The barracks on the outskirts of Huizhou are brightly lit.

Cao Mengbo was sitting in the general's tent in armor and drinking soju, and two soldiers outside the door escorted Xu Sheng in.

When the two saw each other, they didn't have any deep hatred, they looked at each other, plain and peaceful.

"Untie Staff Officer Xu. ”

"Yes. Without hesitation, the two escorting soldiers unloaded the rope that had tied Xu Sheng's body.

After the two soldiers went out, Cao Mengbo put down two glasses of liquor and said to Xu Sheng: "Sit." ”

Xu Sheng was not polite, and saw that a table next to him was full of good wine and food, so he walked over and sat down, and poured himself a glass of wine first.

Cao Mengbo raised his wine glass, Xu Sheng also raised his wine glass with a smile, and the two of them drank a glass of wine, as if nothing had happened.

Next, the two drank a few more glasses of wine each. Cao Mengbo asked, "Do you know why I know your identity?"

Xu Sheng was stunned for a moment, then swallowed another glass of wine, and said with a sigh of wine: "Maybe it's because Xu Mou's acting skills are clumsy and he shows his handle in front of the general." ”

Cao Mengbo said with a smile: "Staff Officer Xu is thoughtful, Cao is a rough person, how can he have such a discerning eye to see through your identity? It's just that the general told me before I came." ”

"Xiao Tiantu?" Xu Sheng seemed to hate Xiao Tiantu very much, and his eyes suddenly showed a fierce light when he read his name.

"What?" Cao Mengbo couldn't help but be a little curious when he saw his fierce reaction.

After a while, Xu Sheng suddenly laughed: "Presumably, the general has been monitoring the alliance leader for a long time. At that time, the alliance leader had no objections. Xu Sheng's implication was that the Dragon and Tiger League would go to the opposite side of the imperial court, and it was completely forced out.

Cao Mengbo saluted Xu Sheng and said: "I'm curious, Long Yingtian is dead, and your backer is gone, with your talent, isn't it good to be an official with peace of mind? Why ......?"

Before Cao Mengbo finished speaking, Xu Sheng continued: "If General Cao has any questions, I will tell you a story, can you listen?"

Cao Mengbo nodded and said, "Please speak." ”

It turned out that Xu Sheng's background was also in Taiping City, and his parents were still dealers selling antiques. Although the Xu family is not an official eunuch, it has a little money, and it can be regarded as a rich family.

However, once his father wanted to expand his business and rent a shop on another street, but was stopped by the government. The reason is that this shop was the home of Mao Longxiang, the chief guard at the south gate of Taiping City at that time. Mao Long fell in love with the proprietress of the shop, and the husband of the proprietress was a gambler who caused business to be poor, so he sold it to the Xu family to raise money to pay off the debt.

The owner of this shop made an assertion, and after signing a sales contract with the Xu family, the silver two were also accepted, but his wife came to inform him that the shop belonged to his ancestors and had nothing to do with her gambling husband. The Xu family wanted to return the silver tael, but was told that it had been used by her husband to repay the debt, and now the two are no longer husband and wife.

The Xu family was deflated and sued the matter to the government. originally thought that the red paper and black letters could not be denied, who would have thought that this proprietress would seduce Mao Long to support her, and the government rejected the Xu family's lawsuit because of Mao Long's face.

The Xu family is angry, and they want to make trouble in the General's Mansion. This matter was known to a member of the Xu family, and he went to Mao Long to tell the secret, just for ten taels of gold.

Mao Long immediately made a decision and escorted the Xu family and his wife to his house overnight on the charge of breaking into the city gate at night. For several days without rice and water, he starved to death.

Although Xu Sheng was more than 20 years old at that time, it was a pity that his father had let him read poetry and books to gain fame since he was a child, and he never taught him the way of business. Small composition

After learning about this, Xu Sheng changed his fortune and went incognito to buy the relationship to meet Xiao Tiantu. However, all this money was lost in the sea. When he was at his most desperate, he met Long Yingtian. Long Yingtian helped him kill Mao Long and gave him a new meaning of existence. He was placed in Huizhou Mansion and lived a life of several double-faced people.

Cao Mengbo was puzzled when he heard this: "You have a good talent, why don't you test your fame?"

Xu Sheng said: "I have taken the exam twice and I am in the middle and high yuan, so I decided to read the sage book for another ten years, how could I have thought of such an encounter." ”

Cao Mengbo nodded and said, "Brother Xu is stubborn, but he has some backbones. It's a pity to go the wrong way. Not to mention that this matter was not done by the general, but as far as the public is concerned, it is inevitable that the official eunuch will have a small night, and Brother Xu is just unlucky to meet a corrupt official. ”

Xu Shengmeng drank a glass of wine and shook his head and said, "Later, Mao Long's wife sued the general's mansion, and Xiao Tiantu sent someone to raid my house. At that time, I learned about this in the Dragon Tiger League, and I was surprised. ”

Cao Mengbo recalled: "Mao Long...... This man has blocked the sword for the general. ”

Xu Sheng smiled bitterly: "It is said that the new dynasty is better than the old dynasty, who knows that it is just a disguise." The eunuchs are ruthless, and the people are suffering, who can understand?"

Cao Mengbo sighed: "Brother Xu was incognito at that time, and then tried to avenge his grievances, but why did he become Long Yingtian's subordinate?"

Xu Sheng said with a smile: "He helped me avenge my father, I am penniless, and I have nothing to repay." He also promised to help me kill Xiao Tiantu one day, and I know that there are not many people in this world who can do it, and he is one of them. ”

"So you're so faithful?"

Xu Sheng lowered his head and was slightly drunk: "I wanted to put my life in officialdom, but unfortunately officialdom disappointed me." I am fortunate to walk into the rivers and lakes, and the happiness and enmity are just what I want. Long Yingtian is kind to me, and I naturally want to repay his revenge. ”

Cao Mengbo sighed when he heard it: "From the moral point of view of the rivers and lakes, you are a man. Cao has seen many heroes in his life, but there are not many who are as bookish as you. Cao has not drunk easily for many years, and he knows that drinking makes mistakes, but he is afraid that he will make mistakes if he doesn't drink today. ”

Xu Sheng didn't answer when he heard this, and bowed his head to eat. Cao Mengbo watched Xu Sheng gobble up and sighed: "Why can't there be talented people in the world, but they can't all be used by me." ”

At this time, his lieutenant general entered the camp tent, and when he saw that Xu Sheng was also there, he stopped talking.

Cao Mengbo said disapprerovingly: "But it doesn't hurt to say it. ”

I only heard the deputy general say: "According to the general's instructions, the armies have been arranged. Tomorrow there will be 10,000 cavalry, 10,000 heavy armor, and 6,000 archers. In addition, all 8,000 elite soldiers of the Shenlong Battalion were dispatched, and 34,000 troops were dispatched. ”

Cao Mengbo looked at Xu Sheng, who was still gobbling up, and asked, "Did you hear that?"

Xu Sheng put down the beef in his hand, inserted his mouth, swallowed the remnants of his mouth, and said, "The general has made such a big move." ”

Cao Mengbo said: "You have to remember one thing, the rivers and lakes want to confront the imperial court, like hitting a stone with an egg, and Long Yingtian is a living example." It's a pity that you are so persistent, otherwise the future is immeasurable. ”

Xu Sheng said with a smile: "Thank you General Cao for your appreciation, but Xu is not blessed." ”

The two were silent for a while. After Cao Mengbo motioned for the deputy general to go down, Xu Sheng took the initiative to raise his glass: "General Cao, can you have another drink with me?"

Cao Mengbo smiled knowingly, and also picked up his wine glass: "Please!"

Xu Sheng finished drinking and continued to eat those dishes. Cao Mengbo sighed and looked out of the tent worriedly, he hoped that this dark night would be longer.