The incident happened suddenly, Zhang Meng and Shi A quickly pulled out their swords and used the ox cart to cover them. In the darkness ahead, countless bits of fire suddenly appeared. Soon, the fire was in full bloom, illuminating the wilderness and the canals, and countless heads rose and fell between light and darkness, shouting noisily, and at least hundreds of people came with torches.

Zhang Meng peeked through the gap in the frame, but after a while, several people walked to the front with torches and looked at him through the canal. Although the light is dim, you can see the silhouette and posture of one of them, but it looks like Ji Xuan.

"We're not bandits. If you are a pedestrian, you don't need to be afraid, just come out and see you! The man waved his torch and shouted.

When Zhang Meng heard this familiar voice, he had no doubts, and responded loudly: "It's Ji Zhongming on the other side?" ”

The man didn't speak, obviously stunned, and after a long while, he said, "Could it be Zhang Chengying?" Footsteps of "tuk tuk tuk" were heard on the wooden bridge.

Zhang Meng turned around and met Ji Xuan, both of whom were surprised and delighted.

It is a friend and not an enemy, and the peaks and loops turn. Shi Ah breathed a sigh of relief, and Shan Zhong also got up from under the carriage.

Ji Xuan looked at the ox cart and was puzzled: "Chengying, it's dark, where are you going?" This oxcart ......"

"Biyong." Zhang Meng replied briefly, "This ox cart is from someone else...... borrowed. ”

Ji Xuan frowned and said, "I seem to have seen this oxcart somewhere." ”

As he spoke, the rest of the people who had been watching on the other side of the river all crossed the bridge. For a while, the fire flickered, and it was dense around Zhang Meng, like a swarm of fireflies.

Ji Xuan pulled a young man to introduce Zhang Meng: "This is a strong man I recently knew, his surname is forbidden, and the words are the name of Taishan County." If it weren't for him, I'm afraid I would have died in this pool yesterday. ”

When Zhang Meng heard the name of "Yu Ban", his heart shook slightly, and he looked at the young man carefully, only to see that although he was dressed simply, his limbs were thick and powerful, and his face was even more Hongyi.

"Dunhuang Zhang Chengying, fortunately."

Yu Ban replied: "Yu Ban has seen Zhang Jun. The tone is low, and it gives people a very stable feeling.

Zhang Meng thought secretly: "The five good generals are the first to be banned." If you don't see him, just look at the history books, and think that he is a groveling villain, but now I see it with my own eyes, and it really comes from the temperament of ordinary people. Then he asked Ji Xuan: "You went back to Luoyang one step ahead of me, why are you here now?" ”

Ji Xuan said helplessly: "It's not Dong Zhuo who killed a thousand people!" Shaking his head and sighing, full of frustration, "After I returned to the city with the escort team, I got an order from the imperial court that all Yulin and Huben Zhulang should be transferred from their original posts, and after inspection, they will be assigned to other places on duty. I felt that it was very unreasonable, and I made a defense, but I was detained pending trial and locked up with thieves and criminals. Somehow last night, a dog named Lu Bu suddenly came to the prison, and he bluffed and said that he was ordered by Dong Gong to pick someone to follow him to do things outside the city, and those who have merit can be released. I was selected and followed him with a group of people to the north of the city, thinking that he was catching thieves and thieves, but I didn't want us to expel the people there and destroy their residences......"

Zhang Meng said: "To be honest, I also met Lu Bu early in the morning, and he wanted to clear the open space for the army to station...... Why didn't I see you? ”

Ji Xuanpi didn't smile and said, "Of course, I ran away in the middle of the night." ”

"Ran away?"

At that time, there were people who resisted, and Lu Bu said that he could be executed on the spot. Alas, there are poor people outside Beiguo, they live in shacks, they eat chaff, and they don't commit any crimes, but they are driven and killed like pigs and dogs, which is really unreasonable. If I do that unconscionable thing for my own sake, what is the difference between a thief who kills for the sake of money? Ji Xuan stiffened his face and said indignantly, "I gathered a few people, and took advantage of the opportunity of the shackles being removed, and snatched the mules and horses that dragged the wood and stone to escape. Hey, this surnamed Lu no matter what else he is, Wu Yong is really good, while chasing and shooting arrows on horseback, the accuracy is extremely stable, and the arrows are not missing, and several companions who fled with me were all shot to death by him, and the mule I rode was also shot several arrows and rolled down the hillside. I was unconscious at the time, and when I woke up, I saw Brother Yu. ”

Yu Ban answered: "At that time, I took a few brothers to explore around, and I happened to save Brother Ji, and I saw that Lu Bu left from a distance, maybe I thought I had shot Brother Ji to death." ”

As soon as he said this, another man pushed aside the crowd and walked to him, and when he saw Zhang Meng, he said, "Zhang Jun, it's been a long time." ”

When Zhang Meng saw him, he suddenly felt familiar, and immediately returned the salute, and then remembered that the other party's surname was Bao Mingtao, who was Bao Xin's brother.

Bao Tao appeared, and Zhang Meng immediately understood the origin of their group. Right now, the flames are raging all around, and there are few thousand people gathered around, they must be the recruits recruited by Bao Xin from his hometown.

After a few words of greeting, Zhang Meng said: "Before I left the city, I saw the list of wanted brothers, is my brother okay?" ”

Bao Tao was very sad: "I don't know my brother's whereabouts yet." "Lamenting," the elder brother entered the city this morning, claiming that he was going to lobby Crouching Tiger, but now that he is wanted, it seems that the lobbying has not succeeded. ”

"Crouching Tiger" is the old name of Si Li's school captain, and it is naturally Yuan Shao here.

Ji Xuanda frowned: "Brother Ling doesn't have the best relationship with Yuan Benchu, Yuan Benchu is high-spirited, how can he fall into the well for his best friend, what is he lobbying Yuan Benchu?" ”

Zhang Mengsu said: "This is wrong, Yuan Benchu may not be high-spirited, but he is afraid that he will not be able to protect himself." ”

Ji Xuan, Bao Tao and Yu Ban were all surprised.

Zhang Meng continued: "This matter is related to Dong Zhuo and the political situation in Luoyang, and it cannot be explained in a few words. ”

Bao Tao burst into tears and said: "I sent someone to investigate, and I know that the surrounding areas of Luoyang are very well guarded, and my brother is afraid that there will be more luck and less luck this time." ”

Zhang Meng thought to himself: "Originally, in history, Bao Xin did not die in Luoyang, and it seems that he escaped in the end. So he comforted: "Brother Ling's auspicious people will be able to escape." And said, "I listen to the rumors in the city, it seems that I am quite afraid of the kings, this place is too close to the city, especially now that the fire is conspicuous, if the city sends troops to attack, the kings may not be able to retreat...... I think it's better to retreat into the distance. ”

Bao Tao nodded again and again: "Chengjun reminds me, I will let people extinguish the torch." ”

Yu Ban said in a deep voice: "Since we have agreed to meet with the Lord in the north of Su City, let's go and wait there." ”

There are a number of specific markets in Luoyang City, the larger ones are the Nanshi outside Nanguo, the horse market outside Dongguo, the gold market in the northwest of Nangong in the city, and the Su market not far from Hongchi.

The Su market mainly sold rice and grain, but since the early years of this dynasty, the private rice and grain trade has been greatly weakened, and the Su market has gradually been abandoned, and some of the houses and dou cellars left behind have become the hiding places of the unemployed vagrants and lawbreakers, and the imperial court has basically ignored this place. Meeting up there is indeed a relatively safe choice.

Bao Xin is not there, Bao Tao is the leader of this Taishan recruit, but it is Yu Ban who can make up his mind. Although Bao Tao couldn't let go of his brother, he listened to Yu Ban's suggestion, combined with Zhang Meng's words, and decided to withdraw Sushi for the time being.

Bao Tao and Yu Ban left first, and Ji Xuan said to Zhang Meng: "Chengying, what are you doing in Biyong?" Why don't you come with us to Awai. The court is not the court of the past, and you are afraid that you will not be able to end up well when you go back. ”

Zhang Meng shook his head and said, "It's not the time yet. ”

Ji Xuan sighed and said, "Okay, you and I are different after all, and we shouldn't generalize." After hesitating for a moment, he continued, "I heard that no matter what General Bao's bad luck is this time, this new army will not be disbanded, and will be pulled back to Taishan County." There was no place for me in Luoyang, so I decided to follow them. Chengying, this farewell, the next time we meet, I don't know when. ”

Taishan County belongs to Yanzhou, thousands of miles away from Luoyang. The best friend of the current Zhang Meng is Ji Xuan, the two are on duty in Yong'an Palace, and they are almost inseparable on weekdays, but it is a pity that in just a few days, the situation has changed abruptly, and they have to part ways completely.

Zhang Meng sighed in his heart, and suddenly intuitively felt the meaning of the troubled times.

"Zhong Ming, the future is bright."

"Chengying, take care."

The wind was Xiaoxiao, and the two said goodbye to each other on the bank of the yang canal by the Hongchi and went to the two directions of the wooden bridge respectively.

Zhang Meng, Shi A, and Shan Zhong drove back to the road. Shi Ah smiled and said, "What a big general." He was mocking the sudden danger just now, and Shan Zhong pouted his ass and hid under the carriage.

Shan Zhong sneered at each other: "If there is no big general, there will be more captains in Yangqu tonight." ”

Zhang Meng was still a little sad, but it was interesting to listen to the two of them coming and going, and he couldn't help but laugh and regain his mood.

Crossing the Yang Canal from Hongchi, the ox cart turned southwest, and soon reached the south of the city. The places used for political education such as the National Taixue, the Mourning Hall, the Mingtai and the Biyong are all located here.

There are many school palaces distributed outside the south of the city, and the residents' family backgrounds are also many solid, and the shape of various walls, watchtowers, dock walls, etc., is neat and numerous, and the imperial court's patrol and vigilance force here is also more than other places. Therefore, even though Biyong was located on the periphery of Nanguo, Zhang Meng still asked Shan Zhong to park the ox cart in the mulberry forest a hundred steps away from Biyong.

Since the Zhou Dynasty, Biyong has been a national school palace, which is different from Taixue and Mingtai, and is dedicated to teaching the children of young officials and eunuchs until the weak crown. However, since the beginning of this dynasty, the purpose of teaching has basically disappeared, and it is only occasionally used as a venue for undertaking court sacrifices. For this reason, the area around Piyong is not as densely populated as other places outside Nanguo, but is extremely lonely and empty.

Zhang Meng asked Shi A and Shan Zhong to stay in the mulberry forest and wait, and he secretly climbed into the courtyard of Biyong by taking advantage of the night.

Biyong covers a wide area as a whole, and there are many side halls and warehouse buildings outside the main hall, which are connected with each other by flying pavilions. Zhang Meng took advantage of the moonlight to walk through the huge hall, looking for a long time, all he saw was pitch black, quiet and silent, and thought to himself: "The second uncle mentioned 'Piyong', it can only be here, but there is not even a ghost here, so what does 'blindness' and 'queen' mean?" "After going around for a long time, I had no clue, so I could only turn out of the courtyard and return to the mulberry forest.

Shan Zhong saw that Zhang Meng returned fruitlessly, and said: "Zhang Jun, just now I went over there to take a break, and I saw that there was a small hall near the corner of the wall of Biyong Courtyard, and there was light in it, I am afraid that someone is there, do you want to go there and ask?" ”

"The little hall?"

Zhang Meng was led by Shan Zhong to see, and sure enough, he saw that not far from Biyong, there was a low side hall. It is said to be a side hall, just because it is close to Biyong, but it is separated from Biyong, and it seems to be independent, and it looks very awkward.

After all the hard work to come here, you can't give up easily. Zhang Meng thought to himself: "There is light in that small hall, and there should be someone on duty." Since I live here, I must be familiar with Biyong-related matters, and may be able to help me find more clues. At the moment, I had the idea of playing three rods with and without dates, and I couldn't breathe, and then I went to the small hall to find out.

There is no courtyard in the small hall, and the main hall is the entrance door. The door was not closed, and there was a glimmer of light. Outside the hall, there is a bronze square tripod, which is used as an incense altar.

In addition to some newly lit incense candles that are burning, there are also many old incense candles that have been burned to the point that only half a small section remains in them, and it seems that there are often people sacrificing in ordinary times.

"I don't know who is offered in this temple, there is a temple, but the etiquette system is incomplete, it is very strange."

Zhang Meng became more and more curious, and called a few times outside the door, but no one responded, so he gently pushed the door and entered.

The hall is full of large incense candles, the light is as bright as day, the cigarette smoke lingers in the meantime, from the outside to the inside, as if the world is separated, people also become groggy because of the heavy aroma.

Zhang Mengzheng was a little confused, and suddenly heard the sound of rustling behind him, as if someone was walking towards him.