National color raw owl

Peacock Terrace repelled the robbers, buried the corpses, and when everything was cleaned up, it was almost dawn. Since Wu Shizhao, the manager, was gone, Mao Renju would naturally handle all the affairs.

Mao Renju ordered the whole team to pack up the tent and prepare to go.

Wu Shizhao's hands and feet were bound, his mouth was covered, and he was thrown into a carriage. When the tent was packed and loaded into the carriage, Jin Ling had already boarded the carriage.

For the next two days, nothing happened along the way.

At noon on the third day, Mao Renju came to Chu Huan's side and said with a smile, "Hero Bamboo, there are ten miles ahead, which should be within the territory of Hexi Road. Once we enter the territory of Hexi Road, we will be safe."

What Mao Renju said was right, the ten-mile journey naturally didn't take too long, and there was no steep barrier at the junction of the two roads, but a stone tablet was erected on the side of the road with the word "Hexi" written on it, which naturally meant Enter the territory of Hexi.

There are no guards on the Hexi border, after all, the Great Qin is passing through the border, and the brigade of chariots and horses is slowly advancing on a gray ribbon stretching straight into the sky.

Entering the territory of Hexi, Chu Huan's biggest feeling is that compared with other roads, the official roads in Hexi are wide and smooth, obviously a lot of effort has been put into the roads.

There are many grasslands in Hexi, so Hexi also occupies one of the eight horse farms in the empire.

Among the sixteen paths of the Great Qin Dynasty, Hexi is famous for its richness in cattle. Hexi cattle are not only one of the delicacies of the empire, but also the hide of Hexi cattle is one of the most expensive resources. A huge amount of cowhide has to be paid to the imperial court. Cowhide is one of the important resources controlled by the empire, and the biggest place for cowhide is naturally to make armor. The armor of the most elite royal guards in the empire is almost all made of rhinoceros leather. As a result, the toughness is extremely strong.

Just entering Hexi, there are rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Although the road is wide, weeds are overgrown on both sides. Chu Huan followed the team while observing the terrain of the Hexi Corridor. The more he looked, the more frightened he was. This is a road leading to the hinterland of Hexi, but there are many rolling hills on both sides. Chu Huan couldn't help thinking that if the enemy invaded Hexi from the Hexi Corridor, it would be very difficult. The hills on both sides are natural ambush areas.

After walking less than [-] miles into Hexi, I finally saw a sentry post with a triple fence across the road and watchtowers on both sides. Seeing the team approaching, several soldiers came forward immediately. The leader looked at his attire, he was obviously a school lieutenant, Mao Renju had already patted his horse forward, got off his horse, and shouted: "Who are you?"

Mao Renju had already cupped his hands and said: "Master Bing, we are Jinling Peacock Terrace, and we are ordered to go to Wuping Mansion in Hexi to perform for the Holy Majesty's birthday ceremony...!" He had already taken out a customs clearance document and handed it over. Wei took a look, returned immediately, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Peacock Terrace. We have received the news, and the Ministry of Rites has also sent a message. When you arrive here, a team of people will be sent to escort you to Wuping Mansion. "

Mao Renju smiled and said, "Thank you!"

Chu Huan heard it not far behind Mao Renju, and thought to himself, this Peacock Theater has a lot of face. Originally, this kind of theater troupe was just a low-level troupe, but Hexi even sent someone to escort it. Obviously, they valued Peacock Theater very much. .

This time the emperor offered sacrifices to heaven, probably not only the team from Peacock Terrace came to perform, presumably there were not a few teams who came here according to the order, but I don't know if all the teams will be treated like this when they come.

Mao Renju said a few words to the school lieutenant, the school lieutenant had already ordered someone to open the fence to let them go, and immediately went to transfer a group of soldiers, there were also nearly twenty soldiers, all of them were cavalry, and the leader was a small school, and ordered a few words , The team did not delay, Hexi soldiers opened the way ahead, and Peacock Terrace followed behind.

The next itinerary turned out to be very smooth. On the road to Wuping Mansion on Hexi side, post stations were set up along the way. Every evening, Hexi soldiers took everyone to stay in the post station, regardless of food and lodging. , are settled very well, Chu Huan always felt a little weird in his heart, only felt that although the Jinling sparrow was famous, in terms of its status, it didn't have to be so valued by Hexi, but in fact it was those Hexi soldiers who paid attention to it. The people on and off the Peacock Terrace were also very respectful. Along the way, no matter what request the Peacock Terrace had, the Hexi soldiers would always respond to their requests. Even when loading and unloading objects, these Hexi soldiers would come forward to help in person.

Chu Huan is the governor of Xiguan Road, so it can be seen that these Hexi soldiers are obviously not ordinary soldiers guarding the pass. Judging from their equipment and skills, they are absolutely elite soldiers, and they should all be incorporated into the Governor's Guards Chu Huan only felt that if even the state army in Hexi had such excellent equipment and athletic skills, then the combat effectiveness of the Hexi army might be far higher than that of the Northwest army.

There are three states under the jurisdiction of Hexi Road, which are Wuzhou in the northeast, Yunzhou in the northwest, and Yingzhou in the south. Wuping Mansion is in Yingzhou, crossing the Hexi Corridor, and you can enter in one day. Within the territory of Yingzhou.

After walking for four or five days in the Hexi Corridor, he finally got out, and after spending another day, he finally entered Yingzhou. Chu Huan observed the landforms of Hexi along the way. On the way, he saw the people in Hexi calmly cultivating the fields. , It's just that the people who cultivate the land, most of them are old, weak and even women, it's a little strange, so I couldn't help asking the Hexi primary school.

The small school has always been very polite to the people at Peacock Terrace. Although Chu Huan moved to ask, although he was not polite, his tone was very flat: "Do you know that Hexi is building a Tiangong?"

Chu Huan naturally knew that Feng Yuanpo had admonished the emperor in the Iron Blood Garden a few years ago to build a heavenly palace for the emperor in Hexi. Yuan broke the request to build the Hexi Trading Field. At the beginning, many people felt that relying on the strength of Hexi to build the huge Tiangong palace complex was really beyond their control. But after these years, the world also knows that Hexi has been building the Tiangong. , and recruited a large number of laborers, Chu Huan is quite clear about this matter, but it is not yet known whether the Tiangong has been completely completed.

"In order to build the Heavenly Palace, one hundred thousand strong men were recruited. In the past few years, the Heavenly Palace has been built day and night. When the manpower was insufficient, manpower was recruited several times. Therefore, there is a shortage of labor on the cultivated land. We can only let the old and the weak and women do the work. " Xiaoxiao explained, his tone was still very polite, but Chu Huan could faintly feel that there was a trace of dissatisfaction hidden in this Xiaoxiao's tone, but he didn't know who the dissatisfaction was aimed at.

The distance to Wuping Mansion is gradually approaching, and there are two more days to arrive at Wuping Mansion. At dusk, Hexi soldiers led Peacock Terrace and checked into a post station.

After rushing for several days, no matter the Hexi soldiers or the Peacock Terrace, they were all quite tired. Many people went to rest immediately after eating.

Chu Huan was lying in the house, tossing and turning, but he couldn't sleep. The night was quiet, he went out of the house, and came to a woodshed in the station. Outside the woodshed, a martial artist from Peacock Terrace was leaning against the wall. Come over, and said with a smile: "Bamboo Hero hasn't slept yet?"

"You haven't been able to take a good rest after a long day's journey, so go to sleep for a while." Chu Huan said, "I'm in good spirits, and I can't sleep for a while. Let me help you watch for a while."

The martial artist was yawning again and again, and he was very happy when he heard the words. After thanking him, he was afraid that Chu Huan would regret it and leave quickly.

Chu Huan pushed open the door, and the room was dark. With sharp eyes, Chu Huan saw a person lying on the edge of the dry grass in the corner. It was Wu Shizhao. Wu Shizhao was bound hands and feet, and his mouth was covered. When someone came in, there was a "woo-woo" sound in his mouth. Chu Huan closed the door without any hesitation, then slowly approached, and squatted down beside Wu Shizhao. The color of horror, but soon turned into the color of hatred.

Chu Huan reached out and pulled out the cloth towel stuffed in Wu Shizhao's mouth. Wu Shizhao took a few deep breaths, then struggled to sit up, stared at Chu Huan, and sneered, "What are you doing here?"

"It seems that Director Wu still has a lot of opinions on me." Chu Huan sighed: "You have to know, if it wasn't for me, Mao Renju would have killed you that night."

Wu Shizhao said coldly: "If it wasn't for you, my plan would have been successful, Zhu...hmph, Zhu, since you hurt me, why are you here now?"

"Boss Wu, I just want to ask you one thing. If you don't want to say it, I will turn around and leave now." Chu Huan asked softly with a smile, "Let me ask you, do you want to die or live?"

"You... what do you mean by that?"

"Let me tell you the truth, Mao Renju agreed to save your life, of course it was not out of kindness." Chu Huan said softly: "When you arrive at Wuping Mansion, you will be sent to the government for Mao Renju and the others to ask for credit. If nothing happens, As long as Mao Renju says a word, you will definitely be separated by then, and you, Manager Wu, are also a smart person, you should understand that."

Wu Shizhao said: "What's the use of talking about it now? It's a pity that you are so stupid. You can get silver and gold sparrows at your fingertips, but you don't join hands with me. How much do you think they will repay you?"

Chu Huan smiled lightly, sat down opposite Wu Shizhao, and said in a low voice, "I asked you, but you haven't answered yet."

Wu Shizhao hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Can you let me live?"

"Since I can let you plan to go bankrupt, of course I can let you stay alive." Chu Huan said: "You don't have to doubt this."

Wu Shizhao's eyes shone slightly, but he still said calmly: "Of course you won't show kindness. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"It's a joy to talk to Manager Wu." Chu Huan said with a smile: "Manager Wu, I just want to ask you a few questions. As long as you answer honestly and tell the truth, I can guarantee that your life will be safe."