Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 45 Cangzhou Chai Family
The days of coldness finally caught the first snow of this winter. Snowflakes the size of rice grains floated down from the sky, fell to the ground and disappeared, but more snow grains fell.The north wind whizzed by, and the powdery snow danced with the wind. After the wind left, it still slowly fell down, following the traces of the previous companions, and hiding in the soil.

A convoy of more than a dozen carriages marched on the official road among the pine forests. Two to three hundred people carried knives and guns, scattered around on horseback, or guarded the vehicles on foot. Obviously, there were valuable items in the team.On the carriage, apart from the boxes containing the belongings, there were several pale men lying on the carriage, covered with warm clothes, groaning weakly.

"Brother Ma Ling, I never saw you vomit so badly on a boat in Liaodi. What's wrong this time? Have you become that soft-legged shrimp?" Deng Fei gloated at the pale-faced Ma Ling lay weakly on top of the box and retched twice from time to time.

"Uh, brother, don't make fun of me. It's only a short distance by boat in Liao, vomit...cough cough...be patient, be patient and pass. This time, I sat for a few days in a row, vomit..." Ma Ling really couldn't continue, and repeatedly waved his hands to signal that he couldn't do it.

Qiao Lie was riding on the horse. At this time, he had already changed into a Taoist winter suit. Hearing the conversation between the two, he turned his head and said with a smile: "This is the first time I have seen Brother Ma Ling, a person like you who picks up and vomits. Why don't others get on the boat?" Just throw up, or it doesn't matter if you're walking on flat ground, it's rare for someone like you to lie down for a short time without doing anything for a long time."

"Yes, you see that brother Xiao Haili and elder brother who are further north are fine, you, a man who grew up in the south, can still vomit like this, really, tsk tsk tsk~" Deng Fei shook his head while listening to the words Tut.

Ma Ling didn't have the energy to argue, and rolled his eyes at the two of them, and turned his face away with great effort not to look at the hateful faces of the two.

The two guys gave a smirk, and did not continue to arrange Ma Ling. Deng Fei looked around and said with a happy face: "We are about to reach the boundary of Chai Daguanren's manor."

"Oh?" Qiao Lie looked at Deng Fei curiously upon hearing this.

"That's right, I remember that near the edge of the forest is... hey, but it's not there." Deng Fei muttered to himself, and suddenly pointed.

With sharp eyes, Qiao Lie saw a black dot that looked like a house in the distance, and said with a strange expression: "Is this where the Chai officials live?"

"Hey!" Deng Fei took a moment to understand when he heard it: "No, Mr. Chai is not here, this is a hotel, and I was going to have a drink here, but the owner saw that I had a good intention with a weapon. Let’s talk about it, Chai Daguan’s favorite is to get acquainted with Jianghu men, as long as they are running in the rivers and lakes or joining the army, but if you go to him, there will be a subsidy. If you eat wine and become red-faced, Chai Daguan will meet you Since I know you have money, I don’t have that subsidy.”

"Oh, the store owner is kind." Qiao Lie said with emotion.

"It's not what it is." Deng Fei patted his thigh: "Brother wait a moment, I'll go and talk to my brother."

"I want to inform my brother." Qiao Lie nodded repeatedly, and quickly let Deng Fei go.

After hearing Deng Fei's report, Lu Bu made the convoy speed up a bit. After passing the hotel that Deng Fei had mentioned, they walked another two or three miles, and saw a large stone bridge that could accommodate three carriages side by side.After crossing the bridge, the road was smooth. People in twos and threes walked on the solid official road, but when they saw Lu Bu's group of people were large and powerful, and they were all armed with knives and swords, they couldn't help feeling flustered and quickly dodged away.

The Chai family's manor appeared in the eyes of everyone early on, but there was a raging river around, and weeping willows were planted on both sides, but the leaves had fallen in winter, and now only the bare treetops and hair-thin branches remained. Now those slender branches are blown up and down by the wind from time to time, showing a bit of winter desolation.Behind the tree is a pink wall, and turning around is the main entrance of the manor.

"What a big Zhuangzi." Bian Xiang clicked his tongue as he looked at the front door of the manor.

The two brothers Fei Zhen and Xue Can who were next to them opened their mouths slightly in amazement, without saying a word.

"Chaijiazhuang..." Lu Bu looked at the vermilion-painted gate face, and the lantern with the word "Chai" hanging from the horse, and then looked at the thirteen nine-foot-tall stone lions in front of the gate, and nodded in praise. Said: "Brother Deng Fei is right, if it is a wealthy family, this style is extraordinary."

Lu Bu is a person who has seen it before. Although the rules and regulations in Han Dynasty are different from those of today, you can easily judge whether a mansion is grand or not. As far as the style of the Chai family is concerned, it is good to be in Luoyang. Only those gentry clans that have been passed down for hundreds of years have the ability to overwhelm, and the rest, even the Sangong Jiuqing, can compare with it.

Their black crowd stopped here to watch, the people inside had already got the news, but saw the vermilion gate opened, and a group of people came out from inside.

I saw that this group of people were all strong-backed and burly-backed people, all handsome in appearance, riding horses under their crotches, holding long spears in their hands, and in the flying fish bag, there was a thin and light bow with gorse painted high; The carved feathers straighten the arrows.

Two or three silk banners with the word "Chai" embroidered on them were held up by people, holding an official in the middle, riding a snow-white curly horse.The man on the horse had long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, bright teeth and vermilion lips, and three teeth covered his mustache. He was about 30 years old. He wore a soap gauze corner tufted scarf on his head, a purple embroidered gown with a round breast and a waist. An exquisite sash inlaid with precious jade rings, a mink fur cloak on the outside, a collar made of silver foxtail around the neck, and a pair of boots with gold thread and green soap.

Now he is holding a gold-backed machete, carrying a bow, and sticking a pot of arrows, looking warily at the group of people in front of him.

After a moment of stalemate, the official saw that no one was moving at Lu Bu's side, thought for a while, rode his horse out and cupped his hands and said, "Everyone is a hero, Xiao Ke Chai Jin, Meng Jianghu friends gave me the title of 'Little Cyclone'. I don't know what you are doing here, if there is something urgent, Xiao Ke is willing to do his best to solve the difficulties in the hearts of the heroes."

Lu Bu sighed in his heart when he heard this, this person is really good-tongued, first he brought out his name, but instead of trying to overwhelm others, he seemed to be trying to climb the rivers and lakes, which made people feel bad.Later, he sincerely cared about other people's face and made people feel good about him. He deserves to be a well-known figure in the world.

"Brother, I won this time." Deng Fei approached Lu Bu with a smile and whispered.

It turned out that the two had a bet before. Lu Bu had seen a lot of the arrogance and stubbornness of the clansmen of the Han family. how to behave.

The corners of Lu Bu's mouth curled up, and he said in a low voice, "I would like to accept the bet, and I will treat my brothers to a good wine later."

"Then I'll wait." Deng Fei let out a long laugh, stepped forward on his horse, and bowed his hands to Chai Jin: "Official Chai, after a while, do you still remember Deng Fei in Xiangyang Mansion?"

Chai Jin was overjoyed when he saw Deng Fei's eyes. Deng Fei's eyes were different from ordinary people. Not to mention half a year, even ten or eight years, he would never forget those eyes. Isn't the land of Liao developed?"

Deng Fei hurriedly got off his horse and took Chai into his hands, saying: "You are joking, I met an elder brother in Liao, he is a luxurious and heroic man, this time I come back to Song to come to see you."

Chai Jinjian said with a brighter smile: "You said, quickly introduce me."

Deng Fei didn't dare to neglect, and hurriedly led Chai in to Lv Bu.

At this time everyone had dismounted, Lu Bu took two steps forward when he saw this, Chai Jin saw that he was tall and tall, with a tiger's back and a wolf's waist, his face was masculine and handsome, his eyes were captivating, and he had the aura of a warrior in the battlefield. Exclaimed: "Such an appearance is indeed the appearance of a hero. I wonder which brother in the world is facing him?"

Deng Fei hurriedly introduced them: "Brother, this person is the famous 'Little Whirlwind' Chai Jin, and also the famous 'Sai Mengchang'. Senior official, this is my brother, Lu Bu."

Chai Jin paused for his hands that were about to be raised, but he is also a person who has been fighting for a long time. Although he felt strange in his heart, he still kept a smile on his face: "Brother's name is really impressive. Li Mian was beheaded by his elder brother, and he also heard that Zhang Qing, the new star of the Hebei Forbidden Army without a feather arrow, was defeated by his elder brother, and his martial arts are not far behind that of the ancient Marquis Wen."

"The senior officials are so polite. In the past, I heard Brother Deng Fei say that the senior officials are very loyal and often donate money. I wish I could see you right away. I came in a hurry and didn't prepare many gifts. I hope the senior officials are not to blame." Lu Bu said Pulling the corners of his mouth, his cold face really couldn't show Liu Daer's refreshing smile and respectful manner, so he could only return the salute expressionlessly, feeling extremely tired of this red tape in his heart.

After hearing this, Qiao Lie immediately took out the gift he had prepared earlier, but it turned out to be a pair of ancient calligraphy and paintings looted from the Shen family, and a few orbs copied from the Gao family in Liaodi.

Chai Jin hurriedly thanked him, stretched out his hands to take it, and behind him, the owner of the Chai family came up to take it and stood behind him.

Only then did Deng Fei continue to introduce to everyone. At this time, except for Lu Bu, who has gained some prestige, the names of the others are not yet well-known. Only Qiao Lie's "Magic Demon Lord" and E Quanzhong's "Quick Sword" are rumored in Hedong and Hebei. From Chai Jin's face, there was no trace of impatience or perfunctory, and he chatted with everyone enthusiastically.

"Lang Jun, the old butler said that since the heroes here are all distinguished guests, it is better to welcome them into the house and talk before the banquet than to stand dry in this icy and snowy place." The person behind seemed to be ordered by someone, and stepped forward After Chai Jin whispered.

Chai Jin slapped his forehead suddenly: "But I was so happy and confused, it seems that this is really not the way to treat guests."

He hurriedly cupped his hands at the crowd and said: "All heroes, please show your face and move to the humble house to have some drinks. I will chat while we eat."

Lu Bu turned his head and looked at the convoy behind him. Before he could speak, Chai Jin said again: "Your subordinates, please come into the village together. Although the humble house is simple, the advantage is that the place is big enough to accommodate many people."

Lu Bu cupped his hands and said, "So I'll stop bothering you."

Chai Jin stretched out his hand sideways: "Please."

All the people went into the courtyard of Chaijin Manor together, and the two teams of horses and vehicles behind them were received by their own people, and they were led to rest in another courtyard.

(End of this chapter)