"Thank you Min Min Beji for the compliment!" Liu Cheng smiled bitterly.

"You just call me Minmin, anyway, I'll call you Liu Cheng, I didn't call you Lord Liu, General Liu, and the two of us can be regarded as even."

"That would be rude, Minmin!" The two looked at each other and smiled, and for a while they both felt that the distance had narrowed a lot.

The two rode side by side, and Liu Cheng suddenly asked, "Minmin, you just said that the real big hero, so what is the real big hero?" What will you do if you find it? “

"A real big hero? It's heroes like Genghis Khan and Batu! Min Min's beautiful eyebrows raised and she laughed: "If you find it, of course you will marry him, be his wife, help him, and give birth to offspring for him!" ”

"Genghis Khan? Batu? Are they big heroes? Liu Cheng subconsciously asked.

"Of course yes, we Mongols are now divided, for a little pasture, water you fight me, I fight you, the precious blood of the warriors is shed in vain, if there is a big hero like Genghis Khan, Batu appears, and unifies all the Mongols, wouldn't it be great?"

"Turn all the blue sky into a pasture for the Mongols?" A sneer appeared on Liu Cheng's face: "Then why did you think I might be the big hero at first?" ”

"Because of this!" Min Min pointed to Liu Cheng's back, Liu Cheng looked back, and asked with some surprise, "Bird?" ”

"Yes!" Min Min pointed to a Mongolian cavalryman not far away: "Muhai is the first-class knight of the tribe, he can draw a strong bow of twelve power on a galloping horse, and shoot a wild deer sixty paces away; You can also wear triple armor and climb the city wall four or five feet high. But as long as there is a thing, even a woman or an old man who is powerless can easily shoot Mu Hai off the horse. And with a weapon like this, twenty or thirty craftsmen in your factory can make forty or fifty dollars a day. You are like the legendary wizard, with a wave of your hand, the flowing water will help you turn wool into flannel, and red-hot iron into swords, armor, and birds. Even Genghis Khan and Batu couldn't do that. “

Looking at the girl's sparkling eyes, Liu Cheng turned his head energetically, avoiding allergic eyes, and said in a low voice: "But I'm not a Mongolian!" ”

"Before Genghis Khan, where were there any Mongols?" Min Min laughed: "We Erruts were the people of the forest before, if it weren't for Genghis Khan. And how did we become Mongols? That's the way it is on the grassland, the Xianbei people have won, and everyone is a Xianbei person; If the Rouran people win, everyone will be Rouran people; The Turks have won the war, and everyone has become Turkic, as long as you can win, what does it matter who you are? “

"As long as the battle is won, what does it matter who it is?" Liu Cheng's heart couldn't help but move, and his eyes swept over the Mongolian girl in front of him. I saw that the morning light shone on her smiling face, and her complexion was like snow, delicate and beautiful, and she could not be forced to look at. Liu Cheng only felt dazzling and didn't dare to look at it again. I turned my head and just wanted to say something, but I heard Min Min's crisp voice: "That's Qingyang City, it's such a tall and thick city wall, it's much more than Chaoyi!" ”

Liu Cheng looked up. I saw that in the morning mist that was about to disperse, I could see the towering city walls three or four miles away and the Meridian Mountains in the east, and I couldn't help laughing: "This Qingyang Mansion is an important town in Shaanxi, and naturally it is not comparable to a county town in Chaoyi District." ”

"Just a county seat?" Min Min sighed. Said faintly: "The cities of those Huizi on Tianshan South Road are just a bazaar compared to Chaoyi. ”

At this time, there was a sound of golden drums on the hill on the left side of the road, and the two looked at the place where the sound came from, only to see a flag floating on the top of the hill, obviously there were officers and soldiers stationed on it. A few months ago, when Liu Cheng passed through Qingyang, he didn't remember what troops were on the top of this hill, and it was obvious that Hong Chengchou was transferred when he became the governor of the three sides. This personal sight and some previous hearings made Liu Cheng secretly admire Hong Chengchou, but he was too tired, so he took advantage of the fact that he was still a few miles away from the city gate, and took a nap in a daze.

I don't know how long it took, Liu Cheng felt his mount stop, and there was a quarrel in front of him, mixed with the sound of horses' hooves and the snorting of war horses, which woke him up. Liu Cheng opened his eyes and listened carefully, it turned out that there was a sentry post a mile away from the city gate, and a thousand general guards asked Hao Shaoqi for directions. But Hao Shaoqi had a way to guide him, so he quarreled with Mr. Qian. Liu Cheng hit his horse and ran over, and shouted to the Qianzong: "I am Liu Cheng, the general of the left battalion of Yansui Town, and I set off from Chaoyi after getting the military order of Lord Hong. ”

When Mr. Qian heard that the person who came was Liu Cheng, a staff general who had been in the limelight in the Shaanxi Army recently, he hurriedly stepped forward to give a salute and said with a smile: "The general has worked the road!" ”

Liu Cheng coughed and asked, "Why, you won't let us go without a road guide?" This official has a military order, so why did you take on the wrong business? ”

"Please calm your anger. The adults don't know that since the adults arrived in Qingyang, the military orders are very strict. No one is allowed to enter Qingyang City without a road guide or other official documents, and those who violate military law are allowed to do so. If the lowly position magnifies the past of the person in this way, not only will the lowly position be punished, but the adult will also be inconvenienced. Besides, there are still two checkpoints in front, even if the lowly and desperate magnification people pass, the adults will not be able to enter the city! ”

Liu Cheng looked in the direction of the Qianzong finger, and sure enough, two checkpoints could be vaguely seen in front of him, and his tone became softened: "It turns out that this is the case, but the official is reckless." He turned his head and asked Hao Shaoqi next to him, "Do we have any official documents with us?" ”

"My lord, it's a matter for ordinary people to go out and lead the way, and we've never brought that thing!" Hao Shaoqi smiled bitterly: "Besides, the order of the master of Taiwan is in a hurry, we are in too much hurry along the way, and we didn't bring any documents." ”

Liu Cheng nodded, he knew that this was the time when Hong Chengchou's new official took office with three fires, and he must not hit his head, he pondered for a moment and had an idea, took out a letter from his arms, and handed it to the general manager: "This is the letter issued by the master of the Taiwan to the official, can you see if it can be used as a road reference?" ”

Mr. Qian carefully checked the book, and when he saw the bright red Governor's Great Seal on it, he couldn't help but shudder, returned the book to Liu Cheng with both hands, and said with a smile: "There is naturally no problem with this." The lowly party is acting according to orders, and if you are offended, please also ask the general Haihan! ”

"It's okay, you're also on business!" Liu Cheng smiled and looked at the commander-in-chief Qian's subordinates who moved away from the rejecting horses blocking the road, and at this time, those Mongolian cavalry came over with horses, and the Qianzong saw their appearance and dress clearly, and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Isn't this a tartar?" “

"These are the righteous soldiers of this official, you don't need to be shocked!" Liu Cheng hurriedly laughed, and after that, he hit the horse twice with a whip, and the horse ran over.

Entering the city, Liu Cheng found a place to shoot. Without waiting for his men to settle down, he hurried to the governor's gate and handed over his notebook, asking for an audience.

Hong Chengchou arranged his line in the Qingyang Prefect's Mansion, and the time he scheduled to raise the account was already three minutes. This is because, according to the calculations of one of his feng shui masters in the shogunate, this is the most auspicious time of the day, and the main general will succeed in his teaching. In the month or so since he took over as governor of the tripartite, he had completed some important preparations, and thought that it was time to send troops against the thieves. In Hong Chengchou's view, although from a military point of view, the opportunity to send troops again after the spring famine is better. But this will also provoke the attack of the court's officials, and the emperor's dissatisfaction, especially after Gao Qiqian's death, there is no one around the Son of Heaven to speak for him. This scared him even more. After all, didn't his predecessor Yang He get stripped of his official position and be in prison because of the unfavorable northwest?

With the sound of three cannons, Hong Chengchou was surrounded by his staff, dressed in court clothes, and walked into the White Tiger Hall and sat down. With a shout from the officer in front of the court. The generals entered from outside the second gate and saluted the new governor. Although there are no more guards of honor today than when Yang He was in power, Yang He's own experience has added a bit of pressure to everyone's hearts. The atmosphere was also heavier.

The first to enter the White Tiger Hall was Du Wenhuan, as the chief military assistant of the previous governor Yang He, his mood was quite heavy and complicated, he knew very well that no matter how magnanimous the new governor Hong Chengchou was, he would not be able to get the kind of trust that Yang He gave him, and the fate that awaited him was unknown. He bowed down and walked into the White Tiger Hall, knelt down five or six feet away from the public case in front of Hong Chengchou, and promoted himself to the title.

Hong Chengchou's face showed a very cordial smile, he even broke this kind of convention during the audience, slightly bowed his upper body and stretched out his right hand to make a gesture of invitation, and under normal circumstances, in order to show the majesty of the governor, Hong Chengchou only needed to sit upright and accept the salute, and the salute officer on the side asked him to get up. When all the generals finished paying their respects, Hong Chengchou stood up, and the generals on both sides hurriedly stood up and stood with their hands down.

Since Hong Chengchou is a native of Nan'an, Fujian, his official words are not very good, but the words are very clear, and Liu Cheng, who is standing at the end, can hear it clearly. His lecture first explained that the reason why he had not vigorously promoted the army and "severely suppressed" the thieves since he took office was that the time was unfavorable, and the arrogance and depravity prevailed in the officers and soldiers, and the sharp spirit was insufficient, so they had to be cultivated. secondly, the food and wages of the cane are insufficient; The third is that Qingyang, the fundamental place, has not yet been prepared. Now that everything is ready, he is ready to march into the army, "to comfort the worries of the Son of Heaven and relieve the suffering of the people!" Speaking of this, Hong Chengchou's tone changed, and his expression suddenly became stern.

However, since the accession to the throne of the Governor, the arrogance among the generals has not changed, and the contempt for the law and discipline has often remained the same. The words of this Inspector are heartbroken. If the orders are not strictly enforced, and the rewards and punishments are clear, how can soldiers be used? ”

When the generals heard this, they all lowered their heads. Hong Chengchou glanced at Du Wenhuan, then turned his murderous gaze to a general who was about his age and had a face similar to six or seven points, and asked sharply: "Du Wenheng!" Ben Governor asks you, what did you do at night after you arrived in Qingyang City yesterday? ”

When Du Wenheng heard his name being called, he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Tell the Inspector that the last general stayed overnight at an old acquaintance's house yesterday. “

"Old knowledge?" Hong Chengchou sneered: "It's the old picture, okay, let me ask you, did you invite that Liu Xingshou to come to your residence to drink and sing songs last night, you beat people when you were drunk, and the people who accompanied you stopped you and were cut by you, what the inspector said is right?" “

Du Wenheng was exposed, and his whole body suddenly trembled: "The villain just missed after drinking, and I ask the supervisor to give the villain a chance to make meritorious contributions!" “

"This superintendent has repeatedly ordered that the thief is about to beg for the thief, and the generals are not allowed to drink. But not only did you not obey the military order, but you also drew a sword and injured people, for the sake of the slow army, you should be beheaded according to the law. Left and right, tied up with me! “

There was no room for explanation, and several guards on both sides immediately rushed out and stripped Du Wenheng of his armor and tied him up. The generals on both sides did not have many handles on their bodies, and their faces were as earth-colored, lest Hong Chengchou find his head, only Du Wenhuan's face was black and white for a while, and he stepped forward to intercede, it turned out that this Du Wenheng was his brother of the same clan, although the blood relationship was far away, but he had just come out of the five suits. Du Wenhuan has a high prestige in the Shaanxi army, and as soon as he came forward, several other commanders, deputy generals, and generals also knelt down, and even Liu Cheng had to kneel down and beg for mercy for him. Hong Chengchou originally had no intention of killing Du Wenheng, although this person was a mediocre and incompetent person, but he also had more than 1,000 soldiers and horses, hundreds of personal soldiers, if he killed him, he was afraid that it would provoke his soldiers to defect to the thieves. However, Hong Chengchou did not immediately accept everyone's pleas, and said sharply: "The reason why the thieves have been in vain for several years is because of the lax military discipline, and you take national law as a child's play. If you don't pull yourself together, how can you defeat the enemy? Wouldn't it be painful to kill a general? However, if Du Wenheng is not killed, how can he enforce military discipline and play arrogantly? I have to kill him today! “

Seeing this, Du Wenhuan had to take off his helmet, take a few steps forward on his knees, and kowtow to blood on his head: "Du Wenheng is a subordinate of the last general, he violated military discipline, and he is also the last general's lax control, and I also ask the superintendent to divide half of his guilt on the last general, spare his life, and let him make meritorious contributions!" “

"Why did Mr. Du say this?" Hong Chengchou said solemnly: "Merit is merit, merit is merit, merit is not commensurate, not to mention that you are two people." “

Du Wenhuan didn't speak, just knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. Hong Chengchou sighed after a long time: "Since General Soldier Du pleaded so much, then the official can only be gracious outside the law, so let's do it, General Soldier Du, you will go to Ningxia Town to command the troops and resist the capture." Du Wenheng! ”

"The last general!" Du Wenheng hurriedly took two steps forward.

"Let's take the sake of General Du's troops, the governor will be extrajudicial and spare this suffering, but the death penalty can be avoided, and the living crime cannot be escaped, first heavy punishment of fifty whips, dismissal and retention, meritorious service, generals, please get up!" (To be continued.) )