On the day of departure, the team gathered outside Jiankang City, and Xiao Zong, the king of Yuzhang, was full of spirits, dressed in a gorgeous military uniform, and looked quite heroic. His confidant Rui Wenpet followed closely behind.

Emperor Liang brought all the princes and courtiers to see him off in person, and he kept holding Xiao Zong's hand and earnestly instructed; The princes had their own thoughts, but due to their father's affection, under the leadership of the crown prince, they said goodbye to Xiao Zong one by one.

Xiao Zong's mood is also quite good, even if he knows that these royal brothers and brothers are just pretending to show their father, they are still smiling, returning the salute one by one, and sweeping away the image of indifference and reticent on weekdays.

Chen Qingzhi's army has also added a newcomer - Chen Sibao officially joined the army today.

Yu Tianshu introduced Chen Sibao on behalf of Chen Qingzhi, "This is Chen Sibao - Chen Laosan." From now on, he will be our quartermaster. ”

Xu Jin and Hui Ze had met Chen Sibao, and said in surprise, "Hey, isn't this the shopkeeper of the Vermilion Bird Stack?" ”

"Well, before Chen Laosan worked as a shopkeeper in the Vermilion Bird Stack, relying on Ziyun's money to make money, secretly doing business and raising military funds for us. He's the man behind the scenes! Yu Tianchou put his hand on Chen Sibao's shoulder and said.

"I don't know how to wield knives and guns, I only have the ability to do business, but I just perform my own duties, and I can't talk about any credit." Chen Sibao was modest, his eyes narrowed into a slit with a smile.

The team started, Xiao Zong rode at the front of the team, and Chen Qingzhi followed closely behind, all the way to Pengcheng.

The sun was warm and the breeze was blowing, Xiao Zong spread his arms on horseback and let out a hearty laugh.

"King Yuzhang is in a good mood." Chen Qingzhi said in the back.

"Heaven and earth are vast, General Chen!" Xiao Zong sighed and said, "You won't understand the mood of a prison bird." ”

Xiao Zong looked back at Chen Qingzhi, his face was full of smiles from the bottom of his heart, "This king has indeed not been so happy for a long time." ”

"King Yuzhang's words are serious, how can you compare yourself to a prison bird?" Chen Qingzhi also responded with a smile, "King Yuzhang is the prince, Your Majesty just doesn't want you to take risks easily, in the final analysis, it is just the father's protection of the child." ”

"It's this king who lost his word, General Chen, don't be careful." Xiao Zong restrained his smile, and he also felt that he was a little carried away.

Along the way, Xiao Zong did not show too much joy and restored his usual lukewarm image.

Successfully entered Pengcheng, Xiao Zong immediately threw himself into the role of assassinating history, ordering people to post a list to calm the people, count household registrations, measure fields, and show his ability to govern the government.

Seeing Xiao Zong's performance, Chen Qingzhi was also quite pleased, so he completely handed over the government affairs to Xiao Zong, and did not interfere. In his routine report to Emperor Liang, he greatly praised King Yuzhang.

But Chen Qingzhi did not forget his main task, which is to defend Xuzhou.

He built a fortress south of Pengcheng and stationed his troops in it, forming horns with Pengcheng and taking care of each other. They also set up sentry posts along the adjacent line with the Northern Wei Dynasty to pay close attention to the movements of the Wei army.

Ma Funian was not idle—he did not forget the task assigned to him by Zhu Yi.

Since the day he entered Pengcheng, he deliberately contacted Xiao Zong's confidant Rui Wenchong, and invited Rui Wenpet to the restaurant every once in a while, singing about wine and talking about it.

For this young man who is a scholar like himself, Rui Wenpet feels that he is very close to him, and he is a rare friend in this Peng city who can drink and chat and recite poetry.

It didn't take long for Ma Funian and Rui Wenpet to become confidants who talked about everything.

On this day, Ma Funian invited Rui Wenpet to drink at the restaurant he frequented.

In the private room, the two of them raised their glasses and drank freely, followed by the strength of the wine, pointing out the country and talking about the world. Just when the wine was hot and he got carried away, Ma Funian suddenly sat down on the ground, leaning back against the food table, and became sad.

Seeing this, Rui Wenpet staggered over, leaned on Ma Fannian's side, and also sat on the ground.

He put his arm around Ma Funian's shoulders and asked vaguely, "Wencai, are you...... What are you...... What's wrong? ”

"Brother Rui, you see that this person's situation is really different." Ma Funian put on a stunned look, "We are both scholars, brother, you are already a guest of King Yuzhang, a confidant; And it's just a small army ......"

"Eh, Wencai, you are still young, but the time has not yet come, so ...... With your talents, you will surely ...... in the future It must be able to ...... Show your ambitions. Rui Wenpet comforted Ma Funian.

"Maxima often has, but Bole doesn't often have!" Ma Funian sighed, "I don't know if I, Ma Wencai, can have a bright future......"

"Actually, you still have a great future under General Chen. General Chen is a celebrity in front of His Majesty! ”

"How promising can a 2,000-strong army be......" Ma Funian showed a disapproving look, "Besides, I'm not a general......

"Wencai means, don't you have the idea of changing the court?" Rui Wenpet seemed to be awake at the moment, and asked tentatively.

Ma Funian brought the wine cup in his hand to his lips, poured a sip, and then let out a long breath of wine, and said loudly, "Good birds choose trees to perch!" ”

"Good!" Rui Wenzhong grabbed Ma Funian's wrist, "Wencai really has great ambitions!" Today this is not the place to talk, tomorrow I will send someone to find you, find a secluded place, I have something important to talk to Wencai! ”

Sure enough, someone came to Ma Fonian. Ma Funian followed this person to the place designated by Rui Wenpet.

Then the meeting place was not in the city, and the man took Ma Buddha Nian to a dilapidated deserted temple outside the city—ruined walls, barren grass, and occasionally scattered dry bones; On a few trees that had long since withered, there were many crows, like dark ghosts, watching everything here coldly......

Ma Funian's heart couldn't help but feel creepy. Stepping into the Buddha hall, the light passed through the tattered roof, and the rays of light fell, and countless dust fluttered and flew in the beams. A statue of a Buddha who did not know what it was, was covered in thick dust, and large cobwebs were attached to the body of the Buddha.

Rui Wenpet led a few people and was standing in front of the Buddha statue.

Ma Funian just wanted to say hello, but Rui Wenpet suddenly waved his hand and shouted, "Tie up!" ”

Completely unaware of what was going on, Ma Fonian was tied up by Wuhuanda.

"Brother Rui! I'm going to do it! What are you doing here? Ma Funian called out loudly to Rui Wenpet.

Rui Wenpet smiled coldly, "I know it's you, and I'm tied to you!" ”

"Brother Rui, what did the younger brother offend his brother? You can't tie up your little brother like this! Ma Funian was so frightened that he was drenched in a cold sweat, and he struggled hard while arguing.

But being pressed by a few big men, where can I struggle.

Rui Wenpet stared at Ma Fonian with dead eyes, with a cold and terrifying smile on his face, and slowly walked in front of Ma Fonian.

He raised his hand, and Ma Funian could see clearly that what he was holding in his hand was a dagger that shimmered with cold light!

Rui Wenpet scraped the dagger against Ma Fannian's cheek and neck—steel as cold as ice, like a poisonous snake coiled around his neck, ready to bring a deadly kiss at any moment. The muscles of Ma Fan's face began to twitch, his skin was covered with fine and dense goosebumps, and the cold sweat on his temples flowed like a stream......

Ma Funian asked in a trembling voice with a slightly crying voice, "Brother Rui...... If you have something to say, don't scare your little brother......"

"Are you scared?" Rui Wenpet slapped Ma Funian's face with a dagger and asked in a low voice.

"I'm afraid...... I'm afraid ......"

"It's good if you're afraid." Rui Wenpet put on a straight face, "Let's say, since you entered Pengcheng, you have deliberately intersected with me, what is the purpose?" By whom? ”

"Where is there anyone to instruct you......" Ma Funian sighed and said sadly, "The younger brother is just depressed, so he wants to climb Brother Rui, after all, Brother Rui is a close confidant of King Yuzhang, thinking that maybe he can have a chance to find a better errand; The younger brother is a scholar, and he really doesn't want to be a little soldier in that barracks anymore, and he mixes with a bunch of rough people every day......"

"Ma Wencai, don't think that you can be fooled easily, I have checked you, you used to be the proud protégé of Zhu Yi, the Zhongshu Sheren, and the two favorite ministers of the Great Liang Dynasty, and they all intersected with you, but you told me that you were depressed?"

"I am indeed a protégé of the Zhongshu Sheren, but there are so many protégés of Mr., if I can really be regarded as a proud protégé, why did I fall to this......

"If it weren't for your husband's arrangement, how could you have gone to General Chen's camp to join the army?" Rui Wenpet didn't believe Ma Fan's words.

"What? Does Brother Rui think that joining the army is still beautiful? Ma Funian looked at Rui Wenchong, with a wry smile on his face, "Indeed, it was arranged by Mr. that I came to General Chen to join the army." But in the battle of officialdom, Brother Rui knows better than me - Mr. asked me to join the army, just to stare at General Chen. ”

But it seems that for so long, General Chen has no interest in the battle of officialdom, and he has always been respectful to Mr. Slowly, the gentleman seems to have put this matter down, and he has also put me down......"

"Before leaving for Xuzhou this time, I went to meet my husband, hoping that he could rearrange the arrangements for me, with the power of the gentleman in the court, it is easy to find an official position for me. And guess what the result is - Mr. reprimanded me, and said that General Chen is a pillar of the country, so I can follow General Chen to work hard with peace of mind. ”

"How much merit can a force of only 2,000 men achieve? So when I arrived in Pengcheng, I felt that I could only find another way out by myself, I wanted to make friends with Brother Rui, hoping to serve under King Yuzhang, but I didn't want to be so suspicious of Brother Rui......"

Ma Funian buried his head in silence for a while, and suddenly raised his head, whether it was his tone or expression, he felt that everything was lost, "That's it, it seems that I, Ma Wencai, am destined to not be able to get ahead in this life!" Brother Rui simply finished the little brother here, and I would have reincarnated earlier and started over......"

Rui Wenpet didn't say anything, he approached Ma Buddha Nian expressionlessly, his eyes were firmly fixed on Ma Buddha Nian's eyes, as if he wanted to see through his eyes and see the bottom of his heart all the time.

Ma Funian's eyes were motionless, looking back at Rui Wenpet blankly, and he didn't even blink his eyelids.

Ma Funian didn't know how long it would last to look at each other like this, but he could see that Rui Wenpet was not just scaring and scaring him, because in the eyes of the other party, he saw thoughts, hesitation, and killing intent hiding in the depths!

Ma Funian knew very well that when this silent eye contact was over, it would be the moment to decide his life and death!