Xiliang border pass.

The yellow sand is gradually rising. When a round of rising sun struggled and was about to rise from the desolate and majestic city wall, the gate to Xiliang slowly opened, dragging a heavy and hoarse tone of exhaustion.

The soldiers guarding the border rubbed their sleepy eyes, yawning and shouting at the merchants who were in a hurry to get out of the city.

Out of the border pass, all the way to the west, there is a whole day's journey, and there is no stopping.

Therefore, merchants and pedestrians going to Xiliang will choose to go out of the city in the morning when the city gate is opened, so that before dark, they can arrive at the first place to settle on the uninhabited road.

Since the signing of the armistice agreement between the two countries, Xiliang and Chang'an have exchanged views and strengthened economic exchanges between them. Every day as soon as the gate of the pass is opened, there will be a merchant traveling to the west waiting in the pass. And outside the gate, there will also be pedestrians who return late and have to stay outside the gate.

Inside and outside the city gate, there was a noisy jingle of horse bells, mixed with the whispering of the merchants.

There are especially many people today.

Probably, this is the last business trip of the year, and they need to get back before the snow closes the road.

Although they were dressed differently and spoke with very different accents, they had many things in common, such as the rough and red skin that had been exposed to the wind and sun, such as the shiny blanket on the shoulders, and the boots that had been working so hard that the soles of their shoes almost penetrated.

The soldiers guarding the gates, with their years of experience, could tell at a glance how many years these caravans had been in this business.

The merchants took the horses in their hands and immediately carried the goods that needed to be traded on this trip, whether they were tea or silk and sugar, and spread the Chang'an culture beyond the passes.

The soldiers listlessly examined the documents in their hands, then looked up and asked a few questions, probably what goods they had brought with them, how many days they would return, and so on.

In the past few days, the pass has been strictly checked, and the soldiers guarding the city have all been replaced by old men at the border pass, and they are all familiar with some merchants who often come and go at the pass, and the living can also distinguish them at a glance.

The extremely long line slowly squirmed forward, and the people at the back of the line complained and whined.

"If you follow this progress, it will probably be three poles a day when you get out of the customs, and if you can't reach the Fengkou Inn tonight, you will suffer a big sin."

Such a complaint was immediately echoed by everyone.

"If it's cold and frozen, isn't it just a sin to sleep in the wilderness? I'm afraid that I will freeze and not wake up when I fall asleep, which is even more fatal. ”

Someone was even more rude and exaggerated: "If you climb out of the tent and pee, you have to carry a wooden stick with you, and you will knock it while urinating, and who wants to bear this sin if you are not forced to make a living?" What is there to inquire about every day? ”

Everyone spoke in unison, so someone began to urge: "Official, can you hurry up, we are all in a hurry." ”

The soldiers defending the city looked impatient: "You are too troublesome, and we are too hard." The orders conveyed from above naturally did not dare to slack off. lest the thieves fish in troubled waters and get out of the customs. ”

There are people who are familiar with the soldiers, and they asked loudly: "In the past, at most, it was to check the customs documents, and there was never such trouble, why is the inspection so strict recently?" Who are you arresting? ”

The soldier waved his hand impatiently, motioned for the people in front of him to let him go, and then pointed to the notice posted at the gate of the city: "Look for yourself, there is a portrait on it." ”

Everyone raised their eyes and sneered: "Shao Ziqing? Official, your news is too ill-informed. That Shao Ziqing and Chu Mubai died together in the Northern Barren Mountains some time ago, and there was not even a single ash left. Chang'an is all spread all over the country, don't you know the feelings? ”

Everyone echoed and urged one after another, deliberately crowding forward.

"That's all rumors, we haven't received the order from above, so we have to continue to carry it out."

"Orders? Now that the queen is grief-stricken, where is the emperor still in the mood to revoke the order? I'm afraid I've forgotten it for a long time. ”

A black-faced military general stood guard at the city gate, lowering his eyelids and looking thoughtful, and the audience was talking one after another, and his face became more and more heavy.

Gradually, the soldiers began to pass inadvertently, letting people go one after another. There are also those whose procedures are not complete and are delayed.

The men began to agitate, explaining their pleas to the soldiers, hoping to open the net and let them pass.

The city gate began to be lively, and the people were buzzing.

A middle-aged man with a black and red face stepped forward and handed the document to the soldiers defending the city, speaking in a half-baked Chang'an accent.

The soldier glanced at him, routinely inspected the goods on his horse's back, and then let him go.

The man lowered his head and stepped out of the city gate.

The black-faced military commander shook his body and blocked in front of him.

The man grinned diligently: "Official, what else do you have to order?" ”

The black-faced military general raised his chin, still with a gloomy black face: "Did an old man come to see you off, and he didn't even say hello?" Shao Xiang, stay behind. Buchen has been waiting here for a long time. ”

The man couldn't help but be stunned.

"You disguise yourself and have a meticulous heart, you can indeed fool everyone's eyes. However, you are ignoring one point, the merchant who walks between Xiliang and Chang'an all the year round, because he often holds the reins, so there should be a layer of hard cocoon at his tiger's mouth. What's more, if you and I have a fellowship, how can your bones be covered by a different skin? ”

The man looked down at his hands, the back of his hand was rough and cracked, including the palm of his hand was also dyed black and red, at first glance, it was exactly the same as those business and business hands cracked: "When I saw Commander Bu today, I was a little apprehensive in my heart. ”

"Your guy is so stupid that he added laxatives directly to my tea. I don't want to think about it, I'm out of the rivers and lakes, how can I not see through this little trick? So, I know, you must be out of the customs in the next two days, and you are here to wait. ”

Unexpectedly, being smart was mistaken by being smart, the man smiled bitterly: "You alone may not be able to keep me." ”

"What if there is someone else?"

Someone behind him spoke coldly, his voice was high-pitched and clear, overpowering the boiling sound of the crowd, making the city gate suddenly silent.

"Shao Xiang really plans to leave like this?"

Shao Xiang? Everyone looked at each other, and they all looked surprised.

The big man stiffened, slowly turned his head, and took off the beard at his chin: "I thought that Brother Mu Bai would not appear here at this time." ”

A few feet behind him, Chu Mubai, who was really heroic, rode on a tall horse, majestic.

"According to Lord Shao Xiang's arrangement, at this time, I should be buried in the valley, and my bones are gone, right?" Chu Mubai sneered: "You and I have a relationship, although the Tao is different and does not conspire with each other, but the gift you left to someone Chu is too big." ”

Shao Ziqing was silent for a moment: "You are very lucky." ”

Chu Mubai nodded: "It should be more than just luck."

Shao Ziqing held the reins of the horse, raised his face and smiled at Chu Mubai: "What about her?" ”

Chu Mubai's eyes were like arrows, staring at him condescendingly, and he snorted coldly from the end of his nose: "What do you say? Will you still care about her life or death? ”

Shao Ziqing lowered his head, his lowered eyes covered the complicated emotions in his eyes, and he was silent for a long time before he let out a desolate and bitter smile.

Chu Mubai sneered coldly: "I used to have great respect for Shao Xiang's full stomach, and he was bright and bright, and he was regarded as a confidant who intersected with his life. Now I found out that you are the most unfathomable person, Mu Bai has lost his eyes. ”

When Shao Ziqing looked up at Chu Mubai, he happened to meet the rising sun, and the golden sunlight jumped on his face, a little dazzling, and he had to squint his eyes.

"I'm still me, and my heart is still the same as before, but each is his own master."

Chu Mubai slowly drew the sword from his waist and held it high above the top, refracting a dazzling light in the sun, like a god of war falling from the sky.

"You're right, each is his own master, so, offended, Prince Li Sheng, please go back to Chang'an with me."

Chu Mubai's words immediately caused an uproar at the city gate, as if a strong wind swept across the sea, and the stormy waves swept up in an instant.

Shao Ziqing's name is a household name in Chang'an, and everyone knows it, and the onlookers and merchants don't know why Mo Guhan and Shao Ziqing suddenly turned against each other and ordered him to be arrested. Now, Chu Mubai's words shocked everyone beyond measure.

Li Sheng's reputation is not unfamiliar to these business travelers who often come and go to Xiliang, and it is like thunder.

A few years ago, Li Sheng's name was a legend of genius in Xiliang and even Chang'an, and he created one miracle after another in Xiliang.

It's just a pity that God is jealous of talents, a few years ago a serious illness, the prince Li Sheng gradually faded out of people's vision, confined to the prince's mansion for many years, and slowly returned to mediocrity.

How did he transform himself into the famous Shao Xiang of Chang'an?

After everyone was shocked, they whispered and exchanged ears, who could care about checking the documents and leaving the customs? This is a once-in-a-century event.

Shao Ziqing was still standing in the center of the city gate, and everyone retreated, isolating him alone in the venue. Although he was dressed in a greasy business travel outfit, his face was black and red, and his body was sloppy and bloated, but at that moment, the bearing exuded by his body was as dazzling as the rising sun in the eastern sky.

"Brother Mu Bai is elevated, how can he think that he will be the prince of Xiliang in the next place?"

Chu Mubai smiled, picked up a sword flower, put the sword in front of his chest, and shook his head: "Mu Bai is stupid, where can I guess it, if Shao Xiang wants to know when he revealed his flaws, just wait for a while to meet the emperor and the queen, and then solve the confusion by himself." ”

"Yuehua is also here at the border gate?" Shao Ziqing raised his eyes and asked suspiciously.

Chu Mubai didn't answer and asked: "Only in front of her, will you be defenseless and show your feet, right?" ”

Shao Ziqing smiled bitterly: "Although I really want to go with you to see her, but, at such a juncture, perhaps, it is more important to leave here." ”

Chu Mubai snorted coldly: "Do you think I will let you go?" ”