The Rise of the Cold Gate in the Eastern Jin Dynasty

Chapter 167 Pengzhou Wubao
The weather in July is like a fire scorching the earth, and even the air seems to bend.

The official road leading to Pengcheng was sparsely populated. Dozens of light horses galloped by, rolling up the loess all over the sky. The leader was a black-faced boy, tall and rough. He pulled the rein with one hand, and the horse immediately raised its hooves and slammed into the ground. Landing on the loess road, stepping out of two pits, the horses behind them stopped one by one.

The black-faced boy looked at the Sishui River not far ahead, immediately turned his horse's head, returned to the center, and said tightly to a young man who was knocked out of his wits, "Xiao Lang, why don't you just rest here for a while. Passing Surabaya ahead, you can reach Pengcheng in less than half a day, and you will definitely be able to enter the city before sunset."

Xiao Qinzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead, was supported by Zhou Lie to get off his horse, and sat under a tree to rest. The saddle tore the skin on the inside of his thighs, and once he was soaked in sweat, he felt a scorching pain. Are you so chic?
This kind of embarrassment made dozens of soldiers, as well as brain-dead fans Sima Yueming and several captive lieutenants, want to laugh but couldn't help laughing, and Xiao Qinzhi couldn't help regretting that he shouldn't be brave at the time, honestly In fact, according to Zhou Lie, he came in a carriage, but it was slower.

"Xiao Yue! Throw the water bag here." Xiao Qin's mouth was dry, and he waved to the cruel boy sitting on the horse.

Xiao Yue didn't talk much, he just threw it over, Xiao Qinzhi took a drink, tidied up, and shouted: "Let's go."

Xiao Qinzhi stepped on the saddle, turned on the horse unskillfully, pulled the reins and was carried by the horse to run.

Fortunately, the current cavalry has popularized saddles, otherwise Xiao Qinzhi would be able to step on it steadily, otherwise he might fall off and make a fool of himself in public.

Pengcheng is a big city. From the scale of the city, it can be seen that the city wall is more than three feet high, and the back is more than one foot. The city is stuck on the only way for the Yan army to go south, like a stick in the throat.

It's a pity that if there were more troops supporting Lanling at that time, Murong Chen would have been unable to bear it all. Xiao Qinzhi put away his regrets, showed his certificate at the gate of the city, and followed Qingqi into the city.

Zhou Lie took dozens of horsemen and prisoners to the camp, Xiao Qinzhi took Xiao Yue to the governor's mansion without stopping, but was told that the funeral of governor Xun was in a villa outside the city, and all the guests were there.

From Rencheng, along the Sishui River and the west bank of Weishan Lake to the Huaihe River, there is an endless plain, which is a good place for cavalry. These people are still building villas outside the city. , Don't give it to a nest when you are singing to your heart's content.

It was getting late, Xiao Qinzhi had to go out of the south gate of the city again, and was led by the officials of the governor's office, and rushed to Xun's villa. Only when he got there did he realize that he was ignorant and ignorant.

Pengzhou is surrounded by small hills, not high, but hundreds of feet long. These villas are built against the hills, making full use of the mountains. It is more appropriate to use Wubao to describe them. The tall and thick Wubi are all built of giant stone barriers. , mixed with adhesives in the middle, water and fire will not invade, turrets are built at the four corners, arrow stacks are set up on the walls, and there are trilogy patrols day and night. For a big family like the Xun family, there are no less than thousands of tribunes who can fight in Wubao. Where is it? A small group of cavalry can chew and move.

There are several small hills in the south of Pengcheng, all of which are connected with Wubao, all of which are well-known and surnamed, and they form horns with each other. Ming Ci was led by Xun's housekeeper to rest for a while.

It has to be said that the big family is thoughtful, the weather is hot and the guests are on their way, so their manners are unavoidable. The rest place has already prepared all the bathing things such as wash water, Xiao Qinzhi's first thing is to take a bath and change clothes.

Xiao Yue in the bathroom followed closely after taking a bath. Xiao Qinzhi opened his clothes and let his hair loose, and came to the window. The sky was already dark, and the faint mountain breeze blew in, making people look clear. The indifferent and graceful fragrance of orchids , filled Xiaoxuan's window.

July is the time when orchids are competing to bloom. Xiao Qinzhi leaned against the window lattice, closed his eyes, and smelled the orchid fragrance. There are three kinds of fragrances: Qiaoyue, Guayue, and Xiangyue. He couldn't help but think of his sweetheart in Jiankang City. , the orchids around her boudoir are probably in full bloom, and in a few days, she should be able to receive the letter from Xuzhou.

Although the moon has not yet appeared tonight, and it is thousands of miles away, what I smell is the same orchid, which can also be called the moon before the flower. This kind of self-consolation actually made Xiao Qinzhi's face full of sweetness. Laughing, then the door was knocked suddenly, and a familiar greeting sounded.

"Mr. Xiao Silang, are you there?"

It was Huan Yi's voice. It was almost a month since we left Yangzhou. Xiao Qin knew it when he heard it.

Xiao Qinzhi simply tied up his skirt, then went to open the door, and saw that it was indeed Huan Canjun, who was still wearing a plain green shirt, with one hand behind his back, and the other smiling slightly while stroking his beautiful beard.

"Just now I heard a maid said you were coming, I just found out, did you bother me?" Huan Yi entered the room, heard the sound of water in the bathroom, and stopped walking.

"It's my brother, he came with me." Xiao Qinzhi smiled, carried Huan Yi to the window, brought a small desk, and the two sat facing the desk, drinking the cool mountain breeze.

There is nothing to entertain in the house, Xiao Qinzhi apologized and said with a smile: "Huan Canjun, I just arrived, the hospitality is not good, please bear with me."

Huan Yi withdrew his gaze from the window and landed on Xiao Qinzhi, he laughed and said, "You can drink tea at any time, but Xiao Silang doesn't have it all the time, I live closer to you, let's talk about it first, and the rest of you may be confused." We're falling behind."

"Ah?" Xiao Qin was puzzled.

"Last month on Jiuhuatai, you debated with hundreds of people, and wrote "A Fang Gong Fu". Now it has spread all over the world. If it wasn't for the Yan army going south, someone from Pengcheng would have invited you here before. Hehe." Huan Yi He said with a smile, stroked his beard again, and said slowly: "The hearsay comes here to seek fame, I'm afraid you are busy these few days."

"How can there be such a space!" Xiao Qinzhi took a deep breath, looked at the mountain scenery soaked into the night, and said dimly: "I will tell you that Huan joined the army. In January in the North, he won ten years in the left of the river. His reputation surpassed me. Complacent and self-deceived, the Yan people made me angry and killed me Jinmin. I can now understand that I am ashamed. Jiang Zuo has a false name and harms others and himself. They come here in my name, and I will not see any of them. .”

Huan Yi raised his eyebrows, then lowered them slowly, and said calmly, "Is Sima Yueming here?"

"I personally escorted here, just arrived." Xiao Qinzhi wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.

Just in time, Xiao Yue from the bathroom came out, packed the two of them's change of clothes, made a pot of tea silently, Xiao Qinzhi poured it for Huan Yi, they all looked at the mountain scenery hidden in the night, looked up, The month is out.

Huan Yi took a sip, put down the porcelain cup, and asked lightly: "Can Shiro tell you about the details of the Lanling Battle?"

This is nothing, seeing Huan Yi specifically asked, very interested, Xiao Qinzhi explained the details of the Lanling Battle in detail, how it was planned, mobilized, initiated, and ended.

Huan Yi was quite surprised: "So, you and Xu Xiaozi really instigated it?"

"Ah? Didn't the battle report be sent to Pengcheng in advance?" Xiao Qinzhi wondered, and then became depressed again, took a sip of tea, lowered his voice, and said without anger: "If I follow my follow-up plan, I will definitely be able to Let Murong Chen come and go."

When Xiao Qinzhi told Pengcheng to increase troops to Lanling to block Murong Chen's back, Huan Yi's expression turned serious, and he stared at Xiao Qinzhi, who was not angry, and couldn't help secretly saying that it was a pity that such a good opportunity was lost.

Xiao Qinzhi continued: "I came to Pengcheng this time for condolences and important military reports. I'm afraid that the Yan army will not give up if they don't take Qingzhou this time, and will send troops to Linqu again to cut off Daxianguan. It became two isolated cities, and if we stretch out our hands to reach the ground again, we can only detour through the northern foot of Mount Tai, Rencheng, Lixia, and Linzi, and we will suffer a lot."

During the interval between Xiao Qinzhi's speech, Huan Yi dipped his finger in the tea, roughly sketched out a map on the small case, glanced at Xiao Qinzhi again, and said: "Daxian Pass is the southern gate of Qidi. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack, the five kingdoms' attack on Qi is too much loss, Qi is the barrier to the north of Xuzhou, if it is lost, Xuzhou will face the front of the Yan army, Shiro's words are true, and he should report it in time."

"Ah, I'm afraid that people will speak lightly! Xun Cishi is gone, Xi Cishi is coming, and I, I." Xiao Qinzhi was worried, and then lowered his voice: "Xi Cishi has old grievances with me, I'm afraid he won't believe it!"

"Oh? You don't owe him any money, how can you have old grudges with him?" Huan Yimi laughed.

Xiao Qinzhi depressedly talked about his grievances with Xi Sui.

"I have an idea." Huan Yi said softly while drinking tea.

"What idea?" Xiao Qinzhi said happily.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the door was knocked again, Xiao Yue went to open the door, he was startled, it was Diao Kui, wearing white clothes and white face, standing alone, with a faint fragrance, if he was careless, he would think it was a spirit-calling banner stuck in the door Before that, he said joyfully, "Xiao Shidi, long time no see."

"Brother Diao Shi, well!" Xiao Qinzhi stood up and bowed in salute.

Diao Kui's smiling face had white powder creases, and he floated leisurely into the room, nodding and smiling with Huan Yi who stood up and said goodbye.

Huan Yi smiled, and said to Xiao Qinzhi: "Silang, I have a visitor, please don't disturb me, just come and find me later."

"Huan Canjun, go slowly!" Xiao Qinzhi sent it to the door, and when he turned back and entered the room, he saw that Xiao Yue had already led Diao Kui to sit in front of the small case, cleaned the small case, and brought a new porcelain cup , Pour tea for Diao Kui.

"Xiao Shidi, just now you called that man Huan Canjun, but is he King Huanye?" Diao Kui asked.

"Exactly!"

"Oh!" Diao Kui snorted violently, with regret on his face, he said with a sneer, "I've been looking forward to seeing King Huanye for a long time, but when I came to him, I missed it for my brother!"

"Huan Canjun is here to express his condolences. He lives on this floor. Brother Diao Shi can invite you afterward." Xiao Qinzhi sat down, picked up his teacup, motioned for tea, and thought, "I want you to help me." Please Huan Yi, I will not do it, if you have the ability, please go yourself."

"That makes sense." Diao Kui nodded and said, "Xiao Shidi has just arrived, and I'm afraid he hasn't eaten yet. I know you're coming, so I'm waiting for you. Go quickly to my brother's place, drink and talk."

"It's enough for Shixiong to tell others, how can I let you come in person?" Xiao Qinzhi smiled, but he sighed secretly in his heart, he couldn't hide it.

"You are now a famous person in Jiangzuo, we don't need to be particular about it in private, but as a brother, in front of a lot of friends, how can I call you immediately, so naturally I want them to look up to me as a Jinling talent." Diao Kui stood up, Caressing Xiao Qinzhi's hand, said eagerly.

Xiao Qinzhi smiled wryly, attracted the silent Xiao Yue, and introduced him: "Brother Diao Shi, this is Xiao Yue, my younger brother. He is only fourteen, and he is capable of both literary and martial arts. This time, he is at my side, which is of great help to me." Big."

He greeted Xiao Yue again: "This is brother Diao Shi, whom I often tell you about, hurry up and salute."

Xiao Yue understood it as soon as he heard it, and stood next to Xiao Qinzhi, only touching one end, saluted very solemnly, with a faint air of indifference and loftiness.

"Oh! Very good! Very good!" Seeing Xiao Qinzhi's grand introduction, Diao Kui couldn't help taking another look. Seeing Xiao Yue's outstanding temperament, he has Xiao Qin's seven-point face, thin body but not weak, strong and vigorous Ren, at first glance, is a person who has studied since childhood. After Xiao Qin, another Xiao's handsome man came out. He immediately took off a suet white jade from his body, put it in Xiao Yue's palm, and said: "Brother, I don't know how to get better." Brother came here without any preparation, just a piece of jade, to express your heart, if you come to Jingkou, I will treat you well."

Xiao Yue was embarrassed, and refused to accept the excuse.

Diao Kui felt more and more that Xiao Yue was extraordinary, so he wanted to give it as a gift.

"Ayue, accept it, don't disappoint Brother Diao's good intentions." Xiao Qinzhi said helplessly, thinking that it was just a jade, Xiao's tea made Diao more than tens of thousands of jade.

"Thank you brother Diao." Xiao Yue said in a deep voice.

(End of this chapter)