The weather in July is like a hot sun, from Suzhou Pass to Chijin City, the shade of the old trees that is rare to see, Xu Liang stood under the shade of the trees, and watched the craftsmen of Chijin City not far away command the workers to open the mountain and pave the road.

Since the Chijin City Lord's Mansion ordered the start of road construction, this is already the eighth day, the east gate of Chijin City has been repaired for more than ten miles, from Chijin, Shazhou mobilized horse-drawn carriages, oxen and horses to transport road repair materials, earthwork or stones, under the shouting of the coachman, whistling on the newly repaired road.

The newly built road is wide enough for three horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side. At first, Luo Rucai and the others didn't understand why they had to build such a wide road, but after seeing the actual effect, Luo Rucai and the others obediently shut up.

By Xu Liang's side, Liang Ziqi, the eldest son of the Liang family, pinched a gold-painted paper fan in one hand and kept fanning the wind. Even so, Liang Ziqi still kept talking about heat.

"Lord Xu, my Lord Governor!" Liang Ziqi looked at Xu Liang pitifully, and asked pitifully: "My Liang family's shops have already opened for business, and it seems that your road will be repaired in less than a month." When are we going back to Shaanxi? ”

Xu Liang smiled slightly and asked, "Why, it's only been so many days, and you're bored?" ”

Liang Ziqi poured bitter water: "It's not that I'm bored, but the weather in Turpan is too unbearable!" Since we arrived here, there has been no rain for more than ten days, and the wind blowing on the face is hot. As he spoke, Liang Ziqi rolled up his cuffs, exposed an arm, stretched out in front of Xu Liang, and shouted: "Look at it, look at it, it's only been a few days, and it's been like this!" ”

Xu Liang only felt funny, originally Liang Ziqi was also a handsome and white son, but after arriving in Tulupan, at a glance, it was dark.

Xu Liang said with a smile: "The vegetation in Tulupan is scarce, so it is so dry and hot. Therefore, the official has already told Luo Rucai and Bayi that after the road is repaired, drought-resistant trees should be planted on both sides of the road! With the shelter of these big trees, the road will not be so hot. ”

Liang Ziqi fanned the wind and asked helplessly: "My governor, you don't need to tell me about your grand plan. I just want to know, when will we be able to leave for Shaanxi? ”

Xu Liang walked out from under the shade of the tree, tested the temperature of the direct sun, and hurriedly walked back, and then said to Liang Ziqi: "It is estimated that this will, Ge Qiao should also go to Chang'an." The official decided to return to Chang'an tomorrow. ”

Liang Ziqi heard this, and immediately cheered.

Xu Liang walked a few miles forward in a carriage, and saw that the road repair in each section was progressing smoothly, the mood of the craftsmen and the people was also very stable, and most of the people along the way also supported, and there was no disruption to the construction progress.

Entering the City Lord's Mansion and passing by the living room, Xu Liang saw that Luo Rucai was receiving people inside, and he had no intention of going in, so he planned to go around to the backyard, but Luo Rucai's eyes were sharp, and he actually saw Xu Liang, and hurriedly ran out and caught up with Xu Liang, his expression was a little unnatural: "My lord, wait a minute......

Xu Liang stopped and looked at Luo Rucai, "What's the matter, something?" ”

Luo Rucai looked left and right, like a thief, and arched his hand in a sneering manner, and said, "My lord, the last general, the eldest brother of the last general is here." ”

Xu Liang was surprised, "Your eldest brother? Where did you come from, big brother? "I can't help but be surprised by Liang Rucai, since Luo Rucai took refuge in himself, he has been leading troops in the Liang army, Luo Rucai was originally a thief, and even his family is dead, where is the eldest brother?

Xu Liang looked at Luo Rucai in surprise.

Luo Rucai's face turned red, and he said embarrassedly: "My lord, you probably forgot that before the last general followed the adult, he followed the leader of the people's army to the heavenly dragon, and the heavenly dragon was kind to the last general, and the last general recognized him as the eldest brother." ”

Xu Liang suddenly remembered, in this way, Luo Rucai does have a righteous eldest brother, who is the leader of the people's army, Shangtianlong. It's just that since Luo Rucai followed him, Luo Rucai basically cut off contact with his righteous eldest brother!

Now, Luo Rucai suddenly mentioned his eldest brother, Xu Liang was even more surprised: "The Heavenly Dragon has arrived here?" ”

Luo Rucai nodded, and saw that Xu Liang did not mean to be angry and angry, so he was a little relieved.

With Xu Liang's current status and power, he naturally doesn't care too much about the small leader of the people's army like Shang Tianlong, and after being stunned for a while, Xu Liang waved his hand casually and said: "Since your eldest brother is here, then you two brothers can talk about it." Well, although the identity of the Heavenly Dragon is a bit special, how can this official be that kind of stingy person, he won't mind. ”

Luo Rucai was grateful for a while, but he still bowed his hand to Xu Liang and said, "My lord, the Heavenly Dragon will run to Chijin City to find the last general, and the last general is also very surprised." I talked to the Heavenly Dragon just now, in fact, the Heavenly Dragon came to Chijin City to ask to see you. ”

Xu Liang raised his eyebrows, curious: "Heavenly Dragon looking for me?" ”

Luo Rucai nodded and said, "Shanglongtian is in the living room at this moment, do you want to meet him, my lord?" ”

Xu Liang pondered in his heart: After Xu Liang mobilized Shaanxi officers and soldiers to drive out the people's army entrenched in Shaanxi Province, the rebellious people's army in Shaanxi Province was almost extinct. Now the Heavenly Dragon is not rebelling in Shanxi, but he came to Chijin City, asked his righteous brother Luo Rucai, and asked to see him.

Xu Liang beckoned: "Let's go, I'll meet him when I go in." ”

Although he is the leader of the people's army, he is wearing a blue robe, and he looks like a scribe. Shangtianlong faced the famous Shaanxi governor Xu Liang, and kowtowed to the ground at a regular distance.

"Shangtianlong, you are not in Shanxi, why did you come to Chijin City instead?" Xu Liang asked.

"Lord Governor, the grass people followed King Gao Yingxiang into Shanxi a year ago, followed a few big leaders in Shanxi, and the days were also mixed, the governor of Shanxi is a fool, if it weren't for the middle court to install a Cao Wenzhao in, I'm afraid that Shanxi would have been the world of the people's army a long time ago." Shang Tianlong said, suddenly realizing that his words were a great disrespect to the court, and he couldn't help but look at Xu Liang's demeanor worriedly.

Xu Liang's face was as usual, and he didn't seem to care about the situation in Shanxi.

Shangtianlong was secretly happy in his heart, and said secretly, it seems that things are really as King Chuang expected, although Xu Liang is an official of the Ming Dynasty, but he may not have much respect for the Ming court in his heart.

After a while, Xu Liangcai asked lightly: "Since you have followed King Gao Yingxiang in Shanxi to live so nourishingly, then why did you travel all the way to Chijin City to see this official?" ”

Shangtianlong's face was bitter, he arched his hand towards Xu Liang, and said with a wry smile: "I'm not afraid of your jokes, Lord Governor, if your lord is in Chang'an City, then the grass people have a hundred guts, and they don't dare to come to see you." In fact, a month ago, after King Chuang heard that the governor led his army to capture the two cities of Chijin and Shazhou in Tulupan, he ordered the grass people to return to Shaanxi and find an opportunity to meet the governor. It's just that Chang'an City is heavily guarded, and the grass people don't dare to enter, until the grass people find out that the governor has arrived in Chijin City, and the grass people hurriedly follow. ”

Xu Liang waved his hand: "Don't talk about those useless ones. Heavenly Dragon, just say it directly, what is the purpose of you working so hard to see me? ”

Shangtianlong carefully took out a delicate-looking knife from his bosom and took two steps towards Xu Liang. Luo Rucai immediately stood up, stopped in front of Xu Liang, and shouted, "Big brother, what are you going to do?!" ”

Shangtianlong was stunned for a moment, shook his head at Luo Rucai and said, "Brother Luo, don't misunderstand, I have no ill will towards Lord Governor. With that, Shangtianlong held the knife in both hands and gently placed it on the coffee table beside Xu Liang.

Luo Rucai saw that the Heavenly Dragon really had no malicious intent, so he smiled and retreated.

Xu Liang glanced at the knife on the coffee table and asked, "What does this mean?" ”

Shangtianlong laughed, pointed to the knife, and explained: "This is a treasure that King Chuang got by chance, this knife is called Leng Yue, blowing hair and breaking hair, sharpening iron like clay!" King Chuang knew that the governor had made a good knife technique, so he specially asked the grass people to bring this knife to the governor this time. ”

Xu Liang listened and held the knife named Leng Yue in his hand. The blade of this knife is narrow and long, shaped like a missing moon, and the blade is only a little more than a foot long, and the blade presents an arc of a missing moon. Xu Liang gently pulled out the knife, only to see that the mangs were bright, and the cold moon was glowing faintly, even in the hot July weather, Xu Liang still felt a trace of chill when he saw this knife.

Thinking that the Heavenly Dragon described Leng Yue's ability to blow and break his hair and sharpen iron like clay, Xu Liang casually plucked a short hair, gently put it on the blade, and blew a little, only to see that the thin hair broke in response.

"Good knives!" Xu Liang couldn't help but marvel, and suddenly couldn't put it down for this cold moon.

Heavenly Dragon smiled, "It's good if the governor likes it." ”

Xu Liang waved a few times at will with disgust, then put it away and put it aside, then looked at Shang Tianlong, and chuckled: "Go back and tell King Chuang, his gift is very fond of the official." Now, tell me what you mean. ”

When Shangtianlong heard this, he straightened his sitting posture, thought for a while, and then said in a deep voice under the stares of Xu Liang and Luo Rucai: "Let's ask the grass people to bring a word to the governor, and our king intends to work together with the governor!" I wonder what the governor thinks? ”

"Huh?" When Xu Liang heard this, he immediately smiled dumbly, "Gao Yingxiang wants to cooperate with this official?" Hahaha...... Heavenly Dragon, I heard you right, right? You King Chuang actually want to cooperate with me Xu Liang? Xu Liang only felt funny, pointed to the heavenly dragon and said: "You are a rebel army, and this official is a courtier of the Ming Dynasty!" Since you people are not messing around in your own jurisdiction, I don't bother to pay attention to you! And now you still want to work with me? What to work with? Do you want your own officials to rebel with you? ”

Shangtianlong seemed to have expected Xu Liang to have such a reaction, and when he heard Xu Liang's sneering words, he was not angry at all, and sat steadily, and when Xu Liang finished speaking, Shangtianlong arched his hand and said: "Lord Governor, many of our leaders in King Chuang and the people's army do not look down on the officials of the Ming Dynasty, but they respect you, Lord Xu." King Chuang sent grass people to come, which brought sincerity to cooperation. Let's open the skylight and say something bright, since the governor led the army to capture Chijin and Shazhou in Turpan, and put the old puppet of the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, under house arrest, King Chuang said that the governor is by no means a thing in the pool. ”

Xu Liang playedly played with the Cold Moon Knife, shook his head and said with a smile: "Whether this official is a thing in the pool or not, it is not Gao Ying's turn to comment on the rebellion." Hmm, let's talk about it, what kind of cooperation does Gao Yingxiang think? ”

Shangtianlong smiled, stepped forward and said, "Lord Governor doesn't know, the current situation of the people's army in Shanxi is like a bamboo!" The total strength of the people's army from all walks of life has reached nearly 100,000. Only if we wave the king, there will be 30,000 infantry troops and 2,000 cavalry! It was only a matter of time before the whole of Shanxi was captured. King Chuang knew that in the entire northwest, the only person who could compete with it was the governor. Before coming, King Chuang said that as long as the governor was in Shaanxi for a day, the people's army would never set foot in Shaanxi. As long as the governor can also guarantee that the officers and soldiers of Shaanxi will never leave Shaanxi, then, he will win the Ming Dynasty and the governor will be crowned as the prince! ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart, this Gao Yingxiang really has some brains, in the northwest realm, in addition to guarding the border army, there are many people, and the strongest person is himself, the governor of Shaanxi! And now, seeing the situation, the people's army is making good progress in Shanxi, and Gao Yingxiang wants to expand the results of the battle, so he has to prevent his Shaanxi soldiers from stabbing in the back. So he came up with the trick of cooperating with himself, once Xu Liang agreed, then no matter how strong the officers and soldiers of Shaanxi are, if they can't get out of Shaanxi, they won't be able to threaten the people's army.

Xu Liang can already imagine that once the People's Army gains a firm foothold in other provinces and is strong, Gao Yingxiang will definitely turn around and forget about cooperating with Xu Liang, wave his army westward, and fight with Xu Liang's Shaanxi soldiers!

Xu Liang didn't speak for a long time, and looked at the Heavenly Dragon with scrutinizing eyes.

The Heavenly Dragon faintly felt an invisible pressure, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he felt that it was becoming a little difficult to breathe.

"Ahem, Lord Governor, I don't know what to do with King Chuang's proposal?"

Luo Rucai also looked at Xu Liang with a complicated expression. He had some hopes that Xu Liang would agree, but he didn't dare to have too many expectations, because Xu Liang was an official of the Ming Dynasty.

Xu Liang suddenly laughed, waved his hand at Shangtianlong and said, "To be honest, this official is really a little moved by Gao Yingxiang's proposal." ”

The Heavenly Dragon immediately happily agreed, "The Governor is very right. Cooperating with our king is of great benefit to both parties. ”

Xu Liang glanced at Shangtianlong, shook his head and said, "It's not impossible for this official to cooperate with Gao Yingxiang. However, the official is not satisfied with the conditions of cooperation! What Gao Yingxiang was named a prince after seizing the country, so don't mention things that are too far away. ”

Heavenly Dragon immediately comprehended and arched his hand: "Lord Governor, King Chuang also explained before coming, if the Lord Governor is not satisfied with the conditions of cooperation, he can put forward the conditions that Lord Governor wants." ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he smiled and began to count: "I must have heard that Shangtianlong has also heard that this official is from a high school, he reads few books, and he can't look at the long term. I know that every time your army captures a place, it will inevitably loot on a large scale! Then, the condition of my cooperation is that in the future, the treasures stolen by your people's army, I will score 30%! (To be continued.) )