Delong

Chapter 150: A Journey Through the Sea of ​​Bitterness (17)

It is of course a good thing for relatives to meet, especially after the collapse of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, the change of dynasty, and the downfall of the family, they can still get together, and there is even a faint tendency to pick up the old glory together, which is even more interesting.

However, the sage may be in the worst period of his life at this time. As a civil servant of the Great Wei, he is too casual at this time, even indulges in personal affairs, and even eats and drinks with public funds. inside.

"The way I see it, the sage just panicked at the beginning. He just felt that no one dared to really resist him, not even the emperor's uncle, let alone others. Therefore, Dongyi, who was in a mere corner of the country, repeatedly disobeyed him. , let him put it down all the time, Yang Shen will be shot into meat after rebelling... This time in Kansai, all the five chief executives were collected like butcher chickens, and it was only a word to deal with Taiyuan staying behind. In the end, the Wu clan he personally surrendered back then unexpectedly If you really come, you will really panic." Zhang Xing said jokingly while leaning on the table with his wine glass upside down. "However, it was Dulan Khan's arrow that really terrified the saint... After that arrow, the saint suddenly realized that not only did he lose face, but he might even lose his life, so he was completely defeated. "

"I see." Luo Shu twisted his slender long beard with one hand, raised his glass with the other, and smiled while leaning against the table in the same posture. "But if you say that, after this incident, the sage will become strict and careful? Isn't it the blessing of the Great Wei?"

"Perhaps." Zhang Xing let out a sigh of alcohol, and agreed. "Who knows about this kind of thing? I'm afraid it depends on luck... After this incident, there are no more than three situations. Maybe the saint will be strict and careful from now on; maybe he will germinate and continue to do his own way; maybe he will break the pot and fall for one person. It's so smooth and unscrupulous... It really depends on the way of luck."

Luo Shu nodded again and again, and raised his glass: "Three splendors and four emperors are on top, the saint is blessed with great blessings!"

Zhang Xing hurriedly replied: "Three splendors and four emperors are above, the saints are blessed with great blessings."

Brothers Qin Bao and Luo Xin, who were on the left and right sides, were all startled, and then hurriedly toasted in a daze, but the two above put down their glasses first and started a new round of nonsense. Put it down in a daze, and then stared at each other in a daze.

Obviously, these two people can't keep up with the two above them.

"Although Uncle Shi was young at that time, he was an official in Dongqi County. Who is the governor of Youzhou? How did he know people so well that Uncle Shi was easily promoted to General of Zhonglang?" , totally out of order.

"The chief executive of Youzhou on my head has experienced three, all of whom are confidantes of saints. The first one is Yin Fu, who is now the father of Master Yinchang who is staying behind in Xidu. Master Yinchang and I went to fight in Yanshan together when we were young. Over hunting...their father and son treated me very well...but it is also possible that I was in a low position at that time and didn't care, anyway, I entered the general manager's mansion under his hands, and was promoted all the way to the captain." Luo Shu narrated with a smile , but can't tell whether it's a sneer or a real smile.

"No matter what, we must owe their Yin family some kindness." Zhang Xing responded with emotion. "Regardless of deeds, no matter the heart... People who stay behind in Yin are still staying behind in Xidu, the confidant of the saint."

"That's true." Luo Shu toasted. "May Duke Yin be rewarded by the Black Emperor after his death, so that he can enter the hall of eliminating demons and enjoy the happiness of being a god and a man forever."

How about a God-man whose cultivation base is not enough to be a ghost?
To become a god, you have to follow the rules, otherwise you will lose your soul and return to heaven and earth forever.

Zhang Xing was speechless, but still raised his glass with a smile: "Where is the second one?"

"The second one is called Bai Hengye...a waste-like thing...it's hard to say, I'm afraid it's just pretending. At that time, the Bai family was the most powerful. There were three managers, two princes and one lord. The saint hadn't entrusted Bai Hengqiu. From the small clan to the big clan in the Bai family, he is naturally cautious and walks on thin ice... he just drinks and copies poems every day, and doesn't care about anything else."

Zhang Xing said "Oh", but Qin Bao looked a little embarrassed.

"In the past four or five years, a man named Li Cheng was doing the job, and he was also from Guanzhong... This is a troublesome thing. There are so many families in Guanlong, and there is no shortage of people. The dead one is Guan Long. Yes, another one is Guanlong, there is always no shortage of the son of the general manager and the son of the Duke of the State to be the manager and the Duke of the State... This Li Cheng came to Youzhou. The second conquest of Dongyi, this is a bit more serious, but he is also an incompetent and envious person. During this period, I have gained qualifications and merits, but I have never been promoted."

"Then in the end..." Zhang Xing was still puzzled. "How did you get past the fifth grade?"

"I congealed the pill half a year ago." Luo Shu said a very short sentence. "At that time, you were about to go on tour, so you didn't know that I was on the latest list three months ago... He didn't dare not be promoted."

Zhang Xing was in awe.

In this way, the two chattered about, but after chattering, they finally returned to the question at the beginning.

"My nephew asked me before that I came here so quickly, was I just looking for merit, or was I just nearby... What does this mean?" Luo Shu drank another glass of wine, then put down his glass to look at the other party.

"So, is Uncle Shi only looking for merit?" Zhang Xing also put down his wine glass, clasped his hands in the banquet and asked seriously.

"Yes." After a short pause, Luo Shu simply answered. "Now that you have passed the threshold of the fifth rank, why don't you want to continue to make it big? After all, there is no higher merit than saving someone, but listening to my nephew, is this saint likely to be ignorant of this merit?"

"Yes and no." Zhang Xing also answered simply... He has already seen that this person is a typical utilitarian martial artist, who is not at all the same type of person as Qin Bao, and even has two completely opposite types of martial arts inside.

But it makes sense.

First of all, they are not related by blood, they are just uncle and nephew; secondly, the age, experience, growth and working environment of the two parties are completely different... Of course, if I have to elaborate, Luo Shu is more like a typical remnant of the Eastern Qi Dynasty. Qin Bao is a special case of being constrained by his mother's morality and the prospect of an ideal warrior since he was a child.

It must be known that Eastern Qi, like Great Wei, has a general political style that is barbaric and the style of the Wanxian army, even more brutal and absurd, otherwise it would not be the Great Wei that destroyed Da Qi.

"How to say?" Luo Shu was not dissatisfied with Zhang Sanlang's vague answer, but a little interested.

And this has further improved Zhang Xing's evaluation of him, which is a bit similar to Chen Ling in the Jianghuai area. Even though Chen Ling has some cities and families, he relies too much on his family and region, and may not be stronger than the one in front of him... ...This one is Ning Dan.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xing became more calm, and just explained with a smile: "It's actually very simple... Whether it is true or broken, it is equivalent to nothing... But no matter whether it is true or not, those who have special merits must have it." To make up for it, the so-called tens of thousands of people can't be rewarded, but one or two thousand people must be rewarded, otherwise the saint can't even run the court."

Luo Shu was stunned: "So, there are still meritorious deeds to take? My nephew is indeed a think tank that even Uncle Cao is greedy for!"

"Of course you can get it, but it's also difficult." Zhang Xing overcame the other party's compliment, and put his hands together on the case. "The main reason is that the military situation is too mediocre, and there is not much room for maneuvering... Qin Erlang told the general shortly after we met that the entire army of the Wu tribe in the east is coming, with 15 soldiers and [-] to [-] civilian husbands or even more. The terrain is like a basin again... If there are fewer people, it’s just a waste of time, giving them their heads and taking them; if there are more people, or it takes a long time, they will definitely retreat.”

"Can we gather some elites to break into the city?" Luo Shu asked seriously. "The sage will be impressed, right?"

"Perhaps." Zhang Xing was thoughtful. "There is absolutely no shortage of high-end cultivation and combat power in the city, and there is also Fulong Seal. As long as we can find the weak point and rush in before the Wu Clan masters gather, we will definitely be supported. We were sent out by Duke Niu... ...But doing so may be counterproductive, because the food in the city is very tight, and it is barely convincing to send fewer people when reinforcements are gathered in Youzhou or surrounded by reinforcements from the North; Worrying about the food... All I can think of is three or five hundred riders, rushing into the city with some food by myself, and reporting the news that the army is about to arrive in a manner that cannot be faked, will have the best results."

"Not bad." Luo Shu cheered up. "As expected of a think tank... How about I personally select the elite and lead the team myself?"

"I don't suggest Uncle Shi do this." As he said, Zhang Xing pointed to the other two people in the account. "The two of them are the most suitable... One is the envoy for help, the serious imperial Fulongwei, who received the promise of 'excellence' before coming here; the other is the reinforcement from Youzhou, young and promising, and can convince the crowd; Their goals are also small, but their martial arts are very good... If they are looking for a future after the war, these two people are the most suitable for this credit."

Qin Bao was shocked, although Luo Xin's complexion didn't change much, but he was still slightly solemn, as if his heart was moving.

And Luo Shu thought seriously, and nodded slowly, expressing his agreement: "We should also let Xin'er and Bao'er get some fame, but if that's the case, what about you, nephew?"

"Uncle Shi, you are General Zhonglang, and I am Hei Ribbon who has just been promoted. I may reach the sky in one step, or I may be wiped out by some malicious big shots because of my birth, so I can't rely on such small troubles to plan my future. It is." Zhang Xing said seriously. "We should do something big."

"How do you say it?" Luo Shu's heart moved slightly, and he asked earnestly while twisting his beard.

"How can I say it?" Zhang Xing sighed. "Since Uncle Shi came here first and left the Youzhou army behind, I don't believe he didn't care about it... It was a little late, and the Youzhou army had arrived, and the Wu people left by themselves. What use are we? Go in too early, just now I also said that it is death... So, whether it is meritorious deeds or serious deeds, there are two methods. One is to enter the small army to boost morale first, and the other is naturally to make great fanfare. Blooming in the sky, the Youzhou army marched westward for two or three days to scare off the witches... In this way, the witches will not dare to bet, but they are willing to bet. We will go back and pick up the Youzhou army, and we will become a team. Great work."

Unexpectedly, Luo Shu was silent.

"Uncle Shi, I have a will, and you have soldiers and horses, what can't you do?"

Zhang Xing couldn't help laughing, he just took out the imperial decree and seal ribbon from his bosom again, threw them on the table, and then came to see Luo Shu. "If you ask me, Huairong, a key city like Hebei, Jindi, and Beidi, must have a powerful man who evolved from the remnants of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, and Uncle Shi has been a military official in Youzhou for decades, and he has also been an Eastern Qi Dynasty. I must know the official, I don’t know if I can introduce one or two? It’s been so many years, don’t they want to be an official? The sage promised a career starting from the sixth rank!”

Luo Shu smiled and turned his head away: "Don't you think that the sixth grade started on a flat ground, which is a bit too much, and you are worried that you will not be able to implement it afterwards, and your friendship will be ruined for nothing, so you will not be able to see these old friends in the future?"

"If it can't be implemented, then the court has broken its promise, and they have trusted the court. They should naturally resent the court at that time." Zhang Xing glanced at Qin Bao who was a little flustered, and said something that was irrefutable. "Don't you want to hate us? Even we, aren't we doing this at the risk of not being credited? After all, the sooner we can drive out the Wu tribe, the sooner the saint can be rescued, and the better we can be." To save the people of Yanmen, Mayi, and Loufan counties from suffering as soon as possible... This is a no-cost deal for both public and private interests, both in reality and in profit."

"Well said." Luo Shu clapped his palms and sighed. "Actually... right here in Huai Rong, there was once a hero of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, does my nephew know?"

Zhang Xing shook his head again and again.

"Actually, this person is not a real hero." Luo Shufu laughed again. "Just because it is the surname of Eastern Qi, and Huai Rong is so important, he guards it, and it is precisely because Huai Rong is so important, and there are many arrangements here, so when the Western Wei Dynasty destroyed the Eastern Qi Dynasty, this person Repeatedly able to defeat the Wei army by taking advantage of geographical advantages, harmony of people, and the reinforcements from Beihuang from Kuhai and Tongliao, in the end, it was forced to delay until the first emperor ascended the throne for two or three years before being destroyed..."

Zhang Xing nodded slowly: "And then?"

"In this place of Huairong, since the founding of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, the surname of the town has been frequently used. Over time, there are countless people with the surname Gao, and they are all families of military officials." Luo Shu finally pointed out the question.

Zhang Xing also laughed, isn't the surname of Eastern Qi a family of military eunuchs?
"Now here, there are two people surnamed Gao who are really called upon." Luo Shu continued. "One is a Taoist priest in the Temple of the Black Emperor, and the other is a thieves who sell smuggled salt... The Taoist priests are relatively close to the royal family of the Eastern Qi Dynasty and the family is also powerful, so their family invested in the construction of a huge Temple of the Black Emperor since childhood. In the temple, he used the name of serving Heidi to avoid misfortune and avoid the suspicion of the court; although the salt smuggler was an authentic Gao family, he was forced to occupy wells in the mountains to refine private salt as early as when the Eastern Qi Dynasty was still alive. Well, he is a capable person, and now he is a master who has connected two veins of Qijing, and there are some sayings among the people... I don’t know which one my nephew likes?"

"I like Taoist priests." Zhang Xing blurted out.

"Why?" Luo Shu was surprised for a moment, after all, the biased meaning in his words was already obvious.

"Because the Taoist priest is of high background, powerful family, and great appeal, and he is obviously pampered, and at most sophisticated." Zhang Xingyi said. "As for the salt smuggler, I'm afraid he is a real hero, and he really dares to fight."

Luo Shu was silent for a long time, and then he seriously asked under the gaze of his son and nephew: "But we are going to deal with the Wu people, shouldn't we take the real heroes?"

Zhang Xing immediately laughed: "We are not really going to fight, but to bluff. We want strong men and banners. Why do we need real heroes? Real heroes are so obedient? If real heroes don't get rewards afterwards, they won't hate Uncle Shi Is it? On the contrary, it’s someone with a great family who has been a Taoist priest since he was a child... We want to save the emperor, why are you unwilling to contribute? Are you trying to rebel in front of the tens of thousands of Youzhou cavalry that will arrive soon?"

Luo Shu slapped the table and laughed loudly: "As expected of a think tank! I almost made a mistake!"

Luo Xin and Qin Bao also suddenly realized.

Zhang Xing also came to laugh, but he didn't care... This Luo Shu has already praised him three times, God knows which time is true?
However, Zhang Xing quickly stopped talking, and immediately urged: "It's not too late, let's call the county magistrate and this Taoist together tonight to discuss the matter!"

Luo Shu nodded again and again, and then immediately followed his words.

But half an hour later, the county magistrate and Taoist priests arrived together, and Luo Shu also withdrew the private banquet, and held a new banquet in the big tent outside, then Qin Baozi and Luo Xin naturally got up and invited the soldiers in the tent to act as a facade , while Zhang Xing and Luo Shu sat in the main and guest seats early.

After a while, the county magistrate and the Taoist priest tremblingly entered together, each with only two civilian attendants behind them.

Under the lights, Zhang Xing raised his head and was about to speak, when he was suddenly stunned—there was no one else, but a big man who followed behind the thin-skinned and tender Taoist priest was actually a big man with a purple face, and he was a man who had met once before. man.

Not only that, Qin Bao and this person also recognized each other together.

"You, aren't you Zhang Xing who left his hometown on the river? Now you really have become a court eagle dog, and you are such a high-ranking official?!" The man saw that the two people on the opposite side recognized him, and he straightened his neck and took the initiative to step forward and scold him. Zhang Xing took his seat. "In vain I thought you were a hero!"

Qin Bao was the first to be furious.

The county magistrate and the Taoist priest were dumbfounded.

On the other hand, Luo Shu jumped up before everyone else, with the icy true energy overflowing from his body, and the cold air instantly filled the entire tent: "You thief, how dare you scold the imperial envoy in the army, are you a traitor or a Dongyi?" Careful work?"

The purple-faced man, that is, Xiong Bonan, seeing the other party like this, knowing that this person is similar to his own cultivation and martial arts, but he fell into the enemy's army, he felt very regretful, he should not have come with the high Taoist priest , let alone take the initiative to reprimand... In the current situation, I am afraid that I will be a little embarrassed if I escape today, let alone a high Taoist priest who has kept his family and career... But now, what kind of temperament is he, how can he be subdued?

So he still sneered face to face, so he wanted to report his name and scolded back directly.

And Luo Xin had already started touching a small horn behind his waist with a cold face.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Zhang Xing, who was ridiculed as a court eagle dog, suddenly stood up, pointed at it, and said first: "Uncle Shi, this is the purple-faced king Xiongbo Nan that I often mentioned to you. , and I have the kindness to save my life, but I did not expect to meet today, but I have a bad temper and offended Uncle Shi, I will send him out... Uncle Shi will talk to the County Lord and Gao Daoye about business."

Saying that, he directly stepped forward to hold Xiong Bonan's hand in the astonishment of the crowd, and went to the layman.

Xiong Bo Nan was rough but subtle, his heart moved slightly, he just let the other party lead him out, went straight to the outside of the barracks, walked several hundred steps before he stopped.

"Xiong Tianwang, let's go!" Zhang Xing let go and sighed.

"Don't think that you saved my life." Xiong Bonan looked at Qin Bao who was the only one who followed out and stopped the other pursuers, and he responded proudly. "I come whenever I want, and leave whenever I want. Why should I be afraid of that Luo?"

"I know, I know..." Zhang Xing hastened to perfunctory.

Qin Baoyuan sneered: "My uncle, apart from being a condensed alchemy, has eighteen cavalry under his tent, all of whom are masters with more than four meridians through extraordinary meridians, and can show their true energy without forming a formation, and they are all around the main tent. , as soon as my cousin blew the horn just now, even if you were able to escape last, believe it or not, you will have to shed your skin?"

Xiong Bonan was a little startled, but he still said unforgivingly: "Then I'll go back and try?"

"Xiong Tianwang, let's go!" Zhang Xing embraced this person with all his strength, turned his head and motioned to Qin Bao to let the latter say a few words, and then came back to correct him. "Don't worry, King Xiongtian, I have no intention of asking you to accept my love. I also promise not to get involved with that Taoist's family... You can go now!"

Xiong Bonan already wanted to leave in his heart, but he couldn't help but want to push the other party away first, as a gesture, but for some reason, the other party must not have congealed pills, but he still kept his true energy, firmly resisting his Zixia Infuriating, but not easy to use the obvious method of congealing pills, so that the opponent who was well-intentioned anyway was injured... It was also a momentary embarrassment.

Zhang Xing, on the other hand, suddenly came to his senses after a stalemate for a while, quickly withdrew his anger, and said sincerely: "Xiong Tianwang, don't worry about face, really care about it, even though the gift from Xu Dalang's family was confiscated that day, I really can't Forget about your kindness... There is no need to be like this between us."

Hearing this, Xiong Bonan remembered that the other party was a man of righteousness who carried his corpse, and even further remembered that the other party rejected Li Shu, himself and Xu Dalang's kindness, it seemed that it was out of loyalty, but it was embarrassing.

Then he also withdrew his strength, cupped his hands slightly, and then rose into the sky into the night.

However, after flying two miles in the air, this person recalculated in his heart, and felt that today's incident was his own gaffe, and he had accepted the other party's loyalty, making it even more embarrassing, but it is not easy to go back, just remember it in his heart, and talk about it later .

On the other side, Zhang Xing couldn't help sighing as he watched the streamer circle twice in the night sky not far away before finally leaving.

Seeing this, Qin Bao finally stepped forward and asked sincerely: "Third brother, this person is obviously linking up with the remnants of the Eastern Qi region. Well, why bother thinking about it?"

Zhang Xing shook his head: "From time to time, there will be changes... Today is an official thief, what about tomorrow? He has such a martial arts cultivation! Didn't you see that your uncle didn't chase after him at all? I'm afraid it was also from the very beginning. Not ready to go all out."

Qin Bao is naturally an inner beauty, but within half a day, he already knew what his uncle was like, and he couldn't refute it... And thinking that Zhang Xing was so kind to him, and he repeated it again and again, it is very likely that there will be changes in the future, It is also getting more and more sad.

On the other side, Zhang Xing didn't say much.

To put it bluntly, Xiong Bonan is naturally outstanding in martial arts, and his cultivation is natural, but why is it so?It's just that when I think of my time travel experience again, I can't help but think about it routinely.

In this way, after a round of tossing, after this small episode, the two returned to the camp, Luo Shu really didn't want to deal with Xiong Bonan at all, and the Taoist Gao had already agreed to it, and the local county magistrate also saw After Zhang Xing presented the imperial decree, he immediately promised to open a warehouse for assistance.

PS: I'm really a little surprised... why do you think the last chapter was missed?
1. The protagonist has made up his mind to go out of the city with Qin Bao, so it is almost inevitable to find Niu Dugong and Niu Dugong to send him out.

2. Moreover, this behavior has been clearly expressed through the connection between the protagonist and Qin Bao's previous and subsequent words.

3. In this case, it is of course no problem to write in detail, but it is also possible to go over the past, directly following the protagonist's words, isn't the camera flashing to the breakout process very coherent?
Modification and addition of word count will not affect the purchase price.

(End of this chapter)