In March of the 226th year of the Great Qianli calendar, Zhao's 400,000 army Chen Bing Lingzhou, but Lingzhou's terrain is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and Lingzhou is mountainous and forested, the terrain is complex, and the 400,000 army can not be deployed, resulting in the Zhao army and Lingzhou Liu Dan's 200,000 army confronted each other for more than a year, although the two sides have damaged each other, but the Zhao army can not attack for a long time, Zhao Hui has no choice, so he sent an order, let Zhang Cheng rush to Lingzhou immediately. At this time, Zhang Cheng was talking with Zhao Jingyu in the mansion of the new city lord outside Zhenxiong Pass.

Zhao Jingyu said again and again that Tian Haitao was not, which made Zhang Cheng think that the reason he guessed in his heart was very suitable for the scene at this time.

After thinking about it, Zhang Cheng asked, "Lord Shang Shuling, do you have an enmity with Tian Haitao?" ”

"I am the Shangshu Order of the Imperial Court, in charge of hundreds of officials, in charge of the world's politics, and everything I think about is my Zhao's world's major affairs. How can you have any hatred with Tian Haitao? What I'm worried about is that Tian Haitao is not up to the task of stopping the barbarians from moving south! Therefore, I want you to take on the responsibility of guarding the city! Do you dare? Zhao Jingyu walked up to the case, pointed to Zhang Cheng below, and asked in a deep voice.

"Don't dare! Xiaguan is just a small county guard, where can he take on such a big responsibility. The adults laughed! Zhao Jingyu threw down the bait every time, but Zhang Cheng just didn't take the bait, but had a feeling of being led by Zhang Cheng's nose, which made Zhao Jingyu quite annoyed.

After going back and forth, Zhao Jingyu was a little impatient, and he said bluntly: "Zhang Cheng, I won't talk nonsense with you anymore, I'll just say it directly." Now, the second brother has captured Yingzhou and Qingzhou, and is confronting Liu Tang in Lingzhou. There are thirteen states in the world, and now my Zhao family has won seven of them, and most of the world has belonged to my Zhao family. I believe that in a few years, the world will change the dynasty. My Zhao family started troops from Jizhou, and now, the second brother has made many military exploits over the years, holding hundreds of thousands of heavy soldiers, and he has never put others in his eyes in the court, including me, the eldest brother! Once the world is unified, Zhao Hui has a million heavy soldiers, and he will be even more invincible at that time, my eldest brother, he is afraid that he will not even look at me. Speaking of this, Zhao Jingyu didn't say any more.

Zhang Cheng lowered his head and thought about it for a long time, he knew that in all dynasties, the royal family battle was not spared, especially when this kind of imminent domination of the world, the battle between the princes was even more powerful, this kind of thing, or not to be involved in it in order to protect himself.

"So, what should you do, my lord?" Zhang Cheng asked.

"I know that this kind of brotherly struggle is inevitable, and if you want to win, you can only have the right to speak in the court if you have the power of the army! Therefore, I plan to cultivate my strength at this time. And you, are my best choice! Zhao Jingyu said sonorously.

"No, no, no, how can I, Zhang Cheng, get your favor! No, no. Zhang Cheng wants to live a few more years! Lord Zhao, I think, you should choose another virtuous person! Zhang Cheng hurriedly knelt on the ground and said with a sincere fear.

When Zhao Jingyu heard Zhang Cheng say this, he was also anxious, took three steps and made two steps, came to Zhang Cheng, held his hand tightly and said, "No, Zhang Cheng, only you can help me!" You have relied on Zhao Hui to support you all these years, and you have been running a business for a few years, and you can be said to be rich in the world. At the same time, you have New Town and Northland County. Besides, I learned that Sedum is your man, he defeated the 50,000 army of Runzhou in Yingzhou, and now he has 25,000 elite soldiers. And you are a good general in the world, as long as you return to the barracks, within a few years, you can master hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers. At that time, against Zhao Hui again, I will no longer be afraid of him. ”

"Lord Zhao, Xia Guan has not participated in the war for several years, and he has long been unfamiliar. Don't talk about fighting, you just let me kill chickens, I'm afraid I can't even hold a knife! Besides, Sedum, I only have a friendship with him for a few months, and I can't be considered close. Even if it were true as the general said, I would not have had the opportunity to enter the barracks again. I, Zhang Cheng, am just a small person in the mountains and wilderness, and now I have achieved the five-grade county guard, and I have gotten a new city for nothing, I am already content! I don't want to live that kind of life anymore! So, Lord Zhao, you should invite another virtuous person! Zhang Cheng kowtowed and said lightly.

When Zhao Jingyu heard this, he smiled and said, "Hmph, Zhang Cheng, you don't come with me for this." I've heard about you for a long time. And it's thunderous! Not to mention whether you can afford to hold a war knife or not, tell me, when did you rush to the front in a battle? Besides, you have the grace to save your life in Sedum. If you let him change his banner, will he not listen? After a pause, Zhao Jingyu sighed and said, "I know that you don't want to enter the barracks anymore and want to live an ordinary life." But do you think that once the world is unified, Zhao Hui will let you go? Can you live a peaceful life? ”

"General Zhao has the grace of promoting me, and I have made great contributions to him, he will definitely not disadvantage me! If he really had thoughts that were unfavorable to me, he would definitely not have given me so much authority in the past three years! He has been so gracious to me, how can I fail him? Zhang Cheng said categorically.

"Whatever he can give you, I can give you. Moreover, I can give you more, even ten times more than him! I can even make you a marquis, and give you the title of Northland County, hereditary replacement! How about allowing you to have 100,000 troops? Zhao Jingyu tempted.

Zhao Jingyu did this, which can indeed be said to be a godsend. It is everyone's dream to worship the marquis. Zhang Cheng is no exception, but he knows that if he helps Zhao Jingyu, it will be tantamount to betraying Zhao Hui and becoming a treacherous villain. That's something he didn't want to do.

"Lord Shang Shuling, Zhang Cheng thanks you for your appreciation of me, Zhang Cheng is grateful. However, Zhang Cheng can't do this, although I am not a decent gentleman, but I still know the four words of treachery. I, Zhang Cheng, am a bastard, and I also have a bottom line for dealing with the world. I beg you, don't be embarrassed, okay? Zhang Cheng's words were sincere, Zhao Jingyu could see it, he also sighed, and said gloomily: "Second brother is so blessed, there is a person like you who follows him with all his heart." Hey......"

"I'm sorry...... Adults ......" Zhang Cheng couldn't bear it when he saw Zhao Jingyu's depressed appearance.

"I don't blame you, just blame me Zhao Jingyu is not blessed. Zhao Hui, I envy you so much! "Zhao Jingyu is really unwilling, such a talent, and such talent and strength, what a pity it is for Zhao Hui to get it. The unwillingness in his heart cannot be for outsiders.

Zhang Cheng bowed his head for a hundred years, buckled his head to the ground, and did not speak.

"Get up." Hearing this, Zhang Cheng got up and stood with a bow.

"But, Zhang Cheng, I'll tell you. Your peaceful days are coming to an end. Zhao Hui's 400,000 army has been in Lingzhou for a year, and he is already poor in donkey skills. In my opinion, he will call you to help him!" And, once he settles the world, your life will be short. I still say the same thing, as long as you want, I have a place under my account for you at any time. The promise I made to you can be fulfilled at any time in my lifetime! Zhao Jingyu promised him.

"Thank you, sir! The lower officials are grateful! The lower officials are the most desperate for their lives, and the battles for the supreme position of imperial power since ancient times are extremely terrible, and the lower officials know it in their hearts. Xia Guan is unwilling to participate in any battle between princes, please rest assured that Lord Zhao is here. Xia Guan is only willing to be a loyal and upright minister of my Zhao dynasty! Zhang Cheng said bluntly.

Zhao Jingyu was stunned when he heard this, but his heart was shocked. He glanced at Zhang Cheng deeply and nodded.

After Zhao Jingyu left, Yang Wenzhao said worriedly: "My lord, what Zhao Jingyu said is not unreasonable!" We have to guard against! ”

"Defense? How to prevent it? We can't prevent it! I just want to be a loyal minister of the Zhao Dynasty and a submissive citizen! Zhang Cheng shook his head and sighed.

"But now Zhao Hui has begun to have a gap in the hearts of adults, the greater your military exploits and the more powerful the soldiers, the greater Zhao Hui's fear of you! Now that Zhao Jingyu is thousands of miles away, he has come to meet the adults, and this matter will definitely be spread to Zhao Hui's ears by someone with a heart. You just don't mean to betray him, he Zhao Hui won't doubt your sincerity! Judging from the following officials, it is still ......," Yang Wenzhao said worriedly.

"Don't say it, I know it in my heart. I will never be able to do something of treachery! I'd rather the people of the world bear me, and I will never bear the people of the world! Zhang Cheng scolded.

When Yang Wenzhao heard this, it was like thunder, and his heart was shocked. After a long time, he clenched his fists and said, "Xiaguan is only taught." ”

"Hey, what Zhao Jingyu said is good, I'm afraid the peaceful days will not be long. Mr. Yang, after I leave, you have to run the new city well, that is our foundation, and we must not lose it. I don't turn my back on Zhao Hui, but I can't sit still either! After I leave, you will slowly move all the gold and silver goods of Northland County to the new city. In addition, Tian Haitao has to be guarded, I will leave the Beidi Division behind this time, and let them all be stationed in Xincheng to defend the safety of Xincheng. ”

Without waiting for Yang Wenzhao to speak, Zhang Cheng said again: "Also, after I leave, you have to select some strong people from the counties of Beidi County who are not dragged down by their families and are loyal to us, join the Beidi Division, and train them well in case of accidents!" ”

"This ...... In the past three years, we have fulfilled our promise, not receiving a grain of grain from the people for three years, and allowing 500,000 people to have houses to live in, clothes to wear, and food to eat, and to live a prosperous life. Moreover, in the past three years, you have often farmed and eaten with the people, and the people have said thank you for it. In the past three years of construction, Beidi County can be said to be a road that does not leave a trace and does not close the door at night, and the people are grateful to you. But dare to ask your lord, how many warriors do you want to recruit? Yang Wenzhao was even more worried when Zhang Cheng said this, but then he was relieved. If Zhang Cheng was really fettered by Xinyi and was foolish and loyal to Zhao Hui, he was afraid that he would end up with a tragedy in a different place, but when Zhang Cheng said this, he felt that Zhang Cheng was not a pedantic person and responded to the situation.

"This ...... You can do it. Anyway, the more the merrier! Zhang Cheng said.

Yang Wenzhao took the order and left. In order not to make Zhao Hui suspicious, Zhang Cheng also returned to Beidi County.

Sure enough, three days later, someone from Beidi County came, and asked Zhang Cheng to go south quickly and go to Lingzhou to help Governor Zhao! However, in fact, since Zhao Hui repelled the barbarian soldiers, the lord Zhao Mu named Zhao Hui as the governor of the capital and commanded the three armies.

After Zhang Cheng instructed Yang Wenzhao again, he left Beidi County with Tiezhu, Zhang Boss and Qi Tian, and quickly went south to Lingzhou.

Anhua County, Linyang County, Jizhou is the only place for Zhang Cheng to go south, rested overnight in Anhua County, Zhang Cheng took the three of them out of the south gate of Anhua City, and a slave walked to the middle of the road, blocking Zhang Cheng's way.

This woman Zhang Cheng recognized that he had met when he rescued Fang Ningyu in Lingxian County, Zhang Cheng restrained the war horse and said to the woman: "I have seen you, you are Miss Fang's maid." ”

"It's the slave Xiaoyue, the general is so remembered. General, my young lady has been waiting for you here for a long time. Na Xiaoyue pointed to a sedan chair on the side of the avenue and said.

When Zhang Cheng heard this, he looked at her hand, and saw that from the sedan chair, a beautiful woman wearing a pink pleated skirt walked out, graceful and graceful, looking so beautiful and moving.

Zhang Cheng was overjoyed, hurriedly dismounted, walked over, and tiptoed over: "Miss Fang, what, how did you come here?" ”

Seeing Zhang Cheng's stupid appearance, Fang Ningyu smiled, and said with a smile on her pretty face: "Lord Zhang, last time Lingxian rescued me, just because my father grounded me at home for the safety of the little girl, and I have never had a chance to thank each other. This time, I heard that Lord Zhang was going to fight on the front line in Lingzhou and passed through Anhua County, so I specially came to see you off. ”

When Zhang Cheng heard this, he was happy in his heart, and said with great joy: "Really." Hehe, I was forced to do it as a last resort, and Zhao Dadu had to obey him. He acted in haste, and did not come to see you in the house. ”

Fang Ningyu lowered her head, and she said, "Lord Zhang is a big deal, so you don't have to worry about it. However, my lord is going to Lingzhou, everything is difficult, you have to be more careful! Besides, if there are changes today, you are in the middle of two worlds, and it is even more dangerous and unpredictable, so be careful! ”

"Oh? I can't see that Miss Fang is not only as beautiful as a flower, but also shows off her wisdom. Did you hear something? When Zhang Cheng heard this, he was stunned at first, and then he smiled and praised.

Fang Ningyu was praised by Zhang Cheng, her face was slightly red, but then she returned to normal, and said seriously: "Lord Zhang doesn't need to praise me, the little woman is just guessing blindly, she said something wrong, don't laugh at me." I heard that Zhao Jingyu, the eldest son of the lord, has been to Beidi County. ”

"How do you know? Didn't Zhao Jingyu come in secret? No one knows about this. Zhang Cheng was shocked and said in a hurry.

My father accidentally found out about it. The little girl learned about it from her father. I guess he's going to look for you. Fang Ningyu said.

"Hehe, Miss Fang is really Lan Xinhuizhi." Zhang Cheng said with a smile.

"From the little woman's point of view, this is not a good thing. Zhao Jingyu traveled thousands of miles to find you. We all know about this, but we are afraid that we can't hide it from Governor Zhao. In the past two years in the imperial court, Lord Zhao and Dadu Governor have many disagreements and are incompatible with each other. Judging from the current situation, the governor of the capital has a strong army, and he will definitely become the prince one day. In all dynasties, there was a practice of standing tall but not young. The battle for the throne will inevitably evolve into a palace coup in the future. At that time, you, as a powerful force, will definitely become the object of attraction between the two. Now, if you, as the Governor of Zhao, meet with Lord Zhao privately, this matter will definitely arouse the suspicion of the Governor and even kill you. ”

Fang Ningyu glanced at Zhang Cheng and said, "The greater your power, the more jealous the Metropolitan Governor will be. Therefore, you must not show too much in Lingzhou and make too many military exploits to endanger your life! Speaking of this, Fang Ningyu's face showed a worried look.

Hearing that Fang Ningyu was so sincere for himself, Zhang Cheng's heart warmed, and when he saw Fang Ningyu locking the lintel tightly, with a melancholy face, he felt even more warm in his heart. couldn't help it, Zhang Cheng stretched out to Fang Ningyu. Fang Ningyu saw Zhang Cheng's big hand stretched out to her, she shrank her head a little shyly and dodged away.

Zhang Cheng saw that Fang Ningyu was shy and avoided himself, which was also embarrassing, he withdrew his hand and said embarrassedly: "No, I'm sorry." I was frivolous under it. ”

After tidying up his clothes, Zhang Cheng slowly returned to his senses, and he said, "Miss Fang, thank you for your concern." To tell you the truth, I still know more or less about these things. But the situation forced me to ride a tiger. Although I, Zhang Cheng, am not a good person, I also know that treachery is a villain's act, and I can't do it in the future. I still say the same thing, I'd rather the people of the world bear me, and I will never bear the people of the world! You can rest assured, even if this is the case, I, Zhang Cheng, will never sit still. I, Zhang Cheng, are greedy for life and afraid of death, and I am also as timid as a mouse, and I want to live for two more years in this life. ”

Fang Ningyu heard Zhang Cheng say that he was as timid as a mouse, greedy for life and afraid of death, and couldn't help but sneer.

"I may still believe that others are as timid as mice, but if you want to say that a man who has defeated 50,000 barbarian soldiers, committed danger alone, penetrated Gannan City from the snow-capped mountains, and broke the Gyeongju army, the little woman can't believe it." Fang Ningyu smiled skillfully.

"Hehe, anyway, I'll save this little life. There are a lot of girls waiting for me. How could I die so easily! Zhang Cheng was praised by Fang Ningyu like this, and he said openly.

"You! Frivolous! Fang Ningyu was angry and said with some anger.

Seeing that Fang Ningyu seemed to be a little angry, he hurriedly went up and said with a smile: "Miss Fang, don't be angry, don't be angry." I mean, I'm going to save my life, and I'm not going to let anyone slaughter me. Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Fang Ningyu feigned anger and said, "I don't care what girl you are for, or something else." Anyway, I'm just idle, so you can do whatever you like. Moon. ”

The maid Xiaoyue on the side saw that Miss was calling for herself, she hurriedly took out a robe from the sedan chair and handed it to Fang Ningyu, Fang Ningyu threw the robe in Zhang Cheng's arms, snorted, and said, "Hmph, you can do it yourself." With that, he sat back in the sedan chair and shouted, "Let's go back." ”

Seeing that Fang Ningyu's sedan chair was getting farther and farther away, Zhang Cheng's heart was warm, he stroked the white robe, wrapped it preciously, got on the horse behind his back, and went to Lingzhou in the dust.