Delong

221 Chapter 4: The Way of the Armor ([-])

Different from the slight cold and slight smell in northern Shanxi, here on the south bank of Jishui has already been "I don't know who will cut the thin leaves, and the spring breeze in February is like scissors".Thousands of green silk ribbons hang down on the side, and the weather is warm, even adding a little fragrance of plant wood.

In this room, Zhang Dalong made a big promise and said that he would continue the transaction, so he really tried his best to drive the queen's frame over.

Two donkey carts came along the road under the embankment, and stopped behind the side and rear of the Chulong gang.In one of the blue-curtained carriages, two or three figures could be faintly seen inside, and there was also a cart with three plainly dressed but hard-to-be-disguised young women sitting on it, with several packages piled up behind it.

Seeing this scene, Sima was both relaxed and nervous, but immediately patted his horse forward.

The people around him not only knew the identity of this man, but also knew that he had the emperor's order to avenge the dethroning of the Dragon Gang, so they were naturally very vigilant, holding their weapons and making gestures.

Of course, Sima Zheng also knew what the problem was, so he stopped in time, and then looked at Zhang Xing: "Zhang Sanlang, I'm going to greet His Highness first..."

Zhang Xing nodded.

Sima Zheng got off his horse immediately, left his saber on the horse, passed the crowd lightly, and came to the carriage under the embankment to bow his hands and say hello.

Of course the empress knew about Sima Erlong, so the monarch and his ministers asked and answered a few sentences inside and outside the carriage.

After a while, Sima Zheng hesitated for a while, but turned to look at Zhang Xing who was sitting upright on Huang Piao's horse: "Zhang Sanlang, I won't ask about the tens of thousands of palace people, but dare to ask about other female officials who are close to His Highness?"

"There were indeed 28 or [-] decent female officials who accompanied and were captured later, and six of them were somewhat cultivated. I asked them to protect some concubine and some princess and go back to the Eastern Capital from Ji County; there were five or six others I did. A matchmaker, married to the young leader of the Chulong gang; there are still a dozen or so people left. I persuaded them not to come, but they did not come after listening to the persuasion; but these five refused to listen and insisted on coming , and I try to respect them as much as possible..." Zhang Xing naturally followed suit.

Sima Zheng hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help asking: "How did you persuade those ten people not to come?"

"I told them that I was also from Xiyuan. Knowing that the saint has always had a good face, he must regard the incident a year ago as a great shame and humiliation. In addition, he has always been contemptuous of human life, so it is impossible to say that he wants to kill people to vent his anger... That is, the queen is It is convenient for him to win people's hearts in Jiangdu, and it takes decades to get his wives to save their lives. Who can guarantee their lives when the others go back?" Zhang Xingyan came to this point, and then came down to ask Sima Zheng with a condescending smile. "Can Sima Erlang make a guarantee in public? If Sima Erlang can guarantee it, not to mention the female officials, even those servants in Liang County who are said to refuse to greet anyone, I can also write a letter to persuade them to follow you. Walk."

The wind was blowing the willows, under the embankment on the south bank of Jishui, Sima Zheng, who was coldly stared at by the leaders of the Dragon Gang on the embankment, was silent for a long time, not only him, but also the cart and the cart behind, It was also a little scary in silence.

The carriage was covered by a sarong, and the three female officials on the carriage could only lower their heads to avoid certain gazes.

Sima Zheng was silent for a while, but he still asked seriously: "Will you survive if you stay here?"

"No." Zhang Xing shook his head in response. "After today's incident, the imperial army is probably about to move. The group of people on the embankment may not be able to survive. How can they dare to say that they can save their lives here? However, I also told them truthfully. Having said this, it's because they don't want to make a fuss anymore, or they are more afraid of that saint..."

Sima Zheng nodded and stopped talking. Instead, he turned his head and personally led the donkey into the cart, and dragged the cart past the Chulong gang. Sheng also went forward without saying a word, and took another cart.

After the two cars arrived at the Huaiyou League side, the handover was considered complete.

This time, on the contrary, the people on the side of the Dragon Gang felt a little relieved. Xu Shiying, Zhou Xingfan, Guo Jingke, Chai Xiaohe, Guan Xu, Zhang Jinshu, Jia Yue and other leaders almost instinctively looked at Zhang Xing, ready to follow this A big leader turns back.

Zhang Xing wasn't so pretentious that he wanted to have a fight with Sima Erlong in public, but he immediately turned his horse's head around.

Even Du Pozhen, he just agreed to send someone into Qiao County and then return to discuss the situation with Zhang Xing in private.

The two groups of people had a tacit understanding, and each turned around, ready to make two points.

But just as he set off, Zhang Xing suddenly reined in his horse on the river embankment again, and then looked down the river embankment... Without him, on the road under the river embankment, the position where the cart and cart stopped just now was much more abrupt A cloth bag.

The nearest knight went straight over without even getting off his horse, so he picked up the cloth bag, opened it, looked surprised, and hurriedly handed it to Zhang Dalongtou.

Zhang Xing took a closer look and saw that it was a bag of noodles, weighing about a few kilograms, probably because of the hasty grinding, there was quite a bit of bran in it.

The people around lost interest in an instant, and some even instinctively started to ride their horses and prepare to continue on their way home.

Unexpectedly, after Zhang Dalong took a good look at what was inside, he immediately sank his face, then reined in his horse and got off the embankment, chasing after the donkey cart that was already on the road.

This scene aroused the tension of everyone on both sides.

The knights of the Dragon Gang gritted their teeth, and most of them turned to catch up. The rest did not dare to lag behind, so they could only bite the bullet and keep up. Xu Shiying even whistled to split the knights into two, and some of them went down the road Following, some followed along the embankment to catch up and outflank... But this time, it was the turn of the Huaiyou League on the opposite side, and a small number of Liang County officials became nervous.

But Du Pozhen and Ma Ping'er, who were in the center back, didn't make any extra moves to Zhang Xing who was galloping into the team face to face.

"Stop!"

Zhang Xing didn't bother to pay attention to the rattling swords on the periphery, he just drove between the two cars, stopped the car, and then raised the face in his hands in the astonishment of Sima Zheng, Du Pozhen, Ma's father and daughter, including everyone on both sides of the periphery. bag, seriously. "Whose flour bag is this, it fell to the ground?"

Sima Zheng just felt baffled, so he wanted to interrupt.

"This is a matter between the Dragon Gang and the person who lost the bag, and has nothing to do with the rest of the people." Zhang Xing interrupted first, and then continued to ask, his tone became more awe-inspiring. "I'll ask again, who lost these catties of wheat noodles?"

No one answered.

Zhang Xing just stood still.

"Who lost it?" Sima Zheng had no choice but to join in the urging. "Don't delay the big things."

A female officer sitting on a cart lowered her head, then slowly raised her hand.

"I don't know if you did it unintentionally or on purpose, whether you threw it away or abandoned it." Zhang Xing held the flour bag and faced it coldly. "Then just tell you clearly... From the rules, you have done work for the Dragon Gang these days, and whether it's mending or sweeping, these few catties of noodles are the rewards you deserve. Don't be greedy for this cheap."

It dawned on everyone that this bag of noodles was the reward for the female official's work in the Dragon Gang, and it was probably because the female official's act of discarding it before leaving meant to look down on the Dragon Gang, which angered the leader.

For a while, everyone felt that this female official was too busy, even if she was spoiled, she shouldn't throw it away at this moment.

On the other hand, everyone also secretly felt that this big dragon head seemed to be a meddlesome person, and he was too stingy...but he didn't dare to complain.

"From a logical point of view, the world is in such a mess, who do you think you can rely on?" Sure enough, Zhang Dalong's tone became more and more intense. "Relying on the emperor and empress, I got a lot of rewards for a while. People say they can take them back if they take them back. The key is to kowtow to thank you. Only this kind of thing is yours. It is yours, and it is yours wherever you put it. I am an emperor, and if I forcibly take it away, that is also a robber!"

Up to this point, Zhang Xing threw the bag of flour back onto the cart, and rarely lost his composure: "Do you think I'm mad at you for belittling the Dragon Gang? I'm mad at you for belittling yourself. I don't even know what is the most precious thing. You can still throw it if you want, but you have to wait until you get out of Jiyin before throwing it away!"

After saying that, Zhang Xing finally turned around and walked away in the trance of many people, just as easy as hitting the horse and breaking into the opponent's team before.

After a while, there was still a sigh from the carriage: "Put it away! Let's go!"

A group of people who came to support them did not dare to be negligent, and hurriedly continued westward—no way, the southeast part of Liang County to the south of Jiyin had already become the control area of ​​the Meng Brothers and other bandits. Turn west and go south.

This is destined to be a troublesome and long journey.

However, it's ridiculous to say that tens of thousands of people were mighty before, and Liang Jun himself was also strong and strong, but he was easily robbed by the Dethroned Dragon Gang with dozens of cavalry.Now there are only a few dozen Huaiyou League experts, a few Liang County officials, and a few Jinwu guards brought by Sima Erlong to escort, but the Queen's carriage easily, steadily and quickly passed through Liang County, which was half upside down. Arrived in Qiao County.

And there gathered the elite troops of Xuzhou Daying who had been waiting for a long time, put on the queen's guard of honor again, and continued to go south.

Not to mention the others, but Du Pozhen, the leader of the Huaiyou League, sent the Queen safely to the troops of the Xuzhou Camp that day. Fleeing to the north overnight.

Really escaped.

With Xuzhou's army already under pressure, Du Pozhen didn't know what fate awaited him once the queen crossed the Huaihe River, what would the emperor of Jiangdu plan to do with him?
Therefore, he made an agreement with his old brother Fu Boshi early on, and the latter will deal with it next. He must quickly flee to the north to wait and see.

This is also the real reason why he and Zhang Xing agreed to meet. The situation must be discussed, and the matter has developed to this point, and there will be chaos immediately.

The queen's matter is indeed too embarrassing.

Accompanying him, there are Ma's father and daughter who are the liaisons between the Dragon Gang and the Huaiyou League, and seven or eight of his confidantes in the Huaiyou League... They are all those who are not qualified to be a party, but have outstanding performance The young and talented people all call him foster father.

It is said that he learned from a certain Zhong Cheng from Jing'an Terrace when the business was still going well last year.

Turning back, of course, there is no need to take a detour to the west, so the first stop is Xiayi, and Du Pozhen, as the leader of the largest river and lake power in the Jianghuai River, naturally cannot ignore any small middle forces along the way, especially Xiayi. The controller of the town really has something to say.

These are thousands of armed servants, who call themselves begging army, but are called father-in-law army outside, and they look weird when they say it.

However, being weird is weird, but it didn't delay this faction from showing enough strength.

In the previous two months, not only did they withstood the invasion from the Meng family in the north, they defended the bridge openly and aboveboard in a small battle. They defeated Meng Shangong's younger brother, Meng Yigui, and expanded their power to the next door. Dangshan County.

More importantly, this force has shown a strong ability in civil affairs... Those internal servants from Ziwei Palace unexpectedly and seamlessly took over the original county government organization. Finished the spring plowing.

It is said that what he did was better than that of Monsangong, who was backed by the Dragon Gang.

This also made Du Pozhen have a strong curiosity about the prince of the Beiya, because now it is said that the talents of the Wang Gonggong in the Beiya are basically like the ministers of the Nanya, because of this Only now was he able to manage a group of servants so properly.

But it is a pity that Du Pozhen entered Xiayi City with a name, saw the legendary internal servants, saw many young court ladies walking all over the street, saw the restoration of normal order, and even saw merchants and villagers entering the city to join the market , I also saw that the city wall was being strengthened and the trenches were being cleared, but I did not see the legendary prince.

The servants in the army were very polite. They told Leader Du that the prince went to Jiyin via Dangshan County, and planned to draw a line with Meng Sangong face to face under the mediation of the Dragon Gang. Most of them took people to the north to guard against the officers and men and Meng Sangong, and the rest of them were scattered to renovate the city defense, so it was not easy to entertain them without authorization.

Du Pozhen expressed his understanding that it was really inappropriate for the people below to see him in private when the prince was not there, so he took his leave and continued on his way north.

The next stop is the territory of the Meng brothers.

Needless to say, we all know that Meng Sangong went to Jiyin, and his younger brother Meng Yigui had to guard against the surrounding forces and the main force of the official army in Song City. Didn't see it at all.

So, after a half-day pause, Du Pozhen set off again on the first day of March, preparing to lead the crowd to re-enter Jiyin.

Of course, this time, there was no tension and caution before, let alone deliberately avoiding the market city, but entering directly from Zhouqiao City, which is said to be the meeting point.

What's interesting is that the city of Zhouqiao is about to hold the third meeting in March. Du Pozhen and others coincided with the meeting. Along the way, they saw many people from Liang County swarming there, often just a few eggs and two new sticks With a broom and a few catties of millet, he happily left with the old and the young.

Leader Du came from a poor background, so of course he knew how difficult these common people were going through, so when he arrived at Zhouqiao, facing Zhang Xing who reunited quickly, he still couldn't help but sigh with emotion:
"Brother, you mentioned March [-] next year, how many people here can be so cheerful?"

Zhang Xing wanted to speak.

But at this moment, a burly man in gorgeous clothes suddenly held up his knife and sneered, and then answered first: "Mr. Du, it seems that if we don't rebel, the common people can live? Who is not in troubled times?" Forcing a smile, just for a while?"

Of course there is no problem with these words, but there is something wrong with his attitude. Du Pozhen didn't say a word, and the eunuchs behind him got angry early.

However, the man was obviously just using Du Pozhen to show a gesture, and once he said a word, the effect was achieved, and then he bowed his hands to Du Pozhen: "Boss Du, it's the first time we meet, I'm talking about Meng Sangong, my words are a bit slapdash, please forgive me... But it's my truth."

Du Pozhen is also used to seeing this kind of character, how could he not know that he is just expressing his opinion?Moreover, the territory of the Meng brothers is there, and it is impossible to fall to others.So, the leader of the Du alliance didn't bother to care about it, just nodded, and then swept another middle-aged man with a white face and beardless, and then walked towards a building north of the big market with Zhang Xing's arms.

The rest of the heroes, mighty and mighty, also flocked in.

There was nothing to talk about when they were seated, Zhang Xing and Du Pozhen took the lead, Meng Sangong and Wang Gonggong sat on the left and right, and the rest of the leaders of the Dragon Gang and the members of the local sub-rudder also took their seats.

Only Ma's father and daughter were accused of sitting in the front seats early on, which obviously caused a slight commotion among the Huaiyou League Taibao who could only stand.

Du Pozhen was steady and didn't say anything. Zhang Xing saw it early and didn't say anything.

It was only when everyone was safe and watched the big leader waiting for him to speak, that he opened his mouth calmly, but pointed at the Huaiyou League Taibao and spoke to Du Pozhen:

"Old Du, we are serious brothers. Naturally, these good nephews are also my serious nephews. Why don't you let me see them?"

Hearing this, the attendants thought it was quite reasonable for a moment, but after looking at the ages of those Tai Baos and this one, they still couldn't help but feel a little weird.

But how?

People's seniority is just older, and I'm not lying.

PS: The weather in Chengdu is absolutely amazing.

(End of this chapter)