Horseshoes burst, and the Central Plains shook.
The Beiliang cavalry army went out of Beiliang Road, entered Lianghuai Road, went south in the Yancheng area bordering Jizhou, Hezhou, crashed into the northern part of Jiangnan Road, and drove straight down like a broken bamboo.
Like that burly man in the northwest, bumping into the beauties in the south of the Yangtze River tottering.
Wherever they passed, the Liyang officials and the local army were all silent, not daring to take any provocative actions.
The memorials are like chaotic snowflakes, the county government, the county guard's government office, the governor's residence, and the Jinglue official's residence are advanced layer by layer, and finally handed over to Tai'an City by the elite post cavalry at a speed of five hundred miles.
Accompanied by the tyrannical advance of 10,000 cavalry, during this period, more than a dozen families surfaced one after another along the way. Not only the leaders of the local government army were sweating from fear, but even Zhao Gou, who had been in charge of Liyang's spies for many years, was incomparably terrified. , these behemoths who can be regarded as famous families in various states and counties, without exception, all have countless fertile lands and a lot of grain storage, and even four of them can be called "land lords" in the states and counties. All the rich families with comments like "pure origin" on the secret file are all bold thieves who openly colluded with Beiliang, and delivered countless food and grass to the Beiliang cavalry army. This is such a catastrophe on the table However, once the court settles accounts after the autumn, the dozen or so deeply entrenched families are destined to be overwhelmed, and the heads of Zhao Gou and civil and military officials in the various states and counties will definitely be ruthlessly stripped of their skins.
Among them, the first large family in Hezhou to reward the army in Beiliang unexpectedly did not immediately flee and move to Beiliang with his family, so the local government teamed up with the garrison to mobilize four hundred elite troops to kill them aggressively after the Beiliang cavalry troops left the country. Go, intending to ransack the house of this rebellious and unscrupulous dog, but the old owner of this family moved a chair alone, and sat on the steps of the door, basking in the warm early spring sun, with two cold knives on his knees , the old one is the saber used when he followed the old Liang Wang Xu Xiao to fight against Western Chu. For so many years, even the most beloved grandson of the family did not know that his grandfather had this saber in his collection, and the scabbard is even brighter The one he owns is the sixth-generation Xu Family Knife, and the latest Liangdao was a gift from King Xinliang not long ago. Facing the four hundred young and strong warriors in the county, the old man smiled and lifted up the new saber, and only said one word, and then everyone came and went in a hurry, and in the end he didn't even dare to say a harsh word.
The old man Chi Mu said, the lord wants me to send you a message. One person died in the Song family house today, and 10,000 generals in the county will die. If the head count is not 10,000, the Beiliang cavalry will go to other counties and prefectures to borrow their heads.
After saying that, the white-haired old man bent down to pick up a jug of wine at his feet, looked at the backs of those retreating in embarrassment, drank the wine one mouthful at a time, and muttered to himself indistinctly.
The old man is like a lost old dog, toothless, and obviously can't howl anymore, but it still makes people feel a bit unique, probably that's what scholars see in books.
…
After Cai Nan, the governor of the Lianghuai Road, stepped forward, the second person who dared to block the way was not a warrior who led the army to fight, nor was he a civil official who guarded the side, but a man who had returned to his hometown after serving for many years. The literati, presumptuously dug out the official uniform of the sixth grade official from the bottom of the box, put it on and stood alone on the post road, the trembling family couldn't stop this crazy old man, half of the clan moved to the remote countryside overnight In the ancestral house, half of the clansmen hid at home behind closed doors, only the old man's second son, the most unpromising, a poor scholar who failed to pass the exam for a lifetime, had no courage and righteousness but filial piety, so he stood there with a face full of fear. Waiting by the side of the road to collect his father's body and carry it home.
Afterwards, when the cavalry rushed past, only the father and son were left slumped and crying beside the post road.
Nalan Huaiyu, one of the Wu family's hundreds of horses, was originally following far behind, but she couldn't bear her strong curiosity, so she rushed to the side of the young feudal lord. Said: "My lord, what's going on?"
Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head, not wanting to chat. I just got a secret report from Hai Dongqing who has been with me for many years. In addition to Yuan Tingshan's leader Jibei Jingqi who entered the pass from Jizikou to stop him, Shu also dispatched 20,000 soldiers and horses to Guangling Road. Wu Qi, who left the Xu family in a fit of anger after the Battle of the Wall, was one of the few generals who chose to follow Chen Zhibao to leave Beiliang. Ning Emei, who had dealt with him before, and Han Laoshan, the general of Lingzhou who is now in charge of guarding the southern gate of Beiliang, all spoke highly of this person, and thought that Che Ye was not inferior to Kou Jianghuai and Yu Luandao.
The heroic female swordsman refused to give up and asked the bottom line.
Xu Fengnian was in a daze, as if he didn't hear Nalan Huaiyu's chatter at all.
Wu Liuding said helplessly: "Auntie, can we be more reserved?"
Nalan Huaiyu rolled his eyes and said: "Yo, now I know how to be reserved. When I was a child, who rubbed my aunt's chest with all my might? Why is thunder and rain so scary? You need to find a place to hide. Why is it so cold in winter? ah… "
Wu Liuding carefully glanced at the Cuihua beside him, and then hurriedly apologized to Nalan Huaiyu and begged for mercy: "Auntie, I was afraid of you, it happened just now, we marry Grandpa Jian and Xu are always inseparable, presumably he is an old man If you know the inside story, you can ask him."
The old man who was discussing kendo with Zhang Luantai and Liu Jianzhi said with a smile: "It's nothing unusual, the prince just asked him if he wanted to win the reputation of scholars, so that the white-haired people gave away the black-haired people, and then that kid Hong Shuwen pulled out his sword." With a knife, he made a gesture to ride his horse and kill someone."
In the past, the high-spirited young master of Xingzi Jianlu, now the taciturn middle-aged swordsman Yue Zhuowu interjected: "It is the 'family motto' of the Confucian ancestors to cultivate one's morality, regulate one's family, govern the country and the world. Not to mention managing the world and benefiting the people. In my life, I can't see this kind of literati trying to gain fame. He has no bottom line in order to leave a name in history. Especially the former chief assistant of Liyang, Bi Yaner, is not a thing!"
Xu Fengnian suddenly came back to his senses, turned his head and said: "It's hard for others to say, but Zhang Julu is a real scholar in my eyes. If there is one in a hundred years, it will be a blessing for the whole world."
Yue Zhuowu didn't go along with it just because Xu Fengnian was the king of Beiliang, he still insisted on his own opinion, shook his head and said, "Even if you can kill your children, it's probably quite reasonable, even if this kind of person is an upright official who doesn't corrupt or disturb the people, he's not much better. go."
Xu Fengnian didn't debate anything, just laughed it off.
History is like a book, and some pages are so heavy that the hand that turns the book may not be able to turn it through. Passing on the torch, if you want to pass it on to future generations, those who hold the fire may burn their arms, or even sacrifice themselves, just to wait for the younger generation to take over the torch. In this world, we need wise rulers, famous ministers, heroes, tyrants, romantics, high-singing songs, high-spirited spirits, and clear talks... We need a lot of people, but sometimes, when smart people have their own styles, they actually need one or two more. a fool.
Xu Fengnian laughed softly for no reason: "Actually, that old scholar is pretty good. He blocks the way to be a minister and makes way to be a father. Unfortunately, he is not from Beiliang."
Hong Shuwen, who was nicknamed a lunatic in the army, said heartlessly: "My lord, we have iron cavalry, cold knives, strong crossbows, and big horses in Beiliang, which is enough!"
Xu Fengnian said in a low voice: "I hope there will be a day when there will be enough in the future."
Hong Shuwen, who was like Xu Fengnian's follower along the way, suddenly sighed, "My lord, if only I were a bitch."
Wu Liuding was terrified all of a sudden, made a gesture of trembling with his arms around his chest, and said angrily: "Crazy Hong, it's fine to flatter, but at least you have to show some face?"
Cuihua smiled knowingly.
Hong Shuwen said angrily: "I'm a bitch, I can't go to Wutongyuan to bring tea and water to the prince, what do you think of the six big jars?!"
Then Hong Shuwen turned his head and said with a playful smile: "Sister Cuihua, you have to be more careful when you stay with such a pervert who is full of indecent thoughts. But fortunately, sister Cuihua, your swordsmanship is better than that of the six big tanks. If he dares to strike If you move your feet, you can chop off his three legs with one sword, and I will pick up one of them and pickle it as a side dish!"
Not only Wu Liuding couldn't bear it anymore, Liu Jianzhi and Zhang Luantai's group of elders also couldn't bear it anymore, they all laughed and scolded Hong Shuwen for his bad taste.
Cuihua, who likes to keep her eyes closed all day long, opened her eyes slightly, looked at Hong Shuwen and said slowly: "What if one is not enough for wine? Or add yours?"
Subconsciously, Hong Shuwen quickly stretched out his hand to protect his crotch, and said in embarrassment: "Sister Cuihua, no need, no need, really no need, I just quit drinking."
After talking and laughing, Xu Fengnian squinted his eyes and raised his head, then quickly raised an arm.
An extraordinary raptor fell obliquely and landed on Xu Fengnian's arm.
After Xu Fengnian read the secret letter in the small bamboo section, the Hai Dongqing, who had accompanied the owner on three trips to the rivers and lakes and two visits to Beijing, bowed his head and pecked the back of Xu Fengnian's hand affectionately, and then flew away.
Xu Fengnian called Yuan Zuozong, with a complex expression on his face, and said softly: "Second brother Yuan, the main force of Western Chu is under the auspices of Xie Xizhen, and she is leading the expedition by herself, and began to break through to the west front. Cao Changqing has already quietly set off to go north to Tai'an City alone. .”
Yuan Zuozong was stunned and asked, "Cao Changqing went north alone?"
Xu Fengnian nodded heavily.
Yuan Zuozong sighed, "Why did this high-ranking official, who is known to be good at ending officials, be so messed up at the last moment?"
Xu Fengnian said in a low voice: "I can only guess a general idea. I am afraid that Cao Changqing chose to betray many people in the end. Maybe some of them are the nobles of the Northern Mang and Southern Dynasties who are bearing the burden of humiliation, Wang Sui who made a sudden comeback, and even some who endured humiliation in the temple and the Liao Dynasty." Gu Jiantang for many years. In order to restore the country, he has worked hard to rule the country for 20 years, and Cao Changqing was able to let go... "
Xu Fengnian didn't continue talking.
After all, Yuan Zuozong was a person in the game who had contact with many deep inside stories, and asked: "Is the rumor about Western Chu that my foster father said in the early years, true?"
Xu Fengnian laughed suddenly, "It is said that scholars are the most heartless people. Fortunately, there is a Cao Changqing who told the world that the seeds of reading can also be the most infatuated seeds."
Yuan Zuozong hesitated to speak.
Xu Fengnian felt embarrassed for the first time, and glared at Yuan Zuozong, obviously not wanting Yuan Zuozong to say anything.
Yuan Zuozong, who was always serious about his words and smiles, had a smile on his lips, but he really didn't speak.
After a moment of silence, Yuan Zuozong couldn't help but speak, but he didn't use the usual honorific title of "Prince", but "Xiao Nian", a very family-like title, "Xiao Nian, no matter what others think, Second Brother Yuan is very happy The reason why you led the army to the south this time is very simple, I think this is what the eldest son of a righteous father should do."
Xu Fengnian was a little helpless.
This kind of unreasonableness is indeed very Xu Xiao's style.
Sure enough, it's not that the whole family does not enter the house.
Yuan Zuozong quickly added with a smile: "Of course, the Central Plains side has not heard the hoofbeats of our Xu family's cavalry for twenty years. Let them have a long memory!"
Yuan Zuozong raised his head and looked into the distance, "Father-in-law said that the sound in the world is louder than thunder, but the sound of my horse's hooves in Beiliang!"
Xu Fengnian whispered: "Xu Xiao can't say such heroic words, my master must be the first to say it, and then he borrowed it and refused to return it, and privately told my master not to say that he plagiarized it. "
Yuan Zuozong was speechless for a moment, and rubbed his chin, "I heard Xiaonian mention it like this, it's really possible."
Xu Fengnian laughed and said: "But there are some things, no matter whether Xu Xiao is the first to say it or not, as long as he says it, it is arrogance!"
The fact is also true, a Spring and Autumn War has already proved one thing.
There are some words that can only be said by that cripple!
…
At this time, it was the time when Beiliang's iron cavalry went south to the Central Plains.
A Confucian scholar in blue goes from south to north.
Back then, the Cao family, who was famous all over the world, was the most proud. The romantic scholar who didn't know when his temples had turned frosty, walked away calmly. When he became a chess player that day, he had never been so relieved.
After the mountains and rivers were broken and his family and country were gone, he entered the Liyang Palace in this blue shirt, but this was the last time, he did not enter the city or the palace.
Only one soldier came to Tai'an City.
Cao Changqing, the Overlord of Western Chu, has never been seen before or since.