Tianchengwei Inn.

It wasn't completely dark, but it was past the curfew on the Acropolis. Baxi was making a bed for Nangong Jin in the room, and the man who had been kneeling in Pingyang for several days came again. I often saw him along the way, and it was not strange that Baxi knew that he was doing things for the young master, so he quit with interest.

"Xiao Lian has seen the second son." After Xiao Lian and the other eight histories withdrew, they saluted respectfully.

Nangong Jin smiled and said, "You don't have to do it every time. Sit down and say, have you eaten? ”

Xiao Lian sat down, "I've eaten." As he spoke, he took out a picture and handed it to Nangong Jin, "I drew it according to the request of the second son." Seeing Nangong Jin open it and take a closer look, he blushed, "The first time I painted, I didn't paint well." ”

Nangong Jin smiled, "It's not good, but I understand everything that should be understood." This picture depicts the location of each guard from Yulin Wei to Tianchengwei, and a very detailed explanation is made on the side.

"Second son," Xiao Lian hesitated for a moment and didn't know whether to say or not, "I went all the way into each guard and looked at it, and it seemed that something was wrong. ”

"What?" Nangong Jin didn't look up, still studying the picture.

"The number of people is wrong. It stands to reason that there should be 1,100 people in those thousand households, but I don't look like there are 1,000 people, at most only half, and there are less than 100 people in 1,000 households, and there are still many ordinary people making up the numbers. In this way, block the tartar? Xiao Lian was very worried.

Nangong Jin looked up at him, not knowing how to answer, "The imperial court also knows about this matter, and the army is seriously hungry. However, the Acropolis should have a ...... for recruiting and private soldiers. "Nangong Jin can't go on, it's true that until now, unless it is elite, the Ming army has no way to fight the Tatars, not to mention the serious shortage of numbers, and the quality is also poor. Usually the training of troops is just pretending, as soon as there is an enemy situation, they either refuse not to fight, or force the defenders to open the city to surrender to the enemy, anyway, they know that the Tartars are coming, as long as they have something, so the most important thing is to save their lives. In this way, the Tartars burned, killed, and robbed, and the people suffered.

"The Nangong clan set up these four halls to make it not so easy for the Tartars to enter the Central Plains." Nangong Jin answered Xiao Lian's previous question with this.

Xiao Lian thought about it and nodded fiercely, "Xiao Lian understands!" After a while, he asked in a low voice: "Second son, I—Can I follow you?" ”

Nangong Jinqi said: "Haven't you been following me?" ”

Xiao Lian said embarrassedly: "I, I actually have nowhere to go, and I don't know what to do." In the past few months, I have looked at it all the way, and I always feel that I should do something. Second son, I, I want to follow you and do more things....... ”

Nangong Jin laughed, "You are not my Nangong family's private soldier. Besides, I don't know how to do it, I just want to see if I can come up with something first. ”

Xiao Lian lowered his head and said with a red face: "Actually, I can do anything." I just don't know if the second son will accept it? ”

Nangong Jin smiled self-deprecatingly, "There is no future with me, but when the time comes, ......." So, let's get this done first. ”

"Yes." Xiao Lian thought for a while and said, "There is one more thing. Second son, I heard that the Tartars are coming. On my way here, it seemed that Datong was ready to fight. ”

"Where did you hear that?" Nangong Jin was stunned, raised her head and asked.

"When I was in Takayama, I heard a few defenders talking. Said it was the receipt of an urgent paperwork. Xiao Lian asked with some concern: "Will it be, will it hit Tianchengwei?" ”

Nangong Jin thought about it for a while, and said with a smile: "I'll open a room for you, let's rest first, I'm tired after so many days." ”

"Nope. We've always been looking for a place to live on our own. Xiao Lian hurriedly shook his head.

"I didn't even pay for it, so I didn't hire you, did I?"

"Why didn't the second son pay? I've paid for it many times. Xiao Lian lowered his head again, and said embarrassedly: "The second son doesn't need to give me any more money, and it won't cost much along the way." ”

Nangong Jin smiled slightly, "If you really want to follow me, then you don't have to do that anymore." However, we can try to prevent the people around me from finding out about your whereabouts....... ”

Xiao Lian suddenly raised his head and looked at Nangong Jin excitedly, "What the second prince said, but the secret guard?" ”

"You don't have to protect me, it's just that it's easier to do things in secret. Can you? Nangong Jin looked like she was taking some exams.

"I, I, I can." Xiao Lian was excited, and felt embarrassed when he thought about it, "But, I'm still a little short of ...... in my ability, and Baxi will know me." ”

"Everyone goes from bad to good. Baxi, since he follows me closely, I don't plan to hide it from him. He's not bad, you can try to make friends. Nangong Jin smiled and said, "If you really think about it, there is something for you to do, it may be dangerous." ”

Xiao Lian puffed up his chest and looked like he was giving up, "Second son, please command." ”

"Let's see, is the Tartar really here? If so, where did it go? Nangong Jin was afraid that he would take risks, so he instructed: "You go back along the road you came from, don't go out of the customs, just see if there is a guard to fight or transfer troops." As soon as possible, I am waiting for you in Tianchengwei. ”

"Yes."

"Don't take any chances! I'm waiting for your news. Got it? ”

"Xiao Lian understands."

**********

In the General Soldier's Mansion, Liang Lie was really surprised when he received the greeting post from his entourage, could it be that the surname Nangong is very common? It's not, the worship post clearly says 'Pingyang', could it be that there are several people named Nangong Jin in the Nangong clan in Pingyang?

Therefore, when Nangong Jin saw Liang Lie, he always felt that he had a look of concern, inquiry, and even amusement.

"Pingyang Nangong Clan?" Liang Lie's question was asked knowingly.

"Yes." Nangong Jin nodded and replied with a smile.

Liang Lie still looked at him and asked, "I know there is a person named Nangong Pu, who are you?" ”

"Brother."

"So, you're the second son?"

Nangong Jin smiled and nodded. Some people don't understand the reason why Liang Lie asked this, could it be that he doesn't believe his identity? This is the first time, but it's just a routine visit, so you don't need to prove it, right?

Liang Lie was still looking. From the outside, this person is more handsome than his sons. Dressed in general, I can't see the appearance of a lot of money, and I have some demeanor in my gestures, but my face is full of weather. Looking at this body shape and finger joints, he has practiced martial arts, and there is a less obvious scar on his right hand. From this point of view, it is not as condescending as Xu Baoshen said. However, Xu Baoshen's words have never been very credible.

Liang Lie smiled, "Second son, don't blame, Liang has only taken over for more than half a year, and he hasn't had any contact with the Nangong clan." ”

"I should ask General Liang for forgiveness, and I haven't visited for more than half a year." Nangong Jin smiled and confessed.

Liang Lie seemed to be particularly interested in Nangong Jin's private affairs, and asked with a smile: "Looking at the age of the second son, the child should go to school, right?" ”

Nangong Jin was embarrassed to be asked, "I'm ashamed, I'm not married yet." ”

"Oh? Is it not arranged at home? ”

Nangong Jin said embarrassedly: "This matter is handled by the elders in the family, and as a junior, it is not easy to interrogate." ”

Liang Lie still stared at him and nodded, and finally changed the subject: "Why did you come to Tianchengwei?" ”

But Liang Lie's question also made Nangong Jin feel very strange, Nangong clan has been helping the government to assist in defense by private soldiers or recruiting soldiers on the front line of Xuanda, especially in Shanxi, of course, in exchange for some convenience. Almost all the guards know it, and they don't eat military pay anyway, so why not? Besides, such private soldiers and recruits are not only the Nangong family in Shanxi, but his family is the largest.

Nangong Jin smiled, intending to at least hint, "On the next road from Weiyuanwei and Yulinwei to the east, take a look at the customs and customs everywhere, and walk slowly, and then you will reach Tianchengwei." ”

Liang Lie was also stunned, and asked again: "How many people did the second son bring?" ”

"There is a little long follower, stay at the inn."

"It's been hard all the way, just the master and servant?" Liang Lie looked at him, which could also explain that he was covered in wind and frost. If this is the case, it is not that he is unlearned, but it is like his family has given him a heavy task to contact the defenders on the side of the road. I have long heard that the Nangong clan is helping to assist in defense, could it be that this second son is responsible for this matter?

"Fortunately, Nangong has long been used to it." Nangong Jin didn't want to talk about such issues anymore. I just cared a little about what Xiao Lian said yesterday, but I didn't see any wartime actions of Tianchengwei, so I asked, "I heard that the Tartars have arrived in Datong?" ”

"Listen to whom?" Liang Lie straightened up and stared at Nangong Jin with sharp eyes.

"All the way, what I saw and heard. The Tartar cavalry traveled lightly and simply, traveling thousands of miles a day, if it really arrived in Datong, then it was also an overnight time to Tianchengwei. Nangong Jin also looked at Liang Lie and said with a straight face.

"Are you ......, warning?" Liang Lie obviously took precautions.

Nangong Jin saw it in his eyes, thinking that this General Liang was newly appointed and did not know the old rules. But after all, it's the first acquaintance, so there's no need to say it too thoroughly, anyway, we have to wait for Xiao Lian's news, and we should meet later. So, there was a meaning of farewell, "Although there was no intersection with General Liang before, and the four halls north of the Nangong clan were also disbanded due to the investigation and handling of the government, but it is the duty of the family to defend the country, if General Liang is sent, Nangong Jin will do his best." ”

Liang Lie looked at him, as if he had a deep meaning, and finally didn't say anything, and said with a smile: "Liang thanked the second son first." ”

Sending Nangong Jin away made Liang Lie puzzled.

First of all, although he knew that Xu Baoshen was not telling the truth, his intention to borrow money was obvious, even if he didn't care about the purpose of borrowing money, why did he think he would borrow? And why do you think you have it? Look at Nangong Jin again, I don't know how his character is, but he is dusty, he is neither humble nor arrogant, he doesn't seem to have the habits of a son, what is the matter with the divorce? It can't be Xu Baoshen who is getting in the way, right?

When Liang Lie arrived in the backyard, Xu Baoshen was not there. From the window, only Yao Fangyu was packing her luggage, but she was in a daze more often.

"Yu'er." Liang Lie called out to her at the window.

"Uncle Liang." Yao Fangyu smiled and got up to open the door.

Liang Lie didn't enter the door, and said with a smile: "Go for a walk in the garden?" ”