In the afterglow of the setting sun, twenty miles west of Huai County, a heavily armored army came on the official road, since receiving a letter of help from Hanoi Taishou, Sima Gu, the housekeeper of the Sima family, was ordered to come to the rescue, but when he was about to leave, he received a message from the head of the family, and he could not rush to Huai County within three days.

Although Sima Gu didn't understand what he meant, as the old man of the Sima family, Sima Gu still faithfully carried out the order, and met the people of the Zhang family and the Ma family on the way.

However, when approaching Huaixian, they got a shocking news, Wang Kuang had defeated the Huns two days ago, and killed thousands of Huns.

Zhang Ling, the older generation of the Zhang family, because the Zhang family and the Huns have never been on good terms, so they often have friction with the Huns, and Zhang Ling is the representative of the Zhang family's leading forces. ”

Zhang Ling because he often fought with the Huns, so he knew very well the strength of the Hun cavalry, if it were not for the division of the Huns, coupled with the more than 100 years of Han Dynasty sparing no effort to suppress, resulting in the scarcity of the Huns, according to the current combat effectiveness of the Han army, it was by no means the opponent of the Huns in its heyday.

Even if the number of Xiongnu is scarce now, the combat effectiveness of the Han army is at least 1 to 3, or even 1 to 4, that is to say, if the Han army wants to defeat the Xiongnu, it needs at least four times the number of Xiongnu.

With a few thousand recruits from Wang Kuang, or perhaps relying on the passive defense of the city wall, he could defeat or even kill thousands of Huns, and no one would believe it unless it was proved otherwise.

Sima Gu frowned, shook his head and said in a deep voice: "I don't know that King Hongnong is coming to Hanoi County, and even my head Sima Fang doesn't know that King Hongnong is coming to Hanoi County. It seems necessary to send someone to inform our respective heads of the family about this. ”

"Brother Ziwei is right, this important matter really can't be delayed." Ma Hong beckoned back, a lieutenant general stepped forward, Ma Hong said in a deep voice: "You quickly report to the head of the family, His Royal Highness King Hongnong has appeared in Hanoi County, and he must be in the Taishou Mansion in Wang Kuang's territory at this time." ”

Sima Gu and Zhang Ling also quickly called their respective lieutenants and went back to report to their respective family masters.

"Newspaper~"

A horse from the Sima family galloped from the front, and billowing smoke and dust rose from the official road.

Sima Gu rode his horse and took two steps forward, and said in a deep voice: "Speak! ”

"My lord, the royal family of Huaixian County sent someone to send an invitation to your lordship." The sentry turned over and dismounted, took out a bamboo raft about eight inches long and two inches wide from his bosom, and handed it to Sima Gu.

Ma Hong and Zhang Ling, who were two steps behind Sima Gu, exchanged glances with each other, and stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "Huaixian Wang's family, it should be Wang Xian, the biggest grain merchant in Huaixian." What does it mean that Wang Xian sent people out of the city twenty miles to deliver invitations? ”

Sima Gu played with the bamboo raft in his hand, with a playful smile on his face, shook his head and said, "Wang Xian is not self-sufficient, this is planning to lose the face of King Hongnong and Taishou." ”

"What does Brother Ziwei mean, could it be that Wang Xian intends to get involved in the position of the Taishou of Hanoi?" Ma Hong sneered and said, "It's not that you don't do your best, it's self-defeating." Although King Hongnong is down, how can the little Wang Xian provoke? ”

Zhang Lingce immediately stepped forward, pointed to the sky dyed red by the afterglow of the sunset, and said with a smile: "Brother Ziwei, Brother Yanyang, it's not early, if you don't hurry, I'm afraid you will have to sleep outside the city tonight." ”

"Hahahaha~Go~"

The three of them left a hearty laugh, galloped their horses, and the men and horses behind the three of them also followed with all their might, running desperately, because no one wanted to sleep outside the city.

At the same time, on the rest of the official roads leading to Huaixian County, that scene also happened, but except for Sima Gu, Zhang Ling, and Ma Hong, all of them accepted Wang Xian's invitation without exception.

Galloping all the way, Sima Gu and the others finally felt Huai County in the evening, and the city defense soldiers who had already arranged came to greet them, but the representatives of the wealthy families who came to Huai County earlier than Sima Gu's three families did not pay attention to the city defense soldiers at all, but went directly to the Wang family, and the city defense soldiers who greeted them angrily itched their teeth.

Fortunately, the arrival of Sima Gu not only said that he would go to the Taishou Mansion for a banquet, but also rewarded the city defense soldiers who came to shop with you with the usual copper coins, so the attitude of the city defense soldiers was even more enthusiastic.

After arranging for the brigade to rest, Sima Gu and the others passed through Dongshi to Taishou Mansion under the guidance of the city defense soldiers, and naturally saw the crowded handicap. I'm afraid whoever loses, the end is to get out of Huai County and get out of Hanoi County.

Zhang Ling said to Sima Gu and Ma Hong with a smile on his face: "Brother Ziwei, Brother Yanyang, are you interested in playing?" ”

"Since Brother Gu has this elegance, Gu should be accompanied."

Sima Gu and others squeezed into the crowd, and saw that the odds of the handicap at this time had changed from before, at this time, the odds of betting on Liu Wei to be soft first had become one to nine, and the odds of betting on Huai County's wealthy family to be soft first had become nine to one.

That is to say, if you buy 100 copper coins and Liu Wei wins, and in the end, if Liu Wei wins, then you will get 1,000 yuan. And if the wealthy family wins by buying 900 copper coins, the wealthy family can get 1,000 yuan if they win in the end.

But even so, there are many people who buy wealthy families to win, and there are basically very few people who buy Liu Wei to win.

"Come, buy three hundred gold Hongnong Wang wins." Sima Guwang threw three hundred gold on the handicap, and the person in charge of the handicap was startled, most of the people involved in gambling were hundreds of dollars, a few or a dozen dollars, how could there be a shot of three hundred gold?

However, the person in charge of the handicap still persuaded with a concerned face: "Sir, you must be a foreigner and don't know Huaixian." I advise Mr. to think carefully. ”

"Yes, a few gentlemen should be outsiders, or think carefully." A well-wisher in the crowd reminded him.

Sima Gu, Zhang Ling, and Ma Hong shook their heads and said, "We have already thought about it very clearly, and His Royal Highness King Hongnong will win with three hundred gold." ”

"Hey~ It seems that these people are afraid that they will lose all their money." Someone in the crowd sighed quietly.

。。。。。。

In front of the Taishou Mansion, the lights are colorful, and there is a strong meat fragrance in the lobby that permeates the entire Taishou Mansion inside and outside, a mouthful of steaming copper cans are placed on more than a dozen low tables in the lobby, in addition, there are strong fragrant drinks on the low table, chickens, ducks, fish and vegetables are all placed on the table.

The copper pot is actually a prepared hot pot, what Liu Bian didn't expect was that the hot pot had already come out at this time, but it was still not the same as the hot pot in later generations, so after Liu Bian's improvement, with the ingredients, Wang Kuang must have been a hot pot these days.

However, although a banquet was placed in the lobby at this time, it was deserted and unpopular.

Liu Wei knelt on the main seat, concentrated on the mutton slices, then dipped in a little sauce, and put it in his mouth with a face full of enjoyment, in Liu Bian's opinion, there is nothing more comfortable than eating a hot pot on a cold day.

At this time, Wang Kuang did not have Liu Bian's peaceful mentality, his face was gloomy and seemed to be able to drip water, just now a small official came to report, Wang Xian's mansion is also full of lights, and it is even more lively, compared with the Taishou Mansion, it is simply a positive and a negative.

"Good means, good means."

Wang Kuang gritted his teeth and scolded angrily: "Wang shows his good means. ”

"Extinguish the fire on the public holiday." Liu Wei turned his head to look at the angry Wang Kuang, and said with a faint smile on his face: "There is nothing that cannot be solved by one hot pot, if there is, then two hot pots." ”

"Your Highness." Wang Kuang said helplessly: "Your Highness, this Wang Xian...."

"Don't worry." Liu Wei put away his joke and said solemnly: "The person invited by Wang Xian is just a chicken and a dog in his lonely eyes. The public festival and peace of mind are waiting. ”