Da Yuxian's eyes were like torches, staring at Tai Hao, and asked rhetorically: "I guess you have heard about the evil deeds of those bandits on Kunwu Mountain, right?" ”

Tai Hao's expression was solemn, and there was a hint of firmness in his voice: "I have long heard of Kunwu Mountain, and I have fought against the 'Four Great Demons' many times. What does the city lord mean that only by exterminating all the bandits on Kunwu Mountain can the people of Jiutu City be peaceful and live a prosperous life? ”

Da Yuxian shook his head slightly, his eyes flashing with deep thought: "Jiutu City and Wuqu City are so close to each other, but the bandits on Kunwu Mountain have never plundered Wuqu City. On the contrary, they have been wanton with the barren and impoverished Nine Earth City, do you know why? ”

Tai Hao shook his head and said, "I haven't thought about this problem, and I still ask the city lord of Dayuxian to tell me." ”

Da Yuxian smiled slightly, looked at Tai Hao with deep eyes, and said, "I can see that you have a sincere heart for the governance of Jiutu City, but you are not the city lord of Jiutu City, just a deputy general who guards the city, and his power is limited. Even if Lord Taihao understands the reason, what can he do? ”

Taihao suddenly fell into deep contemplation, his heart seemed to be shrouded in a thick dark cloud, and a lingering sense of powerlessness spread in his heart. Yes, he is just a lieutenant general who guards the city, and even if he has a heart to keep the city in order, he finds himself like a lonely boat, swaying in the endless ocean, unable to find a way forward.

The power in his hands is only in the military aspect. He could not interfere in any way in the affairs of the city, and could only watch as chaos and corruption spread like weeds through the city. This feeling of powerlessness was like an invisible hand that held his heart tightly and made him feel suffocated.

Taihao couldn't help but begin to wonder if his strong strength and ability, in the face of this situation, could he really make a difference? He was like a tiger trapped in a cage, and although he slammed into the door of the cage violently, he could not find an exit to break through. His heart was filled with confusion and helplessness, could he really find a way to change the status quo?

Da Yuxian continued: "A few years ago, I set foot in Kunwu Mountain, where there are not only the 'Four Great Ghosts' and the 'Four Little Ghosts', but there is also a strict hierarchy between them. They were no ordinary bandits, and when I arrived, the 'Four Great Ghosts' and the 'Four Little Ghosts' were not on the mountain, but they still did not show ill will towards the court officials, but welcomed them warmly. ”

Taihao asked suspiciously: "There is such a thing, who received you at that time?" ”

Da Yuxian continued: "On Kunwu Mountain, there are four more elders. At that time, it was they who received me personally. To my surprise, they did not neglect me because I was an official of the imperial court, but showed an extremely polite attitude. This is completely inconsistent with the image of bandits who are capable of robbing the property of civilians at will. ”

Tai Hao frowned slightly, and asked, "Da Yuxian City Lord, what do you mean...... Those bandits who were rampant in Jiutu City might not have come from Kunwu Mountain? ”

Da Yuxian smiled slightly and said, "Lord Taihao is really smart, but the truth of the matter is far more complicated than you can imagine......

Tai Hao's heart moved, and he said: "I have already noticed that those people in Jiutu City who do illegal things in the name of bandits on Kunwu Mountain are probably the people in Jiutu City. Because early this morning, I found that the silver taels I was carrying in the inn were missing, and I immediately realized that this was definitely not the work of the bandits on Kunwu Mountain. The incredible return of the stolen silver taels only strengthened my suspicions. ”

"The stolen silver taels were returned?" Da Yuxian muttered to himself in confusion, "What a dramatic scene this is. ”

Taihao frowned slightly and said, "However, even if I have insight into all this, how should I deal with it?" ”

Da Yuxian pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "Lord Taihao is just a Shoucheng lieutenant general, and your duty should be placed on the military affairs of Jiutu City. In a few years, the emperor may transfer you back to the capital. Lord Taihao has made great achievements for the imperial court, and the emperor will definitely not leave you here for a long time. ”

Tai Hao said affectionately: "However, in my heart, I have a desire to make some contribution to the people there, and I can't watch the Nine Earth City decay day by day. ”

Da Yuxian replied with a smile: "Lord Taihao is really merciful. If you really want to gain the actual power of a city, you must ascend to the position of lord of the city. However, historically, most of the officials of Jiutu City had been demoted for violating the laws of the Eastern Empire, and no one wanted to hold that position. If you really aspire to become the lord of the city, you can write to the emperor and ask the emperor to appoint you as the lord of the city. However, whether this wish can be successfully realized depends on the emperor's wishes. ”

Tai Hao bowed his head slightly, and said, "What the city lord said is very true, and when I return to Jiutu City, this matter will definitely be put on the agenda." In addition, there is a matter of asking the lord of the city, and it is about your niece Coriander Zhi...... Is she okay now? Have you entered the door of marriage? ”

Da Yu Xian said: "Coriander is doing well now, eight years ago, a heroic woman took her as a disciple, took her out of Wuqu City, and let her learn martial arts in Liuding Mountain. Three years ago, she married her senior brother, probably because of the family's trivial matters, she has never returned. ”

Tai Hao heard that the woman who once tugged at his heartstrings at a glance had married someone else's wife, and he couldn't help but feel an indescribable melancholy in his heart. He sighed lightly: "The years have passed, but I didn't expect that Coriander Zhi has already married." Now when I think back to her face, it is still the same as when she was young. Coriander Zhi, why did you choose to practice martial arts? ”

He was immersed in his memories, as if he saw the figure of Qian Zhi when she was young, when she was still an innocent girl, with a bright smile and a vigorous posture. Taihao couldn't help but feel a little emotion in his heart, time flies, Coriander has found his home, and he is still silently nostalgic for the past.

"Perhaps, I've missed her." Tai Hao said sadly, his eyes revealing a deep regret and helplessness. He knows that some things can never be undone if they are missed, and the fate between him and Coriander may be like this.

Da Yuxian shook his head helplessly and said, "As for why she chose to embark on the path of martial arts, I have no way of knowing, maybe she has something she wants to protect." ”

Tai Hao nodded thoughtfully, and then asked, "So, where is this Liuding Mountain?" Is it far from here? ”

Da Yuxian smiled lightly and said, "Liuding Mountain is actually not far from here, about fifty miles away. If you ride a horse, you can reach it in an hour at most. ”

Tai Hao said: "It's a stone's throw away, but Coriander has been like the end of the earth in the past few years, and she has never returned home to visit relatives, which is quite strange." ”

Da Yuxian said: "It's really puzzling, she used to go home once every half a month, but since she left the cabinet, she seems to have disappeared and never stepped into the house again." ”

Taihao said: "Maybe it's because she is married to her husband, she is in that distant mansion, busy with housework, and has no time to return home." ”

Da Yuxian said: "Maybe so, but it always feels like something is wrong. I really don't know what that man did to her. ”

Tai Hao asked, "Didn't the city lord of Da Yuxian personally look for her?" ”

There was some worry on his brows, and he replied, "I sent my lady to look for her, but she returned when she could not find it. ”

An indescribable doubt surged in Taihao's heart, why did Coriander disappear without a trace after the wedding? Did something happen to you? He decided to embark on a journey to find Coriander Zhi, and said to Da Yu: "I will go to Liuding Mountain to find out her whereabouts and find out what happened to her." ”

Da Yuxian said gratefully: "If Lord Taihao can find my niece, I will repay you heavily." ”

Tai Hao said: "Da Yuxian City Lord, don't say that. When General Ling Zunda Shunqu entrusted Coriander to me, I failed to take care of it dutifully, which was my fault. As long as you don't blame me, I will do my best to find the coriander. With me, she's safe and sound. ”

Da Yuxian said in a deep voice: "I still remember that when Qian Zhi first arrived, she mentioned Lord Taihao many times, and she was worried about Lord Taihao's safety every day. This coriander, she has no father or mother since she was a child, it was my father who raised her, and she was able to meet Lord Taihao who cared for her so much, and her heart was also full of gratitude and contentment. ”

There was a deep emotion in his voice, as if he wanted to reinterpret that past. There was a kind of glint in Da Yuxian's eyes, as if he was feeling sorry for what happened to Coriander. He continued: "Coriander is a child, her heart is full of thoughts and admiration for Lord Taihao, and she prays for his safety every day. ”

Taihao sat in the front hall, his heart surging with endless thoughts. Da Yuxian's words were like a stone thrown into the quiet lake, rippling round after round.

"She misses you, like the long river in the north to the oasis in the south, and her eyes span thousands of miles, just to find you." Da Yuxian said this, every word was like a stone falling on Taihao's heart lake, and every ripple was flooded with memories of coriander.

Taihao remembered Coriander Zhi, the girl who was as bright as the summer sun, her clear eyes always carried a hint of stubbornness and affection. She was under the peach blossom tree in the spring of that year, smiling like a flower. At that moment, his heart was illuminated by her smile and struck by her affection.

However, time flies, and the years go by, and Coriander is married to someone else. But Da Yuxian's words rekindled his hope. He felt the thought of Coriander, and that deep affection, like a star that has not changed for thousands of years, illuminates his path in the darkness. He was moved, and his heart was full of guilt and longing for coriander.

He swore that he was going to find Coriander. He wanted to see how the girl who had left a deep mark in his heart was doing in her married life. He wondered why she had not been heard from, even his own uncle. He wanted to hear her voice, to see her smile, to rediscover that deep emotion.

Taihao immediately decided to get up and say goodbye to Da Yuxian and go to Liuding Mountain. However, at this moment, it was time for dinner, and Da Yuxian warmly invited Taihao to stay and have dinner with him. Taihao's stomach rumbled, and he had no choice but to accept the invitation.

On the dining table, the dazzling array of delicacies is dizzying. And between these delicacies, Taihao also met Da Yuxian's three heroic sons and four clever and lovely grandsons. Their bearing amazed Tai Hao, and they had already made a name for themselves in Wuqu City at a young age, and Tai Hao couldn't help but feel a sigh of emotion in his heart.

He thought silently: "No wonder the city lord of Dayuxian is so content with the status quo and unwilling to leave this Wuqu City. "It's not just because of the richness and prosperity of the city, but because so many of his children and grandchildren have grown up in the city, and they have become the backbone of the city.

The glory of the Da Yuxian family is like the rising sun in Wuqu City, shining brightly. Behind this glory is the hard work and outstanding talent of the eldest son Da Zengchang, the second son Da Zengyuan and the third son Da Zengye.

Da Zengchang, the eldest son, is burly, and his eyebrows are full of heroism. He was dressed in bright armor and a sharp sword at his waist, revealing a majestic temperament in his every move. He was the commander of Wuqu City and was in charge of the city's troops. His wisdom and bravery made people's admiration for him surge like a tide.

And his younger brother, the second son Da Zengyuan, has a completely different temperament from his elder brother. He always wears a neat official uniform, a black gauze hat, and an ink pen in his hand. His eyes were sharp and focused, as if he was forever searching for something. He was the head of Wuqu City and joined the army, and was in charge of the city's households. His carefulness and fairness make people love him like stars.

The third son Da increased his business, although he did not enter the office, but he was respectfully called the third son by the people in Wuqu City. He had bright eyes that shone with wisdom like stars. His knowledge is profound, whether it is poetry and poetry or a subset of scriptures and history, he is like a treasure. He is preparing for next year's imperial examinations and is looking forward to making a splash and bringing glory to his family.

Da Yuxian's three sons have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they are all paying for Wuqu City in their own way. The eldest son, Da Zengchang, managed the army to make the city stable, the second son Da Zengyuan's impartiality won the admiration of the people, and the wisdom of the third son Da Zengye made the people full of expectations for the future.