In fact, it is no wonder that among these Taiping Dao people that Zhang Ning often comes into contact with, most of them are brave and ruthless people, such as Guan Hai, Cheng Yuanzhi, Deng Mao, Ma Yuanyi, Zhou Cang and others, all of whom are five big and three thick, with yellow or black complexions, they are the two closest senior brothers, and their appearance is also ordinary. And Xu Huang is in his youth, he has both heroic spirit and elegant style, plus he has lived in a metropolis like Luoyang for many years, he is well-informed, and treats people decently and generously.

Because Zhang Ning was his enemy, he inevitably looked at him a few more times, and inadvertently compared him with several of his senior brothers, and couldn't help but be a little distracted. Xu Huang's concerned inquiry suddenly woke her up, touched her cheek with her hand, Fang Jue was a little embarrassed, and said with a haha: "Well, I'm fine, let's go in and talk about it." ”

In the next few days, Xu Huang took her back and forth between counties according to Zhang Ning's request, going out of the countryside into the village and walking the streets and alleys. Zhang Ning found a very strange phenomenon, which cannot be seen in other places, that is, no matter where Xu Huang came, the local people were very friendly to Xu Huang and his officers and soldiers, and many people seemed to know Xu Huang, and they could often hear "Hello General Xu!" "General Xu is early!" , and some people will hand out water, eggs, steamed buns and other food, and Xu Huang can also call out the names of some of them.

Zhang Ning asked in surprise, "General Xu, I heard that you are not a local, how can you be so familiar with them?" ”

Xu Huang smiled and said, "Actually, I'm not familiar with them, I've only met a few times, and I can't remember some people's names." ”

Zhang Ning said in disbelief: "Then why are they so enthusiastic about you?" ”

Xu Huang said disapprerovingly: "What's this, the military and civilians are a family!" ”

These are all ideas instilled in them by Liu Xin. Since Xu Huang and Zhang He reorganized the Hejian army, Liu Xin has placed great emphasis on handling the relationship between the military and the people, strictly enforcing military discipline, and not infringing on the interests of the people, and many soldiers and ruffians have been expelled from the army. As a result, the common people's perception of the army has changed greatly. Not only that, Liu Xin also asked them to often organize soldiers to help the people do some farm work and take care of the old, weak, sick and disabled. At first, the soldiers were still resistant, but when they found that the common people gradually accepted them and treated them as relatives, all the soldiers naturally developed a sense of pride. Most of these soldiers came from ordinary people, and their parents and families often received help from one of them, so that they were more motivated, and their relationship with the people was naturally more harmonious, and many people were more willing to send their children to the barracks.

Zhang Ning also found that the lives of the people in Hejian seem to be very happy, and this happiness is not only on the face, but also from the heart. Walking on the road, you can see happy smiling faces at any time, and Hejian County has almost reached the point where the road is not left behind and the door is not closed at night.

This also benefits Liu Xin's idea of not competing with the people. The government will never force the people to do unpaid labor, just like the construction of water conservancy in various places is now a great thing for the benefit of the people, all the people who participate in the labor are paid, although the number is not large, but the repercussions among the people are not trivial. For hundreds of years, these jobs have been done in vain, and I never thought that the government would give money. With money in hand, people's lives improved, and local commerce gradually prospered. Many things that cannot be bought in other places are sold in the market between the rivers, and many merchants from other places are willing to come to the rivers to do business. The prosperity of commerce also increased the tax revenue of the government. Even Liu Xin himself didn't expect that the change would be so big and so fast, he just wanted to make the people's lives better, and he didn't expect it to be so far-reaching. After all, the development and change of a few months is limited, but it has brought hope and confidence to the people, which cannot be bought with any amount of money.

Zhang Ning finally understood why in the past few months, Taiping Dao has not only not developed in Hejian, but even shrunk, which is all due to Liu Xin, the Taishou.

On this day, Zhang Ning and Xu Huang came to Gaoyang County. Zhang Ning suddenly remembered that this was the place where his senior brother Zhu Qing was killed, and the enemy who killed his senior brother was in front of him, and he couldn't help but blame himself deeply these days. She saw a high post in front of her, so she raised the horsewhip in her hand, pointed in that direction and said, "General Xu, let's go there and have a look." ”

Xu Huang didn't say anything, made a gesture to the accompanying soldiers to stand still, and rode along with Zhang Ning. The two came to the high post, Zhang Ning turned over and dismounted, pretending to observe the terrain carefully. Xu Huang is a little strange, these days, what she understands is either the local customs, or the road and city defense, according to the instructions of the adults, she will lead her to see what she wants, I didn't expect her to take a serious look at this terrain today, does she really have the ability to ask for rain, fancy this place, and want to build an altar?

Xu Huang thought as he jumped off the horse and walked behind Zhang Ning. Zhang Ning had been observing the movement behind her, and when she heard Xu Huang's footsteps getting closer and closer, her heart had already risen to her throat. Just when Xu Huang was still half a step away from Zhang Ning, Zhang Ning suddenly turned around, and a cold light pierced Xu Huang's throat like lightning.

Xu Huang listened to Liu Xin's advice a few days ago, and he has been very careful, and after a few days, seeing that Zhang Ning's behavior is normal, he can't help but be a little relaxed. Besides, although Zhang Ning is a Taoist priest, she is also a beautiful girl, Xu Huang easily developed a good impression of her, and threw Liu Xin's words out of the clouds.

Xu Huang suddenly saw the cold light flashing, and he was caught off guard, and it was impossible to avoid it completely. Xu Huang turned his heart sideways, his body deviated slightly, and he took a step forward to meet the cold light, only to feel a sharp pain in his left shoulder. Zhang Ning won a sword, but she didn't know whether she was happy or worried, she was just about to withdraw the sword, but she felt that her right wrist was numb, and suddenly half of her body couldn't exert her strength. Zhang Ning's heart sank, and he had already found that his right wrist was buckled by Xu Huang, and his sword was inserted into Xu Huang's shoulder, trembling slightly.

Countless thoughts flashed through Xu Huang's mind, and at this time he already understood that the adult was right, she was here to seek revenge, but he still didn't believe that such a beautiful woman would do this, and shouted in a deep voice: "Why did the Taoist suddenly poison Xu?" ”

Zhang Ning saw Xu Huang's stern expression, and saw that his shoulder was bleeding non-stop, he couldn't help but be stunned, only to feel that his eyes were moist, and he muttered in his mouth: "Why is this?" ”

Xu Huang said angrily: "I'm asking you!" He said again: "Forget it, you are a woman, I don't embarrass you, you go!" ”

After speaking, he shook his hand vigorously and threw Zhang Ning away three or five steps away. Zhang Ning stumbled under her feet, but she never fell, it turned out that Xu Huang was skillful, leaving her three points of leeway.

Xu Huang shook off Zhang Ning, roared, and pulled out the sword alive, and blood gushed out on his shoulder for a while. Xu Huang held back the pain and threw the sword at Zhang Ning's side, this time with great force, he was seriously injured, lost his head again, and landed on a boulder beside her. Hearing the sound of "dang", a deep mark was drawn on the boulder, and a few sparks burst out, but the sword was broken in two.

Zhang Ning bent down and picked up the two severed swords, looked at Xu Huang, who was dyed bright red on half of his body, tears rained down, his heart hurt for no reason, and he said in a ghostly manner: "General Xu, I really didn't mean it. ”

Xu Huang didn't speak, he knew in his heart that what Liu Xin said was right, this woman was here to seek revenge on him, but he preferred to believe that what Zhang Ning said at the moment was true, she didn't mean it.

Zhang Ning didn't wait for Xu Huang to speak, threw the broken sword in his hand, walked towards him and said: "I often hear people say that the general is strong in martial arts, and he wants to try it, but he ...... it."

Xu Huang sighed and interrupted her, "Alas, don't say it. You'd better go, it's not good to wait for the soldiers to come and see it. ”

Zhang Ning suddenly threw off a piece of the robe on his body, rushed over and pressed Xu Huang's wound. This time, Xu Huang didn't say anything more, and let her help him bandage his wounds. Zhang Ning looked at Xu Huang, who was silent, while bandaging, and finally couldn't help but say: "I heard that you once defeated dozens of horse thieves in Gaoyang County alone, but I didn't expect me to hurt you with a sword." ”

When Xu Huang heard this, he understood everything: "Yes, a few months ago, I just came to Hejian from Luoyang, passing through Gaoyang County, and I ran into a group of horse thieves robbing the villagers' grain. Some horse thieves are very hateful, not only robbing grain, but also burning all the surplus food of the villagers. These villagers have worked hard for a year to harvest this bit of grain, and without food, how do you tell them to live? If this has happened to me, how can I ignore it? ”

Xu Huang took a breath and continued: "At that time, there were more than 30 horse thieves, and they surrounded me in the middle, and I killed more than a dozen of them one after another, and the rest fled in the wilderness. However, the leader was a man, I had already captured him, and he refused to surrender, and even grabbed the tip of his spear and stabbed him in the throat, and died a heroic death, but it was not worth it! ”

Zhang Ning was stunned when he heard this: "Didn't you kill that leader with your own hands?" ”

"I didn't kill it myself, but it doesn't make a difference." Xu Huang smiled helplessly, and suddenly said with a serious face: "However, I will not be soft on these scum who plague the people!" ”

"The scum that plagues the people?" Zhang Ning was a little dazed, her father had always told her that she was doing all this to save the people of the world, but in Xu Huang's eyes, they were the scum who harmed the people, who was right and who was wrong?

"Forget it, no matter what, you better go first." Although Xu Huang hadn't looked back, he knew his soldiers, and they would definitely find that the situation here was not normal, and they would rush over soon.

"But, your wounded ......" Zhang Ning had already seen the group of soldiers coming towards this high post just now.

"This little injury is nothing, you go! Otherwise, it will be too late. Xu Huang pushed Zhang Ning away.

"It's too late." Zhang Ning's voice became smaller and smaller, so small that only she could hear it: "I want to accompany you to heal your injuries before leaving." ”