In a forest twenty miles away from Haifeng Wharf, Zhao Lie and his party were resting. After two days of hurrying, he finally arrived at the meeting place designated by Ouyang Guanhou at the scheduled time the next day.

Ouyang Guanhou was lightly traveled, arrived a day earlier than them, and sent someone to wait here. After verifying their identities, Zhao Lie asked Ma Nanchun to go to contact, while the group waited in the forest.

After two days of observation, he found that there were many good seedlings in this group of orphans, which could be cultivated.

"Your name is Zhang Junbao?"

"Yes."

Standing in front of Zhao Lie's eyes was a little guy of twelve or thirteen years old, with a broad forehead, thin eyes and a puffed nose, thick lips, a little silly face, and a little chubby - yes, all his companions were yellow and thin, and he was the only one "little fat". When he reported his name, Zhao Lie was a little stunned for a moment.

It's a coincidence. First came to Jueyuan, and now there is Zhang Junbao, what kind of trouble is this?

Zhao Lie looked the little fat man up and down for a long time, except that he was quite sturdy, he really couldn't see anything outstanding. Smiled and asked, "Why are all your companions so thin, but you are the only one?" ”

Zhang Junbao wiped his snot and shook his head seriously: "I'm not fat, I was fat before." ”

Zhao Lie was stunned for a moment, and immediately reacted. The Ding family sisters and brothers behind them were already laughing. It turned out that this Junbao used to be a real little chubby, and he was starved and thin. It's just that the "capital" is too thick, even if it is thin, it is still much fatter than most children.

Thinking about this section, Zhao Lie could only shake his head and smile, and then asked, "Have you practiced martial arts?" ”

Zhang Junbao nodded: "I learned from Senior Brother Jueyuan." ”

Zhao Lie turned his head and asked Jueyuan: "How did you learn?" ”

Jueyuan didn't know why Zhao Lie was so interested in a young man, and replied honestly: "Junbao has a good understanding, if it weren't for his temperament, his achievements would be greater." ”

Zhang Junbao muttered in a low voice: "But they can't beat me." ”

Jueyuan glared: "You only compare with your companions?" Is the requirement for yourself so low? Besides, even if you compare with your peers, you dare to say that you will definitely be able to win against Kurumaru? ”

Zhang Junbao grinned, and glanced at a black shadow not far from him: "That little black monkey is a monster, it's not that I can't beat him, it's that I can't catch up with him......"

"You're Kuromaru?" When Zhao Lie came to this boy, he immediately understood two things: first, why was his name Kuromaru; 2. Why did Zhang Junbao say that he couldn't catch up with him.

Because, this is a black boy.

The black boy was about the same age as Zhang Junbao, with a thin build, short, dense and curly hair, a flat nose, and thick lips - really thick, and Zhang Junbao's thick lips were far worse than his. When he opened his thick lips and smiled, the two rows of teeth were white and glowing, and they were particularly dazzling and even dazzling.

It was impossible to tell from his appearance whether he was fast or not, but Zhao Lie knew that the black man was very talented in this area, especially when he saw the peculiarity of this black boy - every child wore shoes, but he was barefoot. Along the way, he was barefoot, pushing a cart, faster than all his companions.

Black runs so fast, no wonder it's called Kuromaru.

Hearing Zhao Lie's question, Kuromaru nodded, revealing a silly smile, ugly and cute.

Jueyuan stepped forward and grabbed the black boy's shoulder, and said to Zhao Lie: "He is the Kunlun slave of Quanzhou Fan Merchant, the master was angry with the Semu Shang because of the incident, and his person had an old relationship with Li Heng, the deputy marshal of Mongolia and Han, and was framed and broken. He escaped from Quanzhou, wandered all the way, and almost starved to death. Later, he was rescued by the host who went out to turn into a fate and brought back to the temple. ”

Kuromaru hurriedly corrected: "It's the ...... you carried me back to the mountain temple" The black boy's tone of voice was a little strange, as if his tongue was a little shorter, and it seemed to have a mouthful of rice, which was vague, and he couldn't hear it clearly unless he was careful with his ears.

Jueyuan smiled: "But I was ordered by the host master, so it's right to be the host to save you." ”

Zhao Lie didn't understand what Kunlun slave was at first, but after Ma Nanchun's explanation, he knew that it usually referred to a black-skinned slave. This theory first came out of the Tang Dynasty, when there was a popular jargon called "Kunlun slave, Silla maid". Silla's handmaidens were equivalent to today's Filipino maids, professionally trained, well-behaved and capable. And the Kunlun slave is as strong as an ox, with a gentle temperament, down-to-earth and upright, and the nobles and wealthy families are rushing to ask for it.

The current Kuromaru is still a little black monkey, but judging from his physique, within five years, he must be a guy as strong as a cow.

Zhao Lieke did not have racial discrimination, on the contrary, he was very happy to use black people, and in the future, he would sail the five oceans, maybe to recruit more black sailors.

"My name is Grasshopper, this is my brother's flea."

Standing in front of Zhao Lie was the oldest boy among the thirty-two orphans, a grasshopper under fourteen. The boy is very thin, even a little skinny, but the skeleton is thick, and if the nutrition can keep up, he must be a strong man. But his younger brother Flea was the complete opposite, thin and small, dragging two thick snots, sucking from time to time, and taking two bites......

Zhao Lie laughed: "Why is it called this name?" ”

"My mother said that it is easy to feed by being cheap."

Zhao Lie stretched out his hand and pinched the young man's bones, and beat it a little harder, but the young man shook slightly but didn't move, Zhao Lie nodded: "Your mother is right, you are very good to support." ”

Zhang Junbao was born in a family of eunuchs, Heimaru was a fugitive slave, the grasshopper and flea brothers were the families of the soldiers of the Xing Dynasty, and there were many more orphans of refugees from Lianghuai...... They come from different places, and their lives can be trampled into mud at any time like tender shoots in troubled times. But if they can hold up a storm for them, one day they will grow into towering trees.

Zhao Lie called Jueyuan: "These are all good seedlings, the monk spends a lot of effort, and it is easy to cultivate, and it will be of great use in the future." ”

Jueyuan nodded and said: "The little monk also knows that he has also given guidance in the past two years, some have good understanding, and some have a solid foundation, which is very good." It's just that the temple is bitter, not fishy, can't keep up with the diet, and practicing martial arts is half a ......."

"Monk, don't worry, you just have to practice. From now on, they will eat whatever I eat. I don't dare to say whether it will become the previous Zhang Junbao, at least, it is no worse than the current Zhang Junbao. ”

The children laughed. Zhang Junbao looked innocent.

Jueyuan Heshi bowed deeply: "Zhao Yishi's merits are immeasurable. ”

"Here we are." Shi Yang, who was on the other side of the woods, ran quickly, followed by Ma Nanchun and a gray-clothed man.

The man in gray was about thirty years old, with a gray scarf wrapped around his head, medium height, thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, a short mustache on his chin, and a shocking scar on his neck, which looked shrewd and fierce. He bowed to Zhao Lie, then looked at Ma Nanchun and did not speak.

Zhao Liezheng was strange, but he heard Ma Nanchun say: "This is Yang Zheng, the dark-clawed soldier among the black crows, and he is also one of the twenty-three righteous soldiers who went to Gyeonggi with Ouyang Ding's army and attacked the Yuan soldiers at night. He injured his throat in a fierce battle with the Yuan soldiers and lost his voice ever since. ”

Zhao Lie was in awe, and bowed deeply with his fists.

Yang Zheng raised his arms and clasped his hands in return salute, his expression calm.

Ouyang Dingjun agreed, and Master Jueyuan could take these children and goods and follow Brother Yang to Bijiazhuang thirty miles away to rest. Bijia will ensure the safety of people and goods. Ma Nanchun glanced at Zhao Lie as he spoke, and Zhao Lie understood what Ma Nanchun meant, that is, the source of the goods they fabricated did not arouse Ouyang Guanhou's suspicion.

Zhao Lie put his mind at ease and asked, "How did Ouyang Dingjun arrange this operation?" ”

Ma Nanchun approached and whispered to him for a while.

Zhao Lie frowned: "This is not in line with our plan, it seems that I have to discuss it with him personally." ”