"Huh!" Xu Hecheng sandwiched a piece of baked cake and said with a smile: "I'm afraid it's not so simple, you don't lack silver, even if you are wanted by the imperial court, find a place with high mountains and rivers far away, who can help you not succeed?" ”

"Phew!" Xu Wanqian swallowed the food and sneered disdainfully: "What if you have silver?" Have you forgotten how our dad dealt with those who had a few stinky money and no fame? A post from the local gentry could have taken me to prison, and in the end, the money was gone, and my life could not be saved, and I couldn't live that day. Pen %fun %Pavilion www.biquge.info or hello, the fame is there, the money is also there, what do you want, mother, why didn't I have such good luck to meet that Lord Liu? ”

Hearing Xu Wancheng's complaint, Xu Hecheng laughed, it turned out that in order to make it convenient for Xu Hecheng, Liu Cheng put his name on the list of meritorious service, and through Yang Sichang's relationship, Xu Wancheng was already a prisoner in a blink of an eye, and received a foreign envoy in the military department. With an official identity, it is much easier to run around and act outside. After learning about this incident, Xu Wancheng was jealous and envious, like him, who was born in a sectarian family, was not short of money, and what he lacked the most was an identity, and he was not a fast student. He was willing to take a risk to get acquainted with Chen Zhenhui, and he was playing with such important things in order to join the Restoration Society, in order to have a step into the body. What I didn't expect was that my hard work was in vain, and I almost put my life into it; The brother who was born in the past, who he used to regard as a brave husband, hugged Jin Da Thigh, and he was about to rise all the way, and the comparison between the two compartments was not enough for outsiders.

As if to vent, Xu Wanqian finished eating the baked cakes and sauce meat in two bites, patted the sesame seeds in his hand, and asked, "When will you be on the road?" ”

"On the road?" Xu Hecheng was stunned when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Next, let's change the boat and take the waterway, and the person who booked the boat will come back and say that it will take two or three days to have a ship." Let's stay in Nanyang for two days! ”

"By water? So many horses still take the waterway? Xu Wancheng asked strangely, it turned out that Xu Hecheng's identity as a returning official gentry to the east this time was to ensure the safety of the road, Liu Cheng specially selected a hundred cavalry for him, plus he selected more than 200 people from the original caravan guards, and there were more than 300 horses alone.

"Well, so wait for the big ship!" Xu Hecheng's expression became serious: "You don't know, since Inspector Hong defeated the thieves at the end of last summer, Cao Cao and the thieves have retreated to the mountains of eastern Sichuan, western Henan, and northern Hubei. ”

"Cao Cao and the thief, then let's leave as soon as possible, cross the Yangtze River one day earlier, and be safe one day sooner!" When Xu Wanqian heard these two names, his face changed greatly. It's no wonder that he is like this, since the Shaanxi Qunkou uprising in the second year of Chongzhen, all kinds of thieves have been whirling and extinguishing, and many once famous leaders have been defeated, or begged to surrender to the king, or become a certificate for the official generals to ask for rewards. With the passage of time, Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai gradually stood out from the group, the former was brave and courageous, although the troops under his command were not many in the group, but the armor was complete, and there were many horses, plus the royal public strictness, and the order was one, so whether it was with the official army or with other rogues, they won more and lost less, and they were stronger than the others; Although Luo Rucai is not as strict as Li Zicheng's army, and his subordinates are far less than Li Zicheng's elite, but his people are cunning and wise, and they are broad-minded. Therefore, the group all regarded Luo Rucai as an elder and were willing to unite with him. In the past few years, these two people have captured countless towns and countless officials and gentry who have died under the hands of the two, and they have long been the characters who stop crying.

"Huh!" Seeing Xu Wancheng's appearance, Xu Hecheng couldn't help laughing: "You are too nervous, this Nanyang is surrounded by Funiu Mountain in the north, Daba Mountain in the west, Tongbai Mountain and Dabie Mountain in the east, and only a few passes can come in." Lord Hong's journey is in Luoyang, and it is two or three days' journey to take Sanya Road. If I were the head of the thief, I would rather go all the way to the east of Sichuan than come to Nanyang! ”

Hearing Xu Hecheng's explanation, Xu Wancheng nodded as if he didn't understand, revealing admiration. The Three Birds Road in the mouth of Xu Hecheng is also known as the Three Eagles Road, which is a shortcut connecting Nanyang and Luoyang. The main road leading from the Nanyang Basin to the Central Plains is Fangcheng Road, that is, starting from Nanyang to the northeast, along the route of Nanyang - Fuwang - Fangcheng - Yexian - Xiangcheng - Xuzhou to Xuzhou. The history of this road is very ancient, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the Chu State built the Great Wall here to resist the attack of the Central Plains princes, and the Fangcheng in the "Zuo Chuan" in the "Chu State Fangcheng is the city, and the Han Water is the pool" refers to the Fangcheng Mountain. The south of Sanya Road runs north from the urban area of present-day Nanyang City along the valley of the Kouzi River (now Yahe River in Nanzhao County), a tributary of the Baihe River, crosses the watershed of Funiu Mountain, and then follows the valley of the Yinghe River to the present-day Lushan County, and then goes north to Ru and Luo. There are three sections of the road and are known as the Three Crows. The first crow is in Baizhong Mountain, 60 miles north of present-day Nanyang City (now the eastern border of present-day Nanzhao County); The second crow is at the northern foot of the watershed of Funiu Mountain (now the north of Queen's Township, Nanzhao County), 70 miles away from the first crow; The third crow is in the north of the watershed Luyang Pass (now the junction of Nanzhao and Lushan County), 80 miles away from the second crow. Compared to Fangcheng Road, Sanya Road is much closer and more steep, and most people usually do not choose to take this road, but if Liukou attacks Nanyang, Hong Chengchou can arrive from this road as quickly as possible, and defeat it with front and back attacks.

As he spoke, Xu Hecheng had finished eating, clapped his palms and stood up. Xu Wanyan, who was already waiting impatiently, also stood up: "Let's go to the dock to see if the ship has arrived, staying in this temple all day long will suffocate people to death!" ”

"It's good!" Xu Hecheng waved his hand, and one of his subordinates sent a sword, and while tying it around his waist, he ordered: "I'll go and see if the ship has arrived, you are in the Taoist temple, don't cause trouble!" ”

"Yes, sir!"

Xu Hecheng took a few followers out of the Taoist temple, the Hanshui Wharf of Nanyang City is in the south of the city, and the Zhenwu Temple is just in the north of the city, Xu Hecheng only saw densely populated people along the way, the market is rich, not only the ordinary cities of Shaanxi can not be compared, even Xi'an and other northwest cities are not as good, I can't help but secretly think that Liu Cheng let himself come to the south is reasonable, Chaoyi produces more and more goods every day, only the market in Saiwai, Shaanxi, Shanxi and these places has gradually not been able to meet its needs, and the population of the south at that time, The wealth has far exceeded that of the north, which has been poisoned by war, and if he can open up the trade route from Chaoyi to Zhejiang, he will be enough to feed an army of more than 100,000 people just by relying on the needs of various places along the way. Thinking of this, he began to pay attention to the variety and price of goods in the shops on the road, and prepared for future business.

Xu Hecheng asked while walking, and after four or five streets, he only felt that the more people walked, the more lively the business became, and the more itchy he felt in his heart, and he couldn't wait to buy a shop to start the business immediately. At this time, he suddenly saw a small building in front of him that was crowded and crowded. He hurriedly walked over, but couldn't squeeze in, so he had to pull an old man passing by and ask, "Dare to ask, what is the name of this, how can it be so lively?" ”

The old man looked Xu Hecheng up and down, and an intriguing smile appeared on his face: "You're not a local, are you?" ”

Xu Hecheng thought that the other party could hear his accent, and said with a smile: "Yes, I am from Xi'an, and my accent is a little heavier, please forgive me!" ”

"It's not that the accent is heavy!" The old man smiled and said, "If you are from Nanyang, how can you not know this golden platform?" ”

"Golden Terrace?" Xu Hecheng was stunned: "It turns out that this is a gold shop?" ”

"Gold shop? Hahahaha! The old man seemed to have heard something ridiculous, and laughed: "Where is the gold shop, you have also read books for a few days." 'Repay the king's will on the golden stage, and carry the jade dragon to die for the king', you should have heard it, right? This is the Tang King built the recruitment platform, if there is a wise man, the Tang King will give a thousand gold, please enter the palace Siming Building, to the teacher! Where is what business, ridiculous! Amusing! With that, the old man shook his head and left, leaving the two Xu Hecheng brothers looking at each other.

"This is strange, how can this Tang King be so virtuous, he doesn't look like a descendant of the heavenly family at all!" After half a sound, Xu Wanqian suddenly burst out with a sentence. Immediately startled Xu Hecheng, and scolded in a low voice: "Shut up!" Hurriedly pulled it to the side of a secluded place: "Are you going to die?" ”

"Huh!" Xu Wanqian sneered twice: "Am I wrong, you said that there are so many vassal kings surnamed Zhu in the world, who is not eating, drinking and having fun in different ways?" Desperate to make money and occupy an area? It's the first time I've heard of this Tang King in my life! ”

Xu Hecheng snorted coldly and did not speak. Although Xu Wancheng's words are very rough, the truth is not rough. Emperor Chengzu of this dynasty took the world from his nephew, and later there was the rebellion of the Han king, so the emperors of the Zhu family in the past dynasties were extra careful with the vassal kings in various places, and basically deprived them of military and political power, and the local government also had the responsibility of surveillance. As compensation, successive Ming emperors gave generous financial compensation to the vassal kings. Over time, these days the children of the family were born in the deep palace, grew up in the hands of women, one could not study, the other could not practice martial arts, and there was no way to realize the value of life, so naturally their minds were spent on eating, drinking, and enjoying life, and if the money was not enough, they would exploit the people, and over time they would become a group of complete parasites. Like this Tang King, it is really a wonderful flower among the vassal kings.

Xu Wanqian saw that his brother was silent, so he continued: "It's strange to say, this Tang King is so nonsense, why don't the guards of Nanyang Mansion care? Today, I'm not the kind of person who has a lot of energy! ”

"Shut up!" Xu Hecheng shouted: "Is it your turn to talk too much about the affairs of the heavenly family?" If I knew that this would have left you in the view, I would have caused trouble! ”

Xu Wanren didn't speak, just smiled. Xu Hecheng was also afraid of causing trouble in the city, so he hurriedly went to the south gate, and when the group was still dozens of steps away from the south gate, he suddenly saw a crowd of people at the city gate, and the officers and soldiers guarding the gate were driving away pedestrians. He hurriedly reached out and grabbed a passer-by and asked, "What's going on over there?" ”

"Don't know?" The pedestrian was also confused: "It seems that the general guarding the gate is going to close the city gate!" ”

"Closing the city gates in broad daylight?" Xu Hecheng had an ominous premonition in his heart, he called an entourage and asked him to go over and ask what was going on, and after a while, the entourage ran back: "Tell your lord, listen to the captain guarding the door and say that there is news brought by the escape, Luyang Pass has been broken by thieves!" ”

Three days ago, Luyang Pass.

The stone walls are old and cracked, the roads three or four feet wide are riddled with ruts, and the hillsides are covered with brown-green trees. Several two-wheeled ox carts lay across the city gates, a common vehicle used by local farmers, with high side panels and thick benzene wheels, which looked bulky but very sturdy. There were brown-black stains of coagulated blood everywhere on the walls and wheels, the corpse of the guard lay under the wheels, his limbs twisted, his face puffy, his red cloak hung on the wheel, and a crow stood on the corpse, looking around vigilantly, and from time to time pecking at the face of the deceased. It was with this that the peasant army broke through the city: Li Guo took more than a dozen selected subordinates and pretended to be charcoal burners, pushing these ox carts full of charcoal and claiming to be sent to Luyang for sale. When the guards came to inspect them, they suddenly took out the weapons hidden under the charcoal, and killed the guards by surprise. When the guards at the gate shouted to close the gate, they couldn't close it - the raiders drove the ox cart into the gate hole, and the ox cart full of charcoal jammed the gate. This delay decided the outcome - but after half a cup of tea, the follow-up troops of the peasant army came in from the city gate, and when the garrison was killed by Li Guo's arrow, the remaining defenders knelt down and begged to surrender when they saw that the situation was not good, and the gateway to the Nanyang Basin had fallen into the hands of the peasant army.

"Brother of his own!" Cao Cao smiled and patted Li Zicheng's shoulder: "You are really blessed, you have a good nephew like Buzhi, this Luyang Pass is known as a natural danger, but if you make up for it, you will take down a hundred people." As the saying goes, there is a wrong name, and there is no wrong nickname. A tiger, sure enough, is a majestic tiger! ”

"Brother Rucai, you praise it falsely!" Compared with a few years ago, Li Zicheng's face was a little more weathered, he looked a lot older, and he also had a little more city, he smiled slightly: "If it weren't for your strategy, how could we have won this Luyang Pass so easily?" If you are a hunter, for example, you are a hunting dog, although it is a hunting dog that catches the rabbit, can the credit still outweigh the hunter? ”

"Hunters, hounds?" Cao Cao twisted his slightly yellow beard and laughed: "I haven't seen you for a few months, you have grown into knowledge again, and you have come up with so many tricks." I Cao Cao doesn't think so, this thing of earning the city can't be done by ordinary people, not only must you have a good martial arts, but also have good courage. I can't think of any battalion with such a brave hero. Speaking of this, Cao Cao pulled Li Guo over, hugged the other party's shoulders and said with an affectionate smile: "It's a pity that Cao Cao is not blessed, if there is a handsome girl, I will marry Buzhi, and our two families will become one!" (To be continued.) )