Chapter Seventy-Nine: Joint Vertical and Horizontal

"Sky and Red Dust Song"

The knife is cold, the weather is cold, and the high place is lonely without accompaniment.

Silently reading, people's hearts are far away, and the lone pine is independent and vast.

When will the song Hongchen end, and the half-song has not been broken.

For whom?

Pathetic!

......

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In the Daling Mountains, on the top of the cloud peaks, night falls, and everything is silent.

Yue Fan leaned quietly under the pine, his eyes forgetting the distance...... There was only endless darkness there.

At the beginning of heaven and earth, the universe was one.

The stars change, the vicissitudes of life.

In Yue Fan's memory, this ancient pine tree existed for a long, long time, as if it had existed here since the beginning of heaven and earth. It silently experienced the changes in the Heavenly Dao and felt the operation of the universe...... It's survived but still exists.

What a strong life it is, but why does it feel desolate?

Is it because of the attachment to seeing through life and death, or because of the never-ending darkness?

Perhaps, just because of loneliness and loneliness.

......

Yue Fan had been sitting here for a day and a night, but his heart couldn't calm down for a long time.

The trip to the Bai family far exceeded his initial expectations, and his situation was far worse than he imagined. This trip was a turning point in his fate in the past ten years, and from now on, his life will not be peaceful...... Perhaps, his life has never been peaceful.

Ignorance and ignorance at an early age......

The ordinariness and happiness of youth......

Difficult life, oppression by power, torment of parting, painful choices, undying love and unforgettable hatred......

The sporadic pictures flashed little by little, and the torrent of memories surged into Yue Fan's heart like a tide.

He is like a passer-by of life, calmly browsing the pages. He knew that this was his memory, and he knew that this was the life he had experienced......

There are all kinds of life, seven emotions and six desires, nine deaths and nine lives, and you know the destiny of heaven.

What is Destiny?

That is the alternation of life and death, that is the endless operation of reincarnation, and that is the trajectory of the changes of the Heavenly Dao.

At this moment, a trace of realization appeared in Yue Fan's eyes.

......

"Canopy!"

A severe headache struck, all the images shattered again, and the memories of just now receded again.

Yue Fan's body trembled slightly, but his calm face couldn't hide the bitterness in his heart.

Ten years, a whole decade haven't been back here, nothing has changed here.

Mountains, waterfalls, lifeless villages and dilapidated huts......

For an ordinary person, ten years is too long, so long that it is chilling and frightening!

Yue Fan is the same, he has a lot of things to do, and a lot of wishes to go, who can know the fear in his heart, the reluctance and unwillingness in his heart?

Ningxian County...... Flowing Water Village......

After ten years, Li Yuefan returned here again, with exhaustion, angry shouts, and determination for revenge!

This time, he won't back down!

This time, he will not compromise!

......

"It's time to go......"

Yue Fan slowly stood up, gently caressing the ancient pine, and a long-lost feeling flowed through his heart.

The little viper fell from the treetops and slid down Yue Fan's arm to his wrist, silently resting.

The figure flashed, and the man disappeared into the darkness.

The dawn was gone, and there was a glimmer of light in the distant sky.

All things in heaven and earth bloom with infinite vitality.

......

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Guangzhou City is located in Guangdong, bordering the South China Sea, rich in products and prosperous.

Due to its proximity to the coast, the wide waterways, and the fact that transportation is cheap and well-connected, many maritime traders gather every once in a while to exchange goods or sell them. Over time, it has become an important place for Daming sea trade. It's just that if there is chaos today, there are dangers everywhere, and it is not easy to find a place to do business, but compared to other places, this Guangzhou city is guarded by 100,000 elite soldiers, which is much safer.

Walking into the city, the merchants on both sides are boiling, the streets and alleys are full of people, the traders are endless, and there are many people from the rivers and lakes hurrying by, a prosperous scene!

......

The governor bowed, and the cardinal of the two Cantons wanted to be heavy.

Above the hall of the guest hall, a spirited white-haired old man sat on his lap...... This person is wearing a first-class official robe, a six-eared beard, and white eyebrows like a sword, giving people a kind of majesty that is not angry and arrogant!

He is the governor who has 100,000 elite soldiers and controls the forces of the two Guangzhou-Luo Kui.

At this time, Luo Kui was holding the tea bowl, wanting to drink and stopping, and there was a faint cloud of sadness between his eyebrows.

Now that he has passed the age of sixtieth, he has been in the officialdom for more than 50 years, and he knows any situation in the officialdom well. However, after the new emperor ascended the throne, the world was uncertain, and many things developed far beyond his imagination, so that he had to act carefully and take every step. However, now that the war has broken out again, as a person with heavy troops, he is naturally standing on the cusp.

"Master Qiqi, the guest has been brought to ......"

The voice of the subordinate came from outside the guest hall, Luo Kui took a sip of the fragrant tea in his hand, and cheered up and said: "Let him come in, all the people on the left and right retreat, and no one is allowed to step within ten zhang of the surroundings, otherwise the family law will punish him." ”

"Yes, sir. ”

The subordinate retreated.

A moment later, a blue-robed scribe over half a hundred years old strode into the hall.

The scribe's sideburns are bald, but his eyes are sharp, and he comes slowly with a feather fan in his hand, which is quite a bit of everyone's temperament.

"Master Shen is here, I don't know what to see?"

Luo Kui pretended to be sluggish, his expression was lukewarm, and he seemed to wish that the other party would leave early.

The scribe straightened his clothes, stepped forward and saluted, and said without humility or arrogance: "Yan Yunjun Shen Tiance has seen Lord Luo, and this time he has taken the liberty to visit, but he has something important to discuss with Lord Luo, and I hope Lord Luo will forgive me a lot." ”

"Yan Yunjun...... The chess pieces of the Murong family are really hidden!"

Luo Kui glanced at the other party and sneered: "Who would have thought that Chu Fei of Iron Banner City, Ren Xiangjun of Muer City, Shan Yun of Sapo City, and even Mo Zheng, the commander of the Border Desert Army, are all your people...... Now that the Murong clan has 300,000 Yan Yun Male Divisions, and the entire border wilderness is under your control, it can be said that it has become an independent country, so what do you need to discuss with me, a person who has one foot in the coffin?"

Shen Tiance smiled humbly and said: "Lord Luo has won the award, the border wasteland is already barren, and the resources are scarce, even if it is operated for another ten or twenty years, it will be difficult to match the prosperity of Guangzhou." ”

Luo Kui's eyes flashed with a different color: "Although the border wasteland is barren, it can hone the will of the army. Mo Zheng and the Three Great Kou have been fighting each other for more than ten years, isn't this the purpose? With the resources of the imperial court and the strength of Yan Yun, your Murong family master is really a good plan!"

"Where, Where, ......"

Shen Tiance restrained his smile and said: "If there is chaos today, and the heroes rise together, if my Yan Yunjun does not improve and introspect, how can there be a place?"

Luo Kui looked at the other party deeply and said, "I think, the Murong clan is not just for a place to stay, right?"

Shen Tiance asked rhetorically: "Lord Luo has a heavy army in his hands, is he willing to take the lives of others?"

"Peng!"

Luo Kui took the case and scolded angrily: "Shen Tiance, you are so bold, you dare to talk nonsense here, aren't you afraid that this official will take you down and hand you over to the emperor? You must know that this official is an important minister of the imperial court, and you are a border thief, so arresting you is also a great achievement!"

"Really?" Shen Tiance was not afraid and said with a smile: "Lord Luo is a person who understands, why do you have to be so pretentious? If Lord Luo really wants to have a heart, I am afraid that Shen will not be able to enter this hall." Lord Luo can rest assured that the things you see today will never reach the ears of the three. ”

Luo Kui calmed down his anger, sat down again, and said with a disdainful expression: "How can you imagine the emperor's ability? Maybe the news of your coming to see me has already reached the emperor's ears." ”

Shen Tiance said without modesty: "The power of our Yan Yunjun is not something that others can imagine, even if Zhu Kangjing knows, what can he do with you and me?"

"How?"

Luo Kui raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and said coldly: "Shen Junshi is really magnificent! Since Yanyun's army is powerful, why did Shen Junshi come here to see me? I only have 100,000 troops, and I don't have such great ability as you. ”

"Lord Luo doesn't need to provoke me with words......" Shen Tiance said bluntly: "In the alliance of troubled times, those who divide are harmful, and those who combine are both beneficial, this is vertical and horizontal." Lord Luo is a wise man, how could he not know this?"

"Oh?"

Luo Kui smiled mysteriously and said: "Listening to Shen Junshi's meaning, do you want this official to cooperate with you to conspire for a great cause? Haven't Shen Junshi heard that this official even refused the position of King of Zhennan rewarded by the emperor, do you think this official is the kind of ambitious person?"

"Of course not?"

Shen Tiance praised lightly: "Lord Luo has a lot of mind, he is a person with great ambitions, how can he restrain Lord Luo's ambition if he is only a throne in vain?"

Luo Kui said indifferently: "Shen Junshi looks at it highly, this official does not have any great ambitions, he just does his duty. ”

"Lord Luo is wise to protect himself, Shen admires it!"

Shen Tiance's tone changed and said, "It's just that a gentleman doesn't stand under a dangerous wall. Zhu Kangjing ascended to the throne at the beginning of that year, and in order to appease the soldiers and officers from all over the country, he would let all parties develop. Now that the imperial court has issued a decree to integrate and unify, the contradictions between officials in various places will inevitably become prominent...... Lord Luo thinks that Zhu Kangjing will continue to tolerate it? Lord Luo really has no ambitions, but if Zhu Kangjing wants to centralize power, he will inevitably have to take people under his knife...... Liangguang is rich and fruitful, and it is an important place for armament replenishment, how can Zhu Kangjing rest assured that others will control it? Even if Lord Luo doesn't think about himself, doesn't he think about his clansmen? Zhu Kangjing is a ruthless master......

"Enough!"

Luo Kui interrupted Shen Tiance's words, and his face became more and more gloomy! Obviously, the other party's words pierced him deeply. Luo Kui cares most about his own people, so he will treat Zhu Kang Jingxu and the snake back then. But Zhu Kangjing is very suspicious, and he is restrained in everything, especially in recent years, the imperial court has planted a lot of eyeliner around him, and any wind and grass will fall into Zhu Kangjing's ears. If this continues, the Locke family is in danger!

Seeing Luo Kui's expression, Shen Tiance continued: "Actually, Lord Luo doesn't need to worry too much, now that the Tatar army has entered the customs, Zhu Kangjing is already too busy to take care of himself, where can he not spare his energy to do other things? ”

This time, Luo Kui didn't have a seizure, and his expression was a little relaxed: "Murong Clan is so confident, surely this official will cooperate with you?"

Shen Tiance said with a smile: "With Lord Luo's wisdom, he naturally wants to find a way out for the family, and there is no need for Shen to be wasteful...... Moreover, this time, Shen came with enough sincerity, and hoped that Lord Luo would seriously consider one or two. ”

"Sincerity?"

Hearing this, Luo Kui finally stretched his brows: "Shen Junjun sits, this official wants to hear it, what is the sincerity of the Murong clan?"

Seeing Luo Kui's change in attitude, Shen Tiance knew that his trip was more than half successful, so the next thing was easy to say.

Shen Tiance was not polite, and after sitting down, he said: "The nine regions of Shenzhou are vast and rich, and the resources are abundant, how can one person and one family monopolize them? My Yanyun army is only 300,000 people, so naturally I have no intention of eating alone." We have reached an agreement with the Tatar, Liuli, Western Regions and other tribes to respect Kyushu together...... When the time comes, my lord only needs the land of two states to revive the Yanyun clan. And this southwestern land is under the rule of Lord Luo, and my lord will never ask what is happening here. ”

"Hahahaha-"

Luo Kui laughed and said: "The Murong clan is really a good plan, although the Ming Dynasty is chaotic now, but the foundation is still there, what is the point of you talking nonsense, what is the point of promising me gold and silver mountains? It is better to come out with something affordable, otherwise it will make me look down on you." ”

Shen Tiance frowned slightly, but he didn't move, and said in a calm tone: "Lord Luo actually understands in his heart that now that the Ming Dynasty is gone, it is only a matter of time before it perishes, and the things promised by my lord will naturally be fulfilled one day...... Of course, we also understand the doubts and scruples in Lord Luo's heart, the world is in chaos, and it is reasonable for Lord Luo to want to leave a way back for his family, so we don't want to pull Lord Luo to lie in this troubled water, but hope that Lord Luo can provide us with some material support, in exchange, Yan Yunjun is willing to provide Lord Luo with one hundred Western Regions artillery, three thousand cold iron battle armor, five thousand war horses and twenty thousand refined war knives. We are only in a cooperative relationship, so that Lord Luo does not have to take risks, does not need to lose a single soldier, and can get out of the way. ”

"What did you say!?"

At this moment, Luo Kui was moved! He stood up suddenly, and looked at Shen Tiance with a little more eagerness, and even did not hide the excitement in his heart. The conditions offered by the other party are too tempting for him not to weigh them seriously. Let's not talk about the others, just the 100 Western Regions artillery, but the offensive and defensive weapons of the war that have been hot for a long time, even in the Ming Army, there are only 20 guns, and that is still the tribute paid by the Western Regions a few years ago.

There are also war horses in the border wilderness, each of which is strong and strong...... Cold iron battle armor and refined war knives can definitely allow tens of thousands of elite soldiers to exert extremely powerful combat effectiveness! If you really have such sophisticated equipment, then in this troubled world, you and your people will have a little more security.

Thinking of this, Luo Kui's face couldn't help but become ruddy: "Is what Shen Junshi said true?"

"Without the permission of the head of the family, how dare Shen make a decision on his own?"

Shen Tiance stood up and said with a solemn face: "Shen came with the order this time, and discussed with enough sincerity, hoping that Lord Luo would seriously consider it." In addition, there is another matter for the Lord for me to tell Lord Luo......"

Luo Kui was stunned for a moment, and said, "What does the head of the Murong family have to tell me? ”

Shen Tiance said with deep meaning: "The battle of the world, fight for the world, the battle of the way of heaven, only fight for the way of heaven, Lord Luo can rest assured." ”

"The battle of the world, the battle for the world, the battle of heaven, only the battle of the way of heaven......"

Luo Kui muttered to himself, and after a while, he suddenly laughed: "What a battle for the way of heaven, only fight for the way of heaven! The old man can rest assured, rest assured! Hahahaha......"

For a long time, the battle between those Heavenly Daos was like a boulder suppressed in Luo Kui's heart, and now when he heard Shen Tiance's words, he suddenly felt a sense of clearing the clouds and mist in his heart. After all, Luo Kui is just a mortal official, although some forces have some backgrounds, but things on a certain level are not within his reach.

After pondering for a moment, Luo Kui said with a straight face: "This matter is very important, please think about it and give you an answer in three days." ”

Having talked about this step, Shen Tiance knew that something big could be done, and there was no need to be too urgent, so he smiled and arched his hand and said: "This matter is not in a hurry, Lord Luo can think about it carefully, Shen will visit again in three days, I hope Lord Luo will not disappoint the Lord." ”

"The old man must think about it seriously, please go back. ”

Shen took his leave. ”

......

After Shen Tiance left, Luo Kuifu sat down again and breathed a long sigh of relief.

At this moment, a single figure walked out from behind the screen, but it was a graceful and luxurious beautiful young woman.

"Ah Rong, do you think what this person said is true or false?"

Luo Kui's voice was a little tired, but he just looked at the person who came, and his eyes gradually showed a gentle color.

The young woman is Luo Rong, the daughter of Luo Kui, so many years have passed, and the years have not left many traces on her face.

"This person's words are seven points credible, at least the agreement between the Murong clan and the border countries will not be false......"

Luo Rong made tea for her father, and said unhurriedly: "As for the promise afterwards, it's just empty words." Although the southwest land is not as rich as Zhongzhou, it is also one of the important resource areas, who would be willing to send such a piece of fat meat to someone else's mouth? Even if the Murong clan agrees, other forces will not agree. ”

Luo Kui nodded thoughtfully: "What Ah Rong said is exactly what his father thinks. The Murong clan said that I was in charge of the side, but in fact, he wanted his father to lie down in this muddy water, so that he could reap the benefits of the fisherman. ”

It turned out that my father still understood in his heart. ”

Luo Rong laughed and said, "I thought that my father was carried away by the other party's little favor." ”

Luo Kui smiled bitterly: "Although my father is old, he is not so old and dizzy that it is related to the rise and fall of the family, how can I not be cautious......? Those 100 guns alone are crazy enough. ”

After being silent for a while, Luo Rong said lightly: "Actually, there is no need for my father to worry about this, no matter whether this person is telling the truth or not, what the Murong clan wants to do, as long as we have a glimpse of the relationship with them, naturally no one will say anything." ”

Luo Kui sighed and said, "Having said that, you can't hide when it comes to the end." As the saying goes, it's easy to please the gods and it's hard to send the gods! If I let go this time, it will be equivalent to getting on the Murong family's ship, and it will be difficult to get rid of the relationship in the future! Ah Rong, what do you think of this matter?"

After thinking about it, Luo Rong replied: "Over the years, the Murong family has endured humiliation and is bent on recovering Dayan, so naturally they will agree to any conditions...... It's just that the people of the Murong family are not good, and if they cooperate, the Luo family will inevitably be constrained by them in the future, and it will be difficult for them to get ahead. ”

"That's what I thought, too. ”

Luo Kui first agreed, and then shook his head and said, "But the Murong clan personally found us this time and offered such generous conditions, if I refuse, I may suffer from it." Moreover, the emperor is now suspicious of our Locke family, and if we don't prepare early, I'm afraid the entire family will be implicated. ”

"Nothing is ...... to cooperate"

Luo Rong already had an idea, so she said calmly: "We can find someone else to handle the things that the Murong clan needs, as long as we don't show up, even if others suspect us, there will be no evidence to be found." If the matter is revealed, we still have a way back. ”

"It's a good idea, and it's a win-win-win Luo Kui bowed his head and said: "But this matter must be handled by someone you can trust." ”

"Now that the father has a plan, the daughter is not talking much. ”

Luo Rong retracted her gaze, with a worried expression on her face.

Luo Kui saw that his daughter's expression was different, so he asked: "Ah Rong, for my father, you have been worried and worried recently, have you encountered anything annoying?"

Luo Rong said worriedly: "Father should have heard the news that Li Yuefan is back in the rivers and lakes, right?"

"Li Yuefan?!" Luo Kui frowned and said: "The news of Li Yuefan is circulating in those places where you enter the market, I don't know if it's true or not, you don't need to pay attention to it...... What's more, this is Guangzhou City, with 100,000 elite soldiers garrisoned, even if he Li Yuefan has three heads and six arms, he will not want to hurt you. Ah Rong doesn't have to worry, as long as Li Yuefan dares to come, his father will definitely leave him here. ”

Luo Rong smiled bitterly and said, "Back then, in order to avoid Li Yuefan, we moved here with our family. After so many years, I thought that Li Yuefan would not appear again, but when I suddenly heard his news, I always had an ominous premonition in my heart. ”

Luo Kui said with relief: "Although what happened back then was caused by Ke'er's confusion for a while, but the real murderers are Zhu Kangjing and others, so you don't have to blame yourself too much." ”

"No!" Luo Rong shook her head and said, "This matter is all because of Ke'er, and he can't get out of it anyway." If Li Yuefan wants to avenge the events of that year, the first person he wants to find is probably the Cai family. ”

Luo Kui's face sank, and he changed the topic: "By the way, Cai Yu has been going in and out recently, what is he doing?"

Luo Rong said absentmindedly: "I have never asked about the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, maybe he is busy presiding over the arrangements of this year's Chunlan Meeting." ”

Luo Kui nodded and said, "You don't want to go out today, your eldest brother is coming back in the evening, and the family is getting together." You let the following prepare and call Cai Yu and Ke'er over. ”

After a pause, Luo Kui continued: "Also, the Haikou has been making a bit of a fuss recently, you let Ke'er and them stay at home, don't go outside to make some mess for me." ”

"Yes, father. ”

......

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