There were obviously a lot more soldiers and horses galloping on the road.
When two armies met, there would be conflicts, or dead bodies would be left in the wilderness, or soldiers and horses would flee in confusion in the wilderness. The wind in Xuanwu Road would be noisy, the city would be closed, and the originally sparsely populated villages would become even more deserted.
"What kind of soldiers and horses are they?"
"It's the Guards, it's the white-robed army."
"They're coming."
At the checkpoint of a fortress, the guards shouted, but when they saw the approaching soldiers and horses, they actually fled without fighting.
The white-robed soldiers passed by unimpeded. Standing at the mountain pass and looking at the undulating plains ahead, a guard not wearing white robes stretched out his hand to point out the direction.
"The fastest way to Xingcheng is after passing this mountain pass and passing through the Woling Mountains ahead." He said, "Eight thousand soldiers and horses with yellow flags are entrenched there."
At this point, he hesitated and looked at the white-robed soldier here.
There are only a thousand of these white-robed soldiers.
The scribe in blue came out of the soldiers and horses, and said with some indifference: "Ten thousand soldiers and horses are nothing to be afraid of." He smiled at the white-robed soldiers and said, "I will try my best to prevent everyone from using swords and guns."
The white-robed soldier didn't say anything and motioned for everyone to continue moving forward. Dust and smoke rose in the cold winter wilderness until a group of soldiers and horses emerged from the front through the dust and smoke.
The white-robed soldiers will immediately rein in their horses and assume a battle formation.
Ahead is a mountain ridge, with soldiers and horses entrenched in front of the ridge, looking like cliffs.
The momentum of this group of soldiers and horses was different from the soldiers and horses they encountered before, and everyone was immediately on guard.
"Before, there were no soldiers and horses here before." The guard leading the way looked pale and reined in the restless horses, "Have the soldiers and horses with the yellow flag actually expanded here?"
The soldiers and horses on the opposite side have already asked: "Who are you?"
What to do? What to say? The guard leading the way looked at the white-robed soldiers.
"Let's say it belongs to Cao Gui." The green-shirted scribe whispered, "Because of my lobbying, everyone is on guard."
Telling the identity of the white-robed soldier, he can't even get in.
If he fights here, his talents will be useless.
The white-robed soldier took a look at his clothes: "When I put on the white robe, I will know at a glance that I am not from here."
"I can tell them that it's a fake white robe." The blue-shirted scribe said, "This is a small matter."
After asking over there, there was no answer, and the rocks on the cliff were loose and ready to fight.
The white-robed soldiers shook their heads: "We don't hide our identities." After saying that, he urged his horse forward, "We are waiting for the Huazhou white-robed soldiers. Who are you waiting for?"
After talking about his identity, he thought about it and unfolded another flag.
"I and Mrs. Chu have military matters to handle."
The big flag was unfurled, and the red characters "Chu" on the black background in the winter wilderness were very conspicuous.
Seeing this flag, when the falling rocks stopped and several large flags were unfolded behind them, the eyes of the white-robed soldiers suddenly lit up.
There was a black-headed Zhenwu Army flag, a large banner with the Chinese character Chu like the one unfolded in their hands, and the other was a smaller general flag with five characters on it.
"They are the soldiers and horses of Mrs. Chu!" the scholar in green shirt shouted when he saw it.
The guard leading the way saw another one: "It's the five generals!"
The Five Generals are not five people, but one person. Mrs. Chu of Huainan Road rescued the generals stationed by Han Xu in Yingchen and claimed to be doing the Five at home, so they were called the Five Generals.
After shouting these two sentences, both of them looked at the white-robed soldiers and said in unison: "I'm here to help you!"
Xiang Nan was wandering around Xuanwu Road. In addition to himself, he also held a flag belonging to the Lady of Chu. This time he gathered the Xuanwu Road guards, saying that Xiang Nan cooperated with the Lady of Chu. Although everyone has never seen the flag of Huainan Road.
Soldiers...
Now it finally appears!
The leader of the white-robed soldiers did not answer. The hands under the white robes tightened the reins. The soldiers behind him were also whispering, "It's really coming." "It's coming very slowly."
But only they, the lieutenants, knew that the cooperation Mrs. Chu mentioned was just a flag, without troops.
These five generals are not here to assist them, but are stationed at Yingchen, Xuanwu Road...
Is it good intention or malicious intention to suddenly appear here? Is it to take credit or to prevent...
If Mrs. Chu takes action against them, Xuanwu Dao will surely become even more chaotic!
"Did the five generals come in person?"
"How many of you are there?"
The guard next to him, the scribe in blue shirt, was still asking.
The white-robed leader took a deep breath and urged his horse towards the cliff: "We are going to Xingcheng on the orders of Captain Xiang."
The cliff did not move, watching the people and horses approaching.
"We're just over here. We have enough manpower." The white-robed leader said, "You can just stay here."
The cliff did not move and did not speak, and the white-robed leader also stopped speaking. He galloped forward with his horse, and the soldiers and horses behind him heard what he said.
Everyone had no objections and straightened their chests. Yes, they could do it without the help of the Chu army.
The scholar in blue shirt also handed over the soldiers and horses here: "You can just wait, this matter will be done without bloodshed."
A crowd of white robes rolled away and turned into dust and smoke on the wilderness.
Only then did the rocks on the edge of the mountain loosen.
"Shall we let them pass?" said a soldier, "Madam did not order us to consolidate Xuanwu Dao."
"But the lady gave them the flag." Another soldier said, looking at the large banner with the Chinese character Chu behind him, "The fifth master said, seeing the flag is like seeing the lady."
The former general stopped talking, waved his hands and turned his horse's head, and the group of people disappeared into the mountains.
The news here was immediately reported to Huainan Road.
"That's right, Mr. Xiang's actions are very agile." Jiang Liang was satisfied after hearing this. "I'm worried that he prides himself on his demeanor and wants to treat those soldiers as comrades."
Speaking is what Confucian scholars like them do, and military commanders must of course rely on the sword in their hands to reason.
Li Minglou, who had been ignoring him, raised his head: "Fengfeng? Fengfeng is because he didn't block his way. If he blocked the way, who is the gentleman? Who is the villain?"
Jiang Liang responded solemnly: "Xiang Nan looks like a gentleman, but he is capable of being a villain. The most important thing to be careful about is that the Xiang family is of the same line. Xiang Yun might also attack the governor."
I don’t know who was responsible for Wu Yaer’s death. Li Minglou thought, at first Jiang Liang said he died of illness, but he also said it was better to die of illness. So, did he die of illness or was he killed?
She got up and walked to the inner hall and called for someone to come and grind the ink, and a child hurriedly followed her inside.
Yuanji and others who were still sitting in the hall stood up.
"Madam, go and do your work." Jiang Liang stretched his neck and said hurriedly, "I will keep an eye on the Xuanwu Dao matter."
Yuan Ji said: "Don't pay too much attention to that side, there are middle five watching."
Jiang Liang twisted his beard and said: "You really don't have to worry about it. If you fail, Xuanwu Dao will still be the same as now. If you succeed, we can just go there. Madam doesn't even need to write a letter to him."
After saying that, he looked into the inner hall and saw Li Minglou sitting in front of the desk writing something.
"Has there been a letter from Governor Wu?" he asked casually.
Yuan Ji looked over and shook his head: "Not recently." He frowned again, "Wartime was chaotic, it was difficult to send letters, and the world situation was ever-changing. When you are the governor, you have many connections, so you don't have time to write letters home all the time. My wife is also busy.
Very.”
Are you complaining that the governor writes too many letters? Jiang Liang didn't ask or guess, he just nodded: "Master Yuan is right."
Li Minglou was not interested in hearing about Xuanwu Dao, so everyone withdrew and went to the government office to discuss other matters with the observers, including rice grains for the first month, grain seeds for spring planting, refugees being collected as residents, and officials' assessments.
The new year’s recruitment...
Officials were coming in and out, all kinds of documents and books were piled up, and there were people talking, arguing, making noises, or joking in the hall...
Until a child came over and called Yuanji.
"What's wrong, madam?" Yuanji asked.
The boy handed over a letter: "Letter from Madam to the Governor."
Yuanji took it, held the thin letter in his hands, and asked, "Is there anything else?"
The kid shook his head: "No more."
Yuanji then said, "I'll arrange for someone to send it right away."
The child skipped away, and Yuan Ji stopped discussing with everyone and called someone to arrange the delivery of the letter. Jiang Liang, who was sitting aside, looked at Yuan Ji. Although Yuan Ji's dull face did not smile, his eyes were gentle, and he held a thin letter in his hand.
The letter is solemn...
Therefore, wartime was chaotic, it was difficult to send letters, the world situation was ever-changing, and one party had so many connections, so there was no time to write letters home all the time, not including my wife.
Jiang Liang shook his head with regret and pity. Xuanwu Dao probably won't write until Xiang Nan succeeds...
"What's new on Shannan Road?" He turned around and asked Liu Fan in a low voice.
Liu Fan was concentrating on what he was thinking about. Hearing this, he said: "There are no new developments on Shannan Road. There seems to be a fight over the grain supply on Jiangnan Road. It's not a big deal. Do you want to see it?"
He pulled out a spy book from in front of him.
Jiangnan Road? Jiang Liang rolled up his sleeves and took it: "Jiangnan Road is also fine, it's not a big deal, let's look at the small things."
...
...
Jiang Liang did not wait long for the success of Xuanwu Dao. In early February of the sixth year of Chengyuan, many generals came to Cao Gui's government office. They wore armor and filled the hall, but their momentum was not menacing. Looking at the stage
The young general sitting on top was a little restrained...
Xiang Nan stood up and cupped his hands: "After such a long time, we finally meet again. This is a gratifying thing."
The generals in the hall raised their hands to return the salute with complicated expressions, and chaotic voices of joy rang out.
The scribe in green shirt came out of the room and looked around everyone with a smile: "The Fengwei Army is reunited again. This is a great joy for the Great Xia, and also a great joy for you and me. Everyone should have a drink together first."
A group of soldiers came in and gave each general a glass of wine.
Xiang Nan took the wine glass and raised it: "It's been two years. It's sad that some of us in the Fengwei Army can no longer see us. Let's have a drink with them first."
Yes, when I think about it, these two years have been both short and long, and the changes have been earth-shaking. Moreover, the Xiang Nan in front of me is in the same army as them after all. The generals are a little less restrained, and their expressions are a little more sad. They look at Xiang Nan.
Nan poured the wine on the ground, and everyone followed him, thinking silently about his deceased comrades.
The wine was filled again, and Xiang Nan said: "It's been two years. Although it's not easy, it's a happy thing that we are alive and standing here to meet each other. We should have a drink together."
The word "It's not easy" contains swords and flesh and blood. It's a joy to be alive. Everyone watched Xiang Nan drink it all in one gulp, and they also drank it all in one gulp.
The wine glass was filled again, Xiang Nan raised it and didn't look at everyone, but looked at the scribe in blue shirt.
"This cup is for us, Mr. Tingru," he said.
The scholar in green shirt was a little surprised, then smiled calmly: "Me?"
Xiang Nan also smiled gracefully at him: "Of course it's you. If it weren't for Mr. Tingru, we wouldn't have met so soon, and there probably wouldn't be so many people standing here to meet each other, so you...
..”
He pointed his wine glass at everyone and smiled.
"Thank you all, Mr. Tingru."
If they were not persuaded by the blue-shirted scribe, they would be persuaded by Xiang Nan's sword and spear. At that time, they really didn't know if they could stand here.
Everyone looked at Mr. Qingshan and raised his glass: "Mr. Jingtingru."
Xiang Nan drank the wine with everyone else, and the scholar in blue did not refuse. He calmly accepted the wine handed to him by the soldiers and drank it all in one gulp. After drinking, he wanted to say a few more words, but Xiang Nan spoke first.
"Let's send Mr. Tingru on his way," he said.
Going on the road? What do you mean? The green-shirted scribe was stunned for a moment while holding the wine glass, and then felt a chill in his heart...
It doesn't feel cold, it's really cold.
He lowered his head and saw that the soldier who handed him the wine glass was holding a knife in his hand, and the knife pierced his heart...
With a pop, the knife was drawn out, and the blue-robed scribe fell to the ground amid splashes of blood.
Everything happened too fast. It was only then that the generals in the hall screamed in surprise and retreated in confusion. They held the knives in their waists and turned around to look around at their own soldiers, but it was useless. They are now
Already in a urn...
No soldiers or horses rushed in to surround them and kill them. Xiang Nan stood quietly holding the wine glass and pointed at the dead blue-shirted scribe on the ground.
"This guy is a lobbyist who uses his mouth to gather troops and make us into chess pieces." He said, "This guy claims to be reasonable, but he is the most unreasonable and the most capable of turning his back on others."
Xiang Nan looked at everyone again.
"You and I don't need to live under the influence of this person."
"I don't care what he has said to you, what he has promised, what he has threatened. I, Xiang Nan, tell you today that what we call reunion today is of one mind."
He held out a finger.
"To quell the chaos in Daxia and kill the thieves for Daxia, we have only this intention, and only for this purpose. As long as we have this intention, we are colleagues. We don't need lobbyists to deal with it, we don't need to be influenced by words, we just want to kill the thieves
, I only care about killing thieves! Those who kill thieves with me, I will share life and death, honor and disgrace with them!"
He dropped the wine glass to the ground, making a cracking sound.
The crackling sound paused for a moment, and then there was a crashing sound in the hall. The person who was still holding the wine glass smashed the wine glass, and the person who was holding the knife threw the knife on the ground.
The complicated expressions of constraint, anxiety, shame, etc. on the faces of the generals disappeared, replaced by red-faced roars in unison.