"Brother Dao!" The young man shouted to a man who was also shirtless not far away, and Xuan Shaoning clearly saw the change in the young man's demeanor, from the previous politeness and caution to the current release and happiness.

The man known as "Brother Dao" approached slowly, with broad shoulders and round waist, clear muscle lines, at first glance he was a long-term coolie, with slightly white hair bound only by a hemp rope, square face and small eyes, and an obvious dark purple scar from the left eyebrow to the right eyelid, perhaps this is the reason why he is called "Brother Dao".

"Brother Dao, this is the Xuanxiao Captain from the capital."

"Captain Xuan, this is our leader—Brother Dao."

The young man introduced the two of them separately.

"Captain? Are you a military man? Brother Dao spoke first, his eyes were vigilant, and his tone was not too friendly, and these Xuan Shaoning had already clearly felt it.

"Under the Xuanjia Army, the cold sword guard is the lieutenant."

"Xuanjia Army?" The chill in Brother Dao's eyes deepened, and even the young man on the side slowly distanced himself from Xuan Shaoning. "I don't know what Captain Xuan is doing in such a bitter cold place?"

In the face of a group of rough people, getting straight to the point is naturally the most appropriate way to deal with it.

"I was ordered by the emperor to recruit soldiers for the Xuanjia Army!" Xuan Shaoning deliberately raised his voice, so that the mountain pioneers on the side could hear it.

As soon as the words came out, after a slight silence, Brother Dao said with disdain: "We are all rough people, we can't be soldiers of the Xuanjia Army, Captain Xuan, please go back!" After saying that, he turned his head and was about to leave.

"Wait! Haven't you heard of the Xuanjia Army? Aren't you going to listen to the money you want to join the army? Could it be that joining our Xuanjia Army and killing the enemy for the country is not as good as doing a mountain pioneer here? Xuan Shaoning asked three times in a row.

"We are only willing to be pioneers." Brother Dao didn't speak lightly or seriously, but he didn't stop.

"Stop!" Xuan Shaoning was on fire for a while, thinking about the prestige of the Xuanjia Army in Liang now, the people were all overjoyed, and he came on the emperor's order, which hot-blooded man could not be moved, and now this knife brother is so cold, and even disobeys the emperor's order, which really makes him angry, "You are resisting the decree!" ”

Brother Dao stopped and said without looking back: "How?" Is Captain Xuan going back to Beijing to report our disrespect for the order, and then bring troops to encircle and suppress us? Please take care of yourself! After saying that, he returned to his own mountain opening axe, picked up the axe and continued to work, while the others continued to do their own mountain opening work. Xuan Shaoning knew that it would not be easy to recruit troops on this trip, and he had already made plans in his heart, but no matter how he calculated, he didn't expect that it would be such a situation when he met.

"Captain Xuan, this matter should not be rushed, it is better to rest first." Yue Yunfeng stepped forward at the right time and continued: "My subordinates have already made arrangements in Xingyun County, which is not far from here. ”

"No, I won't go to the official residence, I'll sleep here!" Xuan Shaoning turned his head and returned to the shantytown before, observing as he walked, but he didn't expect to see the young man who led the way before. I saw him walk into a small tent, Xuan Shaoning immediately followed, the young man just walked into the tent, Xuan Shaoning immediately followed.

The young man was about to take off his dirty coat when he suddenly saw someone intruding, and he was so shocked that he picked up an axe from his side and slashed at the comer. Due to his years of hard work, the young man's strength is not small, and his speed is also fast, but unfortunately it is still a little lighter and slower for Xuan Shaoning, his body moved, easily dodged the blade of the axe, and his backhand buckled the elbow of the young man's right hand, and with a pinch, the young man was in pain for a while, and the axe fell to the ground.

"It's you!" The young man was surprised to see the intruder's face at this time.

"Responsive, moderate force, lack of speed, and acceptable angle." Xuan Shaoning was commenting on the young man's performance just now, and at the same time looked around at the place that could barely be called a bedroom: a three-legged wooden table with a missing corner, and a book with basically no cover neatly stacked on it; A rattan bed, with only a linen underneath, covered by a thin, torn quilt, and nothing else. Because the four corners are fastened with tent rivets, and the bottom of the ground, which meets the ground on three sides, except for the doorway, blows in from time to time.

"Is there something wrong with Captain Xuan coming to my room?" The young man rubbed his wrist, which had been released, and asked vigilantly.

House? Xuan Shaoning couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, "It's okay, I just want to spend the night here with you." ”

As soon as these words came out, not only the young man, but even Yue Yunfeng was surprised. Before the two could refute, Xuan Shaoning continued: "Since I am here to recruit troops, the task must be completed, and I am also a captain of the Xuanjia Military Academy, I will definitely not use force against you, I first came to Pingzhou, and I am not familiar with many things, so I will stay here and slowly understand." ”

"But there is no bed in my room." The young man motioned for Xuan Shaoning to look around.

"It's okay, you can teach me, and it won't be too much trouble to weave a rattan bed like yours. Besides, don't you have an open space in this house, where I slept right there! Xuan Shaoning pointed to a small open space opposite the desk with his hand.

"In the future, you and I will get along day and night, you don't have to call me Captain Xuan in the future, my name is Shao Ning, Shao Yong Anning, look at your face, how old should I be you, you can call me Brother Xuan, how about it?"

The young man hesitated for a moment and said, "My surname is Ji, and I ask Han with two words, but Captain Xuan, I am indeed too cold here......"

Xuan Shaoning hurriedly stopped, "I told you just now, you can call me Brother Xuan in the future, as for you here, I am not from a noble background, and I want to talk to Brother Dao about this matter." After a pause, looking at Ji Wenhan's eyes, the other party deliberately dodged, Xuan Shaoning understood that he had guessed his mind correctly, "I'm a little tired from traveling for too long today, why don't you tell me how to weave this rattan bed first, I also have a place to rest tonight." After that, he pulled Ji Wenhan out and found some rattan and began to compile. Yue Yunfeng was also helpless when he saw this scene, so he had to join the two people who made the rattan bed.

Soon, the news that the recruiting captain from the capital had settled in the shantytown spread throughout the area, and Brother Dao naturally got the news. On this day, the mountain workers were preparing to start their day's work, and many people were quietly talking about Xuan Shaoning, Ji Wenhan also came to the quarry, and when he saw Brother Dao, he hurriedly ran to him.

"You don't need to say it, I already know everything, he has the emperor's order, and you can only obey it. But it was a surprise for me that he was able to settle in a place like ours. ”

"Maybe it's just for show, can he change the status quo as a mere lieutenant?" Someone immediately intervened.

"Yes, I think he's also a man, but he's too young and doesn't understand too many things!"

"He won't last long, let's see!"

"I don't think so, maybe he can really give us hope, we can also go into battle to kill the enemy!"

Hearing this, Brother Dao just wanted to stop it, and he heard a familiar voice.

"Kill the enemy? Ouch, I haven't woken up from last night's dream! ”

Brother Dao didn't need to guess at all to know who the master was coming, although he was extremely disgusted in his heart, he still bowed his head respectfully and said: "Don't get me wrong, Master Zhang, my brother said casually, unintentionally." ”

"Heartless? Can you grow to this age without intention? Otherwise, cut open the stomach and let me take a look, hehehe......." This Lord Zhang gently covered his mouth with his hand and smiled while cocking his orchid fingers, "What are you waiting for?" Still hands-on? ”

"Yes!" Immediately, two officers and soldiers stepped forward to hold down the mountain pioneer just now, and one of them drew his saber with him.

"Lord Zhang! He said it was wrong, and asked Lord Zhang to punish him, but please don't hurt his life! After all, the construction period has been delayed, and it is difficult to explain! "Brother Dao can't hold it anymore.

"Yo, what? How dare you threaten me! What is a little mountain pioneer, he is dead, isn't there still you! Do it! ”

"Master Zhang!"

Just when Brother Dao got up and was about to make a move, Xuan Shaoning arrived.

"Lord Zhang, is this enforcing military law?" Xuan Shaoning looked at the Lord Zhang in front of him, his face was covered with rouge, the green silk was tied high, he was wearing a pale green satin official uniform embroidered with wave patterns, a pair of brand-new black official boots, obviously dressed as a civil official, and his voice was soft and more than rigid enough, and the whole appearance of neither male nor female made Xuan Shaoning very disdainful.

"You? Could it be a soldier? "Although this Lord Zhang is neither male nor female, he is arrogant, but he can still see it, and when he sees the military token on Xuan Shaoning's waist, he knows that this person is from the army.

"Master Zhang has good eyesight, and it is Xuan Shaoning, the captain of the Xuanjia Military Academy. He was ordered by the emperor to come to Pingzhou to recruit troops. ”

"Oh, it turned out to be Captain Xuan, Captain Xuan came to Pingzhou to recruit troops? Or is it on the emperor's orders, how come I don't know? Master Zhang glanced at Xuan Shaoning, and glanced at the soldier behind him, who also shook his head.

"Since Lord Zhang is suspicious, then please take a look at the military order!"

"No need, you people in the army are fighting and killing, so angry, even if you come to recruit soldiers, you should tell Master Lu, it has nothing to do with me. Do it! ”

Seeing that he was about to do it again, Xuan Shaoning stepped forward and grabbed the hand of the soldier who was about to stab the mountain opener with a saber in hand, and as soon as he used his strength, he only heard the man scream, and the knife fell to the ground.

"What a guts! You dare to stop me! Don't think that you have the emperor's order, at best, you are just a small school captain, and you dare to come to me to make trouble! Someone, take him down! Master Zhang was so angry that his cheeks turned red, and his face was even more red and white.

"Lord Zhang is angry!" Yue Yunfeng hurriedly stood up, "Captain Xuan did come to recruit troops on the orders of the emperor, and Lord Teng also knew about this matter, and asked Lord Zhang to make a big deal small!" ”

"Even if Teng Hui sees me, you have to give three points, what are you! Take them both down for me! ”

Just when the guards beside Master Zhang were about to make a move, Xuan Shaoning took the lead, drew his sword and dodged behind Lord Zhang in a few steps, and when everyone came back to their senses, the cold light of the blade had already flashed so that Lord Zhang couldn't open his eyes.

"You!" The cold feeling on his neck frightened Master Zhang into no longer able to say extra words, and the bright red face just now was now replaced by a miserable white, and his body trembled like chaff. But Xuan Shaoning, who was standing behind him, had a cold look, and said to all the soldiers with weapons: "If you dare to move, Lord Zhang's head will not be saved!" ”

Seeing this, a soldier puffed up his courage and said, "Do you know that Master Zhang is Lord Lu's confidant, if he makes a mistake, you can't afford it!" ”

Yue Yunfeng knew that what he said was right, so in order not to make things out of control, he hurriedly persuaded: "Captain Xuan, what he said is true, please think twice!" ”

Brother Dao and the others were already extremely unaccustomed to this Lord Zhang's powerful appearance, but now they stood aside and looked coldly at how capable Xuan Shaoning was.

"My Liang has always forbidden civilian officials to interfere in military affairs, and you dare to bring soldiers privately, this crime is one! I have a strict calendar, and I am not allowed to judge people privately, and you actually plan to correct people on the spot with your own selfish desires, this is the second crime! I came to recruit troops with the emperor's order, not only did you not cooperate but spoke wildly, and at the same time insulted the court officials, you are just a mere one from the seventh grade, and you actually committed the following crimes, this crime is three! Do you think you can still save your life? Xuan Shaoning asked sharply.

"I ......." Before Master Zhang could finish speaking, Xuan Shaoning suddenly slashed his sword horizontally, wiping off his neck, and suddenly a stream of blood splattered all over the ground. This scene happened between the lightning and flint, which shocked everyone present, and it took a while for the leading soldier to react, shouting and fleeing first, and the rest of the soldiers also hurriedly retreated.

"Captain Xuan! You've got a big deal in trouble! Yue Yunfeng shouted anxiously, he was originally ordered to accompany Xuan Shaoning to inspect Pingzhou, and he didn't expect to be able to really recruit soldiers, just to be fine, but now he has reached such a situation, and he is anxious not to know how to return to Teng Hui.

Brother Dao, who had been standing on the sidelines and watching coldly, applauded at this time, and he took the lead, and the rest of the pioneers followed suit.

As soon as they saw that the leader had been killed, the soldiers who had been arrogant and domineering were frightened and fled one after another.

"Captain Xuan, do you know who you killed?" After seeing Xuan Shaoning shake his head, Brother Dao continued: "His name is Zhang Shisan, he is the official in charge of our quarry, he has always ignored the royal law and acted according to his personal likes and dislikes, and we have been oppressed by him for several years. I wondered, how did Captain Xuan know his rank? ”

"Dressed in a green court dress, embroidered with the most ordinary wavy patterns, without a fish bag around his waist, and without a black veil on his head, he must be under the seventh grade, but he can carry the guards with him, and the highest is from the seventh grade." Xuan Shaoning put the saber into the scabbard and said lightly, glancing at the corpse that still twitched from time to time with disgust.

"That Xuanxiao Lieutenant knows that Zhang Shisan's backer is Dengzhou, Pingzhou Prefecture Mu, and Lu Yanhui, who is the fourth grade, I heard that Zhang Shisan's son is one of the few righteous sons he received, and he is usually very favored." Brother Dao continued to add.

Hearing this, Xuan Shaoning was slightly moved: The governor is the highest administrator in these two states, and even the governor has to obey him. However, to have such an arrogant and domineering righteous son, I am afraid that this Lu Yanhui's own character is also problematic. The difference between his rank and his rank is too great, and it won't be long before he will know about it, and he will have to deal with it early. Even so, Xuan Shaoning frowned slightly, raised his head and looked at Brother Dao and said, "Speaking of which, this is the second time we have met, and I can be regarded as helping you today, can you not be so hostile to me?" ”

Brother Dao was a little sluggish, but he didn't expect Xuan Shaoning to take the murder to heart at all, and asked himself instead, so he said: "I'm a barbarian, because of a scar on my face, my brother agreed, call me Brother Dao, my name is Xu Chengxian!" As he spoke, he clasped his hands into fists and saluted, and this time his attitude was obviously much softened.

Xuan Shaoning cupped his fists and saluted: "I will take care of the killing of Zhang Shisan, Brother Dao doesn't have to worry, now I ask Brother Dao to send someone to deal with the scene, and I still have some questions I want to ask Brother Dao, can you take a closer step?" Yun Feng, today's matter, you should also hurry up and report to Lord Teng, he should prepare early! ”

"Captain Xuan, please come with me!" Brother Dao led the way, and Xuan Shaoning and Ji Wenhan walked into a tent not far from the quarry, and the furnishings were no different from Ji Wenhan's.

"Captain Xuan, please sit down, I'm too simple here, and please don't see Captain Xuan." Xu Chengxian said and handed over a glass of water, Xuan Shaoning took it and obviously felt cold, it was already the norm of life to only drink some cold water at such a season. In order not to show the distance, Xuan Shaoning took the water and drank it in one gulp, and Xu Chengxian showed a smile.

"Brother Dao, please tell me everything you know about this Pingzhou."

"The poverty of Pingzhou wants to come to Xuanxiao Wei and see it with his own eyes, originally Pingzhou is mountainous and less arable land, but it is as if forgotten by the emperor, the surrounding states can get the support of the imperial court to promote water conservancy, farmland and business, but Pingzhou is not allowed to do this, so the people of Pingzhou have moved elsewhere. In the first few years, we were allowed to leave our hometowns, but since Lu Yan took office, he sent troops to guard the border and forbade us to leave without permission, and Pingzhou had no livelihood and didn't let me wait to go out to make a living, so many people really starved to death......" Xu Chengxian sighed and continued: "Our hot-blooded men in Pingzhou are about to rebel, and at this moment, Lu Yanhui came and opened a quarry here, saying that it was for us men to work hard to mine rocks in exchange for food, and sent Zhang Shisan to be the supervisor. ”

"I think Master Teng also knows about this matter?" Xuan Shaoning asked, and Xu Chengxian nodded. Judging from his statement, a large part of the reason why Pingzhou has such a situation is deliberately done by the imperial court, but what is the reason? Pingzhou has once been a righteous obedience, and the men here should inherit that blood even after thirty years, how can they become so obedient? Just now Zhang 13 wanted to kill someone, but Brother Dao didn't make a move but pleaded for mercy, what is going on? Xuan Shaoning listened to the narration and thought about it, Xu Chengxian saw that he didn't say a word, and couldn't help but scream, which just triggered Xuan Shaoning. That's right! What he had seen in the past few days suddenly came into his mind, and he seemed to have grasped the crux of the problem!

Xuan Shaoning calmly asked: "Dare to ask Brother Dao, where are the families of these men who opened the mountain with you?" ”

As soon as he heard this question, Xu Chengxian's face immediately changed, the corners of his mouth moved, and he didn't answer after all, Xuan Shaoning glanced at Ji Wenhan, and his eyes were also full of pathos and resentment, it seems that he guessed correctly!

"The reason why you didn't resist is because your family members are all in Zhang Shisan's hands!" As soon as these words came out, Xu Chengxian and Ji Wenhan were really shocked, the former could still bear it, and the latter blurted out young: "How did Captain Xuan know?" ”

When Xuan Shaoning heard it, he knew that what he expected was not bad, "When I stepped here for the first time that day, my eyes were full of men, and I didn't see women, children and children. So where are your family members hidden? ”

"They ......."

"Ask the cold!"

Ji Wenhan was about to speak but was stopped by Xu Chengxian, "Captain Xuan, you killed Zhang Shisan today, do you know what the consequences will be if Lu Yan knows?" The implication is obvious, mind your own business first.

Xuan Shaoning said: "Zhang Shisan's fault is taken by himself, I will bear this matter alone, and I will never implicate the brothers here." Brother Dao has something unspeakable, so I won't force him to ask, but today I Xuan Shaoning will tease the words here, I have to break the dilemma in Pingzhou, and I have also recruited this soldier! The words were loud, as if to cheer himself up, and like a promise to Brother Dao and others, after finishing speaking, he stood up and hugged his fists and strode away.

Witnessing the departing figures, the eyes of the remaining two were very complicated.

After years of mining, only half of the majestic mountain is now left, and the side that is still preserved is quite deserted compared to the hot mining area, and in the middle of winter, the trees are withering, and the cold wind is gusting, but there are two people standing on the top of the mountain.

"Zhang Shisan's matter has been reported to Lord Teng, right?" The man standing near the edge of the cliff asked.

"It's been reported, Lord Teng told Captain Xuan to prepare as soon as possible." Yue Yunfeng stood a few feet behind him.

In fact, he didn't need to remind Xuan Shaoning that he knew that he would never be able to bear this matter alone, so after leaving Xu Chengxian's residence, he immediately passed the story of the matter to Pei Zhenghao, who was still in the capital.

"Brother Yue, how old are you and me, you might as well let me call you big brother!" Xuan Shaoning turned his head, the wind ruffled his bun, but he couldn't hide the firmness in his eyes.

The sudden change of name made Yue Yunfeng a little surprised, with years of experience, he knew that there must be something important, "Don't dare, Captain Xuan, please say it directly!" ”

"Okay, I want to know about Pingzhou!"