A horse-drawn carriage walked unhurriedly on the streets of Jiangdu County, there were many shops on both sides of the street, all kinds of huge signboards were erected in the air, although there was no loud shouting, but the carriages full of goods drove out of the alleys from time to time, all kinds of people haunted the shops, short and humble Japanese, dark-skinned Tianzhu people, big cannibals wearing black robes, wide trouser legs, blue eyes, as if the evolution had not yet been completed, the shops with their own characteristics show the prosperity of this famous city in Jiangzuo.

Du Mei picked up one end of the curtain, looking at the bustle on the street with a focused expression, the carriage drove in front of a big signboard five zhang high and two zhang wide, and the signboard was written with three big characters of Jinxiufang, which was Li Chenghong's head office in Guangling.

Du Mei stared at this sign for a long time, and after a while, he shook his head disdainfully, closed the curtain of the carriage, turned a corner, and walked up another wide street, about two miles, and arrived at the Yamen of the Thorn History of Guangling County, and now it was evening, the Yamen had been closed, and two evasive big signs stood at the door.

Du Mei's carriage did not stop in front of the yamen, but made a detour to the back house of the Yamen, the back house is a dark red door, the door is not big, a small stone step leads to the back door, Du Mei's entourage jumped out of the carriage and went forward to knock on the door, a moment, the door opened a crack, an old family member showed half of his face, looked at the entourage and the carriage in amazement, the retinue whispered a few words to the old family, handed in a famous post, and turned back to point to the carriage, the old family nodded, then closed the door, and went in to report.

After a while, there was another rush of footsteps at the door, and the door creaked! As soon as it opened, the white-haired old family member just now enthusiastically bowed his hand to the carriage, "My lord invites Mr. to come in." ”

Du Mei got out of the carriage, bowed slightly to express his gratitude, and walked quickly into the back house of the Thorn Mansion. =^UC e-book^First release==The Thorn Mansion is not large, and it is mainly divided into two parts, one part is more than a dozen bungalows. Mainly for the servants and some ordinary guests, the other part is surrounded by a flower wall, at a glance, the wall and the hole in the wall are full of rich green, this is the master's residence, the old family led Du Mei through a small door into the wall, along a stone path briskly. The yard is filled with a variety of trees. Several old houses are hidden in the thick green, although there are no precious flowers and trees to embellish, and there is no delicate floor and terrace flower pavilion, but the green trees and flowers in the garden are trimmed neatly and neatly, and even the grass in the cracks of the stone road on the ground has been trimmed, which looks quiet and elegant, Du Mei, who has always paid attention to details, nodded secretly, and it can be seen that the owner who lives here is a serious and cultivated person. “

"How long has Zhao Tingshi lived here?" Du Mei asked nonchalantly.

"It's been almost a year, and he's been an official elsewhere. It was only in May last year that he was transferred to Guangling to do a history of assassination. ”

The old family glanced back at Du Mei, and explained with a smile: "The previous assassins didn't live here, leaving an empty mansion in vain. They have their own houses in Jiangdu County, only my lord is poor, honest and honest, and he is rated every year. There are not many such good officials anymore. ”

"How long has the old man been following Zhao Tingshi?" Du Mei asked with a smile.

"How long are you going to ask?" The old man looked up and smiled, "He has been raised by me since he was a child, how long do you think it will be?" ”

"Does the old man know Zhang Huan?"

"Zhang Huan?" The old man hesitated. He suddenly remembered. couldn't help but hate: "You mean Zhang Shibalang!" How could I not know him, he has the best relationship with my master. Back then, I liked to go fishing, and that kid liked to dive, and always straightened my hook in the water, or just wrapped it around the aquatic weeds, and that kid had to be scolded by me. ”

Du Mei couldn't help but laugh when he heard the kid on his left and the kid on his right: "Does my uncle know what Zhang Huan is doing now?" ”

"I seem to have heard my wife say, what kind of official in Longyou, how can I refuse to marry Pingping, what about being an official, Pingping is such a good woman, he actually refuses to marry, if I am thirty years younger

Before he could continue, Du Mei interrupted him, "Actually, it's disrespectful to call him Zhang Huan now, and I will have to call him Your Majesty in a short time!" ”

Your Majesty is the old man suddenly stumbled and almost fell out, Du Mei hurriedly helped him, "Old man beware!" ”

The old man's legs were frightened, and he slowly turned his head to look at Du Mei with pleading eyes, "This big brother, I didn't say anything just now. ”

Du Mei smiled and said, "As long as you tell me what is the real reason why your lord refuses to marry the daughter of the Chu family, then I haven't heard anything just now." ”

At this time, a deep voice suddenly came from the front, "Why should Judge Du embarrass an old man. ”

Du Mei looked for prestige, only to see a person standing behind a clump of green bamboos, about thirty years old, slender, thin face, he had a short beard under his chin, his eyes were bright and full of righteousness, this person was Zhao Yan, the assassin of Guangling County, Zhang Huan's best friend back then. ^^ first release of ^UC e-book ^^^

To be precise, Zhao Yan is now only the assassin of Guangling County, his official position is the history of Guangling County, a year ago, the then Guangling County Assassin Wang Yuanpei died suddenly in office, Pei Jun wanted to transfer his henchman Taiyuan Yin Xian Yu Shuming to take over the history of Guangling County, but was resolutely opposed by Chu Xingshui, the two were deadlocked, Pei Jun transferred the shrewd and capable and reputable Zhao Yan to serve as the chief historian, temporarily acting as the government affairs of the assassin history, but soon encountered the chaos in the Central Plains, and then Pei Jun died, the assassin history dragged on, Zhao Yan has been acting for almost a year of assassination history, Although his rank is much smaller than that of Thorn History, he is honest and honest, and he is willing to do practical things for the people, so the people of Guangling call him Zhao Thorn History, hoping that he will act forever.

But Zhao Yan himself is very sober, he has mastered the power of the Shangjun Assassin from the third grade for nearly a year with a long history from the fifth grade, which is extremely abnormal in any case, and the Chu family, which is powerful in Jianghuai, is silent, that is because the Chu family recommended the Huaiyin County Assassin Han to revise the Guangling County Assassin History has not been approved by the imperial court, once the time is ripe, the Chu family will inevitably attack themselves.

At this time, the news came from the court that Zhang Huan had returned to the Li family and served as the superintendent, but the Chu family was in opposition to the imperial court.

Zhao Yan stepped forward and bowed to Du Mei first, "Zhao Yan is below." Welcome Judge Du to Guangling. ”

The other party had a special relationship with himself, Du Mei didn't dare to put up a fight in front of him, he hurriedly replied: "I'm here all the way." Listen to Zhao Yuanjun's deeds! Seeing it today, Du Mei is very honored. ”

Zhao Yan just smiled faintly, and then he instructed the old family: "Uncle Quan, go to the door and take a look, are those suspicious people still outside?" ”

Du Mei was startled, "What! Is even the Assassin Mansion being watched? ”

"Chu Xingshui knows my relationship with Zhang Huandi, how can he not guard against me. But Judge Du, please rest assured. Now that you are in my house, I will keep you safe. Speaking of this, Zhao Yanyi waved his hand and smiled: "Judge Du, please come to my study for a while!" ”

"Please!"

Du Mei followed Zhao Yan and walked briskly towards his study.

Eighty miles north of Yancheng County, Huaiyin County, an army of 30,000 people is advancing rapidly southward, and under the starlight in the sky, it is like a black river flowing southward on the white and boundless salt-alkali flats.

This army was mainly cavalry, mixed with nearly 100 thunderbolts, and they were the main force that had annihilated the Tubo army and the Great Food Army in Anxi. Not long ago, it was this army that was the first to defeat the Khitan cavalry in Hebei, and they were the elite of Zhang Huan's 400,000-strong army, all equipped with Arab horses captured from the Great Food Army. Long lances, horizontal swords, steel crossbows, and solid armor, combined with superb horsemanship, brave combat momentum, and rich combat experience, make this army invincible and unstoppable.

In this way, of course, Zhang Huan must hold the army firmly in his hands, and at this moment, our Lord Jianguo is just like him in Anxi, wearing armor and marching south with the army.

Zhang Huan arrived in Pengjun three days ago, and without the slightest hesitation, he immediately took over the command from Wang Siyu. At the same time, he divided his army into three routes. Cao Hanchen was ordered to take the western front and lead 20,000 troops south from Haozhou. ^^ uctxt first ^^ and ordered Wang Siyu to be the general of the middle road, leading 30,000 troops to cross the Huaishui from Linhuai, in order to contain the main force of the Chu family, and he himself personally led the 30,000 elites to Yancheng, the reason why he went to Yancheng was because the scouts found intelligence, and there were 20,000 troops of the Chu family stationed in Yancheng, and the main general was Li Shidao, who he had been worried about, and 10,000 of the 20,000 troops were Puyang of Li Shidao in the past

Zhang Huan is not worried about the Chu family's determination to resist, he is worried that Li Shidao will not use this opportunity for the Chu family to resist the imperial court in order to realize his personal ambitions, once Jianghuai falls into the hands of Li Shidao, it is equivalent to the Tang Dynasty being cut off a leg, and Li Shidao cannot be given any chance, which is why Zhang Huan did not hesitate to wave his army south.

Several cavalry scouts rushed against the army, four hooves galloping, horsetail flying, as if flowing clouds, a moment, the scout found the governor in the Chinese army, a lieutenant on the horse saluted and said: "Qi Yu Governor, Li Shidao is stationed in Yancheng County West Wuli, according to this about sixty li, they have no sign of retreat now, we have explored along the road, and there is no place for ambush." ”

Zhang Huan nodded, he looked up at the starry sky, the dark blue night sky was full of stars, there were at least four hours before dawn, according to the current marching speed, Yancheng could be reached before dawn, Zhang Huan ordered without hesitation: "Pass the order, the whole army will travel another forty miles to rest!" ”

Yancheng County is today's Yancheng area of Jiangsu, in the Tang Dynasty, here is often flooded by the sea, in the east of Yancheng are a large area of saline-alkali wetland, not an inch of grass grows, the population is also extremely scarce, decades ago there were still some sparse villages by chance, the villagers rely on the salt for a living, since the implementation of the salt monopoly when Su Zong, private salt is no longer allowed, a large number of salt people are forced to move south, the population of Yancheng area is even more sparse, often dozens of miles can not see a family.

Yancheng County is the only county town within a radius of hundreds of miles, with only more than 1,000 households, most of whom make a living by drying salt for the government, but at this moment, Yancheng County has stationed nearly 20,000 Chu family troops to defend against Zhang Huandi's army from breaking through from the east. As the scouts of the Longyou Army probed, the main general who commanded this army was Li Shidao, and the location of his garrison was indeed five miles west of Yancheng County, but there was one thing Zhang Huan did not expect that Chu Xingshui first deployed Li Shidao's garrison in Anyi County, about three hundred miles west of Yancheng, which was the necessary place for the Cao River, but Li Shidao falsely transmitted the news to Chu Xingshui five days ago, and found the scouts of the Longyou Army in the Yancheng area, and the Longyou Army was very likely to go south from the coast, which forced Chu Xingshui to change the deployment of the army and agreed that he would transfer to the garrison around YanchengIn fact, what Li Shidao really did not want to touch Zhang Huan's army and save his 20,000 troops as the capital for his comeback.

However, Li Shidao didn't expect that Zhang Huan's interest in him was much greater than that of the Chu family, so he didn't know if he would feel honored or bitter after he understood this?

Frankly speaking, Li Shidao did have a little talent for leading troops, and in order to completely control the 20,000 troops, he formulated extremely strict military discipline, allowing the plundering of people's property, but not embezzlement; Adultery with women is permitted, but they must be brought back to the camp to be shared with the brethren; In the army, there is only absolute obedience to the superiors, and the slightest objection should be immediately killed; At the same time, he eliminated a large number of middle-level officers by means of military competitions and long-distance marches, and promoted a group of shrewd and capable soldiers from the Puyang army, so that in just half a month, he completely mastered this army.

At this moment, the night is already very deep, close to the fourth watch, Li Shidao's big tent is still brightly lit, he is sitting in the big tent all night studying the map of the southeast area, Li Shidao is very clear, the Chu family will definitely be destroyed by Zhang Huan, and Zhang Huan should turn west to deal with Li Xilie in Huaixi after destroying the Chu family, then his opportunity will come at this time, if the wealth of Jianghuai is swept away, and then turn to Quanzhou and Lingnan to develop, he may not be able to establish his own foundation.

Li Shidao's gaze followed the map all the way south, and finally his fist slammed heavily on Quanzhou, and he breathed a long sigh of relief, and said to himself: "This is it!"

Suddenly, there was a rush of running outside, and a personal soldier almost rushed in, his face was full of panic, and he reported in a loud voice: "General, the big thing is not good, and a large army has been found to be stationed twenty miles away in the north." ”

"What!" Li Shidao was so shocked that he stood up suddenly, "Is Zhang Huan's army coming?" Why didn't he go to the Cao River? ”

Stunned for only a moment, Li Shidao immediately reacted, and hurriedly ordered: "Pass my order, the whole army will immediately assemble and prepare to retreat south!" ”

"Yes!" The soldiers were just about to go out, but Li Shidao stopped him again, "Wait a minute, don't rush to give the order first." ”

Li Shidao's brows tightened, he walked a few steps in the big tent with his hands behind his back, and suddenly asked again: "You seem to be saying just now that they are camping twenty miles away, not marching, right?" ”

"Yes, our scouts have discovered that they are indeed camping, not marching." The soldier replied without hesitation.

Li Shidao pinched the temples on both sides and walked a few more steps, and he finally changed his order, "The herald army immediately assembles and prepares to surprise the enemy with me."

(Although it has been surpassed by the great god of Ao, but the old Gao is really unwilling, and now promises to add a chapter for every twenty monthly passes, not less than 3,000 words, the activity has continued until the end of the month, and now the number of monthly tickets is one, with this number as a starting point, Lao Gao fights)