It is said that Li Yong completed the research and development of the steam engine, and Xi Junmai, who was thousands of miles away, also completed the preliminary reconstruction of Xizhou City, and then he was to clear the remnants of the city, especially the Tang Army originally controlled by the Thorn Mansion, although the army here went a lot, but many people were left behind, the purpose is why, Xi Junmai can know why with his ass, and he can't want to pick his fruit, but in Xi Junmai's eyes, these are just clowns who jump off the beam, and now in Xizhou, Xi Junmai has to relieve the military power of the Xizhou Thorn Mansion, Because these people are a restless time bomb in the city, which has nothing to do with personal grievances, Xiang Tian, the commander of Guoyi in Xizhou Zhichong Mansion, led the soldiers who garrisoned Xizhou are all children of the Tang Dynasty, and Xiang Tian is also a border guard with a strong roots, it stands to reason that at the moment of the great enemy, Xi Junmai should have complete trust in him and the soldiers of Zhichong Mansion, and only with one heart and one mind can he repel the enemy army, because there are only a thousand black troops to defend, and they can only do defense, why not let these people join? Xizhou but there are two Zhichong Mansion, it is said that the former two Zhichong lieutenants in the battle to resist the bandits siege martyrdom, more than two years the imperial court has not sent new generals, so the soldiers of the two Zhichong Mansion in Xizhou are all temporarily led by Xiang Tian, this temporary leadership is more than two years, for the Xiang Tian and the border soldiers who stayed behind, Xi Jun bought before the reconstruction of Xizhou City did not have time to pay attention to them, they did not do anything, so the two sides are well water does not violate the river water, but with the reconstruction of Xizhou City half completed, The contradiction between Xi Junmai and Xiang Tian's border defenders became more and more serious, because he had just come to Xizhou, Xiang Tian's relationship with him was not very harmonious, the intelligence bureau's intelligence showed that Xiang Tian had been in cahoots with Cao Yu, such a general defending the city, before the enemy came, Xi Junmai really didn't dare to believe him too much, when he stood at the head of the city to command the defense of the city in the future, who knew if there would be a cold arrow shot from behind, so Xi Junmai had to choose to remove Xiang Tian's military power, from the management system of the black army to explain, an army can have countless hands, Countless pairs of feet, the more the merrier, but there is absolutely only one mind, and only one can lead this army to glory, obviously, the role of the brain, Xi Junmai cannot be handed over to others, Cao Yu is not good, Xiang Tian is even more not, in the discussion of the removal of Xiang Tian's military power, the officers of the black army can't give too many ideas, because in their opinion, it is a direct action, but Xi Jun buys Xizhou City, which is not easy to take over, and does not want to fight before the war starts, so that the people in the city can see the jokes, causing panic, As a veteran, Lao Xu was obviously much wiser than those officers, and he calmly thought of another question.

"The regiment commander killed thirteen other countries a few months ago, this matter shocked Xizhou, although he established his authority, but he also really had a big enmity with the countries of the Western Regions, and now he wants to remove Xiang Tian's military power, this is really a bit ......"

"Aggressive?"

Xi Junmai replied with a smile, Lao Xu hesitated, but still nodded, Xi Junmai said.

"I don't want to be like this, Xizhou is about to be brought to the city by the soldiers of all countries, to say a word of frustration, it is still unknown whether we can survive in this battle, in comparison, I will kill and dismiss the military power, what is it? Let's talk about it if we survive. ”

Lao Xu pondered carefully, Xi Jun's words to buy it did make sense, and he couldn't help but nodded.

"So, before the great enemy comes, you and I might as well let go of our hands and feet, everything is to hold Xizhou, and there are no taboos in doing so, the reason is clear, tell me your idea, how can we remove Xiang Tian's military power?"

Lao Xu thought for a moment and showed a wise expression.

"Now that the enemy is in front, Xizhou City has finally stabilized, if the imperial army is lifted now, it will inevitably cause panic, after all, they don't know what our strength is, and it is impossible to think that we will defend Xizhou City with a thousand people, because no matter how you look at it, it is a suicidal act, so those imperial court troops are a life-saving straw for the people, until the last resort, I still want them to stay, don't worry about them."

Xi Junmai listened and pondered for a moment, then stopped talking, and Lao Xu and the others also withdrew from the yamen. Another day passed, no different from the ordinary day, the sun rises and sets, plain and quiet, in the evening, the sunset gradually sinks westward, the white desert sprinkles a layer of golden halo, from a distance, Xizhou City is also shrouded in this halo, the remnant sun, the desert, the lonely city, desolate and poignant as poetry, a camel carrying a person, stepping on the golden halo of the sunset, galloping towards Xizhou City, a person and a horse broke into this poetry and painting of the lonely city of the remnant sun, and then, perfectly integrated with the poetry and painting, closer and closer to Xizhou City, The black army guarding the door squinted his eyes from the mask and looked at the man and a horse running far away in the desert, the more he looked at it, the more he felt that something was wrong, and when he was only a few dozen zhang away from the Xizhou city gate, the black army guarding the door suddenly found that the knight was bloody, his chest and back were full of more than ten arrows, and the blood that flowed out had dried up and turned into a dark brown, which looked shocking, and when he was still ten zhang away from the city gate, the dying knight on the camel's back finally raised his head, When the originally low city wall became a tall city wall, a relieved smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he took the last breath of air, and the knight suddenly hissed.

"I am a cavalry scout, on the order of the Assassin Shifu to go out of the camp to inspect, a hundred miles west of Xizhou, a hundred miles away, three thousand enemy troops went straight to Xizhou, please assassinate history, assassinate history......"

Before the words were finished, a large stream of blood suddenly gushed out of the knight's mouth, and the last breath of residual qi was finally exhausted, the burly body shook a few times on the camel's back, and then fell to the ground upside down, and died of exhaustion, the black soldiers guarding the door looked at the knight's body that no longer moved, and after a while, everyone suddenly stirred, and the two stepped forward to lift the knight's corpse, and led the camel into the city, and the rest were busy closing the city gate, and two of them ran towards the direction of the newly built administrative yamen.

"Enemy attack, there is enemy attack, close the city gates, all personnel go to combat positions."

The war came so suddenly, there was no friction, no declaration of war, it appeared in front of everyone in the simplest and most direct way, the news reached Xizhou City less than half an hour, all the cavalry battalions outside the city of the Thorn Mansion pulled out the camp and entered the city to enter the Thorn Shi Mansion, for the actions of the cavalry camp, Xi Junmai did not care, just let the people of the Intelligence Bureau stare at them to death, and he led a thousand black troops to concentrate in the West City Gate, holding muskets on guard, Xi Junmai led Lao Xu, and also took more than 40 black troops, A group of people walked into the Thorn Mansion with a solemn face, in front of the gate of the Thorn Mansion, the corpse of the messenger scout was lying quietly under the corridor, his face was covered with a white cloth, there were many people around, all of them were officials who had not left the Thorn Mansion, everyone's eyes were staring at the silent corpse, the expression was very complicated, and the footsteps were heard from afar, Xi Junmai was wearing a black Xishan helmet, the standard black army dress, was walking towards the gate, the impact of the armor made a unique sound, and the steps of the black army were neat, Dozens of people actually walked out of the momentum of thousands of troops, these officials who did not leave were startled, hurriedly avoided, and a large area was instantly vacated in front of the gate of the Assassin's Mansion, facing everyone's frightened and frightened eyes, Xi Jun bought his own filter, led the black army to the unknown scout corpse, and looked at him silently.

"This is the scout you sent out on your own initiative."

Xi Junmai said expressionlessly, he had already sent his own scouts, and he also knew the enemy's movements, but these people still sent their own people on their own initiative, to put it bluntly, they didn't trust him, Xi Junmai looked at him from afar, there was awe, indifference, and even hatred in these eyes, all beings in the world are different, so wonderful, Xi Junmai smiled coldly, suddenly straightened his waist, and looked at the officials coldly and said loudly.

"The officials of the Tang Dynasty are guarding the land of the Tang Dynasty, there is nothing wrong with this, the fault is that you use the lives of soldiers as a political means, it would be stupid."

After listening to Xi Junmai's words, those officials were still very quiet, with a little fear and panic on their faces, Xi Junmai knew that these were civil officials of the imperial court, and their strength was that they could use the words of the sages as a few treasures, but in the face of the upcoming tragic battle of attack and defense of the city, they were unarmed wastes, and they couldn't count on anything at all, Xi Junmai looked at them quietly, and suddenly asked loudly and sarcastically.

"The king's envoys, the ministers, what is it?"

There was a commotion in these quiet crowds, Xi Junmai's sentence has a source, it is a sentence that Lu Dinggong asked Confucius in the Spring and Autumn Period, but all the ignorant young children who have read the school for two years can blurt out the next sentence without thinking, but Xi Junmai asked this sentence in front of many civil officials who read poetry and books, the crowd did not answer for a long time, the words of the sages of the ages, after all, only people with a clear conscience can answer calmly, Xi Junmai's expression became more and more gloomy, he took a step forward, and asked again in front of the officials.

"The king's envoys, the ministers, what is it?"

After a long time, a low-hearted answer finally came from the crowd.

"The king makes the ministers courteous, and the ministers are loyal to the ......"

The answer is very standard, word for word, this sentence is exactly what Confucius replied to Lu Dinggong, and it was included in the "Analects", but Xi Junmai was still not satisfied, the corners of his mouth hooked up a sarcastic smile, and Xi Junmai's tone was cold and mean.

"The voice is so small, is it because the imperial court has not fed you, or have you done too much to be an official in this place far away from Emperor Gao?"

The bitter and mean words of Sang scolding Huai finally aroused the anger of the readers, and the officials raised their heads in unison, blushing and looking directly at Xi Junmai, with anger in their eyes.

Xi Junmai asked the same thing for the third time, but this time he stood with his hands in his hands, looking up at the sky, as if asking the heavenly gods.

"I know that some of you don't understand what we have to do, and hate us, I won't be like you, because you will soon know how naïve your ideas are, the enemy is at present, and personal grievances are put aside for the time being, I just tell you not to do stupid things, of course, you are also welcome to continue to come to me, and then you will know why the black army is called the black army."

The crowd was silent, and the officials stared at Xi Junmai's face with complicated eyes, that face was young with a little indifference, and a little annoying smile, but the eyes on that face were full of irreversible determination like a rock at the moment, the crowd did not speak for a long time, and did not see any movement, Xi Junmai still smiled brightly, but he spoke very politely.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the enemy army is only a hundred miles away from Xizhou, are you still standing here stupidly, waiting for the enemy to invite you to drink? I won't disturb the Yaxing of all the adults, and I will take my leave. ”

The little scout, at the cost of his life, in exchange for a chance to be a hero, this is his mistake, because before he came back, Xi Junmai had already received the news of the scout, he was just used by those purposeful assassin officials, many people's long lives, the real shining, maybe only a short moment, or maybe not even this moment, a lifetime of mediocrity and bleakness to death, Xi Junmai sincerely grateful to this scout at the same time, but also couldn't help but feel glad about his decision, I am glad that I can find my purpose in life in Xishan, and I have such a powerful subordinate to fight side by side. The gate of Xizhou City was closed, the black army was in full array, dozens of scouts were sent out of the city again, and galloped towards the west, on the west city tower, there was no rolling wood, stone, fire oil and other things that have defended the city since ancient times, because the Xizhou city wall rebuilt with cement was strong and tall, and there were powerful musket shots, thousands of cavalry wanted to sneak attack here, it was undoubtedly a dead end, the black army defending the city stood in line on the city tower, with a solemn expression, but more excited, the battle was a kind of enjoyment for the black army, watching the enemy come strongly, and then was ruthlessly crushed by them, and it has become one of the few joys of the black army, which is that invincible is really lonely. There was a hustle and bustle in the city, Xi Junmai could hear the crying of the people standing on the city tower, women holding children, men holding their parents, the whole city was like a pot of boiling water, all messed up, nervous, scared, all kinds of emotions filled the city, but Xi Junmai did not blame these innocent people, because this is a living and bloody war, it will be dead, if one is not careful, he may be killed, he turned his head and saw Cheng Chuliang, Cheng Chuliang's face was as rigid as usual, like a pool of stagnant water, without the slightest wave, Suddenly, there was a bustle and noise under the city tower, a group of officials surrounded a person, and quickly climbed the steps of the city tower, Xi Junmai squinted and looked, it turned out to be Cao Yu, who had been closed these days, he kept his promise to hand over the military and political power of Xizhou to Xi Junmai, and let Xi Junmai toss, and Cao Yu's performance was very abnormal in Xi Junmai's eyes, until today, he finally appeared in front of the officials and people of Xizhou, with a majestic face and a sinister look, and he didn't know that this evil spirit was aimed at the upcoming enemy army, Still buying at Xi Jun, when Cao Yu walked up to the city tower, he saw that on the newly built city wall, the black army was in a position to meet the enemy between the fortresses of the city tower, after Cao Yu went up to the city tower, he saw this scene, and then, Cao Yu couldn't help frowning, Xi Junmai also saw Cao Yu at this time, he just said hello to Cao Yu lightly.

"Three thousand enemy troops?"

Cao Yu frowned and asked.

"Yes, 3,000 enemy troops are coming from the west, less than 100 miles from Xizhou."

"Three thousand people, not much, the so-called bandits who attacked Xizhou in the past, there were about three or two thousand, and now the black army under the command of Xizhou is guarded, and there is such a strong city wall, Xizhou will not be lost."

Cao Yu brushed his beard, his expression was quite confident, and he glanced at Xi Junmai with a little deep meaning, Xi Junmai smiled, he understood the meaning of this sentence.

"Yes, 3,000 people is not much, Xizhou is impregnable, there must be nothing to lose, adults can go back to the house and have a good rest."

Xi Junmai also bluntly scolded back, the enemy is current, Xi Junmai is unwilling to talk to Cao Yu because of this trivial matter.

Cao Yu's face changed suddenly when he heard this, and his eyes immediately became gloomy.

"Commander, it is the responsibility of this official to defend Xizhou!"

Xi Junmai laughed as if he had heard a big joke.

"Cao Yu, I'll give you face and call you an adult, if I hadn't rebuilt the new city wall, would the earthen wall be able to hold it? You remember, the current name of Xizhou City is still the imperial court, but it is actually me and my black army management, so you can stay there as soon as you are cool. ”

Speaking of this step, it is already very straightforward, Xi Junmai simply tore his face directly, Cao Yu's eyes flashed with an unpredictable light, I don't know what to think, I glanced deeply at the black army on the city tower, at this time the guard force of Xizhou City is only 1,000 people, all of them are the black army bought by Xi Jun, and the original Xizhou Zhichong Mansion has gone more than half of it earlier, and the rest is waiting in his assassination history, there was originally a Zhichong Mansion, but because he went out of the city to inspect the border, he didn't have time to rush back.

1,000 people, tall new-style city walls, and a lot of internal and external troubles, to face 3,000 wolf-like enemy troops, whether they can hold this city, I don't know if the black army is as strong as rumored, seeing that Cao Yu didn't answer for a long time, Xi Junmai was a little impatient, he had a lot to do, and he didn't have time to rub his tongue with Cao Yu, so Xi Junmai ignored him directly, he loved that and stayed there, anyway, the black army didn't listen to his command, Cao Yu's face changed several times, and he couldn't help but look directly into Xi Junmai's eyes, and then, A layer of cold sweat broke out on Cao Yu's back.

At this moment, Xi Junmai's eyes were bloodshot, there was no trace of a smile in them, but a little hideous, but his eyes flashed with a wolf-like murderous light, as if only when Cao Yu said half a word, he would burst out and devour people, swallowing Cao Yu even the belt bones into his stomach, such a look, Cao Yu had never seen it, he only felt that his bones were cold, as if a cold wind was blowing into the bone marrow, it was so cold that he trembled, and his suspicious eyes turned slightly, and then, Cao Yu saw Lao Xu, who was walking like a shadow behind Xi Junmai, just when Cao Yu's eyes turned to Lao Xu, Lao Xu also grinned at him, smiling ugly, but his right hand suddenly stretched out and held the black knife that belonged to the black army, this action made Cao Yu dispel the last trace of doubt in his heart, he now has no doubt, if he dares to say half a word at this moment, Xi Junmai definitely has the courage to dare to behead him on the city tower, when the current situation of the enemy is critical, anything can be done, Cao Yu gritted his teeth, and now he didn't even dare to be silent, because he was afraid of provoking this madman, so he said very sensibly.

"In this way, the Xizhou city defense will be entrusted to the commander, and the official will stab the Shi Mansion back, and the central dispatch is, Xiang Tian!"

Xiang Tian, who was behind Cao Yu, paused for a moment, and subconsciously responded with a fist.

"The end will be."

Cao Yu's voice was getting colder, and he said indifferently.

"The generals and soldiers of the Zhichong Mansion all listen to the orders of the commander, and those who dare to disobey the order have the right to arbitrarily decide on the spot."

"Cao Thorn History, this is not in accordance with the rules, and the end will ......"

"At the moment of the great enemy, the words of this official are the rules!"

After speaking, Cao Yu glanced deeply at Xi Junmai again, brushed his sleeves and turned to leave, Xi Junmai smiled and said to Cao Yu's back.

"Congratulations to Cao Tingshi."

After Cao Yu left, on the upper floor of Xizhou City, whether it was Zhichong Mansion or the cavalry battalion soldiers, they all looked at Xi Junmai silently, Xi Junmai turned around, his smile had changed to a frosty face, and he said slowly in the face of these people

"Everyone has heard it, according to the order of Xizhou Cao Thorn History, now this official will take over the defense of Xizhou City, all soldiers must obey my orders, and those who dare to disobey the order will be beheaded!"

The soldiers of Datang were awe-inspiring, hesitated for a moment, and finally clasped their fists together and shouted.

"Obey the general's order!"

"Now, go and keep the law and order in the city."

The first general order was to transfer the reluctant Xiang Tian out of the city tower and order him to clean up the security in the city, until Xiang Tian left the city tower with anger, and a group of soldiers from the Zhichong Mansion were also blinded, and they didn't even need their help, just let them be security guards? It was only at this time that Xi Junmai breathed a sigh of relief, the city defense finally took over smoothly, if Cao Yu refused to hand over the power just now, Xi Junmai might really order him to be chopped directly, he is a lazy person who is too lazy to be verbose, as for Xiang Tian, Xi Junmai glanced at Lao Xu, Lao Xu nodded knowingly, and a black soldier came out of the queue and quietly followed behind Xiang Tian. The enemy came quickly, faster than imagined, an hour later, the end of the desert outside Xicheng in Xizhou suddenly set off the yellow sand, in the rolling yellow dust, there were three or two small black spots, and then, the small black spots became five, six, hundreds, a stick of incense hours later, more than 3,000 people riding camels wearing various costumes slowly came out of the yellow sand, until they stopped three miles away from the Xizhou city wall, in the different eyes of the soldiers defending the city, the three thousand horsemen were not in a hurry to arrange the formation, silent confrontation, Xi Jun bought eyes and turned his head to look at Lao Xu, Now Lao Xu is also looking at him, the two of them make eye contact, both revealing the same meaning, just looking at the array of these three thousand horsemen, and the murderous aura exuded by the entire army in silence, such a formation is definitely not something that ordinary bandits and others can do, they must be the elite army of a small country in the Western Regions!

Lao Xu glared angrily and shouted.

"The enemy has arrived, and the mask is underneath."