Among the several students and scholars who chased the Taiping Army warden with a blade, there were three people Zuo Zongtang knew.

The first person at the head, only in his early twenties, is the second son of Deng Renkun, the current governor of Hunan Province, and the brother of Deng Fulun, a friend of his friend Deng Fulun, a native of Wugang, Hunan, also known as Fuyi, the word Baozhi, and his nickname Hongsheng. This son is smart and strong, five years old can poetry, less mother's funeral, father went to the distant post, and brother dependent, fourteen years old into the state school, seventeen years old with his brother to study in Changsha Chengnan Academy, young and vigorous, good at military affairs, was taken as a student, but in the imperial examination quite unsatisfactory, then abandoned this way.

The latter two, one is a little older, around twenty-seven or eight years old, quite old, named Li Shourong, the word Mengying, a star in Wangcheng County, Hunan, a talented and outstanding, good at poetry and writing, especially the language of the Federation of Workers, known as a talented man in Changsha.

The other person is only about eighteen or nine years old, and his face is still childish, but it is Wang Minyun, a native of Xiangtan, Hunan, who is known as Renqiu. This man was lonely since childhood, raised by his uncle, with dull qualifications but studiousness, and at the age of thirteen he graduated from Chengnan Academy, and now he is quite famous.

Deng Yi, Li Shourong, and Wang Minyun, together with Deng Yi's brother Deng Fulun, and Long Rulin, a native of Youxian County, Hunan, are collectively known as the five sons of Xiangzhong, Deng Fulun is already an official in the court, and Long Rulin is also in Renzhi County, Quwo, Shanxi. Except for Wang Minyun, who was a little younger, who only took the county exam a few months ago and entered the county school with the first place, the other two are no longer studying in the academy, but how can they appear here?

Seeing that the three of them were dressed in the costumes of the academy students, leading the three young students, each holding a sword and chasing several wardens of the Taiping Army out. Several of them are weak scholars, their steps are not the same, and the swords in their hands are only in vain, and the Taiping military officials also have their own blades, but it seems that they are hindered by the general order of the King of the West, and they do not draw their swords and do it, but they just keep evading.

Seeing Xiao Yungui pull out the long knife on his waist with an angry face, and a cold murderous aura rushed to his face, Zuo Zongtang knew that Xiao Yungui was really angry, for fear that Xiao Yungui would kill Deng Yi and others, so he hurriedly stopped in front of Xiao Yungui and said: "Xiwang stay, these people Zuo Mou know, there may be some misunderstanding, wait for me to go up and explain." ”

Xiao Yungui said coldly: "This king is not used to someone holding a blade to talk to this king. At that moment, he shouted loudly to several wardens: "What are you running, are you hanging a burning stick on your waist?" ”

A warden hurriedly said, "Your Royal Highness the King of the West, don't you have a general order not to harm the people in the academy?" ”

Xiao Yungui scolded angrily: "People are polite, we naturally can't hurt them, but if we compare the blades, then what's polite?" Put them all down for me and then talk! ”

Several wardens immediately pulled out their waist knives, turned around and killed back, although these people are also literati, but they have followed the Taiping Army for many years, and they have learned martial arts for self-protection, although they are much inferior to the experienced Taiping Army, but they are much stronger than the showmanship of Deng Yi and others.

Several people stepped forward and slashed with their knives, and the swords in the hands of Deng Yi and others were shaken down in a few strokes, and several young people saw that the Taiping army was fierce, and they were so frightened that they lost their blades and squatted on the ground with their heads in their hands. Deng Yi and the others were kicked a few times and fell to the ground, and when they got up, the bright steel knife was already on their necks.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Xiao Yungui, Zuo Zongtang hurriedly turned around and shouted: "Mercy to your subordinates, mercy to your subordinates......" Only shouted a few times, Deng Yi and the others had already been captured by knocking down their weapons, but fortunately, they were only punched and kicked a few times, and Zuo Zongtang was relieved.

Deng Yi and the others were escorted forward, only to see Xiao Yungui giving orders and wearing extraordinary clothes, knowing that this person was the head of the thief, they all glared angrily at Xiao Yungui. Deng Yi looked at Zuo Zongtang, who was slightly embarrassed on the side, and said angrily: "Why is the public here? Can't you be a thief?! ”…,

Zuo Zongtang hurriedly said: "No, Zuo is just ......"

Xiao Yungui smiled and hurriedly interrupted Zuo Zongtang's words and said: "Mr. Zuo, this king treats you with great courtesy, Mr. Zuo is just helping this king achieve the great cause of rejuvenating the Han Dynasty, how can you say it from a thief?" These kindergarten juniors don't know the ambitions in your and me's chests, and they insult them, it's really hateful, why don't you kill them and vent your evil anger for Mr. Zuo? ”

Zuo Zongtang's face turned green, and as soon as Xiao Yungui said this, he couldn't wash it even if he jumped into the Yellow River. He didn't expect that he would be misunderstood with Xiao Yungui and others, and only then did he understand why Xiao Yungui wanted to come to Chengnan Academy with him, it turned out that he had planned to trap himself early on. Seeing that Xiao Yungui made a look, several Taiping soldiers raised their knives and were about to start, Zuo Zongtang was anxious to save people and had to hurriedly say: "King Xi, do it slowly." ”

Xiao Yungui said with a smile: "Okay, Mr. Zuo is the first think tank under the king's account, this thin noodles still have to be given, these people dare to use knives against our Taiping holy soldiers, whether to kill or stay, it all depends on Mr. Zuo's words." ”

Zuo Zongtang's lips trembled with anger, he couldn't imagine that Xiao Yungui was so shameless in planting blame, and now he was threatening the lives of several people, and hurriedly said loudly: "King Xi, Zuo has an agreement with you, you can't ......"

Xiao Yungui waved his hand and interrupted: "Yes, you and I have an agreement, so this king will give you face, otherwise these people would have been in different places a long time ago, Mr. Zuo should make a decision quickly, kill or stay?" This king kindly reminded Mr. that these people can't stay, if Mr. leaks out the news of my peace, I'm afraid that the family will not be safe. ”

Among the several people, except for Deng Yi and Wang Minyun, who glared angrily, Li Shourong and the other three were all worried, with a pleading look in their eyes.

After Zuo Zongtang was interrupted by Xiao Yungui and framed for a while, he was so angry that he pointed at Xiao Yungui and couldn't even say a few words about you.

Deng Yi looked at Zuo Zongtang coldly and said angrily: "Zuo Zongtang, if you want to kill, you will kill, don't be in a state of pity, why do I wait for Confucian students to read the books of sages?" How can you bow your knees to serve a thief like you? You insult Sven, I don't have a senior brother like you! ”

Zuo Zongtang's face turned red, and he hurriedly said: "I am not a thief, you have to listen to him to sow discord." ”

Xiao Yungui leisurely flicked the long knife in his hand and said, "Mr. Zuo, hurry up and decide, this king doesn't have that patience." ”

Zuo Zongtang arched his hand helplessly and said, "Please also ask the King of the West to let them go." ”

Xiao Yungui smiled and said, "Okay, then listen to Mr. Zuo and let a few of them go." ”

Several Taiping soldiers let go of their hands, but they were still surrounded by swords, and they didn't mean to get out of the way, Xiao Yungui touched his nose and frowned and said, "Mr. Zuo, let's introduce a few." ”

Zuo Zongtang hurriedly said: "Didn't you promise to let them go?" ”

Xiao Yungui shrugged and said: "Naturally, I will release it, but there is no need to rush for a while, since I have arrived in this academy, the students of the Xianghu Literary School are all very famous, and this king still has the heart to make friends with one or two, and it is not a big deal to know each other's names." ”

Zuo Zongtang had no choice but to introduce Deng Yi, Li Shourong, Wang Minyun and others, and then told the identities of Xiao Yungui and Hong Xuanjiao.

Hong Xuanjiao kept smiling and watching Xiao Yungui harm Zuo Zongtang, at this time, after listening to the names of Deng Yi, Li Shourong, and Wang Minyun, she couldn't help but change her complexion slightly, and stepped forward and said: "It turned out to be the famous five sons of Xiangzhong, King Xi, these three are all famous characters." ”

Among the three, Xiao Yungui has only vaguely heard Wang Minyun's name, and the other two don't know, but since they can be as famous as Wang Minyun, Deng Yi and Li Shourong must have extraordinary abilities. looked at Hong Xuanjiao strangely in a blink of an eye, did she know where these two people came from? The doubts in Xiao Yungui's heart became bigger and bigger, and a bold thought floated from the bottom of his heart, could this little girl be possessed by the soul of the future like herself. …,

While pondering, I saw an elderly man running out of breath, shouting as he ran: "Your master's subordinates are merciful, the old students don't know the depths, and they have collided with you, so please be merciful." ”

This old man was dressed in a green robe and horse coat, with a small round hat on his head, he looked quite kind, and the three long beards under his chin had a bit of the elegance of a master, but he ran out of breath and was a little embarrassed.

"A few masters, the old and decrepit students don't know the depths, and they collided with everyone, please be merciful to your subordinates, please let the old students go." The old man took a deep look in front of him, and then saw Zuo Zongtang and said, "Hey, Ji Gao, why are you here?" ”

Listening to the old man's tone, he must have misunderstood Zuo Zongtang, Zuo Zongtang was only afraid that as soon as he opened his mouth to explain, Xiao Yungui would interject shamelessly, but the result was that the description became darker and darker, so he simply did not defend himself, and returned the salute with a pale face: "Ding Shanchang, don't come to harm, King Xi, this is Mr. Ding Fuchen, the mountain chief of Chengnan Academy." Mountain chief, this is the king of the Taiping West, and the one next to him is the princess of the West. ”

Xiao Yungui clenched his fists and said, "Mr. Ding is polite. Hong Xuanjiao was not like an ordinary woman, but also hugged her fists and smiled: "The little woman has seen Mr. Ding." ”

Ding Fuchen's hair turned white, and when he heard that the two of them were the long-haired giant thieves and the Xiwang couple who were rumored outside, he couldn't help but be startled, and hurriedly laughed twice and returned the salute: "Take care of it, take care of it." ”

Zuo Zongtang looked at Deng Yi and the others, frowned and asked, "Mountain Chief, why are Deng Yi and the others in the academy?" ”

Ding Fuchen said with a bitter face: "I originally heard of long hair...... The Taiping soldiers went north, and the academy was rushed to the south of the city, and the old man successively asked the students to go home to avoid the soldiers, and only a few homeless students in the academy stayed to guard the academy with the old man, and Deng Yi They went up the mountain one after another. Deng Yi was going to visit his father Deng Gong in the provincial capital, Li Shourong was going to visit friends in the provincial capital, Wang Minyun was already living in the academy, but he didn't expect the provincial city to fall very quickly, only to hear that the thieves had arrived, and the city had fallen, so the three of them could only live in the academy. ”

Zuo Zongtang sighed, looked at Deng Yi and said, "Needless to say, it was you who proposed to find weapons to protect the academy." ”

Deng Yisu was good at military affairs, and after arriving at the academy, he found weapons, found the few remaining males in the academy, divided the weapons, and planned to protect the academy. But the long-haired thief didn't come to the academy for a few days, and a few people gradually relaxed their vigilance, but they didn't expect the long-haired thief to suddenly arrive today. At first, a few people listened to the report of the porter, and they were still a little scared, so they took their swords and rushed out, but they didn't expect that the long-haired thief would run away when they saw a few people, and a few people were bold enough to chase them out. As a result, he was caught with three punches and two kicks, which was really embarrassing.

Deng Yi said angrily: "Yes, it's the idea below, what's wrong with guarding the academy below?" ”

Xiao Yungui touched his nose and sneered: "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just stupid, if you suddenly attack and ambush, you may be able to hurt a few of us, but rushing out like you is killing yourself." Following Deng Yi, who ignored the angry gaze, Xiao Yungui turned his head and hugged his fist at Ding Fuchen and said: "Mountain Chief, this king is just here today to check the terrain, and he will not disturb the academy, please rest assured." ”

Ding Fuchen breathed a sigh of relief, although this king of the West seemed to be vicious, he also knew etiquette, and said politely at the moment: "Since this is the case, please serve tea in the hall, and let's sit down and talk slowly." ”