It was late at night, and the heavy rain showed no sign of stopping, and Hou Xuanyan soaked in the hot bath bucket, red like a braised shrimp.

I scooped a scoop of hot water from a bucket with a scoop of water, and when I poured it on my head, I heard a long sigh of relief, only to hear someone knocking on the door.

At this time, there are only two kinds of people who can go directly to Hou Xuanyan's door without notification, his personal soldiers or henchmen.

"Come in."

With a squeak, the door was pushed open, and a young man dressed in black looked curiously at Hou Xuanyan in the bucket by candlelight. He was not tall and looked rather thin, but his eyes flashed with agility, and he could see that he was a clever teenager.

The one who brought him in was Hong Yixun, the leader of Hou Xuanyan's intelligence organization.

"Big brother, this little brother came to Changzhou in the rain and wanted to sneak into the city, but was caught by my people outside the city. He said that he was sent by the anti-Qing righteous people near Jinling and wanted to see his eldest brother. ”

The black-clothed young man bowed and saluted, "The villain Li Er of Jinniu Village has seen the Governor. ”

When Hou Xuanyan heard this, he stood up from the water and took a robe and tied it around his waist.

He picked up a handkerchief, wiped his wet hair, and asked, "Are there any anti-Qing righteous people near Jinling?" ”

Li Er raised his head and said: "Why not, there are more than 90 villages on the outskirts of Jinling Mansion, including our Jinniu, Wang Xuan, Sun Yan, Liutang, Nie Village, Tao Village, Deng Village, and Longdu Nine Villages. ”

Hou Xuanyan heard it, isn't this similar to the base behind the enemy during the Anti-Japanese War, if there is such a force and horses attacking near Jinling, it would be a good thing, but I don't know if it is a spy sent by Qinggou. He rolled his eyes and asked casually, "How many of you are there, and what is the name of the leader?" ”

"Lord Hui, we are hiding in Qinglong Mountain near Jinling, and obey the orders of Zhou Wenwu in the mountain. Although there are many people, many of them are women, children and the elderly. There are less than 10,000 people who can fight. ”

Hou Xuanyan deliberately said coldly: "How did I hear that this Zhou Wenwu was cruel by nature, and he had already surrendered to the enemy and killed countless Han people. Aren't you following him a group of traitors who want to murder Bendu? ”

Li Er's pupils constricted, his shoulders raised, and his eyebrows crepened into a Sichuan character. With a red face, he said loudly: "How can Lord Hou slander people out of thin air, although the master of Zhou Da fell into the grass, when did he surrender to the Manchu Dynasty?" We are all well-known sons of the Han family, if the adults have no intention of helping, we will do it with the Qing soldiers on our own, but please don't insult us. ”

The soldiers outside the door heard the quarrel inside, drew their swords and came in, and asked, "My lord?" ”

Hou Xuanyan laughed and said, "It's okay, you can step down." I had a bit of a misunderstanding with this little brother. ”

Looking at Li Er's shoulders arched high because he was angry, Hou Xuanyan pressed his hands on his shoulders with a smile and said, "What I said just now was deliberately used by me to test you. This is a very extraordinary time, and the Governor has to be careful, and you should not take it personally. ”

Li Eryu was still angry, and when he suddenly heard these words, he was stunned and blurted out, "What do you mean, adult?" ”

"I'm afraid that you are a spy sent by the Qing soldiers, so I deliberately provoked you, try to see your reaction. If you are really a spy, you can only justify or explain in a panic after listening to my words. And you are furious, obviously not pretending, and now I believe who you are. ”

When Li Er heard this, he was relieved, and said with admiration: "I have long heard that adults are resourceful, and they really live up to their reputation. ”

After Hou Xuanyan confirmed that he was not a spy, he began to face up to this force, although they were weak, but they were in the heart of the enemy. If used appropriately, it can be used as a surprise soldier. I just don't know if they can survive outside Jinling City, which is surrounded by great enemies.

If Hou Xuanyan had been clearer about history, he would not have this concern, in fact, these people have experienced countless encirclements and suppressions, and they are still stubbornly surviving outside Jinling City. Even when Luck Dehun went to Jingzhou to deal with the Dashun and Ming coalition forces, they also fought Jinling, but unfortunately they were betrayed by traitors and Hong Chengchou repelled.

Hou Xuanyan carefully inquired about the situation in Qinglong Mountain, nodded secretly, and he knocked on the side, and found out that this Zhou Wenwu should be a usable talent.

"How's your food and weapons over there?"

Li Er showed a surprised look and said, "Don't hide it from your lordship, Qinggou goes out of the city every once in a while to loot, and we don't dare to openly farm the land." Only at night, I went to the nearby fields to steal some grain. I hate those pigtailed pigs who surrendered, stayed there for half the night and didn't sleep, and as soon as we found out, we went to Qinggou to tell the truth. Many brothers died at that time, and they usually relied on wild fruits and vegetables in the mountains, and occasionally hunted some game to fill their stomachs. Not to mention weapons, the better ones are farming tools, and the others make mistakes with sticks or bare hands. ”

Hou Xuanyan sighed and said: "It's really hard for you, but it's a pity that what separates us is the territory with the strongest defense of Qinggou." I just want to help you, but I can't do it. ”

Li Er looked stubborn and said, "Don't worry, adults, although we have a hard time, we have long been used to it." As long as we have one person left, we will continue to work with them to the end. ”

Hou Xuanyan paced back and forth, thinking about how to keep the rebels in these occupied areas as much as possible, so that they could play the greatest miracle effect. After listening to Li Er's words, he said disappreciably: "With your strength, constantly finding trouble with the dog is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg." They want you to take the initiative to fight, so let's do it, you can help me give a message to your leader Zhou Wenwu, and say that I, Hou Xuanyan, sent him sixteen words, so that he can keep it in his heart. ”

Li Er's face was full of hope, and he asked nervously, "Which sixteen words?" ”

"The enemy advances and I retreat, the enemy is stationed and disturbs me, the enemy is tired and I fight, and the enemy retreats and I chase." Hou Xuanyan finished speaking word by word and asked, "Remember?" ”

Li Er nodded, he was indeed a clever and intelligent character, otherwise he would not have picked it out to do such a dangerous task.

Hou Xuanyan looked down and saw that the short black clothes on his body were full of traces of being scratched by thorns, and it was extremely painful to be washed by the rain again, but Li Erhun didn't seem to realize it. There is a feeling of admiration in my heart, and the rebels behind enemy lines in the occupied areas have always had the most difficult conditions. He took a short knife from the tent, put it in his hand, and said, "I see that you are young, you must be the bare-handed kind, right?" ”

Li Er hurriedly said: "Don't underestimate me, adults, although Li Er is young, he has already slashed three clear dogs." ”

"This knife is the saber of the Qi family, and it used to be full of the blood of Japanese slaves. Now the Tartars are attacking my homeland, just as they were back then, and the Japanese invaded the border. I give you this knife, I hope you don't fall into the reputation of the Qi family's saber. ”

Li Er's eyes were filled with tears, and he held the scabbard heavily, rubbing it and reluctant to stuff it into his waist.

"Yiyun, you take him to bandage his wounds, bring him some wine and meat, and send him back."