The carriage was driven by two people, walking on the waterway, and went from the city gate to the city.
Two soldiers led the horses in front, and the road was bumpy, with water splashing all the way.
Two lanterns were hung on each lamppost along the street, and the water reflected the lights, making the whole city glow.
But the street was deserted, with no one around.
Now the whole city is under martial law, and people are strictly prohibited from going out any more, and any offenders will be killed directly.
More than half an hour later, the carriage finally stopped, and the guard opened the curtain: "General."
Zhao Ming had a cold face and took the lead, his huge body stepping out first.
He Chuanjiang looked at the old shoe repairman, raised his hand and said, "Sir, please go first."
The old craftsman stood up and left without excuse.
Going up more than forty high steps, there is a wide flat ground paved with square bricks. Guards Su Rong stood around and saluted after seeing Zhao Ming.
Yuan Tianqing and Zhu Pei came forward: "General!"
He Chuanjiang made a secret look and signaled them to leave.
Yuan Tianqing and Zhu Pei paused slightly, nodded, bowed to Zhao Muxu, and stepped aside.
Before leaving, they all looked at the old man behind Zhao Ming, but they couldn't see why.
"Do you want something to eat?" Zhao Ming turned around and asked.
"Have eaten," the old craftsman said, turning to look at Yuan Tianqing and Zhu Pei over there, and said, "The people around the general are all talented people."
"Do you know them?"
The old craftsman smiled and walked towards the west stone fence with his bamboo stick, saying, "The general brought people here to quell the chaos, but he ended up in jail. Do you regret it?"
Zhao Zuo walked beside him, looked ahead coldly, and said, "If you have something to say, speak it out, and if you have a plan, speak it out. I have nothing to regret!"
"If it weren't for your surname being Zhao and leading the tiger camp, I would never have thought that a person with your temper would be one of the main generals of Duke Zheng's palace." The old craftsman said with a smile.
Zhao Ming was already trying his best to suppress his anger and did not speak.
He Chuanjiang smoothed his beard, lowered his head slightly, and remained silent.
The old craftsman stopped in front of the stone fence, raised his eyes to the western sky, and said, "Standing here in the daytime, can you see those people?"
"Invisible," Zhao Ming also looked up and said, "They are too far away, they are at Wanshan Pass."
"Wanshan Pass," the old craftsman said with a smile, "Pei Feng's terrain is relatively high. It will take them a day to get there on horseback, but it will be faster for you to get there. Why can't you go there and deal with them?"
Zhao was about to speak, but He Chuanjiang held him down gently, hinting him not to speak.
The old craftsman laughed again and said, "If you don't believe me, why did you bring me here?"
He Chuanjiang paused, thought for a while, and said: "We have fought, but the opponent has enough troops and food, and people come to join them every day. We have no relief, and we cannot afford any defeat. Every day
Every time they lose, their morale rises, and we do the opposite. But when we win, their morale does not decrease but rises, and they will pounce even more crazily."
"Sure enough, military spirit is the key to victory." said the old craftsman.
"Sir, do you have a plan to get us out of this predicament?" He Chuanjiang said with cupped hands, "We are currently in a passive situation. In addition to this bandit, another force has recently formed in the northwest. There are wolves in front and tigers in the back. We
It's not that we're afraid of fighting, it's just that our situation is really inconvenient for us to fight."
The old craftsman didn't speak for a long time, then looked back at them and said, "What did I think was going on? It turns out that it was just the lack of reinforcements and the lack of relief that put you in this situation?"
He Chuanjiang looked slightly embarrassed and said softly: "It's my fault."
"Then just wait, what are you afraid of," the old craftsman said again, "Zheng Guogong is so rich, why are you afraid that he will not be able to send reinforcements and help? They will come sooner or later."
"What we are afraid of is the human heart." He Chuanjiang said, "The people in the city are panic-stricken, the gangsters outside the city are ambitious, and there are secret fights and deceptions in the capital... Maybe we don't even have relief, but they are just perfunctory with their words time and time again."
Zhao Ming looked towards He Chuanjiang with cold eyes.
He Chuanjiang saw it from the corner of his eye, but he still had to bite the bullet and continued: "Now there are continuous heavy rains that have trapped us here, making it difficult for us to go out to find food. Sir, we are really in a deadlock now."
The old craftsman withdrew his gaze, clenched his fingers tighter on the bamboo stick, pondered for a while, and said: "I once helped Fang Yinan defeat the enemy in Tongdu. This battle made me famous, and you must know it."
"Yes, sir." He Chuanjiang said.
"I am not a kind person, and I will not help others for no reason," the old craftsman said. "Fang Yinai gave me three promises at that time. How many are you going to give me?"
"promise?"
He Chuanjiang frowned and looked towards Zhao Ming.
Zhao Miao said with disdain in his eyes: "Is there such a thing? What promise did he make to you?"
"I can't say," the old craftsman shook his head. "Of course I won't tell others about your promise. If you agree, I can help you get out of trouble in three days. If you don't agree, then I will be imprisoned by you.
After all, ever since you told me your predicament, you have no intention of letting me out again, right?"
Zhao Ming sneered: "Do you know that I, Zhao Ming, hate being threatened the most in my life?"
"Is this considered a threat?" The old craftsman raised his hand and took off his bamboo hat and said, "I haven't mentioned the Sixth Lady, nor have I mentioned the Thirteenth Miss Ling Ai."
Zhao Ming paused for a moment, then became furious: "What did you say!"
The saber in his hand was about to be unsheathed when He Chuanjiang held him down: "General, don't be impatient yet!"
He Chuanjiang looked at the old craftsman: "Sir, are you trying to threaten people with women?"
All the way in the carriage, the old craftsman always had his hat and raincoat on his head, and he didn't care at all that it would affect the other two people in the carriage.
This was the first time that he took off his bamboo hat and turned his back to the light. He had a very good-looking face, but he was no longer young.
A few fine lines at the corners of his eyes made his eyes brighter and more determined. His eyes were smiling slightly, and the corners of his lips were also smiling sarcastically.
Facing the furious Zhao Ming, the old Jiang remained calm and did not feel any fear at all. He said, "I didn't say that. It's just that the general felt that I was threatening, so I said that it was not a threat and gave him some advice."
Let’s talk about what a real threat is, that’s all.”
As he said that, he patted the rainwater on his bamboo hat and said: "Since this business deal can't be done, then you can lock me up. When you figure it out and think this deal can be done, then
Come to me anytime, but you only have three days."
He Chuanjiang couldn't make the decision in this matter, so he looked at Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming said angrily: "Then lock him up! Someone is here!"
Several guards over there stepped forward: "General!"
"Please come down and have a seat with this old gentleman. Send more people to serve you and keep an eye on me!"
"yes!"
He Chuanjiang wanted to stop him, but it was really difficult to speak in this situation, so he pursed his lips and gave up.
