Xu Ruyu and the four of them rode into the town, and handed over the horses to the Mabang disciples who were on duty in the town, and the four of them walked straight to Yuanju Tower. When I turned the corner, I suddenly found the father and daughter of Yiguanyuan and Yitingxue in the bustling crowd. Yi Tingxue is still bright and moving, walking in the crowd and looking around, not hiding the curious daughter's thoughts, and not avoiding the hot gaze that comes from the gaze, but returning with a kind smile.

Xu Ruyu smiled secretly, now that Shangnan Town is surging, everyone has reined in their surnames, and they don't dare to start the incident lightly, otherwise it is advisable to listen to Xue's seductive face, and it will not immediately cause chaos on the long street?

Youli followed Xu Ruyu's gaze and saw Tingxue and them, and the paradise-like scene of Zhuxing Town instantly came back to her mind, and she said with an "oops": "How did Tingxue and her father appear here?" ”

Xu Ruyu was about to take the first step to avoid the Yuanju Building, and Yiguan looked at this side as if he was feeling a life, and there was a smile hidden in his eyes, which made Xu Ruyu feel a big headache.

Xu Ruyu said in a low voice: "Yi Guanyuan is a Yinjun who is as famous as his father, but his father's views are very different. ”

"The town is as quiet and peaceful as a paradise, and when I pass by it occasionally, I have the idea of living there for a long time. Yiguanyuan went to great lengths to create there, and I think that the gap between him and your ideas will not be too far. ”

Xu Ruyu shook his head and sighed: "Among the six jun, only Kou Zichan has the closest views with his father, and the others have big differences in their ideas. ”

Xu Ruyu saw that Yiguanyuan did not remind Tingxue to pay attention to himself, knowing that he had no intention of meeting at this time, and entered the Yuanju Building with Youli and them.

Xu Boying listened to the conversation between Xu Ruyu and Jiang Youli, and when he entered the building, he glanced back again, but saw Yi Guanyuan's faintly dim eyes giving people a sharp feeling of looking directly at the bottom of their hearts. Xu Boying said worriedly: "Shangnan is getting more and more complicated, and a person as strong as Luo Cheng is not a master. ”

Xu Ruyu nodded, thought for a while and said to Youli: "The Xun family and the Huo family have many masters who secretly sneaked into Shangnan, and the guards of Yuanju Tower are already insufficient, so as not to cause extraneous branches, we still move to live in the camp, and I can't guarantee that I will be by your side all the time." ”

Although Youli felt that it was inconvenient for the female dependents to live in the military camp, he thought that Xu Ruyu would be in the camp in the north of the town for most of the time, so he had no objection.

Liu Tingshan was pouring himself a drink in the lobby of the lower floor, and when he saw Xu Ruyu and the four of them entering the building, he shouted to them to come over. Most of the people who drink and dine in Yuanju Lou are traveling in the direction of Fen County, and now Xu Ruyu openly supports the horse gang and opposes the Xun family in Fen County, although they respect Xu Ruyu very much in their hearts, they dare not show it, so as not to be looked at by the Xun family and cause unnecessary trouble. But whispered discussions and admiring glances are still inevitable.

Ji Da Fat greeted him and said, "Master Xu, Xun Zhuwu has booked the highest standard banquet in the elegant room on the second floor, and it is still a moment away from noon. ”

Xu Ru smiled foolishly: "Doesn't he know that Yuanju Tower is actually the back door of the Mabang Hall?" He's not weak, but hopefully there's something of common interest. ”

Ji Da Fat Man was surprised: "Oh, how can it be possible for the Ma Gang and the Xun family to cooperate?" ”

Liu Tingshan said: "This is not a place to talk about things, let's go to the second floor to find a quiet room and talk." ”

Closing the wooden door of the elegant room, Xu Ruyu opened his mouth and asked, "I am not very familiar with Xun Zhuwu, what can Mr. Liu teach Ruyu?" ”

Liu Tingshan said: "Xun Zhuwu was a servant of the Xun family four years ago, and he can have today's status in just four years, which shows his ability. Bo Ying may not want to hear me say this, but the Xiangfan Society's uprising in Xiangzhou was a trap set by the Xun family from beginning to end, and Xun Zhuwu's rapid rise in four years was related to this matter. ”

Xu Boying said dejectedly: "Now the facts are obvious, even if Boying doesn't want to listen, what can he change." Before the Xiangfan Society, the forces were mainly concentrated in Fanchuan Mansion, which was close to Taihang Mountain, and the Xun family had small frictions with the Youji Cai family on the border land from time to time, so the troops of Xiangzhou Mansion were transferred to Fanchuan Mansion. Xiangfan will be forced to change the location of the incident from Fanchuan to Xiangzhou, Xiangzhou is a horse Pingchuan, my Xiangfan will not have the strength to confront the Xun family's battalion army at all, this is not a trap, what else can it be? ”

Liu Tingshan sighed: "Yes, before the incident, the Xiangfan Society's power was all over Fen County, and if the Xun family wanted to be uprooted, it would inevitably shake the fundamentals, and it would also allow the surrounding families to take advantage of the opportunity." If Xiangfan will ignore it, then Xiangfan will be said to be big, and it will be a crisis for the Xun family. The best way is to let the forces of the Xiangfan Society concentrate on the territory that they can control, and wipe them out. The largest family in Xiangzhou, the Pu family, is the biggest opponent of the Xun family in Fen County, and the Xun family not only calculates the Xiangfan Society, but also calculates the Pu family. It has been more than three years since the Xiangfan Society started in Xiangzhou Mansion, but the power of the Xun family is like Zhongtian, and Xun Candle's martial arts are indispensable. Ru Yu saw it thoroughly, there was no need for the Xun family to kill the Xiangfan Society now, as long as the forces of the Xiangfan Society withdrew from Fen County. ”

Xu Ruyu said humbly: "Mr. Liu has an overreputation, and he just pursues advantages and avoids disadvantages. The horse gang successfully withdrew from southern Henan, and the elite combat power was concentrated in Shangnan Town, where the Xun family's forces did not occupy an absolute advantage, and other family forces were watching from the sidelines, how could he be allowed to act rashly? Since he can't be an enemy, he will naturally think about whether it is possible to be a friend, Xun Zhuwu should be such a person. ”

Everyone talked for a while, and a horse gang disciple came in to report, Xun Zhuwu and a veiled woman led four of their men to ride their horses to Yuanju Tower. Xu Ruyu looked at everyone and smiled, and said: "Let's go and greet this upstart in Fenjun, I hope he will be kind to his subordinates, and don't deceive us too much." ”

Xun Zhuwu squinted his eyes and looked at the towering Yuanju Tower in the distance, and said to the veiled woman beside him: "Will General Qingfeng come out of the building to greet us?" ”

The veiled woman giggled: "A few days ago, you killed you to death, but now you are like a couple who have experienced lovesickness, you men's thoughts, I don't want to bother to guess." ”

Xun Zhuwu smiled: "I'm still thinking about what you're thinking about coming over, it seems that I can't guess it." Oh, they did come out to greet us, let's dismount. ”

Looking at the cordial smiles on the faces of Xun Zhuwu and Xu Ruyu, no one could have imagined that Xun Zhuwu led five hundred iron horsemen to chase and kill Xu Ruyu eight days ago.

Xu Ruyu's gaze only stopped for a moment on the veiled woman's face, only to feel that her bright and bewitching eyes were as scorching as fire, and her delicate face loomed under the light veil, which made people reverie.

Xu Ruyu saluted and said, "Xu Ruyu has seen the county lord of Jiarou. ”

The veiled woman was surprised: "How do you know that you have seen my identity?" It seems that I can't underestimate you. ”

Xu Ru glanced at Xun Zhuwu with deep meaning, and said lightly: "I just like to hear some hearsay rumors, and I have heard the good stories of Brother Xun and the county lord of Jiarou below." ”

Xun Jiarou's eyes were like waves, she glanced at Xu Ruyu, came over and affectionately grabbed Youli's arm, and said in that resentful tone: "Since it's hearsay, it's not credible, Sister Youli, you see that even the world-famous General Qingfeng is so wrong-mouthed, it seems that none of the men can be trusted." ”

Xu Ru smiled and said: "Where is the wrong mouth, it should be that the words are not enough, and it is normal to suddenly see the county lord coming, and the mind can't turn." He said to Xun Zhuwu again: "Brother Xun only has five people, I'm afraid that I can't maintain the integrity of the county lord, do you want to let Bo Ying transfer some horse gang disciples over?" ”

Xun Zhuwu was not shocked, and seemed to have no sense of any threatening and warning tone in Xu Ru's foolish words, and said: "Under the whole world, it is not the king's land, the lord of Jiarou County is sealed in the inner court, and there will be no blind Xiaoxiao who is not good for her, Brother Xu, please be relieved." ”

Xu Ruyu didn't believe that Xun Zhuwu dared to be so bold, his eyes swept over the pedestrians on the long street, and he thought: He should arrange for his hands to mix in among the diners, and only let the four of them carry him with him to show his bearing and courage. Maybe he is hoping to give birth to some right and wrong, so that the Xun family iron jockey can become famous and step into Shangnan Town.

Xu Ruyu didn't say anything, and invited Xun Jiarou and Xun Zhuwu into the elegant room of Yuanju Building. In fact, four years ago, when Youli Huafang traveled through Fen County, he was invited by Xun to go to Thailand, went to the Fenyang County Palace, and met Xun Jiarou. At that time, Xu Ruyu's internal injuries had just recovered, he looked thin, and he was very inconspicuous standing beside Jiang Youli, even if Xun Jiarou had seen him, it was impossible to leave any impression.

When Xun Jiarou entered the elegant room, she took off the light veil covering her face, and her peerless appearance was not much compared to Youli. Xun Jiarou said in a lazy voice: "Jiarou made a special trip to listen to Sister Youli playing the piano, four years ago I said goodbye in a hurry, and Sister Youli's sound of the piano is still in my ears?" ”

Youli smiled: "Don't you dare to let the county lord worry so much, the county lord is proficient in music and rhythm is not under Youli, and I have time to consult the county lord." ”

Liu Tingshan said: "Everyone Jiang will perform in the Yuanju Mansion at night, and the county lord can come over." ”

Xun Jiarou showed a look of regret and said: "I came out secretly, let General Qingfeng reveal his identity, if I don't go back early, let my uncle who is the Marquis of Weiyuan order troops and horses to tie me up, it won't be good." Her eyes, intentionally or unintentionally, swept over Xu Ruyu's eyes, and seemed to hide a little complaint.

Xu Ruyu turned his head sideways and saw Youli's resentful eyes, and he cried out in his heart: The county lord of Jiarou is famous, and you don't know her wanton discharge surname.

Xun Zhuwu is not used to it, and said with a smile: "Since Brother Xu entered Shangnan Town, the land of Shangnan projectiles has suddenly become a storm, it can be seen that Brother Xu's name of Qingfeng is not worth it, and Candle Wu admires the characters who turn their hands into clouds and cover their hands for rain, and I don't know what Brother Xu wants to do in Shangnan, so that I can be attached to Jiwei." ”

Xu Ruyu said: "The surging storm in Shangnan is caused by Brother Xun's efforts, how can it be counted on my head?" Haha, I can only say that I am at the right time, when I was in Donghai County, I heard about Brother Xun Xiangzhou, and you are foolish about this false name, Brother Xun is not worried. ”

Xu Ru foolishly ridiculed Xun Candle Wu Xiangzhou, and showed that he was ashamed to be with him. Xun Zhuwu was not annoyed when he heard this, his face did not even change, and this calmness made Xu Ruyu admire.

Xu Boying saw Xu Ruyu mention the matter of Xiangzhou, thinking of the Xiangfan congregation who died under the hooves of the Xunjia camp, his face sank, his eyes avoided to the side, he took a secret breath, and said slowly: "Xun is a good calculator, I am afraid that I will not only accompany the county lord of Jiarou to ask Jiang everyone for piano skills today, right?" ”

Xun Zhuwu's face was solemn, the cold light in his eyes swept over Xu Boying's face, stopped on Xu Ruyu's face but softened, and said calmly: "Brother Xu saw that not only Shangnan was turbulent, but the world was like this. Yin Junyi's "Balance of Power", I think Brother Xu will also read it, I don't know what Xu Ruyu has to say? ”

"I don't dare to say the word advice, my father once said that the troubled times in the world cannot be described as a balance of power, even now it is only in a very delicate balance, a little touch, the world will be unrecognizable."

Brother Xu spoke concisely and to the point. My Xun family in Fen County and the Cai family in Youji are the first nomadic aliens in the north, but they can't withstand the gentle touch of Xiangfan, and Xun Shi's preemptive strike should be understandable. Brother Xu should understand the meaning of my words. ”

Xu Ruyu never thought that Xun Candle's military general Xun family's atrocities would be so righteous and awe-inspiring, but he couldn't find anything to refute him. At that time, my father strongly opposed the Xiangfan Society's uprising in Fen County, which was to see the key role played by Fen County in resisting the southern invasion of the Tutu people. Over the years, there have been rumors that the Tutu people are preparing to build the Khan Court, and if the rumors are true, the pressure from the Hulan grassland in the north will definitely not be light.

Xu Ruyu sighed: "Brother Xun said it well, the Xun family invaded Qingzhou after Yi Zhouwu's death at the beginning of this year, and it was also a preemptive strike? Brother Xun's 20,000 elite soldiers were stationed in Luanchuan City, peeking at Shangnan, was it also to maintain this fragile balance? King Xun is the teacher of the Son of Heaven, and his meaning is that mortals like us really can't speculate on it. ”

"Destroying a balance and seeking a more stable balance is Xun Shi's consideration. The rumors of the Tutu people preparing to build the Khan Court in Suiyuan City, presumably Brother Xu also heard about it, at that time, Fenjun and Youji inevitably bore the brunt of the situation, Xun Shi has always been worried about this matter, I suggested that the surprise attack on Shangnan was just to share Xun Shi's worries, and I didn't want Brother Xu to go to Shangnan, so he saw through my trick, and Candle Wu was very ashamed. ”

Xu Ru foolishly saw that Xun Zhuwu didn't mind that his previous plan was lost in his hands, and there was a slight self-deprecation in his words, and he couldn't help but secretly feel that he could let go so calmly. said: "The five counties in the north, except for Qingzhou, are difficult to be self-sufficient in food. The East China Sea experienced a year of war and heavy losses, even if there was abundant grain, it would only be transported to Youji through the sea route. The shortage of grain in the three counties of Suchuan, Qinzhou and Fen County needs to be exported by Chengyu County. As a free trade town, Shangnan should be of greater significance to Fen County, could it be said that your goal is the entire Nanyang Basin? ”

Candle Wu's strategy that he thought was seamless was easily seen by Xu Ruyu, and Candle Wu had to admit that Brother Xu was resourceful. Nanyang Mansion was attacked by Zhang Zun and Zhang Xuyang brothers for several years, and the population dropped by less than one million, but Nanyang Mansion occupies the entire Nanyang Basin, with fertile land, abundant rain, and few waterlogging. ”

Xun Jiarou laughed out loud and said, "Hearing you say that, do you want to eat this black mud?" I see that you have been talking about it for a long time, but you still haven't gotten to the point, so I'll talk about it. Brother Xu, after our Xun family's plan to seize Shangnan and destroy it for you, the significance of Shangnan Business Road will become even more important, do you understand? ”

Xu Ruyu smiled knowingly, but without saying a word, he looked at Xu Boying. Although the opinion of the Ma Gang is no longer important, Xu Boying is his own valued person, and it is not that he does not care about his feelings.

If the Xun family can seize the grain production land in Nanyang, Fenjun will naturally not be afraid of lack of grain, but the plan is destroyed by Xu Ruyu, so the existence of the Shangnan Trade Road is needed to ensure the smooth grain road in the direction of Yuejun or Chengdu-Chongqing. Chengyu County went out of Sichuan through the plank road, and arrived at Shangnan Town through Hanshui and Guanghan Canal; Yue County could have gone directly to Jining Mansion of Fen County through Jinshui, but after the Chen people of Donghai occupied Yixing Mansion, the channel of Jinshui between Qinghe Mansion and Yixing Mansion for more than 100 miles was controlled by Pingyi Shuiying of Donghai County, so it was transferred to Shangnan by land through Bolingyi of Jiangjin Prefecture, which became an important channel for Fen County to connect with the southern counties.

Xu Boying has discussed with Xu Ruyu many times about the value of Shangnan Shangdao, and now that Xun Zhuwu has brought it up, he naturally understands his intentions. After the Xun family's attempt to occupy Shangnan was exposed, they had a bad relationship with the Nanyang Fu family and the Jinyang Huo family, hoping that Xu Ruyu would reconcile them.

Xu Boying said: "The Huo family should also be willing to have another passage outside the Great River Waterway, after all, the cost of entering Jinyang County through the Shangnan Trade Road is much lower than that of bypassing Donghai County. ”

Xu Ruyu sighed: "I really understand the meaning of the phrase that there is no enemy in politics, Brother Xun conspired with Zhang Zun when he was plotting against Nanyang; plotting against Nanyang is unobtainable, and plotting against Zhang Zun in turn. ”

Xun Zhuwu said with a smile: "It's easy to do things, it's not impermanent." Zhang Zun actually had nearly 30,000 elite soldiers in Qianshan and Susong, and they survived by plundering places, and their existence was a greater threat than the three alliances of Yongning. If the Tutu people use troops against our Fen County, the Yongning family will abide by the way of the survival of the Han dynasty in the world and help my Xun family, but the Zhang Zun brothers are villains who will stab people in the back, so it is naturally more reassuring to remove them. ”

A few years ago, it was said that it was a fight to the death, but now it is a group of friendly discussions and possible surnames for cooperation, which makes Xu Ruyu feel ridiculous, and looks at Youli, Uncle Sun Fangwu, Liu Tingshan and others, the expressions on their faces are unnatural. If he hadn't shown enough strength to make Xun Zhuwu feel that he had a profound influence on Yongyang, he wouldn't have valued himself. The letter sent to Yongyang by the Thomas Gang should be heard soon, I don't know who Yongyang will send to preside over the business, after all, this matter needs to be concealed from the eyes and ears of the Wanling Chen family, the candidates are very elegant, the status cannot be too low, and the face must be unfamiliar. Forget it, don't think about it for Yongyang, Ling Tian will arrange it.

After Xu Ruyu finished talking with Xun Zhuwu, he returned to the Zhenbei military camp with Youli and his uncle Fangwu, and Youli asked him on the way: "You have long expected that Xun Zhuwu will show goodwill?" ”

Xu Ruyu sighed: "I'm not sure, but I do have such a premonition." In addition to the lack of grain, the counties in the northwest also lack one thing, that is, salt. The output of rock salt and well salt is far less than the consumption of the northwest counties, Donghai County is now the only exporter of sea salt, the Chen people adopt a policy of foreign expansion, the export of sea salt will be more strict, the cost of private salt is extremely high, if the Yongyang Mansion is allowed to hide the Chen people to sell smuggled salt, it is the most acceptable result for the families of the northwest counties. With the secret support of Yongyang Mansion, tea, silk, porcelain and other necessities from Donghai and Yue County will also be easily transported to the northwest counties, and the most important role of the Qingyan Army when they come to Shangnan is to tell others that Yongyang Mansion is still under my control. Xun Zhuwu was the first to see the mystery, this person is not simple, he is bound to be a hegemon. ”

Youli smiled: "That's not in your calculations? ”

Xu Ru smiled foolishly: "How can you praise your husband so much?" It should be a mutual calculation, but we still have a disadvantage now, because we can't figure out Huo Qingtong's attitude, which is the biggest variable. Xun Zhuwu will be happy for Huo Qingtong to send troops to kill us. Hey, whoever told me to rob his sweetheart, I deserve to suffer a little sin. ”

Seeing that he was talking nonsense, Youli waved his horsewhip and made a gesture to whip it. Xu Ruyu urged the horse to gallop, Youli chased after him relentlessly, and his uncle Fangwu followed with a helpless smile.

The three of them hurried to the camp in the north of the town, but saw Jue'er and Yitingxue guarding the camp gate.

Listening to Xue from afar, she saw Xu Ruyu and Youyu galloping side by side, her little face turned red, and she was so excited that she shouted: "Ayu, Sister Youli." When they jumped off their horses, they jumped lightly to meet them, and embraced them between them, holding their arms one by the other, and chattering without stopping.

"Heh, Ah Yu is General Qingfeng, why don't you admit it in the town? If I said so many good things in front of you, you must be happy in your heart, right? ”

Xu Ruyu remembered the situation in Zhuhang Town a few months ago, and said with a smile: "At that time, if I admit that I am General Qingfeng, I am afraid that you will say that I am an impostor, right?" ”

Yi Tingxue's expression twisted, obviously making Xu Ruyu right, his pretty face was slightly red, and he said: "Daddy wants to see you, so he brought me over, we took a boat through the Hanshui and Danjiang rivers, and it was Ami's boat." ”

Xu Ruyu thought of the young man named Mi Yusheng in Zhuhang Town, and remembered his simple surname, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. I didn't see him on the street at noon, but I didn't expect him to come too.

Jue'er said: "Uncle Guanyuan, Ami and Liang Bao are waiting in your tent, I wanted to send someone to the town to call you, but Uncle Guanyuan said that you will rush back soon, and it is true." ”

Xu Ruyu walked into the camp quickly, opened the tent curtain, and saw Yi Guanyuan and Mi Yusheng sitting in the camp. When Mi Yusheng saw Xu Ruyu enter the tent, he stood up nervously, and Xu Ruyu greeted him with a smile. Let Liang Bao lead Mi Yusheng and Tingxue to watch the Qingyan Army practice riding. Youli and Jue'er also left the camp subsequently, leaving only Xu Ruyu and Yi Guanyuan.

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