Zhou Ziru stood outside the camp gate, pacing back and forth, constantly looking in the direction of the capital.

"Zhou Xiang... Here's what we do... Isn't that a little inappropriate? Tang Xingchang stood aside and asked. Zhou Ziru led his troops to come, and the two soldiers and horses were combined into one. Zhou Ziru did not drive Tang Xingchang away like Ge Cifeng, but stayed as the deputy marshal in the army, discussing everything big and small.

Zhou Ziru replied indifferently: "What's inappropriate?" ”

Tang Xingchang was a straight man, and said directly: "Chu Xiang did not succeed in robbing the grain, but we reported to Your Majesty that the grain and grass were robbed, and asked Your Majesty for money and grain. If someone knows about it, I'm afraid it will be unfavorable to you..."

"Which is more important than my reputation or the safety of the court?" Zhou Ziru still looks indifferent.

Tang Xingchang saw that Zhou Ziru didn't seem to be talking to himself, so he had to reply honestly: "Naturally, the safety of the imperial court is more important. ”

"Chu Xiang is now taking the initiative to counterattack the imperial court, although our army is 300,000, but the outcome is unpredictable, and I don't know if it will be delayed and delayed. If it really drags on for three or five years, it will be difficult to ensure that Sichuan, Shu, Xigui, and even the three kings in the north will not make any moves. Moreover, Nanhuai and Donglu have just returned to obedience, so it is difficult to say that there will be no dissent..."Zhou Ziru explained slowly.

"But what does this have to do with that report?" Tang Xingchang hasn't understood yet.

"Now that the treasury is empty, I said that if the grain and grass are robbed, Your Majesty will go around raising money and grain, and now only Nanhuai and Donglu can raise it. Raising grain and grass from the two places is equivalent to weakening their strength, and the court can have a say in them. And I'm not afraid of dragging it out with Chu Xiang for three and five years. Zhou Ziru said his inner thoughts.

Tang Xingchang looked at Zhou Ziru's side face from the side, and he really couldn't imagine that this young man could be so far-sighted, not only calculating the enemy, but even his own family was in his calculations.

"If Your Majesty didn't raise money and food from Nanhuai Donglu..."Tang Xingchang looked at Zhou Ziru, feeling a little weak in his heart.

"Then I can't afford to delay with Chu Xiang, we need to fight quickly, and after taking Chu Xiang, the squad will return to the dynasty to prevent changes in Nanhuai and Donglu." Zhou Ziru had already thought of another outcome.

While the two were talking, a fast horse came on the official road in the distance, and the rider immediately carried a yellow soap flag to show that he was carrying the emperor's order, and those who saw it retreated.

"Here we are." Zhou Ziru seemed a little impatient, and stepped forward quickly, Tang Xingchang beckoned back, and a team of soldiers next to him hurriedly followed, guarding in case of accidents.

"Your Majesty has a letter here!" The rider rolled the saddle and dismounted, took off the soap flag, and got down on one knee and felt a slightly wet letter from his bosom.

Zhou Ziru took the letter: "Rest and receive the reward." After speaking, the inspection and sealing were completed, and the letter was opened and read.

"I heard that Aiqing lost the war and the grain and grass were robbed, and I have sent people to Nanhuai and Donglu to urge grain. Nanhuai raised 8 million taels of silver, and Donglu was poor and difficult to raise food, so he had to send 50,000 troops to reinforce it, and he could arrive in a few days. Victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, Aiqing must not worry, everything should be done, and I will be the master. ”

Zhou Ziru closed the letter and said with a smile: "It's really a great revelation, and you don't have to worry about it!" ”

"That's great, hum, the imperial court plus Nanhuai and Donglu don't consume Chu Xiang yet!" Tang Xingchang was also very happy.

Zhou Ziru nodded heavily, and then hesitated: "Is there any information to reply to the Chu Xiang army?" ”

"The fine work in the Chu Xiang army is just an ordinary soldier, and it is difficult to contact the generals, I only know that many people have joined the Chu Xiang camp in the past two days, and there are all kinds of uniforms, and there are rumors that they are beggars and disciples." Tang Xingchang said.

When Zhou Ziru heard this, he sighed: "Alas, the imperial court still has less contact with the martial arts in the world, and even Zhenyang Mountain is in the territory of Chuxiang..."

Tang Xingchang was silent, the people of the capital lived and worked in peace and contentment, with abundant food and clothing, so naturally no one was willing to endure hardships and practice martial arts. Coupled with the feet of the Son of Heaven, what is the use of practicing martial arts? It really responds to the old saying, "Born in sorrow, die in peace." ”

After everyone entered the tent, Zhou Ziru remembered some trivial arrangements and deployments, and ordered them one by one, Tang Xingchang led the generals to leave, and a soldier walked in from outside the tent, took off his helmet after entering the tent, and knelt down on one knee in front of Zhou Ziru, and the heavy iron armor rattled.

The one who came turned out to be Jian Liuyun!

"How is He Yue'er doing?" Zhou Ziru asked about He Yue'er's situation.

"He Yue'er is still at home in the mountains and has not gone out, Yi Xiaodao returned to the capital a month ago, and then went to Nanhuai alone." Jian Liuyun said loudly.

Zhou Ziru was surprised by the game and looked at Jian Liuyun: "Yi Xiaodao didn't come to see He Yue'er?" ”

Jian Liuyun bit his lip lightly, and replied: "I've come, I've left, and I've taken His Majesty's unassisted female guard." ”

Zhou Ziru narrowed his eyes: "Then why don't you report it?" I asked, I said, I want to hide it? ”

"My subordinates don't dare, it's just that it's not a big deal, I don't want to... Disturb the owner. "Jian Liuyun is a little weak-hearted.

Zhou Ziru sneered twice: "Hmph, do you know what a big deal is?" Yi Xiaodao was disappointed in He Yue'er if he really didn't pay attention to He Yue'er, He Yue'er's chess piece would be useless... It's not completely useless, at least it can contain Ge's rhetoric. ”

Jian Liuyun's eyes lowered and he bit his lip lightly, not knowing what he was thinking.

"What are you thinking?" Zhou Ziru noticed the abnormality of Jian Liuyun.

"Master, He Yue'er is just an ordinary woman, please master... Pity the fragrance and cherish the jade. Jian Liuyun said stiffly.

Zhou Ziru looked at Jian Liuyun for a while before saying, "If you don't want to do things for me, you can leave freely, and I will never stop you." But if it's something that gets in my way, you'll have to think it through. ”

Jian Liuyun immediately changed to kneeling on his knees: "My subordinates don't dare." ”

"After Yi Xiaodao leaves, can a letter arrive?" Zhou Ziru ignored it and asked.

"Never, just... My subordinates always felt that someone was secretly watching He Yue'er, and whenever I noticed it, I didn't see anyone when I went out to check. Jian Liuyun said truthfully.

"Even you can't hold it?"

"I didn't even find it."

Zhou Ziru nodded slightly: "Okay, you can go back." Continue to stare at He Yue'er, there will always be a day when she will be useful. And you, pay attention to your identity. ”

"Subordinates obey!" Jian Liuyun put on his helmet and retreated from the tent.

Zhou Ziru looked at the swaying tent and frowned and thought. After a while, he took out a chess box from the shelf, grabbed a black chess piece, played with it in his palm, and then threw all the chess pieces into the box, leaving only three black chess pieces in his hand. He took out an envelope from the handsome case, threw three black chess pieces into the envelope, sealed the mouth, and summoned a soldier.

"Lord Wenxiang, what do you command?"

"Send this envelope to the Zhou Mansion in the capital and hand it over to the gatehouse." Zhou Ziru commanded. The soldier took the envelope, bid farewell to Zhou Ziru, led the horse out of the barracks, and headed in the direction of the capital.

Zhenyang Mountain, back mountain.

Zhang Zongbai sat cross-legged on a boulder, a gust of mountain wind blew, and the trees behind him rustled, but Zhang Zongbai did not move at all.

A white-bearded old man walked over, this humane bone fairy wind, one of the four superintendents of Zhenyang Mountain, Xuan Qingzi. He saluted Zhang Zongbai, and then asked, "Zhangjiao, why didn't Guanchenzi and Tongweizi come back with you?" ”

"Hehe, what are you doing with them back? Zhenyang Mountain has already taught them everything that should be taught to them. Zhang Zongbai said with a smile.

"The war under the mountain, if they have a mistake, what should it be?" Xuan Qingzi said with concern, Guan Chenzi and Tongweizi are the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation of Zhenyang Mountain, and the two of them have joined forces, and even the superintendent can live a few tricks. As long as time passes, cultivation is diligent, and it is enough to carry the banner of Zhenyang Mountain martial arts.

Zhang Zongbai disagreed: "They have all traveled to the rivers and lakes for three years, what kind of people haven't seen them?" Do you still need us old-fashioned guys to protect her? ”

"Senior brother has his own plans for senior brother, so I will say that the second senior brother is too worried." A middle-aged Taoist priest walked from behind him and said with a smile. He is also one of the four superintendents of True Yang, Xuan Weizi. is still the youngest junior brother among the "Five Sons of Zhenyang", and the fifth uncle who is the best speaker in the eyes of the disciples of Zhenyang Mountain.

Xuan Qingzi sighed: "This time is different from the past, Chu Xiang and the imperial court are fighting, something that has not happened in six hundred years!" Although Guan Chenzi has been traveling down the mountain for three years, how has he ever seen such a battle? I'm only worried that if there is a mistake, there will be no successor to Zhenyang Mountain..."

Zhang Zongbai stood up and said with a smile: "Xuan Jingzi, Xuan Wuzi, you guys come out too, you are still so timid at an age!" ”

Two people came out of the forest one after another, one of them had a faint white beard, and it seemed that the grade was not small; The other person is a woman, although her face is wrinkled and her old age is gradually appearing, she has bright eyes and beautiful eyebrows, and she can see that she was also a stunning woman when she was young.

At this point, the "Five Sons of True Yang" gathered again, in the past, they were either busy with sect affairs, or retreat and cultivate, although the five of them were on the same mountain, they had not gathered together for more than ten years. Seeing everyone here today, everyone has the joy of reunion on their faces, especially Zhang Zongbai's joy is the most abundant and the smile is the strongest.

"Senior brother is old, no better than the hot-tempered senior brother back then. Hehehe, you're all here to ask about Guanchenzi and Tongweizi? Zhang Zongbai asked with a smile.

The four of them nodded in unison, and Xuan Jingzi said: "Senior brother, the two of them are still young, and it is not easy to have such a cultivation, so they should stay in the mountains at this time and cultivate quietly." If you are contaminated with mortal dust too early, you may damage your Dao heart. ”

Zhang Zongbai turned his head to look at the bottom of the mountain: "How can I not know?" Since the five of us, Zhenyang Mountain has no outstanding disciples. When the master was dying, he taught us five satisfied disciples, as long as each of us taught five more, and so on, within a hundred years, Zhenyang Mountain will definitely carry forward! But what about the facts? It's been fifty years, how many disciples have we met with the five old guys, and we have only met these two good seedlings..."

"I'm not willing to... But I want them to carry not only the martial arts banner of Zhenyang Mountain, I want them to be able to carry the entire Zhenyang Mountain! But you can't rush it. Zhang Zongbai smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"But Senior Brother..."Xuan Wuzi, who had not spoken, spoke up, and after thinking about it, he still didn't continue.

Zhang Zongbai nodded and said, "I know, okay, I'll see you, let's go back." ”

The four of them didn't stop, suppressed what they wanted to say, saluted Zhang Zongbai's back, and left together. There will be no mistakes in the teaching of Zhenyang Mountain, this is the common cognition of the disciples of Zhenyang Mountain.

Zhang Zongbai was alone, standing on the boulder, standing until the red sun was sinking in the west, and the stars were gradually rising.

"Zhang Zongbai!" There was a shout in the air, followed by a few shouts: "I'll wait to greet you, and when we break through the gate of heaven and welcome you into the way of heaven!" ”

These shouts resounded through the sky, shaking the boulders under Zhang Zongbai's feet trembling slightly, but the disciples up and down Zhenyang Mountain didn't seem to hear it, participating in meditation, practicing martial arts, meditating, etc., still sitting on their own things.

Zhang Zongbai glanced at the sky, and waved the dust in his hand: "The time has not yet come!" In the future, someone will break through the gate of heaven, and there will be no need to work for everyone. ”

"This is the right time!" The voice in heaven was a little persistent.

"I said the time has not come!" Zhang Zongbai put his fingers together and waved lightly at the sky, a gust of wind blew, and the moon was bright and the stars were scarce...