Yuan Tiangang is also an incumbent official, of course, he is a little reluctant to be a staff member for Chen Yingliang as a master, but considering that as a county commander, losing the county seat is equivalent to losing land, and the slightest carelessness may lead to the fall of the head, and Chen Yingliang patted his chest and promised to act in the court for Yuan Tiangang, and did his best to protect Yuan Tiangang's head, and promised that as long as Yuan Tiangang assisted Chen Yingliang to make meritorious contributions again, he would immediately try to let Yuan Tiangang re-enter the official career and re-assume the official position. stayed in Qian County to help Chen Yingliang abuse.

So, in this way, Yuan Tiangang, who is almost comparable to Zhuge Old Demon and Liu Bowen in the legend, has become Chen Yingliang's accomplice lackey, and Chen Yingliang, who never dreamed that he could get such a genius as a lackey, is of course overjoyed, and treats Yuan Tiangang very thickly, it can be regarded as undressing, pushing food, so that Yuan Tiangang, who is not very famous at present, is very moved, and thinks that Chen Yingliang is not a good person, and quickly integrates into the role of Chen Yingliang's staff, and uses his experience in county orders, quickly shared a lot of government affairs for Chen Yingliang - of course, Chen Yingliang needed Yuan Tiangang to do far more than that.

After Yuan Tiangang quickly adapted to the role of Chen Yingliang's staff, the time has also entered the first month of the tenth year of the Sui Dynasty, the first time to celebrate the New Year in this era, Chen Yingliang of course made a lot of jokes - for example, the calligraphy left by Chen Yingliang, who sold the dead ghost Chen Yingliang, wrote a couplet by himself, and asked his subordinates to stick it on the gate of Tongshoufu only to know that there was no couplet in this era, and the New Year should be hung on the door, so that Chen Yingliang was disgraced, and he could only slap his swollen face and become fat. Using couplets instead of peach charms to save money, forcing subordinates to paste couplets that appeared hundreds of years in advance on the door, created some topics in Yongcheng County.

The next thing is to greet the boss for the New Year, although the actual power in Chen Yingliang's hands is now greater than Xu Minlian, but in order not to be honest and create a hypocritical image of his respect for his boss's elders, Chen Yingliang still went to Qian County to pay New Year's greetings to Xu Minlian, and at the same time, he had to win over the relationship with the new county soldiers to celebrate the New Year. Especially those lonely and widowed old people who received Chen Yingliang's money and food condolences, they all cried bitterly, crying that their lives were good, and they met a blue sky lord like Chen Yingliang, but they didn't know that they had become the best supporting role for Chen Yingliang, the actor of the Great Sui Dynasty, and helped Chen Yingliang deceive countless innocent people who didn't know the truth.

In order to please Chen Yingliang, who holds the power of assessment, the officials of the county and the seven county orders have all gone to Yongcheng to give Chen Yingliang New Year's greetings, and the Shansang County Order, which is the farthest away from Yongcheng, came the earliest, and first gave Chen Yingliang a gift before going to Qian County to pay New Year's greetings to Xu Minlian, Chen Yingliang also met with these local officials one by one, and unceremoniously avenged the people under their rule. accepted the people's fat and ointment they scavenged from the people's heads, and at the same time asked these magistrates to be diligent and honest, to appease the people, and to suppress housing prices, and their tone and tone were very similar to a certain actor.

The farthest away Shansang County order came the earliest, and the second farthest Chengfu County ordered Deng Zhixuan to come the latest, until the tenth day of the first month, he led a group of people from the city to Yongcheng to pay New Year's greetings to Chen Yingliang, Du Zhixuan also knew that he came too late, so the gift was not only the thickest, but also as soon as he saw Chen Yingliang, he asked for the guilt, "Forgive the sin, the lower official originally planned to come to congratulate you on the third day of the first month, but there was a murder case in the county, which caused a sensation in the whole city, involving heavy dà, and the lower official delayed a lot of time in order to investigate the case and calm the people, so it was late, Bear forgiveness. ”

"Deng County's order doesn't have to be polite, official affairs are important, you put public affairs before private affairs, this is right, how can I blame you?" Chen Yingliang pretended to comfort him, told Deng Zhixuan to get up, and said extremely hypocritically: "Actually, it doesn't matter if Deng County's order comes or not, as long as you have your mind." ”

"And the gifts are there." Chen Yingliang added another big truth in his stomach, asked Deng Zhixuan to get up again, and then asked casually: "What happened to the murder case?" Has the real murderer been caught? ”

"Caught, caught." Deng Zhixuan hurriedly nodded and introduced: "It was a scoundrel in this county, because he coveted the deceased's property and burglary, and after being discovered, he changed the theft to robbery, killed the family of six, and lost all his conscience and did not let go of the baby in swaddling clothes, which caused a sensation in the whole city, and the lower officials spent a lot of time and effort to find out the real murderer and seize the stolen goods of the scoundrel." ”

After the report was completed, in order to show his merits, Deng Zhixuan also added: "It is also a loss to the lower officials to grasp this case tightly, and closely investigate the people who enter and leave the city, otherwise, the scoundrels plan to flee outside the city with stolen goods and fall into the grass for the cougrieve, according to his confession, he and the Liukou Wang Erhei of Ruyin County are still some relatives, and they are ready to flee to the neighboring county to join their relatives and become thieves." ”

"Well done, this matter will be written and submitted in a detailed official document, and I will ask the court to re-examine him, be a typical warning to the world, and I will also give you a grade of excellence during the assessment." Chen Yingliang nodded with satisfaction, and then ordered: "Deng County Order, the Chengfu County under your rule borders Ruyin and Huaiyang counties, and the border is hundreds of miles away and the mountains are high and dense, and the population is sparse, which is the natural nest of the thieves and thieves. It's a big deal, and that's something you need to keep in mind. ”

Deng Zhixuan agreed repeatedly, saying that he must keep in mind the teachings of Shangguan and never give the thieves a chance to sit in his own county, and then hurriedly presented the gift list with both hands, and asked Chen Yingliang to appreciate it, Chen Yingliang pretended to pretend to say a few words, and then accepted it without hesitation. However, at this moment, Chen Yingliang's old neighbor Sangouzi walked into the living room quickly, looking hurried and wanted to say something, but because he had been taught by Chen Yingliang, he didn't dare to speak directly like before, and his face was full of desire to speak, Chen Yingliang saw that he was nervous, so he asked, "What's wrong?" ”

"Something happened." Sangouzi replied: "Ma Sanbao and one of the entourages of Deng County Commander fought, and it didn't count if they fought in the front yard, and then ran to the martial arts arena in the West Cross Courtyard to continue fighting, and they were ......, and they all moved the real guys!" ”

"What?!"

Hearing this, Chen Yingliang was of course taken aback, and Deng Zhixuan was even more shocked and jumped up on the spot, and screamed with a pale face: "My entourage and Chen Tongshou's people are fighting?" That retinue of mine, why are they fighting? ”

"I don't know." Sangouzi replied truthfully: "I was guarding the second gate, and Ma Sanbao was fighting with that person in the front yard, so I don't know why they beat me, or if someone else sued me, I only knew about it." ”

Deng Zhixuan complained even more, but Chen Yingliang got up silently and walked to the west across the courtyard -- Chen Yingliang was certainly not afraid that Ma Sanbao, the only military general under his command, would have three strengths and two weaknesses, but was worried that Ma Sanbao would lose his hand and kill people, and things would not be good for the aftermath when the time came. Deng Zhixuan saw it over there, and hurriedly followed with the three dogs, constantly begging God to tell the Buddha in his heart, begging his entourage not to hurt Chen Yingliang's people, even if they were killed by Chen Yingliang's people, don't touch the other party's hair.

When he arrived at the West Cross Courtyard, a large area of the specially rammed martial arts arena, Ma Sanbao, who was holding a horizontal knife, was really fighting with a man with a spear, and there were many Chen Fu's subordinates and Deng Zhixuan's entourage watching the excitement, Chen Yingliang wanted to open his mouth to stop, but he closed his mouth violently, and stopped Deng Zhixuan's scolding in time - because Chen Yingliang, who knew some fighting skills and knife skills, suddenly found that Ma Sanbao, who was barely a famous general of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, was on an equal footing with the spearman and did not have much upper hand at all.

When the two fought carefully, Chen Yingliang, who was currently short of generals, began to show joy, because the spearman was really good, a nine-foot spear danced like a tiger and a tiger, piercing, stabbing, tart, and slamming moves, and Chen Yingliang, who even knew two or three moves between the spear dances, was a little dazzled, and he couldn't judge what the tip of his gun was pointing at. And although Ma Sanbao is the future general of the Tang Dynasty Zuo Xiaowei, he can't take much advantage in front of him, and he was forced to retreat by the spearman several times when he tried to cut people at close range, and he was almost stabbed by a spear at one point.

Seeing this scene, Chen Yingliang was of course even more happy, but he couldn't remember what kind of famous generals could be in the territory of Qian County in this era, and he could fight with Ma Sanbao? Unable to hold back his curiosity, Chen Yingliang finally spoke, shouting: "Stop! Stop it! ”

The knife and gun stopped, and Ma Sanbao, who was very agile, was the first to jump out of the battle circle, saluted Chen Yingliang with some gasp, and then couldn't wait to say to Chen Yingliang: "Childe, this kid can do it, and the assessment is clear." ”

"What assessment?" Chen Yingliang was a little confused for a while.

"Is that your assessment on the recruitment list?" Ma Sanbao asked a little confusedly, until Chen Yingliang asked for details, Ma Sanbao introduced the matter, it turned out that Deng Zhixuan brought this entourage from the city father, because he had long heard that Chen Yingliang was recruiting talents, and after following Deng Zhixuan to the Tongshou Mansion, he immediately inquired about the specific situation with Chen Yingliang's personal soldiers, knowing that if he wanted to become Chen Yingliang's general, he had to pass the assessment of Ma Sanbao, and happened to meet Ma Sanbao coming back from the school outside the city, so he stopped Ma Sanbao and asked for the assessment, and Ma Sanbao competed with him a little, After discovering that his skills were not bad, he took him to the West Cross Courtyard to perform a real sword and gun competition in the martial arts field, and then there was something later.

After hurriedly introducing the general situation, Ma Sanbao couldn't wait to say: "Childe, this person's skills are really good, although the villain is because he taught martial arts in the military camp for a day, and his body is not enough for a while, but the villain estimates that even if my body is sufficient, I am afraid that I will not be able to win him without thirty or fifty moves." Also, the spear and spear weapon he is good at, and our new army team just lacks such a person to teach spears and spears. ”

"Yes, you can, but please use a wooden knife and a wooden gun in the next assessment, don't scare me again!"

Chen Yingliang scolded in a low voice, then turned his head to observe the spearman and found that he was similar in age to Ma Sanbao, both of them were twenty-five or six years old, silkworm eyebrows, big eyes, bronze complexion, very strong expression, burly figure and wearing official clothes, it seemed to be a small official under Deng Zhixuan, Chen Yingliang nodded with satisfaction, and then asked: "What's your name?" ”

"Zhu Cang, the head of the Yaban of Chengfu County, has seen Lord Tongshou!" The spearman saluted Chen Yingliang with a very respectful attitude.

"Oh, it turned out to be Zhu Cang Zhu Bantou." Chen Yingliang smiled and nodded, but when he was halfway through, Chen Yingliang's face suddenly froze, because Chen Yingliang suddenly remembered that the Zhu Cang in front of him was also a historical celebrity, and he also appeared in "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties", and he was far better than Ma Sanbao in history, and once became a hegemon, once canonized as the king of Chu by Li Yuan, once named the general of Long Xiang by Wang Shichong, and once called himself the emperor! It's just that Chen Yingliang couldn't imagine that this Zhu Cang is now under his command.

"Chen Tongshou, let me introduce you." Deng Zhixuan also spoke, pointed to Zhu Cang and introduced: "The lower official told you about the murder case before, and the murderer was captured by this Zhu Bantou himself. ”

Zhu Cang straightened his chest, the stiff expression on Chen Yingliang's face also loosened a little, and said with a smile: "Zhu Bantou, please get up, your skills are so good, and you have made great contributions to the place, I like it very much, come here, take five taels of gold and reward Zhu Bantou." ”

Chen Yingliang's personal soldiers agreed, and immediately went to get the reward money, Zhu Cang was overjoyed, and hurriedly thanked Chen Yingliang, and asked cautiously: "Chen Tongshou, the villain heard that you are idle, and want to recruit some samurai to serve as generals in the county soldiers, the villain has been practicing martial arts since childhood, and has been guided by a master, I don't know ......." ”

"Zhu Bantou's skills are really outstanding, I like it very much." Chen Yingliang interrupted Zhu Cang's words with a smile, and said with a kind expression: "Deng County Commander has also said just now, you are his right-hand man, and the city father's side is the junction of the three counties, and the surrounding thieves are constantly in chaos, which is the most important, so after you return to the city father with the Deng County order, you must be careful to be an errand and don't let down Deng County Ling and my expectations for you." ”

Ma Sanbao was stunned, and when he was about to speak, he was stopped by Chen Yingliang with his eyes, and he closed his mouth helplessly, and he was puzzled in his heart. Zhu Cang was disappointed, so he had to honestly accept the order, Chen Yingliang smiled and instructed Deng Zhixuan: "Deng County Order, after you return to the city father, you must also make good use of this Zhu Bantou, if he makes another meritorious service, you must immediately report it to me, I have a heavy reward." ”

Deng Zhexuan nodded and agreed again and again, and Zhu Cang also rekindled some hope, and said in his heart: "Does Chen Tongshou still want to observe whether I am worth reusing?" Isn't that right, if you want to observe, it would be more convenient to keep me with him and observe nearby? ”

Zhu Cang was puzzled, and Ma Sanbao, who had already competed with Zhu Cang, was of course even more puzzled, and finally survived until Deng Zhexuan led Zhu Cang to say goodbye and leave, of course, Ma Sanbao immediately went to Chen Yingliang and saluted and asked: "Son, that Zhu Cang is quite skilled, and he is proficient in guns and spears, he is exactly the talent we are currently lacking, and he obviously wants to play for you, why do you still push him out of the door?" Isn't that your usual way of doing things? ”

Chen Yingliang was silent, and after a long time, he said slowly: "Sanbao, have you found that this Zhu Cang's personality is a little unreliable?" Too eager for quick success, but also a little unscrupulous? ”

"What?" Ma Sanbao was stunned at first, and then replied in surprise: "No? Don't you see the little one? Childe, you only met him for the first time, why do you think he is unreliable and unscrupulous? ”

"I saw it from his fight with you." Chen Yingliang groaned and said: "Today, you fought with him, I can see that you are a little weak, and I can also see why you didn't kill him, but he didn't show any mercy to you, and he used all his strength in his moves." I remember he had a shot that grazed your ear, and if it had been solid, you would have died. ”

"Hearing what Gongzi said, this Zhu Cang seems to be a little ruthless." After being reminded by Chen Yingliang, Ma Sanbao found out that Zhu Cang was a little ruthless at that time, and then Ma Sanbao said: "But I compete with him, and the competition is who is faster and who is ruthless, and it is normal for him to be a little ruthless?" ”

"It's not normal, it's not normal." Chen Yingliang shook his head, and asked rhetorically: "Sanbao, if you go to Pei Ju and Pei Xiang's mansion with me, and then you and Pei Xiang's personal entourage compete in martial arts, using real knives and real guns that can hurt people and kill people, do you dare to be like Zhu Cang, whose subordinates are ruthless, and may kill the opponent at any time?" ”

Ma Sanbao suddenly came to his senses and said: "I understand, of course the little one doesn't dare, and the little one doesn't dare to offend Gongzi and your backer no matter how stupid he is, but that Zhu Cang obviously has the guts, so Gongzi, you think that he is ruthless, unscrupulous, and impulsive and unreliable." ”

Chen Yingliang nodded and said: "Yes, the relationship between Deng Zhixuan and me, although it is not as important as the relationship between me and Pei Xiang, but after all, I am Deng Zhixuan's top boss, and I have the power to assess Deng Zhixuan, as Deng Zhixuan's entourage, but that Zhu Cang did not stand in Deng Zhixuan's position at all to make any considerations, for his own promotion and fortune, get ahead, and be ruthless, such a person, do you think you can be entrusted with a heavy responsibility?" ”

Ma Sanbao completely shut up, and finally understood why Chen Yingliang found out that Zhu Cang was a talent and didn't need it, but Yuan Tiangang, who had been silent next to him, suddenly applauded and praised: "Lord Tongshou is really clever, he knows the slightest thing, he knows the whole leopard by stealing a spot, and he is rare in the world." ”

After patting Chen Yingliang's ass, Yuan Tiangang suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Tongshou, in fact, if you want to keep that Zhu Cang today, I will definitely remind you to be careful." You also know that I have a little experience in physiognomy, and I found that Zhu Cang's eyebrows are evil, and he looks at the tiger step, which is the nature of killing, and he will suffer from it! And once this person soars, he will inevitably endanger the world, affect the innocent, and may even cause countless killings! ”

Chen Yingliang glanced at Yuan Tiangang, and saw that his expression was solemn and did not seem to be saying this in order to welcome himself, and he couldn't help but secretly praise Yuan Tiangang for really living up to his reputation, because Chen Yingliang refused to keep Zhu Cang, the biggest reason was that Chen Yingliang knew history, knew that this Zhu Cang was the first human-faced beast-hearted disciple in the late Sui and early Tang Dynasties, capricious and ruthless, even cruel enough to eat human flesh, and took his army of birds and beasts to eat hundreds of thousands of old and weak women and children, women and children! Chen Yingliang refused to keep Zhu Cang, just thinking of Zhu Cang, he felt extremely disgusting!

"Why don't you kill Zhu Cang now, lest he be innocent in the world in the future?" Chen Yingliang also had such thoughts, but considering that Zhu Cang did not show his bad achievements now, and he could not kill the talents who came to the list to destroy the people's voice, Chen Yingliang's eyes quickly dimmed. At the same time, Chen Yingliang was also secretly a little worried, feeling that keeping this Zhu Cang under his command was like putting a poisonous snake in his room, which made people feel uneasy.

At this time, Ma Sanbao suddenly spoke again, and said with a smile: "Childe, Mr. Yuan, since you think this Zhu Cang's face is so bad, then we don't want to leave him in Qian County, it's better to give this Zhu Cang to the enemy, and let him go and harm the enemy for us." ”

"The enemy who gave Zhu Cang to us?"

Chen Yingliang looked up at Ma Sanbao fiercely, Ma Sanbao was taken aback by Chen Yingliang's actions, and said that his words were too child's play, so he quickly pleaded guilty, Chen Yingliang waved his hand and said secretly in his heart: "This is a method, I am not sure that the double-edged sword of Zhu Cang's poisonous snake will be used well, it is better to send him to my enemy to use, even if my enemy can use it well, with Zhu Cang's brutal and ruthless character, it must be a time bomb, which may play a greater role at any time." ”

Thinking about this, Chen Yingliang instructed Ma Sanbao: "Sanbao, you take some money to the post house, invite that Zhu Cang out to drink, and have a relationship with him, and do two things for me, one is to invite him to our military camp to teach some gun and spear moves, squeeze the oil and water on his body, and the other is to sue him in private, saying that I actually appreciate that Zhu Cang very much, and feel that he can be entrusted with important tasks, just to let him Zhu Cang do more important things in the future, so I didn't use him publicly for the time being, so that he can rest assured that he is on an errand. After a while, I will assign him important errands. ”