The team marched for more than an hour, and a market town appeared in front of them. At this moment, the sun's shadow was moving westward, and Scarface rode up from behind on horseback and said: "Your Majesty, are you going to camp in the town ahead tonight?"

Li Zhiyun nodded and said: "Okay, but don't go into the market town and disturb the people. Just find an open space outside the town and set up camp."

"yes!"

The team stopped outside the town, and the soldiers began to set up tents and bury pots to make rice. As the sun set, the sunset was as bright as a ball of fire, as if God wanted to light a fire for cooking. Duan Que came to find Li Zhiyun and said:

"Your Majesty, there's still some time before dinner, let's go for a walk in the town, shall we?"

Li Zhiyun estimated that the wine bug in Duan Que's stomach was starting to get restless. He was a drunkard by nature and never drank water, only wine. He carried a skin bag with him, filled with wine. Once he was thirsty, he would take it

Come out and have a few sips. There are few villages and towns on this journey through mountains and rivers. His wine bag may have been empty long ago.

Li Zhiyun agreed, took two subordinate officers and Ying Gu, plus a few guards, and walked towards the town with Duan Que.

A group of people entered the town and walked on the streets. There were thousands of households in this town. In the evening, there were occasional pedestrians coming and going on the streets. No one was making any noise and it seemed very quiet. What surprised Li Zhiyun was that the residents of the town seemed

I was very afraid of them, and I ran away from them when I saw them. Someone on the opposite side came over with their heads down, and by chance

When I looked up and saw them, I was so horrified that I quickly turned around and walked back. There were two children playing in front of a house on the street. Aunt Ying saw that the two children were very cute, so she walked over and wanted to talk to them. The woman in that house was like crazy.

He rushed out, picked up the two children, entered the house, and closed the door with a bang.

Everyone was confused. Zhang Zheng frowned and said, "What's wrong with the people in this town? How come they are hiding from the plague when they see us?" Cai Hu asked, "Is it because they are not used to seeing outsiders?" Li Zhiyun shook his head.

, said: "This town is located in a plain area, with roads extending in all directions and not blocked. The people here must have other reasons for avoiding us."

Just as he was talking, Duan Que saw a wine shop on the roadside and walked in quickly. Li Zhiyun and the others had no choice but to follow them in. There was a man in a cloth hat cleaning the table. When he saw them, he was shocked and nervously said: "You guys

What to do?"

"What are you doing?" Duan Zhen asked in surprise, "What else can you do in a wine shop? Just drink!"

The waiter breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said: "We are closing and we won't sell wine anymore. You should leave quickly!" After that, he started to drive them out. Duan Zhen was not happy and glared: "If you open a wine shop and don't sell wine, you still have to go."

Is there any business like this for you to chase customers away?"

"We're really going to close."

Li Zhiyun was afraid that Duan Que would quarrel with the other party, so he quickly advised: "Forget it, since they are going to close, let's go." After that, he led the way out of the restaurant. As soon as they walked out, the waiter ran to the door to put up a door panel and prepare to close the door.

Duan Que was walking at the back, seemingly unwilling to do so, so he ran back, stretched out one leg to block the threshold and said, "I'm thirsty. Give me a bowl of wine to quench my thirst, otherwise I won't let you go to the door."

"Why are you acting like a rogue?"

"I just acted like a rogue, what's wrong?"

The waiter had no choice but to turn around and go in. After a while, a coarse porcelain bowl was brought. Duan Chen took it and drank the wine in the bowl in one breath, letting out a long sigh of relief. He handed the porcelain bowl back and touched it.

The sleeve said: "How much?"

"I don't want any money, just leave!"

After Duan Que got out of the way, the clerk quickly installed the remaining door panels.

The group of people continued to walk forward. At this time, a Taoist priest wearing a navy blue cotton robe and a Xiaoyao scarf walked over. He looked young, about twenty years old. This Taoist priest did not see them like others.

He turned around and walked back, but walked over calmly.

Li Zhiyun came up to greet him and said: "This Taoist priest, you are polite." When the Taoist priest saw it, he quickly returned the courtesy: "I am a poor Taoist, you are polite."

Li Zhiyun politely said: "I would like to ask, is the Taoist priest a local?" The Taoist priest nodded and said: "Bi Guan is on Yulong Mountain two miles away. I wonder what happened to the good man?" Li Zhiyun said quickly: "We

I came from Jinyang, so I don’t know

I would like to ask the Taoist priest about the customs and customs here. Is it okay?" The Taoist priest had a kind face and did not look like the kind of person who refuses to accept people from thousands of miles away. That's why Li Zhiyun dared to ask him about the situation. As expected, the Taoist priest said kindly: "

If a good person has something to say, there is no harm in saying it.”

"We are outsiders and have nothing to do with the residents of this town. But when they see us, they avoid us. I don't know why?"

The Taoist priest smiled and said: "You have asked the right person. Except for me, a monk, ordinary people will never talk to you."

"Please give me some advice, Taoist Master."

"Since you are coming from Jinyang, you must have passed through Black Wind Forest, right?"

"Black Wind Forest?" Li Zhiyun pondered for a moment, guessing that the other party was referring to the forest filled with gloomy wind and mist, so he nodded.

The Taoist priest lowered his voice and said, "About three months ago, Zhu Can's army was stationed there." When Li Zhiyun heard this, he was startled and said hurriedly: "You mean, Zhu Can's army was responsible for the cannibalism.

?" The Taoist priest nodded, glanced at the guards behind Li Zhiyun, and said: "Your guards are wearing armor and carrying swords. They are soldiers at first sight. Therefore, you should know why the people in the town are afraid of you.

Bar?"

After Li Zhiyun thanked him, the Taoist priest walked away. Zhang Zheng, Cai Hu and several guards began to discuss in low voices. Duan Que suddenly slapped his head and said: "I remembered that when Duan was in Chang'an, he heard rumors

Zhu Can’s army was eating people. I didn’t believe it at all at the time and thought it was a rumor. I didn’t expect it to be true!”

Li Zhiyun was also very surprised and murmured: "I didn't expect that the man-eating demon turned out to be Zhu Can." Duan Que suddenly laughed and shook his head: "The emperor actually named this demon Wu.

Wang, it’s so funny!”

Zhang Zheng came over and asked worriedly: "Your Majesty, are we still going to Jutan?" Li Zhiyun pondered for a moment and said resolutely: "No matter what, the task assigned to us by our father must be completed! Besides, the prodigal son will not be rewarded for his return.

, we don’t have to investigate the past things. If Zhu Can can change his evil ways and do good from now on, it would not be a bad thing."

Early the next morning, the team broke camp and continued to advance. After two days of marching, they arrived at Guantang Town, which is ten miles away from Jutan (now Neixiang County, Henan Province). Li Zhiyun had already sent someone to notify Zhu Can, and the envoy sent by Zhu Can was outside the town.

Waiting for them on the official road.

The large group of men and horses stopped, Li Zhiyun dismounted, and a guard led the envoy to see him. After the envoy saluted, he said: "Your Highness, the King of Chu, the King of Wu has ordered that the army be stationed in Guantang Town. Please ask the King of Chu and his deputy envoy to bring their entourage into the city.

"When Li Zhiyun heard this, he secretly thought that Zhu Can would not allow the new army to enter the city.

Although they came here, they were still wary of them. It's no wonder that they had just surrendered and didn't know much about the Tang Dynasty, so it was normal to be wary. Guests were welcome, so Li Zhiyun ordered the new army to camp in the open space outside the town. He and Duan Que

He took Zhang Zheng, Cai Hu, Yinggu and dozens of other entourages with him and followed the envoy to Jutan City.

The group of people marched for about half an hour and arrived outside Jutan City. From a distance, Li Zhiyun saw a large group of people gathered outside the city gate. When they arrived, he saw a middle-aged man in his forties standing at the front of the crowd.

Man, he is of medium height

He looks a little fat, with a big face, two thick black eyebrows, a pair of narrow pig eyes, a garlicky nose, thick lips and a big mouth, and a messy beard on his chin. Li Zhiyun guessed that this person should be Zhu Can.

.

Next to Zhu Can, stood a young woman. She looked to be seventeen or eighteen years old. Her skin was as bright as snow, her bun was covered with crows, her pink cheeks were haloed, and she was looking forward to the sky. She was wearing a tight-fitting military uniform and a

A scarlet cloak looks heroic and eye-catching.

Li Zhiyun dismounted and handed the reins to the guard. Duan Que also got off the carriage and walked to Li Zhiyun. The two of them straightened their clothes and followed the envoy. The envoy introduced the two parties, and Zhu Can laughed.

He cupped his hands and said: "King Chu, you have worked hard all the way. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Come, I will introduce you to you." After that, he pointed to the woman beside him and said: "This is my little girl Zhu Feng'er."

Zhu Feng'er smiled and clasped her fists and said: "His Royal Highness King Chu, Deputy Envoy Duan, Feng'er is polite." The two of them quickly returned the courtesy.

Zhu Can turned around, pointed at a scribe standing behind him who was wearing a green robe and a silk scarf and said: "This is Mr. Lu Congdian Lu. He was the Zuo Lang of the Sui Dynasty. I invite him here."

Come be guests." Li Zhiyun and Duan Que

He hurriedly exchanged greetings with Lu Congdian. Zhu Can pointed to a scholar in his thirties, who was slender, fair-skinned, and full of literary and Han spirit and said: "This is Yan Minchu, the general secretary of the Sui Dynasty.

His father is Yan Zitui."

Yan Zhitui? Li Zhiyun knew this person, and his "Yan Family Instructions" was well-known to every household. Li Zhiyun also knew that Yan Zhitui was Yan Zhenqing's ancestor. No matter how bad his calligraphy was, Yan Zhenqing's name was still well-known.

Yan Zhenqing lived in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, more than a hundred years ago. Since this Yan Minchu is the son of Yan Zhitui, he should also be the ancestor of Yan Zhenqing. Li Zhiyun couldn't help but respect him and bowed his hands in greeting.

.

Then, Zhu Can introduced several of his generals to them, and then invited everyone to enter the city. Li Zhiyun took his entourage and followed Zhu Can and others through the city gate and entered the city. He found that although the size of Jutan City was

Not too big, but still bustling and lively.

When they arrived at the crossroads, Zhu Can said to Li Zhiyun: "King Chu, please go to the post house and settle down first. It's been a hard journey for you. You will have a day off tomorrow. I have already made arrangements, and I will help King Chu preside over the canonization ceremony in the future." Li Zhiyun

Busy way

"The King of Wu is too polite. I will let everything be arranged by the king." Zhu Feng'er came over and said, "Dad, let my daughter take King Chu and the others to the post house!" Zhu Can nodded, said goodbye to Li Zhiyun, and then
Chapter completed!