The Assassin Empire of the Three Kingdoms

Lujiang is an important town on the east and west sides of the river, with Shiting in the north, Yangtze River in the south, Chaohu Lake in the east, and Chaisang not far in the west.It is the gateway to Jiangdong.After Sun Ce occupied this place, he sent General Cheng Pu and his second brother Sun Quan to guard it.Obviously, Long Fei was much ahead of Sun Ce's expectations, and when he entered the city, it was deserted.Sun Quan and Cheng Pu hurried over after the huge guard of honor had arrived at the gate of the post house.

The two hurriedly saluted Long Fei.Long Fei saw that Sun Quan really had a strange appearance, he spoke softly and elegantly, but always had a smile on his face, making people like him at first sight.Sun Quan is only ten years old this year, but his body is eight feet tall. Zhang's hulking back has the demeanor of his father, Sun Jian.Cheng Pu behind him was sullen and serious.Maybe he still remembers Zu Mao's death before Hulao Pass.

Entering the post, everyone respected the dragon and flew to the seat, and the servants served tea and fruit.Long Fei laughed and said: "This Lujiang is really an important town, it really has the demeanor of my Wancheng! I was a little surprised when I first entered the city! I thought the war was over, and it must be a severe depression. After seeing it, I realized that the young master managed it well. "

Sun Quan hurriedly said modestly: "The general praised it absurdly. No one in the world knows that Wancheng is a paradise in the chaos of war. The people all yearn for it. Little Lujiang dare not compare it with it!"

This kind of high-sounding statement sounds innocuous, but it sounds comfortable.Long Fei came here for friendship this time, so naturally he slapped both hands together.As long as you are happy, you can talk about it on the stage.Guo Jia suddenly asked: "My lord, when I first entered the city gate, I saw people gathered around the gate to read the notice. I wonder if the Lujiang Yamen has any new measures to calm the people?"

Sun Quan smiled: "No, sir, I misunderstood. This notice was not posted by the yamen. It was actually posted after the former Taiwei Master Qiao Xuanqiao informed the yamen." [Note: 1]

"Qiao Xuan? But that old Lieutenant Liang Guoqiao Xuanqiao who is not a powerful man, who treats people with integrity and frugality?" Guo Jia was greatly surprised: "I heard that the old man had ordered Jiao Guang to come out of the mountain under His Majesty's order, but the old Lieutenant saw that His Majesty's power was left behind. , unable to return to Beijing to return to his life, so he settled down in the north of Dantu’s Changshan Mountain and adjacent to Wuzhou Mountain, why are you here now?”

Sun Quan smiled: "Sir, what you said is right. In the past, Liu Yao defeated Dantu and wanted to hijack the old lady to return to the north. I stopped him and invited her to Lujiang. The old lady can't travel long distances because of her sixtieth birthday."

"My lord did it right!" Long Fei nodded.When Long Fei heard the name Qiao Xuan, his heart skipped a beat, and images of two beauties instantly appeared in his mind.Cao Zhi once mentioned it in Tongque Terrace Fu, but he doesn't remember much else, that sentence: Take Erqiao to the southeast, and enjoy the day and night together.What else is Tongquechun locked on Er Qiao, etc. In a word, Qiao Xuan has two beautiful daughters. As for how beautiful they are, they have to see.Long Fei said: "Old Madam Qiao is elegant and noble. I have admired him for a long time. I wonder if you can introduce me?"

"This..." Sun Quan had vaguely guessed what Long Fei was thinking.He also knew what his elder brother was thinking, otherwise he wouldn't have arranged Qiao Xuan here for him to watch.

Guo Jia chuckled: "The old Taiwei is knowledgeable and talented. I also have some doubts and need to ask for advice. Don't shirk, my lord. This matter is settled. Let's go to Qiao's house tomorrow morning!" Guo Jia suggested, Long Fei made a decision, and the matter was settled With such a smooth settlement, there was absolutely no room for Sun Quan to refuse.

After leaving the posthouse, Cheng Pu hurriedly said: "Young Master, what should I do? If this Long Fei meets Miss Qiao and starts working with the Mi family in Xuzhou, where should my lord go?"

"Hey!" Sun Quan sighed: "Since this is the case, we can only send someone to tell Old Captain Qiao first, and make sure the two ladies don't show up tomorrow!"

Cheng Pu nodded: "That's the only way, I'll send someone there right away!"

The next day, Long Fei got up very early, unexpectedly Sun Quan was earlier than them.As soon as he stepped out of the gate of the post house, Sun Quan waited outside with a dozen soldiers. The dew had already soaked his shoes. Seeing Long Fei coming out, Sun Quan rushed to meet him: "It's so early, General? Maybe the old Taiwei hasn't woken up yet." , It’s not too late to go after dawn.”

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him carried a few food boxes and followed them back to the post.Exquisite side dishes, various pastries, and still hot meat.Since Sun Quan was kind, he naturally couldn't let him down.In the posthouse, several people sat cross-legged and ate happily.In fact, Qiao's family is also in Lujiang City. The people sent by Cheng Pu didn't see Qiao Xuan at all last night. Just in case, Sun Quan came to the post early in the morning to intercept Long Fei, and Cheng Pu went to Qiao's house to tell him this matter.The second daughter of the Qiao family was beautiful, and Sun Ce couldn't extricate himself just by looking at it. He forcibly moved her from Dantu, which is near Yangzhou, to the relatively safe Lujiang River, and visited several times, with the purpose of marrying the second daughter.

Perhaps it was because the Sun family had a tradition of marrying sisters. Sun Jian's wife, the Wu sisters, were biological sisters. Now Sun Ce wanted to imitate his father and marry the Qiao sisters.Sun Ce hurried from Kuaiji non-stop, seeing that the sky was about to brighten, and only then did he see the shadow of Lujiang City from a distance.Sun Ce pulled the reins, stopped the horse, and panted, "Gong Jin, we can arrive at Lujiang River before noon! Pass down the order, lay out the general's guard of honor, and prepare to enter the city!"

After such a delay, when Sun Ce arrived at the gate of Lujiang City, Sun Quan, Cheng Pu, Zhang Zhao and others were all gone.Stepping into the Lujiang yamen, he asked the owner Bo Yi, Sun Ce's mouth was wide open, he no longer cared about his image, rushed out of the mansion, got on his horse, and came straight to Qiao's house.

Qiao Xuan's family was arranged by Sun Quan in a courtyard in the north of the city. This was originally Liu Yao's other courtyard, and the construction was considered magnificent.Qiao Xuan's wife died early, and his youngest son was killed by a murderer, leaving only the two daughters to depend on each other.Qiao Xuan's life was simple, and the only servants and handymen were Qiao Fu who followed him since childhood, and Mama Zhang, the nurse of two daughters.They are named master and servant, but they are actually relatives.Liu Yao's other courtyard is so huge that the five of them can't use it at all.Sun Quan wanted to send servants and handymen to serve him, but Qiao Xuan refused.The whole family lived in a small courtyard.

When he came to Qiao Xuan's gate, Sun Quan was not sure whether Cheng Pu had informed Qiao Xuan.In order to buy some more time, he went up to knock on the door himself, the heavy gate, the deep courtyard, Sun Quan's faint knocking and shouting, he couldn't even think of hearing it.After shouting for a long time, no one answered.Guo Jia looked up and saw that the tall gatehouse was built of blue bricks, and various auspicious patterns were carved on the corners of the eaves and on the walls on both sides of the gate.By visual inspection, the gate tower is about three feet high and six feet wide, which is a size that can only be used by a governor-level feudal official.

Guo Jia sighed softly: "It's such a nice yard, but no one takes care of it. Look, grass is growing on the steps."

Sun Quan stopped shouting, and said: "The old Taiwei likes to be quiet. Liu Yao's courtyard is very big, but there are no servants, only the old lady and a few old slaves."

"How many people live in such a big yard?" Long Fei felt incredible.Although Lujiang is not a big city, even if it is a small county, what is the price to build a building with such a large courtyard.

Sun Quan nodded, then turned to call for the door.Dian Wei looked anxiously, rushed forward, pushed Sun Quan away, and slammed his fist heavily on the door: "Get out of the way! Old man Qiao, our boss is here! Come out quickly! Open the door! Open the door!" The wooden door creaked and creaked when Dian Wei smashed it, it seemed that the entire gate building was about to fall down.

"Squeak!" A hunched old man slowly opened the door that was about to be smashed, rolled his eyes and glanced at Dian Wei: "Who is so presumptuous, do you know that this is Master Qiao's mansion?"

"Uncle Qiao, is the old Taiwei here?" Sun Quan hurriedly stepped forward to salute, then turned around and pointed at Long Fei: "This is General Zhen Guo, General Long Feilong, and he is here to pay a special visit to the old Taiwei!"

Qiao Fu, who opened the door, stretched his head and glanced at Long Fei, then shook his head: "The master said, but no one is here! I've never heard of General Zhen Guo!"

Dian Wei was not happy when he heard it, and stared: "You are so confused! Our boss's name is known all over the world, and you actually said that you have never heard of it!..."

"Dian Wei!" Long Fei walked up the steps, and cupped his hands, "forgive me, old man. I'm here. Long Fei came to Jiangdong to deliver an edict under the order of His Majesty. He passed by Lujiang River and heard that the old Taiwei was here. He came to pay a special visit. Please invite old man Announce!"

"Your Majesty? Are you from Luoyang or Chang'an?" Qiao Fu looked Long Fei up and down.

"Neither of them. Your Majesty is from Wancheng. Your Majesty is currently staying in Wancheng!"

Qiao Fu was obviously surprised, and his lips trembled when he spoke: "Wancheng! Wancheng!..." The old man said as he hurriedly ran back: "Master, Your Majesty is in Wancheng! In Wancheng!"

Sun Quan had a bad feeling.Apart from Sun Ce's selfishness, there was another important reason for inviting Qiao Xuan to Lujiang.Qiao Xuan is the one with the best official voice among the officials still alive in the Han Dynasty.If Qiao Xuan said something good for the Sun family, scholars all over the world would vote for it.Sun Quan knew clearly that the most important thing in a world of great contention was talent.With people, everything else can be easily solved.That's why he persuaded Sun Ce to keep Qiao Xuan in Lujiang.

Qiao Xuan stumbled while running, while Qiao Fu carefully supported him.The two old men came to the door out of breath, and Qiao Xuan cupped his hands: "Which one is General Long, you are being polite, little old man!"

Long Fei hastily stretched out his hand to help.Qiao Xuan was a little excited, and his words trembled: "Your Majesty, how is he?"

Long Fei smiled: "Your Majesty, everything is fine. He often mentions the old Taiwei, saying that the only old Taiwei in the world is my pillar of talent!"

Qiao Xuan wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve: "Your Majesty still remembers the old minister, hey! The little old man failed His Majesty's grace, ashamed!"

"Master, this is not a place to talk, why don't you invite General Long and Second Young Master to talk inside?"

"Yes, yes, yes, please come inside, both of you!"

At this moment, Sun Quan was a bit disappointed, he had worked so hard to get Qiao Xuan to Lujiang, and he had never seen the old man so excited.Long Fei's few words actually made the old man shed tears. This matter must be handled properly. If Qiao Xuan wants to follow Long Fei to Wancheng, all his hard work for so long will be in vain.

Just as they stepped into the gate, there was a sound of horseshoes on the corner of the street, and a dozen cavalrymen ran towards this side quickly.

Note: Qiao Xuan, styled Gongzu.Liang Guo Suiyang people.When he was young, he served as a county meritorious Cao.He is famous for begging Zhou Jing, the governor of Yuzhou, to appoint himself as Chen Guo, and to investigate the evil deeds of Chen Xiang Yangchang.He has successively served as Luoyang Zuowei, Qixiang and Shanggu, Hanyang Taishou, Situ Changshi, and will be a master.In the last years of Emperor Huan, he served as General Du Liao.At the beginning of Emperor Ling, he moved to Henan Yin, Shaofu, Dahonglu, Sikong, transferred to Situ, and moved to Taiwei.After Huan Ling, Qiao Xuan saw that the country was getting weaker and weaker, so he was dismissed on the pretext of illness.Guanghe died in the sixth year at the age of 75.He is a clean and honest official, and people at that time called him a famous minister.Qiao Mao, the prefect of Dongjun, is actually Qiao Xuan's clan son.

It is widely rumored in later generations that the Jiangdong beauties Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao in the late Eastern Han Dynasty were the daughters of Han Taiwei Qiao Xuan, but this is actually a misinformation.According to legend, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a hermit Jiao Guang came out of Dantu. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty sent a special person to invite Jiao Guang out of the mountain, and that messenger was Qiao Guolao.Qiao Guolao did not complete the task, but he saw that the power of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was falling, and the military and political power was in the hands of Cao Cao. He could not return to Beijing to return to his command, so he settled down in Wuzhou Mountain, which is adjacent to Changshan Mountain in the north of Dantu. The place where he lives is called Qiao's house.