Xiao Hua let out a determined yet contemptuous snort, opened the next door and walked out. Yuan Zai also quickly slipped down from his seat, turned around and smiled awkwardly at Zhang Kuo, and took another look at the box of gold.
Zhang Kuo understood the true meaning and quickly ordered someone to come forward with the gold. Yuan Zai reluctantly waved his hand and said, "That's all. I carry so much gold with me. If Xiao Lang knows about it, I won't be able to tell."
Zhang Kuo crossed his hands and said diligently: "Yuan Sizhi, although it is not the right time at this time, if I can make Xiao Langzhong change his mind in the future, I will definitely reward him generously."
"Easy to say, easy to say."
Yuan Zai bowed his hands and exited the pavilion, facing the blowing night wind to chase Xiao Hua. Zhang Kuo ordered a few more servants to see them off.
He himself walked out of Muzhuang through the back door and got on a Zhang Mansion ink carriage. The driver waved his horsewhip and made a crisp crackling sound. He carried a dim lantern on the eaves of the carriage and rattled forward. The carriage followed the clatter of horse hooves.
swaying.
The ink cart stopped in front of Zhang's mansion, and the porter hurriedly led his servants to greet him with paper lanterns. Zhang Kuo jumped off the carriage, shook his sleeves, and asked in a low voice: "Is your distinguished guest still in the mansion?"
"Yes, we follow Alang's instructions and don't allow anyone to approach the small building in the middle of the lake."
"Let's go, lead me over."
The steward personally held the paper lantern and led the way. Zhang Kuo walked quickly and kicked his legs to catch the wind. The two of them arrived at the small lake in the center of the mansion.
He took the paper lantern from the steward's hand, turned around and said to him, "Just stay by the lake and wait for me to come over later." Then he lightly jumped onto the boat with the paper lantern, holding the lantern in one hand and hanging it on the bow of the boat.
The rope floated slowly towards the other shore.
After landing, Zhang Kuo walked to the door of the small building, inserted the paper lamp pole on the railing of the corridor and stood still. He straightened the fu head with both hands, straightened his clothes, then bowed towards the door and crossed his hands and said: "My lord, Zhang Kuo
came back."
"Come in."
Zhang Kuo pushed the door open and entered, turned around and closed the door tightly. Li Siye and Dai Wang sat in front of the central plan table, each sat on a bed, and waved to Zhang Kuo: "You can also bring the bed and sit here."
Zhang Kuo sat cautiously in front of the two of them, with his hands folded in front of his chest and sighed: "I didn't expect that Xiao Hua was so difficult to deal with. Beauty can't change her ambition, and money and silk can't move her heart. It shows that she has a great heart. I
It’s really hard to convince him.”
Li Siye was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "A person with such tenacity and loyalty is really powerful when someone takes advantage of him. Knowing that the person behind him has sinister intentions, people can't find a way out."
Zhang Kuo's expression changed for a moment before he offered his advice: "There is also a deputy named Yuan Zai beside Xiao Hua. He is shrewd but greedy and lustful. In my opinion, this person is very easy for me to take advantage of. How about we give him a little advice?
The plan is to let Yuan Zai give Xiao Hua some chronic poison, so that he will become seriously ill and die within ten days and a half. To the outside world, Yuan Zai can claim that he is not acclimatized to the climate and occasionally catches wind and cold. Even if outsiders are suspicious,
They couldn't find any evidence."
Dai Wang's brown sandalwood mask was replaced by a silver-plated mask, and the shining silver looked extremely sinister. He shook his head decisively and said: "No, Xiao Hua is the son of the late Prime Minister Xiao Song after the Lanling Xiao family.
, has a high reputation in Jianghuai, and has a reputation for being upright and honest. Even if he really died of illness in Hexi, the melon fields and plum trees would easily arouse suspicion and discussion, which would damage the lord's reputation. Dai Wang does not recommend this."
Li Siye held the case and nodded with a smile: "What Dai Liulang said is absolutely true. Xu Guogong Xiao Hua was a chess piece pushed out from behind by An Lushan, Yang Guozhong and others. If I deal with the chess pieces, it will not cause any harm to the chess players."
, but it will damage your reputation, which is really not worth the loss."
"Fortunately, I had already made arrangements before and let him, Mr. Xiao, go and investigate! Not only did I let him go and investigate, but I also sent troops to escort him along the way. An Lushan used Yang Guozhong to plot against me, so it would be disrespectful for me to come and not go.
Use conspiracy to deal with them. Since everyone thinks that the Western Region Chamber of Commerce and Pepper are my weak points, then I will use this to retaliate against the two of them and let them fully realize what is the true unity of monarch and minister."
Zhang Kuo and Dai Wang crossed their hands at the same time and said, "My lord is wise."
…
Xiao Hua trotted towards the post house with his legs pumping, turning back from time to time to feel the cool breeze behind him and the fear deep in his heart.
Who is not afraid of death? What is more terrifying than death is the enemy's unpredictable thoughts and murders. Even though his righteous speech just overwhelmed the evil, he still needs to bear the emptiness and fear afterwards.
"Xiao Lang, Xiao Langzhong!"
Yuan Zai's deep and powerful breath came from behind, and he felt a little at ease, so he simply slowed down and waited for this colleague who was holding him back.
Two young men from Muzhuang Hall followed Yuan Zai and escorted them to the post house with paper lanterns. They met soldiers checking the night on the way and saw the word Muzhuang on the paper lanterns. The soldiers let them go without questioning.
They pass.
Returning to the inn room, Xiao Hua lit the oil lamp and closed and bolted all the angled windows in the outer corridor, completely ignoring the need for ventilation and cooling in the hot summer.
Yuan Zai shook his head with a mocking look on his face and said: "Isn't Mr. Xu Guogong's flute doctor not afraid of life and death but only passionate? How come he feels scared when his blood is cold?"
Xiao Hua gave him a stern and contemptuous glance: "Who is not afraid of death? When beauty is present, gold and silver are tempting, what is Yuan Si thinking about? Is it just to have a beautiful woman in his arms and take money for his own use? He has no thought
In the future, I will be imprisoned, my house will be ransacked and I will die? From this point of view, I am nothing compared to you, you are not even afraid of death for the sake of beauty and money."
Yuan Zai snorted twice, not wanting to argue with him anymore, and turned around and went back to his room to rest.
When Xiao Hua saw Yuan Zai's attitude towards him, he knew that he didn't listen to a word of his words. Everyone in the world is like this, they can avoid immediate dangers without caring about their long-term life and death. Whenever Yuan Zai has the slightest reflection, he will
He can change his attitude, but...he is really not the same person as this kind of guy.
In the early morning of the next day, the two of them got up and freshened up, packed their bags and prepared to go downstairs. He believed that he should act quickly after his whereabouts were exposed, and he would leave Dunhuang City for Yangguan today.
Downstairs, there was the sound of war horses neighing and iron boots slapping against each other. Both of their faces turned pale. Could it be that what they were most afraid of last night was about to happen? Xiao Hua thought about it carefully. The Western Region Chamber of Commerce was not so bold as to send soldiers to openly show up in the building.
Post kills.
After he regained his composure, he adjusted his crown and sash, strode to the door of the room, pushed the door open with both hands, and saw a group of brightly armored soldiers standing at the bottom of the stairs. The leader of the school captain wore a pointed helmet and wore scales.
A, clapping his wrists, crossed his hands and said: "Shazhou Doulu Army has been ordered to escort the two Shangguan to Yangguan!"
Xiao Hua breathed a long sigh of relief and said loudly: "No need, go back and tell your generals that their duty is to protect the country and the people and protect the passing trade routes. There is no need to work on us."
The captain replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "General, it is better to accept the escort. The road from Dunhuang City to Yangguan is windy and sandy, and there are wild wolves. If the two superiors make mistakes here, we will not be able to explain to them."
.”
Xiao Hua reluctantly nodded: "Okay then, let's get on the horse and move forward!"
The Doulu Army Cavalry was divided into front and rear teams, sandwiching the two in the middle, and marched out of Dunhuang City. The cavalry marched southwest, and everywhere they looked could see the bare Gobi beaches. They replenished fresh water at the Crescent Moon Spring Station and continued to move forward.