Chen Xiliang didn't wear Qingcang City Shepherd's fourth-rank civil official robe, or even a scholar's shirt. He was no different from a poor refugee. The only thing that could stand on the stage was the pair of unusually strong wolf leather boots on his feet. Well, when Xu Fengnian saw such a guy who looked more like a refugee than a refugee, he couldn't laugh or cry. However, Chen Xiliang was escorted by a dozen or so white horses riding Yicong, at least to save some face for this scholar who was on the cusp of the storm in Beiliang. Chen Xiliang was standing at the head of a village at the moment, leading a large group of factory officials and handymen who were building a potter's wheel frame to dig a well. The village happened to be located in a low-lying area with spring water exposed. It is said that places that occupy water sources like this are places that must be contested by multiple separatist forces. When there is water, it often means bloodshed.
More than a hundred villagers in this village squatted in the distance to join in the fun. Some men chewed the hard pancakes, and looked at the white horse righteous followers with salivation mixed with awe. The armor is bright, before Liuzhou was included in the territory of Beiliang, and before the frontier soldiers became crossbowmen, they would come here to kill people. , The saber armor on the cavalry has always been the most worth showing off by the refugee leader. You have a horse and a sword, and if you can still wear armor, then you can be the uncle of the uncle in the land of refugees. So these white horse righteousness turned out to make the villagers envious and frightened. It's just that the young man in the lead is said to be an official from Beiliang with a scary official hat. The strange thing is that he didn't ruin it when he entered the village. Ladies, you didn't even rob money or food, you just said a lot, and people would beat you to death if you didn't believe it. Is there such a good thing in the world? As long as one member of each family joins the army, he can be registered as a good citizen in Lingzhou, and he can also plant fields? And whether you want to join the army on the border or stay in Lingzhou, you can choose whatever you want, and you don't have to force it. The only difference is that the salary of the frontier soldiers is much higher than that of Lingzhou soldiers. At first, no one was willing to talk to me, but later I heard that this young official, under the hands of ten thousand strong horse bandits, was holding on to Qingcang City, and I heard that many of the Northern Liang King's relatives were killed. The retinue will soon be tied back to Liangzhou and beheaded for public display. Even if his head is not lost, his official title will not be kept. Many refugees who survived in the city at that time said that it is true. Then this It is true that the official is a reputable hero, but in case the king of Beiliang cleans up at that time, can he still count on what he said? They can't tell the reason why they don't scatter eagles when they don't see rabbits, but they still know the reason why they don't take off their pants when they don't see mothers-in-law.
Then, when these villagers saw another horse team galloping towards them, they stopped outside the village and gradually approached a young man who was more handsome than a woman, with a little boy who looked like black charcoal by his side, and a group of horses behind him. A burly man with the appearance of a general, his attire is so damn eye-catching, tsk tsk, he should be a general who can command hundreds of soldiers. The bastards born and bred in some villages are not afraid of anything, so they want to go around half a circle to have a good look, but they are chased away by the elders, but there are still some Jiangnan men who can beat down with one hand The strong and strong woman, the eyes are shining, yo, what a pretty little brother, I don't know which woman is blessed to enjoy it. Their men don't care about this, they swear and curse to death, and the women dare to reply a few words. If they are bold, they will smash them all. swallowed. As a result, all the villagers were so frightened that their livers were splitting and their scalps were numb. After seeing the young man, Bai Ma Yicong knelt down on one knee, put one hand on the ground, and pressed the knife with the other. !"
When Bai Ma Yicong knelt like this, those Liuzhou officials who were in charge of digging the wells knelt down even more. They were more sincere and fearful than the solemn Baima Yicong.
During this period of time, many bald monks were toiling around in Liuzhou at first, begging for alms and preaching, and later some young gods from Wudang Mountain came here to roam around, and they all said that the young feudal king was either the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva or the arrival of a real martial arts. The Land of the Refugees is infectious. Xu Fengnian said something lightly and got up, then walked towards Chen Xiliang, the dozen or so white horse followers naturally followed behind King Beiliang, and isolated the group of followers brought by Colonel Qing Cang without any trace, Wei Shihui touched Touching his nose was a little awkward, but he didn't dare to show any dissatisfaction. In the offensive and defensive battle of Qingcang City back then, there was a huge disparity in troop strength. Although the defenders always had an inherent advantage, the city walls of Qingcang City were not tall and stable, and Qingcang City's original strength of thousands of troops had already been floating around. Hundreds of Bai Mayi have always taken the lead. Qingcang City has already been massacred by those 10,000 fierce horse thieves several times. Don't retreat, it is these white horse Yicong whose lives are said to be worth the lives of hundreds of people in Qingcang City, and it is their willingness to die that makes the old Qingcanglong Palace have the heart to fight to the death. Qingcang's fierce attack and defense can be seen from a detail. Every white horse righteous who died in battle, because he was hated by the siege horse thieves, must die without a whole body. After collecting the corpses in Cangcheng, they could only pile up nearly empty tombs.
When Chen Xiliang saw Xu Fengnian, he felt a little guilty on his face, and hesitated to speak. Xu Fengnian patted him on the shoulder, then sat on the mouth of the well, raised his head and smiled and said, "Whether you want to go back to the palace to be an unranked aide, or to be the second in command in Liuzhou, it's up to you."
Chen Xiliang squatted casually by the well, which was quite different from his previous formality in Qingliang Mountain, and said softly: "Although I am still afraid of seeing people die with my own eyes, I have always wanted to go to Qingliang Mountain to talk about war on paper, even if I do it there You can't be a wealthy and idle person, but at least you don't have to worry about it. But now I always feel that if you pat your butt and leave like this, you will be a deserter. At that time, in Qingcang City, none of the prince's Bai Mayi ever retreated, and the thousands of soldiers in Qingcang City did not retreat. , Even the refugees in the city have not retreated, it is outrageous for me to leave now."
Xu Fengnian asked: "So you promised to be Liuzhou don't drive? Governor Yang also has the same idea, he values you very much. Liuzhou has you two partners, I am also relieved."
Chen Xiliang shook his head and said: "Don't drive is the most important assistant official in a state. If the backyard of Beiliang is far away from the warring Lingzhou, I am confident that I can barely take on it. The current appointments in Liuzhou tend to be those who can be literate and military. Forget it, let’s finish the Qingcang City Shepherd first, anyway, as long as I think of anything, I will speak frankly with Lord Governor, and I don’t need to leave this official position.”
Xu Fengnian didn't make things difficult for him, nodded and said: "As you wish, anyway, when the time comes, you feel that you want to be a high-ranking official, go and ask Yang Guangdou for an official hat, you don't need to say hello to Qingliangshan."
Captain Qingcang Wei Shihui was standing nearby, hearing this conversation, his heart was overwhelmed, where in the world could he find such a talkative vassal? Can the official hat be chosen casually? It can be seen that those rumors that the King of Beiliang wants to deal with Chen Chengmu severely are all nonsense! Wei Shihui had heard about Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang, the two big celebrities in Qingliang Mountain. In Beiliang, Xu Beizhi was always believed to be more functional than Chen Xiliang, and he was able to govern Lingzhou with both rigidity and softness. They were all emptied, but Wei Shihui was still more optimistic about Chen Xiliang. There was no reason to say that this scholar was able to defend Qingcang City to the death, and he really did!
Chen Xiliang suddenly said: "My lord, have you been to that tomb?"
Xu Fengnian said: "I just entered the city last night, and I wanted to go there with you to sacrifice wine."
Chen Xiliang hummed, stood up, beckoned to the little boss of the workshop, and explained the relevant matters in a soft voice. At this time, a tall and strong young man stepped out of the queue from a group of handymen, walking towards this side, he was quickly stopped by two white horse righteous men, the cold knife in his hand was already half an inch out of the scabbard, and he was full of murderous intentions. Xu Fengnian glanced at the young man, he turned out to be an acquaintance, when he entered the land of refugees alone, there was a twists and turns outside the village outside Qingcang City, the refugees forgot their lives, wanted to rob horses and sabers to make a fortune, this person who is good at The young man with spear skills is one of them. He has a fierce spirit unique to the refugees. If Xu Fengnian remembers correctly, the young man also has a scrawny younger sister. The siblings were given a bag of broken silver. Xu Fengnian said: "Let him come over."
The hot-blooded young man who wanted to step forward was already very scared when he met Bai Ma Yicong half-drawing his sword. He had always remembered the superb martial arts skills of that handsome ranger before, and he was grateful for the ranger's refusal to kill him. And gift silver, now that piece of broken silver has been stabbed a small hole by the boy, and hung around the neck of my sister after being threaded, my sister likes it very much. After the young man learned that this person turned out to be the prince who was in charge of life and death for all the refugees, his thoughts were not complicated. He was afraid that he would never see him again, so he wanted to thank him personally. The young man was restless, his footsteps were a little erratic, he finally walked five or six steps away from the young feudal lord, his mind was blank, he didn't know what to say, his face was flushed, and he didn't even know where to put his hands place. Xu Fengnian smiled softly: "What's your name, I still remember that you have a younger sister who is more courageous than you."
The young man finally regained his composure, swallowed his saliva, and said in a trembling voice, "Return to the lord, the villain's name is Liu Yu, and my sister's name is Liu Yu."
Xu Fengnian joked: "Do you still know what to say?"
The young man quietly pinched his waist with his hands, finally regained his senses, and said with a shy smile, "I learned it from the workshop officials. They all said that when they talked to the city and herdsmen."
Chen Xiliang explained to Xu Fengnian with a smile: "Liu Yu wanted to go to the border to join the army. I thought he was too young, so I didn't agree. However, this young man is very strong, so I allowed him to help the yamen to do some things and earn some money." Living wages, quick hands and feet, and smart people, he can already recognize more than a hundred characters, and writes on the ground with branches every day in his spare time. In fact, the boy and his sister used to only have surnames but no names, only casual nicknames. Liu Yu was actually taken by himself."
Xu Fengnian looked at the young man and asked with a smile: "You went to the border to join the army. If you die, what will your sister do? Why don't you choose the Lingzhou army, at least you don't have to fight."
The young man replied seriously: "The official who is in charge of recording files said that the frontier army gets a lot of money, and it gets money quickly. As long as you go, you can get a lot of money. Not to mention, give it to us immediately in Lingzhou Get a piece of fertile land, besides, don't we all say that our Northern Liang army beats three or four of their northern barbarians? I don't necessarily die when I go to the border. If I can stab a few northern barbarians to death with a spear, I can be a soldier. What does it look like, then my sister can have enough food and clothing for the rest of her life, maybe even her dowry!"
The young man seemed to remember something, and hurriedly said, "Report to the prince!"
Xu Fengnian laughed, thought for a while, and said, "Okay, I'll let you go to Youzhou to join the army. You're a good spearman, I've learned it before. After you learn how to ride a horse, I'll let Huangfuping promote you to be a corps leader. I will help you find a good house for your sister in Lingzhou later."
The boy bargained and said: "My lord, my sister has to be named Liu, okay?"
Xu Fengnian nodded, and then jokingly said: "Why don't you and my surname be Xu? How about it? Now I can promote you to be the corps leader."
Captain Qingcang Wei Shihui and his entourage's eyes turned green. Damn it, the world is a big pie. Although it's not as popular as giving surnames in the Spring and Autumn Period, it can be accepted by the emperors, vassals, and other dynasties. It is still a great honor for the reckless heroes to bestow a surname on the most powerful person. General Xu Xiao has been in the army for more than 40 years, and the number of times he has been given a surname is very small, and Xu Yanbing, the younger brother of the Spear Fairy, is one of them.
But I didn't expect the boy to be stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I haven't killed the northern barbarian yet, how can I be the corporal leader. And if my parents know that my sister and I have changed our surnames, they shouldn't beat me to death in a dream."
Wei Shihui was about to hang up this little bastard who didn't know what to do, and beat him up. Your parents knew that you rejected the kindness of King Beiliang, so they would really beat you to death in a dream.
Xu Fengnian smiled and said: "That's fine, anyway, after you go to Youzhou, go to a general named Huangfuping, and tell me that I asked you to join the army."
The young man timidly asked: "Didn't you go to Liangzhou? I heard that the soldiers pay more there and the fields are better."
Xu Fengnian didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Liangzhou is about to go to war. Your spear skills are good, but you haven't been familiar with the battle formation. No matter how good your skills are, you can't match the charge of the northern barbarian cavalry."
The young man let out a sound of understanding.
Those villagers who had heard that the King of Beiliang was here in person went back and returned, and watched with relish this daring child talking in front of the lord. They were a little envious. How much blessing did this kid accumulate in his previous life to be able to talk to the lord? How big is the prince? Anyway, they all knew that the whole Beiliang was his old man's property. Of course, this prince was not old at all.
Then Xu Fengnian and Chen Xiliang went to the tombs ten miles south of Qingcang City. The tombs where Bai Ma Yicong died were located in the oasis. Xu Fengnian's apprentice Yu Dilong and several followers all carried a large bag of Green Ant Wine.
Xu Fengnian and Chen Xiliang went to the grave to offer wine one by one.
Chen Xiliang's expression was heavy, and every time he faced a tomb, he would tell Xu Fengnian when and where Bai Ma Yicong died in the tomb.
After the sacrifice, Xu Fengnian always felt that something was missing.
Suddenly, Yiqi came to report that two strangers broke into this place, saying that they wanted to use water instead of wine to pay homage to the heroic spirit.
Xu Fengnian led the horse and saw Song Dongming who arrived in Qingcang City half a day later than him.
Seeing Xu Fengnian's battle, especially Wei Shihui's distinctive school captain's armor, this man, one of the hidden faces of Li Yang, Song Dongming couldn't guess the young man's details, after making a slight bow, he raised his head and said with a smile: "The prince can't treat people with sincerity."
Xu Fengnian smiled, did not deny it, and said apologetically, "I hope Mr. Song will forgive me."
Song Dongming glanced at the young scholar beside Xu Fengnian, turned his gaze away, and said bluntly, "My lord, you don't seem to be the wise master who is worthy of the people's attachment to the soldiers to die."
Without further ado, Wei Shihui drew out the Beiliang knife, intending to chop off the head of the bastard who talked so much.
Xu Fengnian raised his hand, stopped the violent Colonel Qing Cang behind him, and asked with a smile, "How do you say that?"
Song Dongming was not afraid, and said calmly: "There are thousands of poems on the Liyang frontier fortress. Among them, the half sentence of 'Why do you need to return the body wrapped in horse leather' won the first prize. In my opinion, this is a piece of nonsense for a scholar to stand up and talk without back pain. Therefore, Song Dongming has a question. Ask the King of Beiliang."
Xu Fengnian said calmly, "Excuse me."
Song Dongming looked around and said with a sneer: "Dare to ask Qingcang City, Beiliang killed more than 3,000 soldiers, why is it that only you, the king of Beiliang, Baima Yicong, has the clothes tomb, occupying this oasis?"
Xu Fengnian remained silent.
Chen Xiliang's eyes lit up suddenly.
Song Dongming continued with sarcasm: "Rentu Xu Xiao has ten thousand snow dragon riders, his second son Xu Longxiang has thirty thousand Dragon Elephant troops, Beiliang Capital Protector Chu Lushan has his own army, Yuan Zuozong Yan Wenluan also has his own army, these soldiers, Naturally, he is brave and invincible, and he is willing to fight for Beiliang, but then? The whole country of Beimang invades the south, and with these 70,000 to 80,000 people, they can agree? It can even be said that with 300,000 Beiliang troops, they can win the battle ? Or, King Beiliang, do you think it is a mortal situation, as long as you have the will to die, you will be worthy of Beiliang?"
Xu Fengnian was still not annoyed, and asked instead: "What did Mr. Song teach me?"
Song Dongming asked: "Since Beiliang is destined to face the millions of cavalry in Beimang alone, let alone the outcome, we must make sure that everyone dies a worthy death and deserves a name. Does the King of Beiliang think so?"
Xu Fengnian nodded and said, "It should be so."
Song Dong said loudly: "Then please ask the King of Beiliang to find a place in the territory, make a hero's tomb, and erect 300,000 tombstones!"
Song Dongming then stared at Xu Fengnian, and squeezed out every word from between his teeth, "One person died! Remember one person!"
Xu Fengnian said: "Okay, the mountain behind Qingliang Mountain can be used as this tomb."
Song Dongming asked again: "Among the 300,000 people, is there a monument for you, Xu Fengnian?"
Xu Fengnian said without hesitation: "Yes. First write down the five characters Xu Fengnian of Beiliang, which is the same as all soldiers in Beiliang. At present, only record when and where he was born. After death, add when and where he died in battle. .”
Song Dongming looked into Xu Fengnian's eyes, and after a long time, bowed solemnly, and said in a deep voice, "Song Dongming is willing to be a minister of Beiliang, and is willing to advise the king of Beiliang!"
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "Okay."
After Song Dongming straightened his waist and raised his head, Xu Fengnian walked up to the disciple of the Luming Song family, and the two stood side by side. Xu Fengnian lowered his voice and said softly, "I know in your heart that you are actually serving Zhao instead of Xu, but it doesn't matter."
Song Dongming also said softly: "The King of Beiliang is wrong. My official position in Northern Liang is my official position in Liyang. If I am not an official, I will be an official in the common people!"
Xu Fengnian was noncommittal, "Temporarily serving as Deputy Economic and Strategic Envoy of Beiliang Road, and sitting in Qingliang Mountain, is that enough?"
Song Dongming nodded and said, "That's enough."
In the autumn of the first year of Xiangfu, Song Dongming of Luming Song's family became an official in Beiliang, shaking the government and the public.