In Wan'an Mountain, the White Ape Peak is located in the mountains, the surrounding roads are blocked by steep peaks, it is difficult to approach, the White Ape Peak itself is from the mountainside to the peak, there are a lot of relatively flat open space, which is convenient for building houses and living, and the general altar of the Wudou Mijiao is located here. After Mao Xiang was sent to the Five Doumi Sect, he has been locked up in the main altar.

At the beginning of the Wudou Mijiao, it was mainly in the Xiangnan Ji'an Mansion and the official army to fight, repeatedly tug-of-war, and later the imperial court rushed to Xiangfan soldiers and horses, especially the battle of Zhangshuping, Xue Ding defeated the Wudou Mijiao, which hurt its vitality. The Wudoumi Sect completely retreated into Wan'an Mountain, with less than 30,000 people and horses, but most of the remaining people were hard-hearted disciples who resisted desperately, and the mountains were steep, and only a few passes could enter and exit. The officers and troops attacked several times on a large scale and suffered heavy losses, but there was no progress, so they had to turn to siege tactics.

The imperial court mobilized more than 100,000 soldiers and horses from the three counties of Xiangfan, Jiujiang and Changsha to besiege Wan'an Mountain from all sides, thinking of trapping and killing the Wudoumi Sect. However, the radius of Wan'an Mountain is too large, and the Wudou Rice Sect has been operating here for many years, storing a large amount of grain, and the mountain itself is also produced, and there will be no famine for a few years. On the contrary, there were more than 100,000 officers and soldiers, and after two months, they felt that the food and grass were insufficient, so the Wudou Rice Sect was at ease with the officials and troops.

At first, the Wudou Mi Sect just locked up Mao Xiang, thinking that he was an impostor, and after the war, the so-called Heavenly Master had no value, so no one paid attention to him. But after the Wudou Mi Sect all retracted back to Wan'an Mountain, more people came into contact with him, some had seen him in Jichun, some had seen him in Xiangyang, and recognized him as a real impersonator.

These situations were reflected in the sect's advocacy Fang Ping, and Zhang Fangping did not believe it. In Zhang Fangping's heart, he had already decided that the real Mao Xiang was the illegitimate son of the Hu family in Jiangnan and wanted to inherit the Hu family's family business, and Yuan Zhongmou could not send the real Mao Xiang back, but this fake Mao Xiang was too real.

But later, some scholars in the Wudoumi Sect, including Xiucai, who had fallen behind, had learned the knowledge of Mao Xiang, and also thought that he was indeed a Duke of Xie Yuan, and Zhang Fangping was also suspicious. He personally talked to Mao Xiang a few times, and the doubts in his heart became bigger and bigger, but at this time, Yuan Zhongmou had disappeared without a trace, and the contact was completely cut off, and he could not finally confirm all this.

On this day, Zhang Fangping came to the hut where Mao Xiang lived again, wanting to hear Mao Xiang's views on the current situation, in fact, Zhang Fangping at this time had basically believed that this was the real Xie Yuangong.

After Zhang Fangping laughed at the incompetence of the officials and soldiers as usual, he said: "Mao Xie Yuan, next year I am ready to officially become the king, why don't you join our Wudou Mi Sect and be a real heavenly master, how about I make you prime minister?" ”

Mao Xiang shook his head and said: "Death is coming, what's the point of being a prime minister and a king." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "What death is coming, the grain and grass of the officers and soldiers have been unable to help, two days ago the front line came to report, a group of officers and soldiers mutinied because of lack of food, scattered home. The encirclement of Jiujiang and Changsha was just a show, and the salt we needed kept coming in from that side, and the imperial court soon couldn't support it. ”

Mao Xiang said: "Sect Master, this is Yelang arrogant, you don't know the strength of the Great Sui Imperial Court at all." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "The imperial court has already mobilized more than 100,000 soldiers and horses to deal with us, can it still transfer all the people and horses from all over the country?" The Tatars and Uighurs had already come in. Besides, even if it transfers more soldiers and horses, it can't be put away in Wan'an Mountain, and it's not that it can't consume us. ”

Mao Xiang sneered: "The sect leader still knows that the main forces of the imperial court are placed in the northwest and north, and now these hundreds of thousands of horses are just local troops. Do you know that no matter how steep the pass is, as long as there are powerful offensive weapons, it will not be able to hold it. ”

Zhang Fangping said: "What kind of weapon?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "If it is a strong city wall, use cloud cars and rushing cars, and use stone throwers and oil machines in mountain passes." Sect leader you think, there is no shortage of stones in the mountains, the stone thrower can play the greatest effect, as for the fierce oil machine, it is a sharp weapon for attacking the mountain, the mountains are lush with trees, once the fierce oil is drenched, can the fire still be kept? ”

Zhang Fangping said suspiciously: "How do you know these weapons, and if they have, why don't the officers and soldiers use them?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "The official book of the imperial court "Arsenal Minutes" is all there, as for why it is useless now, I still said it at the beginning, these sharp weapons are all placed on the border, and the imperial court has not gone all out to deal with the Wudou Mi Sect. If the sect leader openly claims to be the king and wants to fight against the imperial court, the imperial court will definitely bring in border troops and bring these weapons to encircle and suppress, how can the sect leader think about resisting? ”

Zhang Fangping was silent, thought for a while, and said, "Then I will postpone being the king and slowly follow the officials and soldiers." ”

Mao Xiang said: "Not to mention whether it can consume the imperial court or not, in fact, the longer the time, the more detrimental it is to the sect leader." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "What do you say? ”

Mao Xiang said: "There is no shortage of food in Wan'an Mountain at present, but sooner or later there will be a time when it will run out. Also, the days in the mountains are not easy, the miasma is pressing in the summer, and the snow covers the mountains in the winter. Whether there will be people who can't stand this suffering and sneak down the mountain, when the people's hearts are scattered, there is no need for the official army to suppress them, maybe there will be people who are greedy for wealth and wealth, and it is unknown if they tie up the sect leader's brother and receive a reward from the government. ”

Zhang Fangping opened his mouth, closed it for a long time, and said, "Then in your opinion, what should we do?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "Taking advantage of the beginning of the war, the local poison is not strong, immediately ask the court to surrender, and voluntarily dissolve the Wudou Mi Sect, after all, the Wudou Mi Sect members are ordinary people, and the court will not kill them all." ”

Zhang Fangping sneered: "You want me to surrender for a long time, it's hard to say such a big thing for you." We were prepared for a few years, and we finally achieved today's situation, and surrendered after a few hits? Besides, the ordinary people may be pardoned by the imperial court, and the leaders of our brothers, the imperial court will not let them go, and they are not dead when the time comes. ”

Mao Xiang said: "I really think about the sect leader, of course, for myself. Sect leader, don't forget, after all, I am Xiangfan's Xie Yuan, my brother-in-law and Xiangfan's left commander Shi Xueding are world friends, and I can still speak in the imperial court. If the sect leader is really willing to surrender, I am willing to negotiate with the imperial court on behalf of the Wudou Mi Sect, so that the imperial court can guarantee the safety of the sect leader's brothers, and make the sect leader an official position. ”

Zhang Fangping said: "How to guarantee? ”

Mao Xiang said: "Please ask the emperor to personally issue a letter of pardon, you should always rest assured, right?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "You are going to negotiate? I'm afraid you're gone. ”

Mao Xiang said: "How can the eldest husband be untrustworthy, if the sect leader is not at ease, I can repair a letter and ask the imperial court to send someone into the mountain to negotiate, so that I am not afraid of running away." ”

Zhang Fangping was puzzled, and after a while, he laughed and said: "It's rare that Duke Xie Yuangong has thought about it so thoroughly, and our brothers will discuss it before we talk about it." ”

Mao Xiang said: "That's all it takes, it's a blessing or a curse, and the sect leader brothers decide for themselves." There is one more thing, please ask the master to help me solve my doubts. ”

Zhang Fangping said: "What's the matter?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "I have nothing to do with the Five Bucket Rice Sect, why did the Five Bucket Rice Sect drag me into the water?" ”

Zhang Fangping said with a smile: "That's when we prayed at the altar, and God signaled that Xie Yuangong was the Heavenly Master of the Five Doumi Sect. ”

Mao Xiang said: "I hope the sect leader treats each other with sincerity, since I am already in your hands, if the sect leader is unwilling to surrender, I will die in Wan'an Mountain." I have no enmity with the Wudou Mi Sect in the past, and I have no grudges in the near future, I just want to be a ghost. ”

Zhang Fangping hesitated for a long time and said: "I can't figure this matter out now, let me ask you, are you really presumptuous, from Shangjing to Xiangfan?" ”

Mao Xiang said: "I also learned after I was arrested by the government that I was not born in the Mao family, my original family was in the capital, and I came to Xiangfan after the Five Princes Rebellion." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "That's right, the person we are looking for is you." But now that you've been sent back, I don't know what's going on. ”

Mao Xiang said: "Actually, I have already guessed that it was not you Wudou Mi Sect who robbed me from the hands of the Inspection Division, and the Wudou Mi Sect did not have this kind of ability." Listen to the sect leader's meaning, it's not you Wudoumi Sect who are really looking for me, but someone else? ”

Zhang Fangping found out that he was speechless, and hurriedly laughed and said: "You are the person we are looking for, as for why, you will know sooner or later." Then he stood up and said, "Just now Xie Yuangong said that I will discuss with the people in the sect about the matter of making peace with the imperial court." After saying that, he hurriedly went out.

Zhang Fangping left Mao Xiang's residence and came to the main altar to find the two brothers Fang Liang and Fang Ju to discuss Mao Xiang's surrender to the imperial court. After he finished talking to the two brothers, he asked, "What do you think?" ”

Zhang Fangliang shook his head and said: "We haven't reached the end of the mountains and rivers now, we still have tens of thousands of horses in our hands, and there is enough food, and the officials and soldiers can't do anything about us, why do we surrender?" ”

Zhang Fangju echoed: "Yes, the imperial court will not go all out to deal with us as Mao Xiang said, after all, as soon as the border army moves, the Tatars and Uighurs will come in, and the imperial court will not dare to move the border army casually." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "It's not a way to keep being so deadlocked, in case the imperial court keeps besieging us, we won't be able to fight out." ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "Mao Xiang is right about one thing, we can't be in a hurry to become the king, so as not to stimulate the imperial court." ”

Zhang Fangju said: "But we have already said before the incident, the eldest brother is the king, we are all generalissimos, and the lords of all parties are marshals. ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "Make it clear to everyone, it is to postpone the king, and wait for us to rush out of Wan'an Mountain and occupy Xiangyang Mansion before becoming king." ”

Zhang Fangping said: "Yes, let's just say it, let's not worry about it first, and when the thing is successful, no matter how big the officials are, they will have to do it." ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "As for negotiations, you might as well try." ”

Zhang Fangping asked, "What do you say?" ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "Let Mao Xiang write a letter first, send it to the official army, and let the government send people into the mountains to negotiate. ”

Zhang Fangping nodded and said: "It's a good idea, whether it works out or not, maybe we can still seize the opportunity during the negotiation and catch the officials and soldiers off guard." ”

The three brothers laughed together.

After laughing, Zhang Fangliang asked, "Big brother, are you sure that this presumptuous is real?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "It seems to be true." ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "Then Yuan Zhongmou spent 100,000 taels of silver, found Mao Xiang, and sent him back to die, why?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "I can't think clearly. Then he leaned close to the two and whispered: "But I can be sure that this Mao Xiang is not an ordinary person, I guess Yuan Zhongmou's master is the Hu family in Jiangnan, then this Mao Xiang is the illegitimate son of the Hu family." ”

Zhang Fangliang and Zhang Fangju came over together and asked, "How did you guess?" ”

Zhang Fangping said: "I once asked Yuan Zhongmou if Mao Xiang was from the Hu family, although he didn't answer, but I think that look should not be bad." In addition, apart from the Jiangnan Hu family, who has so much silver, and who can mobilize Jiangnan Yue Jiantang? ”

The two brothers, Fang Liang and Fang Ju, nodded again and again, and Fang Liang said, "Then why did you send him back again?" ”

Zhang Fangping pondered: "I guess there is something wrong with the Hu family, and there is no way to bring Mao Xiang back, so I have to send it to us first, otherwise what will I do with Mao Xiang and send another 50,000 taels of silver?" It's just that let's protect the pretends. ”

Zhang Fangju hurriedly said: "Big brother is right, if it is a fake Xiang, he will not send another 50,000 silver, anyway, we can't find Yuan Zhongmou now, and we can't do anything if he relies on our silver." ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "That's the truth, it seems that we have to protect Mao Xiang, this is a cash cow." Even if we fail in the future, and a few of our brothers take Mao Xiang to find the Hu family in Jiangnan, the Hu family will definitely have to come up with a large sum of silver, and we will take the money to Lingnan and Nanyang, where there is no good life. ”

Zhang Fangping said: "This matter must be kept secret, only the three of us brothers know, if the secret is leaked, maybe someone has bad intentions, secretly takes Mao Xiang away, and takes it to the Hu family to ask for money." ”

As soon as he said this, someone outside burst in and shouted, "Sect Master, it's not good. ”

The three of them were startled, and hurriedly looked up, but it was a servant waiting in Zhang Fangping's house, Zhang Fangping said angrily: "What are you doing in a panic, didn't you see that I and the two Dharma Protectors are discussing things?" ”

The servant gasped and said, "Mrs. Seventh and Mrs. Eleven have a fight, and the eldest lady can't control it, so let me quickly call the sect leader back." ”

Although Zhang Fangping is over 50 years old, he is well maintained, and he has refined a variety of pills to take, and he also believes in the method of collecting yin and refining yang, so he married 11 women in one go, some are women in the church, and some are women who robbed from rich families after capturing the county seat. These seventh and eleventh aunts are both from wealthy families, young and beautiful, and are deeply favored by Zhang Fangping. These two people rely on Zhang Fangping's favor, and they often compete and are jealous, and others don't dare to control it at all, and they can't control it.

Zhang Fangping hurriedly asked, "Why did they fight?" ”

The servant said: "The disciples outside offered a fox fur shawl, and the two wives wanted it, but no one let anyone, so the fight started, and the seventh lady scratched the face of the eleventh lady." ”

"What?" Zhang Fangping stood up anxiously and circled around on the ground, scolding: "These two little prostitutes quarreled over this idea, why did they scratch their faces, what if they left a scar." ”

Zhang Fangliang couldn't help but smile and said: "Big brother, go and take a look, only you can persuade the two little sisters-in-law,"

Zhang Fangping said: "Then you go to Mao Xiang and ask him to write a book for the official army." ”

Zhang Fangliang said: "Don't worry, I'll go to him and promise to do things properly, you can deal with the big things quickly." ”

Zhang Fangping hurriedly went out with the servant, and asked as he walked: "Whoever sent the shawl, why did you send one?" Isn't that something for me? ”

After Zhang Fangping left, the two brothers Zhang Fangliang and Zhang Fangju glanced at each other, and Zhang Fangliang said: "Big brother just can't pass the level of women." ”。

Zhang Fangju said: "The hero is sad to pass the beauty pass, and the eldest brother is a real hero." ”

After saying that, both brothers burst out laughing.