Stepping onto the road leading to the southern suburbs, the two of them immediately felt relieved. They saw tens of millions of people rushing forward. People and cars were fighting for the road, and their cries were loud. It was hard to tell whether they were soldiers or thieves.
, everyone rushed to take refuge elsewhere.
Xu Ziling supported Kou Zhong in the crowd and advanced in the dark. The sky was filled with thick smoke and dust blowing from the imperial city. The beautiful Yangzhou City turned into a terrifying scene like the Asura Hell.
When they were approaching the entrance of an alley, there was chaos ahead, and someone shouted loudly: "By the orders of the new commander-in-chief Yu Wenhuaji, you must turn back immediately, otherwise you will be killed without mercy."
Everyone shouted in unison and rushed towards the port without paying any heed. After a moment, the flow of people returned to smooth flow, and the rebel leader who had just spoken was no longer there.
Kou Zhong said in Xu Ziling's ear: "This is the power of the masses. As long as you know how to use it, you can exert unexpected effects."
Xu Ziling smiled bitterly and said, "Can you stay awake and walk? It's so hard to support me."
Before they could say anything, a group of men and women from behind crowded up and forced them to stumble forward more than ten steps. When they looked up, they saw that they were in the wilderness.
The two of them followed the crowds and arduously traveled away from Jiangjun and walked along the river towards Danyang. As long as they found the largest brothel in the area, Banjiang Courtyard, they could find out the whereabouts of Xiangyushan, Susu and others.
Kou Zhong was actually seriously injured internally. Fortunately, after resting for two days in the forest beside the road, Xu Ziling recovered his skills first and began to treat Kou Zhong's injuries.
Ten days later, the two continued their journey. When they were approaching Danyang, they met a group of people fleeing. They learned that Du Fuwei's partner Fu Gongyou had captured Danyang, and the residents fled to the countryside and nearby towns for refuge.
When the two arrived at Dingshi, a small town northeast of Danyang, the town was already empty, creating a bleak atmosphere of imminent disaster.
After Kou Zhong asked someone about it, he came back and said: "It turns out that on the fifth day after Yang Guang was killed, Li Zitong led an army to attack Yangzhou. Yu Wenhuagu, a coward, did not dare to meet the enemy and escaped by boat. I heard that it was not the case.
Going back to Luoyang means going to Chang'an."
He laughed again and said: "This boy doesn't dare to be the emperor yet, so he has made Yang Guang's nephew Qin Wanghao the emperor. He wants to go to Chang'an to find peace."
Xu Ziling, who was sitting by the well, muttered: "We are tired after a long journey, and Yu Wenhuaji has always had a bad reputation. Everyone regards him as the emperor's lackey. Now he is just a vicious dog that bites his master. He is not popular at all. I don't believe he can."
What a great achievement. Humph!
Not to mention going to Chang'an, even if he wants to go to Luoyang, will Li Mi be willing to let him go?"
Kou Zhong said with a smile: "Of course he has arrived in Chang'an! I heard that Li Clan is marching into Chang'an, but I don't know the victory or defeat? Li Shimin is not a simple boy."
Xu Ziling sighed: "With so many things to do, I am most worried about Sister Su now. Needless to say, Danyang is in chaos. I don't know if something will happen to them. Dad is not a good man. If he finds out that we are in the city, he will
It's not much different from bumping into Yuwen Gugu."
Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: "Even if everyone in Danyang turns into a tiger, we will all go, otherwise we will lose contact with Sister Su."
Having made up their minds, the two of them continued on their way.
Several villages and towns closer to Danyang have become disaster sites after the fire. It is said that the Sui soldiers who were defeated from Danyang were responsible for the good deeds. However, these rebel soldiers who were defeated and returned to the north have caused great suffering to the people.
Both of them felt heavy-hearted.
When Danyang was in sight, the two discussed how to enter the city. Xu Ziling said: "Although the Danyang city wall is a little lower than Jiangdu, it is still several feet high. Without the aid of hooks, even if you practice the bird crossing technique for ten years, you will not be able to jump up. So what?
Okay?" Both of them were in rags and disheveled. In this critical period, no matter how much money they had, they were of no use.
For more than twenty days, Kou Zhong had only eaten wild fruits from the mountains and forests, and his mouth was full of food. He was eager to go to the city and said: "No one thought that we would come to Danyang, and now we can't even recognize ourselves, so we are just showing off."
It's time to enter the city."
Xu Ziling frowned and said, "During the war, the city's defenses were the strictest. We were afraid that spies would sneak in. If we break through like this, we might have problems."
Kou Zhong laughed and said: "Have you forgotten that we are martial arts masters? If you can't break through, run away, and then find another way. I'll throw away your ghost knife first, come on!"
※※※
Unexpectedly, when the two of them entered the city, they saw that everyone was being questioned in detail by Du Fuwei's Jianghuai soldiers. However, they only asked a few questions and found out that they were refugees from Jiangdu, so they were let go.
Enter the city.
After entering the city, Kou Zhong said excitedly: "Our unlucky days are finally over. Ever since we visited Zhai Rang's Dalongtou Mansion, I don't know if it was affected by his bad luck. We have been unlucky and almost died in Jiangdu."
Xu Ziling said with a smile: "Zhai has killed everyone, what else is there to say? We should turn around and say that we can't survive so many disasters. It is really a blessing to the sky."
Remembering that he was about to meet Su Su, Kou Zhong admitted his mistake and said: "Yes! Yes! We are prosperous and prosperous. Eh! But something is wrong!"
Didn't Xiang Xiaozi say that after entering the city, go straight for more than 300 steps, and you can see the small courtyard of Chaoshanniang? We have walked a thousand steps now, why can't we still see that ghost sign? "
Xu Ziling stopped in shock and said in a trembling voice: "Oh no! Do you remember that there were several houses that were burned to the roof just now? I'm afraid that's where they were."
The two of them sat on the street like little beggars, staring blankly at the sparse pedestrians on the street. Jianghuai troops passed by occasionally, and they paid no attention to the two of them. In recent years, there have been people fleeing everywhere, so this kind of scene has long been familiar to them.
Kou Zhong sighed: "I really want to kill one Sui soldier when I see one, and kill a pair when I see two. You can just leave! No one will stay with you, so why do you have to set fire to the house before you leave? Grabbing things is not necessarily enough."
Are you going to set fire to kill people?" Xu Ziling said calmly: "It's useless to blame the world and the world. Logically speaking, Xiang boy is extremely smart and there must be a way to contact us."
Kou Zhong said distressedly: "We have been sitting here for a long time, but no one has contacted us. Should we continue to wait, or should we buy some brighter clothes, heal our stomach first, and then find a place to spend the night?"
Xu Ziling stood up and said, "I knew you would be impatient, so go ahead!"
※※※
Xu Ziling lay down on the couch and practiced kung fu, and he woke up when Kou Zhong came back. This was not a hotel or an inn, but an empty house left by the owner and his family when they fled, which served as a shelter for them.
Xu Ziling sat up and asked, "What news did you find out?"
Kou Zhong sat down next to him and said, "I have left secret notes of Master Meiren'er everywhere in the city. If Xiang boy sees them, he should know that we are here."
Xu Ziling asked: "How is the situation outside?"
Kou Zhong shook his head and said: "It's okay during the day, but at night no one dares to go out on the street. The shops are either empty or closed and do not do business. Dad's men are really unsatisfactory. From time to time, people break into people's houses and commit crimes, which makes people angry.
No wonder when they heard that the Jianghuai Army was coming, everyone moved to get ahead."
Xu Ziling said: "I think Xiang Boy and Sister Su have gone elsewhere. Dad has so many enemies, and maybe the Baling Gang is one of them. Xiang Boy naturally wants to avoid the limelight."
While Kou Zhong was pondering, there was a knock on the door.
The two were greatly stunned and looked at each other.
Kou Zhong suddenly jumped up and said, "Maybe it's Xiang Boy, because I pointed out our location in the secret message with a secret code."
Xu Ziling was overjoyed, rushed to the gate, and asked through the door: "Who?"
There was no sound outside the door.
Kou Zhong felt that something was not right, so he rushed to the side of Xu Ziling and whispered: "This is not appropriate, leave immediately!"
A sigh sounded in the center of the hall.
Their scalps were numb, and they turned around to look. They saw their tall, thin father with a crown on his head, his hands behind his back, looking at the two of them coldly and expressionlessly.
Among the people that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were most afraid of meeting, it was Du Fuwei. Even meeting Li Mi or Yu Wenji would not be so bad.
Thinking that Du Fuwei had come prepared and had to lay a dragnet before showing up to recognize the father and son, he felt even more distressed.
Kou Zhong coughed dryly and said, "This is my father's land. Call your men out!"
Du Fuwei laughed dumbly and said: "Good boy! You are still so cunning. Do you want to test dad? Do you have any plans for me? Let me tell you frankly! Since hearing the news of your arrival in the city this morning, dad has driven more than forty people in one go.
I came here to see you two brats, and now you don’t even have half of your entourage with you. If you want to escape, just run away!"
Kou Zhong laughed and said: "Dad is the best in the world, and he must respect his status. Now the children don't even have a weapon. Can you please give me three days' grace? When we are ready, we can go somewhere outside the city with you."
What about the fucking battle?"
Du Fuwei looked up at the beam above and said calmly: "I want to have a few words with Kou Zhong alone."
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were shocked, wondering whether he wanted to defeat them one by one, but this would be unnecessary, because even if the two of them join forces, they can defeat countless masters in the world, it is just a dream.
Xu Ziling vaguely felt that things were turning around, and thought to himself that he was going to die anyway, so he might as well get his mother's house. He nodded and said, "Then I'll wait outside the door!" After saying that, he walked through the window.
Du Fuwei looked solemn, sat down on the chair at the south end, and said softly: "Xiao Zhong! Sit down!"
Kou Zhong was a little flattered and sat down on the Taishi chair on his right.
Du Fuwei was silent for a while and said calmly: "Yu Wenhuaji has been with Yang Guang for too long, and many bad habits cannot be changed. When they arrived in Pengcheng, because the waterway was blocked by Li Mi, they took the land route to Chang'an. In the hope that Li Yuan could quickly control the capital, he ordered
They plundered more than 2,000 folk oxcarts and were stupid enough to only use them to carry the palace maids, treasures, weapons, equipment, and food stolen from Yang Guang, but ordered the soldiers to carry them. This caused the soldiers to change. The leader was Zeng who joined forces with him.
Although Sima Dekan, who killed Yang Guang, was put down by him, his vitality was severely damaged. Alas! Yu Wenhuaji has always been famous for his wisdom and scheming, but he didn't expect to lose like this."
Kou Zhong didn't understand why the vicious Du Fuwei suddenly started chatting with him, so he could only listen patiently.
Du Fuwei continued: "His stupidity took advantage of Li Mi. He ordered Xu Shiji and Shen Luoyan to ambush Li Yang, and defeated Yu Wenhuaji. Countless people surrendered, and all the women's property was lost. Yu Wenhuaji* possessed peerless martial arts and led 20,000 soldiers."
The remaining ones go north to Wei County, and the scenery is no longer good."
Kou Zhong lost his voice and said: "Wouldn't Li Mi's momentum be even greater?" He couldn't help but think of the "Pu Shan Gong Order" issued by him to pursue him and Xu Ziling, and their situation would be even more unfavorable.
Then he thought about it, he would never be able to pass Du Fuwei's test. Unless there were gods to help him, he would not be able to survive this trip.
Du Fuwei turned away and looked at him deeply and said: "You and Xiaoling, I like you better. Do you want to know the reason?"
Kou Zhong thought he was speaking sarcastically and muttered: "My wrong love for my father is something I will never forget."
A smile escaped from the corner of Du Fuwei's mouth and he said softly: "Child, do you want to know the reason?"
Kou Zhong said helplessly: "Say it! I don't even want to listen or not."
Du Fuwei didn't care about his cynicism and said calmly: "Because you, little brat, are more like me."
Kou Zhong looked at him in astonishment, feeling Du Fuwei's sincerity for the first time.
Du Fuwei avoided his gaze, looked forward, and said slowly: "Yu Wenhuaji doesn't even look in the mirror. He has more than enough martial arts, but not enough reputation. The news of the murder of the Hunjun reached Luoyang, and Yang Shichong supported him.
The King of Yue, Yang Tong, was the puppet emperor. Whoever held the military power in this era could control the overall situation. Otherwise, even if he had unparalleled martial arts, he would be nothing more than an outstanding warrior or assassin."
Kou Zhong heard something in his words, and for the first time he guessed Du Fuwei's purpose in wanting to talk to him alone.
Du Fu's majesty was still not over and he said: "Li Yuan is nothing, but the dog father gave birth to a tiger son, Li Shimin. He used deception to trick the Turks and Liu Wuzhou not to attack Taiyuan, so that the Li clan had no worries, and even defeated Song Laosheng with a surprise attack.
He conquered Chang'an and made Yang You the emperor, almost making Li Mi angry to death."
Du Fuwei's eyes returned to Kou Zhong and said in a deep voice: "Now the Sui Dynasty exists in name only. Although the descendants have been regarded as emperors one after another, they are just in retrospect. After a while, they will be over. The ambition is to unify the world.
I am responsible for this. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Looking around the world, except Li Mi, who can compete with me, Du Fuwei?"
Kou Zhonghu's eyes lit up with an extremely fiery look, but he did not answer.
Du Fuwei slammed his palm on the small table next to the chair, and the solid wooden table immediately shattered on the ground.
Kou Zhong was startled and looked at him.
Du Fuwei's eyes shone with a divine light he had never seen before, and he stared at him and said: "If you are truly willing to sincerely acknowledge me as Du Fuwei as your father and change my surname to Du, I, Du Fuwei, will treat you as my own son.
And help you become the emperor of the new dynasty."
Kou Zhong said in astonishment: "Don't you want to be the emperor yourself?"
Du Fuwei looked up to the sky and said with a smile: "Li Mi wants to be the emperor, Yu Wenhuaji wants to be the emperor, Dou Jiande wants to be the emperor, and Li Yuan also wants to be the emperor even though he has no courage. Everyone wants to be the emperor, but I, Du Fuwei!"
I’m just afraid that I’ll lose my martial arts skills, so I’m not willing to be lonely!”
Kou Zhong looked at him in disbelief and asked tentatively: "Are you really willing to give up the throne to me?"
Du Fuwei said solemnly: "It's hard to have both fish and bear's paws. If I only want you to help me become emperor, you will kill me one day. You and Xu Ziling are the kind of people who are naturally unwilling to be inferior to others."
Man, I knew it the first time I talked to you."
Kou Zhong's body shook violently, and he said awkwardly: "If I really recognized you as my father, how could I harm you?"
Du Fuwei sighed: "In the struggle for the throne, no human ethics, benevolence, justice and morality are of use. Those who can achieve great things are those who value reality, despise lies, and act ruthlessly. The reason why Du thinks highly of you is,
Because you are just this kind of person, with both ambition and means. So when everyone in the world says that you are lucky, it is only Du who understands the strengths of you two. Who is not playing with you?
Who can deceive you?"
After a pause, he continued: "Xiaoling and you are two different types of people. Even if I kill him, he will not recognize me as his father."
Then he said seriously: "As long as you make a decision now, the world is yours and mine."
Kou Zhong thought hard for a long time and suddenly said: "If I don't agree, will you kill me?"
Du Fuwei smiled bitterly and said: "Originally I did have this intention, but I thought that if you are not willing, what's the point of you guarding me and me guarding you in the future? I am really surprised when you say that. It seems that you are
I won't accept it."
Kou Zhong's eyes flashed, as if he had entered a beautiful dream, and he said slowly and longingly: "It would be too boring if my world came from you, daddy. Yes, I do have the ambition to dominate the world."
, but what I yearn for is the process of conquering the world, the hardship and blood and sweat of building a country from scratch, dad, do you understand?"
Du Fuwei stood up and laughed wildly: "Do you know that calling dad these two times saved your life and that of Xu Xiaozi? I was ready to take action just now, that's it! You two, get out of the city immediately and decide
No one will stop me. Don't blame me for being ruthless when you meet me next time."
Then he turned around and said with a smile: "You'd better find a place to hide first, away from the wind and fire, otherwise you will become the wronged souls of Pushan Gong."