Hengyang Mansion, Changning County.

The New Year is approaching, although it is in the south of the Yangtze River, but the cold wind blowing from the north still makes this place live up to the warmth of the past, and it begins to get colder.

Thin layers of frost covered the grass and trees, and a thick white mist spread through the mountains and forests, and most of the original green faded, and the sky was shrouded in a large area of withered yellow.

By this time, it was getting dark, and it was already dusk.

At the door of the roadside inn, Xiao Er, who was dressed in gray, held his hands and looked into the distance on the side porch.

"Drive!"

With the sound of the whip waving, a fast horse galloped from the official road and quickly came from a distance.

After galloping for a long time, the knight came to the inn, pulled the reins of his horse, and stopped galloping.

"Feed me enough forage for this horse."

The knight turned over and dismounted, and directly threw the horse rope to Xiao Er with a smiling face, with a hint of clarity in his voice.

"Okay, guest officer, please come in, and the little one will go and feed you the horses." Xiao Er hurriedly answered, then helped open the door, and after inviting the knight in, he led the horse and walked to the courtyard behind the inn.

Kong Zhuo pushed open the door and entered the inn.

When he arrived in the hall, a wave of heat rushed over, mixed with various smells, and instantly made the wind and frost on his sideburns and clothes subside.

And the cold wind outside blew in, and this coldness suddenly caused many people in the hall to shiver, and they couldn't help but look at them dissatisfied.

Seeing this, Kong Zhuo gave everyone an apologetic smile, and then hurriedly closed the door, which sent these eyes away.

However, the eyes of the guests in the hall were averted, and he was accustomed to looking at the guests in front of him.

With years of experience in the rivers and lakes, he deeply understands the importance of being careful when he is outside.

Seven merchants, two porters, three warriors, four scholars, and one man who was mixed in the army.

The last person made Kong Zhuo couldn't help but look at it twice, but it was extremely vague, and he quickly took it back, but he was relieved in his heart.

'There is no strong bloody and murderous aura, these people in front of them are not very dangerous, and they are very safe. ，

After making this judgment based on experience, Kong Zhuo also let down his vigilance, and then swept around the hall, then found a remote location in the corner and did it.

The man in the hall came over at this time, he asked for some food, and after giving the money, he sat quietly in his place, drinking the hot tea that was brought to him and waiting.

Maybe it's because they finally found a place to settle down and relax, or maybe it's the habit of many people, in this warm inn, many people start to brag and gossip after drinking two glasses of wine.

"In the past few months, the government has purchased a large number of various materials, and business is getting better and better."

"That's what I said, but now it's a war, and the king went to conquer the southwest, so he procured all kinds of military supplies. When the king finishes the battle, this kind of day will be gone. ”

"Yes, the king has won every battle, and he has not tasted defeat since his debut. Those Miao people, local traitors, and even the Zhou people in the north and the Qiang thieves in the west were all defeated at the hands of the king.

In my opinion, the Wu'anhou of the past is nothing more than that.

Those Yi people are barbaric one by one, and they do not accept the king, and I heard that they still drink blood and fight these wild people, and it is estimated that the king will not take two months. …

Maybe at the end of the year, the class teacher will return to the court. ”

"It's good that business can reach the end of the year. I went to Xiangyang County, Jiangbei for a run, and I could go back and forth to do business, and I could make another amount of money. ”

A few merchants whispered to each other, each telling of his sorrows and joys.

A few readers next to him listened and couldn't help but speak excitedly.

"Fighting those southwestern Yi people, of course the king is extremely easy. I just don't know how much land I can expand this time, and how many prefectures and counties can I set up?

If I can lay down half a county and a county, then there will be hundreds of more official positions out of thin air, and I will wait for the opportunity to come. ”

"Yes, there are more than a dozen official vacancies in a county, more than 100 in a government, and more than 1,000 in a county.

In the past few years, Dachu has been stable, recuperating and recuperating, and has not been a soldier.

Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a peaceful and prosperous world, after stabilizing, I will have to compete for a lot of competition if I want to be promoted again.

Now the number of people given by Dongting County every year is only more than ten, and there are only five or six people in other Xiangyang and Xichuan counties.

There are only more than 20 new people in the country every year, but there are more than 5,000 or 6,000 scholars.

Only one out of two or three hundred people can be selected, which is too low and too small to admit the probability.

It's hateful.

A few years ago, when Changsha had just been founded and Da Chu had just changed its name, it had not been able to catch up with those Enke.

At that time, a few people, a dozen people, could record one person in the middle of the lift, compared with today, how lucky and honorable. ”

"Don't say that. The king is wise and martial, and has repeatedly opened up to the outside world, and he is a hero who has not been seen for a hundred years. I think that when Changsha was first founded, it was less than a county. Doesn't it also have three counties and seventeen mansions now?

This time to open up the southwest, according to me, at least half of the county can be laid, isn't this a few hundred more official vacancies?

I had just moved to Dongting County, and I didn't have time to participate in the last Enko.

But at this time, there is still a chance.

This is hundreds of official vacancies, hundreds of lifters, and dozens of jinshi quotas.

With our talents, I don't dare to say that I will take a jinshi, but it should be no problem to take a lifter.

At that time, you and I can all be officials in that hall. ”

"You're right, this is an opportunity. However, even though there can be a lot of official vacancies this time, after the middle is promoted to fill the officials, the positions given should also be those newly established prefectures and counties in the southwest.

I heard that those Yi people are ferocious, believe in evil gods, and eat human flesh raw, and go over there to be officials, I'm afraid it will be difficult to govern those Yi people.

Moreover, the southwest region is full of dangerous mountains and poisonous obstacles, insects and snakes everywhere, far less rich than Dongting. I'm waiting for the northerners, and when I go there, I'm afraid it's dangerous. ”

Several scholars spoke in an excited tone, their faces flushed, and some of them seemed to be quite worried about this.

And everyone in the hall listened to them, and finally knew that these were the captives taken by the king from the northern Zhou State a few years ago.

For these immigrants who were forcibly relocated, although the original Changsha people did not say it explicitly in their hearts, they faintly looked down on them in their hearts, and there was a sense of superiority of the victors.

At this time, when they boasted that they could be promoted to be officials, and even began to worry about becoming officials, they were afraid of going to the southwest Yi region, and they couldn't help but despise it. …

I saw the few martial artists in the rivers and lakes next to me sneering: "A group of hairy awls, without weighing how many catties and taels they have, began to talk about being an official." And before the imperial examination began, I began to worry about what would happen after becoming an official.

Sure enough, as the old saying goes, useless is a scholar.

One by one, their hearts are higher than the sky, and they really let you do things, but they all cry out for suffering.

If you want to be an official, you are still afraid of risks, do you really think that the wealth in this world is so easy to learn? ”

"That's it, these weak scholars are comparable to our martial artists. Fight with people in life and death, lick blood from the knife, and fight for wealth with absolute strength and life. ”

"A group of descendants, they still want to be lifted, and they are foolish and dreaming."

Several Jianghu people looked at the group of scholars and began to sneer.

Suffering this humiliation, it is the age of high spirits, how can those scholars stand it?

Immediately, someone stood up, slapped the table and said, "It's too much to deceive people, you have no king's law......"

Clang!

The scholar was halfway through his words, but when he saw the people in front of him, he picked up the knife on his waist and threw it on the eucalyptus table, and looked at it coldly: "So, do you want to compare with me?" ”

The words containing murderous intent reached his ears, looking at the fierce faces of those Jianghu people, as well as the burly figures.

The scholar swallowed and came to his senses in an instant, knowing that there were outlaws in front of him.

Comparing the difference in strength between the two sides, his body trembled slightly.

It was both anger and fear, but in the end he put down his hand and sat down tremblingly, bowing his head and not daring to say anything more.

"What a piece of rubbish."

"Yes, these scholars are just playing tricks, what can they do?"

"Look at it, as soon as the knife is flashed, this man is cowardly. That's it, do you still want to be an official? Sure enough, it was a straw bale. ”

Several Jianghu martial artists mocked with two sentences, making the faces of those scholars red, and finally saw that no one dared to stand up anymore, so they retracted their gaze with satisfaction.

Ignoring these scholars, these Jianghu warriors also talked about their own affairs.

"I heard that the owner of Hundred Bird Mountain Villa, Xin Zhuang, has held a sword conference in the past few days, and invited all the heroes in the mansion to participate, what is his mind?"

"Who knows? Since the establishment of the Imperial City Division of the imperial court, all prefectures and counties have their captains and commanders, and the local areas are full of small envoys and fans, and the control of our rivers and lakes has suddenly become hot.

In addition to the local commanders and commanders, the activities in the rivers and lakes have become more and more difficult in the past two years.

Not only was it explicitly forbidden to hold various alliances and conferences, but even basic private fights began to be gradually banned.

This bird court is really strict. ”

"Shhhh

Seeing his partner complaining, a Jianghu man next to him hurriedly covered his mouth, and then carefully looked at the person dressed as a sergeant next to him, and a trace of jealousy flashed in his eyes.

Thankfully, however, the sergeant didn't seem to pay attention to them, and just drank to himself, not reacting to his companion's rebellious words.

So the man breathed a sigh of relief, and then the rivers and lakes came up again, and said: "This Hundred Bird Villa has only been moved down from the north for a short time, and its heels have not yet been firmly established, so now I am in a hurry to hold a sword conference." …

I think he wants to use this conference to show his martial arts, so as to deter us local Jianghu people.

Damn, I heard that the owner of the Hundred Bird Mountain Villa is a first-class master, and there is no one with such strength in my Hengyang Mansion except for the imperial court.

Could it be that this time we have to be pressed by him, and we and other people from Dongting County will be bullied by a descendant from the north? ”

There were also people next to him who were indignant: "Since a few years ago. The imperial court moved those Zhou people from the north, and those Zhou forces also followed. In the past few years, many local Jianghu forces in Dongting County have been defeated by those Zhou people and lost a lot of interests.

Now that this Hundred Bird Villa has been dormant for a few years, I finally can't wait, are you going to make a move on my Hengyang Martial Arts? ”

"The Flying Fox Gang in Hengyang County, the Lin family in Anxian County, and the Red Knife Sect are all second-rate sects on the rivers and lakes, and the heads of the families are also second-rate masters.

Although Xin Dutian of the White Bird Villa is a first-class master, the combined efforts of those local masters may not be able to overwhelm him.

We still have a chance to keep this family business. ”

"That being said, even if I can hold it, I can't bear to have a bloody storm, I Hengyang Wulin don't know how many people will die."

One of the Jianghu people was worried.

The people of the rivers and lakes, although they are happy and hateful, are at ease. But in the same way, it is also dangerous, and if you are not careful, you will die in a private fight.

Now that Bainiao Villa is holding a sword conference, it has stirred up this Hengyang martial arts, and all forces will definitely set off a fight for their own interests.

And they are in the middle of it, and they don't know if they can survive this turmoil alone and survive to the end.

Another Jianghu person next to him also thought of this, and couldn't help but hate and scold: "These damn Zhou people, damn foreign guys." In the past few months, none of them have been at ease. Not only in other places, but also in my Hengyang Mansion, sure enough, they are all northerners, and they are all not trustworthy. ”

One of the remaining people gritted his teeth and said, "Not bad." With the ban of the imperial court, they dare to hold any conference, and they are uneasy and kind when they see it. I think their sword arguments are false, and their conspiracy is true, I'm afraid they don't want to learn from the Seven Star Gate in the past and do something big! ”

Hearing this, the noise in the hall was instantly quiet.

Qixingmen, in the past, was a rebellion, and it set off a lot of momentum.

In the end, if it weren't for the wisdom of the King of Chu and his decisive leadership to pacify the army, I don't know how much trouble would have happened.

This person said that the Hundred Bird Villa wanted to learn the Seven Star Gate, and he was almost pointing his nose and saying that the other party wanted to rebel.

But everyone thinks about it.

In the past few months, there have indeed been many turmoil in the rivers and lakes.

Not only are there a large number of Zhou people who come from the north, but they violate the ban of the imperial court in the local area and constantly hold any league conferences. There are also many more private fights and vendettas on the rivers and lakes than in previous years.

On both sides of the roadside official road, you can often see the corpses of Jianghu people.

This place is indeed not as stable as it was a few years ago.

Could it be that those Zhou people who were relocated are preparing to rebel?

After all, now that the king is leading an army to conquer the country, the country is empty, and if there are really people who want to do something rebellious, there is no better opportunity than this.

Many people think about this and worry for a moment. …

Just when everyone was thinking about it, the man dressed as a soldier in the hall finally finished eating the wine and meat, slapped it directly, stood up and looked at everyone in the hall, and sneered: "What you are talking about Hundred Bird Villa, they are just clowns jumping off the beam."

However, he only dared to take advantage of the fact that the king was leading the army, and only the queen was supported by the queen in the country, so he ran out to make waves.

The abacus is really good, but it underestimates my big Chu.

There is news from Xiangyang that my Great Chu General Zhou Qing has broken through the innate two months ago and has become a first-class figure of the current grandmaster.

Since then, my Great Chu has had three innate grandmasters.

Now the king has sent back news from the front, and the whole country has held a celebration for the general to congratulate him on his congenital achievement.

It won't be long before local governments will issue notices and organize celebrations.

Although the king is leading the army, he is out.

But I am a big Chu, there is a general in the north, a queen in the south, these two grandmasters are here, plus more than 100,000 male soldiers in the place, those clowns who jump off the beam, what kind of wind and waves can they afford?

Bird Villa, a first-class master?

Hum!

These lawless people, do they really think that if the king is not there, no one will be able to cure them?

Wait, wait until the palace is dispatched, thousands of troops will besiege and kill, no matter what kind of first-class master he is, the tycoon of the rivers and lakes, he has to obediently hide his hatred under the chaotic arrows. ”

When the sergeant said this, his eyes focused on those few Jianghu warriors, obviously he was very wary of these people who were also in the martial arts.

And stared at by these hostile eyes, those Jianghu people didn't dare to stare back angrily, and even avoided a little, far less arrogant and wanton when they looked at those scholars before.

In this troubled era, in this world of great contention, among the warriors in the world, the strongest is often not in the rivers and lakes, but in the court and the army.

Compared with those warriors in the army who rolled out of the sea of corpses and blood, the so-called bloody wind on the rivers and lakes is not worth mentioning.

And what made the hearts of these Jianghu people even more shocked was the news that the sergeant said.

Zhou Qing, the general of the Chu State, actually broke through the innate nature?

This news, like a storm, shocked the hearts of all those who practice martial arts.

Because no one knows better than them what it means for an innate grandmaster to be in the rivers and lakes?

The same.

They also knew that the addition of an innate grandmaster in the Chu State would bring what changes to the current situation?

Hundred Bird Villa, as well as other rivers and lakes that have emerged in various places......

Hehe, this time, I'm afraid it's really too early.

Compared to an innate grandmaster, it is really as the sergeant said, no matter how much he tosses, he is a clown.

This great Chu heaven is about to change again.

Everyone in the hall looked at each other a few times, and they couldn't help but have such thoughts.

After the sergeant had finished telling the news, he packed his bags, paid for the wine, hurried out of the inn, and rode away in the darkness of the night.

And Kong Zhuo also watched the scene in front of him and retracted his gaze.

At this time, the wine and meat had already come up, and while he was eating, his heart couldn't help but surge.

"General Zhou Qing, I didn't expect Uncle Lu, no, the eldest disciple of King Chu, to come to this point now. Innate Grandmaster, I really don't know what kind of style this kind of realm is? ”

Kong Zhuo recalled the scene of his meeting with Lu Yuan in the past, and his father had praised him many times, that is, the person with immortal roots and fairy bones. Not only did he become an innate grandmaster, but even his disciples had also entered this realm.

Master and apprentice are all innate, such good stories are really enviable.

In contrast, I have just entered the second rate this year, which is too much worse.

"Forget it, the characters there, especially the ones I can compare. Let's hurry back to Guanzhong and meet Master. I have been out for two years, and I haven't seen Master for a long time, so I wonder how his old man is?

There is also next year's Tianluo***.

Ten years ago, the King of Chu followed his master to Ziyun Dao and participated in this grand event.

I heard from the master that it was on this *** that the King of Chu gained a lot, and he also met the Purple Cloud Dao Master.

This time I went along, and I didn't know if I could get any benefit.

I don't dare to hope for it, if it can help me break through to the first-class realm, it will be in vain. ”

Kong Zhuo, who is only in his early twenties, has advanced by leaps and bounds, and it is the time when he is in high spirits.

Although he has just broken through the second-rate at this time, he has already looked forward to the first-class and wants to be the character who opens up the first line.

At that time, the son of the county prince, although he did not enter the government from his father, nor did he follow his teacher to cultivate, but on the way to martial arts, he also had his own ambitions.

After eating the wine and food, Kong Zhuo, who was aroused by the news just now, also dispelled the idea of staying overnight, and followed the sergeant out of the inn.

Led his horse back from the backyard, faced the vast night, and returned to Qingyunguan in the starry night.