"Can I go?" Geng Shu asked, "I'll carry you."
"Okay." Jiang Heng stood up, his clothes were dry, but they were still very thin. The two of them were covered in mud, like two beggars. It really was their most down-to-earth time in recent years.
Geng Shu turned his head, looked at the mountains and forests, and suddenly said, "If we run into the mountains now, no one in the world will find us again."
Jiang Heng was still thinking about the assassin, but when Geng Shu said something, he just thought it was funny, and he immediately started laughing.
"Then what?" Jiang Heng said.
"Huh?" Geng Shu held Jiang Heng's hand, walked slowly on the path, turned to look at him, and said, "Then I will find a small village and live a small life there."
Jiang Heng felt that the fact that Geng Shu sometimes thought was too funny. If they ran away, except for the Yong soldiers, everyone knew that Luo Yancheng would only think that they were assassinated after they landed.
But in the future, Ying and Yong will definitely have a bad relationship, and whether they will go to war in anger, it is hard to say.
"Do you really have an idea?" Jiang Heng said.
Geng Shu tightened his fingers and said, "Just think about it, I will listen to you, you have the final say."
Jiang Heng said: "I sometimes feel that you are like a little child."
"It's called the heart of a child." Geng Shu replied.
"Hey—" A group of Ying soldiers came along the road carrying the king's flag and stationed their horses one after another.
"Have you seen the sunken ship in the river?" said the captain of the head guard, "Where are the people in the boat...?"
The captain of the guard measured the two men who were covered in mud and embarrassed.
Costin flapped his wings and fell, Geng Shu took the sword back, freed the hilt, and let Costin stand.
The cavalry crotch | When they got off their horses and saw the Haidongqing Raptor, they immediately retreated uneasy, giving birth to instinctual fear.
"What do you think?" Geng Shu asked back, the jade in front of his chest reflected the sunlight.
"Follow us." The captain of the guard then brought them back along the way, all the way to Yingdu Jiangzhou.
This is the first time Jiang Heng has come to Jiangzhou in his life. Jiangzhou is known as the capital of all waters in the world. It is very different from Luoyang, Luoyan and even Jeju City. It is not a city built with Fangzheng as its infrastructure, but a huge ring-shaped city.
The entire Jiangzhou covers an area of nearly 1,000 hectares, which is equivalent to the sum of Luoyan, Haocheng and Shanyin, the three great northern cities of Saibei, occupying the most important stronghold at the foot of Yuheng Mountain on the south bank of the Yangtze River. In the center of the city is the palace of King Ying, with 108 squares radiating outwards, one ring is surrounded by one ring, one ring is next to the other, and the rings are connected by criss-crossing waterways. The waterways are man-made rivers dug out over hundreds of years in succession in the country of Ying.
Yingdu Jiangzhou has the largest population in the Central Plains, together with the surrounding area radiated by the royal capital, it reached the scale of one million households at its peak. It is also the largest city in the South. In addition, King Ying ruled seventeen cities in the south, the fields were plentiful, and the people were prosperous.
But it is such a big southern country, but it often refers to itself as "barbarian". The Central Plains people regard it as the descendants of Baiyue and Sanyi, and the Ying people are also happy to call themselves such.
Six hundred years ago, Marquis Ying obtained a fief, and then he attacked Suiguo in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The King of Ying, Xiong Falcon, led the expedition in person, and followed the monarch of the country and said, "I am guilty." King Ying's answer to this was "I am a barbarian."
Geng Shu rode a horse and led Jiang Heng behind him into Jiangzhou City. Jiang Heng looked up and saw that the wealth of the Ying Kingdom was different from that of the Dai Kingdom. The Dai Kingdom connected the Central Plains and the Western Regions, and the supplies came from the exchange of goods. The country of Ying is a solid domestic accumulation, just like the house of a public servant, and the details are projected with a style.
The palace has a huge wall made of white jade, the eaves are gilded, and the glazed tiles are brilliant.
In ordinary people's homes, peach trees are planted at the door of each household. It is near the beginning of spring, which is the New Year of the Ying people. The market is prosperous, and the people dress up as Baiyue people and Dongyi people.
Geng Shu turned his head to look, Jiang Heng leaned on his shoulder and said, "It is right to form an alliance with them."
Geng Shu turned around, almost kissed Jiang Heng's lips, staggered slightly, and said, "Every country in the Central Plains is more prosperous than Yong. The land of Yong is too barren."
Jiang Heng replied: "Born in distress and dying in peace, wealth depends on whether it is to hide the wealth for the people, or the country is rich and the people are poor. If the country is rich and the people are poor, it is not a good thing."
I agree with Geng Shu, the living environment is too good, people are prone to burnout, the royal family of Daoying is extravagant, and they are content to be the hegemon of one party, so it seems true. If Juicong had a city, and with three years of support in the city, it would have already swept the world with its military force.
Jiang Heng said to the captain of the guard, "Where are we going now?"
"The Royal Palace," said the captain of the guard, "General Xiang's order is to see His Majesty the King first."
Geng Shu looked down at himself and gestured to the captain of the guard, "You want us to go this way?"
The captain of the guard gave an "uh" and said, "We have no choice."
Geng Shu: "Your Majesty doesn't care, of course I don't care."
Jiang Heng guessed that the gang Ying people wanted to humiliate them and make fun of them as country bumpkins, but he didn't bother, and said, "Let's go then. We should have met King Ying first."
Geng Shu rode his horse, carried Jiang Heng, and followed the guards around the city. Rao was because he was good at recognizing the terrain and was also dazed. Jiangzhou was like a maze. There are also waterways between the alleys. If you take Jiang Heng to escape, it will be a big problem to run out of the city.
Jiang Heng was carefully observing the scene in the city. He saw that although the city was full of people, the guards did not care about the people when they passed by. Most of the people were stooped, with a frowning look on their faces, obviously being squeezed very hard.
When he was studying in Haige, Jiang Heng had read that the Ying Kingdom was a land of fish and rice, and the fields were the most fertile among the Five Kingdoms, but the taxes were also the heaviest. Tens of thousands of acres of fertile land are owned by the royal family and the nobles of the gentry, and the harvested grain is put in the warehouse and rotted by worms, and they are unwilling to reduce taxes.
"It's here." The captain of the guard stopped in front of the two huge mahogany doors and opened a small door on the side to let them in.
Geng Shu glanced at Jiang Heng, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction, and said, "I want to cut down the door."
"Don't." Jiang Heng knew that Geng Shu was telling them to listen to them. Yong Guo came to envoy, and instead of going through the main door, there was a small door next to him, which showed that King Ying was contemptuous.
"Let's go." Jiang Heng said.
After passing the main entrance of the palace, there is another section of the school field road outside the palace with white jade inlaid with gold. The Yingwang Palace is four square and eight circles, and there are piano sounds everywhere, as if entering a fairyland.
"It's much more stylish than your father's palace." Jiang Heng said.
Geng Shu said, "Let's set it on fire, it will last for a full month."
Jiang Heng hahaha, the captain of the guard just pretended not to hear, and led them to the front of the side hall. Geng Shu took Jiang Heng's hand and stepped in. I saw that the hall was splendid, full of lights in the daytime, gilded king couch, Pan dragon balls, a row of mahogany cases inside, full of ministers sitting on both sides, dancers dancing, silk and bamboo playing in unison. King Ying and a group of officials were drinking and having fun.
"Go back to Your Majesty!" said the captain of the guard, "Bring the protons from the Yong Kingdom!"
As soon as the music in the hall stopped, all the dancers retreated, Jiang Heng calmed down, and saw a man sitting on the king's couch. Hair, holding a concubine, looking at them, mouth slightly open.
"Hey hey—how do you look like?!"
That person was King Ying Xiong Lei. When he saw Jiang Heng and Geng Shu, his eyes widened.
"Your Majesty, rest in peace." Jiang Heng followed the etiquette of a local official seeing the king, while Geng Shu just clenched his fists.
The ministers began to steal and talk a lot.
"You you you..." Xiong Lei covered his nose and said, "How did you do it?"
"We were attacked on the Yangtze River," Jiang Heng said sternly, "It happened in a hurry, let His Majesty Wang see you."
"What's going on?!" Xiong Lei said, "Which one of you is Jiang Heng? Is that you?"
Jiang Heng indicated that I was Jiang Heng, and Xiong Lei waved to him. Jiang Heng took a few steps, and Xiong Lei immediately changed his color, indicating that he should not get too close, as if the mud on Jiang Heng's body would fall on his face.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," a calm voice explained, "they encountered assassins on Jiang Road and were pierced through a ship. After the commander got the news earlier, he is sending more people to find out the truth. "
"General Xiang," said Xiong Lei, "you are not well protected. He is here as a guest. How can you let them be hunted down by assassins?"
Jiang Hengxin thought that he should be the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, so he nodded to him.
The court was silent for a while, and the young man who was sitting on the farthest left hand and was only next to King Ying said, "Father, King, they must be tired on the road, so why don't you let the guests go down, change your clothes, and wait for a while? Talk later."
"Well," Xiong Lei said, "Wang'er is right, Xiang Yu, take the person down."
Jiang Heng thought that he should be the prince, and nodded gratefully to him.
The commander of the Imperial Forest Army stood up, came to Jiang Heng, and looked at him seriously. Xiang Yu's height was between Jiang Heng and Geng Shu, but he was in his teens, but he was very young and handsome. The bridge of the nose is straight, the eyebrows are rough, the shoulders are wide and the hands are long, and the palms are wearing a pair of black gloves that are close to the flesh.
"Please come with me," Xiang Yu said, "Mr. Jiang. What do you call you, little brother?"
"My name is Nie Hai." Geng Shu did not reveal his identity as a prince. After all, Yong Guo's note did not emphasize that he was the escort.
Jiang Heng and Geng Shu left the side hall, the music started again, and the dancers crowded into the arena, still dancing.
"Ying Guo welcomes you," Xiang Yu said, leading the way, "It's been hard work along the way."
"It's alright." Jiang Heng moved Geng Shu's elbow, motioning him to say something, don't act like it's none of his business.
Xiang Yu looked at Geng Shu and said, "Are you the bodyguard of Lord Jiang? Come in, please come in."
The room that King Ying prepared for them was quite good. There was an elegant courtyard. The courtyard was full of Xiangfei bamboo. It was a bit like Luoyang. The water was flowing under the small bridge. The room with three entrances was very spacious. A quilt embroidered with gold thread.
"The bathing place is in the side room, behind the firewood room, and people have already been sent to boil the water. I thought you would bring some attendants..." Xiang Yu said, "I didn't arrange a maid for you, I think otherwise..."
"No need," Jiang Heng said, "it's enough to have him."
Xiang Yu nodded, looked at Geng Shu again, and said, "Are you sent by Yong Guo?"
"He was hired by me for money." Jiang Hengtong's heart suddenly rose, and he had a game with Xiang Yu.
Geng Shu: "..."
Xiang Yu said, "Arrange some more people?"
Jiang Heng said: "It doesn't matter, it's enough to have him. I haven't paid him the money yet, and everything is in the river." Then he said to Geng Shu, "Brother Nie doesn't mind waiting for a few more days."
"I don't mind." Geng Shu said coldly.
Xiang Yu looked at Geng Shu, and the identity Jiang Heng came up with for Geng Shu was indeed very suitable. At that time, there were often rangers who worked in Wu and Yuegu to earn money, escort, or assassinate, and they were wearing clothes on their waists. A sword is very self-respecting, and no one looks down on it, even if it sees the princes and the royal family.
Geng Shu was accustomed to Yong Guo's ostentation, he was a prince himself, and his expression was so flattering and light-hearted that in the eyes of outsiders, he did not look like an ordinary person, and it made sense to fake a hired ranger.
Xiang Yu had no doubts: "That's it, if there is anything missing, ask a guard of the Imperial Forest Army to tell me at any time, and I won't bother you anymore."
Xiang Yu's meaning was also very sympathetic to those who survived the disaster, so he withdrew.
"Your surname is Xiang, do you know Xiang Zhou?" Geng Shu suddenly asked.
Xiang Yu stopped and did not look back.
Jiang Heng remembered! The familiar feeling just now really came from another person - the former Xiangzhou. The two of them looked a bit similar. Although they had only seen Xiang Zhou Zhenrong once, the tenderness in those eyes had indeed been seen before.
"That's my clan brother, Gongzizhou." Xiang Yu thought about it and said, "Where is your teacher? Are you an old acquaintance with him?"
Geng Shu replied casually, "I heard of him."
Xiangzhou became famous at a young age and was admired by many young people in Yingdi and Yuedi. Xiang Yu did not doubt it, but said: "Before Your Majesty, don't mention your name, remember."
"Understood, thank you." Geng Shu replied.
Jiang Heng remembered what Luo Xuan said, Xiangzhou's identity was once the royal family of Yingdi.
"You actually saw it." Jiang Heng stepped into the bucket and soaked in hot water. Geng Shu turned his back to him and was undressing, and said, "I think his face is familiar."
Geng Shu didn't wait for Jiang Heng to wash first, so he came in naked and squeezed into a bucket with him. They also used this kind of wooden bath bucket when they were children. They were both young at that time, but now they are adults, and they were a bit narrow-minded for a while. , hands and feet touching each other, squeezed together.
"Turn over." Geng Shu said.
"Turn around," Jiang Heng said, "obedient."
Geng Shu turned around and turned his back to Jiang Heng. Jiang Heng held him in his arms, scrubbed his neck, pulled his arm, and placed it on the edge of the wooden barrel. Geng Shu felt Jiang Heng's breath in his ears, his back was pressed against Jiang Heng's bare chest, when his blood was swollen, his back was just covering his place, but he felt that Jiang Heng also...
"Heng'er," Geng Shu said, "you..."
"What's wrong?" Jiang Heng said.
When the skin touched, the water was smooth and greasy, Jiang Heng had a reaction in that place, and never felt anything. Geng Shu blushed and said, "It's nothing. Don't touch it! I'll do it myself... "
Jiang Heng wrapped his arms around Geng Shu's waist and supported him with one hand. Geng Shu really explained it all at once. He only felt a "boom" in his mind. With the last of his reason, he pressed Jiang Heng's wrist to prevent him from messing up. bump.
"I'll do it myself." Geng Shu said anxiously.
Jiang Heng had to let go and hand him a towel to wash himself.
Jiang Heng remembered something again and said, "What shall we wear later?"
Geng Shu woke up and said, "Yes, I have no clothes to wear, what should I do?"
The corners of Jiang Heng's mouth twitched, looking at the muddy clothes they had replaced, Geng Shu even went into the city wearing a single shirt and went out wearing a white shirt and underpants, which was almost different from being naked.
"Let's be naked," Geng Shu said casually, "Anyway, King Ying is shameless first."
Jiang Heng: "…"
, Xiang Yu's voice came from outside the bathroom again.
"His Royal Highness guessed that the two of you didn't change clothes," Xiang Yu said, "I brought them here."
Jiang Heng said hurriedly: "You're too polite, you can just order someone to come."
Xiang Yu added, "Brother Yu also picked out one of his own. He hasn't worn it yet. Maybe it's shorter. If you don't dislike it, you can wear it for Brother Nie."
Biquge
"Let it go," Geng Shu replied, "Thanks."
"After changing your clothes, please come to the palace of the king's bedroom," Xiang Yu said, saying, "His Majesty the king wants to see you."
"Are you going?" Jiang Heng asked.
"What about the reward?" Geng Shu dressed Jiang Heng and said solemnly, "Just go if you give me something."
Jiang Heng hahaha, pinching Geng Shu's face, thinking that almost no one in the Ying Kingdom has seen Geng Shu, Yong's note informs that the prince Juiciao has also entered the Central Plains, but stayed in Song County, preparing to have a simple meeting with the Ying Kingdom. 's handover. Who would have thought that a prince would stand by his side
"How much is the reward?" Jiang Heng leaned into Geng Shu's ear and said, "As I said before, I don't have any money."
Geng Shu's neck turned red, signaling you to look at me
"Put on your clothes and settle the account with you." Geng Shu said.