The next day, Quan Wanji and Yin Yang, with the royal soldiers, escorted Wei Haochen, Du Chengyuan and a group of prisoners to Chang'an. Zhao Chong, as the leader, was imprisoned in a tightly-fitted iron prison car, tied up and wearing a black hood. Bet on the center of the team.
The group of people walked out of Xiangyang City. Qin Mubai and Xue Rengui were waiting for them by the official road, saying they wanted to meet Zhao Chong and have a few words.
Yin Yang stopped the team and opened a window of the prison car himself, without taking off Zhao Chong's black hood, and asked Qin Mubai to speak inside.
"Zhao Chong, I regret not cracking the secret as soon as possible." Qin Mubai walked to the prison car and whispered to the window, "But don't worry, I will crack it one day."
"I believe you." Zhao Chong's voice came from inside. Because he was wearing a hood, his voice was a little muffled.
"Regarding this secret, if you think about it again, is there anything else you haven't told me?" Qin Mubai asked.
Zhao Chong was silent for a while and said: "It seems that there are none. But there is a little thing. I don't know if it will be helpful to you. When my grandfather passed away, my father and I checked his belongings and found that there was a secret compartment under his bed. I bought an old piece of armor. It looked like it was not an ordinary piece of armor. Later, when I joined the army, I found out that it was the top of the Thirteenth Armor, Mingguang Armor, which is very valuable and cannot be worn by ordinary military schools. "
"Your grandfather actually had a piece of bright light armor?" Qin Mubai asked in surprise, "Could it be that he was a senior general in the army during his lifetime?"
"I don't know. My father doesn't know either." Zhao Chong said, "That's all. When my father passed away a few years ago, I took the armor to be buried with him. I checked it carefully, and there was nothing special about it. , It’s just an ordinary pair of Mingguang armor. However, that armor is slightly different from my Tang style armor, so it shouldn’t be from this dynasty.”
"Is it from the former Sui Dynasty?"
"It should be." Zhao Chong said, "My father and I never knew that my grandfather had joined the army. From the time my father was born, we only knew that he was the leader of the Green Forest on the Jingzhou Water Road. Apart from that, there was nothing else. ”
"Okay, I understand, thank you." Qin Mubai said.
"I hope you won't disappoint me. If I go to Chang'an, I will definitely die. It will be impossible for you to see me after entering the prison. I just hope you can burn a bunch of paper for me during the Qingming Festival next year and tell me how well you are doing. information."
"I will." Qin Mubai nodded, "Go with peace of mind! If there is an afterlife, I hope we can become friends."
"I thought so, so I say goodbye, General Qin. In fact, you are a good person." Zhao Chong seemed to still be smiling.
Qin Mubai sighed softly, waved his hand, and Yin Yang stepped forward, closed the window, and left with his troops.
Xue Rengui stood aside and said softly: "It's really hard to predict a person's fate. If Zhao Chong had not been born into a family of bandits, he might have become an outstanding figure."
"Yes, he is very smart and outstanding." Qin Mubai sighed, "It's a pity that he can't choose his own destiny. In other words, he surrendered to fate and failed to break free from the shackles of nature."
The people in the palace gradually moved away. Qin Mubai turned his horse around and said, "Let's go to the military palace. Rengui, Du Chengyuan has been dismissed. There is a vacancy in the military palace for Captain Guo Yi. You will temporarily take over the post. Wait for a while." The official document from the imperial court will be issued in a few days.”
"It doesn't matter how big or small the position is. I just want to learn something from the general." Xue Rengui said, suddenly frowning, pointing to a small bush on the side of the road, and said in a deep voice: "Be careful, there is an ambush!"
Qin Mubai had already noticed that side and shouted angrily: "He Fang Xiaozang is showing his head and tail, come out!"
There was a commotion in the bushes ahead, and a familiar figure walked out and bowed to Qin Mubai in the center of the official road.
"General!"
"Zhang Tong?" Qin Mubai frowned, "What do you want to do?"
"Me!..." Zhang Tong raised his head, and immediately lowered his head when he saw Qin Mubai's sharp gaze, mumbling, speechless.
"If you have something to say, just say it!"
"If the general doesn't beat me, scold me, or punish me, I will never have peace of mind in this life!" Zhang Tong mustered up the courage to finish this sentence, and suddenly he quickly pulled out a waist knife and pointed it at his left arm. Cut it down!
puff!
An entire arm suddenly broke off and fell to the ground, and blood spurted out from his shoulder!
Qin Mubai was immediately shocked: "You are crazy!!!"
Xue Rengui hurriedly jumped off his horse, quickly tore off a piece of his clothes and sprinkled a lot of the hemostatic gold wound medicine he brought with him to cover his wounds.
From beginning to end, Zhang Tong didn't even hum. But his face was whiter than the paper, and his teeth were biting his lips tightly, sinking into his flesh.
Qin Mubai jumped off his horse and walked to him, squatted down, and looked at him with a frown on his face: "What are you doing?"
"Zhang Tong does not expect the general's forgiveness. He only hopes to atone for his sins and make himself feel better..." Zhang Tong was shaking with pain. Big beads of sweat rolled down his face, which was as white as paper, and he said in a trembling voice. , "General, take care, subordinate... I'm taking my leave and will go back to Chang'an now!"
After that, he struggled to stand up and started to move forward.
"Stop!" Qin Mubai shouted to stop him, walked up to him and said, "You'd better recover from your injuries before leaving!"
"No need." Zhang Tong smiled miserably and said, "The general taught me many self-rescue and healing techniques. A broken arm is nothing, as long as the head is still there, you will definitely not die. I don't dare to stay in Xiangzhou anymore. Thinking that I betrayed the general here makes my heart feel worse than a knife."
"Hey..." Qin Mubai sighed, "If I had known this today, why did I do it in the first place?"
"Yes, Zhang Tong." Xue Rengui, who has always been silent, couldn't help but say, "Is Wei Xiaochen so worthy of you doing these things? I know that General Qin and General Baiqi, especially your group of colleagues, The soldiers who came to Xiangzhou are as close as you and me. What made you take the risk and dare to help Wei Xiaochen and betray General Qin? "
"Actually..." Zhang Tong's mouth twitched slightly, revealing a bitter and helpless smile, "Wei Xiaochen is my biological father."
"What?!" Qin Mubai and Xue Rengui screamed together.
"Yes." Zhang Tong nodded and said with a wry smile, "Back then, my mother was Wei Xiaochen's concubine, but he abandoned her in the end. Later, my mother remarried and became a concubine in the Zhang family. . But at that time, my mother was already pregnant with Wei Xiaochen's flesh and blood. The Zhang family was from a famous family in Chang'an. Over the years, I had been discriminated against and insulted by my adoptive father. Treat him like a son. Although I have known Wei Xiaochen is my father for a long time, he has never recognized us as mother and son. "
"Since Wei Xiaochen is such a beast, why do you still recognize him? And do things for him?" Xue Rengui shouted indignantly.
Zhang Tong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "General Xue, you can't understand. For a person who has never enjoyed his father's love since he was a child, how much he expects from his father. I used to hate Wei Xiaochen, but the day he called me When I heard about my son, all my hatred for him disappeared. I wanted a real father to reunite our family, that's all."
"Wei Xiaochen is a beast, he doesn't deserve to be your father!" Qin Mubai gritted his teeth with hatred, snorted, and said, "Zhang Tong, you are guilty, but you are not wrong. Why didn't you explain to me earlier? These?"
"Wei Haochen is very miserable, but it doesn't change the fact that he is indeed my father. How he treats me is one thing. As his son, I am willing to make mistakes for him. But at the same time, I I have failed the general... Therefore, Zhang Tong is in great pain. At this moment, Zhang Tong just wants to atone for himself and alleviate his guilt. "Zhang Tong said, "Baiqi has always been strict in discipline and punishment, and the general is impartial and impartial. Enforcing the law is why Zhang Tong is loved and supported by his brothers. He knows that breaking military regulations is unforgivable, and if he makes a mistake, he is wrong. Zhang Tong does not ask for the general's forgiveness and pardon, and he does not dare to win the general's sympathy and embarrass the general. Zhang Tong just wants to alleviate his inner guilt... I am no longer worthy of staying in Baiqi and have no chance to continue to serve the general. If there is an afterlife, Zhang Tong will still be a soldier under the general!"
"Good brother..." Qin Mubai gently patted his uninjured shoulder, frowned deeply, and said, "You are an outstanding hundred knights."
Zhang Tong stared at Qin Mubai, with tears welling up in his eyes. He nodded heavily and said solemnly: "Thank you, General! General, take care! My subordinates... take leave!"
After saying that, Zhang Tong turned around and strode away.
Along the way, blood flowed all the way.
"General Qin, will he be okay?" Xue Rengui asked worriedly.
"No. I believe him." Qin Mubai took a deep breath and said leisurely, "Every Baiqi is strong, brave, and daring. Zhang Tong, who lost an arm, will be better than In fact, it may not be a good thing for him to live more freely and confidently before... "
Xue Rengui stared at Zhang Tong's back and said thoughtfully: "General, Xue may know what kind of army Baiqi is."
Soon after, Qin Mubai led Xue Rengui back to Xiangzhou Military Mansion.
There is a military assessment going on in the mansion - archery!
It was hosted by Pang Feilai. Now, Qin Mubai can be a hands-off shopkeeper with peace of mind. Since the selection of Du Chengyuan's party, Baiqi and a group of people have firmly grasped all the real power of the military government and penetrated into every corner. Since then, the entire military government has been branded with the brand of Baiqi. Not only has its mental outlook been completely renewed, but even the behavior of ordinary sergeants has a few shadows of Baiqi.
Xue Rengui walked around the military camp, was greatly surprised, and said: "I didn't expect that ordinary Xiangzhou soldiers are more capable and condensed than the elite soldiers recruited by the palace! General Qin, you are really good at leading troops. Xue wants to There’s so much to learn!”
"Haha, then you stay and study hard!" Qin Mubai laughed and said, "What a coincidence. Pang Fei has just gotten married and is eagerly looking forward to my return so that he can take his leave and spend time with his beloved wife. Go on your honeymoon. You will definitely be busy during this time after he leaves."
Xue Rengui blinked: "May I ask the general, what is a 'honeymoon'?"
…
Qin Mubai stayed in the military mansion for ten days, leading Xue Rengui to train troops. Xue Rengui is indeed extremely qualified and hard-working. In just ten days, he has become one with the Xiangzhou Military Mansion and quickly filled the vacancy left by Pang Fei after his vacation. The Xiangzhou Military Mansion was like a train on the right track, moving forward steadily and in an orderly manner.
In fact, Qin Mubai was somewhat distracted, because he was always thinking about the "scientific research institute" outside Xiangyang City. Finally, at the time agreed upon with Niu Wuzhi, he rode out of the military camp alone and headed straight for Niu Wuzhi's residence.
The private house rented by Niu Wuzhi and others was relatively remote. It was located in a mountain forest, with no village in front of it, no shop in the back, and no neighbors nearby. It felt a bit isolated from the world.
Qin Mubai was riding his horse into the forest when suddenly there was a loud bang in front of him, which frightened the Huoyun horse and almost stumbled, and made Qin Mubai's ears buzz.
"Did it succeed? Such a huge noise!" Qin Mubai put up his hands to look, and saw a column of billowing white smoke rising into the sky in front of him!
He was immediately overjoyed—it was white smoke! It’s not black smoke!
Only high-purity explosives produce such smoke! The crude black gunpowder of the Tang Dynasty emitted billowing black smoke. The master and disciples of Niu Wuzhi and others had been playing with the black gunpowder all their lives, and their whole bodies were blackened!
Surprised, Qin Mubai hurried towards the farmhouse. Far away, I heard a few old voices cheering like thunder: "Success! Success!"
"These old guys do have some brushes. Under such simple and primitive conditions, they really prepared such explosives!" Qin Mubai jumped off his horse happily and walked towards them. Before he could get closer, Niu Wuzhi ran to him with joy, jumping and shouting: "Succeeded! I succeeded, hahaha! I succeeded!"
Qin Mubai thought it was hard to talk to him, so he gave him a thumbs up.
"Official, I want to thank you!" Niu Wuzhi was extremely excited. He couldn't help but hold Qin Mubai's hand with his harpoon and Shengli, and shook it vigorously, "It's you who made my life's wish come true. If I die, No regrets, hahaha—uh!”
Suddenly, Niu Wuzhi trembled and his eyes froze like this without moving.
"What's wrong with you?" Qin Mubai was shocked.
Niu Wuzhi looked straight at Qin Mubai, his hands softened, and he suddenly fell straight down.
"Master—" The other three old men were beside him. They screamed in fright and hurriedly reached out to help, but it was too late.
The cow's five fingers were like a cement statue, and it fell to the ground with its head tilted upward, its eyes never closed, but an ecstatic smile on its face.
"Master, Master!" The three old men shouted at the top of their lungs, and there was a lot of wailing and tears.
"Master... his old man has passed away!"
"Woooooooo..."
Qin Mubai was stunned for a moment and thought to himself: Could it be that he was too excited and died of myocardial infarction
The three old men with black faces and white hair were crying sadly -
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Master, you can go in peace! The divine fire thunder has been prepared, and you will have no regrets in your old age!"
"Don't worry, we will abide by your promise and will. We will only prepare medicine for General Qin for the rest of our lives until we too die of old age."
"Master, you have no wife and no children. You have treated us as if you were your own children for decades, so let us pay your respects to you until your death!"
"If there is an afterlife, we three brothers will still serve you, the old man, for the rest of our lives... Wuwuwu!"
…
Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a faint pain in his heart when he heard a vow that seemed familiar to him.
Niu Wuzhi left without any regrets, and the three white-haired disciples truly fulfilled a legendary oath: one day is a teacher, and all is a father!
"I will send someone to the market later to buy a coffin to contain Master Niu, so that you can pay tribute to him. In addition, in order to commemorate Master Niu, let's name this new gunpowder 'Five Finger Divine Thunder'!" Qin Mu Bai sighed, "From now on, Qin will take care of the three masters until the day you die to accompany your master."
"Big Lei, Second Lei, Three Lei, thank you General Qin!" The three white-haired old men saluted Qin Mubai together.
"Get up, I can't bear your gift." Qin Mubai helped them up one by one and sighed in his heart -
Love in the world is better than heaven!