The mouth of the Chi River is an important ferry port in the Chi district of Hanoi County, and it has also formed a prosperous town because of the frequent travel of merchants.

Originally, a few years ago, thieves in the Hanoi area were ravaged, and this place was once desolate, but with Yuan Shao taking charge of the north of the Yellow River, although it is located in the border area between Yuan Shao's forces and Cao Cao's forces, the law and order have finally improved a lot and flourished again.

An inconspicuous ordinary house in the east of the town is not much different from the surrounding residents, the head of the household is a businessman, who travels between the banks of the Yellow River, and does not live here, but only comes here every time he passes through this place, he will come here to rest, so the surrounding neighbors are not very familiar with him.

In the past few days, the head of the household has moved in with several strangers, and the people around him are accustomed to it, but they don't pay much attention to it.

However, they didn't know what kind of identity their neighbor had, let alone what kind of big people they had lived in the past two days.

At this time, in the best main house of this folk house, Wang Xu was leisurely lying on the Hu bed and napping, and there was a great beauty Ling Wanqing beside him gently rubbing his shoulders, while Zhang Ning was sitting alone in the corner in a daze.

"Wanqing, it's been three days since the spy department went to Henan to inquire about the news, why haven't they come back?"

"It should be soon, count the distance, it's about this time." Ling Wanqing replied softly.

"Hmm!" Wang Xu nodded slightly, and his eyes returned to a half-squinted state.

It didn't take long for the sound of footsteps sounding, and as soon as he listened to it, he knew that this person was definitely not Huang Xu or Zhou Zhi who went out.

A low-pitched call soon sounded outside the door: "General." The subordinate is back. ”

"Come in!"

The man had just pushed the door open. He strode up to the front and knelt down on one knee: "General Qiyu, commander." The subordinates went to Henan to inquire about the news, and found that although the investigation in Cao's territory was not as good as that of the general when he went north, it was still very strict, and it would take some trouble for the general to go south. ”

Wang Xu raised his eyebrows: "Oh? Cao Jun hasn't given up yet? ”

"Nope!"

"What about Cao Jun's other news?" Asked casually, Wang Xu paused and said in an accentuated tone: "I mean the movements of all parties in the past half a year. ”

"Returning to the general, Cao Cao broke through Xuzhou two months ago, beheaded Lu Bu, and took the north of the Huai River. Dozens of generals and more than 100,000 soldiers have been surrendered, and Zang Ba and other generals have been ordered to attack the south of Qingzhou and occupy Beihai and other places. In addition, at the beginning of the year, Cao Cao sent Xun You, Xiahou brothers and others to lead an army of 200,000 to invade Jingzhou, but they were repelled by our Jingzhou army, and both sides suffered losses. ”

"However, almost all of the main forces of Cao's army are stationed south of the Yellow River, and the vicinity of Guandu is heavily guarded!"

"Oh?" Wang Xu's eyelids jumped a few times, although his face didn't show anything. But there was some worry in my heart.

Judging from the current situation, Cao Cao seems to be already preparing for the pacification of the north. It was almost a year and a half ahead of history, and in any case, he would never tolerate Cao Cao pacifying the north as he did in history.

"Do you know how Sun Jian is doing in the south?"

The spy department thought for a while, shook his head and said: "General, the subordinates in the south don't know much about the situation, but I heard rumors that Sun Jian is now starting to pacify the Baiyue people in the south, but the mountains and mountains over there are dangerous, and it seems that no breakthrough results have been achieved, and the losses are relatively large." ”

Saying that, the spy shadow group seemed to suddenly remember something, and hurriedly said: "By the way, my subordinates have heard some rumors that the southern barbarians in Shuzhong have rebelled, and our army has waved their troops to conquer, but this news is still uncertain." ”

"How could the Nanban rebel now?" Wang Xu's brows furrowed instantly, this news is bad, it can't be worse, Jingzhou's loss to Shu is not small, and the vitality is greatly damaged, if it falls into the quagmire of the Southern Barbarians again at this moment, it is absolutely powerless to prevent Cao Cao from unifying the north.

"It is rumored that there was a dispute within us over the treatment of the Nanban, and some local forces dissatisfied with the general colluded with the Nanban to rebel, but these are all hearsay, and the specific situation is not clear to the subordinates." The spy people couldn't say why, and they were worried.

Wang Xu glanced at him, didn't say anything, waved his hand and said, "It's okay, go and get busy with you!" ”

"No!"

As this person retreated, Wang Xu couldn't help but get up, walked back and forth in the hall, and said worriedly: "We went north in the second half of last year, and now it has been more than half a year before and after, and the situation in Jingzhou is not very clear. ”

As he spoke, he said with some blame: "Last year, before we went north, I told them to ignore Nanzhong for the time being, and don't care, why is it still so troublesome now?" If that news is true, if there is a slight difference, I am afraid that Jingyi Erzhou will not be able to breathe for ten or eight years. ”

"Master, are the Nanzhong barbarians so terrible?"

Ling Wanqing was named a concubine by Wang Xu, so the title was also changed, and in this era, only the main wife and the two equal wives could call the man in the family the husband, so he called the master, and later generations generally called the master.

Wang Xu asked her not to call it that, but Ling Wanqing was cautious, compared to Zhao Yu and other women, she had a lot of inferiority, and insisted on refusing, and in the end she could only let her, anyway, it was just a title, not so important.

"Of course it's terrible, the strength of the barbarians is not very strong, but the mountains and mountains in the southern and central regions are full of miasma and poisonous weeds, and there are countless beasts and poisonous insects, and it is very difficult to fight, and no matter how many soldiers and horses can't withstand the toss. When I traveled to Nanzhong, I suffered a lot. ”

Hearing him say this, Ling Wanqing also became worried, frowned and asked, "Then what now?" ”

"I must try my best to have someone go back to Jingzhou and tell them that I'm fine, otherwise if the civil strife over there intensifies, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"But now that Cao Cao knows that the master has not returned to Jingyi, and the investigation is strict, I am afraid that it will be difficult for us to return for a while, and we will go around and around, plus the delay along the way, I am afraid it will be at least two or three months later."

Wang Xu paused, he knew that what Ling Wanqing said was the truth, but the situation in Jingzhou was really anxious, thinking about it, and hesitating.

The so-called bystanders are clear, but Zhang Ning, who was in a daze, listened to them for so long and saw them like headless flies. I couldn't help but say, "What's this." Cao Cao arrested him. All the targets are cast on him, let Zhou Zhi and Huang Xu lurk back first, as long as they are careful, who knows what they do? ”

"Huh?" Wang Xu was stunned for a moment, and then slapped his thigh: "Oh, how did I forget this stubble, Ning'er is right, they are not Cao Cao's target." With a little disguise, you can get unimpeded. Quick, without further ado, Wanqing, you will order someone to call Huang Xu and Zhou Zhi back now. ”

After a while, Zhou Zhi and Huang Xu hurried back, and as soon as they entered the door, Huang Xu couldn't help but shout: "Lord, Commander Ling said that you let us go back first?" ”

Wang Xu smiled faintly: "Yes, you have to go back to Jingzhou to report the news first, so that Jingzhou can settle down." ”

"How does this work? The lord is still behind enemy lines, if we go. Who will protect the lord and the Ling commander? Huang Xu retorted sharply.

Wang Xu waved his hand and said, "It's okay, I'm already healthy." There's a way to sneak back. On the contrary, you and I have not only increased the goal and made the return journey difficult, but also the Jingzhou side has not been able to get news for a long time, and there will be changes. ”

"......"

Huang Xu wanted to say more, but Wang Xu had already interrupted first: "This is an order!" ”

"Huh!" Although Huang Xu was unwilling, he didn't dare to disobey, and sighed dissatisfiedly.

Zhou Zhi looked indifferent, seeing that he was not in a good mood, he couldn't help patting him on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Don't think about it, the boss naturally has his intentions when we let us go back first, and the boss won't do things that we are not sure about." ”

"You're smart." After giving him a blank look, Wang Xu solemnly instructed: "Zhou Zhi, you must pay attention to safety on this trip, but the speed must also be fast, there is some bad news from Jingzhou, you must do your best to pass on my affairs back." ”

"Civil strife?" Zhou Zhi is thorough.

"There should be a little bit of a problem." Wang Xu nodded.

A smile bloomed on Zhou Zhi's face, and he patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me, as long as you, the boss, are not there, no one attracts hatred, and I take Huang Xu back easily." ”

As Wang Xu recovered, Zhou Zhi also regained his slick character.

"Get out of here! The faster you roll, the better! ”

"Hahaha......" Zhou Zhi laughed, pulling Huang Xu away without caring at all. Then let's go back first, boss, you ask for more blessings! ”

"You kid be careful with me, too."

"Don't worry, I haven't enjoyed enough of the glory and wealth, and I don't want to die."

With the voice, Zhou Zhi had already led Huang Xu out of the courtyard, looking at his back, Wang Xu's face was full of helplessness.

Ling Wanqing said with a smile: "Master, sometimes I really can't figure out how General Zhou's temperament is so good to you. ”

Hearing this, the corners of Wang Xu's mouth couldn't help but draw his strange arc, as if he was smiling. "Because his character is like this because of me, and because of the arrow wound on his chest that can never be erased, and that fiery heart."

"I don't understand!" Ling Wanqing shook her head, but she didn't ask any more, and instead said: "Then what should we do next, the slave maid thinks that we are not particularly anxious this time, it is better to make a detour and merge with the state, pass through Xiliang, pass through Wudu, and return to Hanzhong, although it will take a lot more time, but it is better to avoid Cao Cao, and it is much safer." ”

"Good idea!" Wang Xu smiled, noncommittal. "When it's time to go back, you can think about it."

"Really going back? Doesn't the owner want to go back? Ling Wanqing's face was full of surprise.

"There's still some work to be done." Wang Xu shook his head incomprehensibly, didn't hurry to say anything, but looked at Zhang Ning next to him: "Ning'er, you've been running around for so long, if you're homesick, go back first!" You are safer than Zhou Zhi and them, and you can go straight to the official road along the way and go unimpeded. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Ning was silent for a moment, as if he was hesitating, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and said stubbornly: "If I don't go back, I'll follow you, I still want to figure out something!" ”

Wang Xu looked at her deeply, and Zhang Ning looked back without showing weakness, and after a long time, Wang Xu nodded: "Okay, just follow if you want, there should be no danger in the future, but the answer you want to find is not with me, but in your own heart." ”

"I know, you don't care!"

"Okay, that's up to you!"

As the two of them talked, the atmosphere in the room became a little awkward, and Ling Wanqing broke the silence with a timely smile: "Master, where are we going next?" ”

"Yecheng!" (To be continued......)