”