Chapter 15: Stalked

The fifth day of the eighth month in 962 A.D

In the morning, Na Zhe woke up from a hangover and felt a splitting headache. He rubbed his eyes and got up, and saw many people lying on the bed and on the ground, all of whom were asleep. Du Dalei, the second goods, was still holding the wine jar, and his saliva was dripping for a long time. He shook his head and went out to wash.

Everyone got up one after another, and Zhao Zizhong said to Wei Hongye: "Old Wei, today we will take Altan to Cui's shop, let him know the people there, and strive to sell the furs and mountain goods they brought to the shop, it is estimated that Cui Hong will not care much about the price." In addition, try to let Altan and them obtain the qualification to sell liquor in the northern Murowe region, so as to find a way for Altan's tribe to find a way to make money. What do you think? ”

Wei Hongye nodded, "I think it's okay, but Altan they can't speak Chinese, so it's a trouble." Otherwise, let Altan choose two clever clansmen to stay in the Cui family's shop, learning languages and doing business at the same time, and it will be no problem. ”

Wei Hongye found Altan and compared it for a long time before he understood his intentions. Altan was very happy and hugged Lao Wei a few times.

After a brief breakfast, the two took Altan to Cui's shop. After seeing Cui Hong, he gave him a gift, and Wei Hongye told him that his five brothers would go south with him, and Steward Cui was very happy and said: "My affairs in Huanglong Mansion have been dealt with, and I am expected to leave for the south in five days. ”

Wei Hongye said about Altan again, and Cui Hong nodded in agreement. He asked the shopkeeper and his men to go to the inn to carefully count the furs and mountain goods brought by Altan, and gave a very fair price, and converted part of the price of the goods into liquor, and paid copper coins for the rest. Altan happily took his people out to make a big purchase, and Zhao Zizhong and Wei Hongye took some gold and found a few gold shops to exchange for copper coins for spending on the road.

In the evening, when Altan returned from purchasing, he found Wei Hongye and insisted on sending five horses to everyone to carry their luggage, but everyone could not refuse, so they had to accept it.

Five days later, in the early morning, everyone led their horses to the door of Cui's shop, and saw that the caravan was ready to leave. There were more than a dozen carriages in the procession, and there were more than forty people in the front and back, guards, and porters. Cui Hong greeted him and saluted, and said happily: "Everyone, please follow behind the convoy, and we will set off immediately." ”

The caravan slowly left the gates and headed south. At this time, Du Dalei shouted: "Boss, you see, it's Altan and them. ”

On the side of the road ahead, Altan stood with his people in his hands, holding a jar of wine. The crowd quickened their pace and approached. Altan put down the wine jar and hugged everyone one by one, his eyes were red. He opened the lid of the wine jar and handed it to Zhao Zizhong.

Lao Zhao took it, took a big sip, and handed it to Wei Hongye. Everyone took turns to drink and reluctantly said goodbye to the Murowei people.

Cui Hong saw this situation and thought to himself, these five people are all kind and kind, and they are so close to the barbarians in the north, they should be the head of the family and vigorously recruit.

The convoy continued to move forward, and the people of Murowei sang a song to see them off, and everyone looked back, and the figures of Altan and the tribesmen gradually blurred, and everyone was a little sad. Na Zhe choked up and said, "Boss, I will definitely come back to see them when I have a chance in the future, definitely." ”

Zhao Zizhong said solemnly: "I have an idea, if we have strength in the future, we will come back to help them, let them live a good life, and make their race strong and not be bullied by others." ”

Wei Hongye also said: "The Murwei people were bullied by the Khitans and Jurchens in history, and if we can arm them, it will definitely be enough for the Jurchens to drink a pot, and maybe the Jin Kingdom will not be able to appear." ”

Du Dalei said with a smile: "Old Wei, you are bad enough, you are provoking national contradictions and destroying the good situation of stability and unity." Be careful, don't let the Temporal Authority take you away. ”

"Hahaha" everyone laughed, diluting the sorrow.

At this time, Steward Cui walked over to the five people, "There is something I want to tell you, not counting the caravan, there are forty-five people, I am the chief, and there are seven men, thirteen guards, and twenty-four porters." I, the Cui Clan Firm, stipulate that the responsibility for safety and security when marching in the wilderness is the responsibility of the head of the guard, and I must follow his orders. Please follow the arrangement and do not rush into him. Thank you for your bearing. ”

Zhao Zi hurriedly said: "Steward Cui is serious, we will abide by the rules of your firm, and will not provoke you to cause trouble, so as not to make your face disgraceful." Could you please introduce us to the leaders of the guards and get to know each other? ”

Cui Hong nodded slightly, "Everyone, please come with me, and I will introduce you to the leader of the guard." ”

Everyone quickened their pace and came to the front of the convoy. At the head of the procession were two horses, the knights on their backs, with bows on their backs and swords tied around their waists, about fifty meters in front of the convoy. Cui Hong came to the third carriage and said to the person lying in the carriage: "An Dalang, please get up, I will introduce a few guests to you." ”

The people in the car sat up lazily and said, "Lord Steward, will it be possible to make people clean for a while?" ”

Cui Hong was very helpless, "Da Lang, these people are all great talents, and they must not be neglected." Besides, a few of them have returned from the extreme west, don't you like to hear interesting stories about the Western Regions, you can ask a few of them for advice. ”

"Oh, there is such a thing." The man jumped out of the car and looked at the crowd. He grew up and was about the same height as Boris, measuring 1.85 meters. The skeleton is stout, the shoulders are broad, the arms are extremely long, the complexion is very white, the nose is high, the eyes are turquoise, and the eyes are turquoise.

Na Zhe secretly said to Du Dalei: "Old Du, have you noticed it, this guy looks like Iranian star Ali, Daiyi." ”

"It's a bit like, I'll ask him if he can play." ”

Steward Cui introduced to everyone: "This is the guard commander An Dalang, the head of the family named him Jiguang, strong in martial arts, especially good at riding and shooting, it can be said that he is a hundred steps through Yang, and everyone is close." ”

Zhao Zi thought about it, the head of the family is also idle, I don't know if he wants An Dalang to become Qi Jiguang or Huang Jiguang.

So he stepped forward and clasped his fists and saluted, "The contemptible Zhao Zizhong, a few years old, is the brother of several people, and has seen Commander An." ”

An Dalang carefully observed Zhao Zizhong, his eyes narrowed, he noticed that Zhao Zizhong had a similar aura to himself, just like the feeling of a beast meeting the same kind, he also saluted and said: "Mr. Zhao is polite, my ancestor came to the Central Plains from the Western Regions, so I am very interested in the news of the Western Regions, please teach me more in your spare time." ”

Cui Hong said again: "Mr. Zhao, there are eight strong men among the guards, who were personally selected by the head of the family from hundreds of guards in the family, and they are all good at archery, so the head of the family is named 'Eight Heroes of the Divine Arrow'." I'll introduce you to them one by one when I have time. ”

Everyone suddenly felt that the sky was thundering, and they were all dumbfounded, this is too good to talk about, even the 'Eight Heroes of the Divine Arrow' have come out, is there still a 'Golden Lion King', 'Mixed Yuan Thunderbolt' and the like.

Everyone looked at each other, and Na Zhe laughed a few times, "Steward Cui, your family master is really amazing, haha." ”

Cui Hong was a little proud, "Yes, the head of the family attaches great importance to this trip to the north, this is the first time that this firm has sold spirits to Huanglong Mansion, and the master of the family has poured out of the nest, and there can be no mistakes." ”

An Dalang seemed to be eyeing Zhao Zizhong, "Looking at Mr. Zhao's figure, it seems that he has learned martial arts?" ”

Zhao Zi waved his hand again, "After we are all Tang Jun, I learned some superficial tricks when I was young, which is not worth mentioning. ”

An Dalang pinched the knuckles of his fingers and said, "Can you have a discussion with Mr. if you have time?" ”

Zhao Zizhong shirked, "Commander An's martial arts are strong, and we will definitely not be opponents." ”

Cui Hong came out to play a round: "It's not early, everyone hurry up, and it's not too late for the two of you to learn when you have time." ”

The convoy moved forward slowly, walking behind the team, talking and laughing along the way, not feeling that it was nearly noon. The convoy in front stopped advancing, and a guy came over and said, "It's time to rest, Steward Cui invites you to dinner." ”

The people followed the men to a big tree by the side of the road, the dense branches and foliage blocked the scorching sun at noon, and everyone in the caravan rested and ate in the shade of the tree. Zhao Zizhong found An Dalang, pulled him to no one's place, and said: "Commander An, I found that it seems that several people are hanging behind the caravan in turn, and the distance is kept a few miles away, which is not a good phenomenon, we are being targeted." ”

An Dalang said indifferently: "I already knew, but it's just a few thieves, don't worry." This is not far from Huanglong Mansion, and the bandits will not do it, and it will be possible to make a big move when they reach a sparsely populated place in a few days. Mr. Zhao is very alert, did he ever serve as a scout in the army? ”

"I used to trade in the Western Regions, where there were a lot of bandits, often looting caravans, if I wasn't careful, I wouldn't know how many times I would have died."

"Now we should try to figure out the number of bandits and where they are going to launch them, Mr. Zhao can do something?"

"Well, we can set up an ambush in a suitable place, catch a bandit spy, ask for a confession, and we'll know. It's on me. ”

"Then please sir."

After eating, the convoy moved on. After marching about thirty miles in the afternoon, An Dalang ordered the convoy to camp on a low hill. The porters unloaded the horses from the carts and took out the fodder to feed the horses. The guards arranged the carts in a circle to form a circle, and everyone camped in the carriage array. The guys gathered some dry firewood and started to make a fire to cook. It's getting dark. Zhao Zi changed into a dark dress, put * on his belt, put on binoculars, and quietly slipped out of the camp under the cover of night.

He stooped down and hurried to the bottom of a large tree, and climbed up in a few clicks. He sat on a tree branch, took off his binoculars, and began to look around the camp.