Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Ao Bai was really a little anxious. A sumptuous meal has long since cooled. Sitting next to the table was Bamburshan, silently examining the delicate jade cup in his hand, Ji Shi looked at a pair of Mi Fu handwritten books hanging on the wall with his hands behind his back, and Ge Chuha whispered to Tai Bitu sitting next to him. No one wants to eat it.

"What do you think?" Ao Bai couldn't bear it, and asked Bamburshan, "At this moment, why didn't you even come to report the news?" ”

Ban Bushan was thinking hard, and when he heard Ao Bai's question, he muttered: "The third child went to Baiyun Temple today, it was a letter sent by Lao Zhao, and Liu Jinbiao of Xihuamen also saw it with his own eyes, this is not wrong, but ...... I haven't seen Xin'er for half a day, and Liu Jinbiao suddenly didn't know his whereabouts, so things must have changed. He stood up, "It's getting late, no more than daylight, and we should send someone to find out." Hearing this, Ji Shi turned his face, and Ge Chuha and Tai Bitu also stopped talking and looked up at Aobai.

Tai Bitu saw Ao Bai's gaze swept straight to himself, and hurriedly said: "Zhongtang, Brother Mu went to Baiyun Temple, he secretly transferred the Xishan Ruijian camp and the personal soldiers in the mansion to go separately, these people are extremely experienced in a hundred battles, you might as well wait and see." Ji Shi sighed and said: "It's good to win, it's okay to lose beautifully, anyway, if you don't lose the handle, what I'm most afraid of is that you won't be defeated and make a stalemate, then you have to make contingency arrangements." ”

"Well, that's it!" Bamburshan clasped his hands together and said, "Brother Tai, you are the official of the Ministry of War, you will use the seal of the Ministry of War to consult Shuntianfu, and order them to send troops there, and say that there are thieves there, and ask them to go and help suppress them!" ”

"No!" Without waiting for Tai Bitu to answer, Ji Shi cut off loudly, "If someone recognizes the third child, don't you smash the pot!" ”

Bambur smiled: "I'm afraid that Shuntianfu Yin won't recognize him if he goes in person." If there is disharmony, but we can push it on their heads, won't we take it off cleanly? Tai Bitu retorted: "They have the military department in their hands, and in the future, they will prove it, but I am afraid that it will fall on the head of the brothers." Ao Bai also shook his head, feeling that Bamburshan had always been shrewd, but this idea was out of order.

Bambulshan didn't care, "snorted", put the jade cup in his hand on the table and said, "You say I'm a fool!" If you can't do it, in the future, if you prove it, you say let him 'kill the thief and save the driver,' but he will 'kill the thief and help the thief' -- and he can take it for me. Isn't it strange that you can't see such a foolproof strategy? ”

When Ao Bai heard this, he seemed to open his eyes, and said one after another: "Yes, that's it." Tai Bitu, you can do it, success or failure is up to me! Taibitu knew that this matter was important, and he was stunned for a moment and said, "It's okay." Suddenly, an idea moved, "At this time, it is almost the end of the Shen Dynasty, if you go to the military department to sign the detention room to find the seal of the steward, it will inevitably delay the time, it is better to write an order from the middle hall, and I will ride a fast horse directly to Shuntian Mansion to transfer people, wouldn't it be better?" ”

The meaning of this is very clear: You promise to take care of me at this time, but there is no basis for your words, you can do things with a single word, why do I need to go to the military department to shock the people? But the words are indeed reasonable, Ao Bai thought about it for a while, and then said very happily: "Very good, let's do it!" Then he ordered a pen and paper to be brought.

At this moment, the doorman walked in, lowered his hand and replied: "Lord Hu Gongshan of the Tai Hospital outside asks to see the master!" ”

"Nope!" Ao Bai waved his hand, and the official replied "yes" and turned around and left. After a few steps, Bambulshan suddenly shouted, "You come back!" ”

"As far as I know," said Bamburshan, turning his face to Ao, "this man is a man of the King of Pingxi." Not only has nothing to do with the third child, but also has no deep relationship with us, although the rank is small, but it is a person of right and wrong. The person who is right and wrong visits the land of right and wrong when he is wrong, and he knows that there is no other reason? Seeing Ao Bai nodding, he instructed the butler, "Please let him in!" ”

Hu Gongshan's robe fluttered in the wind, walked calmly and proudly, smiled and said goodbye to Aobai, and then made a gesture to Jishi and them, stood calmly in the hall and said: "All of you are here, this is better." In Xiahugong Mountain, from Baiyun Temple, there is an important matter to face the Lord of the Hall. ”

This is the second time Ao Bai has seen Hu Gongshan, and the last time I met him in Suofu, I only knew that he was profound, but he did not talk. This time, I'm going to talk about it. He sat down at the banquet table and looked at the ugly "man of right and wrong" for a moment, but did not immediately reply. But the three words "Baiyunguan" are more telling than a 10,000-word article, and it contains all his worries, anxieties, and confusions today. It's just that on the surface, he looked very calm, and said with a faint smile: "I've been looking up for a long time - you came from Baiyun Temple, what's the matter with me?" ”

Hu Gongshan also looked at Aobai, and saw that he was wearing an ochre-colored lake silk robe, no belt, wearing a pair of black satin official boots under his feet, and a string of black jade pearls in his hand, revealing a chic and free demeanor, but the other hand on the back of the chair was clenched, revealing the serious uneasiness in his heart. Hu Gongshan laughed dryly and did not answer. Ao Bai said: "These are all important ministers of the state, my good friend, you can say anything." ”

"That's good." Hu Gongshan said coldly, although his voice was low, his middle qi was extremely abundant, and the sound of "humming" in the hall was endless, "Lord Mulima has been captured, and his life is only in the meast!" With just this sentence, Ji Shi, Ge Chuha, and Tai Bitu in the hall were like thunder, and their faces were as pale as dirt. Bamburshan claimed that he never panicked when he faced a major event, and he was very profound, but he was also taken aback when he heard this, and his body trembled slightly.

Ao Bai was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Mulima is a guard with a knife in front of the palace, and his martial arts are strong. You are a little too hospital to worship, the future of the six products, you dare to make a ghost in front of the old man! Hu Gongshan didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and raised his voice and said: "This is not a court temple, and there is no etiquette of the hall, today you and I are in civilian clothes to meet each other, and we talk on our knees." At this time, when talking about one product and six products, aren't you afraid that people of insight in the world will ridicule you? Seeing that you have no intention of eating your delicious food, the golden wave jade liquid is difficult to swallow, and your face is full of doubts. ”

"Bold!" Seeing that he was an official with a low rank, Ge Chuha dared to be so disrespectful to Ao Zhongtang, and suddenly said, "Who wants you to report something?" Go back and listen to it! ”

"Who are you?" Hu Gongshan asked provocatively, "What I want to see today is Ao Zhongtang, and a person with shallow knowledge like you is not worthy of answering me!" Ming Zhi Hongguang, Qing Zhi Dolgon, and Wu Sangui have all met a few times, but it is rare to see your dirty face! Except for Wu Sangui, the status of the three people he said is equivalent to that of Aobai, the other two people are illustrious, and no one here can compare, but Hu Gongshan said lightly, he doesn't mind, how can he not make the people in the hall moved! Ge Chuha was even more embarrassed and embarrassed.

Seeing that there was no one to answer to him, Hu Gongshan went straight to the table, picked up a pair of chopsticks, scooped up the "peacock" head of the cold dish "Peacock Kaiping" and stuffed it into his mouth, and sat down on the chair, chewed it, and praised as if no one was around: "Okay, taste away first!" Why didn't Ao Zhongtang let me **? ”

Ao Bai and Ban Bushan looked at each other for a while, Ao Bai poured a large "jade pot spring", handed it to Hu Gongshan, and said with a smile: "Okay, there is the style of a countryman!" Look at you, it's disrespectful! Hu Gongshan took the wine and drank it all nonchalantly, and said with a smile: "Ao Zhongtang doesn't have such a little family!" As he spoke, he threw the leftover bones into the ground, and when he looked closely, he was firmly embedded in the four corners of the blue brick floor, squeezing the four bricks out of place. Ao Bai couldn't help but be shocked in his heart, and said with a smile: "Mr. has both internal and external skills, which is really admirable." Bambulshan also leaned over and said, "Mr. Hu, we are old acquaintances!" Saying that, I also came to toast him, Hu Gongshan did not refuse, and took the cup and drank it all.

"Mr. Hu," Ao Bai looked at him after three glasses of wine before asking, "It's not that I can't believe you, my brother Mulima is not an idle person, how can he be captured by mistake with thousands of soldiers around a small shop?" ”

"At this time and that time, how many cases have been suppressed by 'thieves' and been suppressed by thieves since ancient times!" Hu Gongshan pulled up the tablecloth, wiped the grease on his mouth and hands, took out the letter he had collected from Goshha from his bosom and handed it over, still picking up the delicacies on the table and eating them with great interest, and hummed incessantly: "Bear paws and fish have both, and Yu Zhifu is also blessed." As he spoke, he looked at Ge Chuha. Ge Chuha couldn't look down on people like this, so he turned his face away angrily.

Here Ao Bai looked at the letter by candlelight, and his face became more and more grim. Bamburshan also paced over, and when he looked closely, he saw that it was indeed written by Nemo himself. The letter said that an old man with strong martial arts had been killed by random arrows, and the third uncle Mulima was caught in the hands of the enemy, but it did not mention whether the "third child" was also surrounded by it.

"Mr. Hu," Bambulshan's eyes flickered, "who are the people on Chixin Island as far as you can see?" ”

While eating, Hu Gongshan replied casually: "I often go to the Shangu shop, I know a few people, the owner of the shop, Boss He, and a few guys, all of them are extremely responsible, and the 'thief' you want to suppress is only afraid that it is not in the net." ”

Ao Bai said, "Then why didn't they kill my brother Mulima?" "That's really the finishing touch. When he said this, Aobai's eyes were full of fierce light. He believes that if Kangxi is not on the island, everyone is very likely to kill Mulima and break through. Now that they are neither fleeing nor killing, it is a great suspicion, and they cannot make a decision without asking about this.

"Lord Mu is worth a lot!" Hu Gongshan's mouth was full of greasy, and he looked up at Ao Bai and said, "I want to exchange him for the pearl of the adult's palm." ”

It was another shocking word, and the surrounding area was suddenly as silent as death. Ji Shi said with a gloomy face: "Sir is really omniscient, dare to ask who you are and who sent you?" ”

"Xiao Weizi, a subordinate of the third child, asked me to come here to help with this matter!" Hu Gongshan did not hesitate and replied loudly.

"The third child!" Ao Bai asked urgently, "Which third?" ”

"Zhongtang asked knowingly." Hu Gongshan smiled leisurely, "The 'third' is the younger brother of the eldest and the second, and there is a 'fourth' outside the gate - he doesn't want to come in, so he waits there - only Zhongtang and the adults are allowed to call all day long, so what's the matter?" Xiao Weizi, you are all familiar with each other, so you don't need to say more, right? ”

As soon as they heard this, several people looked at each other, not knowing how to answer. Ge Chuha couldn't help but jump up with an arrow, grabbed Hu Gongshan's collar and asked sharply, "Where do you know this, who are you?" ”

Where did Hu Gongshan put him in his eyes! With his hand pinching the acupoint in the crook of his left leg, Ge Chuha knelt down on both knees with a thud. Hu Gongshan hurriedly supported him with both hands: "Ah! Adults don't dare to make such a gift for such a sentence! Not only Hu Gongshan, but Tai Hospital has a six-grade offering, how can it withstand it. Then he patted his palm on his back and solved the acupoint. Seeing Ge Chuha's eyes with tears, Ji Shi was surprised and amused, and hurriedly pretended to cough up phlegm to cover up the past. Ge Chuha's face was full of shame, and he stomped his feet and turned to go out.

Bamburshan knew that he couldn't ask anything, so he smiled and said, "According to Mr. Shi, what should happen to this matter?" ”

"You are a wise man, and do you not hear, 'He who is right and wrong is not man'? Mingzhu will hand it over to me, and give you back a Master Mu. ”

"Mingzhu is dead." Bambulshan's face changed, and he said coldly.

"Then Lord Mu won't survive." Hu Gongshan stood up and yawned, and said, "It's okay, Hao Laosi is still waiting outside, I should go." ”

"Where, where!" Bambulshan hurriedly stopped, "Mr. He, make fun of him, take a pearl in exchange for Master Mu, how can you be unwilling?" ”

"I know that Ao Zhongtang and Master Ban are peerless and smart, how can I do such a stupid thing as 'Mingzhu is dead'?" Hu Gongshan sat down steadily, "Instead of making our hearts and eyes here, going around in circles, and letting Master Mu suffer there, it's better to hurry up and discuss a solution." ”

"Mingzhu handed it over to you, but I can't rest assured, what should I do?" Ao Bai thought about it for a long time, and finally spoke.

Hu Gongshan laughed loudly, his voice was like a bird chirping at night, and everyone in the room was terrified when he heard it. "I have heard for a long time that Ao Zhongtang is a capable minister who governs the world, and he is a traitor in troubled times, as expected!" His laughter stopped abruptly, "That is, please choose one of the halls to escort Mingzhu, ** in front, they in the back." If there is an accident, it will be killed with a knife, why is it difficult? Bamburshan and Ao Bai exchanged glances. Ao Bai blinked, which was an approval.

At this moment, the middle door of the flower hall "banged" and suddenly opened. Ge Chuha took more than a dozen Goshha, with bright swords and guns, and stood at the door with a fierce face, arching his hands in front of his chest and said: "Mr. Hu is very skilled, please give me a few tricks and go again, without Mr., you can still exchange for Master Mu!" The accident happened, and the hall was stunned.

Hu Gongshan was also slightly stunned, and then smiled: "The soldier once begged for a flute in Wu City, and Han Xin was not immune to the humiliation of his crotch, why should you be angry about kneeling?" He put his hands behind his back and paced leisurely with square steps, the green bricks under his feet breaking one by one.

Ao Bai knew that Ge Chuha was definitely not his opponent, even if everyone attacked him together, he might not be able to keep him, so it was better to sell a favor, so he broke off and shouted: "Presumptuous!" Mr. Hu is my guest, step aside! ”

Bamburshan felt that Ge Chuha's face was too embarrassing, so he rolled his eyes and had an idea, and said with a smile: "Brother Ge, why bother about the gains and losses at this moment, it's up to you and these people to take Mingzhu to do it!" ”

"Go!" Hu Gongshan smiled at Ao, "Lord Ban's words are pertinent, it's not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years, Master Ge has to think twice!" Ao Bai waved his hand and said, "Just do it!" ”

And so it was settled. Then happened the story of the replacement of Chixin Island mentioned earlier. Chixin Island Ge Chuha ordered a volley of arrows to shoot at Hu Gongshan, and he did not deliberately breach the contract and breach his trust, because he was not a "gentleman" and could not wait for "ten years"; It's really not Han Xin, and he can't swallow the breath he received in the Aobai Mansion.

Wei Dongting and his party did not hastily sort out the aftermath of the Shangu store until the end of the second watch.

After Mulima's soldiers retreated, they hurriedly set about salvaging Sloanbiao's remains—there was no good flesh on his body except for his face, and he still clutched an arrow in his hands, and it was evident that he had supported him for a while in the water...... Mu Zixu knelt on the ground silently, carefully pulling out one arrow after another from him, Wu Ciyou seemed to be unconscious, standing on the side with everyone and watching stupidly.

Shi Longbiao lay on his back on the stone by the pool with a calm face, and people realized that he would never wake up again. Mu Zixu knelt down with the donkey and Hao Laosi together, and made a resignation ceremony, He Guizhu cried with a cry of "wow", and tears rolled down. This cry made the donkey wake up like a dream, crying and shouting: "Master, blame me!" I'm going to come over and take a step, how can you ......" Mu Zixu and Hao Laosi were very sad in their hearts, and they all threw themselves and cried. Mingzhu was seriously injured and lay on the stretcher crying silently. Wei Dongting remembered the scenes of getting along in the past few years since they first met along the West River, and he also burst into tears. Wu Ciyou knelt down and kowtowed to the deceased with tears in his eyes, "Uncle, you ...... You're gone and never coming back? As he spoke, he hid his face and wept.

After a while, Wei Dongting comforted everyone and said: "Brothers, my husband doesn't flick if he has tears, and when the thief is killed, we will come to pay tribute to his old man......" Everyone slowly stopped their grief.

Wei Dongting commanded the soldiers to dig up the soil and bury Shi Longbiao, and then escorted Wu Ciyou and He Guizhu back to the city in the starry night. Along the way, everyone was dull and no one spoke. After several battles between Li Zicheng and the Qing soldiers and the Ming court, this area was deserted, and in the shadow of the stars, I saw the black hills and houses that seemed to be beating together. The sound of the bells in the temple came from afar, which deepened the desolation in people's hearts. The iron rider stepped on the thick frost and silently marched forward. Wu Ciyou held the reins in his hand, looked up at the cold stars in the sky, and whispered in his mouth:

Yeke Yan City is sad and sad, and he doesn't ask about the wanton building.

Xinghan frost is strictly frozen, and the wind in Heluo is warm and clear.

Fang pushed the window to see the moon, but the dark clouds covered the cold continent.

Scholars only hold a mourning song, how can they be paid without horses and concubines?

The low groans and passionate verses stirred up a wave of emotion in people's hearts. Wei Dongting's heart was hot, and he wanted to say something, but he stopped and didn't speak.

Back at Wei Dongting's residence at Hufang Bridge, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of a fierce battle today, it is like in a dream. Wei Dongting knew that everyone was very tired, so he no longer talked about eating, and only assigned their own resting places. When looking for Hu Gongshan, I don't know when he has left. Wei Dongting was afraid that Wu Ciyou's weak scholar would be palpitated after the catastrophe, so he specially invited Wu Ciyou to live in his room and wait on a spring bench outside. Suddenly, the old man came in and whispered to Wei Dongting: "Lord Suo and Lord Xiong are here, waiting in the living room outside!" Wei Dongting looked at the door of the inner room, and thought that Wu Ciyou had already rested in peace, and he didn't wear a robe, only a crimson coat, tied a dark belt, and hurried out.

Xiong Cilu sat on the chair and looked at a calligraphy and painting, and when he saw Wei Dongting coming in, he only owed his body and nodded and smiled: "Today, I was involved by you, and I almost became a prisoner!" Wei Dongting also smiled: "It's not a fun thing to sit in the class room with adults. Suo Etu saw Wei Dongting pricking up his hands and legs to ask for peace, so he hurriedly got up and grabbed his hand and said, "Huchen, why bother!" With that, the three of them sat down to talk.

"Huchen, you are frightened and affected today, I shouldn't have come to disturb you again," Xiong Cilu rolled the calligraphy and painting in his hand, and his face became very serious, "But tomorrow the Holy Lord will summon you, if you ask about the Baiyun Temple, how can you answer correctly?" ”

"The matter of Baiyun Temple is not suitable for publicity." Wei Dongting lowered his head and thought for a while, and said, "The emperor can't turn his face with Ao Bai right now. It's better to foolish than to see it. If you don't see him, you certainly won't summon them. ”

"This insight is extremely true," Suo Etu frowned, "I'm afraid that if the emperor doesn't control himself, it won't be easy to deal with if he summons Ao to worship us." Wei Dongting said: "I don't expect the emperor to see anyone." The emperor has made great progress in his holy learning, and now he talks about the word 'cautious independence' every day, how can he pick this unripe melon? ”

Xiong Ci understood and nodded: "Having said that, you should not be careless. Wei Dongting replied, "Yes." However, Lord Xiong's question just now made me have two answers. ”

"Hmm!" Suo Etu was very interested, took a sip of tea leaves with the lid of the bowl and asked, "Which two solutions?" ”

"After Lord Suo's house was searched, Mr. Wu took refuge in Baiyun Temple. The Baiyun Temple was looted again today, which shows that Aobai's usurpatory heart is impatient. Suo and Xiong nodded again and again, and Wei Dongting continued with confidence, "These two raids, called chasing and arresting, are actually all words, and they are not all for Mr. Wu, they are all for the emperor. Although the usurper of Ao Bai is anxious, he is still powerless. If there is power, why should it be far away? Because he didn't dare to do it in the palace. ”

"Good!" Xiong Cixu was a little excited when he heard this, and praised him, "Go on! ”

"These two solutions," Wei Dongting stretched out his index and middle fingers and continued, "Although the president of Ao Bai is military inside and outside, the foreign generals who can help him have been transferred in, and the head of the internal affairs office is appointed by the empress dowager because he is in accordance with the decree of the queen mother, he can't help it for a while, and he doesn't dare to try it rashly by plotting against him." This was too penetrating, and Xiong Cilu and Suo Etu couldn't help but glance at each other. Wei Dongting continued: "From this point of view, now that the emperor is in the Forbidden City, he still has most of his troops. But the twists and turns inside and outside the court have to go through the hands of Ao Bai one by one, which is very worrying. The king's order does not go out of the capital, and Ao Bai has actually mastered the center of the Great Inner - the Qianqing Palace Guard, the Beijing infantry commander Yamen, the patrol Yamen he is in charge of, and the military department is also in his hands, and the power is very great. But the most important position of Admiral of the Nine Gates was filled by my friend. Therefore, if the emperor does not leave the palace easily, he can be safed for half a year. If you still leave the palace, you are afraid that you will encounter the Shangu store again......"

"So what do you think you should do?" Xiong Cixu pressed his hands to his knees, leaned over and asked.

Wei Dongting said: "I don't think the emperor can go out of the palace too often, but he still has to move." There must be contingency countermeasures, and when things are urgent, learn from Han Gaozu to enter the Han Xin camp and take the seal of the military department! ”

"If you want to keep the Admiral of the Nine Gates, you can't change people, and Ao Bai will never let go of this." Suo Etu interjected and said, "Huchen now has a good personal relationship with this strange man, and if necessary, ask him to disobey the order and not hand over the seal letter." In this way, it will be very inconvenient for Ao Bai to transfer troops in Beijing. ”

"At the moment, the friendship is not yet that kind of heat," Wei Dongting said with a smile, "If you talk about such a major matter, you can't let the family do it in vain." ”

"Good!" Suo Etu said excitedly, "I can't see that you have this cleverness - this is also learned from Mr. Wu?" ”

Wei Dongting said with a smile: "What is Mr. Wu talking about!" He's talking about learning. But from learning, you can understand the way of change, which is what Mr. Wu often says. ”

"That's a good point." Xiong Cilu smiled and nodded. He is a Taoist of authentic children, which is different from Wu Ciyou's "mixed" academic interests. It was only because Kangxi liked Wu Ciyou that he did not come to the door to debate the theory with Wu Ciyou in the past few years. Today, the different paths are the same, and the conclusion is such a fit, so I am also very happy, and after thinking about it, I said, "There is another section, which may not be used, but also considered." Tongzhou, Fengtai, Miyun, and Tianjin are the gateways of Beijing, and Xifengkou is the key to Shengjing, and it is also necessary to have capable people to maintain - these things, we have to do them, you can be a good Zhao Zilong who protects the sky! ”

The Manchurians regarded "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as a military book, but the Han people regarded it as a barnyard history, and Suo Etu was taught since childhood, and Zhao Zilong was respected. Although Wei Dongting felt that Xiong Ci's words were not without ridicule, but this code was used here, it was really well deserved, so he also smiled: "Dare not obey your fate!" The three of them looked at each other and laughed, and discussed many details, until the sky was about to dawn, Xiong and Suo got up and resigned.