"That's what you're saying, so how can you believe it?" Ma Zheng retorted.

The two looked at each other as if sparks were rubbing into the air. Suddenly, Mu Han laughed: "You're right, two hunters meet in the forest, and no one can trust anyone." But it doesn't matter, after a few drinks and a few hunts together, you will know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy! He made a gesture behind him, and the attaché behind him put more than ten swords, bows and arrows on the ground, and said with a smile: "These are all yours, so I will return them to you!" ”

"Thank you for being very strong!" Ma Zheng sang a fat song to Sticky Han, picked up his saber and hung it on his waist. Sticky Han pretended not to care and asked, "These weapons are quite well-made, I wonder if the sergeants of your army can use them?" ”

Before Ma Zheng could answer, Zhishan on the side smiled and said: "The transfer is extremely strong, Ma Dujian was originally a military attache in the Western Army, and these weapons were originally used in the army!" ”

"I see!" Sticky Han's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, he casually picked up a saber on the ground, drew the sword out of its sheath, and saw that the sharp blade showed a faint blue intent in the sunlight, which made people feel a chill on their backs when they saw it. He skillfully swung and slashed twice, and suddenly asked: "I heard the captured Liao generals say that there is no one in the world more than the 'Xia sword' made by the Western Xia people, which is sharp and incoherent, killing people like mowing grass, I don't know how different this sword is from it?" ”

"There are many rumors in the world that are exaggerated!" Zhishan said with a smile: "Although the 'Xia Ren Sword' is good, how can it be better than the weapon made by my Great Song Bianjing military craftsman?" I must have seen the goods of my Great Song Dynasty, which one is not far superior to the Liao and Xia people? Is it these swords, bows and arrows, which can be compared with the equipment of the Liao army? ”

Sticky Han returned the sword into the sheath, picked up another bow, looked at it with the eyes of an expert, and drew a full bow, his eyes showing appreciation. He put down his bow with some reluctance and said with a smile: "The craftsmanship of your country's craftsmen is really wonderful, that is, these bows are to be passed on to our descendants in our hands." It's just that I don't know if your country's armor is so sharp, why can't you break through the Liao State alone and make a contract with our army to unite? ”

Zhishan couldn't help but chuckle in his heart when he heard this, he just boasted that the purpose of the Song people's sharp weapons was to deter the Jin people, so as not to make them covet the Great Song Dynasty, but he didn't expect this sticky Han to be really treacherous, and he was not frightened, he was thinking about how to answer, and Ma Zheng on the side replied in a deep voice: "Liao is a big country in the world, although my Great Song Dynasty is strong, I can't destroy the country alone." Isn't it the same with your country, otherwise you can just expel us back, so why bother talking to me here? ”

"What your envoy said is very true!" Sticky Han rarely showed embarrassment, although the Jin people won consecutive battles, but after all, Liao has been established for more than a hundred years, and the power is intertwined, and the hundred-legged insect is dead but not stiff. With the power of the Jin people, it is really a bit too much to destroy their country alone. Later, the collapse of the Liao land was of course due to the Jin people's fierce and warlike warfare, but it was also due to the perverse behavior of the Liao people's then ruler Tianzuo Emperor, which caused the disintegration of the ruling group. Later, after Yelu Dashi escaped, he was able to take the remnants of the Liao State in the northwest to the west, and established a Western Liao Dynasty in Central Asia for nearly a hundred years. This can be seen that the Liao State was not without strength or talent at that time, but the lack of a reliable leader led to the destruction of the country. But at that time, Mu Han didn't know, after all, no one knew if Emperor Tianzuo would suddenly repent and work hard one day, at that time, with the strength of the Jurchens, a defeat could kill them and annihilate the clan.

The three of them touched each other in the house for a long time, and they all roughly understood. Sticky Han smiled: "In that case, I won't hide it from the two of you anymore." The king of our country agreed to ally with your country and fight the Khitan together. However, your envoy must leave a few hostages, and our country can send a few envoys to your country to discuss the details of the alliance. ”

Ma Zheng was overjoyed when he heard this, the hard work at sea was finally not in vain, and leaving a few people as hostages is also the proper meaning of the question. He was thinking about who should be kept as a hostage, and the Zhishan on the side smiled and said: "This is very good, if there is no opinion on the transfer of the poor monk, why don't you let the poor monk stay?" ”

"If the Zen master is willing to stay, that's the best!" Sticky Han has also seen that Zhishan is shrewd and capable, and he should be an important figure in the mission, Ma Zheng, as the leader of the mission, must not be able to stay, and it is not bad to leave Zhishan, so he immediately nodded in agreement, but he didn't know that Zhishan was actually a "supernumerary". Seeing this, Ma Zheng on the side had no choice but to nod his head in agreement. So he and Mu Han agreed that he would take the rest of the people to lead the Bohai people Li Shanqing, the Jurchen Xiaosanduo, and Boda, and carry the national letter and gifts such as Beizhu, Shengjin, mink, ginseng, and pine nuts across the sea to the Song Dynasty, while Zhishan and five other soldiers stayed as hostages.

At the time of parting, Ma Zheng said to Zhishan: "Zen master, this time you are just an accompanying guest, but you were left as a hostage, and you are really a little unhappy to go." ”

Zhishan smiled and said: "If it is good for the country, what does it matter if you want the life of a poor monk?" What's more, it's just to stay for a few months, and the Golden Alliance's intention is quite urgent, and it will definitely not treat me badly, you can rest assured. But I have a letter, and I ask you to go back and deliver it for me. With that, Zhishan took out a letter from his bosom and handed it over.

Ma Zheng took the letter, solemnly put it in his arms, and asked, "May I ask who is the recipient?" ”

"I met a person in Xuejiazhuang, Anyang, Xiangzhou, surnamed Zhou Mingping, who is the second son of the owner of the village, Xue Zhangren, Lang Dang, is a rare strange man in the world, my letter is for him, please send the letter."

"Zen Master, please rest assured!" Ma Zheng smiled: "I will definitely let someone send the letter to Zhou Ping." ”

Tokyo Bianliang.

Perhaps it was the reason for the arrival of the Jin envoys, Zhou Ping and Xue Liangyu had no news of accompanying the envoy to Liao after they arrived in the mansion of Han Xiaoxuan in Bianjing, and they just stayed in the mansion every day. Xue Liangyu, who didn't know the inside story, would complain in the first few days, but soon, this young man from the countryside was fascinated by the unique charm of Tokyo, the most civilized and prosperous metropolis at that time, unlike the simple and boring life that most people in this world lived, Tokyo people spent their days in neighborhoods, temple fairs, stalls, and theaters, and they had a lot of leisure all year round. Panlou Street, Jieshen, Taohuadong, and shops on both sides of Tanxiang Street; Daxiangguo Temple, "Thorn Basin" next to juggling, storytelling, shadow play, horn resistance; Li He'er fried chestnuts, Wang Daoren fried honey, Sun Haoshou steamed buns, Song Si's sister-in-law fish soup, Cao Po meat cakes, Xue's sheep's rice, Zhang's cheese eating. Xue Liangyu couldn't believe that there was such a city in this world; There are so many people living such a completely different life, and what a boring and boring life he used to live compared to the people of Tokyo! He was like a young bird that had just emerged from an eggshell, stunned by the colorful world outside the eggshell, and after he had recovered from this stagnation, he began to talk to his only companion. But what made him angry was that Zhou Ping's attitude was so calm, nodding his head from time to time while waxing his bowstring, as if he heard "the leaves have fallen" and "the wheat is ripe", which are commonplace things in his hometown.

"Ah Ping, you didn't go with me today to see the corner of 'Xiao Guan Suo' Li Bao, he is Tokyo, no, he is the best strong man in the world! I heard that he used to be a forbidden army in front of the palace, that ability, tsk! As usual, Xue Liangyu, who came back from wandering outside after dinner, spat at Zhou Ping and boasted about what he had seen today. Zhou Ping saw that he was energetic, picked up the teapot and poured him a glass of water, and said with a smile: "What's the matter, it's more powerful than our Shiro?" ”

"Where can I match him!" Xue Liangyu, whose face turned red in a hurry, jumped up from the bed: "That strength, that skill, really worthy of being a strong man in the front of the palace, a hero of the guard family!" I heard that when he was in front of the palace, no one among the three yamen could resist him for three rounds, so he got the nickname 'Xiao Guan Suo', what a majesty! Speaking of this, Xue Liangyu showed a yearning look on his face.

"Then why didn't he stay in the front of the temple? According to his ability, he can be a utility and flag leader if he says the least, right? ”

"It's not that I offended that Gao Yu!" Xue Liangyu sneered: "The palace marshal Gao Yu also likes this thing, and he has signaled to him several times, as long as he gives him three points in a corner duel, he can be promoted to be a coach, and he doesn't care. One day, Gao Yu was drunk, and in front of many powerful people, he was bound to fight him. He didn't tolerate mercy, and he fell over Gao Yu. Since then, Gao Yu hated him to the core, and he couldn't tolerate himself in the forbidden army, so he simply went to the art field to perform. "This boy has not been in Tokyo for long, and even his likes and dislikes have been infected by this city and have become the same.

"Huh!" Zhou Ping laughed, put the waxed bowstring on the bow, pulled it twice, and removed it again, wrapping it in oiled paper separately to avoid getting damp. Seeing this, Xue Liangyu on the side couldn't help but say angrily: "Why are you like this, you can't believe what I said, if you don't believe it, go with me to see it!" After that, he was going to reach out and pull Zhou Ping.

Zhou Ping smiled and let go of his companion's hand, and said, "It's not that I can't believe you, but let me ask you, these days, you go out to hang out every day, but I'm afraid that the matter of bowing horses will be put down, right?" ”

"Well, I practiced archery after lunch the day before yesterday!" Xue Liangyu lowered his head a little timidly.