Yuan Tiangang never said who asked him to come to dissuade Li Xu from crossing the river, nor did he follow his past habit of staying in the Boling Army as a guest for a few months. He only chatted with Li Xu for less than an hour.
He hurriedly stood up and said goodbye. Before leaving, perhaps to make up for some regrets, the old Taoist priest offered to help the Boling Army recruit civilian ships.
"The Taoist priest has great righteousness, and the younger generation will bear in mind the five principles. If the Taoist priest needs the younger generation's service in the future, just say so. If the younger generation can do it, he must do his best!" Xuzi knew that Yuan Shengun had a great influence among the people.
, quickly clasped his fists respectfully and thanked him.
"There's no need to say any kind words. Even though I'm a poor man, I should say thank you very much!" Yuan Tiangang, who recovered from the shock and disappointment, turned into a worldly master without any fuss.
He bowed his hands as a return gesture. "The general's ambition is beyond the reach of others. There may be many storms along the way. I hope the general will not ignore the rules of the world when he insists on enlightenment."
After that, he flicked the fly whisk and floated away.
With the help of this "half-immortal", the recruitment of civilian ships was indeed many times smoother. In less than three days, all fishing boats and cargo ships within a hundred miles upstream and downstream gathered at Yanci Ferry. After waiting for the delayed supply camp and the straggler wounded soldiers
When they arrived, Li Xu gave an order, thousands of sails were raised, and the army was sent across the Yellow River within half a day.
The land on the south bank is already the junction of Bohai Sea and Qi County. Although it still looks dilapidated and desolate, it gradually has a bit of a human atmosphere. The more the army goes south, the more neat the villages it sees along the way. Because Li Xu's champion is shown
The banner of the general was displayed, so the people did not feel very panic when the officers and soldiers passed by. Some village owners and castle owners who were well-informed even remembered what General Li did in Qi County back then.
The hero was so proud that he took the initiative to open the fort gate, brought out many cakes and came forward to work for the soldiers.
These people were not well-off, including some prominent figures who were elected to meet the general, and their robes were patched. However, their smiles were very candid, and there was no hint of hypocrisy.
"It's been more than two years, and they still remember me!" Looking at the sincere faces in front of him, Li Xu was filled with emotion. The people would give out the cakes prepared for the New Year, just to repay him for being there.
This is the kindness of leading troops to suppress bandits. But before he was taught by General Zhang, the reason why he mounted his horse and wielded a sword was just to gain fame. How could he have thought of doing anything for the people? What this man did,
Maybe in the blink of an eye, the final result is completely different.
Thinking that General Zhang had been dead for several months, but his legacy continues to this day. Li Xu had a deeper respect for the old man in his heart. He secretly thought that if it weren't for the words and deeds of the old general back then, he would be nothing more than a strong general. How could he be as respected as he is today?
Respect. So Wagang and his party must go. Even if they can't get revenge, they still have to snatch the head of General Zhang back so that the old man's body can be buried intact on the land of his hometown.
"General Li came here this time to avenge General Zhang, right?" A squire asked tentatively after paying homage to Xu Zi.
"The younger generation will first go to Licheng to pay homage to the coffin of the old general, and then march westward!" Li Xu announced loudly as everyone bowed to each other.
Immediately, there was thunderous cheers everywhere. All the fathers and elders said that General Li was kind and righteous, and it was not in vain to work with General Zhang. Some people immediately proposed to donate part of the baggage to the Boling Army so that the brothers would be more energetic when killing thieves.
But Li Xu didn't dare to accept it, so he hurriedly used the long distance and inconvenient transportation as an excuse. After the elders insisted again and again, seeing that Li Xu still refused to agree, they had to give up. Before leaving, they asked eagerly: "Then
After the general avenges General Zhang, will he come back to stay permanently?"
"You old men are so ignorant. General Li is a champion general, and he is not the county magistrate of Qi County. How can you just say back when you have the emperor's orders!" Before Li Xu could think of how to answer, he said
A local official who was ordered to come to greet the superior scolded him in a low voice.
"We, we just hope that General Li can return to Qi County as soon as possible. As for the court, whoever you like can go!" The squire who was scolded took a few steps back and murmured in a low voice.
"You!" The young official was so angry with the daring elders from his hometown that his hands and feet became cold and he was speechless for a long time. He had always been helpless against such "short-sighted" but extremely senior local elders. Moreover, deep down in his heart
, why didn’t he himself hope that after Li Xu defeated the Wagang Army, he would return to Qi County and not leave. On the one hand, with such a great hero, he would be able to keep the place safe in troubled times. Secondly, that bastard of the Sui court
After all, General Zhang had already been tortured to death by them, so why would Li Xu make the same mistake again?
"If I can successfully avenge General Zhang, I will definitely return to Qi County and kill Xu Yuanlang in the south, so that he will not frighten everyone!" Li Xu could vaguely guess what the people were thinking and smiled.
Make a promise to everyone.
Xu Yuanlang is a new bandit who has moved from Pengcheng to the two counties of Beihai and Donglai. Although he has not dared to attack Qi County for a while, it has already made the people and local officials panic. Li Xu was in Yanci County
While staying, he heard the news from officials. As the successor of the old general Zhang Xutuo, he believed that he had the obligation to continue to protect the old general's wishes.
"That's great. General Li is such a good man!" When the squires heard Li Xu's personal promise, they all praised him.
At that moment, the army was sent to Zhangqiu City to rest. The next day, the army was sent ten miles away by the common people and set foot on the official road leading to Licheng. Although it was approaching the end of the year, there was no sign of anything near Licheng.
The atmosphere is festive. First there are dots of stars, then some larger houses. When we get closer to the city wall, almost every castle door on both sides of the official road is covered with white linen. The strips are dancing in the wind, as if they are pouring out people's hearts to passers-by.
sad.
Seeing this scene, the four thousand jingqi who had been noisy before suddenly became awe-inspiring. Not only the generals who had served under Zhang Xutuo burst into tears. Wang Xuba, who was originally very incomprehensible to Li Xu's move to lead his troops south,
, Wang Junkuo and others were shocked beyond description.
"It must have been more than two months since General Zhang was killed in battle!" Wang Xuba sighed and whispered.
"Two months and twenty-one days, the old general was killed in action at the end of autumn, and now it's almost the New Year's Eve!" Guo Fang thought for a while and replied with a sigh.
"If a person can do this to the people in his hometown after death, it will be considered a worthy death!" Wang Xuba reached his hand to his waist and repeatedly stroked the hilt of his sword. In those days, Zhang Xutuo was the common hero of almost all green forest heroes.
Enemy. But today, he just wanted to draw his sword to pay tribute to the old man who had died in the battle.
While everyone was grieving, there was a sudden noise in front of the team. Wang Xuba looked up and saw a large number of local officials rushing out of the city and swarming towards Li Xu's horse head.
"General Li is so famous here. Not only is he supported by the people, but also the county and general guards respect him so much!" Wang Xuba looked very strange and muttered to himself. He could tell that he was bowing to Li Xu.
The old man who gave the gift was dressed in the uniform of a third-grade local official, and among the team that came to greet him, there were more than 40 officials wearing robes ranging from third-grade to fifth-grade robes. Li Xu, the consolation ambassador of the six counties, had nothing to do with the other party.
There was a superior-subordinate relationship, but Qijun put up such a solemn display to welcome him. He didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd?
Not only were Wang Xuba and others confused, but Li Xu, who was walking in front of the team, was as confused as a monk Zhang Er. The old governor Pei Caozhi had already moved to another place, and now the new governor of Qi County Wang Shouren and Tong
Shou Wu Qi was an old acquaintance of his. The three of them were used to it casually, but now they are singing the tune of officialdom, which is really awkward.
He did not dare to show off in front of his old friend, so he quickly jumped off his horse and bowed to thank him. Wang Shouren and Wu Qi did not dare to accept his return gift. They turned half a step aside and said in unison: "Master Li, please kill us."
"Yes, if I had known that you were taking the same route, I should have gone to the Yellow River to pick you up. It's just that the news arrived in a hurry and there was no time to prepare. Please don't blame me for my negligence!"
"Why do you two brothers see each other like this? Could it be that we have been separated for less than two years and you don't recognize Li?" On a cold day, Li Xu had sweat on his head and protested with a red face.
"Your Excellency is a superior who has been given a precious sword by His Majesty. How dare you call me brother and brother again?" Wang Shouren was not a man who could let things go. He was stunned and stammered in response.
"Precious sword, superior?" Li Xu became even more confused when he heard it, his eyes widened, as if flowers had grown on the other person's face.
"Master Li must have arrived in a hurry and missed the imperial envoy." Wu Qi was very smart and figured out the reason after a moment of hesitation. "Your Majesty once gave your Excellency the golden sword used by the late emperor and ordered all officials in Henan Province to listen.
Your Excellency, please arrange it. Besides, Your Excellency is now the arresting ambassador of Henan Province, and we are all your subordinates at this moment, so of course we should meet each other with the courtesy of lower officials!"
"What is all this?" Li Xu felt confused for a while. But soon, he figured out the crux of the problem. When he was in Hebei, he had heard that the imperial court ordered him to inspect the Henan Province for arrest.
There were rumors about the post of ambassador, but the imperial edict has not yet crossed the Yellow River, and I have no idea of the specific content. Qijun is located south of the Yellow River. When the imperial court appointed itself, as usual, it would send a letter to the relevant prefectures and counties for the convenience of local officials.
Be prepared. Therefore, in my own eyes, Wang Shouren, Wu Qi and other guys are still peers who are not subordinate to each other. In the eyes of the other party, the two parties are already superiors and subordinates, and they have to treat each other seriously.
.
"I'm afraid that the imperial envoy who delivered the imperial edict is still wandering in Hulao Pass!" Li Xu, who had thought through all the joints, smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Besides, I came to Licheng to pay homage to General Zhang as an old minister. Brother Shou, Yulin
There’s no need to be polite, brother!” (To be continued)
