"Come and sit down, take off your shoes and bake the fire!" Li Zicheng pulled Li Guo over: "How is Pingyang City over there?" Can officers and soldiers be on guard? ”

"Don't mention it!" Li Guo smiled and took off his boots, put his feet next to the brazier, and let out a pleasant sigh.

"How's that the precautions are very tight?" Li Zicheng's face showed a hint of gloom.

"Ball! Compared to what we encountered in Shaanxi, it is simply a heaven and an underground! Li Guo said with a smile: "There is no water in the moat, there are no bamboo sticks, there are not enough people on the city tower for the night, there is no one in more than a dozen battlements, and there are many places on the city wall that are damaged and not repaired, I also saw a big gap seven or eight feet wide by the west gate, and it is less than two zhang high from the ground, so I block it with soil bags and fences, and prepare a few bamboo poles two zhang long to pour it in, which is simply the meat that is delivered to our mouths in time!" “

"Good, good!" Li Zicheng laughed: "Eat first, let everyone rest after eating, get up in the evening and have dinner, and set off as soon as it gets dark." With that, he walked to the window and looked at the sky: "I hope tonight is a good day!" ”

As if God heard Li Zicheng's prayer, when Li Guo set off with the first team of forwards, there was not even a trace of clouds in the night sky, and the moonlight sprinkled on the ground like water, wrapping everything in a circle of silver, Li Zicheng even felt that it was a little too bright, so that it was not conducive to his own covert actions, but he thought about it, in such a cold weather, the night watchman at the head of the city would probably only hide in a sheltered place to roast the fire.

When Li Zicheng arrived at the city of Pingyang Mansion, it was about an hour and a half before dawn, and only then did he tell his subordinates the true purpose of his trip.

"The oil in Yuncheng, the noodles in Quwo, and the salt pond in Hedong, you have all heard of these words. The imperial court's Hedong Patrol Salt Imperial History Yamen is in this Pingyang Mansion City, which is the gold and silver mountains, and everyone can stuff their pockets full. Li Zicheng's voice was not loud, but everyone heard it very clearly, and everyone's eyes showed a greedy light.

"It turns out that King Chuang, you have already planned. Hehe, why didn't you tell us earlier? The starry sky asked, stalking his neck.

"It's not too late to tell you! If you have such a big mouth, if it leaks out, wouldn't it be a big deal? ”

"Hey, hey! That's right! Man Tianxing scratched the back of his head and grinned. Li Zicheng ignored him and said to everyone: "There is a gap in the city wall, which can be climbed with a ladder, and now I need thirty people to open the city gate and let the army enter the city." After breaking the city, these thirty people can be the first to challenge the loot! ”

"Count me in!" Man Tianxing responded: "Anyway, this life is also left to me by King Chuang, so I just want to return it to you!" ”

"Okay, starry, is there anyone else?"

"Me!"

"Count me in!"

"And me!"

There were loud or deep voices in the crowd, and soon there were thirty people, all of whom didn't know what to be afraid of. Li Zicheng handed them over to Li Guo and said in a low voice: "After entering the city, quickly open the city gate, and then send a signal to us." If something is wrong. Retreat now, don't fall in love! ”

"Uncle, don't worry!" Li Guo patted his chest confidently: "Just wait for the letter!" ”

The pioneers took off their armor, leaving only iron coverings and tight leather clothing, and wooden pieces in their mouths. He greased his saber so that it would not be able to pull it out from freezing temporarily, wrapped straw around it to prevent it from making a noise, put straw sandals on his feet that were good for climbing, and jumped off the mound when he had stopped. Soon disappeared into the night. They silently crossed the ditch, clinging to the walls and walking in the shadows, without making a sound. The sound of bangs in the city also stopped, and silence enveloped the surroundings.

Soon Li Guo found a gap, and like yesterday, the light of the fire flowed out of the cracks between the dirt bag and the fence, and the snoring of the night watchman came from it. They set up the ladder and climbed cautiously upward, their preparation doing their job, and there was no sound except for the sound of heavy breathing.

Li Guo was the first to cross the fence, followed by the starry sky, a guard on duty leaning against the battlements, sleeping soundly, and at their feet was a fire that was about to burn out, exuding a pleasant residual warmth. Li Guo stopped Man Tianxing, who wanted to step forward to kill, and motioned for him to go to the side to post a sentry first. Then he pulled out his dagger and held it against the opponent's throat, shaking the sentry vigorously to wake him up. The sentry woke up suddenly, and saw a stranger standing in front of him, his eyes were fierce, and he instinctively wanted to shout, but he was covered by Li Guo, who had been prepared, and his voice was all in his throat. Li Guo's right hand was slightly forced, and he shouted in a low voice: "If you want to die, you can nod, and if you want to live, you will shake your head!" ”

The sentry must have been frightened, nodded subconsciously, and immediately reacted to something wrong and hurriedly shook his head, his funny behavior made Li Guo laugh, he let go of his hand and said: "You said how many people are on the other side of the city gate, as long as you tell the truth, I won't kill you!" “

The sentry took a breath and whispered in a thick rice fat accent: "You are a pole from Shaanxi, I am also an old Shaanxi, I owe almost a year's salary, and the brothers are poor and have no pants to wear, which leader are you, let's follow you!" ”

"You're from rice fat?" Hearing the familiar hometown accent, Li Guo's heart gave birth to a sense of intimacy, he pulled the sentry up, and said in a low voice: "Okay, you lead the way for me, as long as you don't move, not a single hair is indispensable to you." ”

"Ball!" The sentry spat on the ground and scolded: "We were transferred in March last year, a total of one battalion of soldiers, saying that it was to assist in the defense of Pingyang Mansion, but it was almost a year before three months' salary, and the officials were all fat, and the fools worked hard for the court?" Let me tell you from the township party, there is silver in the Yandao Yamen, and half of the silver at the end of last year has not been solved to the Beijing Division, don't let it go! “

"Okay, lead the way for us!" Li Guo saw that his subordinates had almost come up, so he pushed the sentry, the sentry answered, and led everyone along the parapet to run towards the east gate, everything went smoothly along the way, when there was still forty or fifty meters away from the city gate, with the help of the moonlight and the faint light of the fire, Li Guo could vaguely see the shadow of the fire, about seventeen or eighteen people, the north wind brought a low voice, obviously the people here were not all asleep.

"Rush over and chop them into pate!" There was a murderous aura in the starry voice, Li Guo looked at the captive, the other party's eyes showed a pleading look, and there was a heavy breath from behind him. Apparently they didn't trust this guy who had surrendered temporarily. In fact, Li Guo didn't trust him either, but he didn't think that he could kill them all before the defenders gave a signal, Pingyang Mansion was a big city, and it was the location of the Yandao Yamen, and there must be a lot of soldiers in the imperial court, and there were only more than a thousand people on his side. In an instant, he had already made a decision, Li Guo stretched out his hand and pushed the sentry, and said in a low voice: "You go over and tell them that there is no need for me not to kill the hometown party!" ”

The captive glanced at Li Guo gratefully. Walking towards the city gate, the starry sky on the side just wanted to speak, but was interrupted by Liu Cheng: "Don't say anything, there are people awake over there, we can't kill all the people before they raise the alarm!" “

Man Tianxing snorted dissatisfiedly, but did not speak, Li Guo drew his saber and walked along the shadow of the battlements, and the other person pointed his bow at the captive's vest. Prepare to shoot the other person as soon as he yells and screams. However, the captive did not shout, and calmly walked to the city gate tower, at this time Li Guo was only a dozen meters away from the city gate tower, and he could even clearly hear the captive saying something loudly to his companions over there. The guards around the fire stood up one after another, casting a wary look at Li Guo's side.

"If they shout and scream, kill them!" Li Guo said in a low voice, the atmosphere in front of him was already tense to the extreme, and as long as a spark splashed down would cause a big explosion. However, Li Guo's worst fears did not happen. A man who looked like a leader took a few steps closer and asked, "Who is your leader?" ”

"My uncle's surname is Li Mingzicheng, and his nickname is King Chuang. My name is Li Guo, nicknamed a tiger! ”

"King Chuang? A tiger? The sentry muttered a few words, and suddenly asked, "You are the tiger who defeated He Huchen and General He with Cao Cao?" ”

"Yes, that's me!"

Li Guo's answer provoked a heated discussion, and he had a strange feeling when he saw the leader turn around and talk to his companions, and when he saw someone looking at him with surprised eyes. Finally, the discussion ended, and the leader asked in a tone of disbelief: "Then why is Cao Cao in northern Jin, and you are here?" “

"Idiot!" Man Tianxing listened unhappily on the side, and scolded loudly: "There is a distinction between virtual and real in the art of war, if the movements of Leader Cao even knew about your pawn, the court would have arrested him." Let me tell you, the leader of my family is only the vanguard of the Cao Da Leader, and the army is only ten miles away from here now. If you want to surrender, let go of the guy immediately, otherwise the big boss will come and burn the jade! “

The starry intimidation had an unexpected effect, and the leader muttered a few words, "Okay, I'm willing to surrender, but what if you don't count?" ”

Li Guo stretched out his hand to stop the cursing of the stars, stepped forward and stretched out his right hand, pointed to the sky and swore an oath: "If you disarm and surrender, I will never put an inch on you, if there is a violation of the oath, it will be like this!" With that, he drew his saber and made a cut at his cheating, and blood immediately poured out, staining his sleeve red.

Seeing this, the defenders expressed their willingness to surrender, and the pioneers of the peasant army swarmed up, and with the help of the defenders, opened the city gate, Li Guo climbed up to the city tower, picked up the torch and raised it above his head, and turned three times.

Hedong patrol salt imperial history yamen.

The spice-smoked quilt gave off a pleasant smell, the heavy curtain blocked the cold wind through the cracks in the window, and outside the heavy bed was a screen, and a maidservant girl dozed off on the low table, waiting for the call of the sleeping master on the bed behind the screen.

Li Dongguo was sleeping sweetly on the couch, even in his sleep, his face still gave people the impression of being complacent. At the age of forty, he has already done the imperial history of Hedong Salt Patrol, which can be described as a prosperous official fortune. In the Ming Dynasty, there were two Huai, two Zhejiang, Changlu and Hedong four salt patrol imperial histories, which were responsible for investigating salt administration and correcting illegal activities in their respective jurisdictions. In ancient China, salt is the only monopoly of the government on the necessities of the people's life, salt politics is almost synonymous with finance, although the Hedong patrol salt imperial history is not as good as the two Huai patrol salt imperial history, the world's first fat shortage, but it is also the world's top ten good position, Li Dongguo can do it here in more than 40 years, and it is almost a sure thing to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister.

But tonight was different from usual, a hurried knock on the door from outside woke up the half-asleep maidservant, she rubbed her confused eyes to open the door, and muttered: "What is it, disturbing the rest of the minister-in-law, tomorrow there will be your ugly!" ”

"Wake up, the thieves have entered the city!" Almost at the same time as the door buckle was opened, the door was violently pushed open, and two men in armor rushed in with the cold wind, almost trampling the servant girl under their feet, and the first one rushed to the bed, grabbed Li Dongguo, who had just woken up, and said loudly: "My lord, it's not good, the Shaanxi soldiers have mutinied, and the thieves have entered the city!" “

Li Dongguo, who had just woken up, still had a bit of annoyance on his face that was unique to people who had just woken up, but the next words washed his annoyance and sleepiness out of the clouds. "Shaanxi soldiers mutinied? Thieves into the city? He repeated the words of his men, as if to understand the meaning behind the sentence, and suddenly he jumped up from the bed and stood barefoot on the cold floor: "How so? Where did the thieves come from? How many mutinous soldiers were there? Why did they mutiny? “

The officer who made the announcement had a "how do I know" expression on his face, but in the face of the question of a high-ranking civil official, he had to reluctantly answer: "My lord, the incident happened suddenly, the thieves have entered the city through the east gate, and I don't know how many people there are?" Which thief is it? It was the guest army in Shaanxi that mutinied, it should be because of the arrears of wages, they colluded with the thieves outside the city, and they entered the city without a fight! “

"Damn, the guest army just can't believe it!" Li Dongguo scolded hatefully: "After this time, this official must strictly participate in which general and give him a good look!" Come, change my clothes quickly, I'm going to the prefect and prepare to fight the thieves and rebels! ”

Outside the prefect's yamen, it was already a mess, dozens of temporary carts blocked the square in front of the door, the neighing of cattle and horses and the faint cry of the female dependents from the mansion were connected, the servants were panicking to move the soft belongings out of it, and the stone steps in front of the gate were full of lost belongings.

"Get out of the way, make way for Lord Shimichi!" The road in front of Li Dongguo's personal soldiers was blocked, and while shouting loudly, he waved a leather whip, which whipped the air and made a sharp sound, and the frightened coachmen tried to make a way, but the mule pulling the cart was so angry that he couldn't pull it. Seeing that there was no way, the leader of the pro-soldiers had to return to the sedan chair, opened the sedan curtain and said: "My lord, the front is blocked by the big car, and I can't get through. (To be continued.) )